My Cup Runneth Over...
          Life is stressful and my heart is heavy for many reasons. I have friends near and far that need prayer, seems so many coworkers are dealing with health, money or family issues, and so much to be prayerful for with my immediate family as well. Life is stressful. Figuring out money, insurance, Christmas, keeping up with ordering supplies, appointments, getting and keeping feeds in...just life. But today, I love it. Lately, I have just been overwhelmed by my blessings. Just now, slow dancing to CMT with Bricen is one of those times. He already had my heart but knows how to melt it when he puts his head on my shoulder, pulls away so he can look at my face with a crooked smile much like his Daddy's, puts his precious little hand on my cheek, then puts his head back on my shoulder. Oh my.

Forgetful Mom and Xanax...
          It's 2:20am and Bricen is getting his last feed in. I'm starting a post which means he will probably start fussing or puking any minute. He's confused. He thinks thats what he is suppose to do. :) I've  been forgetting some very important news. Bricen took his first steps on Thanksgiving Day. I complained because here I am home with this kiddo five days a week and I am at work on the day he takes his first steps. Haha. He takes steps on his own a lot now. The most I've seen is about ten steps and then he goes down.

          We had another swallow study on Friday. The above pictures are of Bricen's super cute hat and his playing in the waiting room before his swallow study. I will admit I almost didn't let him down because of the germs that were probably on that thing. I text Sara asking if we could have one before the end of the year because we had just found out insurance would change after the first of the year. Within a half hr we were scheduled for the next day. We didn't get a chance to try extra thin liquids (water, juice) because this little guy was over it but we did get to try thin and he showed no aspiration!!! Praise the Lord 'cause this Mama needed some encouragement. I am beyond frustrated with Bricen's eating. I text Speech Therapy today to let her know Bricen is going through a phase where he doesn't want anything that I sit in front of him...nothing. It's driving me bonkers. I feel like I'm shoving food in his mouth. She asked when I was planning on starting another 3day trial. I said I had started one this a.m. but he's doing such a crappy job I'm going to wait and start one Wednesday because we see Developmental Peds and Pulmonary Wednesday and I don't want his weight dropping and them stressing out on me. I then text to her "p.s. I'm aware it sounds like I'm the one who needs xanax right now." I always question myself. Is there something I'm doing that I should be doing differently? So, we agreed to regroup on Wednesday when we also see her and go from there. There really is no rhyme or reason with Bricen sometimes. For example: When I started this feed we were 26mls in and he pukes. Twenty-six mls people. A medicine cup is 30mls. What do we do? Clean him up, get him happy again and restart the feeds. Poor Baby.
          We are almost ready for Christmas. All my gift shopping is done except for one person. I started grocery shopping tonight after going to Sams and Babys R Us but I forgot my list outside in the car, it was raining, I had one very fussy baby on my hands that had already puked in babys r us and if I continued shopping he wouldn't get a bath before bed and his little button is irritated around it again and it was after 9 p.m. Basically, I was fighting for mom of the year position had I not cut the trip short. Aaand the Subway guy was being a punk about giving us a cup half full of hot water so I could warm up some formula. I think we had both reached our happy limit. Actually, all three of us had reached our happy limit, Brilynn went with us. I'll finish groceries another day this week. I have to have everything as ready as possible when I go to bed Friday because I work Saturday and Sunday and Christmas is here on Monday. The coffee pot will own me that 24hrs.

You know you have a little boy when he turns the remote into a car, with sound effects and all.

We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Who needs sleep?

          I need sleep. Haha. But it's a tough group of followers that I have following the blog and let me tell you, if you don't keep it updated these people let you know! Haha.

We met out at Grandmas and had cake and ice cream for her birthday. P.s. those are matches held together for her to blow out. We forgot a candle. If nothing else we are creative. :0)

Bricen's curiosity has gotten the best of him with these Christmas decoration. Angel down!

We went and watched Brilynn's choir concert. So proud of her and Bricen did pretty good, too. I tried a comb over this night. Up close it looked like a bad toupee. Haha. He needs a trim. :0)

Finally got 12 mo shots. We kept having to delay because of the viruses he kept getting.

This picture makes me laugh. :)

These are the kind of pictures I get while I'm at work. I've said to other people I'm a little worried about what these two will get into as Bricen gets older. Ha

I'd like a chocolate flavored pudding that's white in color. He plays in it more than anything and then looks like his Dad M-F because he looks like he's got grease under his nails. Not much has changed with feeds. Still getting one yogurt down on a good day. That's pretty much all I have to say about it.

Family Pictures!
          A gift for Grandma. My favorite photographer was not available, but I still love the pictures and the people in them.When I was rambling in a prior post about how I love Christmas I failed to mention that probably part of the reason I love Christmas so much is that I've been blessed with family that fights hard to make good Christmas memories. Growing up Christmas meant my family coming to the big farm house we lived in for the first 14 yrs of my life. My mom would be in what we liked to call "psycho mom" mode for a good 24 yrs before, cleaning, cooking, etc. She went to bed late and woke up early to prepare Christmas dinner. My sister, Bridget, that had CP was an early riser. My more recent memories involved mom getting Bridget up with her, then once I'd wake up I'd play with Bridget while mom finished in the kitchen. I love the memory of my Grandpa Holland coming in the back door saying "Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas." We did not have a lot of money growing up. But my mom and grandparents did their best to make each Christmas special. I can't thank them enough for it. One of my favorite Christmas memories is when my sister got an Easy Bake Oven. She was so incredibly excited in her own little way. That is what Christmas is about. (Jesus first, of course.) I'm rambling again. To sum it up, I love Christmas largely because my family rocks. And I'm grateful for my family. Love them.



The whole gang. Of the immediate family I have an uncle, grandpa, mom and sister missing from this picture. We are a very close family. This doesn't mean we don't have our "tiffs". It means 95% of the time it's rainbows and sunshine. The other 5% we quickly get over. We know not to take life or the ones in it for granted.

 My Aunt and her family with Grandma. Big things are happening for this little family. Aunt Karen has been rocking a management position for a while now. Uncle Kelly is making big changes in his life. I Can't wait for Dereck and Tiff to have their little one in February and get moved closer to Franklin. (They finally put in an offeron a house and I believe it was accepted.) Also, can't wait for Chelsi and Chris to get married in June! It's a beautiful location and I know it's going to all come together in a magical way.

My sister and her family. Brittani and Daniel are getting married soon. Before we know it she will be graduation nursing school. In reality she has a few more years, but it's gonna fly by. Brilynn gets her license soon and Brett...well he thinks he gets his license soon. Haha. He is already counting down. He is growing into a little man. They make me proud and sad at the same time. :0) And before long both my mom's daughters will be college graduates. Maybe God lets them peak down when the really good stuff is going on. Ha

 My step-dad and his grandkids. He really was a blessing sent from God to marry my mom. He's one of the best step-dad's us girls could ask for. I know there was better pictures of this, with people all looking the same way but I love Bricen's face in this picture!

This is one of my favorite pictures! 

Bricen and his Dad. He is a good Daddy.

 My nieces. I love them (and my nephew) so very much. I can already see them growing into young adults and can't wait to see where life takes them. This is a classic pose for them. I have several pictures of them in this pose. Today is Brittani's birthday! (Or the day that I actually started this post, was Britt's birthday.) I think she's like 32 or something. ;0)

They were suppose to have a serious face here. 

Love

Me, Marty, Bricen and the leading lady herself. Grandma Delpha is my mom's mom. She is a woman of strength beyond measure. Before getting married she survived 13 brothers and sisters. They are a ornery bunch, folks. Good ol' (God fearing) country mischief runs through their blood. She raised three kids, got up when my Grandpa got up to fix him breakfast before work, had dinner on the table when he got home, stood by him and helped him follow the Lord in his ministry, has burried two of her three kids, a grandchild and her husband, puts up with this crazy family in the year 2012 and has been a pillar of faith through it all! Her and my Grandpa did so much for myself, my mom and my two sisters when we were growing up. There are often times that I miss my mom and just a little visit with Grandma seems to help. Aaand her house is THE BEST house to take a nap at. Today is also Grandma Delpha's birthday! She's also like 32 or something (in her head). :0)

Happy (Belated) Turkey Day!
          What have we been up to? Well, we celebrated Thanksgiving at my sisters this year. I took very few pictures. This was mostly because we had just had our family pictures taken and I was somewhat fearful someone would throw something at me if I got a camera out again. Bricen, on the other hand, is always willing to take a picture for me. He's my favorite ;)

This very busy guy took some time out to "help" me with Thanksgiving cooking....

Which mostly consisted of him rearranging my cabinets.

He loves to cuddle. And if there is no "comfort rag" aka burp rag he will find anything else that might work...anything, even his socks at times.

Just helping decorate for Christmas.

He's kind of handsome, huh? (Hey, my blog, I can brag. lol)

Made to put cars in, Bricen decided to put his bottom on it. I have to wonder if this isn't something his Dad has taught him.

I tried to make these smaller. I copied them off Brilynn's facebook so I can't figure out how. Rats.

         

Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He loves it.

Brilynn has been blacking out. Let's pray her testing gets to the bottom of the problem. One day last week they took her by ambulance to Methodist from school. It was a scary time for all. After things had calmed down I decided it was a blog worthy moment. :0)

Marty was on vacation last week. It was fabulous getting to spend some time together and I think Bricen really enjoyed it too. About half way through the week it was time to get some time apart. lolol Bricen and I decided to go visit this Sassy Great Grandma and take her some left overs. She was teaching Bricen to "make music" with these containers. Love her.

:0) :0) ;0)