Father/Daughter Dance 2010

This was the first time Coot and Regan have ever attended the Father-Daughter dance. I am happy to report we intend to make this an annual event. They both had such a good time. Regan fell asleep on the way home, but by the time the got home she was wide awake and beaming from ear to ear. She told me all about how they did the "Cha-Cha Slide" and Daddy didn't even embarrass her too bad. I could tell this really meant a lot to her. I think they are gonna go on more "dates" together soon. Regan's excitement spilled over when she went to school the following Monday, because her teacher let her tell the whole class about it! Now for the pictures....

All together now....Ahhhhhh

Givin' smooches!

Oh yeah Riley was not left out. He not only ended up in some pictures, but he got to stay up with Mama after Tate was in bed. Now that's a big deal around this house!

We are so blessed!

Surgery & Lookin' Back

Just wanted to let everyone know we are having surgery on February 15. Riley will be converting from the very aggravating mitrofanoff (used for cathing) to a urostomy (bag). I'm thankful to report that I have peace about the decision and am now just ready to move on with it and see what God has in store for him.

Riley has always amazed me how he never allows any of his "attachments" to slow him down. From the time he was born he has always had a lot of spirit and zeal for life. I feel we should all strive to be this way. Oh now sometimes he gets a little too lively, but he's a great little man that's come a very long way. I thought I'd take ya on a stroll down memory lane with Riley's "attachments".

From the beginning we all got used to a lot of wires. This was a light day in the NICU - he only had an IV and his feeding tube hooked up - still he was happy!

Another day in the NICU - we've got an IV, heart monitor leads, and the edge of his colostomy.

"If I could just get this piece of tape right here..."

A feeding tube dragging behind him wouldn't keep him from exploring the laundry basket with Regan!

"Can a boy have some alone time with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?"

Ahh dialysis...he was always the sweetheart of the place - as long as he was asleep!

When he was awake he kept his women hoppin'!

We figured out ways to get in the bathtub for a little swim. Press 'n Seal wrap and bandage netting worked quite well!

Again Press 'n Seal wrap allowed for a very shallow dip in the pool!


We often had a love/hate relationship with the catheter. (That's what required the Press 'n Seal wrap.) However, it was our lifeline for 3 long years!

And how could we forget our last bladder surgery last summer which required 2 aggravating catheters - you can see them running down each leg. Didn't keep him from cuttin' a rug!

Well that's our boy! Looking through old pictures to do this post has made me think I need to do some more posts with trips down memory lane - stay tuned!

What's Happening

There are many times that I sit here at my computer reading other blogs. Some are friends that I know in real life and some are just "friends" in the blog world, but I often read them and I'm moved. Moved to tears, moved with anger, moved with sympathy...but am I sharing what God is doing in my life? Maybe I'm not sharing because I'm not taking notice. Not noticing that the two children I prayed for and tried to conceive for five years are brilliant and amazing and right here before my eyes. Not noticing that while our youngest wasn't planned and by earthly standards may have been oddly timed yet he is perfectly healthy (and I more than most should recognize the miracle of that). Not noticing that while my husband has been unemployed since October we've been able to buy groceries, gas and other necessities and to pay our bills earlier each month than when he was working. Not noticing all the many blessings in my life every.single.day.

It's so easy to get wrapped up in all that goes on in day to day life and overlook the little things. It 's so easy to get busy doing my "to-do" list and not consider what He wants me to do. I want to know Him in a way that I've never known Him before. I pray He gives me the strength to "press toward the mark" and run this race of life. I've sat on the sidelines far too long and allowed satan to steal my joy, convince me I'm worthless, and tell me I'll never be good enough. I pray that I realize the good and the worth in me is in Christ and He is the giver of True Joy.

I'm not sure what's happening here or where my heart and head are some days, but I know that I know that I am loved by the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Great I AM! And I need Him so much right now. He's working greatly in my life and I just want to get out of His way.

Here We Go

Alright I promise I have not totally forgotten about this blog. It's just that alot has gone on in our lives in the last several months. One of my New Year's resolutions is to do a better job of blogging the events and blessing in our lives, however I feel the need to catch you up first. Hold on tight Here We Go...

The first day of school

I didn't even cry. I was just proud we made it!

You'll notice Riley's first day of school was a month after Regan's. (He had to get his suprapubic catheter removed from the surgery back in June.)

When did they get big enough to go to school?

Riley and Regan's Birthday party

We had it at the YMCA park - very good idea!

Aww, Halloween with a cowboy and a princess

A very special anniversary with a very special person!

We had to go see Mrs. Joli, Riley's kidney donor and a dear person to our whole family!
(And I'm not just saying that b/c she'll read this either.)

Tate's first birthday - it was actually on Thanksgiving day.

Poor kid, we didn't even have a real party(according to Riley and Regan).

Sorry kid we promise to do better next year!

The cousins Christmas Party - I think they are outgrowing the crafts.

Blackshear's fabulous Christmas parade

Tate hated the waiting, but once it got started he was totally content.
(Daddy looks a little less than excited though.)

The children's Christmas Play at church

Regan was an angel....

Riley was a donkey - no comments please.

Christmas morning

Tate loved his toys - they have helped him stand more, just not in this picture!

Riley and Regan's favorite - their new trampoline.

(Mommy and Daddy lovingly refer to it as the outdoor cage. It's not on in this picture, but the cage part was added before Christmas afternoon!)

We had Christmas breakfast with Granny at the Huddle House and sloppy joe's for lunch. I'm telling you we really know how to put out a spread!

This defintely hasn't been our best year - dealing with kidney rejection, hernia surgery, bladder surgery, the awful process of cathing (that will be reversed soon), back surgery, dealing with a baby we still can't figure out, Coot lost his job, I started working....it hasn't been our worst either.

But Our God is still worthy of praise. I praise Him for a husband that took over taking care of Riley (and Regan) when I was taking care of Tate - traveling to and from Atlanta every week, for friends and family that had a fundraiser that allowed us to pay for a van we desperately needed, for financial gifts from people we didn't know that keeps our heads above water, cards sent by friends at just the right time, a Bible study group that prays for us, and all the countless blessing that we miss every day....Our God is WORTHY of all our praise. I am thankful that He has brought us through this year. Though none of it would have been my choosing, God has truly taught us alot this year.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Vacation in the Hills

We recently got to take our only vacation of the summer. We went to see some friends in Virginia. I had planned many times to go up there my self or me and the kids, but things just never really worked out. Well, Bryan and Amy outsmarted us (or at least Chester). They had come down to see family and happened to be heading home at the same time we were in Atlanta at one of Riley's doctor appts. We met and had lunch as they were going through Atlanta and by the end of lunch they were taking Regan with them with the plans of us returning home to get Tate and traveling to Virginia the next day. Pretty clever - kidnap Regan and then we have to go. Well, we had a really good time. We visited the church Bryan pastors (it is such a sweet place), the kids played, we went to see Despicable Me, the kids played, we went to the arcade, the kids played, and generally just relaxed and had a good time. (Did I mention the kids played?) The countryside is absolutely beautiful there, but I hate to report that the time we were there it was just as hot and humid as back home.

Bryan and Amy have joked many times that they lived in the middle of nowhere, well, they weren't kidding. It takes 30-45 minutes to get to a town of any size. We rode over to Middlesboro through Cumberland Gap National Park to watch the movie one day while we were there. While in Middlesboro it poured rain. Amy said that it might not even be raining on the other side of the mountain. Amy and I went to Pennington the next day and shopped at Family Dollar and Food City - aren't we the last of the big spenders! Also, FYI if Bryan or Amy have ever told you they didn't get your call on their phone they really didn't b/c they have absolutely ZERO CELL PHONE SERVICE. My freshly charged phone went dead the first night b/c it spent all night trying to find a signal. We had to leave our phones near the window just so they wouldn't go dead. Also, the only way they get Internet is by holding their laptop just right while sitting on the couch. We have made numerous jokes about our vacation in the hills, but the people are nice (although a little different), the land is beautiful, and the company could not have been better! We love our hillbilly friends!!!

Were you aware they had buffalo in Virginia? I wasn't, but they do.

Are we there yet?

Found out how to get Talmadge to sit still - tell him you'll take his picture!

Tate, Regan, Talmadge, Maddie, and Riley just before going to bed.

The view from the back porch

Regan doing a cheer

Maddie is pretty good at golf!

I know my golf ball is around here somewhere

Another view from the back porch

The girls are smiling pretty - the boys are showing us their multicolored mouths from the last candy they devoured.

Cheer Camp 2010

Regan has wanted to go to Cheer Camp ever since she heard about it last year. Literally this girl has asked about Cheer Camp every few weeks for that past year!! You see, her cousin Kodi is a cheerleader and Regan thinks anything Kodi does is wonderful (her aunt and uncle kinda think that too) so she just had to go to Cheer Camp. Well, her time finally came. She was so excited!!!!

One day they got to take pictures with the mascot, one day they dressed up like the 50's, and of course the last day they performed for the parents and wore their spirit shirts. She really had a good time and now Chester, Riley, and I are cheerleaders in training (whether we wanted to be or not) because she is constantly doing her cheers and requesting (read - demanding, whining til we give in)everyone do them with her. She is really a mess, but it is so cute.

My niece Kodi leading her group

The obligatory picture with brother - he's so excited. Can you tell???

She's wore out after performing.

Regan with her group - she is standing almost in the center behind the cheerleader holding the little girl.

Tate's 1st Big Boy Bath

My baby boy finely got to have a regular bath. Mind you he's been bathed these last 8 months, but just not like a big boy in the tub by himself. He came here so big (1olbs 2 oz - thank you very much) that he has always been too big for the infant tub (read- feet hanging over and head going above the cushion) but I still just couldn't bring myself to put him in the big tub. So, I tried a little bit of everything else - infant tub in the big tub, baby sling tub in the big tub, in the big tub with Regan, etc. Nothing seemed to really work for me, so I just gave him sponge baths like we have to do with Riley since he can't be submerged right now. Well once he was sitting up good on his own I decided it was time. I let the boy have a bath alone.....

and he L O V E D it!! What was I thinking? I should've done this a long time ago. Doesn't he look soooo happy? Oh well live and learn.