Love these girls

We have had a very busy 2013, mostly with illnesses, sadly. I am thinking we will get all of our illness out of the way now and be healthy the rest of the year! One can hope.

They both have been perfect, little, happy babies and I love them both more than I can stand some days.

Pre-k

Today, Kevin and I went to our first school tour. I was very sad the whole time. I am not ready for the beginning of real school, because then before I know it she will be 18.

Me: Sallie, we looked at a school for you today
Sr: "Big girl school?
Me: yes, but mommy was sad because I am not ready for you to go to big girl school. I don't want you to grow anymore.
Sr: ok mommy, I'll stop eating vegetables so I won't grow and you will be happy

I wish it were that easy. I wish I were not so sad either, I feel like I have lost my baby. I feel a little over dramatic too, but I am seriously crushed to think about her starting Pre-k. I can't decide if it is guilt of not being home with her everyday or if it is just natural. I wish I would have had the luxury to be home with her everyday since she was born, but it didn't work out that way. Poor Lulie, I feel like I am never home with her.

I just pray that she will be safe wherever she ends up for school.

Christmas time

One more week until Christmas Eve! I love Christmas for a number of reasons, but obviously I try to concentrate on the real meaning of Christmas. I have tried to remind Sallie Rose about what Christmas truly is for us. It is hard when you explain it and yet she still concentrates on how many gifts Santa will bring. I think having her participate in the church's Christmas pageant, attending Christmas Eve service, giving generous Christmas help to those less fortunate and thanking God in our prayers for the birth of Jesus will help. I can only hope.

Every year, I used to go home to Spearman for a week or so and I would take my Grandma Rosa Lee to look at the Christmas lights around town. It was something the two of us usually did alone. Then , she would send me in to get the remaining angels off the "tree" and go buy presents for all of them. She was the most generous person I have ever encountered. She didn't like the thought of a child not having something at Christmas to open. Then, most of our family would go to the Church and have communion on Christmas Eve. It was the most amazing part of my Christmas. Now that she is gone, I find myself sad about not having those traditions. Everyone is in different towns and have families of their own and in laws they have to spend time with. I miss her most of all. I think of her everyday, but I think about her even more at Christmas.

I put out her Santa figurines and try to do for others as she would do; however, I don't come close to doing what all she did. I take my family to look at the lights in town and think about how much she would love them. How can one woman make such an impact on a person's life? She was a devout Christian and she lived her life like one. It's hard for me to imagine that I could ever leave as much as an impact on someone's heart as she has mine. I hope that I will. I hope that I will not only love my own children/grandchildren, family and friends as much as she did, but also glorify God as I am doing it.

I would give anything to hear her voice again or give her a hug and kiss. I am so grateful to have loved her so much that is hurts. I pray for the families in Connecticut as they mourn the loss of their babies' lives that they can find hope in the Christmas season and the true meaning of Christmas, the promise that their babies are in an eternal life with Jesus and without pain.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Look at that poor baby! I promise she didn't cry except the last second when the lady snapped the photo.

I'm a working woman again!

I am officially a working woman. I am back working part time at my previous and first (out of college) Architecture job. So far it is working well. I come in after dropping the girls off, get to take them to the doctor if I need to and get home at a reasonable time to make dinner and spend a little play time with them. And, I actually have a small amount of income.

I will still be managing the rentals until it becomes too much and then we will take the next step to find a property management company or another option. I am assuming that at some point if this new job gets busier, I will have to give my rental responsibilities over to someone else. I hope and pray that with time our options will be clear to us.

Here is my beautiful office window overlooking downtown Savannah. It is really nice to be back in the working world. Ask me next week how I feel though.

Dear anonymous

This blog is for myself, my family and my friends. I started this blog so that my family could keep up with my family and our happenings if they choose. I am a positive person and try to be kind to everyone that I come in contact with. If you do not like what I blog about then don't read it! Simple as that. And if you do not have the courage or tact to make comments with your opinion, which you're entitled to have, with your own name then don't leave a comment. So, just to keep you from being a cyber bully, I have made my comments where they have to be approved by me before they are posted. That's right, because this is my blog and I determine what goes on here. :)

So if you think "I'm clueless, get off the computer, and go be a mother!" Then you just keep it to yourself or send me an email and I would gladly respond. Otherwise, be a coward and a bully somewhere else or better yet, why don't you get off the computer and find something nice to say to someone? That's seems like a better way to live your life. I'm sorry you are not happy, but this girl ain't taking it from you and you can't break my rosey outlook!

Surgery update

I am home from my one night stay at the hospital and things are going just fine. I feel alright, just tired and sore. I am having a hard time talking and eating, but other than that I can't complain.

Kevin has been a huge help with me and the girls. I have not been able to do anything since I got home so he has done it all. He is amazing! Thanks again for the help of Susan And Donna. We couldn't have done it without them!

I have been sleeping a lot and just trying to rest. Sallie Rose will not look at me or come close. My neck is pretty gross and she just is a little squeamish, which is how she usually is. She has been nice, just not wanting to come close to me. She let me use her blanket last night, but told Kevin not to let it touch my neck. That girl is too funny!

Here is a picture to see for yourself. The doctor said it was very large, larger than he imagined, but it did not have cancerous cells in it. They will do further testing, but he is pretty sure it is ok. He is an older surgeon and was grossly excited about how big it was. He said he hadn't seen one that big in a long time. Glad I could make your day doc. So back to bed I go to rest!

Phone pictures

These are my recent phone pictures. One is of Sallie holding her nose while sleeping, because Lulie took a big poo. There is another one of Lulie grinning looking up at Sallie Rose. She loves her sister.