It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Practicing for Christmas morning!

The excitement is building in our house....the tree is up and today we should be able to finish stringing the popcorn for the tree. Once we are done I will post the completed picture! This is just a preview.....For some reason Vince is always the one taking pictures and I never have any of him.....So, I thought I would share this. When Vince started teaching, 17 years ago, the art students made ornament representing all of the teachers. This was the one they did for Vince. We have treasured this throughout the years! He is so handsome.......

Thanksgiving Travels

The holidays and cars don't seem to mix in our house. A few days before Thanksgiving I had a run in with a deer. It completely messed up my car. How much more can my poor Mazda endure....I think I should not ask that question.......

We wanted to go home to VA and at the last minute we found a van to rent so we could all go together. Look at these happy faces! They were loving this ride...We had so much fun getting to spend a few days at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Uncle Mark was able to come from PA to join in the fun as well. Thanksgiving dinner was even more special because it was shared with our family.
I couldn't even fit it all on the plate. Where is my cranberry sauce and the incredible rolls that Mom and I made. Lets just say that it was some of the best cooking ever this year.

We held to tradition and decorated the Christmas tree for Grandma and Grandpa. This is one of my favorite things to do. Most of all of the decorations are so filled with my childhood memories. They are all homemade or have been made by others to go on the tree. Each ornament has a story.
After we decorated, Uncle Mark got out his guitar and we sang Christmas carols. It was so much fun. Then Uncle Mark gave us a concert. He is amazing!

Our trip came to an end too soon. Saying goodbye is never an easy thing to do......Thanks for the wonderful Thanksgiving memories. We will treasure them forever.

New Moon Celebration

Yes....I am a "Twilight Saga" junkie! I waited faithfully and entire year for the movie New Moon to come out. We celebrated Bella's birthday with this delicious Elegant Raspberry Cake. It was incredible. All of our friends gathered to have some New Moon fun prior to heading to the movies. There is nothing that compares to sharing wonderful moments with friends.

Vince even shared in the fun by creating a New Moon trivia game that he hooked up to the big TV in the living room! That was awesome. Of course our wonderful evening culminated with our trip to the movies. Berkley and I had already seen it the night before but we so enjoyed it even more the second time.

Time to start planning our "Eclipse" graduation party next!

Fields Landing.....

Sometimes you just need to step away from all the noise and distractions of every day living and head to a quiet place and just be.....

Tyler enjoyed some fishing
with his dad on the dock...

Berkley and Madilyn playing in the sand....

Berkley's beautiful sand creation.....

Madilyn just hanging out having some fun!

What a magical day we had on election day.....it would have been easy to just stay home and listen to all of the news debates on who the winners would be. But, it was worth the effort to load everyone up and head to Fields Landing.......

the..... Best BBQ Sauce Ever......

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 cup Heinz ketchup (a must for us)
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chili sauce (Heinz is a good one)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2-3/4 tablespoon celery seed
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 dashes hot pepper sauce

Directions

1. In a saucepan, saute the garlic in butter until tender.
2. Add the next 8 ingredients.
3. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
4. Remove from the heat and set aside.

I like to use boneless chicken and I pound it out even to get it to cook just right. I also like to marinate it for a few hours to really let the flavor soak into the chicken. I was a little hesitant to use hot pepper sauce because I am not a big fan of it but it really is the needed ingredient to give this sauce its unique flavor and zing.......

Halloween Fun

The annual carving of the pumpkins took place despite Madilyn having a bad case of strep throat. Of course, we had a hard time deciding how to carve them. Madilyn and I decided to do a boo face again this year.

Berkley craved her pumpkin completely by herself this year.....she found a bat pattern on the internet and created this masterpiece......Way to Go Berkley!

Tyler choose not to carve his pumpkin this year so Vince decided to create one this year....He was so proud of his work....can you tell?

Halloween came and went without much fan fair this year. Vince and Berkley had to go to our favorite "Trunk or Treat" activity without us since Tyler and Madilyn were both sick. The rains decided to fall most of the day and we only a few spooks at our door. Maybe next year we will be without the crude and be back to our normal Halloween activities!

Just some thoughts.....

It is a beautiful fall morning here in Georgia. The leaves are really beginning to turn and the scene is spectacular. As I was driving this morning, I was caught up in the beauty of it all and thought about how blessed I am.

This is a magical time of year as we head into the Holiday Season. This year I hope that my life truly reflects my appreciation for all that I have and all that others have done to bless my life.

Today is all about counting those blessings.....My greatest joy is my family: Vince, Berkley, Tyler and Madilyn. The circle continues with my parents and Deneim and her family and Mark. Then it reaches out to Vince's Family and goes out to all those whom we love. My heart is full.

And the rains came down.......

It is raining again in Georgia.....in fact, it has been raining most of the day. After my experience earlier this week with the flood, I am not quite ready to call it liquid sunshine. For me, the rain has a new meaning.....my heart begins to race, sweat beads up on the back of my neck and my palms ache. In fact, everything hurts just thinking about facing the rain.

I have learned some powerful lessons about water and the value of life. I hope to be able to articulate the thoughts in my head someday. Right now, I am still not able to.

I can say....I am blessed beyond measure. My husband bought me a beautiful home for our 16th Anniversary. Berkley and Tyler are doing so well in school. Madilyn still is recovering from all her adventures. Spinal surgery is behind us and we are in our second cast this fall in hopes of finally healing her broken foot. Vince is busy coaching middle school football and starts coaching the swim team at the high school in the middle of October.

For me, I am grateful to be given another minute, day, week, month, year.....to be with my family. I love them dearly. They are what pulled me from the panic to try to get out of the water this week when my car was under it.

So, here is to blogging again. So, now I will focus on writing the best story ever.......my happily ever after. It is in reach........I can just feel it......

A Tender Moment.....

I had to share this experience. Madilyn and I were sitting in the living talking. She decided to sing me the "Beans" Song that she had learned from her friends. When we sing it in our house we don't say the last word and instead we make a funny word for the "stinker" sound. Anyhow, then she told me about the middle finger. I gasped....Where did you learn that? Then she told me one of the awfullest words ever. I about freaked out. My heart about failed I think.

Madilyn told me the three little girls in our circle where telling her these things. I explained that those things are not appropriate and they make Heavenly Father very sad when we talk like that. I also told her that if those words were spoken again then we would have to stop playing with our neighbors for a while. She started crying. We hugged for a long time.

The amazing thing was this. All of a sudden she told me she needed to talk to Heavenly Father and asked if it was ok with me. I said of course she could talk to him. She proceeded to close her eyes and offer a very precious prayer and asked him to forgive her for saying that word and help her to never say it again. Then she closed her prayer and looked up to the sky. She then smiled an angels smile. Her countenance returned to the joyful face she always has.

I am so grateful that I was able to share such a moment with her. I am grateful that she new that she could stop what she was doing and speak to her Heavenly Father at that very moment and she had confidence that he would listen. I was blessed to be apart of this experience. Now it seems I have a lecture to give to the rug rats who play in my yard and garage!

Off to Girls Camp.....

Girls Camp....could there be any greater experience on earth?.....I think not. I could not wait to return to camp each year. It was the best week ever. Well, somehow that enthusiasm has been passed on to Berkley. She has been preparing for this week ever since she got home last year. This morning she kept waking me up and I kept begging for 5 more minutes in my bed. I must have been really tired because I never do that.

Her smile this morning lite up the house. She even made her own lunch and had it ready before I got downstairs. At one point I had to tell her to chill. She was driving me crazy. At last we loaded the car and headed out the door.

There was no long goodbye. She was ready to get going. Madilyn though was not happy about letting her go. Tears flowed freely down her face. She will miss her sister. I will miss her sister. I did give her lots of advice....stay out of trouble (LOL), choose your victims carefully, never get caught being naughty, smile lots and have the time of your life. What more could I say other than.....don't do anything your mother hasn't already done......What was I thinking?

Scout Camp

There is silence coming from Tyler's room today. I woke him up at 1:30 am to tell him how much I loved him before I left for work this morning. I was sure that I would not make it home in time to tell him "goodbye". As I was reminding him of all the important things, he reached out and told me he would miss me and gave me the best hug ever. I left for work feeling like I was someone important.

I was amazed to find that my papers were ready and waiting when I arrived to the warehouse. I checked the time and somehow there was a real possibility that I could make it to the church in time to say one last "goodbye". I know.....one should be enough. But, this is the first time that Tyler has gone away for home for an extended period of time. He is headed to his first experience at Boy Scout camp. This may not be a big deal to some but for me it is everything.

Tyler is my boy. When I found out I was pregnant with him I about lost it. I didn't know how to take care of a boy. I didn't know if I could take care of a boy. Well, it took only one look at him after he was born for me to know that all of my worries were silly. He instantly won a spot within my heart.

So, today, I am feeling a little out of sorts. I miss my Tyler. I am not sure if I like this growing up stuff or not. I hope that he remembers to brush his teeth and use soap while taking a shower. I did remind him many times that swimming in the lake does not count as a proper shower. The list of things I tried to tell him could go on forever. I feel much like a momma bird when her baby takes flight and soars from the nest.

My wish for Tyler is nothing but the best. I hope and pray that he loves every moment of his experience. For me, I simply pray that I will make it through the week without too many tears!

Motherhood.....

Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of being a mother. I remember playing dress up with my mothers prom dress and feeling like a princess. I was tutored at my mothers side my entire life. She is my hero. My mothers house was always sparkly clean. She could cook the most simplest meal but present it like a feast ready to be set before a King. Her energy was endless and her ability to love was infinite. Not only did she care for our family she even found time to watch 12 other children during our growing up years. Each one became apart of our family. Each one was loved in a unique and special way. My mom dedicated her life to her family. Her family is her greatest work. I know that one day she will be rewarded for her efforts.

On this most special day, Mother's Day, I express gratitude for the one person who has had the greatest influence in my life, my mother. I hope that I might be more like her. I hope that I will be able to love my children and teach them the way that my mother taught me.

I am engaging in my greatest work, Motherhood. I love my children. Berkley, Tyler and Madilyn have changed my life. They have challenged me to expand my capacity for love. I am grateful that my prince swept me off my feet almost 16 years ago. I am grateful that we together were able to bring our beautiful children into this world. They are a gift from above. Motherhood is not the easiest job in the world. It is hard. Yet, I love every moment of every second of every day. I love my home and my life. So today, I celebrate my Mom and I celebrate the opportunity that I have been given to be a Mom.

The Ants go marching ......

Today I was in rush mode and it took some ants to stop me in my tracks. Yep, some ants. I had to take a time out and deal with ANTS!

I have come to believe that the great state of Georgia was built on a "Ant Hill". This time of year they go crazy. I have tried to be nice and have asked them to stay out of my house. Today that method proved to be not very effective. So, with spray in hand and my vacuum cleaner I went after those little creatures. At the end of my crazed killing spree, I felt like I had just been to battle and then was required to climb the highest mountain and post my flag on the top. I was so tired. Yet, I was victorious.

That may not seem like a lot but to me it was a great achievement. The only problem is that once I shut them out in one place they get smart and find another way to enter my home. So, I celebrate my victory today and will rest so I will be prepared for tomorrow's battle!

Kindergarten....Oh my!

Today was a very special day. Madilyn and I went to Holly Springs Elementary School to finally complete her registration. Yep, that is right. Madilyn is really old enough to start school. How did that happen? It seems like yesterday that I was walking around pregnant and anxiously waiting for her arrival to our family. It was a perfect March day when she was born. She was our third miracle. Her life has been a blessing. I am not ready to let her go but I know I have to let her go an experience this new chapter in her life.

We have been together since she was born. I have rarely been away from her side. I only left her for 5 hours a night when she was in the NICU after she was born. Those hours were tortuous to me. I thought I would not survive our separation. I was forced to leave her again when she was in the PICU after her first spinal surgery. That was so difficult. Since then, I have only spent one night away from her to care for Berkley in the hospital last summer.

It seems that maybe I am in more need of her than she knows. She is my little helper and my sunshine during the day. Berkley and Tyler each had that role before her. One by one I had to let them go venture out into the world of education. Now, it is Madilyn's turn. On August 3rd, she will be entering school. I am already nervous. I might have gotten a few more gray hairs today. My stomach was feeling a little queezzy also.

Madilyn is ready for the challenge. I still have a few months to prepare myself. I think I should go ahead and start purchasing stock in Klenex now!

Strawberries, Strawberries and more Strawberries!

I simply love those little red, juicy, yummy little things. I have nothing but the fondest memories of being a kid and going to the "Strawberry Farms" to pick flat after flat of fresh strawberries. At the little market, at the entrance of the farm, we used to buy fresh

strawberry donuts that were always eaten before we got home.

Here in Atlanta there is a huge farmers market. A bunch of the girls from church venture down during the Spring and Summer months to find great fruits and veggies for us to enjoy. Yesterday happened to be the "Strawberry" run. I had three flats of strawberries staring at me and daring me to make something wonderful out of them. So, that is what I did.

I decided to slice a bunch of the strawberries and then puree some to pour over them. They smelled so good and now I have fresh berries in my freezer. Now we can enjoy "Strawberry Shortcake" with ease.

Today I splurged and made a family favorite....Strawberry Refrigerator Cake! I am sharing this recipe with all of you. It is pure heaven. I hope that you enjoy!


Strawberry Refrigerator Cake
Cake:
1 Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Strawberry Supreme Cake Mix
2 10 oz packages sweetened, frozen sliced strawberries, thawed

Topping:
1 package (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 cup milk
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
fresh strawberries, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x 9 inch pan.

Prepare, bake and cool the cake according to package instructions. Poke holes in cake 1 inch apart with the handle of a wooden spoon. Puree thawed strawberries with juice in blender. Spoon mixture evenly over cake allowing the mixture to soak into the holes.

Prepared pudding mix following package instructions using 1 cup of cold milk. Fold whipped topping into pudding mixture. Spread over cake. Garnish with fresh strawberries.

Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

When Insurance Companies Fail to Care for Our Children

Anger....Frustration....more Anger. Tomorrow morning Madilyn was scheduled to have a MRI on her spine to rule out the possibility of her having another Tethered Spinal Cord. I received a call late this evening informing me that her MRI has been canceled due to the insurance company not approving it. After trying to calm my nerves I proceeded to call anyone I could get a hold of. First, it was the person who left a message from Children's Hospital. Of course, I got a voice mail. Then I called the insurance company. I was informed that a third party company approves all MRI's and I would have to speak to them. I get person after person. Then I had a lady tell me that it was not approved. Needless to say, I lost it. By the time I ended my rant, I politely told her I hope that she never has a child with Spina Bifida. I told her that insurance companies and agencies like them do not care about the families with children who have special needs. I let loose every ounce of my frustration and was told sorry the doctors office will have to call them.

Today was not the day for this. Especially since Madilyn has no control of her bowels. I have changed her 5 times today. She is 5. She is frustrated and I have waited as patiently as possible to get this MRI. WE need to figure out what is happening to her. Does any care? Does anyone care that her nerves could be compressed at this very moment and once nerve damage occurrs it does not return? Is it because we are honest hard working people and are trying to take care of our daughter that we can't get the care for her she needs? I don't know those answers.

I do know that life is testing me to my mortal limits right now. I have all but lost faith in our Healthcare System. I have done the honest route and it has gotten me no where. I have a child that I would walk to the ends of the earth for and back again if I could make her life better. Does anyone care? Do those who sit in there high places in Washington care? No they don't. I am tired of the petty nature of those who are incharge in this nation. I am tired of Insurance companies that make life so hard even when you pay for their services. I am tired.

Maybe I just need to go to bed. I need to close this day before my head explodes. I am Madilyn's Mom. I am the Mother of an Angel. I pray for her safety and the patience and understanding to deal with those who push me to the edge of my sanity.

Pay It Forward!

I just thought this would make for a nice return to the "Blogging Universe". I have missed it dearly. Finding time to balance all the craziness of my life has been a challenge over the past few months. But, what I have discovered is that if I don't make the time to do the things I love darkness tries to overtake me. So, today, I dare to walk back into the light. To recognize the good things that fill my days and appreciate the craziness that is my life. Won't you join me?

Pay It Forward!
If you want to participate great, if not... no big deal. Here is how to play. The first 3 people to post on this blog will receive a handmade "pay it forward" gift from me.This is how it works...So, if anyone out there is up for the challenge...
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me.
2. Winners must post this challenge on their own blog, meaning that you will pay it forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift that you send to your 3 friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember it’s the spirit and the thought that counts!
4. When you receive your gift, blog about it!

If you are not one of the first three to comment on this post, you can still play along.Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! It's all about paying it forward.

Let the Challenge begin!

Ah....Fiddlestxs!

There is a new sport at the Fields house! Yep, everyone is getting really excited. This weekend Berkley and Tyler embarked on a new sports adventure......Lacrosse. I don't know much about the sport other than you use a stick and a ball but it looks like it is going to be fun. Lots of running which makes me a happy momma. Why? Well, kids are supposed to run and play and be outside having fun. Kids aren't just meant to sit in front of the TV or be entertained by the computer or Playstation. I am so excited that we have found something they love and will give them some good cardio activity. I guess I will have to jump in and learn all about it so I can actively participate in conversation and help out with improving our skills in the backyard. I am sure this will be an adventure. Madilyn even got her own set of little sticks to learn with called Fiddlestxs. That just cracks me up! So, happy playing.

Time keeps rolling along.....

Wow....How has some many days passed and I haven't had a moment to sit down and write my thoughts. As I sit here I am thinking about how quickly time passes. We just celebrated Tyler's 12th birthday last Thursday. It still doesn't seem possible that he could have turned 12. I am so silly sometimes. I didn't have the heart to take down all the decorations until today. I figured I needed to since Berkley's birthday is on the horizon. We need a least a week break before we do it all over again.

Vince's mother and her husband Don visited with us this weekend. It was a wonderful time in our house full of the excitement of having company. I think that Grandma and Don were exhausted after such a weekend. Grandma was taught how to play King Frog. I am sure she will never forget such an experience.

Berkley and Tyler also got to sign up to play Lacrosse! They are so excited and so are we. It will be much easier with them playing the same sport. Practices are on the same day and games are on the same day. This will be awesome cardio as we get geared up for swim season.

Madilyn is still my snuggle buddy. She woke up this morning with a bad cold and wasn't quit like herself. I am hoping she will sleep peacefully tonight. She is still recovering from her broken foot. Yep, that foot is still swollen. But, she is still smiling and as happy as ever.

Vince is back to morning football workouts. I have volunteered to drive the kids to school so they don't have to go so early with there dad. Do you know how many weeks it is until the 1st game of the next season? Well.....I am not sure either. I will have to ask Vince and get back to you.

Me, I am still plugging along. I did get a job with the newspaper. No, I am not writing for it....I am going to be delivering it. This is just a temporary thing just to help out with some of our overwhelming medical stuff. I might be a little fruity adjusting to the early morning hours. But, I am never one to not do something when it needs to be done. So, I accept this challenge and will smile because I am able to do it for my family. Nothing is more important to me than loving my family.

As you can see, our life is very full right now. The house is quiet and I should be headed off to bed. I will close this post. I will let this day end and I will retire with a grateful heart. Our life is full of challenges right now, but it is still a wonderful happy life. The sun is shining upon us even when the clouds just seem to want to linger.

It's Tylers Birthday....Shout Hooray!

Hey Tyler! Do you know what day it is?

It's your Birthday! Wake Up! It's time to Celebrate!

The "Tyman" requested homemade buttermilk drop biscuits and gray
for his Birthday breakfast. I must say, those biscuits were AWESOME!
As you can see, we go all out with decorating for Birthdays!
It's going to be a magical day......

Tyler is just reflecting on this exciting day!
I knew he would love the decorations.

Yeah, I even put a sign on the inside of the front door.
I thought it would be exciting when he came down
the stairs and saw this first thing! I think he liked it.....

That's my Tyler. Today at 8:03 am, it became official and he turned 12 years old. It is a tradition in our house to tell their story of their birth. I have now be telling Tyler his story for 12 years. Now, I will share it with everyone.

When I found out I was pregnant with Tyler, Berkley was only 14 months old. I was happy and scared all at the same time. My first appointment with Dr. Gorrell didn't go so well. Tyler's heart rate was too low and it was very scarey. They were not sure if he would make it. I was feeling really good until the next morning. The day after that visit, I started vomiting and didn't stop for the next three months. Needless to say, everything was ok. At 12 weeks pregnant, I had an appendicitis attack and was rushed into surgery. The doctors could not guarentee me that Tyler would survive the surgery. After a blessing and a prayer offered by Dr. Gorrell, I was taken into surgery with Dr. Greene. I had to spend several days in the hospital but, once again, Tyler made it. I prayed that the Lord would keep Tyler safe and he has. Somehow we both made it to the delivery day. I got to choose Tyler's birthday!

The day Tyler was born was magical indeed. Uncle Mark and Grandpa were racing across county from California to make it to Virginia for the big day. The arrived sometime around 3:00 am that morning. Vince and I made a quick stop at the Wal-mart and picked up some batteries for the camera and a phone card. I remember it so well. Nobody was very friendly at 5:00 am. After our stop we headed to the hospital. After all the pre-op work was done we rolled into the operating room for the C-section. I panicked on the table because I couldn't feel myself and they had to stabilize me. My heart went crazy and then I started throwing up! Vince offered me a play by play of what was happening but was asked to stop by the Anesthesiologist. Somehow I survived the experience and Tyler was delivered at 8:03 am. There is no sweeter sound than that first cry! The tears that streamed down my face were tears of sheer joy!

Vince once again got to be the first to enjoy our newborn. He was able to carry him to the nursery while I was being stitched back together. Vince also brought him to me in recovery. He was the cutest baby in the world. He was here. All the fears I had about being able to care for a boy dissolved and I was immediately head over heals in love with this most handsome little guy.

I love remembering these things. I am so proud of my Tyler. He is my son. He is a good person with a kind heart. He is a deep thinker and I can tell when he is concerned about something. He loves history and learning about the past. One day, I will not be surprised if he is a great General! I would follow him into battle any day. He is couragous and is a defender of truth. I pray that this new year will be filled with great things for you Tyler. We love you and wish you a wonderful, magical Happy Birthday!

God Bless America....

Today is an historic day in our nations history. The changing of the guard has taken place. It was done with dignity and grace. One President closes his chapter in history and another opens the door to a new future. As our new President takes office, I am pausing to ask our Heavenly Father above for his continued blessings on this "Great Nation". This is my home. I am an American. I am deeply grateful for the freedoms I so enjoy here on this great land. Today as I watched the events unfold in Washington DC, I am reminded of how much I love that wonderful place. I was so blessed by being able to grow up in that area. I am grateful for all the experiences that I had there. Thank you Mom & Dad for the courage to move to Washington when you got married. It was a blessing in my life.










I also feel that it is very appropriate to express my gratitude to President Bush. I hope everyone will pause and express thanks whether you supported him or not. He was our President. The office of the President deserves our respect. We can disagree is we like but in the end I feel it is our job to still respect the office. So, to President Bush, I say Thank You. A special Thank You to your wife for her example of elegance and grace.
I will now offer prayers in behalf of our new President. Whether I voted for him or not, he is our new President. I will disagree with him when I feel it is right. However, I will respect the office in which he holds. That is what America is about and I am an American.

Updates and such....

Well, I am finally getting a turn on the computer. After a long weekend with all the family home, I couldn't seem to get a chance at the computer. In fact anytime I would set down, someone would beg me to let them on. Hum....what is up with that? Maybe it has been better not to sit down, my mind just seems completely blank. I have nothing profound to say and I have no thoughts even entering my mind. It's a blank page......

So, here we have it....Madilyn's foot is still swollen and it has had no sign of improvement. Keeping her off of it is a challenge but she is handling it fairly well. We are going to try to wait a few more days to see if her foot begins to improve before we head back to our favorite Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Busch.

Tomorrow we get a new President. I am so sick of it already I could scream.....Universal health care will not be good for families with children who have special needs....like my Madilyn. Does anyone care? Insurance does cost too much and does not pay for all the things we need it to. Especially for Madilyn. We just had to change insurance because of all of Madilyn's doctors stopped accepting our insurance. So now, we have to learn all the tricks again....what is up with that?

My Tyler turns 12 this week. My head is about to bust. Where has time gone? How is that possible, that my Tyler could be turning 12? I am freaking out here.

It is a little over half way through the month into a New Year. I am freaking out here. What will the rest of this year bring.....I don't know but, I guess it is time to get busy living instead of sitting around whining about all the things I can't change.

Madilyn...You did what?

Here she is. The unstoppable Madilyn the Great! This was her on Friday. We finally made our return to the Mommy & Me class at the YMCA. She had a blast.

Last week we noticed Madilyn walking funny. Vince and I both asked her if something was wrong. She said no and we concluded she was being silly. On Saturday, when I removed her shoe at the pool, her foot was swollen to the size of her shoe and had the in print of the shoe on her foot. We were very concerned.

After much debating, we opted not to go to the ER. We agreed to wait it out and call her Orthopedic doctor on Monday. Today, Madilyn and I went to see Dr. Busch. All morning I kept debating whether to cancel her appointment. She was walking on her foot but it was still swollen. I just didn't want to get there and feel foolish if nothing was wrong.

After three X-rays of her foot we got a diagnosis from Dr. Busch. He looked at me and said "Madilyn has fractured the bone on the top of her foot"! I said, "Excuse me?". Of course he laughed because of what we have been through together since October. How could this be possible I asked?

Dr. Busch explained to me that kids with Spina Bifida have softer bones. He had really hoped she would not be affected by this but now we are seeing it. This is going to be something we have to watch out for on this foot that she has no sensation on. I was shocked to hear this. The good news is that she is not in a cast. Her heal is still healing and they do not want to cause any more trauma to her foot. So, she is to be careful and try to stay off the foot. That's funny....Madilyn is 4 and runs around like her hair is on fire.

Well, we now have another piece added to the Madilyn puzzle. Tonight she went swimming again and wore herself out. Now, she is sleeping so peacefully in her bed. I am sur e tomorrow will be another adventure. If you must know, yes, she is still smiling!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Its your birthday Dad! How I wish I was home to celebrate this day with you. Since I am not, I am dedicating this entry to you. Your my Dad! So, today I will share some of my favorite memories with all. The best gift you could have ever given me was to love my mom. I never ever wondered if you loved her. I remember our Christmas shopping experience when I was a young. We were at Landmark Mall. You carefully picked out items for Mom. We found one more gift that you wanted to purchase. You decided to think about it before we bought it so we went to the cafeteria for lunch. After lunch we returned to the store to make our purchase. We were short a few dollars. So, we went to the car to see if we could find enough change to buy the gift. We found more than enough as we dug in the seats. We bought the final gift and put the left over change in the Salvation Army bucket. That is a treasured memory!

I also remember our trip to Atlanta like it was yesterday. The new Airport was finally completed and we were going to go as a family to check it out. Somehow, our family had a mishap that morning and no wanted to go except me. So, you and I flew together to Atlanta. Remember our excitement over those moving sidewalks? We also rode the train! It was soooo fast. What a day we had. Just me and you!

I have so many wonderful memories that I carry in my heart. Thanks for loving me and letting me be me. Not many parents would defend their child's imagination and dreams. You truly made me believe I could do anything. You loved me and still do. Today, I celebrate all the hard work you did for our family. I celebrate the fact that you taught me how to work hard and do a good job no matter what the assignment may be.

I love you Dad. I am grateful for your insights, faith, patience, and love. May the Lord continue to bless you with good health and happiness. Yes Dad, I do believe there is sunshine above those clouds. I believe, because you believed. When the clouds come, I don't fret. I look up and smile because I know what is behind them. You gave me that gift and for that I thank you!

Love always and forever,
Your little girl...
Jill

The Adventures of Madilyn the Great!

Madilyn is back to her self once again. After struggling to heal her foot and leg since October, she has finally healed enough to wear her tennis shoes and get back in the pool! This picture is the face of one happy girl! Our goal is for her to pass the swim test at the YMCA before
the outdoor pool opens in May. We have no doubt she will be able to do it!

Madilyn is working on those kicks and her favorite swim instructor, her Dad, is cheering her on. This is really helpful to her legs. Madilyn has severe muscle atrophy on her right leg. Her calf muscle is half the size of her left leg. Working her legs in the pool really helps strengthen those muscles. Kick, Madi, Kick!

After all those laps, Dad declares that it is time to play! Madilyn was practicing
her hairstyling techniques on her Dad! There is a special
bond between these two. This picture says "I Love You!"

"Dad, just a little more water. Hold still!".

"Do we have to go Mom?..... Can't I just live in the water
and be a mermaid?" No, we have to go! Remember,
Dad promised you a frosty because you swam half the
length of the pool! That was all she needed to hear .....

Date Night with the Coach.......

Thanks to my husband for a wonderful date night on Friday. He took me to the Atlanta Temple. There could be no better place to spend a quiet and peaceful evening. A quiet escape from the troubles of the world. I needed this evening more than I can express in words. All the stress that seemed to be weighing on me was released. Thank you for taking the time to be with me in this most special place! I look forward to returning again soon!

I danced with a Football Player...because that is How I Roll!

I danced with, fell in love with, and married a football player and coach who has just finished coaching his 16th Season of Football. All those seasons have been in High School except for a stint at the college level. Tonight our family attended the Creekview Grizzly High School Football Banquet. As always it was a very pleasant evening full of appreciation for all those who work so hard to make the team a success. Before I became a football widow, I never had a clue what it meant to coach football. After 16 years of football, I have concluded that those who choose this profession do it for the love of the game. It has nothing to do with the pay......oh, do they get a check for this....that is what that is, oh, silly me. Just kidding! I have learned more about perseverance and overcoming trails by watching teams rise and fall and rise again. I have sat in the pouring rain under an umbrella 9 months pregnant to support my husband in a State Championship Game. I have watched his glorious smile when things have gone right and have sat in silence by his side when things have gone completely wrong. I have complained when he was never home because I didn't understand and I have enjoyed football clinics with him along with our children. Football is our life. Football is our way of life. I had no idea that X's and O's could mean so much on a piece of paper......So here is some pictures from our evening.

With that many football players in one room, you know there is going to be some serious food. Shane's Rib Shack catered the food and therewas BBQ, Chicken, beans, coleslaw, cobbler, macaroni, etc....As you can see, the guys know how to pile the plate high! As we were eating, Madilyn turned and look at me. I asked her what was wrong. She said "Mom, no one can make
macaroni like you....I don't like this!" That was the sweetest thing ever. I don't like macaroni and cheese so I won't buy it in a box. The smell kills me. But, I do make my family homemade!

We are having fun! Tyler is feeling the
love from his sisters!

You see that guy behind me?.......He is my dad!

What do you mean this event isn't about me?
Where is my award?
Aren't I Daddy's special helper?
Yes, Madilyn you are!

In this picture, Vince is holding a calendar and
it is the page with his picture
on it. When Tyler saw it, he stated,
"Dad, you have finally been mass produced!"
Tyler always can say the funniest
things without even trying.

Well, once again we are grateful for a successful football season. Tonight also brings to a close the college football season with the BCS Championship game. The countdown will officially begin tomorrow till the start of the next season. Ya, we do that, because that is how we ROLL! This year I am even going to learn how to play "College Football" on the Play Station just so I can whoop up on the football coach.

The Magic Kingdom....

Have you ever watched an amazing production that took your breathe away? The kinds of show that after it was over, you simply wanted more! I have. In fact, I have been apart of those magical experiences on many occasions. Today, I am going to fill you in on a little secret.

When I was a director I read many scripts. Some I loved, others were so so and others couldn't even grab my attention at all. Most of the scripts were simply so so on the page. The magic came from what I could see beyond the page....like making a magic carpet fly in Aladdin. In my minds eye, I could see where I wanted to take those words that I would read on the page. However, I couldn't do it alone. I had a crew of people who would take my vision and bring it to reality. My actors, costume designer, set designer, lightning designer, sound designer, stage manager, crew and tons of other people including my own parents. My ideas were always huge and together we would make magic.

My home is much like my very own Magic Kingdom. Just as it took my entire crew to make magic on the stage, it takes the entire family to really create the daily magic of our home. I love taking care of my family. But, in order to really make magic happen everyone has to be apart of it. There is simply too much for Mom to do by herself. I love it when my family helps me! I love that Vince always remembers to start the dishwasher before he comes to bed. That's magical! It really makes me happy when my children make their beds. It creates a clean and orderly space for them to retreat to at the end of a long day. I love it when all our shoes make it into the shoe rack instead of in front of it! (Thanks Dad for making me such a wonderful shoe rack!) That is magic.

You see, magic is all around us. Its in all of the little things of life. Sometimes its our own attitude that keeps us from experiencing these things. I love my family. The things they do on a daily basis helps me shine as their Mother. Remember that the next time I ask you to clean your room, or take out the garbage or sweep the floor. Each one of you plays an amazing role in the success of our production!

Today the house is quiet. I am sending lots of love and hugs and kisses your way. I miss you all today! Madilyn misses you too. I hope your having a wonderful day back at school.......

Sunday......and Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I was really worried about the start of our new schedule at church. At the beginning of each year we get to switch what time our 3 hour block of meetings start. So, this morning was going to be a test....Could my family wake up cheerfully, get ready for church and arrive on time for the start of our 9:00 am service? I got up at 6:00 am to shower and get ready and then began waking everyone up at 7:00 am.

Do you know what happened? They got out of bed! No complaining, no whining, they just did it! We also were the first family in the chapel and in our seats 15 minutes early. It was awesome. Church was very enjoyable and we made it through without any major disasters. All in all it was a wonderful experience for our first Sunday of the New Year.

I was so proud of my family for their efforts this morning. How could I resist granting their request for a Sunday treat.....Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Fernbank Family Adventure!

We took an exciting trip down to Fernbank Museum,
Science Center and Imax Theater on New Years Eve Day.
What a way to spend our final day
of the 2008 Year. We pilled into our car and off we went.
Driving into the city is always fun and one of my
favorite things to do here in Atlanta!Hey did someone forget to tell Tyler to smile...Gosh,
you guys are cute!

Vince and Madilyn are scoping out the pathway to
the coolest sites within the museum.


Berkley found her favorite thing in the world.....a Penguin!
She is way happy.....can you tell?

Look at those cool dinosuars? Oh, those aren't dino's, that's my
family....cute, huh?

Do we dare go to the ends of the earth to see the
Polar Bears and Penguins?....................Yes, we dare!

Vince.....Watch out...there is a Polar Bear behind you!

When I grow up.......I am going to be a Polar Bear!

Like I said, Berkley loves Penguins......Can you find
Berkley and Madilyn?

If Tyler was a Polar Bear, he would be a 9 month cub
according to his weight. Gosh, I would have a hard time keeping all
those girl Polar Bears away from him, he is a heartbreaker!

Tyler had the most fun in the "Science Center". He is making
giant bubbles as Madilyn patiently waits for her turn.

Resting on a bench......

Getting ready to leave the museum...Everyone Smile!

Wow! What muscles?

We had so much fun exploring the sites at Fernbank. I couldn't possible put all 75 pictures that we took during our visit. We are already planning on our next adventure. Madilyn has informed us it will be a trip to the Atlanta Zoo. Stay tuned for more reports on our Family Adventures.