Sleep in a Hospital?!?!?!?

So as most of you know I am sitting here in the hospital room with Papaw.  Originally they were just going to go in and clean out the left artery in his neck.  Once the doctor got in there and saw just what he was working with exactly there was a change in plans.  They ended up placing 3 stints in, one in each side of his neck and one in the artery in his groin.  He is doing extramely well with everything.

I got down here around 8:30ish last night (I would've been here earlier but due to the fact he is in ICU, they don't allow visitors between 6-8pm). Around 9 I went down got coffee and walked outside a minute then came back up and just hung out. Around midnight Papaw woke up needing to just get up and move.  The nurse told him that the doctor had him on total bedrest until morning.  "Well it is morning!" he told her...HA HA HA.  She told him she would be back about 5am to get him up.  REALLY?!?!? OK whatever I'll deal with it.  Between all the checking this and hooking up that medication, and making him hold out his arms then having him smile at her and yadda, yadda, yadda...I FINALLY go to sleep about 1am.  Fast forward to 3am...Pap's needing to get up again, mainly just reposition and get a few blankets off him.  So now here it is about 4:30am and I've still not managed to doze back off.  Mainly because that nurse keeps coming in and if she's not coming in, about the time I do start to doze she's peeping through door.  She's making me a little nervous doing that.  I've done watched one too many Lifetime movies HA HA...

So between 6-8AM they also don't allow visitors.  Humm imagine that!!!  There aint no breakfast bar in the greater Johnson City area that I could just sit and eat at for 2 hours!!  What's a body to do with 2 hours, that time of day in JC??? I mean puh-lease!! Ok WHATEVER. Papaw is getting restless so ole gurl better get in here soon to get him up lol.

At this time they have him on a clear liquid diet, hopefully by 8am that will change and I can bring him some decent breakfast.

I do just want to praise God for being with Papaw throughout and having his hand upon him.

(Please excuse the fact that the text in this blog entry is a little off.  I'm using my phone and well, ya'll know how it is :)). **Much Love**

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May, Oh May

Well helloooo again, it's your long lost blogger friend :).  

The month of May brings so many things, flowers, warmer weather, better moods (due to the warmer weather, ya'll know I'm right ;)), Mother's Day, etc.  For about 10 years of my life I would have been OK with just ripping the entire month of May out of the calendar and just pass it by, skipping right to June.  All because of Mother's Day.  As pretty much all you guys know I lost my Mom in 2002.  A tragic event for a 17 year old.  For several years after there were 3 days each year that I just found myself unable to function.  I wouldn't go to school, I wouldn't work, nothing!  One of the days being Mother's Day.  I absolutely HATED the thoughts of it.  I was jealous, bitter, and just eeehh when it came to anything to do with moms, I wanted NOTHING to do with ANY of it.  

Almost 2 years ago God blessed me with a little "attitude adjustment"-Miss. Ava Ruth.   The way I feel about Mother's Day now is a total 180 degree turn around.  I am a Moma now, my attitude is just totally different.  It's amazing how a baby can change you.  

I'm not saying there's not still an emptiness in my heart, that there's no pain, it's just easier to cope with now.  Soooo, with this change of heart, I guess we can leave the calendar alone and not skip any months :).  I'm so thankful that God gives us what we need when we need it and blessing us the way he does.

Mother's Day 2013

So to all you Mommies out there I hope you have a very blessed Mother's Day...

MY Vet..MY Hero...MY Paw

With Veterans Day upon us (and nearly gone) I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those vets and active service men and women.  Without your service and sacrifice I wouldn't be laying in my warm bed between my husband and my daughter writing this. 

There's a veteran in particular that is very special to me, that's none other than my Papaw Harold Holtsclaw.

He is always there for me and my family no matter what.  Anytime I need anything he's there lending a helping hand.  Also, there's a particular little girl that has him TIGHTLY wrapped around her little finger, and he's just as crazy over her ;).  I can never say thank you enough for EVERYTHING you've done.  I love you Paw and thank you...

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Beach Blog

I really wish I was a little better at this whole blogging thing but, it is what it is.  I may not get blogs posted within a "typical" time frame, but then again what's "typical?"  Anyways, as most of you may know a couple of weeks ago we spent a week in Salvo, NC.  We had a great time and are really looking forward to next year when Little Miss Sunshine is a little older and can enjoy it even more than she did this year.  

 Spencer Lee

 <3

"This whole sand, sun, and salt water thing 

is too much for me!!"

I do have more pictures that I took with my phone, however the majority of them have already been posted to Facebook so chances are you've already saw them :).

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

Disclaimer:  This is MY blog so I don't expect any flack over MY opinion.  (I can hardly believe I'm blogging about this, but it isn't all about politics)

I am going to start this by stating the obvious, I am not a political person AT ALL!!!  However, this whole government shut down thing has certainly  got my political gears a crankin' (just a little).  I didn't even know anything about it even being a possibility until yesterday evening around 5:00.  After I heard about it I Google it and yep, sure enough, there it was all over the place!  I climbed out from under my rock and researched a little more.    I have to say I do find this just a bit ridiculous.  I mean come on, I thought all those people were grown adults, life is FULL of give and take.  Obama and all of the government people (see I really don't know what to call them, that's how in to politics I am) need to quit acting like spoiled bratty 2 year olds, get over themselves and figure out someway to compromise!!  After all that is what life is, right?

Since I heard about all this I had just about worried myself sick.  I started praying and just talking to God about it and He spoke to me and just kinda opened my eyes.  Not to anything profound or earth shattering or anything I didn't know before, but that He had this!  He sees what's going on, he sees our worry and concern.  Folks, like Bro. Tim says, this thing (life here on Earth) is winding down and we're about to leave out of here.  PRAISE GOD!!!  I can't even begin to imagine how people who don't know the Lord can face today's world with any peace at all.  For the last couple of weeks I have had a huge burden for certain people.  I don't know their hearts or where they stand with God.  All I can see are the fruits they bare.

Matthew 7:15-20

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I'm not saying these people are necessarily evil, but just being a good person won't get ya to Heaven!!! 

I am so thankful that I serve a God who is omnipotent and who loves us more than we could ever imagine.  A God who daily showers us with his mercy and grace.  A God whose got the whole world in his hands...

If you read this and have any question what so ever about your salvation, call me, text me, FaceBook me, come to my house, whatever you have to do GET ME!!  I may not have all the answers but by golly I know I can find someone who can.

Photo Contest...

So everyone tells me "Ava is so pretty you should put her in pageants!"  Well, I'm not thinking we'll be entering pageants anytime soon however, I have entered a picture of her in Gerber's 2013 Photo Search.  Voting doesn't begin until November 1st, and I will remind everyone, we would really appreciate everyone's support and votes :).  Here is the picture you will need to look for:

I'm Baaaaack

As you know, it's been almost a year since my last blog.  All is going wonderful!  I have been so blessed to be able to be a semi-stay at home mommy.  I've been babysitting but able to take Little Miss Sunshine with me.  Over the last year my days have been filled with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Doc McStuffins, Dora, etc. then going out in public singing "Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog" or "The Doc is in and she'll fix ya up, if you're a toy then you're in luck, it's OK don't be afraid the Doc really knows her stuuuuuuf" just to name a few.  Good luck getting those out of  your head now--you're welcome :D.  
My days have also been filled with learning to juggle Little Miss Sunshine, laundry, nap time, lunch time, cleaning house, nap time #2, supper, running here running there, and just trying to figure out life as a mommy and wife

The year has also brought lots of ups and a few downs.  Watching my sweet 3 month old roll over for the 1st time, hearing the terrible cries from my pitiful 6 month then realizing she has not 1 but 2 teeth coming in.  Watching her learn to crawl, and pull up on things.  Probably the scariest time thus far was when my precious baby was having a hard time breathing.  At 10 months old my little mover was seriously on the go in a big way when she started walking.  My baby is no longer a baby, shes growing up and into a toddler :(.

So that's been my life in a nutshell over the past year.  I'll leave you with a few pictures of our sweet angel...

February 

 March

 April

 May

 June

 July

 August

September

.

NC State Fair

Last Monday morning me, Jimmy, Ava, Dustin, Jacob, Mackennzie, Terri, Kerri, Eliza, Martha, Matthew and Stacy loaded the vehicles and headed to Raleigh.  After a few hours on the road we stopped for a bathroom break, to fuel up and to grab a sandwich.  Then we were on the road again.  We finally get to the hotel and get checked in and rested up a bit from the long ride.  We all pile back into the vehicles and head over to the fair.  Wouldn't you know its raining!!!  So Martha/Kerri/Matthew (not sure which) checked the weather and it was to pass after a few minutes so we sat in the cars and waited it out.  After the rain we made our way through the mud to the fair grounds...YAY we were finally at the fair :).

Not only was this Ava's first time at the state fair, it was mine as well.  I really enjoyed it and can't wait until next year to take Ava back when she'll be able to ride the kiddie rides.  So there were a couple things that I learned while at the fair, well maybe I didn't necessarily learn them there but they were brought back to my attention while we were there.  #1-People are RUDE, it's obvious it's been a while since I've really had to deal with the public.  It don't matter if you're pushing a stroller with a baby in it, if you're carrying a baby, if you're in a wheelchair, or if you're just walking through people will bump into you and cut you off without a "sorry" or "excuse me" or anything.  #2-You can get anything deep fried at the fair.  It's an artery's worse nightmare and a junk food junkies paradise!!!

 Other than the Bloom'n Onion, Corn Dogs, and the Ribbon Fries, you can also get deep fried Twinkies, Pecan Pie, Oreos, and the list goes on.  The deep fried item that took me by surprise was the Kool-Ade.  WHAT???  How on Earth do you deep fry KOOL-ADE????  So my dear hubby went on a quest to answer that question.  The lady said that they just add the powder to the dough so its just like a flavored doughnut...I suppose...

 Fried Dough???  Huh, where I come from we usually call that DOUGHNUTS!!

 Mac & Cheese??  To each their own...

Among all that deep fried food were the yummies...

At the end of the night we headed back to the hotel to get rested up for the next day.  Tuesday morning we got up and got ready to head back over to the fair.  Thankfully it wasn't raining and some of that mud had dried up and it wasn't as yucky.  We spent the day there letting the kiddos play games and rides and just enjoy the day.  Even the big kids (Jimmy and Matthew) played their fair share of games too.  They both won one of the HUGE stuffed animals, no pictures of those even though I should've.  

Overall we had a great time and really enjoyed the trip and look forward to next year... 

Busy Baby...

     In the past 10 1/2 weeks Ava has been on the go.  She has stayed in a hotel 3 times.  The 1st time we went to visit a friend in Knoxville, TN.  The 2nd time we went to Asheboro to the zoo with the church.  And the 3rd time was this week when we went to Raleigh to the state fair.  That's more times than some people ever stay.

     She has also been to 2 funerals.  The 1st one being my great Uncle Murl (my Mamaw's brother).  The 2nd being a distant cousin Harry Lee Turbyfill.

     There has been 2 birthday parties that she has attended.  The 1st one was Eliza's 1st birthday and the other was Jaelyn's 2nd birthday.

     On another note, there are a few things that draws her attention that she really enjoys.  Baby Einstein videos, she LOVES them.  I'm pretty sure she could sit and watch them for hours.  Her pink hippo rattle also brings a smile to her face.  Our friends at the Avery County Health Dept. gave her a set of toy keys that are very loud when you rattle them together, but she LOVES them also.  Probably the thing she loves the most is when her Daddy holds her up in the air.  She just grins and laughs all over.  I've done it a few times but apparently she only likes it when Daddy does it because last night when I done it she spit up and where did it go???  You got it, right in my face...YUCK...oh well just another one of the perks to motherhood.  

     There is only thing that we've found that she is not too fond of and that is being in her car seat   So as you can imagine that has made these long distance trips seem even longer.

I love the baby feet.

  These are just a FEW of my favorites.  You may have already saw them on Facebook but they never get old :).  

     I know I say this alot but it's very true, God has been so good to me and has blessed me beyond measure.  Thank you Lord for your blessings on me!

Well, Well, Well...

It's been quiet a while since my last post.  Since then, as most of you may know, little Miss Ava made her way into the world and I've just been too busy being a mommy and trying to catch up on sleep to update (sorry).  At my final pre-pregnancy appointment on August 2nd we made the decision for induction the following Monday, August 6th.  Soooo Jimmy and I arrived at the hospital AROUND 8:00am (if you know us you know we are terrible at getting anywhere on time :D).  We got in our room they started the IV and the Pitocin around 8:45ish. A couple of hours later she broke my water.  As Missy and I sat there playing cards to pass the time the contractions started getting a little more intense.  They weren't totally unbearable, just EXTREMELY uncomfortable.  When I would have a contraction I would just have to quit playing and just kinda breathe through it.  During one of the contractions, Nancy came in to check the monitors and saw that I was uncomfortable.  She asked me about the pain and then immediately called for the epidural.  From then on out life was goooooood!!!  For the next 12 hours I just laid there, enjoyed the company, and tried to rest a little.  A little after 8:00pm I felt I needed re-positioned in the bed, considering I was numb from about my ribs down, I had to have a little help.  Missy and Nancy started to move me and realized that I had quickly dilated and was ready to start pushing.  About 8:30 I started pushing and at 9:03 Ava was born.  

6lbs. 5ozs. 19in. long

In the 4 weeks that she's been here she has brought so much joy to our lives and lots of trial and error as well!!!  She smiles so much and has some of the greatest facial expressions, I wish I could just bottle them all up.

Jimmy is such a good daddy and is so proud of his baby girl...

I can't tell you that these last 4 weeks have been the easiest that I've ever experienced, but I have certainly enjoyed them...