Beautiful Completion

Josh and I have been together for 11 years this fall. We grew up together quickly and unexpectedly when we found out we’d be parents to a child with special medical needs. I can’t even wrap my mind around where we’d be had Carter not come along - he was the catalyst for so much change in our lives... spiritually, mentally, financially, and emotionally. 

A few years ago I was serving students at Highlands. I remember asking God to put students on Josh’s heart so we could serve together. I had a couple of close friends praying with me as well. I thought that looked like Josh finishing the Growth Track and joining the Student Team. Us riding to church together - attending one and serving one service. Or maybe serving City Group or MOTION together. 

That didn’t happen. Instead, we went through a really tough season in our marriage. It was necessary but hard. Because of it, we grew and made adjustments. I stepped back from serving to focus on our home. Eventually we sold our part of the gym so we could focus on our family together. We rested. We refocused. 

Enter Jim Hardy and Victory Football fall of 2017. Carter was asked to be on the team. We went to a couple of practices, a pep rally, and the championship game. Just in those few encounters Josh was intrigued. Fast forward, and by the sports banquet in Spring Josh was planned to be the strength coach for summer workouts. Now he’s fully immersed and dedicated to the boys. He talks about them all of the time, and they’re literally the best kids on the planet. 

So here we are. A few years later than I expected, but prayers answered. Because prayers don’t expire - they last until completion. It doesn’t look like I thought it would, but it’s so good. All we have to do is be obedient, and God does the rest. If you’re believing for something today, be encouraged that if you’ve asked God - IT WILL be answered. His time. His way. Because it’s the best way. It’s kind of like a pass play... fire that ball in the air and wait for the beautiful completion. 

Sweet Summer

We had prepared ourselves for such a hard summer, knowing surgery was scheduled and not knowing what recovery would look like. God has blessed us so immensely. He’s sweet and gentle with us when we need it the most. Carter has had the best summer so far. From a better than expected surgery, a lightning fast recovery, to a transition of care that totally exceeded our expectations. 

He is cathing completely on his own, and has become more independent in other areas as a result. It’s been so cool to watch him grow up through this change in care. 

Some of the fun things we’ve done this summer....

We’ve taken a trip to Lexington

Swam with friends

Celebrated our great nation 

Went to the lake and on a boat for the first time

We’ve spent summer nights training with the football team

And now he’s at Summer Blast getting his worship on

We still have a family beach trip coming up, and we’re expectant that it will be a great time of resting and recharging. 

For all of you who have prayed for us during this season - thank you! We felt every one of them. We can’t wait to see what the next season looks like for our family, as C starts 2nd grade and I move into a new job (still at DISA). We know it will be great no matter what, because His plans are good and we’ll be doing it together. 

Fear, Doubt, & Darkness

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you wake up in a cold sweat because of the “realness” of it’s content? It may be far from what is true in your life, but in that vulnerable moment of sleep it wrecks your emotions and mind. I didn’t realize until this past semester, while attending a small group on the Holy Spirit, that these dreams are anything but harmless and random. It’s the devil, attacking us when we’re unable to coherently think. He’ll take sucker punches... he has no manners. Last night I had a dream that I found out Josh was cheating on me. I literally woke up in a panic. And then anxiety... fear... doubt... for my REAL life... started to creep in. Had I not had the knowledge and words of my sweet sisters to draw from I’d have not been equipped to identify and rebuke Satan in that moment. I reminded myself of what was true, of Who holds me and my family, and of the good things He wants for us. Y’all, the devil is REAL. It’s not a fun subject, but it’s pertinent to our existence - especially in our current society. He will encroach when we’re vulnerable and incoherent if he can’t make headway when we’re awake and ready. He thrives in darkness, and his roots spread quick if we don’t snatch him out. I’ve really been fighting fear leading up to Carter’s surgery, and it’s taking a daily refocusing to settle my heart. God loves my wild child more than I do. He wants good things for him. No amount of worrying or fearing unknowns is going to change those facts. God has used countless friends, family, and our medical team to encourage me and reinforce the truths: that my kid is a fighter, that he recovers well, and that it will only be a short season of pain for many seasons of relief. 

Thank you, God, for your provision in all things. From small groups, to new friends, to perfectly timed words, to strength and knowledge to fight the devil’s schemes. You are so good. 

Routines

I've always been an "all day" person versus a morning person or a night owl. I am a creature of habit, and fully believe that everything works better if you have a repeatable process. To me, nothing is worse than forgetting things or feeling like I'm always trying to catch up on the day or running behind. These are just a few of my routines that keep our life running somewhat smoothly. There are always unforeseen issues that arise (like when my power went out in the middle of my breakfast Monday morning!) but those are easier to deal with if I'm already in a good head-space.


M O R N I N G S

5:00 am Alarm. This is my "pre-wake-up alarm." Josh hates me. HA!

5:10 am Alarm. This time I actually get out of bed. I hit the bathroom and brush my teeth first thing.

5:15 am I head to the kitchen. If the dishwasher needs unloading, I go ahead and do it. I'll swap or start laundry loads if needed, too. I feed and water the dog. And a new addition the last few months is breakfast. I feel so much better if I eat something with a little substance before I leave the house. Also, coffee. I pack my lunchbox for the day while I heat my breakfast up.

5:30 am I sit on the couch with Mav and eat my breakfast and read through the One Year Bible on the YouVersion app. This usually only takes about 15 minutes. If I have extra time I'll check email, our bank account, or social media. I have to be careful though because social media will suck me in and before I know it, it's time to leave!

5:50 am If I have to take C to school, I get him up and dressed. He'll brush his teeth and drink his breakfast shake (they're in the fridge and straws are in reach, so he can grab everything himself) while I get dressed and put on my makeup. Note: We usually shower at night since we workout in the afternoons. I'm ridiculously low-maintenance.... think 10 minutes for getting dressed + hair & makeup.

6:10 am Leave the house for work or school. Fact: Most days this looks more like 6:15 or 6:20.


A F T E R N O O N S

Times are loose for afternoons because we don't always get home at the same time, but this is the general flow:
- Unpack my lunchbox
- Put bags and jackets up
- C starts his homework / practices piano. I go ahead and empty his folder, sign his homework pad or lesson book, and we go over his spelling list and Bible verse. Sometimes he'll even do his reading homework in the car on the way home. We are all about efficiently using time for more play time!
- Load any dishes in the dishwasher
- Make the beds
- Swap/start/fold any laundry
- We workout anywhere from 4-6pm


E V E N I N G S

6:30 pm Usually around this time we're eating dinner. Josh does most of our meal prep these days, so we'll heat something up. If we cook during the week it's a really fast meal and I'll come inside around 6 and get started while he finishes working out.

7:00 pm I clean the kitchen up while Josh and C play. If C needs a bath/bag change they'll knock that out first.

8:00 pm I set C's clothes/socks/shoes/brace out for the next day. Refill diapers/wipes/bag supplies/spare clothes in his backpack if needed. We do a quick sweep of the living room and put up toys from the day.

8:30 pm C's bedtime. He gets changed right before, takes his probiotic/vitamin, brushes his teeth and heads to bed. We tuck him in, say prayers, and give kisses and hugs. We take showers once he's in bed, and then will usually watch a show if we're not too tired. We're almost always in bed  and asleep by 10:00 pm. We are old. HAHA.


C L E A N I N G

This is probably the hardest for me. I don't like spending my weekends cleaning. I usually only clean house when Josh is at work. I also don't typically workout the days he's at the station, so usually that time is subbed with cleaning. Carter is really good about entertaining himself while I knock out a few chores. I mop the kitchen and vacuum the carpets at least once a week, as well as clean the front bathroom since we always have friends at our house in the afternoons (getting their sweat on!). I despise cleaning bathrooms with every fiber of my being so ours happens every other week or when I can't stand it anymore. Dusting happens whenever I feel like it, to be honest. I change the air filters once a month, usually the same day I give the dog his heartworm pill at the beginning of the month. I have to make reminders for that kind of stuff in my planner or I will totally forget.


L A U N D R Y

Josh swears laundry is my favorite thing to do. There is always something going on in our laundry room! My system is pretty simple... when the basket fills, I do a load. We have four baskets.

1. A large basket in our room for everyday wear clothes
2. A small basket in our room for items that need to be washed on a gentle cycle or separately (sweaters, jeans, my work tops, etc).
3. A small basket in C's room
4. A small basket in the laundry room for towels

Sheets and blankets get washed once a week, usually Sundays or Mondays. I have spare sheets for our bed but don't rotate them out because I'm not folding a fitted sheet every week. When a load finishes in the dryer, it comes out of the dryer onto my bed and I fold it and put it away immediately. I literally do a load of our "everyday wear" basket at least every third day because it's usually full of workout clothes by then. I do the smaller basket of jeans and delicates once a week, as well as towels and  Carter's clothes (if I don't combine his with a smaller load of ours).

twenty eighteen

I can't believe it's been over two years since I last made a post to the blog. You've missed so much! Of course, I've been documenting on Instagram and Facebook, but I definitely want to get back to saving our memories and the details associated with them here, as well. Here's a quick recap since Winter 2015.

2015 Wrap-up

Josh and I went through some really weird stuff toward the end of this year, and while it was tough while we were in the middle of it, I'm thankful for it now. We came out stronger in the end, and said a lot of words that otherwise might not have been said. We went to DISNEY WORLD for the first time and it became our absolute favorite place on the planet.

2016

This year was a blur. We spent most of it running in different directions, and most of our togetherness was forced by sickness. Carter turned FIVE in January and was already half-way through K-4 with Mrs Schauer. 

Josh and I kicked off the year with a trip to Miami for Wodapalooza. 

Carter started having really crazy sickness and symptoms at the beginning of the year... for the first couple of months we thought it was "normal" kid stuff, and the side-effects of the antibiotics he was on. By April we were admitted under Gen Surg and started a long journey for diagnosis. Terrible stomach pains, non-stop vomiting, decreased appetite, distended stomach... the works. Our boy was SO sick. 

In June we were referred to GI for a possible bacteria overgrowth diagnosis. We pursued that treatment for a few months and still saw little relief. Carter became very self-conscious about his tummy during this time, and it was an emotional battlefield. He started kindergarten at Victory in August - God bless Jessica Bowman. That woman helped my child through vomiting spells and stomach pains more times than I can count, while at home he slept with and carried around a trashcan just in case. 

In November our GI set us up with a motility specialist in Atlanta to schedule intensive motility testing. We also broached the subject of urinary diversion with Dr Joseph, but he said he wouldn't touch C until we got his stomach figured out :) We spent a week of December in Gatlinburg, just the three of us, and it was bliss. There had been a massive fire in the city right before we arrived, so we spent most of our time in Pigeon Forge or relaxing at the cabin. It was just what we needed to show us what we'd been missing out on for a few years.

 

Josh spent late nights and early mornings at the gym, and a 3rd of his time at the fire station. I sacrificed time at the gym in the evenings after working full-time, otherwise our home-life was chaotic and stressful. With Carter in school, and soon to be going full-days in 1st grade, Josh had less quality time with him than ever. So, as a family, we made the decision to sell our half of Second Alarm.

2017

The theme for this year was MORE. More dinners together. More time with friends. More sleeping in. More time with daddy. Mav became an inside dog since we were actually home, so there was more time with him, too. 

My job had a major transition complete with new leadership, co-workers, and roles. We took C to Snow Mountain and LegoLand in Georgia for his 6th birthday. At the very end of February we went to Atlanta for motility testing. It was horrible and heart-wrenching, but in the end they were able to rule out motility as an issue... surprisingly C's intestines have great movement. Dr Garza suspected a stricture at the fascia level of his stoma, and referred us back to our GI to engage Gen Surg again. 

We talked with our GI and he hooked us up with Dr Martin. Dr Martin is super-conservative and we really liked him. He did an exploratory surgery mid-April to literally "feel" C's stoma, and found it was way too tight. So, back at square one, but this time with a solid diagnosis... we scheduled a surgery for stoma revision. 

Also in April, we put in a 600 square foot metal building to use as a gym, and we went to Indianapolis for the first event of the Firefighter Combat Challenge season since Josh joined the team this year. 

We also took C to his first A-Day Game!

May 1st Carter had his stoma revision surgery and turned into a completely different child.

His stomach went down almost immediately. He packed on 5 pounds - his face was chunky for the first time since infancy! His energy levels went through the roof once he recovered. We didn't realize just how sick our boy had been... for over a YEAR... until he was fully well. At the end of May Carter graduated kindergarten and transitioned to Highlands Kids at church. 

We spent a week at the beach in July with my family, before C started 1st grade with Mrs Dunaway in August. The transition to full-days of school was exhausting, but he hung in there. He also started piano lessons with Mrs Jordan. 

We took C to his first real Bama game this season, and he had an absolute blast. I'm officially a Bama fan now... but I still love my Gators, too. #rolltide #chompchomp

In October Carter and I took a trip with Moo to New Orleans for my friend's wedding, while Josh competed at Worlds in Kentucky and finally made Lion's Den.

Another highlight of the fall season was C's involvement with Victory's football team. Coach Hardy contacted me to see if he'd be interested in being an honorary member. We attended a few practices, he was the star of a pep rally, received a tiny jersey, and had too much fun at the championship game. We're pumped for the 2018 season and can't wait to cheer on our Eagles. #eaglestrong

In November we went to Disney World with my family again, and then spent Thanksgiving in Florida on Blue Run, where C caught his first fish. 

December was full of piano recitals, parties, and Christmas fun. And even a really BIG snow in December!

This year was the best.... which brings us to....

2018

C turned 7 in January. We let him have a "real" birthday party this year. 

Carter got to participate in the OFF (Outdoor Friends Forever) Hunt in January. Best time ever. Such a relaxing weekend for our family, meeting other families that struggle medically like us, and being poured into.

We also attended the Alabama National Championship celebration. So much fun with friends!

Speaking of friends, me and my girls took a day trip to Birmingham for a Galentine's celebration and then TJ proposed when Jasmine got home <3 They're getting married in April and TJ has been selected to be a co-pilot in the Air Force. He leaves in June for training. We literally cannot wait to be a part of their big day, and to see where God leads them in their next steps.

Our crew is seriously the best. We couldn't do this life without them. 

Carter also got fitted for a new brace, and received said brace last week.

That pretty much brings us up to present day! Our word for this year is FOCUS. We have goals and plans, and last year taught us that we can have what we want... because we made MORE happen. I am so thankful when I look back on the past few years.... God is good. His provision in our lives is seen in the everyday comings and goings of our household. He's blessed me with the sweetest family and the most loyal friends. He loves us so, and I know He's going to make 2018 even more rich and blessed than I could possibly imagine.