The Circle of Life

Lately I have truly learned the meaning of the phrase "The Circle of Life" and I'm not talking about the movie, The Lion King. I mean the point at which we become adults. Again, I don't mean the 18th birthday.

I have memories that make me feel like they starting point of my life. Sure, we all have vague recognition of memories from before that time due to hearing stories of our childhood repeatedly or seeing pictures but there is always one beginning place. I don't have a set age, per say but it seems like it all began when I was a small child. My grandmother must have been in her mid 60s which would put my mom at her mid to late 30s, maybe right around 40. This is the point where Grandma was completely 100% independent and could do most anything she wanted on her own - obviously within reason. Soon after, we began seeing Grandma slowly decline, fortunately all physical and nothing mental health wise. She suffered from arthritis and would eventually need hip and knee replacements. Any kind of surgery in that matter takes a major toll on your body. Life just doesn't seem as easy as it was. Things changed. Responsibilities changed.

Fast forward 30 years and change the cast members from that to now be my mom and myself. Life is completely different, but not necessarily bad. I find myself now helping and doing for mom as she did for Grandma for so many years. I have a memory of someone telling me that my mom promised my Grandpa Dison on his death bed that she would forever take care of Grandma. And let me just say, she did an absolutely amazing job.

Mom and I have often talked about all the days that she used to keep Noah for me in the afternoons. It was her way of being able to repay Grandma for all the days of letting me stay with her while mom worked. Mom was helping me in the very same ways that Grandma helped her. Now it is my turn. Was I necessarily ready to cross this bridge, no, not at all. Are we ever ready for something like this, no never! But do we have a choice - of course not!

I sat in an ER with my sweet momma a few weeks ago after she reinjured her back. It was during those hours of sitting, waiting, dwelling, pondering what life would now look like. How different it really must become. The point of the circle where the roles change and the child becomes the adult and the adult becomes the child. It was the (tough) reality that a lot of mom's independence has slowly disappeared. It was the reality of listening to her cry as she learned that she would have to make some hard life decisions. The reality of making everyday life living hard. The moments of the "quick run to the grocery store" is gone. The moments of sitting in the floor and letting her grandsons wrestle with her were gone. Even the enjoyable afternoons of walking the mall just for fun had vanished. Moments of needing help cleaning the bathtub had arrived. The simple task of sweeping the kitchen and the front porch would now require additional hands. Grocery shopping had become a 2 person task - one pushing the buggy while mom maneuvered a wheelchair. The financial comforts from a part time job may be gone because it would no longer be feasible to work the job. The anger that goes with it. The anger from the life changes of the past year -- the anger of realizing where responsibilities now fall. The

The circle that quickly changed directions when we were not even looking.

~Randi

Finding a new normal

One year ago this week my life changed in a drastic way. A situation that I never expected to go through, especially as an adult. I think as a child, I noticed several friends going through a similar situation and was very thankful that I knew I would not go through this. Now, going through it, I think it would have been easier going through it as a child. Unknowing to the truth and pain.

My world was rocked the day that I found out my parents would be getting a divorce. How in the world was I supposed to process this piece of information that would now consume my every day thoughts.

A loving marriage that I had watched for 33 years, one that I had looked to as an example for my own was shattered into a million pieces. How would we ever put the pieces back together. There would never be enough glue.

How in the world would life go forward with this. It did not make any sense in my head. Christmas would be different. Birthdays would be uncomfortable. Lunch and dinner outings would cease to exist. I was assured that life would go as normal and that my boys would know no difference.

Yet I doubted that statement, a year later my sweet children remain innocent to the truth. I am not saying, by any means that it has been an easy year. It is just by the grace of God that we have successfully made it through the first year of finding a new normal. There have been many many bad days but we have had successful days as well. It is very hard as an adult to see and understand the hurt and pain my parents are enduring. The days of tears. The days of having to face the truth to friends who are clueless. The days of putting on that mask of happy when you are truthfully crumbling on the inside. The days that you do not have a bandaid big enough to wrap your heart and keep it from hurting.

The night I found out the truth was one of the hardest days ever in my life. I was devastated. Crushed. Went to bed with tears flowing from my eyes. Woke with red puffy eyes, yet certain that I had just experienced a nightmare in my dream. Certain that it wasn't true, until I noticed the left over cup on the kitchen counter from Noah's outing with Ree Ree and Uncle Jamie that night before. Reality hit me that morning that it wasn't a nightmare. It was the truth. I had no choice but face this. It kind of felt like someone had died and I would be forced to go on with life without them.

Nothing that I could say or do could fix this situation. My hurt and my anger would not solve the problem. A helpless feeling with no choices!

I have prayed and prayed for God to heal this situation. Instead he has given me the strength and power to wake up each morning. He has given me the ears to listen as both of my parents speak to me. He has given me to words to say to people who are unknowing of the situation.

I have clung to the verse Keith and I have chosen as our family verse (as I have posted it here before)
   
         Romans 9:17 "...I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

God has brought us through every trial thus far and he will see us through this one as well. We will find a new normal. He will lead us and keep us from falling. When we feel like we are falling, he lifts us up. It is ok to have bad days. I pray that the bad days will be overseen by good days.

~Randi

Letting Go

Boy have I become bad at the blogging thing. And sadly it is something I love to do and want to do. Well, just know that because I have not written it here does not mean I have not been writing. I have been. I have a journal that I started writing in back in the summer when we started going through something very personal. I wanted to write and remember my feelings so that I could use it one day so I have been going there to do my writing. It's not because I have something to hide or don't want to share it, I'm just not there yet. 

If there is one thing through this storm that I have learned, we all have storms that we go through and hide from. I know that I am not the only one going through the same trials. People have been here before. But why do I choose to hide? Because I feel that I will be judged. I feel like if I hide, no one will know. No one will see. No one will know that I am crumbling on the inside. Instead, I put my big girl pants on and swallow to hide the pain. Truth be known, we all do that. We don't want everyone to know our biggest, darkest secrets. We feel as though there is a huge sign above our heads like a cartoon bubble or something that is blasting out our secrets. We try to run and hide from that. 

I have felt a tugging at my heart lately that it may be time to share the story. I'm not sure exactly how to do that but I know that God will reveal that in HIS time. I feel that we have a story that God will do great things with, and I am clinging to that. One that we can help change lives with. I feel like I keep hiding from this but I read another blog today that said something to the effect of "if you keep hiding from it, how will anyone ever know your story or where you came from." I know that was not her exact wording in her blog but that is exactly what I needed from her post. So true. How can I hope and pray that God will use our experience(s) to help other lives if we are not willing to share our path. 

Most of our "situations" revolve around a similar date of September 17th. That is the "dating anniversary" Keith and I always celebrated because that was our first date. A date very important to us in our first years together. Little did I know that date would mean so much more to us later. A friend told me that God may be using that date for a bible verse. I started looking up every 9:17 verse in the bible and Romans 9:17 was the verse for us! It says: "...I raised you up for this very purpose that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." There is was, a missing puzzle piece. This confirmed to me that I do need to let go of the fear of embarrassment, judgment, hate, anger, etc. etc. God has Keith and I going through storms so that HIS NAME would be proclaimed. Did I look at our situations of praise to God. Absolutely not! Many people do not praise his name during storms, sadly they do call out his name but not in praise! Many people question God through storms wondering why they go through the storms they do. Not gonna lie, I have asked MANY times why? But now I know, so that HIS NAME would be proclaimed. 

It will be difficult to face the truth in the light but I am excited for what may come of it. Maybe ways of council to ones going through similar trials, maybe through writing (I really do love it) and maybe through public speaking one day. I don't know. That is up to God to decide. But I know one thing, we are ready. Ready to face whatever God has in store for us. I said that several years ago when we started new journeys with closing our businesses and starting fresh. I said that when we decided to open our homes to foreign exchange students, I just had no clue what God really had in store for us. 

I am very thankful for all he has brought us through. He has helped us to discover love like no other. He has helped us to depend on each other when we didn't know what else to do. He has helped us to turn to him no matter what puddles or rivers we are walking through. He has blessed us with a beautiful little family that depends on us and that is exactly what we will do. 

~Randi   

Happy Birthday, Liam!!

I can not believe it has been almost 3 weeks since Liam came into our lives. How did we ever live without him. He is such a joy to have in our family.

Noah is such a good big brother. I will admit that I was nervous at first, giving how Noah had been acting the last few months, but he is doing so much better than I ever thought. He loves Liam more than anything. He loves to kiss on him, hold him, help change him and just watch him. I do get nervous over how much he does "love" Liam. I am constantly watching out for Liam's little head to make sure "Brudder" doesn't love on him too strongly.

It's amazing how you can go from looking like this ......

 

 

to this ......

 

 

in just a matter of time. The preggo pic is me the Sunday before Liam came on Thursday. I was exactly 39 weeks pregnant in the picture.

 

 

Dr. Hoover agreed at my 38 week appointment to induce me on Thursday, March 7th. Having never been induced, I was unsure what to expect. She told me to report to the hospital on Wednesday evening at 5 pm. We convinced the family that there was no need in coming to the hospital that night. Keith and I looked forward to starting the process that night and then a good night of rest. Boy was I wrong! Gigi and Granddanny came and picked me, Noah and Maggie up and took us to UAB to meet Daddy. He got off at 4 so we had plenty of time to grab a sandwich at McAlisters before heading up to Labor and Delivery. Dr told me to eat a light dinner and that is just what I enjoyed (with a huge glass of sweet tea!!)

 

We got into our labor room (LDR 8) about 6p. The lovely hospital paper work, doctors talking to us and iv sticking began. The nurses changed to night shift at 8p so nothing else really started until after shift change. I had the sweetest night nurse that night to help take care of us. I wish I remembered her name but she was very young (apparently all of my nurses were super young ... they were all younger than me!!) She and the on call doctor came in about 8:30 to start the process. They put in some kind of catheter (not the real kind) to try to make you naturally dilate more without medication. At the time of arrival, I was 1 cm dilated. The procedure that they did was more painful than the actual delivery part. Mental note: if I ever do this again and they induce, ask for pain meds BEFORE the procedure!!! Oh my word. And it didn't help that she had to do it 2 or 3 times (I lost count) because the placenta was tilted. Who knew?

 

After the painful procedure, we were set the for night. I got to enjoy my tea until midnight then it was ice chips only. Keith went right on to sleep while I stayed up texting with my momma and the staff wives. Thank goodness for group text! Texting lasted until almost 11:30 when we all decided that we must get rest - after all, I had a BIG day ahead of me and needed rest. But I could not sleep. My mind would not shut down. I was excited, anxious and nervous all at the same time. I missed my little buddy more than anything. Keith's cell phone rang about 2 am with a phone call from Gigi. I instantly had a panic moment wondering what was wrong with Noah. Well, it wasn't Noah. It was Maggie. She was having a breathing attack and Gigi wasn't sure what to do. Once she settled down we headed back to sleep. Ha - yeah right!

 

 

The night slowly crept by. My nurse came in at 5 am and helped me take a shower and they started my iv of pitocin at 6a. Overnight I had dilated 2 more cm. Shift change happened a little earlier than 8a but I had a precious nurse again. How funny is it that my actually LDR nurser lives about 5 minutes from us - in Corner!! We know a lot of the same people and it made for a fun and easy day! Epidural came about 8 am when my contractions really began to pick up. The epidural had to be done twice because the first one when into the wrong place. Nothing like 2 big sticks in the back in between tough contractions. And of course they make the hubby leave during this part.

 

Family began to trickle in about 9:30. Pain eased up but I got to where I didn't feel too good. Liam's heart beat was a little higher than everyone wanted it to be. Once my water had been broken, Dr. Hoover realized that Liam had pooped. She was a little concerned and wanted to have Peds in the delivery room just to make sure things were good.

 

Waves of nausea passed by me, tried to sleep, couldn't sleep. It felt like we had been going at this for at least 24 hours and it really had only been about 3-4 hours. Dad had to work that morning but planned to leave work at noon. We realized things were progressing a little faster than expected and so Dad left Riverside at 11:30. He made it to UAB in record time - by 12:30. I was at 10 cm and ready to push about 12:15 but Dr. Hoover said we could wait a few minutes to give Dad time to get there to see us before. What a blessing she was. In the mean time, she went out to check on Noah and played with him and his monster trucks for a few minutes. Papaw made it just in time to kiss me before it was time to start pushing.

 

Pushing lasted through 9 contractions - 25 minutes - and Liam was here at 12:54 pm. When he came out the cord was wrapped around his neck 2 times. Talk about scaring his mommy and daddy (and doctor!) Fortunately everything was fine but that was the reason for the elevated heart rate during the contractions. Fortunately we had a huge team of pediatrician in the delivery room and they were right on making sure he was ok, which he was. He actually was better off than Noah was when he was born.

 

Littlest Man weighed in at 7 lbs 11 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. I call him my little "odd baby" because his birthday is 03-07-13 and he was 7 - 11. HAHA! He looked just like Noah only he has a head full of dark hair! So opposite from the rest of us!

 

Our new little family of 4

Mommy, Noah and Liam

 

 

Little BB - ready to go home on Saturday

 

Brothers - waiting on our discharge from the hospital

 

Noah and Liam on Friday, March 22nd at Gigi's house

Liam is 2 weeks and 1 day old

 

 

 

Everything was perfect. I could not ask for a better delivery story, team of nurses or a better doctor. I absolutely love my new OB and don't see me changing any time soon, unless she goes somewhere else. The care at UAB was wonderful, the security measures are impressive and they get high stars in my book.

 

 

God blessed us yet again with another precious baby boy. He is perfect in every way. He is eating good and sleeping good. He reacts well when he hears his brother. We could not be any more happier with our little blessing.

 

~Randi

 

First Trip To Children's Hospital

I am WAY over due on typing this post (since it happened 2 months ago yesterday!) but I feel that it is a worthy blog post. We experienced not only our first Children's Hospital ER trip but our first middle of the night ER trip with Noah. I think making it almost 4 years is a pretty good record!

It was a Thursday night/Friday morning when Noah woke us up crying. It was not very late, maybe only 12:30 or 1 am. Keith actually woke first hearing Noah crying. I was obviously good and asleep that I didn't even hear him. Normally I am the one that hears him first. Keith walked in his room to Noah sitting on the floor crying. Noah mentioned that his head was "wet" so Keith felt the back of his head and knew instantly what he would find (it was obviously pitch black dark in there.) He picked him up and brought him to his room yelling that Noah was bleeding and to wake up. Talk about a bad way to wake up!!! We quickly realized the entire back of Noah's head was wet with blood. We couldn't quite see how bad the cut was but we knew we needed to head to the hospital either way. It's scary with head injuries because you never know how bad they could be. What could appear minor could be life changing and vise versa - what appears life changing may be nothing. We were not sure what to expect. The only thing we figure is he

We calmed Noah best we could as we both got ready to head out. We did not realize how cold it was outside (haha) and just about took Noah to the Jeep in his pjs and no socks. I don't even know if he had his jacket at the time. It also didn't help that I was applying pressure with a wet towel to the wound.

We quickly headed out best we could. Instantly called Papaw (my dad) to make sure we were doing what we needed to do. Papaw is the police officer/former medic in the family so he gets all of the medical calls. We said we were doing everything fine, slow down, take our time getting to the hospital. It was not worth a risk of having an accident to make things worse. He had just taken something to help him sleep and he had to be at work early the next day. He said what I figured he would say and that was Nina was on her way to meet us.

We called Gigi and Granddanny to let them know where we were headed. We laugh now but they originally thought we were headed to the hospital for me and Baby Liam. We didn't know that THAT phone call would come just a couple of weeks later - LOL! They told us to keep them posted on what was going on but they kept checking in with us because neither of them could obviously go back to sleep.

I was dreading a full waiting room and hours of just sitting with Noah and a bleeding head. Keith kept prompting me to talk about how bad his head injury was so that they would take us back immediately. I kept thinking they would notice it with all of the blood! Keith dropped Noah and I off at the front door of the ER and I was shocked to find not one person waiting in the ER waiting room. I have no clue how we got that fortunate!! When I questioned it the nurses even told me to "SHHHH" (laughing of course!) They never have nights like that. So, we were taken immediately back and examined.

The sweet triage nurse too his vitals, looked at the wound and assured us it was not as bad as we thought but would require a few stitches. She bandaged his little head and sent us back to an actual room. This is where the waiting came!! We didn't realize at the time that the waiting was to help a deadening medication sink into the wound so they could stitch him. It's the little things you obviously don't think about.

After waiting a long while, the doctor came in to see us. He assured us the same as the triage nurse but didn't think the medication had worked on his head. It had fortunately stopped bleeding so he could actually see the wound. He had the nurse apply another round of medication to the head and we waited some more. We knew we did not want them to have to inject a shot in his head to deaden it.

Let me just say that I was not prepared for the stitches part. Hearing Noah scream was the worst ever! It was worse then when he broke his arm!!! They had to put him in this blue papoose thing that pretty much restrained him. Houdini figured out how to wiggle his arms out go figure. A male nurse walking down the hall heard the screams and came to back up. He pretty much laid across Noah (without hurting him obviously) to help hold him down. This preggo mommy held it together but MAN!! I think it did freak the nurse a little when she figured out I was almost 31 weeks pregnant.

We received 3 stitches in our head with instruction to follow up in 5-7 days with our pediatrician to have them removed. It was a rough week of keeping his head clean and dry but we managed!

We got back home about 5:30 am and we were beyond exhausted. Keith and Noah both took naps but I was wired. I did not let Noah out of my sight at all that day!

We had tickets to Monster Jam that night and we were so excited to go but questioned if it was still a good idea. Poor baby was so excited about it also so we decided to give it a try but let him make the call when he was ready to go. We made it just passed intermission when he said "I'm ready to go home. I've seen enough." He was beyond being a trooper! I was bummed we missed the best part of the show but I did not and could not push him to stay! Our Monster Jam experience did bring out a new phase in Noah. Now we own almost 20 monster trucks and we have several recorded on the DVR and he acts out Monster Jam with his own trucks. He even swapped his birthday party to Monster Jam.

We obviously have a few iPhone pics from our hospital experience. We couldn't let his experience pass down.

In triage getting our vitals and a little hospital gown

We called this our 'Superman" headband - with medication

The horrible blue board! Noah will not forget this board!!

Post stitches. Saline was used to flush the wound which made his hair look worse!

Can I say how bad his head smelled for a couple of days. The smell of blood reeks!!

Noah and Jake at Monster Jam. He was such a trooper in his cute monster truck shirt Mrs. Kim made.

He was also proudly wearing Papaw's  headphones. (Looks like we will be asking Santa for a set this year!!)

 

 

You know, you always try to find a positive out of every situation - the ONLY positive we have found for our ER trip is the threat of the blue board. If Noah is doing something that might hurt him, we remind him of the blue board at the hospital and he stops what he is doing. Bless his heart, blood does freak him out now (guessing he won't be a doctor now!). Every time he hurts something, even as simple as stumping his toe or even cutting a hang nail from his finger, he freaks thinking he will have to go to the hospital if it bleeds. His exact words is "my bleeding stuff". Goodness! I wished I could take the pain for my baby but knew I couldn't. 

Happy Birthday, Buddy!!!



I can not believe it has been 4 years since my favorite little buddy entered our world. I had no clue what a joy he would bring to us.

 

We celebrated his birthday party on February 16th with family and friends. I know I was nervous about his party but everything turned out perfect. It was too cold for the moonwalk (which Noah and I were both disappointed with) but we had a great time anyway! Ree Ree made a "tire" cake for us and Aunt Jonica helped ice it and decorate it up some. Ree Ree also made small "tires" for each of Noah's friends to decorate their own. Keith and Uncle Shane attempted to make cotton candy. It tasted wonderful but I think the dog next door enjoyed a majority of it because of the wind. It was funny watching the little beagle chase it through the yard. HAHA!!

 

Noah got lots of wonderful gifts and fun new toys. His favorites include the bow and arrow from Nina and Papaw (thanks, mom!!) and the dvd player for the car from Gigi and Granddanny. Boy, do his grandparents know him or what. We do joke on the bow and arrow. He is great at it - has a natural stance and all. It just took some talking to on where we point and where we do not point the arrow. I will say - the arrow is not an arrow. It is a suction cup, but still. Gotta learn now for the real one one day! He loves it because he says he is going "Squatch" hunting -- his Daddy is so proud!!!



 

Blowing out the "Tire"

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

 

Attempting at the Cotton Candy

 

Decorating the tires

 

Even "Mr. Keith" sat with the kids to decorate a tire

 

Aunt J and Ree Ree ROCK!!!

 

Lunch with his friends!

Opening Presents

 

More presents - with help from friends!!

 

 

 

Noah's actual birthday was this past Sunday and of course it was spent at church. What a better place to celebrate his birthday! We did go to lunch afterwards and let the birthday boy choose. Big shock - he wanted chips and cheese. We headed to the Mexican restaurant and Mommy took one for the team. I thoroughly enjoyed my Mexican lunch - especially since it had been over a month since I had eaten anything like that! I figured it would either send me into labor or a gall bladder attack. I was hoping for the 1st one but got nothing! HAHA!!

The afternoon ended up being absolutely beautiful!! Aunt Audrey sent Noah a John Deer tractor with "monster truck tires" so we headed outside to play. He had a blast playing in the mud. He was SO filthy when we finished that we threw his new socks away. They looked like they had soaked in chocolate milk. His jeans, shirt and shoes went straight to the washer. I even had to wash the washing machine before I could wash the next load. We stripped Noah of his clothes on the back deck and Keith literally carried him straight to the tub. He was filthy even under his clothes. But my Buddy had a blast and I let him enjoy!!

 

 

 

 

 

And while this post is all about Noah -- today is pajama party day at school. They are studying the letter "P" at school so they wore their pjs today, enjoyed popcorn, (caffeine free) pepsi, pudding, and watched Peter Pan. He even got to take Bo and Mickey with him to school. Needless to say, he was very excited about going to school this morning!! I know he will have a blast at naptime!

 



 

Noah's "bestie" is Michael and he is in the blue plaid.

Jonah is a close 2nd and he is in the red angry birds.

I know they have so much fun at school!!!

 

 

God certainly blessed our lives when Noah entered the world on February 24th, 2009. I look forward to many more years of fun and excitement with my Little Buddy. It's only going to get better!!! 

 

Just a downer day

I feel like "Debbie Downer" today. Am I allowed to do that? I would say yes but not just because I am 9 month pregnant. I think we are ALL allowed downer days. I normally do not use nor like to use my blog as a venting place but I felt like today would be a good day to actually put my feelings and emotions out in writing. Again - I don't do that often enough either. I wish I did.

Today is Friday, February 15th. It is the date of birth of a very special man in my life. My Granddaddy. I would love nothing more for Liam to grace us with his presence today. But I've given up on that wish - especially since it is 2p already. Something drastic would have to happen quick. (Then the other side of me is not quite prepared like I would like and so that would not be good either!!) This is a day that I think about my Granddaddy for mainly the entire day. My Granddaddy was always my main man, besides my Daddy, of course. We loved to fish together, go on trips, go to the movies and just about anywhere we felt like going! It was a very hard day when he died almost 11 years ago. I wasn't quite sure how we were to continue on with life without him. It almost seems unfair to go on. And I would give ANYTHING for him to know my boys!!

Tomorrow is Noah's birthday party and I feel like a slacker momma. (Poor Baby!!) His birthday is not until the 24th of this month but I decided it was best to have his party early because of Liam. Now I am wishing I had waited until after Liam. And let me just say -- for the record -- it absolutely stinks to work for an inflatable company and not be able to use an inflatable for your son's birthday all because it is too cold outside! UGH!! I started planning Noah's party in September - yes, 5 months ago. He wanted a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party. I tried to discourage since we had already had one but there was no changing his mind. So I looked and pinned on Pintrest and marked as favorites in Etsy and just about had my game plan down. We were able to get free tickets to the Birmingham Monster Jam show in January so we took Noah. Little did I know that it would start a new phase with us. He absolutely loved it!! And in just 5 weeks, our monster truck collection has grown from 2 trucks to 12! He is obsessed - literally!! Needless to say, his party has changed to Monster Jam. (Not to be confused with just Monster Trucks in general -- it must be Monster Jam!! Grave Digger and all!!) So I went back to the drawing board. Pinning and "Favorite-ing" Monster Jam birthday ideas. Then I got sick! Blah!! It just went downhill from there. I feel like his little party has been thrown together, nothing executed as this planner momma had visioned. I told myself that it wouldn't matter because we still had the moonwalk -- that is until the weather people reported an "Arctic blast" of cold air for February 16th. There was even talk of the "S" word but I think it is extreme North Alabama. So, we had to cancel the moonwalk and now it will just be a party in the house I guess. Nothing special. Nothing fancy. I am very thankful for a huge playroom downstairs because I guess that's where the kids will play. As of Tuesday morning I had no clue what I was even going to do for a cake for his party. (Seriously, slacker momma here!!) Aunt Jonica and Ree Ree both offered to help wherever they could. Aunt J has been really sick so I was afraid to ask her - honestly! Ree Ree offered to make cupcakes for us just after I decided to do little chocolate bunt cakes as "big tires". The kids will each get to decorate their own tire. I think it will be a fun activity for the little ones. It will end up being a good party, I have no doubt. Just hate it when my plan doesn't follow through.

So what am I doing now? I am looking at Pintrest and Etsy and planning Noah and Liam's birthdays. I HAVE to make up to Noah next year for his big 5th birthday and it will be Liam's 1st. They must be done correctly! (Yes, I think it is an illness that I have. HAHA!) I've convinced Noah to have an airplane birthday and we will have his party at the Southern Museum of Flight. Noah and I decided that Liam needs a Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday. By the way, there is some super precious Hungry Caterpillar birthday stuff out there. I think I do need to start planning now and start buying now! HAHA!!!

I think I have vented enough for one day. I'm gonna cheer up, finish out this work day and go meet my boys for dinner and birthday party shopping.

~Randi