{Cheers to a NEW YEAR and another chance for us to get it right!}

Ahhhh another year has come and gone, what the heck happened? Is it just me or did this year FLY by....now it went by fast but it wasn't always easy. 2010 brought many memories- Luke started walking in Jan. of 2010 and then running and we haven't stopped since. Emelia started 1st grade, played her 3rd year of soccer and tried her hand at baseball for the first time. She loves to be competitive and has proven this year to be a better sport about losing....were still working on that one. Kenny is still doing tile and started working with cultured marble this year, he loves it! He works so hard and never almost never complains. I started working {gasp!} I know....part time only people, don't get crazy! I am the elementary P.E. teacher for VCCS, so much fun! It's great  I am able to take Luke to spend time with my mom a few hours a day and I get to see Emelia while I'm working. Not to mention the staff is amazingly supportive and understanding, they are all people I strive to be more like {I am blessed}

BUT.....

With the good we also have the bad.  This year was tough!!!! Luke went from being a baby to a big boy and Emelia was craving more attention the bigger he got.  The 5 year age gap showed it's bad side for awhile but we have made it. This is going to be a life long battle,I know....but there are so many tender moments between these two and the love they have for each other is as pure as it comes. Luke lights up when he sees his Ya-Ya, he does and says everything Emelia does and I mean everything! Emelia is so tolerant of Luke {for now} she is helpful and encouraging and really loves her baby brother. She looks at him all the time and tells him "Luke, why do you have to be so cute" She thinks he is the funniest little boy around and I have to agree. I share so many laughs with those two they keep me alive <3

{<3Tender Moments<3}

October rocked our world a little bit. Luke was bit in the face by a dog and before you new it we were preparing for a stay in the hospital. I'll never forget that day....
Luke's bite didn't look horrible,in fact it even looked like a scratch more so then a bite. I wasn't alarmed this was NOT a vicious attack or even a bite with intent Luke's face was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The next morning I WAS ALARMED!!!! His face was so swollen his eye had taken on a different shape. He looked as though he had a red birthmark on the left side of his face and it was getting bigger and more red by the minute. I took him in to his Dr. thinking he may get a shot some antibiotics and cream and we will be home....NOPE! We saw the N.P. she was great but worried very worried. She called for Dr. Patel {now I'm freaking out} he came in and asked us a billion questions I remember thinking that with every answer I gave THIS IS MY FAULT....How did I NOT bring him in right away, dogs are dirty really dirty and this was my sons precious little adorable face,how did I not bring him in right away!!! A parents worst nightmare, "Luke needs to go straight to the hospital, don't go home just go straight the the hospital they are waiting for u there" My heart sank. Dr. Patel outlined the "red birthmark" with a marker he told us they wanted to track how much it grew or hopefully shrank during the treatment. {it was as if Luke was bit by a snake or something} he started talking about how serious this was and that this type of infection travels rapidly and it was on the same path that leads directly to his brain....I went blank and just burst into tears, a fear I never wish to feel again.

At the doctors office

We got to the hospital and it was all a blur...IV was put in and blood was drawn right away. We had several nurses come in just curious as to what Luke looked like,you hear dog bite and u think the worst. That was the hard part....he didn't look as sick as he was. He was still a trooper and found time to smile and just be Luke. Our nurse told us that Luke would be on intense antibiotics that would make his tummy sick.  She said he needed to be hooked up to his IV at all times and that they would be treating the physical wound as well. Before she walked out she asked us "do you have any questions" ummm yeah like a billion...but all I could come up with was "do u know how long he will have to be in here" ...."Dr. Patel is guessing 10 full days depending on the blood results in 48 hrs" So we made ourselves at home.
Luke went through the first day like a champ. IV went in on the first try and he sat in his hospital bed and watched T.V. we got a little sleep that night {Luke and I in a twin hospital bed was not fun} that morning his face had ruptured...HORRIBLE! I won't get graphic because it was nasty but it was also very painful, The infection started to eat away at his skin and burrow a hole into his cheek so now every 6 hours the nurse comes in flushes his wound with saline and squeezes the heck out of his cheek to get all the puss out....Luke cried so hard every time and began to fear the nurses. Later his IV blew and they couldn't save it they tried for over 2 hours to get an IV in Luke while my mom and Kenny held Luke down, I cried my eyes out in the hallway...there was nothing I could do to make this better. They couldn't get it so Luke had 3 shots every 6 hours through the night and next morning in his legs, he couldn't even walk. With every diaper change he would whence in pain.  The shots were a nightmare
His new nurse came in and said they wanted to try again for an IV...I was nervous. Poor kid can't even move his legs!! 45 minutes later they got it!!! I ran into the room and scooped Luke up in my arms he was crying so hard he couldn't catch his breath but it was over!!

The 2nd IV in his foot...all his veins were blown

The placement of his IV made it rough Luke was unable to put pressure on that foot it made for a very restless little boy. The staff was amazing they would come visit him one girl even bought him a balloon and stuffed animal and wrapped it's foot up to look like Luke's....it was the sweetest and that balloon provided hours of entertainment! The hospital brought in their therapy dog and asked what I thought about having him visit Luke...how awesome of course! Luke LOVED that dog he smiled and laughed and pet the dog...at least there was no fear!! The dog was GREAT the hospital was scary!!!!

After only 3 days and far too many pokes and test Luke was able to come home and finish his medication and wound care there! It was a miracle...This was the single hardest thing I have ever gone through, watching my son in pain and scared to death and not able to help him or make any of it go away....it's made me appreciate the good times more,its made life's drama so trivial and it showed me how strong and brave such a little one can be in the face of uncertainty and fear, he trusted that it would be okay and by the grace of GOD.....IT WAS!


2010 was good to us...we had it all this year. Growth,happiness,laughter and love,sadness,uncertainty,doubt and fear.....And through it all I had you!

{My Family makes each year better the the last}

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of FAITH.