These eyes....

Well, I had all these great plans for my first 2011 post. About what a great year it is, how it's started off SO much better than 2010, etc. And it has started out better, for the most part.
Elizabeth won the spelling bee at her school. As in, beat the entire school. She will compete regionally in March. :)
Jason is recovering nicely from his surgery on Christmas Eve. He is back to work and things are back to normal.
we are the "guinea pigs" for a new curriculum at church. One of our members has written a year long study and we are testing it out for him, and for Lifeway. We will read then entire Bible over the course of a year, and study it together as a church family. Changes are already visible, and we are all enjoying the study.

This leads us to Miss Amy Hope. We went for a basic eye check up the first week of the year. The dr. noticed something on her retina. he thought it was probably nothing, but wanted us to check on it to be sure. So, off we went to a retina specialist in Jackson. He said yes, there is definitely something in there, I think it's Stargardts, but I don't know for sure. Then we heard the sentence no parent wants to hear: Do you want to go to Vanderbilt or Lebohnner? After picking my jaw up off the floor, I decided on LeBohnner. He recommend a "Dr. A", a pediatric opthamologist, for us. After the doc left the room, the nurse said, "I shouldn't tell you this, but I have to. Dr. A has a horrible bedside manner. I used to work for Dr. Byrd, and many of our patients came to us as a result of not liking Dr. A. This is her name and number, if you decide to see her, tell her I said for her to see you." I thanked her, and went to make the appt with Dr. A, planning to discuss this with Jason when I got home. when I got to the appt desk, we discovered that Dr. A wouldn't even see Amy until APRIL. So, I said what about Vandy? One of the receptionists said, "Isn't there a Dr. Byrd in Memphis?" I jumped in and said "Oh, I've heard great things about her! Let's try that!" we saw her today, a week after we made the appointment. There is no doubt in my mind we were supposed to see this woman.
Anyway, she found something in Amy's eyes. A lot of something. She called it "retinal dystrophy". to be frank, it ain't good. We are going to see a dr. at Lebohnner specializing in Pediatric Hereditary Retinal Dystrophy on Thursday. I have been warned by Dr. Byrd that more than likely there will be another visit for testing, as it will have to be done under sedation. We also have to bring Jason with us, as the dr. may well want to examine him to get a better idea about Jason. I'm glad he will be with us.
I have read a bit about this, and I believe the dystrpohy is a generic term. I'm seeing a lot of "Cone Disease" and "Bests Disease" but I really don't know enough to know anything. At this point, I think I am going to STOP investigating, b/c I dont' like what I am reading, and dont' want to totally freak out about it. I had my breakdown on Sam Cooper Blvd this morning; now I have to assume "Taking care of business mode".

I would greatly appreciate your prayers for us. I dont' know what the outcome of all this will be. I know that it is all in God's hands. I know that this is happening for a reason. But, I would just assume it was not happening to my baby.

Short Amy-ism

Yesterday, while we were working in the yard, Amy came over to me, soaking wet.

This is the conversation that followed.

A: Come and see what I did to the carport.

Me: Will I be happy or sad?

A: sad

Me: Are you sure?

A: yes.

Me: Are you going to be in trouble?

A: No.

Me: Are you sure?

A: No.

Ok, so it was funny to me. :)

Amy and Kaiya's Concert

Amy and her BFF Kaiya gave me a concert last night in Mission Friends. :)

I have always enjoyed working with children, but I think I have really found my calling with Mission Friends. I really look forward to it. I guess it's b/c I have more time with them than on Sunday morning. Maybe b/c it's more laid back? We just have such a good time. Last night, we talked about hungry people in South Asia, and played Hungry Hungry Hippos. Whoever won shared their marbles with the one that didn't have as many.

Elizabeth was in Girl's Club. They made cookies. The do the coolest stuff in there!!! They bake, sew, learn about recycling, and of course learn a lot about Jesus. Such and awesome program. The kids LOVE it. They get little bages at the end of each year to show what all they have done.

Just thought I'd let you know a little bit about how great Northbrook Church is. :)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

Elizabeth asked Jesus into her heart on August 3, 2010. She will be baptized on Sept 1. We are VERY proud of her, and very excited! Jason is going to baptize her, which makes it even more special.



Yesterday, we went to the river. Jason and E were “practicing” the dunk, as E can be a bit nervous at times. She did great!!!

Last night, after we got home, I told E to go take a shower. Amy came out and informed the rest of us, “It’s time for Izzy to get BATHtized!!!!”


We go a new (to us) van a couple of weeks ago. The Equinox just wasn't big enough. :( I must admit, though, I'm enjoying the van more every day. I'd forgotten how much ROOM they have.

School is going well for both girls. E is in third grade (crazy!!!) and Amy is going to daycare twice a week. She LOVES it...the only problem we are having is that she wants to go every day!!! Maybe next year we will be able to afford it, but we just can't right now.

We are still adjusting to life without Papaw. It's hard, no doubt about it. Amy has written little songs about him and sings them. I think she handles it better than any of us. She's still young enough that she doesn't have any pre-concieved notions about what she should or should not do to handle her grief. I feel like my kids have had to deal with more death this year than any child should, especially at this age. It's amazing, though, the difference in a death you are prepared for and an unexpected one. It was VERY hard to loose Nanny, but there was no doubt that she is better off, and that  she was ready to go. I can remember standing with her in the last few minutes literally crying outloud "God please take her!" With Papaw, we knew he was sick, but it was a total punch in the stomach to hear Memaw call and tell me the news. All I could think was I wanted everyone to go away and leave me alone, let me have my cry. Then, I had to go into "take control survivor mode". I had two kids to tell, and a husband who was stuck on the other side of the world who didn't know his Daddy was gone. Our entire world came to a grinding halt. Slowly, we are picking back up. It's been almost 3 months, unbelievably, and we are getting there. I'm still dealing with the loss of a man  that I thought of as a second father, as is the rest of my family, but we are getting better. We talk about him often, and have a world of happy memories. But to quote Elizabeth, "It's not fair, Mama. He was supposed to be here until I grew up."

Ok, so this wasn't supposed to be a therapy session. Anyhow....

Click here to see a scrapbook of our trip to DC!

Last full day of second grade! 24 Hours from now, I will be the proud parent of a third grader. When did that happen?

Elizabeth has had another great year. She had a great teacher, and some good friends in her class.

We are gearing up for a busy start to the summer! Jason is heading to ROMANIA in literally a matter of hours (about 50, to be exact) and the girls and I are going to DC with Mama and Daddy to visit The Christoph Clan. We are highly exicted!!!!!! I have been to DC, but it was literally 20 years ago. I'm pretty sure things have changed a bit since then. I will let you know all about it when we get back.  Then, on June 10, I am headed off to Lake Lure, Nc for a few days of child/husband free R and R with some laides from Church. :) It should prove to be a fun summer!

I am SO fired....

As a blogger! It's really been almost two months? No excuse. ;)





Well, Nancy got married. Amy has been ear infection free for over a month. Elizabeth learned mutliplication facts through 5x12. Jason killed a lot of bugs. We got new sewer lines. Guess that's about it? Will you forgive me if I post some pics from the hitchin'? Here ya go..



  I promise she did this pose herself.

Isn't she pretty?

Amy thought Uncle Gary was GRAND
 

...