Weekend full of Fun!!!

This weekend was very busy and very FULL of Fun all at the same time.

Saturday we spent time as a family and got a lot accomplished. Grocery shopping, errands supper out that night- and then on to our Cousin A's 7th birthday party at the bowling alley.

I was very impressed with how T bowled.....my mom took him this summer when I was in Peru and he still remembered and did a great job. C did pretty good too- for a 3 year old. The adults had a lane and B and I got a chance to bowl too- mine stayed in the gutter most of the time.....but hey it was Fun right?!?! A got lots of fun new toys and clothes at her "Princess Party"- we all had a great time!!

Then Sunday after church we had three guests for lunch- my friend Erin and her twin girls A & L came to eat soup and salad. The are soooo precious and their mom is pretty cool too!! Their daddy was out of town on business.....we will have to have them over again sometime when he can come too!!

OK.....I am pretty sure.....this is A on the left and L on the right.....I think.....maybe......NO WAIT- It is L on the left and A on the right.....Yeah that is right......pretty sure?!?! Are they not beautiful and who doesn't LOVE a bumbo seat.....we had one with C- and we were so glad we did. They are so neat for the babies to sit in and are very useful!!

Today we have had a productive day.....I bought theses wooded pieces from Hand Writing without Tears. The boys loved them!! I let them play and see how many letters they could make and then to see if they could make their names. It was fun. T is writing very well, although he starts most of his letters at the bottom and then goes up- or just and awkward direction. He seems to be left handed also- but writes better using his right hand....ugh....so hopefully this curriculum will get me and him both straight as far as writing goes!!

We also started "hooked on Phonics" level 2 to help C learn his alphabet- His teacher at pre-school says he knows the sound of most letters, just doesn't know the LETTER!!! I think that is because we work with T more on sounds than letters.....back to the drawing board when reading books now.

This book is an intro to letters and sounds plus reading. It has a DVD you watch- book you read- and workbook also. I went through A-H with boys today- T is very ready to read, in fact he can read some words- and sounds them out if he cannot. He spelled LOEPOP "lollipop" with the wooden letters from HWT it was cute.

Well, this starts my second week of fasting Facebook- and honestly, I can say it has been worth every minute of each day. I told B yesterday- I feel like the old me is back. I may never go back to it. As a confirmation last Monday, the first day of giving it up- T told me "mama you have not had your phone in your hand as much and you have not been cranky!!" talk about feeling as big as a pebble!!

I guess I didn't realize how much I held my phone and looked at text messages, fb and everything!!!! I can say that my mind is resting better at night and I feel much more refreshed when I wake in the mornings. This morning we all slept in......it was nice- and as you can see by the pictures above- Mondays are PJ's day in our house!!!

We don't leave the house and it is nice.......it is a day I actually feel like a stay at home mom!!!!

I read this post from my friend Meredith back in November- but it has crossed my mind many times since about facebook. I will elaborate more on this in my post tomorrow!!

Mollie

Play Date @ the Park

Here are some picture from our Easter play date @ the Park. We had a Picnic & Easter Egg hunt!! Lots of fun and lots & lots of SUPER CUTE KIDS to take pictures of...... I am so thankful for such good friends and great kids for my kids to play with. I wish we would get together more often.....but it seems like we are all so busy!! Glad for the moments we have together as friends!! God has truly Bless us a lot!!

Mollie

A week of Thankfullness

This week I would like to take the time to show and tell about my Thanksgiving!

I would like to start with my Friends.... most who are faithful readers ;)

I would like to mention a few, although I have many friends- I don't have time to spend time on the phone all day talking or eating lunch, I would love to!!!

This is our group of moms from Story time at the Library.... we had Katja's shower at a cute little sandwich shop.... left a pretty heavy mark. But they all stay at home and have little ones like myself so we can all relate!! Not to mention we try to get together with a BIGGER group for play dates and holiday parties!!!
Then there is my 30th Birthday Party.....

Fun Fun Fun.... this was 2 years ago- but ALL these friends are very close to and I love them all. I might not talk to some of them for a month or two- then pick back up exactly where we left off. A few were not here, Whitney, Crystal, Sandy...

I am glad however my sister told me to go put some jeans on instead of my pj's about 10 minutes before I opened the door and they were all standing there!! Thanks for the video too Kristy!!

I love this picture even though we just are looking loverly, with no makeup on. My friend Sandy, she lives in Little Rock- has a baby just a few days younger than C. She & I have connected because are husbands were friends in High School. Sandy is also a wife of a husband in the military- very Thankful for her & him!!

Of course there is Heather- she and I also connected because her first husband & my husband were also classmates. She then started to come get her hair done from me and worked in my shop doing nails up until I had T. Robbi is with us in this picture- she and I have connect through Heather.... btw keep her in your prayers still... she is doing well, just has a long road of healing ahead!!

Then there is Debbie, Renee, GiGi & Mrs. Deborah- these are my friends that are a little older than me but we really can connect. They treat my kids like their own and help me out so much- whether it be a shopping trip or trip to the Doctor in Little Rock. They are my Hero's I just think they are glad they don't have to go home with us.... the car ride is bad enough!!!

Then there is my Blog Family, I love to read their blogs and don't get to keep up with them any other way.... Here is my list of REAL LIFE Blog Friends:

Ginger, Bekah, Stacy, Meredith, Katja, Sarah, Kecia & Jenn.

I thank Mer for being such an inspiration to me in writing a blog and as a young mother. I can remember from a young married girls life I thought she was just the best mom ever- Great example to follow and her kids and husband call her blessed for sure!! Even though she lives far away- I can keep up with her blog.

Last by certainly NOT LEAST.... Crystal- she is my shoulder and my rock. She and I talk on the phone at least once a day and if not we have to talk the next day twice to make up for it!! Our kids are the same age- and we live right down the road from each other!! We have cried on the phone together and laughed until we cannot understand what the other is saying, we completely accept the other one for who they are and what their talents & gifts are!! I am so thankful for her!!

And to think.... we met on a isle at our favorite Grocery store when she was pregnant with her C and I was trying to have a baby... I told her "WOW you are pregnant- you cannot tell until you turn sideways!!" She looked normal from behind.... then when she went to reach something- woowza belly 'bout to bust!!!

I am so Very Thankful for ALL my friends- I pray for them all daily and Thank God that they have all come into my life at a special time!!

I am so thankful that GOD has sent all my friends to me.... in all different ways!!

What about you, do you have friends you are so very thankful for??

Mollie

My Friend Heather

Yesterday I got to visit my friend Heather. Many weeks ago I asked you to pray for her. She has cancer and this week she will be 31....and also have a surgery on Monday, and her 8th chemo treatment on Friday- what a week!!!

She is such a trooper- has 2 kids and keeping it together so well!! I pray that I get to spend many many more birthday's with her!! I honestly don't know how she does it?? I can barely keep up with my 2 and I am healthy!!!

Our other friend Robbi- came to visit too. She and Robbi go way back to school days. But I met Robbi through Heather by doing her hair- she is too sweet too and such a faithful friend to Heather!!!

Please be in prayer for her today as she is having surgery today. I know God is with her and he is watching over her. Pray for peace and comfort- she doesn't like needles...who does??? But when they have to stick you week after week and have surgery after surgery chemo after chemo- if it lengthens her life.....so be it!!!

Love you Heather!!

Mollie

Back door guests.....are the BEST!!

The other day we had a special visitor- Mrs. Deborah. I had cut her hair for many years, she is a dear friend. She stopped by to give the boys a little surprise. She found these cute little visor hats- T was a shark, and C was a parrot!!

She is so thoughtful- she is always sending cards for special occasions. She has two grown children who live a few hours away, no grandchildren yet-

guaranteed she will be a GREAT grandmother.

Thanks Mrs. Deborah for stopping by to visit and for the hats!!

They LOVE them as you can see!!

Mollie

In Memory of Abby E.

Please Pray For this Family Today.

In Memory of Abby

February 20th 2006- May 14th 2008

This was taken from my friend Sara's Facebook Group.

Hello. My name is Sara. My husband (Shannon) and I were married June 15, 2002. We have 3 beautiful girls. Madeline (4), Cadence (1) and Abigail- our 2 year old daughter who passed away May 14, 2008.

Abigail Grace was born on Feb 20th, 2006. She was taken 2 months early for heart arrhythmia's in utero. She spent 8 weeks in the NICU and then was home for about a month before she became very dehydrated and was admitted to the hospital.

She spent 4 months in the hospital in that single admission. She always had diarrhea so all of her feeds were stopped and she was placed on strictly IV fluids. She had a g-tube placed which she got continuous feeds through.She got half of her nutrition through TPN which goes in an IV line called a central line. She had several PICC lines placed.

Her main problem was that she could not absorb nutrients from food and she had chronic diarrhea her whole life. I mean she NEVER had a formed stool in her entire life.

Her other and equally important problem was an immune problem with her B cells. The problem is that even at age 2, no one knew why her body was doing this. The doctors did not have any answers.

She went to Cincinnati Children's because they are the top when it comes to GI and Immunology but they still didn't know why her gut would not take in the nutrition. Also something very interesting is that Abby was born with hair so brittle it would fall out if you touched it. Her organs were affected by her immune disorder as well. Her liver and spleen were very enlarged.

Abby was on several medications, Prograf at one time, Prednisone another time. She got IVIG and Pentamidine every month. She required blood transfusions about once a month and she spent more time in the hospital than out.

She was a very happy girl though. I mean she had a smile that would melt your heart and her hugs made you feel like you were the only person she really loved that much! In April, Abby was admitted to ACH in septic shock. She was placed on a ventilator. She spent 6 weeks there before she passed away.

Abigail died in my arms on May 14, 2008. She was 2 years old.

The week before she passed, I found her diagnosis on OJRD (Orphanet Journal for Rare Diseases). It is called Syndromic Diarrhea, Phenotypic Diarrhea or Tricho-Hepato-Enteric Syndrome. All of the information I have found has been from France.

I am attempting to find others with this syndrome or at least find out if there are any others here in the US. I created this group to hopefully raise awareness about this syndrome and find others who may know something about this fatal condition.

A big "Thank You" to all who have visited this site. May God Bless each and every one of you.

Please visit these sites for more information about Abigail or Syndromic Diarrhea of Early Infancy

www.ojrd.com/content/3/1/6

http://www.todaysthv.com/ Search: Baby Abigail Story

http://www.carepages.com/ Her carepage name is: AbbyGrace2007

Thank You For Praying For a Cure and For Abby's Family!

Mollie

My Friend Heather

I am going to visit my friend Heather. She is 30, mother of 2, and battling a RARE type of cancer of the appendix. Please say a prayer for her. There is a website http://www.fight4heather.com/ you can visit to purchase a shirt to show her support. If you live in LA you can e-mail me and I can tell you a place you can go by and pick one up. ALL of the money from the shirts goes to her family, she was unable to keep her job during her surgery's and chemo treatments.

Here we are in our 'Heather shirts'.

Thanks for saying a special prayer for her today and for days to come. I cannot imagine what she is going through. It is hard enough to be a mom even when you are well & healthy.

The Lord is Good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.
Nahum 1:7



Mollie

My friend Heather...

Please Pray today for my Friend Heather Chandler.

She is 30 years old and visiting MD Anderson all day today! She will go through many tests and talk with many doctors to give her a second opinion of her diagnoses of Cancer of the Appendix.

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17

I pray that she has peace, comfort, and understanding. I know God has many plans for her future and has promised her life and more abundantly.

Thank You for All Your Prayers!!

I Love You Heather!!

Mollie