Scrapbook Room Revealed...

Here is the scrapbook room, craft room, office, whatever you wish to call it. For me it is the scrapbook room. I have not had an opportunity to really get it organized yet, or use it for that matter, but it is here and waiting for me. Yippee.

As you can tell from this picture, there is a large built in desk and shelves, which are nice. Room to work, not just a sewing machine in the closet anymore. I can't wait to get down there and get it organized and in use. I have lots of pictures to scrapbook, since I have been out of commission since early December.

Routine update...I am getting there. I have to get up about 50 minutes to an hour before everyone else in the morning to get my Bible and pray time in. I have not gotten used to that yet, but that is the only time I have found that the house is quiet.

Little Man update...We head back to UAB next week for his appointment with the pediatric cardiologist. Depending on what this doctor says, we are a go for spinal surgery. God placed someone in my life this morning whose father has aortic stenosis. She said they discovered the stenosis in her father when he was 14 because he pasted out. He was given a pacemaker at the time, then when he was around 40 the valve was replaced. He is currently in his 60's and still on his first valve. So that is great news, many people with this heart defect have the valve replaced 2-3 times in their life time.

Updating...

I am at the neighbors updating. First, moving is going well. Everything is in boxes and we will be sleeping on the floors the next few nights. Fun, Fun.

The main update. Dr. Oakes office called from UAB, Little Man's urodynamics and ultrasound will be at 8 am on January 7th, and his appointment with the urologist, will immediately follow at 9am. Thank you for all the prayers. Please continue.

Little Man Update...

We have our appointment with the pediatric cardiologist at UAB on January 22nd.

Note: I will be packing up the computer very so; therefore, there will be no post for a week or so. I am sure that one of the first post when I am unpacking will be the new house and Little Man updates. For family, of course, you can call anytime for updates. Love you guys.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

As most know, life here is a little crazy right now with the packing to move from one home to another with the closing date being on December 19th. I hated for the kids and myself if I am honest to not have a Christmas tree this year. I love putting up the tree and being able to sit in front of it for as long as I want at night after the children are in bed, and relax in the Spirit of the Christmas season. This year though is different, so I decided that I would put up one of the children's room trees with this years new Hallmark mini ornaments. I thought it turned out cute, but it makes me think of the Charlie Brown Christmas.
God has used the last few years to ever so gently remind me and keep me focused on what the Christmas season is truly about. This year he is using the moving and Jonah's appointment at UAB, to keep me focused, because I don't have the time to focus on presents and trees and lights and parties, etc. I know that all of us Christians, know what Christmas is about, but how many of us actually take the time during the Christmas season to thank God for His Son. Try sitting in front of the Christmas tree, and ponder what God has done and is doing for us every moment of everyday. Think about it for just a moment, Jesus sitting on the throne being honored and praised, gave that up for a dirty diaper and a manager. Are we willing to give up our throne (cushy life) for someone or something else that needs us? When was the last time you actually smiled at someone and meant it; gave someone a helping hand because you wanted to, not because someone was watching to see what you would do? Or better yet when was the last time you stopped long enough to have a conversation with someone that you don't even know? The love of Christ can be and should be expressed each and everyday, and it is very simple to do, if you allow the Holy Spirit to do it through you.

Packing and more packing

Thanksgiving was nice and relaxing, although it rained the entire weekend, so we were not about to get out and ride the four wheeler until Sunday morning. So, today it was back to the packing gridiron. I began the day, working on the home inspection report for our new house. The hubby and the trooper went down Wednesday and did the inspection. Now we have to get the report together and the stuff we want fixed. Then it was off to the attic. I have been packing up the stuff that is to move to the new house and throwing out the stuff that is not moving to the new house. For example, stuff that was never unboxed from the move from Mississippi almost six years ago.

Next on the list, finish the laundry and fix dinner. Ham n' cheese chowder. Hummmm.

My life right now...

It has been a few days since my last post. Life has gotten really crazy right now, but it is all good because God is in control. So as you know our house sold three weeks after being on the market, well Saturday the hubby and I signed papers on a new house.
So now I am really in full mode to get this house packed up so that we can get out of this one and into the new one. The closing date for both houses is December 19th.
By the way, always compete your mortgage companies. The hubby and I have excellent credit scores, and the company our current mortgage is with is offering a interest rate that is 0.525% higher than another reputable company. That factors out to an increase in the monthly payment of $70.00, and $20,000.00 over the duration of the loan. Crazy, they must think I am not very smart. Anyway, that is my soap box.

Updating...

I still don't have my computer. I think the neighbor is getting close to being down with it, so I am in the other neighbors house posting right now. Great neighbors, we will miss them.

Anyway, we still have not found a house that we both like. There has been one that we like the best out of the ones that we have looked at, but we still have several more to look through. We are going out again tonight to look at three more or so. With Kid-O and school we are not getting much done right now. I figure this weekend will be very busy looking at houses. AHHHHHH...The DVD in the van, best thing invented to entertain kids while house shopping.

I got the results back for Little Man's spinal MRI from last week. The cervical portion of his spine looks good, nothing wrong there. However, on the lumbar (lower back) portion of his spine, they were unable to rule out tethered cord. In tethered spinal cord syndrome, the lower end of the spinal cord stays attached or tethered to the base of the spine, rather than riding freely up and down the spinal canal. Since the spine grows faster than the spinal cord, this leads to increasing stress on the spinal cord as a child grows and becomes more active. If tethering happens, the cord will become tight and stretched as the child grows, leading to symptoms of nerve damage, such as weakness or numbness in the legs, back pain, and trouble controlling the bladder or bowels. Based on the not being able to rule out tethered cord, the pediatric neurologist here is now sending Little Man on to the pediatric neurosurgeon at UAB. So, we still don't really know anything, other than they could not rule out the last thing left to look for. I am praying that the neurosurgeon at UAB will be able to look at all the current images we have of Little Man up to this point and be able to say one way or the other whether it is tethered cord, without having to put him through more testing. If theydetermine it is tethered cord, then Little Man would most likely undergo surgery to untether the cord.

Thank you again for all your prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for Little Man, as we continue on this quest to find an answer. Also, please pray that they get us into UAB quickly.

Stressed

I still do not have an update on Little Man. I called the neurologist office today, but Doctor Limbo has not reviewed his images yet. The nurse was going to try to get her to review them today. Maybe I will know something tomorrow.

Life is a little busy right now, and not because of the holidays coming upon us quickly. As you all know, three weeks ago, the hubby and I put our house on the market to see if God really did want us to move. We believed that is what he was telling us, but we were not sure. Well, three weeks after being on the market, we accepted an offer on the house. Saturday is when we accepted the offer, so we have been busy looking for a new home to move too. However, we have know real clue where God wants to move us too. He has blessed us in a significant way through the sale of this house, so we will see. Of course I am nervous because the closing date on this house is December 19th and we have no clue where we are moving too. I am excited because we are most likely moving to a larger house. I'll keep you informed about that as well. Please keep us in your prayers over the holidays, since basically we will be homeless. We have family and friends that we will spend the holidays with, but none local. Plus through this process, Kid-O will be changing schools as well. She is excited about that though.

I still don't have my computer back. The hubby brought home a laptop from work for me to use tonight. The neighbor should be done with it is a couple of days.

Updating again...

I still have not heard from the neurologist yet on Little Man's MRI Tuesday. I just am continuing to pray that God gives an answer. Maybe the longer wait is a good sign.

Secondly, we are currently in contract negotiations with a couple on the purchasing of our house. Please pray that we continue to response the way God would have us too. Some of their wants were a little out there (ie they asked for our surround sound system). Please pray for this process for us. I will keep you informed, when I have computer access.

Update...

I have not heard back on Little Man's MRI yet. I hope to hear something today. While in the machine Tuesday though, he started coughing, and they were unable to get the pictures at that time. The nurse came in a told me what was going on, so I began to pray. I also called some else to pray also. About 30 minutes later, the nurse brought Little Man back into the room. I asked if they were about to finish and get the rest of the pictures, she said yes that after they came in and told me what was happening, that he stop. This of course was no surprise to me, because my God, my Father can do anything. So that was a praise. I am just continuing to pray that God give us an answer. I will update as soon as I know.

As for the house several couples have looked at it. One couple has come back twice now and they are in process of writing up a contract offer for us to look at. Looks like God will be selling the house quick. We have only had it on the market for three weeks. Praise God.

Also, I will be computer less after the Saturday. I have a virus on my computer thanks to facebook so a man from church is going to be working on it for me. I am currently using my parents lap top since they are in for a couple of days. We will see how I do without a computer. Although, using their lap top is nice. I am coveting just a little. The hubby and I would like our next computer to be a laptop; however, right now that is just not a justifiable expense.

Our House

I thought I would share pictures of our current house with you all. A friend told me a long time ago to share pictures, because I had done a good job decorating, but I never did. So I am now.

This is the front, outside of our cute little house. We like our house, but I do believe that we have out grown it.

This is the great room. I assume it is called that because it is a living room and dining room in one. It is L shaped. We like it, however, a slightly larger dining area would be nice. We have a rather large dining table because family dinner is very important to us.

The dining room. Enough said.

The small kitchen, but I like it. Everything is easy to get to and close to you. I spend a lot of time in this room of the house. In this picture you can see the new floor a little bit. I will take better pictures of the floor, maybe tomorrow, and upload them for you all to see.

This is our room.

Our bathroom, which you have seen before, because of the remodeling pictures.

Kid-O's room. All pink of course. I like it though. I am glad I don't live in it, but I thought it turned out cute when I was done with it.

Little Man and Mini-Me's room. I love the paint job in this room. I will be doing that again if God sells this house. Little Man's bed was built by daddy, Papaw, and Me. We have not gotten around to finishing the ladder, it is still rough wood. Maybe someday.

The main bathroom, which you have seen before also.

Here is the 12 x 16 barn that mostly daddy built last year. He did have help setting the foundation from Papaw, and Trooper Man helped with the roof and a few other things.

Anyway, this is our house. Hope you enjoy.

Official...

Our house is on the market.

I am also in the process of laying porcelain tile in the kitchen. I will blog pictures later. Here is a picture of the kitchen. You can't see the floor, but it might give you an idea. The kitchen had the same vinyl flooring as what was in the bathrooms, so if you don't remember, just go to the remodeling label and look at those pictures.