misc....

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in awhile. It has been a little busy around here. I've started on a few spring cleaning projects that is taking up most of "free" time. Matt is still working like CRAZY on finding a new company to call "home". He's had a few real good interviews and we are hoping and praying something good comes out of them. I am SO proud of him. He is working so hard on finding a new job. He is such a wonderful role model for the kiddo's - I hope Hannah marries someone just like and hope Lucas grows up to be the man his daddy is. :)

Here are a few pictures of Hannah doing gymnastics and the kids playing outside.

Hannah is on the left in a green(ish) sparkly leotard.

Lucas wants SO bad to go and flip on the trampoline with his sister!!!
Hannah and Lucas playing in his NEW car!!! She's is the best big sister ever!

SUCH A CRAZY WEEK - LAST WEEK!!!

Well, DFW had the largest snow fall on record last week! That wasn't our only "craziness" for the week.
We had a pretty good scare with Lucas last Thursday. We noticed he was breaking out in hives and sneezing like crazy! Matt and I drove him to his doctor (about 1:00pm) and by the time we got there and the doc was looking at him he was covered in hive blisters, he wouldn't swallow - just drooling like crazy! The dr gave him an epi shot, breathing treatment, and quite a bit of benedryl. He also called an ambulance to take us straight to the ER. He was suffering from a SEVERE allergic reaction. He was in what he called "anafaxictic (sp) shock". By the time we got to the ER - which took FOREVER because it was snowing like CRAZY his hives had gone down and he was sleeping (benedryl kicked in;)) We had to wait there until 9pm that night to make sure that once the med's wore off he wouldn't react again. The ER experience was HORRIBLE! They had to put an IV in my poor sweet baby! It was so horrible :(.
We've now been to an allergist and waiting on the blood test results, but are pretty convinced this was a peanut allergy. My sister had given him a bite of her Reece's PB cup - which he had never PB. His pediatrician doesn't want the kids having it until they're 2, and we're just not big PB eaters? Pretty crazy! It was by far the scariest thing EVER! I'm so grateful to have my wonderful husband by my side the whole time - calming ME down! He was so amazing! I'm so glad to have that day over and done with! The next day Hannah was out of school - b/c of the 11 inches of snow we got!!! So, we played all day! Lucas wasn't up to playing too much, but he tried so hard - my poor sweet lovebug! :)

Lucas the morning after his ER visit - trying to get in the groove of playing in the snow w/ Hannah :)

She loved every second of it!
LOOK AT ALL THAT SNOW ON MY TABLE!!!

Our neighbor's car!

It's almost to her knees!

it's so pretty! Check out how droopy our tree limbs were!

Matt building the huge snow man!

helping daddy

He was a really ugly snowman, because Lucas INSISTED we use Doritos's for his eyes... HA!!!

yard stick

11 inches!

The nature center by the house

My first experience on a Church Retreat...

This past weekend I had the most 'awesome' experience at my first C.R.H.P. retreat. CRHP stands for Christ Renews His Parish.... The retreat was just that!
I was WAY out of my comfort zone doing this. As you know, I am not big on 'big social events' etc..., so this was my first adjustment - 2nd was not having my watch OR my cell phone - BOTH of which I am addicted to. It was too important to be on 'God's Time'. I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE EITHER! We had no concept of 'real time' - very refreshing!
The most important thing I took from this retreat was - that I AM LOVED. That was told over and over and over to us. That God loves me so much that He sent His only Son to die for ME! I've heard that in my life about 1 million times, but this weekend I felt it! I feel like I now have a RELATIONSHIP with Christ. I would swear to the fact that I saw Him in some of these amazing women telling their story. I cried with these women so much this weekend - I related with SO many of them also.
One of the MANY surprises of the weekend was letters from people I love dearly. The warmth I felt from them was overwhelming! I felt loved! Loved beyond words! Thank YOU all for sending them. I have no words to express how thankful I am that you took time out of your day to write them! :)
Our theme song that we all sang over and over this weekend was 'Who Am I?' by Casting Crowns. When we first started singing it - it was a little uncomfortable. No one was really singing etc... by the time we sang it for the last time we were wrapped around one another crying and singing. I love these women and what they helped me discover about myself.

You are My Beloved, In you I am well pleased

Luke 3:22

(the song is posted on my song list if you want to hear it)

WHO AM I?


Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,Lord,
you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
I am yours.
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
I am yours..
I am yours..

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

Prayer Pail

We had a blast at our fun play date with Jen and Blane. We play with them often, but this time was unique - we had a CRAFT play date! I LOOOOOOOOVE doing crafts! We made a "Prayer Pail". The idea is to teach our children the importance of prayer. To pray for our loved ones everyday! This will help us do that! Each day the kiddo's will pull out a "Prayer Paddle" and that's the lucky person :). Jen and Blane's pail was so fun and CREATIVE! Lucas was busy playing with all of Blane's fun toys, so I did ours :). A few of our "Prayer Paddles" say:

Our Troops
Our family
Our government (THEY NEED IT!!!)
Hannah's husband
Lucas' wife

Outdoor fun!

Lucas playing "fetch" with Bailey