Snow Day!

Well, I have to admit I was a bit pessimistic about getting snow. When I heard the forecast I thought "Sure, I'm not getting my hopes up". Oh ye of little faith! :)

Isaac was super snuggly this morning, so we stayed in our PJs and waited until after lunch to go out in the snow. We had a great time though I have to admit I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold weather. After 20 minutes my hands got so cold (through gloves) that I thought I was going to throw up. Yep, major wimp.

It's been a fun, lazy day. Here are some Pics:

Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Taking it all in!

Mommy and Isaac before I wimped out :)

Daddy and Mr. Independent. No outing would be complete without at least one melt-down ;)

Best Buddies!

Now onto a cup of Irish Breakfast tea and Little Women! Its a great day off!

The Balloon

As is the case with most toddlers Isaac is not so much a fan of his toys. Sure, he'll play with them, but give him somethings he's "not supposed to have" and he's a happy camper. For example he loves to steal my hairbrush and basically anything from our bathroom cabinets. Give Isaac 10 seconds in the bathroom and he will have a roll of toilet paper all the way undone and on the floor.

On sunday at church they had a bunch of balloons around for our "life group sunday fair". As soon as we walked into church that was the first thing Isaac saw. He was pointing and signing "please, please, please", which basically looks like him rubbing his chest off. He was super excited.
After church Blake got a balloon for him and since then Isaac and the balloon are practically inseperable. I don't know what kind of helium is in this thing but it's still floating and it's been 4 days! It will be a sad day for Isaac when his balloon is gone :)

Isaac trying to get the balloon (Sunday evening)

Also on Sunday. I do realize it looks he is grabbing his crotch, and he may be, that is a recent phenomenon. Boys will be boys!:)

Monday night, helping daddy feed Vanderbilt
My happy camper eatting pancakes Wednesday morning.

Skating on Saturday

I really wanted to post these pictures from Saturday that night, but due to all the excitement I was not able to. :)

My parents came up for the day and my mom had the idea to go ice skating. There's not much to do in Greenville, so I thought that would be fun! Unfortunately, when we got there we found out that Isaac was too young to get on the ice. It made complete sense, I don't know why we didn't think of that before hand! ha ha

That actually didn't hurt my stepdad's feelings because he didn't really want to get on the ice either. He volunteered to hold Isaac so my mom, Blake and I could skate. It was cold and lots of fun! Blake and I raced, and I will have to give myself props that I won. I can say that because Blake doesn't actually read my blog ;) I think as I recall that event it was more than a win, I dusted him.

Isaac with mom and dad. Isn't his hat adorable!? His Aunt Ally made it for Christmas!

My mom and I feeling out the ice :)

Isaac and Pepere watching

Blake and I before I dusted him

This by far is my favorite picture from that day! Isaac after he found out he couldn't skate. Just kidding.

When it rains it pours. . .

Boy that expression has never been so real to me than as of late.

I have had and have such high expectations of 2010. One goal of mine this year is to not spend any more time in the Emergency Room.

Yep, that's right the ER. As many of you know I spent one aweful night there this past November after we miscarried. I was taken by ambulance from my mom and stepdad's house to the hospital because the bleeding just wouldn't stop. That was the most scary moment of my life thus far. Then, a week later our vehicle gets totaled with Blake and Isaac in it. And that same week we find out from an eye specialist that Isaac has something called Strabismus and may need surgery. "Oh, my" I think to myself.

So, 2010 rolls around and I am praying and believing for a "new" start on things. That we would close a chapter and move foward in our lives. And some of that we have done, but it's just not as closed as I would like it to be. ;)

We paid all our medical bills at the end of the year and thought "this is great to have taken care of!" Then as life would have its way we find out that the hospital in Morehead took down my wrong address and we had outstanding bills with other physicians that had treated me that night in the ER. Grrrrrr! Are you serious!?

So, what happens next?
Last night Blake started having intense pain in his lower back and stomach and I had to take him to the ER. Thank God for great friends to call on a dime. Laura and Stephanie came over to stay with Isaac so we didn't have to lug him with us. This was at 9pm on a Saturday night.

I'm noticing a trend with Saturdays. Everyone of our crazy events has happened on a Saturday night, and with the exception of the miscarriage we still made it to church on Sunday.
Why do you ask?
Because I'm not going to give the devil the satisfaction of thinking we're to tired to praise God. Like Job we won't curse God so he might as well give up.

Anyway, back to Blake. We got to the ER and long story short they think he passed a kidney stone and had a UTI. Praise God the pain subsided after a couple of hours and he didn't need surgery or anything like that.

God's grace was on the whole thing but it started out a little rocky for me. When we first got to the back room to see the doctor I was left there for a few minutes while Blake went to the restroom. While I was sitting there it was almost like a tidal wave of emotion hit me. All the feelings and emotions I had from the night of the miscarriage came back. I started tearing up and all I could think was " I need to pull myself together!" Even now when I see or hear and ambulance I get a little choked up. I feel like I have come to peace with everything but that just brought it all to the surface again. I just can't do hospitals for a while longer I think :)

On a lighter note after Blake's pain eased off a little bit we were able to start joking around a bit.
We talked about how nice it was to have this "quality time" together. We started a guessing game of how much we thought things would cost based off of my previous bill. I told him his IV of saline was probably about $134 and he needed to slow down on that drip. :)
Comic relief is my medicine.

I think both of us at some point last night did start to get a littl anxious about the financial end of things, but by the end we were both okay. Around midnight when Blake was taken to get his CAT scan I was left by myself again. I was like "What do I do with myself now? No TV, no cell phone reception, no battery on my cell phone for games, well, I guess I'm not really alone, God you're here right? " And so I just started to think about Jesus and different scriptures I had read lately. Then I started reciting the Lords prayer in my head over and over. And I got stuck on that part about "give us this day our daily bread". And that brought me peace.

Jesus knows what we need and when we need it. Our bills will get paid, maybe not in our timing, but in His. I realized I had a choice in that moment and in the days and weeks to come. I could get bogged down with finances or I could CHOOSE to praise God. And so praise God I will.

Sometimes you have to tell your emotions what to do.
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."
Psalm 42:5

Would God wear New Balances?

It is really neat when your kids can start teaching you about life. It just seems that after we had Isaac my view on life has changed dramatically. Of course, I did find out that selfishness would soon be flying out the window when this young one demanded my whole life. :)

Anyhow, this past week Isaac and I were playing, and like I said in an earlier post, Isaac loves shoes. So, he thought it would be fun to put on daddy's shoes and try to walk around. Well, when he was just standing there of course he had no problems, but as soon as he tried to walk he would trip and fall; he was getting quit frustrated.

Then the light bulb came on! I thought that's what I do to God sometimes! If things aren't working out how I think they should I step into "God's shoes". I'm not saying I do it consciously but in my actions I will try to orchestrate things. And then I get super frustrated when I want things to work out "my way" and they don't.

It was a great picture for me. Those shoes were way to big on Isaac, just as God's shoes are much to big for me. I must submit my needs, wants, and desires to Jesus. I need to let God be God and Michelle needs to trust and be obedient.

Thank you Jesus for teaching me yet another life lesson through a toddler. Help me to stay out of your shoes and submit to you! :)

Thought for the Day

Fasting + Fresh Market = 1 Million Dollars (said in best Dr. Evil voice)

Renegade Toddler

Check out the shoes!

Ahhh yes, I have one of those. Let me start by saying I looooove my little man. He can be the sweetest most precious guy. . .especially when those eyes are closed.

However, since he has started walking, about 3 months ago I have been the most tired mommy. I started reading Toddlerwise about a week ago, and like usual realized I shoulda started this book months ago.

Some of you may have seen this on my facebook status, but I'll say it again, I love this quote from the book.

"Ah, yes, the mobile toddler. There is no question that a toddler's mom is a tired mom, and for good reason. The emotional and physical energy needed to supervise an energy-packed tot can take down the most physically fit mom. If your toddler happens to be a boy, add fifty perecent more energy."

I just can't tell you how much peace that gives me! For the longest time I just thought I was weak sauce! ha ha I used to fall into bed at night and wonder how other moms did it. . . and I only have one! But as life goes, I am adapting to it and I will make it. If you ever see me in public and I have a dazed and confused look on my face just remember its cause I have a toddler :)

I would like to close my post today with some pics of my awesome little man. He does make me laugh. He's been into shoes and hats lately. . . and eye patchs, but that's a different story for another time!

Loves his Sheriff hat!

Let's close the door on mommy, that's funny! :)

Isaac climbs up there before bedtime to "dance" to Veggie Tales. Toddlerwise and both Grandmas are freaking out right about now! :)

Snack before nap time! Oh nap time how I love thee!

"I can blog. I have thoughts."

So here I go. I am gonna try blogging. I had been thinking about doing my own for a while and then as the old adage goes, everyone else is doing it, so why shouldn't I?

I was even more motivated recently when I watched Julie and Julia. I love the scene where Julie and her husband are talking about a co-worker as she's cooking and then comes out of the kitchen with a butcher knife in her hand and declares "I could blog. I have thoughts." And then goes back into to the kitchen.

I thought "yeah!! Me too!" who cares of only three people ever read my blog, it will be fun. So that's where I came up with the name "Michelle has Thoughts" :)

My thoughts may be random, but hopefully they will be fun and encouraging as well. I have no expectations of what will come from this and certainly don't kid myself that it could ever be made into a movie or book! Ha

Thanks for reading!