When it rains, it pours...

At least that is what everyone always says.

Well, Payton now has a fever virus (104 was the highest today).

Need I say more....

Sulfur Allergy!!!

Well, I so wish that I could make this post as ellaborate in wording as some of my fellow posters do, but, don't get your hopes up because I can't.

I know a few posts back I was down and aggravated about my health and ready to run away, well the saga continues. When I had that eye infection (cellulitis) they put me on tons of Bactrim (a sulfur based antibiotic). I was taking massive amounts to try and keep me from going into the hospital. I started feeling really bad on it though and quit taking it 3 days after I started. Praise the Lord that I did!!!! Now let me explain why....

About a week ago I came up with some spots on my stomach that looked like poison ivy. I did the normal thing to treat it but for the life of me couldn't figure out how I had gotten it. It only worsened until I finally made myself go to the doctor, yet again, to get a cortisone shot. That was this past Monday. (I still wasn't convinced it was poison ivy.) Last night I was up all night scratching and the rash had now spread all up my back and down onto my hips and legs. So, needless to say, I called the doctor back this morning and they wanted to see me. When I got there the doctor said I was definitely having a reaction to something but I couldnt' figure out anything I had changed. In talking to him (more like my rambling on and on to him) I told him I ever had anything normal with me in dealing with my health. I told him my stye had turned into cellulitis and he literally stopped me midsentence and asked me what they had given me for that. I told him Bactrim and if there could have been a light bulb above his head it would have turned on brightly at this point. He said, "that's it, you're highly allergic to sulfur".

So I am on more drugs, steroid pills, a pill to try and help the itch and any ointment that makes me more comfortable (which would be none!!). I literally feel like someone is scratching my skin with lit matches!!!!

Pray for comfort and sleep please!!!

Payton's First Day of 3K

Yesterday was PayPay's first day of 3K and she had the best time. She was so happy when she woke up and she couldn't wait until the time I told her to get into the car. She was super excited about her teacher, Mrs. Jennifer, and all of her friends in her class. She is going 3 days a week this year and looking very forward to it. Her daddy had flowers and a balloon for both girls on their first day. He is the best!!

She also has her very first gymnastics class today... pictures to come after of course.

Here's my baby... growing up too quickly...

My Kindergartner

Today was Emi's first day as a 5 year old kindergartner.

Can I just say that she was a little excited about it?

She woke up first at 5:30 and wanted to know if it was time to get up. I convinced her to go back to bed and ended up having to wake her up at 7:30. She was so cute and couldn't wait to get there.

So amidst the nasty, rainy weather outside, we had very sunny spirits inside.

She had a great first day and I know we are going to love Mrs. Marcia a lot!!!

You are an example to others... like it or not

Bryan and I have been married for almost 8 years (so hard to believe) and we have both grown and changed in so many ways. We have always been involved in our church and each with our own groups but watching how much we have actually grown over the years and to see the fruit of it in our children is pretty amazing. I can only imagine how Jesus feels when He looks down and we are "pleasing" him with our actions.

Bryan started reading a Bible Story each night with the 2 older girls and giving them a time of question and answer about the story. They really look forward to this time with their daddy every night. He sits on each of their beds and reads a story on each bed. Then they have their time of prayer with him and then he prays for them. Such a neat tradition he has started and I know it is one of GREAT value.

Tonight, I went in to tell them goodnight after he was done and told the girls they needed to pray for Graci because she hadn't slept well last night and didn't nap well today (sidenote: i am never going to get any sleep).

Here is the rest of the scenario:

Emi: I need to get on my knees and pray like we do sometimes in choir mommy.
Me: That would be nice. (as she kneels down between their beds)
Emi: Dear Jesus, as we come to you tonight, we thank you for hearing our prayers.
**okay, I started crying then... she was modeling her daddy's prayers**
I pray for Graci and thank you that she gets a good night sleep and that mommy will too.
Thank you for loving us. Amen
Payton: (as she gets down on her knees) Dear Jesus, thank you for helping Graci's ear to feel
better. We love you.

All I can say is, we follow by looking at someone as our example. This is something that has "bothered" me when I think about raising 3 girls in today's world. Bryan and I have had many late night talks about the responsibility given to us when we brought these precious girls into the world. I need to be the example they see for being a Christian mom and wife. Bryan needs to be the example they see for boyfriend / husband material. We, together, need to be the example they see as marriage the way God intended it.

I can just say, I am thankful for the example Bryan is setting now. For me and the girls. He is leading by being the example. Nothing more, and nothing less. It convicts me when I haven't spent any time in the Word or in prayer and it is convicting the girls when they say/do different things during the day.

Bryan, you are a true gift from God to me. Looking back over the last 10 years of our relationship, we have learned a lot and grown a lot. You are an amazing friend, husband, father and leader and I thank the Lord for you everyday. Love you Bry!!!!

Buckmaster Expo

Today was a daddy-daughter day for Emi and Payton. We got up this morning and I got them dressed in their "Bass Pro Shop" tshirts and big pink bows (of course) and they headed off to Montgomery to be with their daddy at the Buckmaster Expo. They met some very dear friends of ours down there. Deer, guns, tshirts, food, icecream, a bear statue at Bass Pro Shop and so much more. They had a great time!!! So why does Bryan need a boy???? HE DOESN'T :) Thankfully, his girls are right in there like their mommy was when I was little. Prissy when the time called for it, but TomBoy all the way when needed. I love my girls!!! And not only that, my husband ROCKS!!! I have trained him so well. He took his camera and took the pictures so I could put them on my blog and in my scrapbook!! He is the best!!!

And while they were gone, I started painting my bathroom (thanks for the incentive A). I painted while Graci napped and then we headed out to the new Publix - it was soooo neat!!! Helena is gonna have to do some updating now.

Summer fun and the BEST cupcakes

I can't believe that summer is almost over. :(

We have had the best time just going to the pool and hanging out with friends. The girls are literally fish in the water now. Graci is jumping off the diving board right along with her big sissys and thinking she is just as big as they are. The water wings are truly bigger than her whole head, but she doesn't seem to care that much. Not only that, she seems to take the best naps (3 hours today) after swimming for a couple of hours in the morning. I don't know what we are going to do in a couple of weeks when the big girls start school and our whole schedule changes. This ought to be interesting!!!

As far as the best cupcakes... I won't mention any names (cough cough J Vines) but I had to put these pictures up of my sweet girl enjoying every single bit of her yummy cupcake at her cousin's party. She of course wouldn't touch her own at her first birthday and really hasn't cared much for them since, but now that she has tasted the BEST cupcakes ever, she is totally in love with them - you go Graci!!! (and of course, Emi and Pay have always loved them...you can see the remnants on their faces!)

THANKS J!!!!!!! - Love Graci

Olympics....maybe one day

Can I just say that we are loving watching the Olympics. It is so much fun to watch the girls as they are glued to the tv during the swimming, diving and of course, gymnastics!! Emi is so funny. She is constantly asking questions about everything they are doing. "When did they start? how old are they now? What's that called? How long before I can do that?" and so on and on..... The scary thing is, that if she keeps up with this training schedule she is on, she could be in the 2020 Olympics. That is just kind of freaky to me!!! The training program she is on is one that when she turns 7, she will be on the TOPS team and they are on an Olympic training schedule. Someone from USA Gymnastics was talking about our gym and how they were watching our TOPS team closely for some people that could possibly be in the 2012 or 2016 Olympics. Pretty cool!!! Not sure if that is where God is leading, but we will do whatever she is wanting and whatever HE wants us to do.

Fun with cousins

I know I am probably overwhelming the blogging world, if there is anyone even reading this. But it is for me and I wanted to get all of this down. My sweet sister-in-law called and we met her and her 2, Anna Reed and Gates, at Chick Fil A the other day for lunch and then they came over and spent the whole afternoon. We had a great time. The kids played and laughed a lot. It was too hot to be outside so we just stayed in and played on Emi's new gymnastics mat that she got for her birthday. Here are the results from our pyramid attempts. Too funny!!!

Payton's Last Dance Class

Payton had her last day of dance for the summer session and she had the best time. Her teachers, Ms. Melissa and Ms. Ashlee, let them all dress as princesses for a party and to dance in their dresses. Payton thought this was the coolest thing ever! I registered her for dance for the fall and as of right now, she wants to do it. She is only interested in the recitals though, let's pray she enjoys the practice and doesn't freak on the recital. Doesn't she make a beautiful ballerina though?

Emi is 5!!!!

I know I am a week late at posting this, but my baby girl turned 5 on July 31. She was so cute and so excited about finally being 5. I think she thought some fireworks or something were going to go off when the day came. She almost seemed disappointed when nothing "spectacular" happened. Of course I was just in shock that she was already 5 years old. It all seems to have flown by.

I was still feeling so bad and I wanted it to be a special day for her, so I did all I could do and it ended up being a VERY special day.

First, Bryan took her and Payton to breakfast before he left to go out of town for the weekend. They went to Chick-Fil-A which is their favorite. Then Emi had gymnastics practice, which of course she was super excited about, and she was thrown into the Pit by her team. She had been looking forward to that for weeks. Then Aunt Jen, Will & Brooks showed up and met us all at gymnastics. We went to Sonic and enjoyed some ice cream. We then went home and she actually took a nap for an hour. That night she had an extra special treat because I just really wasn't feeling good. She got to go and spend the night with her cousins, Will and Brooks, and be with Aunt Jen and Uncle Shane. She had the BEST time. They took her for a milkshake and just gave her some extra special birthday loving!!! (Thanks guys!!)

We also had her birthday party. It was a pool party at my moms and we had the best time! It was soooooo hot but I think she really enjoyed the day. She loves swimming so much and she is just a little fish, as are Payton and Graci. She loves jumping off the diving board and swimming under water as far as she can. She has learned how to play a couple of games and just all in all is a little "water bug". Thanks to all of you that came and made her party so special. We had a GREAT time!!!