2014: Looking Forward

2014 is going to be a great year for the Piatt family. We've paired down our efforts on a lot of things, and are looking to make changes in many areas of our life. Kristen at When At Home said it best in her blog post "Live Intentionally":

I don’t want to get to the end of this year and look at [Josh] and say, “What just happened?” I want to say “BOOYAH, 2014. The [Piatts] happened to YOU this year.” And that will be all.

The following are some areas we're focusing on, and the goals associated with them.

FINANCIAL:

We started the year off with the Financial Freedom conference through our church and got a big ol' eye opener of how terrible we are at saving and how much debt we really have. We're already taking steps to fix these issues and are well on our way towards our goal. Feels so good! We're also being more intentional in our giving. I've always been quick to give, but now Josh and I are on the same page about it after hearing the sermon series "Generous." We're experiencing financial peace by staying on top of our budget, intentionally saving, giving, and paying off debt, and communicating about what money is going where, and what our needs and wants are.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  

I Timothy 5:8

PHYSICAL:

Carter is 3 years old. We have a full-fledged, walking-around, talking-like-he's-grown toddler. On the medical side, we've gotta get this iron/anemia situation figured out pronto. Also on the list is to discuss with Ortho the long-term effects of Carter's hips going uncorrected. We plan to discuss with our urologist what our next move will be with Carter's urine output, since he's becoming more and more curious about the potty and his various body parts... plus, diapers are EXPENSIVE y'all!

My personal physical goals involve something like: run a real 5K, finish the Smolov Jr cycle, actually become somewhat proficient at pull-ups, and snatch 100 pounds. Getting in the garage two times a week is still tough... so we'll see :)

Josh's probably include: CrossFit 7x a day 10 days a week, advance to Regionals, beat Rich Froning in one thing... SOME thing... 300 pound snatch, 400 pound clean & jerk, and walk on his hands for more than 10 feet. No, but seriously, I know Josh has goals that he keeps to his quiet self in his quiet little head, and I want to make sure I'm supporting every decision to get him there. Every workout session in the garage or at the box. Every PR. Every competition. Every training course or certification. Every session he coaches. I'll stand behind that, because I know CrossFit is his passion.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.   

I Corinthians 10:31
 

SPIRITUAL:

This year we want to get fully involved in our church. I start serving this Sunday (eek!) as part of the Administrative Team, AKA the A-Team! Carter's still too young to have anything really going on, but he does love to be in Highlands Pre-school and it warms my heart that he begs to go to church. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they feed him pizza when I have to stay late, or that he gets stickers... :)  We're excited about the upcoming small group semester, and I've been looking and praying and pondering which one we'll attend. We want to go to every single conference, serve day, or class that is opportune for us. I want to read the Bible more, remember to pray FIRST in every situation, and memorize scripture that will encourage me in everyday life. This year is all about focus in the right direction - on the eternal.

And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 

EMOTIONAL:

This is something that shouldn't be overlooked when planning goals for your family. Our society can force us to become so busy that we completely tune out what's going on inside our heads and hearts. I'm the world's worst about getting too involved and deeply immersed in a passion or hobby and then letting it dominate the better part of my thoughts or actions. I tend to like responsibility a little too much. A friend gave me great advice not long ago, "You should still be involved, just as an Indian instead of a Chief." I plan to enjoy more time with my family and by myself instead of being the uber-socialite that I sometimes tend to be :) I want to have more quiet time in my home, read more books, do more yoga. I want us to take our first real family vacation now that Carter is big enough to enjoy one and travels more easily. I want us to unplug more - we're now a 1 laptop, 2 tablet, 2 iPhone family - and spend more time playing, eating, and conversing together.

 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2 

Overall the goal is to have a great year TOGETHER. Even if these goals aren't completely met... like.. *cough* that pull-up... as long as we've spent good quality time growing together as a family I'll chalk that up as a WIN. I'm looking forward to the challenges presented - bring it, 2014!

Thankful for Greyson

I'm thankful for my little brother, Greyson. For those of you who don't know, my mom had Greyson when I was 15 and it rocked my world. I'd been an only child my entire life. In some respect, he gets to be an only child, too. He also became an uncle at the ripe age of 8. Carter and Greyson love each other, and when they don't see each other for a few days Greyson is begging mom for a visit. I'm thankful that Carter will have another male influence that's closer to his age, and that he can relate to and talk to. Greyson has the sweetest spirit, and I hope that Carter favors him as much in that aspect as he does in looks. I love you, Grey!

 

 

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

- I John 4:20

Thankful for aunts

I'm very thankful for the female influences in my life. Most of those came in the form of aunts. My mom has three sisters: Melanie, Melissa, and Heather. (My mom falls between Melanie and Melissa.)  

Left to Right: Melanie, my mom, and Melissa

 

My aunt Me-Me (Melanie) lives in Lake City, FL. She's been a nurse basically her whole life, and has a true servants heart. She has two boys, Landon and Jordon, and I spent many summers at their house since Landon is only a year older than me. We almost lost her in October of 2009. She contracted H1N1 and went through months of treatment and therapy. She was one of the most critical cases to come into the Orlando hospital, but the prayers of many were heard and she was restored to full health. When I found out about Carter's complications, I knew immediately that I wanted her here with me when I delivered. Landon's wife was pregnant at the same time, and she delivered Nathaniel on January 5th, 2011. They scheduled my induction for January 10th, and my sweet aunt Me-Me left her brand new grandbaby to come take care of me and put my mind at ease. She was an absolute blessing, keeping me and my mom calm and advocating for me to my nurses and doctors. I'll never forget that, and will always be grateful.

My aunt Melissa passed away on December 14th, 2012 while still living in Williston, FL, the city where they all grew up and my grandparents reside. My favorite memories of her typically involve animals. Over the years she had many interesting pets: two Persian cats (Murph and Butler), a snake, a horse named Dino, and the living legacy (who my mom inherited) Boo. She worked at a vets office for a while and I loved to visit and color with her. I lovingly referred to her as "Uncle Lissa" when I was little. She loved children but was never able to bear any. She led a much different lifestyle from the rest of her family, and ultimately ended up on a bad path of prescription drug addiction. She fought hard to battle it, and went through many ups and downs in the process. Many of us became very frustrated with her decisions, and began to limit our exposure to her. Her cause of death was an accidental overdose (a bad combo of medicines) while receiving treatment for her addiction. Our avoidance of her over the years leading up to her passing caused a lot of emotional grief and a tremendous amount of internalized guilt and regret. This experience taught us all that FAMILY should always be there for each other, no matter what the situation. Not to become enablers, but just to be a constant encouragement in their life, giving a steady stream of love and prayer. We're coming up on the anniversary of her passing, and I ask that you'd please pray for our family, especially my grandmother.

Heather and her husband John

 

Heather married into an Air Force life and currently lives in Ellicot City, MD. She has lived all over, and I've been lucky to visit most of the locations she's lived such as: San Antonio, TX, Colorado Springs, CO, Greenville, SC, and Ocean Springs, MS. My mom was lucky enough to visit them at their most recent location in Germany (I'm not bitter). Heather is by far the aunt that I'm closest to. She lived with us for a while, and I even became extremely jealous of her since my mom's attention was divided between us (little did I know Greyson would come along...). Some of my favorite memories with Heather include me biting her nose because she was aggravating me, crying because she "said I had a turtle neck" (I was wearing one), and her gesture/explanation of what the male genetalia looked like. She has two children, Ryland (who is a little older than Grey), and Ella (a little younger). She's always good for parenting advice - one of the most helpful things she told me was this: "Don't let him determine what you're going to do. He'll adapt." I was always impressed at how GOOD her kids were for a shopping trip or a day in town, and it's because they were always on the go. She refused to sit at home and let life be dictated by feedings and naps. As a result, I've instituted the same with Carter, and he LOVES to go, much to Josh's dismay :) That's probably why he's awesome at competitions and can snag a nap in the midst of chaos!

The Fill-In

 

Kelli, lovingly referred to as "KK", is Josh's aunt (his mom's sister) and she lives in Millbrook. She is the perfect fill-in for an aunt when my blood is just too far away :) She's always good for a laugh (or a SNORT!) She recently became an animal lover and has a cat named Roxie, for which Josh loves to tease her. She works with kids through the National Guard, but doesn't want any. She's one of the most independent women I've ever met and I truly admire that about her. She recently switched to our church and started CrossFit, and we're loving the extra time with her. 

We love because he first loved us. 
- I John 4:19

Thankful for down-time

I'm thankful for down time with my family. Tonight I skipped the gym to get home early, and Josh, Carter, and I spent time together. I cooked dinner last night, so I didn't have to rush to get that done. We played outside for a little while. We cleaned up the living room and started a donation box with some of Carter's old toys to make room for what he may get at Christmas. We watched Superman and played in the floor, and we went to bed early. I love slow evenings like this, and wish we had more of them.

Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry.
- Jeremiah 2:25 

Thankful for motherhood

Tonight I'm thankful that my child obviously loves me. We had our first "homesick" experience tonight. He was supposed to spend the night with my mom so I could get up early to head to the Color Vibe run tomorrow. He was fine when I left, basically shooed me out of the door so he could play. At about 9:30pm mom called and he was wailing in the background "I want my momma! I wanna go home!" So I loaded up and headed to her house and we're ALL having a sleepover :)

I guess this more or less boils down to the fact that I am so thankful that I'm a mother. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I NEVER wanted kids. God had other plans. I'm not sure if I've ever divulged this on the blog... but I completely panicked and used Plan B at his conception. Obviously, it didn't work, and I'm thankful for that every single day. When we learned of his defects in-utero, the doctors at UAB gave me the option of terminating the pregnancy. This also makes me thankful for that motherly instinct that God placed in me - I already loved that little life inside me... how could I end that? I can't imagine my life without this little muffin. He's rocked mine and Josh's world, and we're much better for it. He's taught us faith, hope, and love in his short lifetime.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
- I Corinthians 13:13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- Jeremiah 29:11 

Thankful for Maverick

I'm thankful for my beast of a dog, Maverick. Josh can't NOT have a dog. He had a bull mastiff named Bella when we started dating, and she was his pride and joy. She ended up with an injury from being hit by a car, and never did heal well, ending up with other health issues. We had to put her down in December of 2009 after a couple of months of trying to get her well, and Josh was pitiful. By late January 2010 he was already itching for a puppy. He came up with the notion that he would get me a puppy for Valentine's Day... "Do you want a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler?" I really wanted neither, especially not a puppy. We'd been through two litters, a total of almost 24 puppies, in Bella's short life and I'd come to the conclusion that while cute, they're disgusting and messy. However, he was relentless, so I found a litter of Rotts in Montgomery for a decent price. The owner is a breeder, but doesn't breed often, and this litter was an "accident" in which he didn't know which male was the father, so they were unable to be registered. His honesty was compelling, and we couldn't wait to meet the little bears. There were three puppies left when we went by. Two females, one male. He brought mom and one of the prospective fathers in for us to see... at which point Josh sat on his hands (he's scared of dogs). We loved on the babies and watched them for a while to see which one we wanted. The male was such a little fatty, and he kept pulling a blanket off of the ottoman. Josh was drawn to his destructive behavior (go figure) and said he wanted that one. I was game, because I didn't want to fool with the prospect of ever having MORE puppies. He HATED being crated and fussed for almost a month straight every time we locked him up at night. He would shred anything in his path. Toys. Shoes. Clothes. Pillows. Blankets. EVERYTHING. One time he managed to pull an entire pillow through the slats of his crate and destroy it - stuffing everywhere when I came in the next morning. He was absolutely the CUTEST puppy, though, and it's a good thing, because it kept me from killing him some days. He grew so fast, and was so awkward during his growth spurts. I had never had a puppy before - I'd only had one dog my whole life, and he was much older when he came into our family. He and I bonded since we were home alone the nights that Josh was at the station, and he's my baby. He had to become an outside dog when we had Carter, mainly because we were gone from the house for a month. He doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves, and I'm trying to work on that. Carter is leery of him since he's so big (Mav weighs nearly 130 lbs...) but I'm hoping in the next year or so he'll start getting more comfortable with him so we can spend more time around Mav. He's my protector, and our entertainment - we call him the Sandlot Dog... our neighbors kids lose more footballs and frisbees. I'm thankful Josh ignored my pleas and pressed the subject - I can't imagine our home without this brute.

Little Bear - he was maybe 3 months old here... 

and had torn up that fleece from a blanket

I was very pregnant, so this was winter 2010. 

He never has been able to grasp that he's big.

Both of these were taken in the past year or so. Both of those footballs came from the neighbor kids. We never buy him toys anymore.

O Lord, You preserve both man and beast.
- Psalm 36:6

Thankful for our Veterans

Today I'm thankful for our Veterans. Land of the free, because of the brave. Pray for our troops.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Matthew 5:9

Thankful for medical advances

I'm thankful for medical advances. To put it quite simply - if it weren't for medical advances, a few important members of our family wouldn't be with us today. Carter, Brenna, and Evan were all given life through medical advances, no matter how basic. Evan's NICU stay was very typical of most preemie twins - helping his lungs grow and develop through treatment and time while limiting his exposure to other sicknesses. Carter's care involved surgeries that made his body compatible to life - he needed an exit for bowel so he could eat! Sweet Brenna - the medical advancements of our time, a doctor in the delivery room that had her diagnosed almost immediately, and the absolute blessing of a specialist in her area, have led to a THRIVING toddler. I can't imagine our lives without any of these miracle children. I thank God that he's given doctors and scientists the ability to provide healing to his creation.

 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
- Psalm 30:2

Thankful for mom

I am so very thankful today for my mom. She's always been a source of strength and a quiet presence in my life. She's watched me make choices, and has supported me as I experience the "life" that was a product of those choices. I inherited her love of reading and her non-confrontational spirit. She has a heart for giving and helping others, and even when she's been wronged she can find the best in it. I'm blessed to call her my mom.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” -Proverbs 31:28-29

The Last Of Us

The Last Of Us
 

The last of us waited longest

For love to come her way

Trials and tribulations

Brought her to this day

The last of us had passion

Far too much for other boys

But this one, he's a keeper

And he'll pamper her for sure

The last of us prayed

Bright day and dark night

For that special someone

Who would make her heart feel light

The last of us found it
When she expected it the least

And love came soft and quickly

As she slumbered, sighed, and dreamed

 

And now the time's upon us

When we'll walk her down the aisle

The last of us is one of us

And boasts the most deserving smile

 I love you so much Nichole, and I couldn't be more happy for you and Cooper! 

Nichole is my oldest friend - since 2nd grade! She has been with me through everything... good & bad. She is the last of our group of girl friends (Savanna, Me, Danielle, Dede) to get hitched. She has been there for every major life experience: high school, college, pregnancy, and she stood beside me on my wedding day as my Maid of Honor. I am so thankful for a friend like her - someone who knows my past, my fears, my personality, and my secrets. She is going to be a wonderful wife, and I'm so happy that she finally found a man that complements her so perfectly. Cooper, welcome to the Sayer/Smith family!

These guys...

In honor of Father's Day I'm going to list 5 things I have in common with my dear ol' Dad:

1. We love beer. Much to my mother's dismay, I have inherited his love for the brew.

2. We love the Florida Gators. Growing up in Alabama, I could have easily ended up an Auburn or Alabama fan. Dad made sure he took me to Gator games often, and instilled an overall love for the SEC in me. He's even cool with the fact that I married an Alabama fan.

3. We research, but are impulsive buyers. As soon as our mind is set on a certain product - why wait?! My sweet husband will plan for months to save and buy an item, whereas I have the mindset "if I'm gonna buy it eventually let's just do it now!"

4. We're people-people. Is that the plural of people-persons? I'm not sure, but roll with it! I haven't met a person I can't talk to. I may not want to continue to talk to them, but I can at least initiate a conversation. I'm thankful for receiving my dad's social persona. It's gonna get me places.

5. We love this country. Yep - the US of A. Obama, Bush, Clinton. No matter who is running this great nation, my dad has supported and defended it. Sniffles during the National Anthem or a flyover can be heard from both of us. I think the first time I ever saw my dad tear up was while watching a war movie. I'm thankful that he pushed me into the career I'm in today, because if I reap nothing else from it, it's given me a much deeper sense of patriotism to have supported the warfighter myself.

Josh is by far the best dad I know. Here are 5 things I love about him as a dad (and husband):

1. He's been involved in Carter's care since before he was born. He went to every appointment at UAB. He was there to take care of me while I recovered after delivery, and wanted to know everything the nurses could teach us in the NICU. From the time we came home, we learned Ostomy 101 together, and conquered feeding issues hand-in-hand. He kept C for a week by himself when he was only 9 months old! It wouldn't be a stretch to say he's changed more bags/diapers than I have in the past 2 1/2 years. He does PT with him basically every day he's home, and I'm convinced C would not be as advanced in his motor skills if it weren't for his efforts.

2. There aren't many men that are rushing to get their kids from daycare on their off-day so they can play with them. Josh is that dad. He wants every last minute with that kid. He looks forward to "firsts" and wants to be there for moments like C's first dip in the pool... his first zoo trip.... and that makes my heart swell.

3. We're on the same page. Raising kids is complicated. Raising Carter is more complicated. We could very easily baby and pamper him because of his medical issues, but we choose instead to treat him like any other kid. We have very little problem when it comes to being on the same page for discipline and limits for Carter.

4. He's a great example of many things. Fitness. Work ethic. Determination. Fitness may not be important to a lot of people, but for our situation with C it is. We want Carter to know that despite his medical complications, he can find ways to adapt and still care for his body. Josh is a hard worker, and isn't scared of physical labor. He's always willing to lend his skills to a friend if he can help them out, whether it's welding, concrete, or just lifting something heavy.

5. He's becoming a spiritual leader for our family. Everyone goes through hard times in marriage, and there are many difficult dynamics in ours. I can say that from the day we were made aware of the complications with Carter, Josh and I became a different couple. We had no choice but to rely on the Healer. We witnessed a miracle on an ultrasound screen during the shunt procedure, and we're determined that Carter will know the God that gave him to us. Every day Josh is growing in the Word, and every Sunday Church of the Highlands speaks blessings into our life.

 

Paleo Challenge: Day 2

Breakfast

I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to the smell of BACON! Josh had gone to the gym early, and cleaned the kitchen and cooked breakfast while C and I were still snoozing. I had brewed a cup of coffee the night before, mixed in a packet of stevia, and stuck it in the fridge. I had iced coffee with some almond milk mixed in for my breakfast. Next time I'll only use half the packet of stevia - that stuff is super sweet!

 

The bacon was super crispy... some of it was close to pork rinds! Ha! We ate it all, though... so it must not have been too bad!

After breakfast I got in the kitchen and started food prep for the week. While I was cooking these two were playing and watching the final heats of the CrossFit Regional events that were going on this weekend.

Fruit Salad
This fruit salad is so easy and delicious. Our friend Savanna makes it for our family get-togethers and I figured it would keep well through the first part of the week - if it lasts that long! Pick berries and fruits you like, mix them in a large bowl with the juice of one lime and a couple tablespoons of honey! Easy!

 

Veggies
I cut up some veggies to have for snacks throughout the week. Celery, cucumbers, and baby carrots are ready to go in the fridge to top salads or snack on!

 

Fudge Babies

Fudge Babies are like Larabar balls. They're really easy in terms of low ingredients, but be ready to get your hands dirty!

Chicken Salad & Paleo Mayo

I got tired of the chicken salad I normally make with balsamic, honey, grapes, and walnuts, and opted for this Curry Chicken Salad instead. I modified mine - recipe below!

Curry Chicken Salad
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets (boiled, drained, and torn into small pieces)
Paleo mayo (I used the majority of the recipe below, but had a little leftover, depends on how creamy you like it! Recipe I used below)
Raw cashews (chopped, I used about half a cup)
Raisins (small handful)
Celery (diced, about half a cup)
2 Tbsp curry powder
1/2 Tsp ground ginger
1/4 Tsp garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste
Mix it all together and enjoy!

Paleo Mayo
1 large egg (bring to room temperature)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/4 cup light tasting olive oil
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt

Bring egg to room temperature. In blender or food processor blend egg, 1/4 cup of oil, lemon juice, mustard, and salt until combined. Then, very slowly drizzle the remaining cup of oil in. Should take 2-3 minutes. If you go too fast it won't combine properly. Mayo expires when your eggs expire - so make a note!

Egg Muffins

These go quickly in my house... that guy I live with likes them a lot. I made 20 muffins this time, and they are just plain - egg, sausage, salt, pepper, and a little cayenne. No frills!

After I finshed my food prep, we went to the gym. Josh was doing this workout and I decided to join him:

1 mile run

60 pull-ups

1 mile run

I ran my mile in 9:15. At about my 20th pull-up (on the red band) I felt a really weird pull in my lower abdomen. Really awkward area to strain when doing an upper body intensive movement... so I can't figure out if it's muscle or something else. Mandy said it could have been from holding my breath.... which I tend to do on pull-ups. I finished 30 pull-ups so I'd have completed at least half of the workout, and by then it was so bad that I couldn't stand up straight and it was making me dizzy. We shall see how I feel tomorrow.

Dinner
Mom cooked us dinner, like she normally does on Sundays. I had thrown a pack of chicken tenderloins in some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano before we headed over there so my dad could put them on the grill with the other chicken.We had grilled chicken breasts, and a ton of grilled veggies: cabbage, banana peppers, squash, and scallion. Everything but the cabbage was fresh from their garden and it was delicious! I snagged some jalapenos she'd picked for a recipe I'm making Tuesday. BONUS - she sent me home with some watermelon and leftovers from dinner!!!

Life as we know it....

Wow! Time flies when you're busy! And we. Are. Busy. Here are some happenings since mid-April:

Carter

 

- Newest obsession is the Avengers

 

 

- Talking up a storm

 

 

- Almost walking

 

- Got dedicated on Mother's Day

 

 

- Loves CrossFit

 

 

Josh

 

- Attended an Outlaw Training Camp in Atlanta

 

 

- Coaching the competition team at CFI

 

- Competed at "Ends of the Earth Showdown" in Gardendale, AL (and placed 3rd!) 

 

 

CFI Athletes representing!

 

 

Devan

 

- Went to the beach

 

- Became the Event Coordinator for CFI & helped put on Hero 4 Heroes - CFI's first competition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Officially received notice of furlough... or as I prefer to call it... "pool days." I'll have one day off a week starting sometime in July!

 

Upcoming in the Piatt world for the month of June:

- I plan to blog a lot more often. Starting tomorrow.

- Tomorrow is the start of CFI's June Paleo Challenge. I'm hoping to udpate the blog with recipes and progress throughout the 30 day contest.

- The 8th is the March of Dimes' River Region March for Babies! We have a team - "Carter's Love" - and are looking forward to our friends and family walking with us in honor of babies across America that are born too early or with birth defects like C.

- Josh is getting USA Weightlifting certified this month. He has a passion for lifting heavy things, and wants to learn how to do it most efficiently and effectively... as well as how to coach others to do the same!

- The Girls - a Garage Game Series competition. I can't wait to watch that guy I live with compete in this one. He talked about doing it last year, but we were unable to make it. This year it's bigger, better, and in a different month. We're excited to make the trip to GA, and represent CFI!

- Lots of pool time. We got C in the pool Monday during our Memorial Day bash and he LOVED it! It's still a little chilly, but should be warming up soon - the Alabama summer is in full swing!

- Books. I want to read more books! I used to read at least a book every week or so. I couldn't tell you the last book I finished. I think it was over Christmas "break"... whatever it was. Monday I started the final book in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris (the basis for the HBO hit True Blood) and I'm hoping to finish it by Sunday night. Finishing a book in a week would give me some kind of hope that it can be done! lol Wish me luck.

Help me out with some prayer requests!:

- You may have seen my facebook posts - my friend (and prior cheerleading coach) Mrs Debbie, lost her daughter, Jada, this past week to cystic fibrosis. Jada fought long and hard, and was waiting on lungs. She's now breathing easy! Please say a prayer for the family and friends as they adjust to life without Jadabug.

- Another recent loss of life was my tiny cousin - Chase. My cousin, Michelle, and her husband live near St Louis and her twins were born very early. Please keep Michelle and her family in your prayers as they grieve, and also as they continue to be strong for their little Evan as he is still in the NICU.

- Please continue prayers for our OEIS friend, Carter Cline! He's making huge strides in the right direction, and I can't wait for Meagan to post that they're heading back to Mississippi with a smiling, healthy boy!

- And finally, Carter-man. He's doing pretty well lately... we recently switched antibiotics and so far so good - no UTI. After battling back-to-back UTIs for nearly 2 months, this is a good sign. Pray that his iron stores will stay high (we have our last infusion scheduled for July), his creatinine will stay within normal range, and his weight will continue to increase.

And I'll leave you with this verse:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6