A break in the clouds

    A lot has been going on at our house, lately. A little too much. I need a vacation. Some of you may not know that we have been struggling with health issues lately. Paul has had back pain for several years now, but for about the last 4 months it has pretty much taken over and limited everything he does. So that means, this momma is in charge of EVERYTHING. I cook, clean, do the laundry, mow the lawn, maintain the home and fix things that come up ( I have fixed my dryer and toilet, kinda empowering..for about a second!) Oh and I forgot to mention I take care of the girls and the three dogs making sure everyone is fed and bathed and happy all while trying to help Paul with moving and getting out of bed and such! It has been SUPER TIRING to say the least. Especially because this house functions best with both Paul and I. He has always been an active father and helped with the girls baths and dinner, the dishes, and lawn, and so on. So when I had to do it all, it was a little overwhelming. Paul had been to the doctor about a year ago and they denied the MRI, and sent him to shock therapy and physical therapy. That did not work. Long story short, he had an MRI recently and was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease and had several lower lumbar bulging discs. He got three anti inflammatory injections in his back Monday and is finally getting some relief. I AM BEYOND THRILLED, as I am sure he is too! Hopefully this will allow the area to heal and he can get back to normal for good!!
     In the meantime I have been to the doctor and awaiting some tests to come back to get me back to normal. I have had some hormonal imbalances after Meredith arrived and it turns out they think a couple rounds of medicine will fix me up! Super excited to feel my very best!!
     Also my great dane is looking like she is on the mend. My big girl has been battling an upper respiritory infection for about a month now! After several rounds of antibiotics I think she is starting to kick it. It has consumed my poor girl for too long. She is ready to start breathing and eating!
     I am thankful that my girls are healthy and growing everyday. They are amazing and seeing each of them own their personality is awesome. They are the BEST sisters. Each of them light up when they see each other. They love to play and do everything together, and that could not make my heart any happier! Meredith is turning one soon! Allison is enjoying the party planning with me. A pumpkin patch for our October baby it is! And of course the color is ORANGE!!
       This week is bittersweet for me. We had planned back in June a vacation with dear friends of ours from Kentucky to head to the beach and relax for a WHOLE WEEK! The Hunts I am sure are having a great time even without us, super bummed we had to cancel. Paul just could not handle traveling in the pain he was in.  However, thankfully this week he has had some relief and will heal soon. We are look forward to VACATION SOON! Planning a trip to PASSION in Jan with our college kiddos and then a family vaca after all the holidays.
       I can see it now. A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS!!!! Thank you JESUS!!!! With a new season coming to this house I changed up the blog :) Super ready for fall!!!

Summer Update

Its been raining here and there is no better time to write! I love the rain, especially when it does not consist of bowling ball size hail and tornados...just good ole fashioned rain and thunder! May has come to an end. It is the craziest time of year for us it seems. Lots of birthdays and graduations to celebrate. Its the begining of wedding season, too. We are blessed to know and love and share in all these occasions with our friends.

 Our big girl turned 3!!!! I still remember the day she came into this world, she had a smile on her face as big as dallas  and it has yet to disappear. She is going to light up the world with that smile of hers. She amazes me everyday.  It seems like she has changed so much this last year. She is fully potty trained. It took about three weeks for her to go day and night. She hated pull-ups and asked to sleep in her panties. She promised me she would keep them dry, and she did!  She got a big big girl bed. She loves it. She also got to decorate her big girl room. It was hard for me not to do all the cute things I have in mind, but she loved picking out everything! She knows exactly what she wants and is not quick to change her mind once it is set. I cry a bit when I realize that at the age of three, she is already making her own choices. Shes independent and opinionated like no other, just like me. She is going to change the world with her spunky attitude and kind heart! She draws attention everywhere we go...and seeing that she has never met a stranger our errands usually take all day. She carrys a convo with EVERYONE! She talks like shes 13! She pronounces everything so well and talks in complete sentences. We are starting a reading curriculm at summers end, shes ready! This coming year will be a test of will power for sure. We will see who comes out on top next year. So far she is pretty good at realizing mommy and daddy "dont play" a lot of things. Im sure she'll give me a run for my money though, im ready....maybe.

In six months we will be celebrating baby girls first year! She is the sweetest baby. She smiles and laughes more than Allison did. ( did not think that was possible) She sleeps just as good too! So to all you out there who wished havok on my husband and I with this child, your out of luck. Maybe next time! She is my cuddler. Loves to just be held. She loves her big sister! If there is ever a time Allison is not in her face...mere will try ridiculosly hard to get  her attention. It doesnt take much, Allison obliges. I cherish the one on one time I get to spend with Meredith. I have the girls on seperate afternoon nap schedules so we have more time together, just us. She will just sit and talk with me for hours it seems. I hope she never outgrows that! Meredith is starting to crawl and move around. She is ready to chase big sis and the dogs...Bowman is her favorite!

Speaking of, our chihuahua turned 5! He is ornery, spastic and the biggest prima donna. Summer is his favorite. Hes a sun bather. (hope dogs are not as susceptible to skin cancer as humans!) All of our dogs are going through some very annoying stages...maybe its because with two tiny humans around I am not as tolerant with the dogs. After all they are dogs....who am I kidding. I spoil them rotten too! Our oldest pup max has some pretty serious cancer. We have tried several remedies including surgery. Nothing is working. We have to make the decision by summers end of whether or not to amputate his front leg. The tumor is getting too big. There are likely more tumors elsewhere that do not respond to chemo. We have the option of putting him to sleep. Not a fan, but the more he throws up on my floor the more it is becoming the front runner...All dogs go to heaven right?!?

At the rate my husband and I have been going since we got married almost 6 years ago, next year will be time to add another dog or tiny human to the mix!!!! Wonder which it will be :) My girls are the babies that make you want 50 just like them! The dogs....not so much! Time will tell. I will have to work on my patience among a few others traits  to handle either of the two. God has his way of teaching patience....believe me! I just potty trained a toddler 6 moths ago, and have not forgotten!! :)

Daddys Girl

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18

Today is the National Day of Prayer. I want to share with you a prayer that is beyond special to me. It is a prayer my dad prayed for me on my wedding day. 6 years ago this August Paul and I got married in the church I grew up in. In the ceromony I wanted my dad to pray for/over us instead of the traditional giving of the bride. (Who gives this bride..her mother and I...).  The only point in the ceremony in which a tear even tried to develop in my eye (I am not a crier.) was when he read this after walking me down the isle:

Heavenly Father,

You who reign and rule over all creation and all that is; Hear this father's prayer.

Bless my daughter Kendra, and Paul, the man she loves. 

Protect and Prosper them for all their days.

May they seek you in all things for you are their strength and salvation.

Be their stronghold, that they may remain firm and grounded through all the storms of life.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

I am a daddy's girl if you cant tell. He will always be a huge part of me. I take after him in a lot of ways. One of the best things in life is seeing him with my little girls. The way he talks and plays with them reminds me of my childhood. So today I am lifting up a prayer of thankfulness to my God for giving me my father. Thankful for the example he is to me on being a loving parent, for the example he is to Paul on raising daughters, and just for being MY DAD. I couldnt have a better one in the world! Hear are a few pics of my dad and I. (All my younger pics of my dad and I are still at my parents house. And yes I had really blonde hair in jr/high school!)  Have a Blessed Week! 

My Dad and I 1985

Christmas 1986

Branson 2000

High School Cheer Try-Outs 2000

National Champs 2003

Cheer Banquet 1999

Rehersal Dinner 2006

 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18 

The Blogging World

I am officially joining the blogging world. My husband thinks I am crazy. I probably am. He makes fun of people who blog. Well, Im next! I am not really sure why I have had the urge the last couple of months to write. Maybe its because I have been going crazy lately buried in laundry, dog puke, and diapers. I need an escape. Vaca without our girls is a ways away (baby girl still needs momma at least 5 times a day, to nurse anyway). This will most likely be my release.  My venting. My momma needs some personal space.  Maybe its because God as been tugging extra hard at my heart to change  a lot of things in my life. Things I was sure I was doing ABSOLUTELY right. Turns out I was wrong. I hate being wrong. So writing this blog will be my journey of all things glorious and not so glorious.  I hope it can encourage you or flat out make you laugh and let you know you are not alone. This is my blog on Marriage, motherhood, and lots of dogs. Since I plan on writing about my krew, let me introduce you...

Paul: my hubby and college sweetheart

Allison: Our spunky firstborn

 Meredith: Our sweet babygirl

 Max: The oldest pup, our first. Terrier mix

 Bowman: Our middle pup. The ornery as can be chihuahua

Molly: Our baby dog. They biggest the youngest the great dane.

My krew. My loves. My everything.