Out West Trip Cont

Mall Day for pedicures for me and Mommy

Trying on cowboy hats

Sleeping on Gagu

Really!? In the car AGAIN!?

Krispy Kreme in El Paso-headed home!

Gettn' closer!

Yum- Outback table

Our Out West Trip (So Far)

Sean, Andrew, Hailey, and I are in the desert!!!  We left Saturday.  Well, I don't know if you would call it Saturday, as it was 430 in the morning!  We stopped in Nashville for breakfast, then in Memphis for lunch at Central BBQ with Sean's childhood friend, Kevin.  Next up, Dallas!  It was a nice 13 hours of driving time in the car.  Hailey and Andrew did very well!  We really enjoyed seeing Dallas, too.  Super confusing highways and a very busy, very BIG city, but also a very clean city, or so it appeared for the short time we were there.  If I had to live in the big city, I think I could do Dallas.  Our plan was to leave at 6 a.m. Sunday morning to start back on our road trip, but God had other plans.  Andrew needed more sleep, so did me and Sean.  And our GPS took 10 hours or so to download new maps so we would know where we were going.  So we ended up leaving around 9 a.m.  We stopped in El Paso for dinner, which was another city I really liked and I was surprised at how big it was.  There's just something about the west.  It's so gorgeous.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the south and I am a southern girl, but I do really enjoy trips out west.  We got in to Bisbee, AZ at my mom and step-dad's house around 11 p.m. Sunday night. Yesterday we were pretty lazy, but did manage to walk around downtown Bisbee and browse the shops.  I feel refreshed this morning and more adjusted to the 3 hour time difference, which was a blessing to gain, is gonna be a little tough to lose on our trip home!  Ryan and Hunter are back in Tennessee staying with Michaela Bates and Courtney Green.  They spent a day playing at the Bates house on Saturday, time at church on Sunday, the zoo on Monday with Michaela and some of the other Bates children, along with the Carrascos, and then to hear Don Savell preach last night with Michaela.  I hear they have been doing well and enjoying their time with Michaela.  Courtney has them during the days this week and I just hope they are a blessing to her.  We miss them much!!!!

Day 1 in the car; still in jammies :)

Out in the middle of nowhere, TX

El Paso - a stop for dinner at Chipotle and Starbucks

At Gagu's and Grandpa Mike's

View from Mom's front porch

Kittens and Hummingbirds

Lily had six, count 'em, six kittens!  We observed her growing and growing and growing until it was unmistakable that our cat was expecting!  I used to judge people like me, especially when I was working in a vet clinic and volunteering at the Humane Society.  Now I am the one I judged so harshly.......an irresponsible pet owner with an outdoor unspayed cat!!!!  Either way, the kittens are adorable and the whole family is enjoying them!  

We've really enjoyed the hummingbird feeder we have right outside our office window.  These fascinating little birds are back in town and they frequently visit our feeder.  They are not easy to photograph!

Hunter's New Ride!

While I was at work last Thursday, Sean and the boys (and Hailey!; still so used to saying "the boys"), got to play on the fire trucks and talk to the firefighters.  

Our Lily had six (we think six, could be more) kittens today!  I will post some pictures later.

On Prayer

In the morning, prayer is the key that open to us the treasures of God's blessings; in the evening, it is the key that shuts us up under His protection and safeguard. - Billy Graham


We will...give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.  Acts 6:3, 4 NIV

Andrew Surgery Day 7/30/14

Bright and early in the morning.  Check in was 0730.  Andrew has no clue what's about to happen, but he is thoroughly enjoying watching Thomas.

This was in the prep area.  They gave him Versed with Tylenol ("happy juice") that was supposed to relax him, make him happy, that kind of thing.  It had an interesting effect on little man.  One minute he's laughing for no good reason at all and the next minute he's ripping my skin off and pulling my hair out.  I couldn't put him down because he had no muscle control.  

Bug's just along for the ride :)

Day one postop.  Doing great!  The surgery went really well.  On the way home, he threw up in the car - all apple juice.  After that, he was able to keep food down and he wasn't too fussy; just in postop.  He had a great nap and has been well ever since.  It's a whole new world for Andrew.  He can actually hear everything as it really sounds.  So, we've learned already that he's scared of lawnmowers, weedeaters, and vacuums.  We are so grateful to God that everything went well and that he is able to hear so much better.  The surgeon said he had a lot of fluid in his ears, but the good thing was, he was in between infections.  We go for a checkup the end of the month and they will do a repeat hearing test, as well as check the tubes.  I'm so in love with this little guy right now.  I was scared for him and the surgery (leading up to it), but the day of, God gave us such peace.  Now, I'm just thankful for him, more so than before.  :)  Thank you for the prayers and support!!!!

Tornado Warning

Last Sunday we had some crazy weather!  We ended up having a tornado warning and Sean, three men and a little lady, and myself stuffed ourselves into the downstairs half bath to wait it out.  I was scared, but everyone else handled it quite well.  We even put the boys' bicycle helmets on!  They were so good about it all.  Well, a tornado did hit another county near us, but we were all fine.  Through the night, we had more severe storms with lots of thunder and lightning that actually woke me up and kept me up.  I'm usually not bothered by storms, but these were a little frightening.  Hunter is scared of thunder, so he had found his way into our bed.  The other kids snoozed right through it.  It was nice to have Hunter in here.  He doesn't cuddle that much so I soaked up all that extra cuddle time with him!