How can somebody be SO precious????

This girl of mine is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and she just oozes with sweetness. My darling, Andrew, took some pictures of her for me after her bath last night. We got a LITTLE more sleep..... at least she wasn't crying for hours......Hey, it can only get better! Right?

News Flash: Not all babies will cry it out....

Some babies will cry for 3 hours straight and not even be CLOSE to falling asleep. My daughter is one of those babies. This weekend we gave it a good ol' try.....Friday night she cried for almost 2 hours straight before we got her out of her bed. Last night she woke up the first time at 11 and cried for 20 minutes. We were thrilled. HOWEVER, that didn't last long. She was up again a little before 1:00 crying again. She cried steadily until 3:45. Now people can say whatever, but obviously she isn't ready. Anne Pearce would seriously cry all night and never go to sleep. She needs us right now. There's no way that we can keep putting her (or ourselves) through this every night. She actually had dark circles under her eyes yesterday. When I finally got her out of her crib she was clinging to me like a life raft. I felt HORRIBLE for putting her through that. We will NOT be letting her cry it out again. If she needs to come get in bed with us, then that's what we'll do. We just wish we could afford to go buy a king size! ;) Eventually we will find out what works for us all.....I will tell you this. Even with almost no sleep she is the best natured baby I have ever seen. How she stays so happy and content I have no idea, but that little face lights up everytime she sees us. She never fusses or complains. She's an angel..... an angel that needs her mommy and daddy during the night......

Nobody EVER said being a mother is easy......

In fact, it's the hardest job on earth. Even my dear Oprah agrees with me on that topic! Motherhood has filled me with more joy and satisfaction than I could have ever imagined. When I had Logan and Hayden I had no idea what I was doing. They were the first boys in our entire family, and none of us knew what to do with them. I learned as we went along, and I think they've turned out pretty darned well. When they would have any issues I felt that I KNEW what they needed for me to do to help them. Anne Pearce is a different story. I second guess EVERYTHING that I do for her and every decision we make. Is it the right thing? Has it been long enough? Is it too soon? Does she need this? Does she need that? You get the picture. I am just so scared of doing anything to screw her up emotionally. Natalie and I have been going through this together. If I didn't have her I don't know what I would do. If I didn't know better I would think that Bella and AP were twins. They are twinkies. Peas in a pod. They are having the exact same issues. Last night Nat and I decided that we were reclaiming our beds and sleep. She did much better than I did. I caved. Immediately. Well, AP slept from 8:30 until 4, so I thought that was different than waking up at 12 or so. She cried hysterically for 15 minutes before I picked her up, and then she cried for 40. Pardon my French, but she was PISSED!!!! She cried. I cried. I'm sure Andrew was just wishing that both of us would just get over it! ;) I just want her to know that I am there and know that I'm not leaving her. I want to be a good mama for her. Natalie told me though that being a good mother also involves teaching them things that they need to do, like falling asleep and staying asleep. They NEED sleep. Everyone in our house needs SLEEP! So, I will try again tonight. Like another Southern Belle, Scarlett O'Hara herself once said, "After all, tomorrow is another day." We'll figure it out together.

Time to reclaim my body

When Andrew and I met I was running at least 20 miles per week and going to the gym consistently. I was in the best shape of my life.....then came the snowball effect that was my health. I have told the story before of how sick I was, and how I got the pacemaker. Over the next 3 years I gained 20 pounds. I know I'm not fat, but I feel like I'm trapped in someone else's body. I also have a condition called dysautonomia that is thankfully under control with medication. Last year was very difficult for me with my health. I actually had to quit work in December to try to get well. It has taken since then, but the Lord is healing me. He is doing it slowly but surely, and I am thankful for every step He allows me to take. Being home from work and reducing that stress has been WONDERFUL for my condition. I feel almost normal. Two weeks ago I decided that I was changing my lifestyle. I'm not calling it a diet, because I am making healthy lifestyle changes. I have started exercising and am not eating any processed sugar or flour. I am eating fruit everyday, because I feel that God gave us fruit, and it's healthy. Yesterday marks one week since I implemented the changes in my diet, and I've been exercising for almost 3 weeks. I let myself weigh this morning, and I was terrified what it would say. I've been trying not to focus too much on the numbers and being healthy instead. I was THRILLED to see that I've lost 6 pounds! SIX POUNDS!!!!! That is great motivation to keep going, and it means that I am making changes to be healthy. It's hard to make myself go walk in this intense heat, but I am doing it. I take my cell phone most nights and talk to Nat.....so, she walks with me!!!!! It also feels nice to claim some small part of the day for myself. God gave us our bodies, and I feel that it's my responsibility to do what I can to keep it healthy. I feel so much better about myself knowing that I'm doing SOMETHING. Posting this will hold me accountable to all of you........if anyone wants to do this with me, hop on! We can help each other!

Now the question I know you are dying to ask.....What about the sweet tea???? I haven't had ANY sugar! I am drinking decaffeinated tea with Splenda and am lovin' it! I also haven't had ANY carbonation for 3 weeks. I can tell a huge difference already! I told Nat that when she comes I will let myself have some Mississippi Mud, but for now NO SUGAR! To tell the truth I'm really not missing it....The first day or so was harder but I was motivated! Just wanted to share what was going on with me...........I'll keep you posted here and there about my progress. For now, AP is napping, and I'm going to eat a salad!

Amanda and Bella need a Miracle, and they need us to ask for it! Note from Amanda added.

WOW! Words cannot express what your prayers and encouragement within the past 24 hours means to my family. We are humbled and amazed. I have not had the privilege to "know" many of you and yet I feel so loved. Our family is having a rough time during this part of the process. I am not at liberty to go into detail, but I will at a later time. Our situation is complicated and until yesterday, we were feeling it to be impossible. Thanks to your reminders of how BIG our God is, we no longer feel that way. I have experienced a peace like no other today and I actually slept the whole night through last night! I feel renewed and ready to begin fighting again.

We still have no news, but are confident that He is in control of our situation and is working everything out, down to the smallest detail, to bring her home to us SOON! We serve a big God that does BIG things. I had become so weary from the fight that I was starting to doubt that. You all rallied and reminded me. I am looking forward in great anticipation, that real soon, I will get word that it is done and we will have an end in sight. Please continue to pray-- our situation warrants it. I am not trying to be cryptic. I just cannot go into detail. Blogland is a God-send and my family will be forever grateful!


Amanda

I talked to Amanda at length this afternoon. We can't go into details, but Amanda is literally at the end of her rope. For those of you who don't know Amanda, let me tell you, this lady is full of the Lord's love. God knew that she had it in her to fight the fight for Bella. She has fought non-stop, but she has grown weary. Amanda needs all of us to fight for her now. I am challenging EVERYONE WHO READS THIS POST to take a moment and pray SPECIFICALLY for Bella's case. Leave a comment to let her know that you are praying and being prayer warriors for her (she will be checking this).Let's pray that God places His very own hand on Bella and that He allows nothing or no one to prolong this case any longer. I prayed this prayer on the phone with Amanda, and I got chill bumps all over my body. I KNOW GOD HEARD! I also know that some of you are the greatest prayer warriors I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Together we can pray this girl home! My pastor sent this to our congregation today. He's started doing these wonderful daily devotionals that mean so much to me. As soon as I read this one I thought of Amanda and all the waiting parents out there. I pray that this ministers to you all the way it ministered to Amanda and me

Because He loved me
Psalms 91:14

We always want God to rescue us from our problems and difficulties. Sometimes He does. Sometimes God, for His own reasons, does not save us from difficulty. Sometimes he rescues us when we least expect it.
Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
And show him my salvation.”

I believe those lines in Psalms. I love God with all my heart. However, sometimes I wonder where is the rescue?

Eleven years ago I was running up the hill on Spanish Main and felt heaviness in my chest. I spent several days in the hospital having tests. I learned that I had a heart defect and had to have surgery to correct it. Before the surgery ever took place, I believed God said to me that He would heal me completely.

I woke up from my surgery to discover, in point of fact, they had operated twice. The first one had failed and was succeeded by a more serious surgery with additional complications including a stroke. I wondered when God would heal me.

Several years passed and I was taking nine medications, including daily nitroglycerin. The church was in the worst crisis of its history. Again I asked God when I would be healed.

Healing came for me in a surprising way and at a surprising time. One of the former ministers and I had gone to visit Leon Allen at his service station. Leon asked me, unexpectedly, as I walked across the pavement toward my car, “Do you believe God is going to heal you?” The moment lives forever in my heart. I looked in Leon ’s eyes and said, “Yes, Leon , I believe God is going to heal me.” My healing didn’t come in a moment. In the next six weeks I felt my heart recover to its previous strength. My wife and I went back to the doctor for a checkup. We both were overcome with joy when Dr. Massey said, “I cannot understand what happened to you, but your heart is completely healed.”

God chose to heal me in His time. I was at the lowest point in my professional life. I believe God healed me then because that was the time when I really needed a miracle.

Prayer:
Dear God, heal me and help me to understand your rescue will come in your time. Amen.

I have a hang over, and I don't drink!

AP had another wild night! UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN!!!! I swear at 6:00am I felt like I had a BAD hang over. Back in the day I did my share of partying down! I forgot how bad hang overs felt until this morning. Since God healed my body I feel an obligation not to drink. I never was a big drinker anyway, so it was no big loss for me.....Anyway, my mock hangover this morning just reaffirmed my decision! I just adore this baby even when she's whining most of the night. I do have some cute pics from the pool yesterday afternoon. What does 100% humidity look like???? It was so humid our camera lens fogged up! The pool felt like a very warm bath.... I hated it, but AP loved it....Felt like just one big bath tub all for her. She laughed and laughed. I guess it just got her wired and she didn't feel the need to sleep! Well, tonight is another night!

Something you need to go read:

My sister just sent me this. VERY DISTURBING! I'm not meaning to freak everyone out, but I thought that it was important enough to post.

Two months ago today, Hayden's new "toy", and lost luggage!

Two months ago today God gave me the greatest blessing in the form of this precious girl~ Two months have flown by, and I have truly cherished every day with my princessa! I am continually amazed that God chose us to be her forever family. Anne Pearce is growing and doing new things all the time.....I am so glad that I am able to watch her experience so many firsts. I was so scared that I was missing everything, but now I see how much I am getting to experience WITH her. Here are some cutie patootie pics from earlier:

I love this bear: I will sit on him.....
Lay on him.......
Bite him.....
play with him......
And smother him with my lovin'

Hayden traded his drum set today for this "sweet" guitar. He is so excited!!!! We are calling to start his lessons next week. It takes up LOTS less room than those drums!

Finally, Andrew retrieved the lost luggage today!!!!! I told him not to tell me anything and to pretend like he didn't have a clue what was in there. Daisy, Wyatt, and Maggie came over for the excitement:

If this bag could talk I'll bet it could tell some tales!

The famous pink and brown bermudas! I think I kissed them, but I'm not sure. Yes, Ruthanne, I will wash them before I wear them!

The original pillowcase dress.....I am so happy to have this.....it brings back so many happy memories...

Anne Pearce wore this to the embassy....

This picture doesn't do it justice.....There was SO MUCH stuff in here!