Bella has been doing so well in school lately. She has been coming home with at least one award a week. I am so proud of her for trying so hard. Before school started this year, she was very nervous b-c she wasn’t sure what it was going to be like. But let me tell ya, she has been a quick learner. This little girl loves school. Today, Chris picked her up and when she got home, she told me to close my eyes b-c she had a surprise for me. I held out my hands and she told me to open my eyes. There in my hands was a perfectly round wooden coin that said “Free kids meal” and it wasn’t from McDonald’s. It was from TEXAS ROADHOUSE!!!! Yipee!! And bless her heart, she told me she picked that over a candy bar so that I didn’t have to cook dinner. She was so proud of herself and so are we.
My little girl.. February 2, 2009
Praise God!!!!!!! January 31, 2009
I know that most of you have kept up with the process with my dad through facebook but just in case you haven’t here it goes….Dad had surgery yesterday and the Dr. removed his gall bladder, half of his colon, and an abscess from his bladder and his liver. The Dr. said that his colon was like quick-crete when he tried to operate on it. So dad now has a partial colostomy (which he is just thrilled about). He is still in ICU and will be there tonight but hopefully tomorrow he will be removed to a regular room. Dad’s spirits are continuing to stay upbeat. He is an extremely positive person and this situation has not changed him at all. The very 1st thing that he told me (trying to mutter out the words) was the he wanted a chocolate covered cherry blizzard. Poor thing he has only had ice chips for a week and a half now. During the time my dad has been in the hospital I have had some time to hang out with my family. We have gone to Shoney’s for the breakfast bar (YUM) , went for a quick trip to TJ Maxx, and my sister and I did tons of errands. I have loved this time with my family. It’s been great to spend time with each other even though the circumstances are not the greatest. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for my dad. We have definately felt them this week. And please continue to pray for us during this time of taking care of my him. It’s gonna take a lot of hard work and we are going to need a lot of education. Also pray that my dad’s spirits will not be dampened and that he would have a speedy recovery. Love to all.
Update…. January 28, 2009
Well, I guess no news is good news. So far my dad has had a brain scan, a CT scan of his abdomen, an ultrasound of his gall bladder, a colonoscopy, and tons of x-rays and bloodwork and everything except the gall bladder has come back negative. His gall bladder is enlarged but he doesn’t have any stones. Sooooo, they are doing a few more tests tonight and as soon as I hear something I will let everyone know. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Our God is sovereign.
Pray for my dad!! January 27, 2009
My dad was sick this past weekend with a fever. He became worse on Sunday and began having blurred vision and was seeing some pretty crazy stuff. My mom took him to the Dr. yesterday and they admitted him into the hospital for some tests. They started him on an IV bc he was dehydrated. They started running some tests including a brain scan but that came back normal. (Praise the Lord) They also did a scan on his gall bladder, liver, and kidneys and that one came back abnormal. They are doing some more tests today including another scan of his gall bladder and a biopsy of his liver. Please pray that the Dr.’s will find something but that it will be something minor. I hate this for my dad. He has never been in a hospital or had surgery so he is a little scared. Thanks so much for your concern and I will keep everyone updated.
I’m back… January 12, 2009
Okay so I think everyone has been on a blog break during the holidays. Well, mine has been a little longer than that but hopefully, I am back now. I know that you are all so relieved. :) There is no way to catch everyone up on things that have happened in our household for the last couple of months so I’m just gonna start where we are now.
About 4 1/2 yrs. ago, when my daughter was a few months old, Chris came home one day from practice and said, “you know someone you should hang out with, Tandy. I think you guys would really get along.” This did not come as a big surprise. Chris was always trying to find me new friends. I guess he thought I was a loser or something. Anyway, I didn’t really think much more about it b-c I assumed since she was a pastor’s wife she had plenty of friends and didn’t need a new one. But much to my surprise, at church the following Sunday, she invited our family over to their house for dinner. We went to their house that week for a delicous meal. Tandy has a tremendous gift of hospitality. After dinner we played with the kids and had coffee. It felt like we had known eachother forever. They had a little boy who was so much fun and a daughter who was two weeks younger than Bella. They immediately hit it off. They were only about 8 months old but we like to think that they were instant BFFs. From that night on, our families were inseperable. We did everything together. We went on vacations, middle school camps, and had many nights just hanging out and having dinner together. We have had so much fun with the girls. When they were only one, we tried to take some really cute Easter pics. Boy has Tandy come a long way since then. We bought some baby chics and dyed them orange and green. The kids were halarious trying to play with them and Tandy and I both had to keep and eye on Bella bc as most of you know, she does not have one graceful bone in her body. She kept trying to pick up the baby chicks by their necks to kiss them. We have dressed the girls the same or put them in princess dresses and curled their hair or even went mud wrestling with them. Their love for eachother is priceless. They have the kind of friendship that little girls dream of. They compliment eachother perfectly. Cayden is dramatic and Bella is a little more rough around the edges. But there is nothing that they wouldn’t do for eachother.
Well, a few months back Tandy announced to our family that they would be moving this year to Orlando to start a church. Ugh, a stab in the heart. I knew that God was doing amazing things with their family, I was just hoping he would keep them a little more local. Now, not only is my daughter’s best friend moving miles away but so is mine. Tandy is like a sister to me. She is so spunky and full of life and her heart for people is amazing. This family is so special to us and we are just at a loss right now. We are kind of stuck between, I know that God is moving among them and but we just want them here with us. I am telling you all of this to ask you to please pray for us all. I have never really had anyone I love move away like this and I’m telling ya, it is killing me. I am trying to stay focused on the “big picture”. I know that we are here to do the Lord’s work and I believe with my whole heart that the Grandstaff’s are doing that. So I am asking that you pray for them as they prepare to move and take a HUGE leap of faith. And also remember us little Fousts bc right now, the thought of their moving date getting closer really does bring me to my knees sometimes.
I bled gold and blue if only for a day. September 21, 2008
I say Yellow, you say Jackets. Sorry my cheerleading instincts are coming back to me. Today, thanks to some free tickets from a friend, my husband and I got to enjoy a day at the Georgia Tech football game. My husband is a serious Tech fan and he has never been to a game or any other college football game. It was so exciting. Even though I am a die hard Auburn fan (my grandmother would have a cow if she saw me in any colors besides orange and blue) I had to support my man. The day was so much fun. When we got to the stadium everyone was dressed in their best GT gear. You could smell hamburgers on the grill as soon as you stepped out of your car. The closer we got to the stadium, the more excited I became. There is something about football that just excites me. I love the band, the food, and of course the cheerleaders. I had such a blast sharing this day with my hubby. He is generally a very laid back person so to see him clapping, standing to his feet, and yelling at the other team was so much fun & very sexy. :)
Georgia Tech pretty much dominated the entire game so that was fun for my honey. There were lots of exciting people around us. In front of us there was a guy who Chris calls “a high-fiver”. After every good play by GT he would high-five everyone around him, There was one time I was drinking my water and all I had to give him was an elbow. There was also a guy in front of us that seriously could’ve been a cheerleader. He jumped, clapped, and did whatever else it took to pump everyone up. Beside Chris, there was a guy who probably never played football but he always knew what they should’ve been doing. He yelled at the team the entire time telling them to suck it up and play some ball. At least everyone was passionate.
Overall, it was a great experience. I truly enjoyed being in the college football atmosphere. Even if it wasn’t my team. WAR EAGLE!!!!!!!
The band coming into the stadium. Soooo much fun!
The cheerleader took this one.
In front of the stadium.
Another 1st September 8, 2008
Best buddies
Last school year I decided, yes I said “I”, to put Maddox in preschool for two days a week. Chris doesn’t really understand why this is necessary but he trusts me. Maddox got so bored last year while Bella was at school. I would do at least one organized activity with him a day, whatever it might be. From playdough, to pudding paint, or even just racing from one end of the house to the other. He really enjoyed the one on one time with mommy but after a while he really wanted to just play with some kids, especially boys. So I decided that this year, I would put him in a 2yr old preschool class. He is able to go with his best buddy Bowen so it makes it that much better. He didn’t really understand that he was going to school. He kept thinking that he was going with Bella. hehe When we got to his school, him and Bo Jack walked right in. He started playing with the race cars and never looked back. I am so glad he did so well and I think he is going to have a blast!!
posing with sister
Looking for mommy
This is a BIG deal… September 7, 2008
This summer, I became aware that it was probably time to start showing Bella how to tie her shoes. But since during the summer she is basically barefoot, we never got around to it. Well, while buying tennis shoes for school, I figured we should make it happen. I tried showing her a few times, but Bella gets frustrated very easily. If she doesn’t automatically get something, she gets discouraged. (so much like her mother) After kind of taking a break on the subject, she gets out of the car after school last week and both of her shoes were untied. I told her that I needed to tie them for her and she says, “No mommy, I can do it.” With a puzzled look on my face, I said “sure honey” assuming that she was going to do her usual tie a bunch of knots together deal. Much to my surprise she tied it perfectly the 1st time. I screamed out in the parking lot “Holy Cow Bella”. I was so surprised and so excited. She had the biggest smile on her face and her tongue moved to the inside of her cheek. (that’s what she does when she gets embarassed) I asked her if she learned it at school and she said, “no, I just kept trying and trying and I finally figured it out.” I can not tell you how proud I was. This is such a milestone. It symbolizes independence and the fact that she figured it out on her own just made me so happy. As my kids get older, I have so many bittersweet moments and this was definately one of them. I am so happy for her but I am also a little sad b-c it means that she is growing up. I love when my kids learn a new experience but I also sometimes wish that they would always be little so that I could just hold on to them a little longer.
It’s Finally Over! August 19, 2008
Well, the first day of school has come and gone. A few years ago I thought that Bella starting school would just be part of growing up. Little did I know that it would bring up all kinds of emotions. A few weeks ago I realized that I was becoming very anxious about the first day of Kindergarten. The closer the day came the more emotional I got. I began thinking of all of the things she used to do when she was little. Like jumping in the bath with her clothes on or calling a duck a dack-dack or enjoying her 1st kareoke experience with her BF, Cayden. Bella is definately one-of-a-kind. Here are just a few facts about my little girl.
She absolutely adores her little brother
She is a collector of many things
She loves nick-nacks
She is very curious
She has a halarious sense of humor and is very honest.
She is extremely stubborn
She prays that her babies will come out of her noo-noo b-c she does not want the doctor to cut her stomach open. (we are very open with her)
She loves coffee and her family
She is very interested in the Bible
I love everything about this little lady. She is absolutely precious to me. I know that God has big plans for her and that he made her just the way that she is so that he can use her to further His kingdom.
Today was really hard for all kinds of reasons but mainly b-c I realize that her years at home with me are now over. It makes me very sad but I am also excited for her to learn all kinds of things. I want her to experience all of God’s greatness and truly seek his will for her life. Here are just a few snapshots of how the day unfolded.
Sportin the book bag
My big girl at school.
Hangin
trying to enjoy herself
It all ended with a bedtime story with Aunt Amy
My parents are better than yours:) August 2, 2008
MaMaw and PaPaw
For those of you who don’t know, my mom has chronic arthiritis. Rheumatoid, and Osteo. She also suffers from fibromialgia (you try spelling it) Lately, she has really struggled with this. Here are just a few of the surgeries she has had within the last two years. A knee replacement, rotator cuff, a joint replaced in her thumb not to mention she had a heart attack in April while in Disney World. (yikes) All this and she is only 62. Needless to say she is in massive amounts of pain 24 hrs a day. My mom has always been a fighter. She has definatly been through a lot and she has always come out with a smile. Everyone that meets her instantly falls in love with her. I wanted to write this to ask all of you to if you would please remember my mom when you are praying. I know that my mom has a lot of life in her but sometimes it’s hard for her to see that.
So this week the kids and I went for a visit to MaMaw and PaPaw’s house. Thanks to some steroids that the doctor prescribed, mom was feeling better so on Thurs, I was determined to get her out of the house. We went to Wal-Mart to get a few things and of course MaMaw had to buy the kids Ring Pops and bubble gum. Mom then decided we needed to go to Petco to get Buzz Lightyear (our hermit crab) some things for his cage. We started looking in the crab aisle and mom kept finding things that Buzz needed. First, some purple sand so that he could bury himself. Next, a new shell in case he grows out of his, then she found an “easy access” water dish and lastly a climbing stick that, “he is going to love.” My mom finds so much excitement in just the little things in life. She had so much fun going to the treat bar and making her dog, Sadie a personalized bag of treats. She even took a nibble to find out if it was suitable enough for her BFF. After leaving the pet store, the kids and I took her to Red Lobster for some yummy shrimp scampi.
I am so blessed to have such wonderful, Godly parents. They are so supportive of me and my family and love us no matter what. I am not sure what kind of story you come from but I can pretty much guarantee that my parents are better than yours.
Buzz's cage before the makeover
MaMaw helping Maddox feed the crab
After the makeover!!
My kids taking a ride in the lift chair!
