The Hunter

Blake has decided that he wants to be like his Dad, a hunter. Here he is looking the part this Thanksgiving. He does look cute and I think he was quiet while looking for deer. Don't worry, he did not shoot anything. He was just happy to be out in nature with his Dad. He is growing up too fast!!

Yes, It's Been Forever!!!

I vowed that I would keep this blog up to date; oh, how I have failed. A dear friend suggested that I at least post a few pictures. That sounded like a great idea. Maybe our long distance friends and family will appreciate these semi-recent photos.

The first day of school. Fourth grade for Blake

(boy, how time flies!)

Kindergarten for Meredith

(she thinks she is 16!)

Aunt Shea's wedding - Meredith the Flower Girl

Halloween

Elvis and Wonder Woman

Family and "The Fair"

We are Buzzing around preparing for our annual weeklong trip to Mississippi. The kids have been ready for days!! Their "stuff" (books, toys, junk) is already packed. If they ask my one more time ,"How many more days until the fair", I think I'll scream!

This is one of the best trips of the year for our family. Not only do we get to see long distance family and friends, we get to go have go honest to goodness fun. I will share stories and photos when we return. The fair I am talking about is the Neshoba County Fair just outside of Philadelphia, Mississippi. It is like nothing you have ever experienced. My kids think it is the best thing since sliced bread and peanut butter. Now, don't go thinking this is your average county fair. It's nothing of the sort. There are vegetable and cooking contests along with the regular fair rides, but it's so much more. You have never lived until you have stayed in a fair cabin. Have you ever slept 20-30 people in one room? Sounds kinda like summer camp, huh? Now, your talking. Summer camp with a twist. There's bands every night, if you like that sort of thing - or you can just hang out on the porch with a glass of sweet tea and shoot the breeze with family and friends you haven't seen in ages. That's more my style.

Anyway, we will be gone for a week or so. I'll be sure to let you'all in on all the fun we had when we get back.

Oh, by the way, if you've ever been to The Fair, leave a comment and let others know just how much fun it is!

Favorite Things

Beware and do not think that you are behind on the times, for it is I who am just now cleaning out my digital camera and finding old, yet precious photos. I actually have a difficult time deleting pictures of my children even though I have them saved elsewhere.

Anyway, I thought since I had found these pictures (and they are quite cute), I would share a few of my favorites with you.

Meredith's Fifth Birthday Party

Princess Style

Snow Angels

Blake's 9th Birthday Surprise

It sure was worth keeping this secret from him!

Meredith's Pre-Kindergarten Graduation

Here with her cousin Jaycee,

the best of friends

Hands-on Science Fun

Here they are!

Blake and Meredith having fun at the McWane Center.

Blake is having a blast crawling around!In the Alabama area, Blake enjoyed looking at the catfish. Maybe one day he can catch one in the real outdoors!Meredith LOVED the water exhibits. Trying to get the balls to balance on the water spouts was tons of fun.

Makin' waves with sand and water.

The water tubes were fun for the little and "big" kids.

Friday Fun

Summer and Friday, what a great combination!

We took the kids and had a great day enjoying the beautiful weather last Friday at the Zoo and the McWane Center (a hands-on science museum). I cannot say enough about the wonderful times we had that day. Not only the fantastic experiences that Blake and Meredith got to take in, but just the four of us being together uninterrupted.

Hope you enjoy the photos! To get all the photos in, I am going to do two separate posts. This one will be the zoo since we went there in the morning.

The Giraffes have to be a favorite of everyone's. Blake and Meredith sure loved them. Do you notice the ostrich in there too?Meredith loved the petting zoo and getting to brush the goats. (Notice her form!) Blake cheered her on from the other side of the fence.
Blake enjoyed pretending to be a lion.

Neither one, Blake nor Meredith, were too sure about the birds at the front entrance. They were beautiful but very loud.

Summer Daze

I think it has been forever since I have posted. School has ended for the summer, obviously. My kids are sooooooooo excited that I am home everyday with them, I must say that I enjoy that aspect of teaching, too. We love to hang out and just play. There's nothing like just being together watching them play in the backyard and enjoying the big waterslide.

The beginning of summer has been very busy for us. Blake has had his yearly check-ups with the "special" doctors. We have already made two trips to Children's Hospital for those appointments. They get easier as he gets older. I didn't realize that a CT scan was only supposed to take about 5 minutes. His have always taken between 20-45 minutes because he was never still. The one this week really only took 5 minutes. It was a breeze. Anyway......He got great reports from all of his doctors. We are weaning off of his seizure medication, Hurray! - His shunt to drain the fluid from his brain for hydrocephalus is working correctly, Yea! - His bladder and kidneys look healthy, no infections (a miracle in itself since he is cathed every four hours), Woo-Hoo!

The shocking news for us has been that our so-called "healthy" child, Meredith, has had pneumonia. Yes, right here in the beginning of summer! Try telling a five year old that she can't play in the water outside. Especially this five year old who thinks she is the boss. We have had an interesting week with her. She is better now, thank goodness.

Blake had his last softball game of the season tonight. This is the sweetest league ever. He plays on the ARC's Softball is for Everyone League. These kids have the best time. Tonight the Pilot Club gave the teams a cookout and the league presented the players with their trophies. The players were all beaming. They were all truly WINNERS! I am so glad that we have had the opportunity to be involved with this organization for the past 4 years. Both of my children have received blessings and friendships from this affiliation.

When I look at the photos of Blake playing ball, I am reminded of the day we were told he would probably never walk. I don't know if you can tell it or not from the photo on the right, but he is actually running. Yes, RUNNING! Maybe not as fast as you or I but a real honest to goodness run. I thank God that He is still in the business of miracles, I thank Him even more for the priviledge to live with one. As Blake would say, "Amen and amen."

I have this thing about pictures. I LOVE THEM! I love to send them to grandparents and great-grandparents for special days. With Father's Day being Sunday, that gave me another excuse to pose my kids for photos. We had so much fun.......well.......maybe not that much......at least they looked cute........it started out as fun and I got two good shots to send in the cards. I think they will enjoy them.

The Power of Prayer

I believe in the power of prayer.

You see, my son walks. We were told when he was born that he would not. I never believed it. I don't know why, but something - no someone - Higher told me he would walk. Anyway, lots and I mean LOTS of people prayed for Blake. And he walks. He was late walking, but so what. God had His own plan. He proved ALL the doctors wrong. (By the way, Blake has Spina Bifida at the L4-L5 level and a decompressed Arnold Chiari Malformation.)

I tell you this to ask you for prayer. My friend and colleague, Ms. Glendell, has been diagnosed with leukemia. Things do not look very promising for her. But......I still believe in prayer. Her daughter specifically asked for my special son to pray for her momma. Boy, what a request. He prays the sweetest prayers. The faith of children is unbelievable!

I know that when prayers are being said, you can feel the peace. My husband and I did. I ask you to please pray for Ms. Glendell and God's will in her life at this very difficult time. I personally hope it is complete healing.

THE COOK-OUT

Friday was the day.

We had been planning the cook-out for about three weeks. My very special class would be coming on a field trip to my house for a day of playing outside and picnicing in the shade. We had invited parents, siblings, school friends, anyone else who we thought would enjoy the fun. We were ready.

My special class consists of eight special needs students, three terrific paraprofessionals and myself. We have a lot of fun, yet sometimes trying times during the year. Field trips are not always easy to plan. We look for things that all of the children will enjoy; however, with vision impairments, orthopedic impairments, and other needs to consider, this is a difficult task. This cook-out and the activities had been carefully planned and we were hoping this trip would be different.

I was so excited to have four parents, one grandparent, five siblings and a step-parent to attend. Getting to visit outside of the walls of the school building is such a nice treat. I love my parents. These parents go through so much on a day to day basis that they deserve a treat. They need to be told on a regular basis what a good job they do taking care of these very special children. I've been told many times before,

God doesn't give special kids to just anybody.

And that is so true in these cases. I look at these children everyday and know that when they go home they are loved and hugged. What a blessing!!

I hope that all involved enjoyed the day as much as I did. The kids had a blast. You could see it on their faces. They work so hard all year, I am glad that we were able to give them an entire day of fun!

I sure will miss these students this summer. They almost feel like my own. In a little over two months, we'll be back together again. Ready to hit the 'ole grind stone. But, until then, I hope they enjoy the time they have to play and relax. They deserve the break.

Happy Summer to you all!

I Think I'll Brag

Yes, I am a mother who likes to brag. I am very proud of my children. After all, they are perfect! Ha-ha!!! Well, they are sleeping at the moment.

Today, was an exceptional day.

My oldest, Blake is nine and completing the third grade. He has a great interest in American History, particularly the presidents. Just for fun, he decided to learn all 43 in order last year. He has continued to study and can now tell you when they served, who their wife was (if they had one), probably what years they served, and what number president they were. He also knows other tidbits that for the life of me I can't, or do not care, to remember.

My friend has a child in the 10th grade. She was telling me today that her daughter's U.S History final exam is to list all 43 presidents in order. First and last names. Guess who we consulted for study tips ~

You guessed it - our resident THIRD GRADER.

And just think, nine years ago next month, this child was fighting for his life recovering from surgery thanks to Arnold Chiari Malformation (more on that at a later date). We've been told many times that he should have never made it. I think I may have a right to brag. What do you think?

On to child number two. She deserves her turn. Meredith is five and has been taking gymnastics for almost a full year. I mean full-fledged gymnastics - floor, beam, bars, vault, and trampoline. She loves it! Today was the "ribbon" ceremony. She was so proud that Blake and I got to go in the gym and watch up close. Yes, she loves the attention. This child is not scared one bit. She scales that beam like it is sitting on the floor. You would think she's been walking on it all her life. Of course, she's waving at us the entire time. - No wonder we're no allowed in the gym during normal practice sessions.

At the end of class today, her teacher awarded the ribbons. She did not expect an award - so she was so thrilled to get one. All of the little girls got ribbons. The blue ribbons meant they were able to complete the apparatus independently. A red ribbon.......they needed a little help.

Meredith received 4 Blue Ribbons and 1 Red. (The red for bars. Goodness, have you ever tried to flip over that bar by yourself? ........Me neither!)

I am so proud of them. Their daddy is too.

Just had to let the whole world know!!

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day.

All of my life I have wanted to be a mother. I am thankful to say that God granted me that privilege nine years ago when our first child was born. Every year since then, this day has made me sentimental.

Why?

Why do I get all mushy and emotional when I think about Mother's Day?

Before I became a mommy, I thought the day would be a day off. A day all my own. No cooking or washing. No cleaning or ironing. Boy, was that a dream!

Now, I realize it is so much more. Today is a day I thank God for the precious gift of life. I thank Him for the honor of raising the two children He has entrusted me. I thank Him for giving me a Godly husband with whom to raise my children. I thank Him that my children will only know one mother and father. I thank for God the medical obstacles that one child has already overcome and pray that the other will not face them.

So on this Mother's Day, we took my mother out to eat and called all of our grandmothers to say, "Happy Mother's Day". But, most importantly to me, I was sure to give my children an extra hug and thank them for being mine. My precious masterpieces from God.

This week, maybe the cooking, washing, cleaning, and even the ironing, won't seem so bad!

This is It!

I can't believe I'm really writing this. After reading a friend's blog for several months now, she has finally prodded me to write my own. Well, she actually asked me to write something on her blog, but it took so long to finish the profile that I figured I might as well go ahead and blog something here.

Let me start by giving some background information. I am Dana. I have two precious children, a great husband, a cat, and a dog - who by the way is barking his head off . Anyway, all off my life it has been my desire to be a Special Education Teacher. I never really knew why, that was just the only "real" job I ever had a desire to have. So, my parents, being the good parents they are, sent me off to school to get an education and find a husband. No, no not really. They just sent me to school to get an education. I met my husband after college and after my first teaching job. I was actually teaching in a preschool special education classroom when I met my husband. After we married and our son was born, I realized why I had always had the desire to teach special ed. You see, Blake was born with Spina Bifida (or a hole in his spine). We had no idea.

Fast forward nine years. Blake has overcome almost everything the doctor's have predicited he probably would not do. He now has a five year old sister to deal with and he is as smart as a "whip".

Anyway***
I now know why I always wanted to teach - Blake. Special ed. prepared me for him; however, he prepared me even more for my current job position. You see, I presently teach in a multiple disabilities classroom and I LOVE IT!! These are the most precious children in the world. I truly enjoy going to work everyday. These children teach me to be thankful for my life, appreciate my children, and love my family.

I hope to share more about Blake and his miraculous life. I would also like to introduce you to his sister, Meredith - now she is a character!

I hope to share more with you all soon. Who knows, maybe I'll actually keep on blogging?!?

Dana