Bye Bye David & Megan

Friday night we celebrated my sister-in-laws {Megan} 23rd birthday.  My brother {David} went out of his way to make it special for her.  David & Meg also wanted to say goodbye to their family & friends because they left the next day to MOVE to Atlanta! {insert sad face}

David told Megan that they were meeting my family at Spankys because we go on a usual basis.  He organized the venue, time, invites, decor, cake, and everything. Me & Amanda went early to decorate for him. Megan was truly surprised when she walked in the back party room. David & Megan moved to Atlanta to serve at a church. We will miss them tremendously but we are so proud & happy for them.

 

Normal

My favorite word as a Mama: NORMAL.

It's a RELIEF to hear the word NORMAL when testing is being done on your child. At my 36 week ultrasound, the tech said that Brodie had fluid on his right kidney.  She said that it was minor and normal, but it was a high normal.  I researched & found out that many people hear this especially with little boys. So, I didn't worry but it was on the back of my mind.  Phillip & I prayed daily for God to heal Brodie.  When Brodie was born I mentioned it to my nurse and she ordered an ultrasound. Again, there was fluid and it was a high normal.  At his 6 month checkup, his pediatrician recommended us having another ultrasound so we did. AGAIN, it was a high normal. My flesh wanted to cry out GOD WHERE ARE YOU? BUT my spirit knew that God was working it out.  The radiologist scheduled us with a specialist. So, we went AGAIN for another ultrasound & AGAIN it was a high normal. The specialist advised us to get a VCUG so he could make sure the bladder & kidney were functioning properly.

& that test was today. We went to Memorial Hospital.  My heart hurt for Brodie because I knew what the test required...a catheter. We were placed into a room with a few wonderful nurses.  One was blowing bubbles & the other making us feel very comfortable.  Brodie did his normal share of entertaining as well. We undressed Brodie and put him on a machine.  My husband {my strength} said "You may want to wait outside." & I did. As much as I wanted to be there for Brodie, I knew he would cry and reach for me. So me and my mom waited outside of the door. I heard nothing for awhile & then he let out a scream.  What they do is inject a blue dye into the catheter.  The radiologist watches as it feels up the bladder and goes to the kidneys & then he watches it release. We assumed he was crying because of the catheter. My heart sunk & I shed a few tears myself. God reminded me to pray. I prayed in the hall listening to my baby cry.  Within minutes, the radiologist was out of the room. He said that everything was NORMAL & that he didnt see any fluid on the kidney.  I rushed in the room & grabbed my sweet boy up. He was smiling ear to ear. Phillip said he only cried when they strapped him in-not because of the catheter.

God is still a healer.  The bible says he is the same God yesterday, today, & forever.  I am in awe of his goodness. I knew Brodie would be healed, but words can't describe the feeling when your faith is rewarded.  

 

 We went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch & visited the fish at Bass Pro.

 

Phillip is coon hunting & Brodie is sleeping-I think I'll catch up on my favorite blogs & read more about the Georgia Blate.

Tomorrow is a big day for someone very dear to my heart. 

Reading Psalms 37 & declaring it over his life.

So So Sad....

When I first joined the blogging world I didn't know where to start. A friend from Highschool posted a link on facebook to a blog of a mother who just lost her little girl to SIDS. I started following her first and followed her story.  I then followed blogs that she followed. One woman blogged about her little girl battling cancer & another about her son passing away with a heart defect.  I thought the stories were sad. Well, I got pregnanat & stopped blogging.  My son is 7 months old & I'm now picking it back up and trying to committ because I enjoy looking back on it.  Well, in the past few days I've re-visited these blogs.  This time reading the stories I have bawled...I'm talking ugly cry behind my computer.  Becoming a mother has changed me.  I can now put myself in their shoes & relate. My baby goes tomorrow to do testing for his kidney's.  I have been devastated that there was a slight problem. He has fluid on his right kidney. Its very mild & could be completely harmless. The doctor thinks he will grow out of it but they want to do all the testing to make sure the bladder & kidney are functioning correctly. I've prayed & prayed asking God to heal it.  Its minor compared to what these women have went through. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child.  It hurts my heart to even think about.  As I write this I'm watching Brodie sleep through the monitor in his crib.

Thank you God for a healthy little boy. I declare good reports tomorrow. God put my mind at ease & be with Brodie as he goes through the procedures of testing.

& God, I pray peace over the families who have gained angels. Wrap your arms around them through their heart ache & pain.

Amen.

7 months

Brodie Layton is 7 months old

 

 

• 21 pounds 6 oz
• 23 inches tall
• Crawling
• Pulling up and walking holding onto furniture
• Says Dada, Momma, Hey, Bye Bye, Bird
• Goes to bed at 11:00 pm & sleeps until 9-10:00 am
• Eating soft table food-favorite so far is mac & cheese
• Waves bye bye & hey
• Motions for Dora & Sadie to come when I call their names (our fur babies)
• Needs a haircut
• Has 4 teeth {2 top & 2 bottom}
• Loves trees {Gamma sings "Hey little tree, hey little tree, hey little tree wont ya look at me?"}
• Loves the "Road Song" Spongebob on youtube.
• Loves to swing in his baby swing outside.
• Loves the beach-he went for the first time.
• Notices when we enter & leave the room & reacts
• Starting to learn to clap.
• Wakes up smiling
• Loves to sleep close to our headboard on our bed.
• Wears size 12-18 month clothing
• Hates shoes
• Hates getting his diaper changed
• Starting to have fits
• Grunts when he wants something
• Loves to dance with Mama {Our song: "Dance with your partner, dance with your partner, kiss her on the lips, bow him down."
• He is ticklish from head to toe.

This month he scared us with Salmonella Poisoning :(  It was a nightmare.  I'm still not sure how he caught it but we are extra careful in restaurants & grocery stores.



Happy Father's Day

Dear Phillip {Crazy},

There are no words to describe how much I love you. I think about our first dance, "I thought I loved you then" & I see the lyrics unfolding in my life. As you've become a father this year, I have fallen more and more in love you everyday. You are an amazing daddy to Brodie. We are blessed to have you as the head of our household. Your guidance, your faith, your strength, your giving heart, & your kindness shows in everything you do for us. I love you. I adore you. I appreciate you. Thank you for loving us the way you do. You inspire me to be a better person & you're my best friend. I know Brodie will feel the same way in the years to come.

Happy Fathers Day. Thank you for making this journey special.

With Love,

Your Crazy

Beach Day!

We {Me, Phillip, Brodie, Cheyanne, & Livy} are headed to Hilton Head to go to the beach! This once upon a time beach bum hasn't been the beach in 2 years!!! I'm so excited to relax and enjoy the ocean for a few hours!

Last night we celebrated Amanda's {My Sister} 20th birthday @ my house. It's always a good time when my family gets together. Melanie, Lindsey, & Matt came to help celebrate.

Lindsey was introduced to my parrot Rebel & it was one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed. "Come up little Bird."


The night was filled with entertainment from Lindsey, UNO, DQ Reese's Ice cream cake, Mama's homemade chicken sandwiches, & lots of laughter.

Happy Birthday Amanda!! The Beasley's love you with all of our hearts.

Speaking of Amanda-go check out a sneak peek of her gorgeous wedding by W. Scott Chester. http://www.wscottchesterblog.com/index.cfm?postID=454

Have a great weekend!

Just for fun

Here is a video of me & Brodie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVvHxHdZme4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

My sick little boy had to go the to the ER last night. He started acting groggy & weak and then blood appeared in his diaper.  

Mama, Daddy, & Gamma got there at 10pm & left at 3 am. Causes of bleeding? Who knows. All I know is my poor baby has had enough tests & pricks these past couple of days. :/

Today, we took him to our pediatrician. We will not get any answers until the stool tests comes back. They think it may be salmonella or it could be due to the longevity of his diarrhea. If it is salmonella, he most likely got it from us washing his bottles in the same load with contaminated dishes in the dishwasher. I know better now!!

Hopefully, we will find out Friday!  

Mama OVERTIME

There is NOTHING more stressful than having a sick baby. Saturday morning I noticed that Brodie felt a little warm. I checked his temp and it was 101.1. I also noticed two teeth coming in so I assumed it was due to the teeth and we got ready for the day. We had guest staying over for my brothers birthday so we hung out with them until church started. We went to church at 5 pm. In the middle of service I noticed a terrible smell. Phillip and I blamed it on one of the children...WELL it was my child. I checked his diaper and it was diarrhea. Again, I assumed this was due to the teething. So, while changing his diaper I checked his temp and it was 102.6. Fevers are so scary when they start to get high. Luckily, service was over and we went home. His fever rose to 103 and he started having diarrhea every 30 minutes. Needless to say, I was up all night with him fighting the fever. Sunday we skipped church and went to Urgent One. He had the stomach virus/flu. Monday we woke up and his fever was 104.6. This mama freaked out! We went to the ER and they sent us to our pediatrician due to wait time. They confirmed the stomach virus and told me to watch him. Today, he is much better.

I don't know about you but when I'm sick I want my mama. Well, when Brodie was sick I wanted her too & she was there. She spent the night with us and made sure I was okay and he was okay. She also cleaned my entire house including laundry. I appreciate her so much. It's in moments like those that you realize how special someone is.  

& I can't forget Granddaddy. He was here every night after work to check on his little man.