I'm back...I think!!!!

Well, I think it has been over a year since I've updated. I'm going to try to get back into blogging to help keep everyone updated on what is going on with our family!!!! Life is crazy, to say the least.

We've been in the middle of a move to a rental house for the last week, and I think we have all made it in once piece! On top of that, we have been playing "parent detective" with our son. Long story, short, we have been concerned about the severe tantrums and constant crying for the past year. To top it off, he is not a great eater and is only saying a few words, at 22 months old. After over a year of trying to determine if there is anything "physically" wrong with him, (having tubes put in for the chronic ear infections, and putting him back on Prevacid to see if it is all reflux related), we have finally gotten our pediatrician to listen to us, and they referred us to Keystone Behavioral. Tomorrow is only our 2nd appointment, and will be just a follow-up with the phsychologist and director of the pediatric center. Sawyer still has lots of testing to go through, but the doctor thinks that he definitely has some sensory disorders, speech delays and behavioral issues. Each issue seems to have a sort of domino effect on the other issues to where things have just gotten out of control. (Which feels like the theme for our lives over the past year...OUT OF CONTROL)! Adam and I have shed many tears and have pleaded with the Lord, but we know that things will get better if it is HIS will and in HIS timing.

What I am currently struggling with the most is having complete trust and not feeling "anxious" about getting a sense of peace back into our home. The tantrums and constant screaming and crying are exhausting to deal with day in and day out. My biggest prayer for the moment is that I would get out of the way and let the Lord live through me and love Sawyer, Adam and Anabelle and show patience to them in only a way the Lord can. Dealing with the stress of being so concerned about Sawyer takes a toll on how I react to small, daily things, and I want to be a tool for the Lord through this, and give Him glory!

I will try to update about our appointment tomorrow! Hopefully I will have some news to share and a game plan in place to help my precious boy, and in turn, help the rest of us!

Please be in prayer for us all!

Anabelle's Princess Room

We have just about completely finished Anabelle's room. Here are some pictures that I've taken. The canvases, crown and tissue box were all custom painted by Tricia Burford, (Mural Creations and More). She painted the canvases to match Anabelle's duvet and sheets from Pottery Barn. I think she did an amazing job, and Anabelle absolutely LOVES her room! If you ever need any paintings or murals done, I HIGHLY recommend Tricia! Once I get moving a little more on Sawyer's room, I'll have her do more artwork, and possibly a mural! I'll post pictures once his room is finally finished! (Sawyer's early arrival kind of put the decorating on the back burner)!

Finally...I'm back...and with LOTS of news to share!

Ohhhh, the time has flown by, and so much has happened, that I don't know where to begin! I guess the biggest news is that our precious baby boy, Sawyer Grant Collins, was born at 5am on July 2! Our sweet surrogate was rushed into emergency induction due to a placenta abruption at 34.5 weeks! After 12 LONG hours of labor, Sawyer entered this world weighing on 5lbs, 3oz. Due to his prematurity, he was taken immediately to the NICU where he was born, (Orange Park Hospital). The initial concern was his lungs, but after just a couple of hours of O2, he was breathing like a champ! Sawyer remained in the NICU for 2 weeks due to his inability to "suck" and eat on his own. He ended up with a feeding tube until the day before he came home. Sawyer lost down to 4lbs, 13oz in the NICU, but was back up to his birth weight when we left. He has been such a joy, and Anabelle has fallen into her role as "big sister" better than we could have ever hoped for. She is absolutely in LOVE, and has been a complete angel! Below are some pictures of Sawyer's first couple months of life!

Sawyer, just moments after his birth

Stacie cutting the cord! Amazing to witness my baby's birth AND to be able to cut the cord!

Sawyer in the NICU

Sawyer and Anabelle cuddling in Mommy and Daddy's bed

Sawyer was able to lift his head before his actual "due date"! Strong boy!

My sweet boy at 7 weeks old!

Daddy getting some sweet kisses from Sawyer

At 2 months of age, Sawyer is weighing just over 9 lbs, and is smiling and cooing up a storm. He doesn't sleep nearly as well as Anabelle did at night and we've delt with reflux and tummy issues, but all in all, he is doing OUTSTANDING! He is truly another blessing from the LORD!

Bedroom "Re-Do"

Due to Jeanie's, (my sister-in-law), persuasion I'm going to post pictures of my recently completely re-done bedroom. Adam and I got new furniture from his parents for Christmas, along with some new bedding, so we decided to completely re-vamp our bedroom before we got started on Anabelle's big girl bedroom and Sawyer's nursery! It was a lot of work, but we are LOVING our new bedroom!!!!! So much more of my taste! Good-bye to Adam's bachelor pad furniture! I'm posting a before picture for you to see, too!


Bedroom Before!!!




Bedroom After!!!!!

Adenoidectomy and Myringotomy

On April 2oth, my baby girl had to go in and be put to sleep to have her adenoids removed and a procedure called "myringotomy" to drain fluid from her ear drum. The adenoids are a mass of lymphoid tissue where the nasal passages "blend" with the mouth, located right behind the palate. Anabelle's were enlarged, causing a lot of snoring and mouth breathing. We believe it was also the cause of many of her sinus issues and ear infections. So, the best thing, according to Anabelle's ENT, was to have the adenoids removed. The myringotomy was just a tiny incision that was made to help the excess fluid drain from Anabelle's ears. Anabelle did OUTSTANDING, and woke from the surgery without as much as a whimper. She was an absolute trooper. She got sick twice right after the surgery because of the anesthesia, but the only reaction to that was her saying, "I just throwed up". What a strong little girl in such a tiny body. I'm amazed at how well she did. That following Thursday and Friday, she was feeling so well, that we spent several hours at the beach each day.

However, Friday night, Anabelle ended up with fever and no apetite, which continued into the weekend. We had her checked at her pediatricians office, and they said all looked excellent with her healing. So, we believe that the culprit for her post "recovery" fever is a virus! However, Anabelle is now on the mend! We are just continuing to pray for a full recovery for our little muffin!!!!!!

Easter 2009

We had a wonderful Easter this year, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!! I am so thankful for all the blessings the Lord has given to me, but most of all for my salvation. Being diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 26 was very difficult, but I cannot imagine how difficult it would have been had I not known that He is in control and that my life here on earth is just temporary. Because of my precious Savior dying on the cross for my sins, I can rest in the knowledge of my eternal life with Him in Heaven!!!!

One of my greatest earthly blessings is my precious daughter, Anabelle. She has grown and changed so much from year to year, and she is such a bright spot in my day. I love to hear the new and funny things she comes up with. Her charm, intelligence and wit blow me away every day. She is such a joy!!!!! I've posted pictures from each Easter so you can see how much she has grown!!!! What an angel! We are so looking forward to our little baby boy celebrating next Easter with us!

Easter 2007 - Anabelle is 9 months old

Easter 2008 - Anabelle is 21 months old

Anabelle and Daddy - Easter 2009

Anabelle and Mommy - Easter 2009

Clay County Fair

Sorry for the lack of updates. On April 4th, the 3 of us went to the Clay County Fair. Anabelle LOVED the rides and the animals, and Adam and I, of course, thoroughly enjoyed the fair food!!!! There is nothing like good ol' fair food!!!!!


Anabelle, the fair "DIVA"!



Anabelle and Daddy going down the slide