Grammys 2009

We had the privilege to attend the 2009 Grammys because MercyMe and Bart were nominated for an award. Unfortunately they did not win, however we had fun and it was a great show!!
It was really hard for me because I was still wiped out from our hospital stay and it was hard to leave Sophie. Plus, I am nursing so pumping at the Grammys in an evening gown brings on a huge new list of challenges. It made for some really funny stories!

More pics of Sophie and RV

Here are more pictures of Sophie in ICU and then one of us leaving to go home. Praise God!!!

A Critical Time

Little Sophie was only six weeks old when her brothers brought RSV home to her. We had kept her in the house for six weeks trying to protect her and never thought about the older kids bringing something home to her. We watched her like a hawk and she just seemed to have a cold. We noticed her cold on Thursday night. Friday she slept a lot and literally coughed twice. The cough was a bark type cough and that was the only alarming thing to us. She never had a fever. By Friday night she had so much mucas that she could not lay down because she sounded like she was drowning and was really struggling. We were still unsure what was going on due to the obscure signs of the virus. We called the on call doctor and was blown off (another story) so I stayed up all night trying to research web MD to see if you could be without a lot of symptoms and still have RSV. We knew something was terribly wrong though. By Saturday morning she was lethargic and not eating much and struggling to breathe. I called a doctor friend and she gave me different signs to watch for to let us know of her labored breathing. She decided after we saw three out of the four signs that we should go to Children's with her. We debated taking her to the ER on Friday night but could not decide whether to go to Children's or Rockwall. With three other kids at home we did not want to go too far. However, Children's was the best place for her. So off we went to Children's in Plano. It was awesome and new. They were great but after three days Sophie was much worse and they had not opened their ICU yet. So they transferred us to Children's in Dallas. We were in the hospital a total of seven days, which felt like forever. It was such an emotional time. I think Bart and I averaged 21 hours of sleep in seven days. I have never been so tired in my life! I am still getting over that two weeks later. The Lord was gracious and is healing little Sophie. We are so grateful. Through all of this difficult time, friends poured out prayers and scripture over us. We felt every bit of it and cannot give enough thanks for it.

Doc. Visit

We took Charlie and Sophie to the doctor today to check on his ears and her cold. We were sitting in the waiting room and there was a little boy sitting at the kid table. Charlie told me he wanted to go over and sit with him. I told him that would be fine. So, he went and sat down and the kid looked at him and said... "NO get away from me!" WOW! All three of us were shocked. Charlie came over and sat back in his chair next to me heartbroken. Bart and I tried to cheer him up but it took a while. He just sat there looking at the little boy confused.

Then during the doctor visit, Bart had to hold Charlie down while Dr. J looked in his ears. He was kicking and screaming and saying "I want my sucker!" It was so funny.

Charlie

We were sitting at a drive thru today and it was a nice day so we had the windows down.  A man walked by our car and Charlie said hi!  The man smiled and said hello back to Charlie.  Then Charlie looked back at us and said.."That's a nice kid."  HILARIOUS!  

Later that day we went to the park and Charlie climbed on top of the big slide and yelled.. "California here I come!"  It was so random, yet funny.

Gracie's charm

Last night Gracie did not want to sleep in her bed. I am the "mean" one in the family and told her sorry.  She was told she is safe, we are here with her in the same house and most importantly God is watching over her.  For some reason that was not enough.  She started to cry and then the tears rolled.  Since the big storm came through a week ago, she has had trouble going to sleep.  I am so thankful the storms always come at bedtime!!!  Anyway, I had to put Sophie down for bed so I told her I would get daddy to come see her.  It was a way to at least hope she would just fall asleep while waiting.  NOPE!  She waited on daddy, then really upped the charm.  

She asked daddy if she was his princess.  Daddy says, "of course you are. You are my favorite princess. "  Then she proceeded to bring on crocodile tears and looked him in the eyes and said, "Then daddy I just can't do this!"  Next thing I know, here he comes with Gracie in his arms and said, " she just broke my heart."  So, Gracie and Sam ended up sleeping on the couch together last night.  When Bart told her goodnight and he loved her she replied, " Daddy...... I really love you!"

SUCKER! Oh but how sweet it is!  How could anyone say no to that?!  Sweet girl!

PINK EYE

Charlie has pink eye and he does not like the drops. So we have to get creative during drop time.  The funny thing is every time we say blink, he nods his head up and down.  It cracks us up!

Out of Town

Ok so today Gracie comes home from ballet and has a 99.1 fever.  We were bummed but expected it.  Then at the same time Charlie woke up from his nap and his right eye was very red and watery.  So now we have one withthe flu, one uncertain and one with pink eye.  GREAT!  Bart and I looked at one another and said...."forget it!  The germs are everywhere right! "  So we all piled into the car and drove to Rockwall for dinner. It felt so good to be out as a family.  It has been nine weeks.  I know it was probably not the right thing to do, but if you could see us you would understand we needed this for our sanity.  

On the way there Charlie saw a water tower and yelled.." Look a water mountain!"

On the way home we were blessed with Charlie and Gracie's  singing of Walking in the light of love.  What a sweet moment.  

Our Little Gift

Here is our  sweet little gift for Christmas.  We are so thankful for little Sophie.  God is so good to us.  I pray I will be a mom whom she will feel is her best friend, a godly role model and just a lot of fun to be with.  

more pics.

Sophie Kate

Here is Sophie!  She was born December 11th. She weighed 7 lbs. and was 21 inches.  We are so proud of her!  Our sweet Christmas gift.  

Sam's finger

Sam and his broken finger (and sewn on finger nail.  OUCH!)