All that we are thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day and weekend, shared with family and friends, I couldn't ask for more. We are so blessed with all of our parents living in town, so we were able to stay cozy in the comfort of our own home, while getting time with everyone this holiday. There have been some years where our day is just too crazy and instead of soaking up and enjoying our family time, I wish the day away because I am so tired but not this year. The beauty of having two young children is that it is physically impossible to over extend your selves, therefore, you slow down and really enjoy your time.

We went to Ella and Brun's for an early lunch and my dad and Roz joined us. It was a big crowd as always but so wonderful to be with the Tucks, especially Janelle, who this time last year had been in the hospital for almost a month. We are so proud of her and the life that she has made for her and her sweet boys over the last year, post amputation. She is not only back to her beautiful glowing self but she is now doing triathalons and came to the Barksdale's a little late on Thanksgiving because she ran with friends in the Turkey Trot. If that's not inspirational, I don't know what is. She is living and breathing proof that nothing is impossible with God!

Then we came home while the girls napped, I went for an awesome run, the kind where you could keep going forever...I guess all of those carbs at lunch provided great fuel :) Got dressed again and headed to Beece and SanSan's for dinner. Our girls were so good, the whole day, and as you can imagine, Betsy Grace enjoyed every bit of attention that she got from extended family.

I don't think I could actually cover all that I am truly thankful for in a list. Our life is filled with so many blessings and joys, it would be impossible to name them all but there are some at the top of the list.

Here are just a few things that I am thankful for.....

Family that lives in town, especially having my mom so close (less than 2 miles). I really could not imagine living any further away, we see her everyday and she is not only the best mom but the most wonderful grandmother!

Our two sweet girls, who have blessed us more that I ever could fathom. They both have the sweetest nature, little personalities that constantly amaze and their love for each other is abundant.

The health of our entire family. My dad had Melanoma last year and after a couple of procedure, they got it all, praise God. BG's life with achondroplasia continues to be complication free, such a miracle! Our little Sutton Bear, who started her life in the NICU, is healthy,growing strong and seriously about the pass her sister in height. The blessing of health go on and on...

Our incredible friends who are like family. From the oldest friends to the newest, we are surrounded by so much love and support.

The blessing of a warm, safe home and a belly that is satisfied at the end of the day. This time of year brings to light all that are less fortunate and makes me realize all of the things that I tend to take for granted. I watched something on tv the other day about families that are struggling to provide food for their families. The parents go without food, so that there is enough for the children and still at the end of the day, children were saying that they were still hungry. The shocking thing was that these families looked like they could live next door. From the outside, you would never guess their struggles. Their child could be sitting next to mine in school, it was such an eye opener. Makes me remember how important it will be to raise my children knowing and thanking God for our everyday constants!

Like I said, I couldn't begin to list everything, so now I will share pics from our Turkey Day :)

Beece and SanSan

Uncle Brynan (as BG says), Haines and Isabelle

Ella and Brun

Eating her turkey and stuffing at her big girl table

Aunt Lou Lou and Sutton

My amazing grandmother, can you believe that she is 95!

I could just eat that little face up!

The oldest Elizabeth and the youngest Elizabeth

Beece and Sutton

Me with my girls :)

xoxo

Praise Report in a Tough Week

We got the results back from Betsy Grace's CT Scan and everything was normal, YAY!!! It is such a blessing that we have come this far with no complications but it's just a testament to God's amazing grace and protection! Thank you Lord!

I have to admit that this week has been a tough one! Sweet Betsy Grace handled Monday like a trooper but then I had to take her to the doctor on Wednesday for her flu shot and she lost it, I lost it and Sutton was wondering what in the world was going on :) I think it was just too much, too many doctors, too many pokes, too many reassuring words that were just covering up something scary. I felt so bad for her, it is terrible to see your child in fear! She later told me that she didn't feel good but I just think it was her wanting to have some "mommy time".

And then, little miss Sutton has started teething and while I was not prepared to see any poking through any time soon (BG got her first tooth at 8 months), she is getting her fang teeth first! The one on the right is poking through and the left side is just a huge bulge. Guess she is streaming the infatuation with vampires?!?!?

So both girlies have been pretty fussy and pretty needy and I am tired but I have to say that the highlight of all of our day is when daddy walks through the door at night. He is a breath of fresh air, an new source of energy and a whole new subject to focus on, yay for me! Every single day I gain a greater appreciation for single parents.....I don't know how they do it!

Here's our little vampire...sprouting her teeth

Both girls needed me but I needed to go to the bathroom, so I sat them in front of each other and this is what I came back to...BG reading to Sutton :)

BG laughed at her favorite part and Sutton did too!

Cozy with Daddy :)

So glad it's almost the weekend!!!

xoxo

Day is done!

Betsy Grace was such a trooper today! She woke up so excited to go to the doctor with mommy and daddy, got dressed and didn't ask about food or drink one time. It wasn't until about 10:00 am that the procedure actually started and despite a couple of whimpers, she was an angel. Going to sleep before the scan was no fun (for both BG and mommy) and waking up with all of that medicine is certainly no fun but we are so glad that it is done and over! We don't know the results yet but thank you for your wonderful and heartfelt prayers!

xoxo

Calm and quiet weekend before a big Monday

It has been one of those great Fall weekends...lots of family togetherness, lazy mornings filled with snuggling, gorgeous weather that makes you wish it didn't get dark so early and 2 silly little girls that keep us in stitches! We have tried to keep things calm and lowkey around here for Betsy Grace (not so much for Mac and I who were out and about and stayed up late 2 nights in a row, definitely feeling it today...gosh, that makes me sound old!) because tomorrow she has to go under anesthesia for a CT Scan. If Betsy Grace even has so much as a cold or cough, they will cancel the scan, so we have tried to keep to ourselves this weekend.

We have these each year to check for compression (where her spine enters her skull at the base of her neck). People with achondroplasia commonly suffer from compression of the spine due to their overall small size in anatomy but thankfully, we have never had this complication. However, this could change as she grows, so it's best to stay on top of it. She has never had to have general anesthesia during the scan but this time they are taking pictures of multiple positions and the nurse who called for pre-registration said that the procedure would take an hour. Not to mention that she is now a year older, so much more aware and honestly, will be so scared, so I know that it is necessary. Our only experience with her going under was when she had tubes put in and adenoids removed and the memory is one I would like to forget. She woke up unexpectedly as they were rolling her out of the OR, she freaked and threw such a fit that they called me back immediately to try to restrain and calm her. My efforts were not effective and after 45 minutes of singing, rocking and holding her tight, they gave her morphine, which worked to give her the rest that she needed but took about 3 days to get out of her system. So, as you can imagine, I am not really looking forward to tomorrow and will be so glad to have this over and done with! My mom is keeping Sutton and Mac is going with us, so hopefully having mommy and daddy's undivided attention will provide comfort :) Please pray for our sweet girl tomorrow, her procedure is at 9:00 am.

Lots of time spent around the house and lots of silly moments. Today BG has decided that she is ready for summer and insisted on putting on her bathing suit, even if it was on top of her clothes. And yes, she played like this ALL morning....silly, silly girlie!

She can do no wrong in the eyes of her little sister! Sutton thinks Betsy Grace is hilarious and the way that she watches every single move her big sis makes is so cute. And as you can imagine, BG is delighted to have the attention.

xoxo

We are cousins but really are more like sisters....

Betsy Grace's affection for Isabelle or "Izzle"(as BG calls her) is still going strong and I believe that Isabelle is starting to feel the same :) Now that Isabelle is older, stronger and mobile, the hugs that she constantly receives from her adoring cousin bring smiles and laughter. Much better than the looks of fear and terror that we saw last year....BG's hugs were way more like full on tackles, rather than loving embraces :) I cherish that fact that all 3 girls are so close in age and because we live so close to each other, they will grow up together and will probably be way more like sisters than cousins. We gathered at Brun and Ella's this weekend to celebrate Brian's birthday, 37 years young! Betsy Grace was sooooo excited to go to a party and even more excited to be with Izzle...

We LOVE our Izzle!

Sutton Bear watching the big girls...

this time next year she will be right in the middle of the action!

Rockin' out in her chair at Ella and Brun's

Jammin' out some tunes...cutest.duet.ever.

Last weekend we went over the Brian and Haines' before our various Halloween parties and trick or treating, so that we could get a pic of the Barksdale girlies in their costumes...

Cinderella, her Pumpkin and a Goldfish!

Ella and Mommy with the little goblins

Isabelle has a bouncy house...Cinderella had a blast!

Cutest goldfish on the block!

xoxo

4 months old

Sutton turned 4 months on Tuesday!!!

4 months might not seem like much to celebrate but for me it is! I vividly remember from when Betsy Grace was a baby that once she hit 4 months, things became so much fun and a ton easier. All throughout my pregnancy with Sutton, I kept thinking to myself "if I can just get to 4 months, we will be golden" and now, we are finally at the mark. Don't get me wrong, there is something so pure and beautiful about a newborn but there are also a lot unknowns, sleepless nights and fussy hours that make you so thankful when you are beyond it :)

Sutton is so sweet, so good and such a wonderful blessing to our family, it seems so hard to believe that this time last year, I had no clue that I was even pregnant with her! Her newest thing is belly laughing and it is hilarious! She charmed Dr. Swetenburg the other day by not just smiling but full out laughing as he talked to her...gotta love it when your child show off for the pediatrician! She is 25 inches long and weighs 13 lbs, 15 oz...60th percentile for height and 40th for weight. Mac and I joke that she must have gotten the tall genes from my dad's side of the family because height is not in surplus on anyone else's side :) She is eating 5 bottles a day and is sleeping 7:30-7:30! We are not on a nap schedule but maybe that will come over the next month, although it's nice with big sis's busy life that we can just pick up and go and she can sleep where ever. She loves her playmat and the bumbo and prefers to be placed in the center of the room, where she can watch everyone come and go. She is the most content in a room with noise, calmest while in the presence of her big sister, even if it means abruptly waking up due to the noise of a crashing toy. She is still the spit up queen and even though we have made multiple feeding changes and are taking Zantac, I am convinced that only time with take care of the issue. She is never fussy because of her acid reflux, it's just a chore to make 5 outfit changes per day :) She is a love bug for sure and I thank God everyday that he entrusted us with these 2 amazing children!

Happy Girl!

xoxo

So much

There is a lot of hugging and kissing that goes on in our household. Both of my girls are little love bugs and I am always telling them both that I love them so much. So the other day, what came out of BG's mouth melted my heart beyond words.

It was nap time and after I read her a couple of stories, I put her in her bed. She normally smiles up at me and says "Night Night" but today she reached her arms up, like she was going in for a hug and said, in the most tender little voice " Mommy....so much." Love, love, love :)

xoxo