Fire Proof

I remember years ago when a family related to someone at church lost their home to a fire.  They were devastated, no one was injured, gratefully.  Yet, when I saw the home I wasn't surprised.  It was little more than a shack, added on and added on haphazardly, not updated electrically, clothing and fabric close to the furnace and water heater.  Then one morning leaving for work, when we lived in Fairmont, I saw a house that had burned in the middle of the night.  I was shocked! This was one of the nicest homes in the neighborhood, well maintained, clean, updated and cared for.  Nothing is truly fire proof, some things are fire retardant but not fire proof. Fire is not discerning over how well built the home, the yearly income of the family within, how beautiful the landscaping or whether the owners have given their hearts to Christ.

Nor are our lives fire proof, our marriages, our careers, our relationships with our siblings-parents-children and our relationship with The Lord. I have watched as some have had a slow fade in their love of Christ, as other things become more important, other things become their "God".  The same with marriage! As the years tick by so many things become more important than our spouses.  And when we aren't lovable the other simply doesn't love.  Even when we have vowed to God before family and friends to love thru every circumstance, we just don't.  Over the last 20 years and 9 months believe me Brent and I have both been unlovable.  I marvel at the times when I know I don't deserve the love and tenderness my husband shows yet he acts as if he adores me as much as when we were newlywed.  His patience with me during these times is a blessing to my soul.  I can feel his prayers cover me.  I pray I make him feel this loved, understood and covered in prayer when he feels unlovable as well.  

Have you done all you can to fire proof your marriage? Do you love your spouse when he/she is unlovable? Have you taken your vow as a covenant that cannot be broken? Do you cover your spouse in prayer daily? I pray for Brent's health, mind, heart, soul, career, parenting, and anything else in going on in his life..... Like I said, nothing is 100% fire proof. We can't control others action or keep someone in a marriage nor should we stay in an abusive relationship.  But we have to give it our all.  In this world of disposable everything our marriages our not disposable.  Marriage should be treasured, nurtured, prayed over and laid at the foot of the cross. Drag in your prayer warriors to help you smother a smolder and above all don't bring in anyone or anything that sparks destruction.  Make a loving, happy Godly marriage a priority before your children, the children will benefit for life from your example.  And as the movie Fire Proof says "Never leave your partner in a fire." 

Potty Training & More

Well tonight was a toddler milestone. You poopied in the potty. You really weren't that thrilled with yourself. You were, "ok so I did it, now let me finish my book". If it doesn't have wheels you just don't care much. I bought a new ottoman today and Daddy said it is an automan because you already have it filled with cars. Oh but you do love to read. We read two books tonight. Our routine is three but Dumbo is long so we just did two then you wanted to sleep with your "trunk", your plush elephant with your name embroidered on it. I was leaving the room and you yelled "Mommy" I went back and you said "pizza". Yes you are thinking about Tuesday school tomorrow and you have pizza every Tuesday for lunch. Too funny.

Friday was also a milestone.....you were extremely stubborn. But you have the best Daddy ever so I think it will be ok. Daddy usually leaves early, most of the time we are still in bed. But Friday he didn't have to so we were eating breakfast all together when you threw your truck. I don't remember the quick details you were mad and toss. Daddy or I asked you to say sorry and you could have your truck back. Not a chance. Daddy called his clients and told them he was running late and he talked with you. He off-set his entire day by 2 hours (because that's how long it took you - 2 hours 20 minutes to be exact - to say sorry) You sat on the dinning room chair. Daddy would ask you to say sorry - nothing. I would put 5 minutes on the timer. Daddy would come back - nope. Finally during one of our talks I asked you when Daddy opened the door what were you going to say to him. You whispered "sarwy". I told Daddy to come up stairs you had something to say to him. He sat in front of you and and you sheepishly looked up and said "I sawry". I don't know who I was more proud of. Daddy for putting his day on hold because you are more important. Or you for having a humble heart. All I know is I love my boys.

I pray you always have a humble heart and realize Friday wasn't about a truck. It was about being repentant and doing what is right. All Daddy was asking you to do is what God asks all of us to do. Just look up and say "I'm sorry". None of us deserve heaven, Little Man. God just gave it to us if we accept Him. He offers forgiveness as easily as your daddy did over a thrown truck for even our deepest sins. I pray you get that early in life. I pray you love, honor, and serve God all the days of your life and be obedient to Him. You have an awesome role-model...just follow Daddy.

Fun Weekend

Wow Little Man we had such a great weekend with you. Saturday we enjoyed lunch at our fav Chick-fil-A. Watching you play on the jungle gym and slide down was awesome. Daddy and I were the only other ones in there and in was a treasured family moment. One of the ones you wish that time could be frozen. Then we went shopping at Sam's and clothes shopping for you. We gave some things to Christian and Daddy said, "uh where's all Brody's clothes?" You have just taken a growth spurt and everything is just too short. I really think you are going to be so tall. I look at your hands and think of a puppy's paws, lol. If you grow into those....if you have Wilmoth height and Walker stock your gonna be a force to be reckoned with. I hope you will instead be a gentle giant. You are already showing us that your are easily calmed (sometimes hurt) by our words of discipline. I think you will always be easily hurt. Which like most things has advantages and disadvantages.

We had fun buying clothes for you. I am glad your daddy likes to shop for you too. You were an angel shopping. You really liked the wrench Daddy bought at Sear's. You held it in the buggy repeating wrench wrench. And asked for it back after the sales girl scanned it. Such a gear head, but I don't think you had a choice with grease monkey blood in your veins. Speaking of monkeys. Our neighbor Cole gave you monkey slippers and you have worn them every day.

You love animals. You know their names and the sounds they make except elephants are trunks and any lion, tiger, bobcat or the like are all tigers. And giraffes are giraps. For some reason you LOVE hippos. A lot of times when you say it you say "hhhhippo", not always though. And pink milk is now monkey milk because the last bottle of strawberry syrup we bought has a monkey on the label, lol.

After shopping and your nap Grammy and Poppy got pizza and brought us dinner. You got everyone an instrument and put on your heart shaped sunglasses from Tuesday school. We all played and you danced, played the morocco's and sang. Daddy and I sang with you Grammy and Poppy mostly laughed. So much fun.

Every time we get on I79 going north you say, "church Mommy church". You want to go to class, worship, Tuesday school. You love it all. So this morning was no exception. You were sweet and quiet during worship. Playing with your stickers mostly. And in class Emily was impressed by your verbal skills and animal sounds. You even knew a camel. Awesome. My heart was happy at the Neptune's for home church just watching you dance and sing as we sang "Jesus Loves Me". You played on the rug with cars with only a few interruptions. Such a sweet boy (that's what Alana always says, "Waana" to you)

I can't wait for tomorrow. God is Good. And being your mommy is the best and I am more than blessed for it. I love you Sweetheart Brody Bear!!

Changing the Format? I guess?

I really don't have a desire to give Brody updates b/c I feel he has so outgrown all of his issues. He is just an amazing toddler like every other angel God has preciously placed on this earth. God is Good and we are blessed. But as Brody grows I find myself wanting to tell him so much about himself. So I guess from today forward I will not call it updates but more of a journal or a Life Story to Brody, that someday he may or may not want to read. Feel free to take Brody's life journey with us. We love you and know without your prayers Brody just wouldn't be......I am still amazed that he had no preemie surgeries and he has no preemie on-going problems. Wow, we are blessed!!!! And we have been blessed by the Blessor to be a blessing. Amen!

Back By Popular Demand, LOL

I could offer a host of excuses and apologies for not posting but all I will say is we have been over-whelmed with family issues and I am sure as I continue to blog regularly they will uncover themselves. My loving husband bought me a new computer at the end of January therefore the computer down was not always the reason. Sometimes being addicted to Facebook may be :)

First Brody is wonderful. (for Missy) He is now walking and playing in Maddy's bowl. She is still the best big fur sister ever. She loves him so much, when I take him outside she is only a few steps away at all times. She sleeps in the same room with him at the foot of his crib. She even naps when he does, in "their" room.

Brody updates.....wow where do I start. He is definitely going to be an outside boy. He loves cars and trucks. He can play for hours with his basket of matchbox cars and his little race track. We have watched the "Cars" movie so much we can recite it. My nephew Levi (age 9) got sick of "Cars" in only a couple days while he was staying with us while my nephew Andrew was recovering from a brain tumor being removed. Brody made another TV appearance. If you want to see it go to WDTV.com and search for WVU Students dance for Children's Hospital. Brody went to a fund raiser and was too cute and too funny. He is walking, well not really, more like running, ask my cousin Kerri who watched him while I got my hair done this week. He talks all the time we just have no idea what he is saying. He has a mouthful of teeth and likes to use them. He is such a good eater. The only thing I have found that he doesn't like are olives and lettuce. He can read his books for hours too. When we put him down for a nap, we give him a book, a car, and a silky...he reads and plays for a while then he's out. At night we just lay him down and he's out within minutes. He loves his bath. He gives Maddy hugs all the time. He is learning animal sounds...you should hear him meow or moo. He LOVES I mean LOVES his Daddy. When Brent leaves for work I have to peal Brody from him most mornings. Brent can't wait to get home to play and watch Cars. What can I say other than we are having the most fun of our lives. He is the best.

Medical front......We have been healthy this winter. Brody and I have stayed in almost every day since November 1st. Other than his hospital fund raiser appearance, a dinner here and there, doctor appointments, and now that it's pretty--walks, we are home. Of course we visit grandparents when everyone is healthy. Brody is still getting the RSV prevention shot and taking medicine for his heart. The beta blocker for his heart has made his hemangioma go away faster. His eyes are all healed. And that mouthful of teeth are healthy, which I have recently found out preemies can have issues with lack of enamel. We are so good it is amazing.

Brody's birthday party raised over $2000 for The ranch. We can't thank you enough. It was awesome to be able to have that gift in honor of Brody. Not to mention what a wonderful day we had. It was so much fun, the weather was beautiful, we celebrated with our prayer warriors, the food was good, the music was awesome, the fellowship was heart-warming, and Brody was here, was healthy, was happy, was alive, just was. God is Good. And we are so blessed!!!

This is my favorite picture of the three of us. Brody's face says, "Mmmm, I like this cake stuff Mommy!" My face says, "Yay, yay, yay, I got my baby boy finally..the one I always wanted!" And Brent's says, "In my dreams, your dreams come true!" If you don't know the song you have to hear it. It's recorded by Josh Turner. The first time I heard it I cried because it epitomizes my Breezy. Brent is happiest when those he loves are happy, he has always had the heart of a true Daddy. Just like our Heavenly Father. If you don't know Him (Christ) that's how He is. He is our Father; wanting us to be obedient, wanting us to be safe, wanting us to be happy and healthy, knowing what is right and best for us (even when we disagree - right Skillet?), always encouraging, supporting, even pushing when needed. And just like I am always ready to talk about my family I am always ready to talk about my Heavenly Father, if you want/need to know more, call me, email me, I'll tell you about this Daddy that gave me Heaven and He will give it to you too - In fact He already has, you just have to accept it.

Sorry, Computer Down!

My home computer has been on the blink. I am sorry but downloading Birthday pics almost crashed it so I had to remove them all. So no pics and limited updates. Right now I am using Brent's laptop, he brought it home from the office for the weekend. I am sorry I hope to get it fixed soon.

Brody is doing well. He is traveling around still holding onto things. He has taken a step here and there but usually falls upon trying. He is getting it. He holds up his index finger when you ask him how old he is (ok usually, sometimes 30 seconds after the fact, lol) He does patty cake, jabbers, still loves to climb, and is enamored with peek-a-boo. He is a total joy and couldn't be a more pleasant baby. Currently, he has a stuffy nose. I'm not sure if it is a cold or more teeth coming, time will tell.

We will start RSV shots in November. Also November 1st we will start staying in as much as possible and visitors will be limited as well. His lungs are still recovering from the damage of being a preemie and the pulmonary hemorrhage. Next winter we will not be in as much danger. The cold weather is not a danger as much as the chest colds that travel through the community this time of year, not to forget the dangerous RSV, which can be like a just a regular cold for us and deadly for babies.

Thank you for your continued love and support. I know so many of you still check on us because when I see you...you tell me the last time I wrote on the blog, lol. I can't tell you how it warms my heart that you still keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

The Birthday Boy

On Brody's Birthday, Thursday the 18th, we went out to breakfast, then to Sam's to buy cookies and cupcakes, then to the NICU. We wanted to celebrate with our NICU family. They all loved seeing Brody and they appreciated the goodies. He had a big day.

Then the big party on Saturday. What a day!!! Brody awoke at 4am, giggling. It's like he knew it was his party day. From then until 10pm he only had about 2 hours of naps. Saying he loved everyone singing to him is an understatement. What a joy watching him smile looking around at everyone. We had an awesome day and it was wonderful celebrating with all of our family and friends. As soon as Aunt Leeta gets pictures to us I will post them on the blog. I didn't take any pics, I knew I would be like a butterfly caught in a windstorm so I asked Brent's sister, Leeta, to be our photographer. She takes excellent pictures (especially of Brody) and I can't wait to see all that she captured.

Until then.......