Husband of the Year!

DADDY IS HOME FROM WORK! -WHOO-HOOOO!

HEALTH UPDATE: I am at home and on the mend! Praise the Lord! I had six kidney stones in both of my kidneys, three of which were too large to pass. Well, one of those bigger ones decided to try and come on down the tubes anyway, and got stuck. So, I had surgery for that last Thursday. At that time they put a stint in, because, the doctor said that the stone had done some damage on the way down, and with the abrasion and swelling, if they hadn't the tube would have swollen shut. But, my body rejected the stint and started attacking it, and even though I was already on antibiotics, I came down with a horrible infection in my bladder and UT area. So, they went in on Tuesday and took it out. I had to stay in the hospital for a couple days on IV antibiotics, but now I'm resting nicely at home on medication. It was a very painful experience, but, one that made me appreciate my sweet husband even more. Not only was he attentive, but, he dropped everything to be with me through out the tests and surgeries. In fact, he is the one who diagnosed me. When I first went to the E.R. two Tuesdays ago, they said it was ovarian cysts that were giving me the pain. The CAT scan came back "unremarkable," which means nothing is wrong. Hugh took one look at my scans and marched down there and pointed out how enlarged my right kidney was and showed the radiologist the stone that was lodged. He was furious and told him, he needed to pay closer attention to what he was doing. Now, I have always, always believed in my husband's abilities, and knew he would make a great doctor. He has a wonderful bedside manner that is both warm, calming and soothing. But, now I know first hand just how good he is at his job, and how much he has his patients best interest to heart. He isn't just a good doctor, he is fabulous! Yes, I said it fabulous! And before anyone says, "Well, of course he took extra special care of you, your his wife." Let me assure you that during my stay in the hospital, not a day went by that I didn't have nurses and other doctors take the time to tell me how much they enjoy working with him, what a wonderful doctor he is. I am so lucky in so many ways. And I am so proud to be his wife!

Changes....

Trey and Anna Grace's room.
-We decided to rent while we live here in Ohio for Hugh's residency. I love our little home. It's quaint and cozy, but, it is rather small. The children share a room, because there are only two bedrooms. I originally decorated Trey's room in bright primary colors. When Anna Grace came, I couldn't stand the thought of trying to have two different themes or color schemes in one room. So, I kept the primary color scheme and added pink, yellow and turquoise to the mix. Here are pictures of their room......

I had blankets made for both of them, so that some day they would have a small quilt from their childhood to pass down to their children. Trey's has trains and Anna Grace's has nursery rhymes on it. They share a toy chest and a small book shelf. Also, not pictured is a three tier stand with buckets full of toys that we've since added to their room. It made sorting little toys like cars, puzzles, musical instruments, kitchen food and dishes, baby doll clothes and accessories, Mister Potato Head and Little People so much easier.

Today we made a new change to our little room. We took the railing off the front of their beds. Yeah!!!! They are now officially in their big boy and big girl beds. Trey's has been off for a while, but, with a safety rail. Now they both look the same. They are so excited. And I'm glad to say nap time today went smoothly. Double yeah!!!!

In other news, I am asking for your prayers. I spent most of yesterday in the hospital. I don't want to go into all the details but, after several tests, it seems that I have cysts on both of my ovaries that are causing me to be in a lot of pain right now. I am at home now on medication awaiting one of them to finish tearing and dissolve and heal itself. At least that is my limited understanding of what is going to happen. Anyway, it is extremely painful and I am trying not to be short with the children. It's not their fault. They're not doing anything wrong they're just being a two and three year old. But when they want to crawl all over me or jump up into my lap, it's hard not to just burst into tears right now. And at this point, if they start to cry or whine about something, I think I might just sit down and cry with them. It's just hard when you don't feel good. And it's even harder when you don't have any family around. I can't call Mimi, Nana or even one of my sweet sisters right now to help or relieve me. So I am asking for your long, long distance prayers. They are greatly needed and appreciated at this time. Love Y'all! Blessings all around!

Growing So Fast...

Oh my little ones....It is so wonderful to see them growing and changing every day. But, it is so bitter sweet at the same time. I don't know why, this last month has been a little harder for me. There are just moments that have made me beam with pride and joy, and yet they're followed by a little pang of sadness, because they are growing so fast and they're getting farther and farther away from being babies.

Now, I'm not the kind of mom who is ready to jump on the baby band wagon again, just because I'm having those maternal urges and pangs. I think that would be selfish. Not to say that I wouldn't welcome and embrace any child the Lord desires to give us. But, I have two beautiful children that need my focus and attention, and the best of me. That's what they deserve.But, I can't deny I'm missing the baby stage, that beautiful baby smell, the fat chubby little baby rolls on their arms and legs, and nuzzling their sweet peach fuzzy heads. OK, enough of that...

Just the other night, we took the kids out to dinner, and it was smooth sailing. No wiggle worms, or getting up from their seats. They both ate well, on their own without help, and even had ice cream for dessert. There was no whining, complaining, spills, or accidents. It was a very enjoyable dinner together. It's like we hit this huge milestone with the kids. But, it also made me sad, because I looked at them and they're just getting so big. And they seem to need you a little less everyday. ((sniff))

The other night, when Hugh got off of work, he was sitting on the couch hugging on the kids and he turned to ask me if I had happened to pick up any diet pepsi, from the store. It's his favorite drink and we were out. Well, I thought we were out....Next thing we know Anna Grace opened up the frig, and brought her daddy the last bottle of diet pepsi. She brought it to him and said, "Here daddy." I couldn't help but tear up. She is so sweet and considerate already. And does she ever love her daddy. I think she wraps him a tighter everyday.

Oh my but can she be sassy. I know she gets it from me. Yesterday we took them to Fellowship Gardens armed with cameras. We let them take their own pictures of any plants or flowers they wanted. And of course they wanted to take pictures of us taking pictures of them. hee-hee. Well, on the way home, Trey kept rolling his window down, and it bothered her that she couldn't figure out how to do it on her side. She kept fretting about it and I said, "It's OK sweetie. You're Ok. You don't need it down." Well, that was just not going to work. She announced in a rather sassy little voice, "No, I am not Ok, I want my window down." Down Momma, down!" I looked at Hugh, and said, "No she did not just talk to me that way." And he was like, I think she did." So momma had to break out the Big Eyes, and her low firm voice. I said, "Oh no mam. I don't think so." Then she breaks out her sweet soft little "Please Momma" voice. Hugh laughed, and said Ok now she pulling out all the stops and using her manners. Yes, she already knows how manipulate me. It's so sad, because I can't help but give in. But, later she got into trouble again, because she has gotten in to this habbit of un buckling her seat belt while we are driving. Well Hugh was telling her to sit down, as he was trying to find a place to pull over, and she was just not listening. So, when we did pull over I had to tap her legs and give her a stern talking to, about how we are trying to keep her and brother safe. That's why we wear seat belts and we do not take them off while we are riding in the car. Well, she teared up and said, "Momma, hold you." She reached out and wrapped her little arms around my neck and said, "I wanna hold you." I gave her hugs and kisses and told her that I love her, but, she has to listen to mommy. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just trying to keep her safe.

So, we are entering into new territory. We are not babies any more. No, we are toddlers with oppinions and sometimes attitudes. We are offically ready to be a big boy and girl. Sniff-sniff! No really, I know this is a good thing. It's just hard people, hard!

Summer Fun!

A Picnic in the park with our Play Group.



Summer Fun in the Sand!










DAY TWO ~More Fun ~ Just the Family!

My princess in pink! I love this suit. It has an old fashioned kind of flair.


Our handsome little man.




Have a Happy Summer!

A Very Special Date!

This week my husband surprised me with an unexpected date. He came home Monday night and said that he was taking me some where special the next day. He had it all set up, baby sitter and all. (Extra special brownie points to him for going the extra mile with the babysitting.)

So, after getting the babies settled over at Datha's the next day, we were off to who knows where. Which ended up being Cleveland. We stopped first for lunch at -which was awesome because we had a wonderful lunch and I didn't have to cheat on my diet. I had the wok seared lamb and schezwan asparagus. ~heavenly!~
Then he took me to......The Cleveland Museum of Art. Now this might not seem very romantic to some, but, you have to know me. When I realized that's where we were going, I think I actually squealed. I love art museums. Love them, people. I fell in love with them as a very little girl of about six or seven years old. I've even had the opportunity to visit the Louvre in Paris. I only spent a day there, so I didn't even scratch the surface, but it was magnificent. When we lived in Kansas City, I was a regular at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Of course, I did work right down the street on the plaza, for a while. Spending a day at the museum falls under a perfect day for me. It just makes me happy being surrounded by beautiful things. And I'm just lucky my husband enjoys it as well, or at least enjoys indulging my weakness for culture and art. Hugh said he knew he had to take me when one of the doctors at the hospital told him it was one of the most distinguished, comprehensive art museums here in the United States. And it did not disappoint. I couldn't believe that I actually got to see Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Pollock, Miro, Warhol, and O'Keeffe all in one place, among many, many others. Her are a few of our favorites....
This room is called the Armor Court. It was a walk through history. The tapestries that flanked the walls were my favorite.
This is one of the three panels that make up the painting Water Lillies by Monet. One of the other panels is at the Nelson Atkins museum in Kansas City.
Pollock's #5.
This bust is called Harlem boy by Augusta Savage.
Grey and Gold by John Rogers Cox.



Lot's Wife by Anselm Kiefer.

This is my favorite. It is so moving. -A barren, scorched landscaped with converging railroad tracks fills the lower portion of the piece. Over a substructure of lead mounted on wood, Kiefer attached a thickly plastered and painted canvas, burned in a number of places and covered with a thin layer of ash. Above, a solution of salt was applied to the lead support in the upper half of the work, creating an abstract, suggestively eerie sky.

The painting has been interpreted in numerous ways. The railroad tracks refer to the Holocaust; the transformed landscape is a metaphor for human suffering; and the heating coil alludes to the warming of the global environment. In the upper panel, the use of salt suggests the biblical lesson of Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying his warning not to look back at God's destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

I had such a wonderful time. It was perfect. But the best part was just having a few quiet moments alone with my husband. Thanks sweetie! I love you so much. You're the best!

If I Were A.......

A Flower, I'd Be A Lime Light Hydrangeia

I love their beautiful white color, with just a tinge of green. In the fall, the blosoms turn pink. Their beautiful coloring depends on how you prepare the soil. Very symbolic of a well cultivated spiritual life.

A Song, I'd Be I've Got You Under My Skin by: Chris Botti Featuring Katharine McPhee.

I love Chris Botti's music. It's a combination of classic and modern, with a touch of bluesy jazz thrown in. It's very sensual. And Katherine McPhee has such a lovely voice. I love her rendition of this Frank Sinatra classic.

A Drink, I'd Be A Cherry Limeade.


A Food, I'd Be Pasta


A Movie, I'd Be Steel Magnolias

I love the dynamic of the relationships and friendships in this movie. It's funny and heartbreaking at times. I've known women like this; strong, beautiful, intelligent and classy. Others who are little kooky and eccentric, but, always loyal and loving.

A Book, I'd be Gone With The Wind.


A Time of Day, I'd Be Dusk.


A Place, I'd Be some place historical and romantic.




A Jewel, I'd be a Saphire.

A Gadget, I'd Be An IPOD

A Piece Of Clothing, I'd Be A Little Black dress (with accesories of course.)I guess technically that wouldn't be a piece of clothing, but I couldn't help myself. I like a simple, but, elegant style.








A Shoe, I'd Be A Cute Pair of High Heels!

Isn't this fun? Why Not Give It A Try! Tag You're It!