Baby Brona...

Just got back from the MISS Conference...I will post more later about that. But, I met a mom, dad and the spirit of a tiny little baby boy, that I just can't stop thinking about. His name is Brona. And I wanted to share their video with you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJVU4XTNjzA

Summer Girls Tour 2008

Natalie and her neighbor McKenna did a little summer girls tour. You know, garage bands, minus the bands. Who needs bands when you have electronics? Just thought you'd like to see them in concert. The live show was incredible.

Natalie sings "Nobody's Perfect" - http://lvhghlf.com/mandnshow/natalie_nobody.html

Natalie sings "Sights Set on You" http://www.lvhghlf.com/mandnshow/natalie_sightset.html

McKenna and Nat sing "Good Morning Baltimore(Evergreen!) and

Our Song" http://www.lvhghlf.com/mandnshow/mckennanatalie_goodmorning.html

Poor baby deer...

THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL DEER...

I AM JUST ADDING A PICTURE OF A MULE DEER

AND HER FAWN...

So, last week, Natalie and I are driving back home from dropping the kids off at school in the morning. We take the back roads and they sometimes get pretty winding...We are coming around a curve, and there is one truck, and one car in front of us. Well, the truck hits a baby deer. By the time Nat and I get there (she saw the whole thing) the baby is struggling to get to its feet after being knocked into the ditch. Natalie just starts bawling. I didn't know what to do, so I just kept driving. Like any normal person would, right? Well, we get about a half of a mile down the road, and Nat is still hysterical. I pulled over on a side road, (mind you, I have NO phone reception) turned around and started driving back to the deer. Natalie can't start her day and go to school like this, I am thinking. We get back to the deer, I pull over, turn around again and park in a lot. I can see the deer, but Nat can't. It is laying down. Sometimes, it picks up its little head, and looks around. I now have phone reception and start calling local vets. None are open this early. I then called Animal Control. Explained what happened, told them the deer was still alive, could they get somebody out here to help it? Sure they said. I told them where it was, they said somebody would be on their way.

I explained all of this to Natalie, somebody was going to come help the baby deer. Everything would be ok. And that because we called Animal Control, the little deer was going to live. About 5 times that day, she asked me what I thought the baby deer was doing? I told her that they probably had it in a big kennel with warm blankets and lots of food. That it probably had a cast on one or both legs. And that it was sleeping alot. The warm blankets and lots of food really comforted her.

So the next day we are driving the kids to school. She is all ready to look out the window and see if the deer was really gone...Fortunately, I knew where we were, where the deer got hit and really doubted that they got the deer in time. And damn, I was right. I could see ahead into the ditch where the little deer was still laying, this time stiff and bloated. Poor thing. I quickly said to Natalie, "LOOK AT THE GIANT ELK" and pointed in the opposite direction. (of course she missed it-the elk) but knew we passed the spot where the deer was hit. She asked me if it was still there, and I said no. She had a grin from ear to ear. "Mom, we really saved a baby deer..." Now, I had to distract her on the way back. Again and again, for four days! I did it though.

Finally, this morning when taking the kids to school again, the only thing marking the deers final resting place was a large orange cone...And again, Natalie was looking. This time I let her look. "He really is gone, mom. Do you think he is better yet?"

Poor thing. I feel sad for it's mommy...I wonder if she knows what happened...if she knows her baby is dead, if she is grieving her loss, or looking frantically in the woods, calling out for her little one. Even writing about a tiny baby deer, brings saddness flooding back to me. I sit here writing about a mommy deer and the loss of her baby, and I feel such sorrow, not only for her, but also for me.

Introducing my new Chase...

Handsome, huh???

Hair today, gone today...

Chase, September 13th, @12:44pm
Chase, September 13th, @12:46pm
Chase, September 13th, @ 1:05pm
Chase's hair, September 13th, @ 1:12pm
Chase, September 13th, @1:15pm

Yes, he had decided to cut his hair. Mike and I did not make him, only encouraged him. He and his friend Cole, decided they wanted to buzz cut their hair. I suggested that they go to the salon, where Mike and I get our hair cut, (and Chase) and let Courtney (the stylist) do what ever she wanted to their head. Then, if they didn't like it, they could buzz it all off. Fortunately, they both liked their styles. No buzz...

Child #2 in Orthodontics...

Natalie has officially began Phase I for her orthodontic treatment. Oh yeah...thrill...Apparently the orthodontist thinks her mouth is too small. (guess he doesn't know her too well...) Her left top side needs to be pushed out to overlap her bottoms. You can see what I am talking about in the bottom image. Her top teeth center doesn't match her bottom center teeth. So, right now she will be getting an expander for her top teeth. Then in about 6 months she will receive braces on the top to move the teeth back together and get everything in alignment. Then she will go on a retainer, after the braces are removed. Hopefully with this early intervention, she will not need braces when she is older. But, you never know...

Getting ready to drive...

Drive a car, drive me crazy, drive me into an early grave...I am talking about Chase. The day will soon be upon us. Chase will turn 15 on October 22nd. I have started looking into driving schools for him. The best program that I have found here is Master Drive. I don't think it is just enough for Mike and I to teach him to drive. I really want him to have more...and it is not cheap. He can start taking the classroom instructions 30 days before he turns 15, then he can get his permit and start driving with Mike and I. He also takes a defensive driving course, which I find amazing, then he starts logging freeway and road time...So, my little boy is growing up. We have already started talking about buying him a car. Nothing fancy. I had wanted him to take my Toyota, which is still a possibility, but Mike and Chase both say it's a girl car. IS NOT!

Prayer request...

I just received this email from a reader of my blog. I am sending out this prayer request to her and her family, and to the lady that is receiving her kidney. This is such an incredible sacrifice that she is making for this woman. When I was donating my kidney, one woman from my bible study group said to me that I was laying my life down to give life to another. At the time, it didn't feel that way, but now looking back, I can understand what she was saying.

So, Ailey Ellis, you are in my prayers. I ask that God protect you and keep you safe. May the gift you are giving to your 'friend' be successful, and may you both have a long and healthy life.

You should feel very good about what you are doing. I still have no regrets...Blessings, Cheryl

"My sister forwarded your link to me. I am giving my kidney to a woman who goes to church with me. Our only connection is that our kids sang in the Christmas choir together. She is very worried about me and I think your story helped her understand how I feel through your words. God bless you! Pray for us on our surgery on Sept. 16. Blessings to your family and to Lauries."
Ailey Ellis

Turning 41...

Anna, Nat and Chase
Me and my girls...
The Great Wall of Chocolate...
The destruction of the Great wall of Chocolate...
Chase (yes he needs another haircut...) Me, Baxter, Nat, Anna and my beautiful Jeter dog...

What an incredible day I had...I was able to spend this day with my beautiful children, Chase, Anna and Natalie. Maddux was very close to my heart today, thinking about the 'should have beens.' Of course, he should have been in the middle of it all. Daddy is traveling in Canada still, but he and I had our own little celebration last weekend...



The day started with me being able to sleep in until 10am. Not one child woke me up...of course, we were all sleeping, but still amazing...As soon as Chase said good morning to me, he said "So how does it feel to be one more year closer to death?" I swear that kid is so witty. He makes me laugh...The kids then helped with picking up the house. The girls and I were planning on a manicure, and when we got there, they decided they didn't want one, and let me enjoy one on my own. Then, we went to Bel mar Plaza and enjoyed an early dinner at PF Chang's, one of my favorite restaurants. Chase had the Orange Chicken, Anna had the NY Strip Steak and I had the Sea Bass...Nat got the extra plate, and enjoyed the best of all three worlds. Then, yes, the Great Wall of Chocolate. Yum! The evening was topped off with a movie, The Dark Knight...Of course Chase had already seen this movie twice, but us girls hadn't and he was more that willing to sit through it again. (tops his favorites this summer.) Then home. Oh, don't tell anyone, but Chase even held my hand in the movie, for 5 minutes, but hey...those were 5 BEAUTIFUL minutes...Now off to bed.


So, how do I feel, one more year closer to death? I am enjoying growing older. I truly am. I enjoy watching my children grow older. I enjoy watching them become who they are becoming. I so enjoy being their mom. Their friend. I have such a different relationship with each one of them. Of course, they are all different ages, different personalities. My relationship with Chase has really blossomed into a friendship. He is starting to learn how to drive. He is always asking me to let him drive on the side roads. And I let him. We are still in the beginning stages of this driving thing, but the excitement in his eyes, is awesome! He is not your typical teenage boy. He is so much more incredible! Do I still want to choke the life out of him sometimes, yes. ~ Anna, is starting to mature. I am amazed at our conversations. How she confides in me, how she shares herself with me. Does she have an attitude at times? Yep, we renamed it an ANNATUDE. Natalie...(NATITUDE) well I am still her 'mommy.' She always has to be near me...but she is also such an independent little girl.