BLESSED

Our family has had a couple little bumps this week that has caught us totally off guard. It all started back in November while on our cruise with friends and neighbors. Brandon hurt his knee playing soccer on the last day and last activity of our fabulous trip. After a few months of not being able to walk on his leg right or straighten his knee all the way he decided his injury might be a little more serious than he thought. After going to a specialist and having an MRI we found out that he had damaged his miniscus and possibly his acl and he would need to go in for surgery. The day before his surgery at my weekly doctors appointment I measured small so my doctor wanted to schedule an ultra sound to make sure my fluid levels were ok and that the baby was growing. Brandon's surgery was a little more involved than we thought it would be. When the doctor got in to operate he found that Brandon's miniscus was shredded and he removed 80%. The good news was that the acl was stretched quite a bit but the doctor wouldn't need to do any repairs. He injected it with Brandon's platelettes in hopes that it would heal on its own. Brandon was able to come home an hour or so after his surgery. But we were told that he needed to keep it elevated and iced for the first 48 hours and absolutely no weight on his leg for 2 weeks. The kids were so welcoming and cute. They had made signs, cards, bought balloons and plenty of chocolate and diet coke to help their dad on his way to a speedy recovery. The next day my mom went in with me to my ultra sound appointment. We found out that my fluid levels were on the very low side of normal and the baby's growth had slowed down. He told me the best thing to do would be to start watching soap operas, drinking lots and eating bon bons on the couch. So I came home to a husband who was completely down and three sweet, worried kids who needed me to take care of them. My mom immediately stepped in and took care of my kids, changed Brandon's ice machine for him, cleaned my house, put my kids to bed at night and was here bright and early the next day to take care of things again. Some of my best friends and neighbors caught wind of what was going on and arranged for friends and neighbors to bring in a weeks worth of dinners. On Monday morning my mother in law was here bright and early doing more cleaning, dusting, vaccuming and helping with the kids. The service was so overwhelming. A part of me wanted to say no, stop we're are just fine. I didn't want us to be the charity case. But then my heart became so full with gratitude and thankfulness that I lost it and tears streamed down my face. I am so very thankful for all the wonderful people around me who have done more for me and my family this week than bring a warm meal or completely taken over things here at the house. They have taught me what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about and I am so very thankful and so very BLESSED.

Highlights!!!

I can't believe how time can slip away so fast. It's been so long since I've posted and so much has happened in our family! So rather than try to play catch up I will just go over a few highlights and try to do better. I guess I had better start with our BIG news! We found out in November that we will be adding a little GIRL to our family in March (yes I only have 7 1/2 more weeks to go, but whose counting?) We are ecstatic to have another girl especially Maggie. She has been practicing feeding her baby and changing her baby's diapers so she will be all ready to help out with her new sister. Braden has been so cute too. He always asks me where the baby is and then he will hug my tummy and tell his sister he loves her.

The kids had a great Halloween. Since Halloween fell on a Sunday it seemed like we had a whole weekend full of trick or treating!



Cutest trick or treaters ever!!



Trick or treating on main in front of grandma's store!



Our last weenie roast at grandpa and grandma Brooks' house



Carving pumpkins on Halloween afternoon

In November it was such a treat to have aunt Tiff, uncle Nate, Livy, Sophie and Porter come for Thanksgiving. The kids had so much fun sledding, playing in the snow, coloring, bowling, making gingerbread houses and being together. We were so sad to see them leave.



The best grandparents ever!!!

My birthday boy!!
I can't believe my baby is 3!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY big guy we love you so much! For Brady's special day we took him miniature golfing at Trafalga. He had so much fun he loves to golf! After golfing we had family over for dinner, presents and birthday cake. Braden was so cute opening up all his gifts. He opened his present from grandpa and grandma Jackson and as soon as he saw 2 big trucks he started jumping up and down saying "yay, yay, yay is that for me?"