It's Been Awhile

I haven't blogged in quite awhile. I can no longer upload photos unless I pay for more storage...bummer. I guess I've been blogging for too long. At least I can still write!

 

We had a fantastic Christmas season and it was wonderful to be healthy and able to enjoy it. Our family was blessed beyond measure with visits from family and wonderful gifts. I was able to attend Cadlelight service for the first time since 2010. It was beautiful and our little church had a packed house! Standing room only! I helped work in child care for the 2nd service with one of my good friends. We had a great time with the littles.

 

The new year has brought us a lot of joy! Ryan has started counseling once a week with a new trauma therapist. I am so hopeful that she will be able to help him overcome the mess wehave all been through as a family. He seems to like and and we are looking forward to his next session. I have behun a heavy regimen of healthy eating and exercise. I got a new little buddy, my Fitbit Zip!! I have lost 3 lbs already! It is a calorie and step counter. Now, combined with www.myfitnesspal.com (Which it can link to), I am able to see exactly how many calories I am burning in a day and how much I can eat. It's working and I love it! I only have 24 lbs. to go to reach my ultimate goal. It has been very hard and sacrificial work, but worth it when I can button my tight jeans.

 

Our family is doing wonderfully. Life is good and I am blessed. Hopefully I can get back to blogging on a regular basis.

I've Had a Change of Heart

but only for the BETTER! My heart is completely 100% healed! I went for my follow-up today with my cardiologist and he said my echo was perfect. I cannot believe I am fully healed from my medical nightmare. Praise be to God for seeing me through the darkest time of my life. I am off to live a normal life filled with nothing but good, healthy times ahead!

 



Lunch With My Boy

 

Last week, in lieu of a Thanksgiving feast at preschool, Ryan's class had a special McDonald's lunch treat. There are many kiddos in his class this year with severe food allergies, so the teachers (and this mommy) thought it best to play it safe and just do something fun without risk to any little one's health. I asked Ryan if he wanted me to come eat with him and he said, "Yes!" without hesitation. Lunch with 15 four & five year olds was exhausting, but fun.

 Ryan's class sang in chapel last week too. They sang "Hallelujah- Praise Ye the Lord" It was so cute!

 

 

My little disciple

 

 

One tuckered out kid



Portrait Time!

 

I am so grateful for my dear friend Emily who took our portraits this year. Head on over to the Smith Gallery Journal and scroll down to the "W. Family". I am so beyond thrilled with the way they came out!

Thankful Day 13 & 14

Day 13: I am thankful for a lovely bunch of ladies, most of whom I have never met. Back in the day 5 years ago before the facebook craze, we all metup on Ivillage.com. We ARE the April 2008 Applebottoms. Yep, every one of us has a precious little one born in April 2008! From the moment we discovered the miracle of life growing inside us, to the birth of our little loves, diapers, formula, sleepless

 nights, potty training, and now the ever-looming kindergarten monster, these women have bonded together and become some of my closest friends. When one of us is down and out, you can count on the rest of them to pull together to help and support the fallen. When I was sick, they kindheartedly donated over $300 out of the goodness of their hearts and their own pockets to help with my medical bills and Patrick's funeral expenses. Nobody told them or asked them too. They did it all on their own. I have been fortunate to meet some of them, and hopefully one day we can all connect! We live all over the world, but all are intertwined through the gift of our sweet babies. I love you all dearly and am so blessed to call you my friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 14: I am thankful for my heart, and that it's still beating. There is nothing like a close call with life that will truly make you grateful for what you have. A normal person's EF (ejection fraction) is between 55-60%. At my lowest point last year, mine was teetering on the edge of 30-35% with fluid-filled lungs and I was gasping for breath. After Patrick's birth, it rebounded to between 40-45...

% and that is where it stayed all last year. My last echocardiogram was last year while I still had Cushing's and there was no change. Today could change all of that. I have my first echocardiogram post-Cushing's. After 19 months on Coreg (beta-blocker) and getting rid of that horrible desease, I pray my heart has healed and is back to it's full strength. If you could spare a prayer that the results of my echo would be normal, I would appreciate it. My sweet boy is praying that one day Mommy will have a good heart and to "Ask Dr. Waldman if you can ride roller coasters!" Today could be that day....

 



Thankful Day 12

Day 12: I am thankful for having the right to say I am thankful. I am very, very thankful for my mother in law, Elaine LeCrone Birkinshaw. I remember the first time we met at a band competition, where the Marching Knights were an exhibition band, at Seminole High School in 1996. Thank you for always putting your kids first and making my husband the man he is today. Thank you for showing him a great

 work ethic and teaching him the value of hard work and commitment. Than man he is today not only reflects his choices in life, but your guidance and framework from the beginning. Thank you for loving me as your own daughter for over 16 years now. Even through the midst of Cushing's, when I was less than rational and very, very angry at the world, you continued to love me and support me as your own. Thank you for your help with Ryan, and for never giving up on me. Thank you for driving over here to go to the endocrinologist with me this time last year, and for suggesting that I bring pictures of my former self. For those pictures are what tipped her off as to my real problem and lead to a diagnosis. Thank you for dropping everything to come for the birth of Ryan & Patrick. They are both blessed to have you as Blondegrandma! I am proud to have you for my mother in law and could not ask for anyone any better. Thank you for all of the Black Friday midnight shopping excursions, baking goodies in the kitchen, and being there for me through everything. Most of all, thank you for raising the man of my dreams to be a loving, committed, Christian husband. I am honored to call you my mother in law!

Video Update: You Don't Know You're Beautiful!

 

I took this video earlier this year, shortly after Ryan turned 4. He loves the One Direction song playing in the background, and told me his teacher at LifeSong Preschool taught him how to do the "Robot". So, Miss Tori, this is for you!