Explosion at the pumpkin patch

The last time I posted I was asking for prayers for my mom, Gran.  She has been showered with a lot of attention, prayers, and love.  She will begin chemo next Tuesday (10/29/13).  I have begun a Caringbridge page for her and when it’s up and going I’ll post the link on here.  Until then, this is what she posted on Facebook tonight....

• Hello fb friends...Just wanted to update you on what is now going on with my pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Went to a surgical oncologist and a medical oncologist today and they made Joe and me feel optimistic. My cancer is small and localized, but is too close to an artery for surgery at this time. Their plan is for ...me to have 2 months of chemo followed by 6 weeks of chemo/radiation to shrink the cancer. Then, hopefully, a new CT scan and scope will show that I am a candidate for surgery. The surgery will be extensive; hospital stay as long as two weeks and recovery many months with preventative chemo. I believe by putting my faith in the Great Physician that I will be able to accomplish this and he will heal me.
  
  Thank you again for all of your prayers and support for my family and me. The posts; messages; texts; phone calls have all meant so much.

Life has been moving along at the Lamar residence.  Bitty has continued to terrorize my house and get into stuff and do things he knows he shouldn't.  Spankings don’t bother him.  What’s a mother to do?

We spent the day with my parents last week.  My dad got out his blood pressure machine and Ford “needed” to get his taken too.  You must be still and quiet in order for the machine to work properly.  Neither of those things are easy for my little man.  We had to do it numerous times!

 Saturday was Ford’s last soccer game.  We successfully lost every single game, but that didn't matter.  I am pretty sure Ford had no clue that there were winners and losers.  He went out there and had a great time and that’s all that matters.  He was very thrilled that he got a trophy to add to his collection of two!

 Before church on Sunday….

 Today was a B-I-G day for my boys.  Ford has been excited all week, and John Brantley had no idea where we were going, or what we would be doing.  Today was FIELD TRIP day.  No, this was not a Jill planned field trip, but one with his school to none other than, Cedar Hill Farms.

 I think it’s safe to say that John Brantley had more fun than any other child there looking at the animals.  When he finally realized what we were doing he started running and squealing.  He was desperately trying to get in with the critters.

 After we fed the animals it was time for the famous train ride pulled by a lawnmower.  The “train” had a loud dinging bell that made John Brantley a little uneasy.  He started shaking his head “NO” when he realized we were about to ride!!!

 Bitty is so itty bitty that he couldn't reach the hole!

 Next came the horse ride…

 Then we watched the Chicken Show.

 Please notice that John Brantley had a wardrobe change.  After the chicken show I noticed that he needed a clean diaper.  I went to the bathroom and left Ford behind with his classmates and other parents.  Little did I know that the “dirty diaper” was more like a massive explosion and it had gone ALL THE WAY UP HIS BACK!!!!  Yes, you read that correct, it was a disaster.  Fortunately, another mother helped me get the clean clothes (I’m always prepared) out of the bag.  Then I went to find a plastic bag in the gift shop for the ruined clothes.  All this time my phone is ringing and it’s Ford’s teacher.  They are looking for us.  We almost missed the hayride to the pumpkin patch.

 All the 3K students from Ford’s school…. This is 2 classes combined.

Hayride.  Right after this John Brantley squeezed his CapriSun on my camera!  

 Next Ford did a little zip lining.

 And they have a HUGE slide.  Mr. Aylon took John Brantley down it.  I went too, but no picture was taken.

 Then I asked Ford to take John Brantley down the slide.  This slide is HUGE people.  Ford decided John Brantley should go alone.  I think he went into shock on the way down!

 After the slide we played in the sandbox….

And you can’t leave without sitting on the old red tractor for a good 10 minutes….

It was a good day!!!!

 Five minutes down the road and he was OUT!

Brought To My Knees

I would like to think that I am a very strong person.  Please excuse my language, but Trey often refers to me as a “tough ass”, not in a positive way.  I handle stress or sadness best when I am alone.  I don’t like a fan club and people trying to make me feel better.

Trey is a very private person and likes to keep personal issues to himself.  To some degree I do as well, but when I think others can help I like to get the news out there.  Right now I need your help.

No, I don’t know who all reads my blog, but I see that around 100 people view it each day.  I need prayers.  Lots of prayers.  The strong kind of miracle asking prayers.

My mom, Gran, hasn’t been feeling well for a while.  After doctor visits, CT scans, and a scope test this week a biopsy came back with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

CANCER!  No one likes that word under any circumstance.  It’s even worse when it’s someone you love and they are in pain.  Lately I have spent a lot of time on my knees praying for healing, and for God’s will to be done.

Tonight when my mom called me and confirmed that she had pancreatic cancer I wanted to cry.  I didn’t.  I couldn't.  I was sitting down eating dinner with my boys.  I can’t cry in front of them.  I have only cried one time since last December until tonight.   After I got my boys to bed I laid on the floor and cried and prayed.  I cried and prayed some more.

I have a WONDERFUL mother.  My mom has taught me so much.  She has shown me such love and adoration that I can’t even begin to explain it to you.  She is a submissive wife, and I need to strive to be more like her every day.  She adores her grandchildren and they love her back just as much.

I am asking that you PLEASE pray for my mother.  Put her on your church prayer list.  Call your friends and ask them to pray too.  Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer. God is bigger than her cancer, and he can heal her.  Pray for complete healing.  

Bribed with tarts

A friend of mine informed me that she had set up a festive fall display by her front door and told me I could take some pictures of the boys.  I love taking pictures of them, as if you haven’t already noticed, but doing something like a scheduled photo shoot can be tricky with my two.  Ford and John Brantley were playing in the sandbox and I asked Ford if he wanted to go to one of our favorite stores, Dollar Tree, and get some Sweet Tarts.  Instead of saying “yes” he comes back with “Why?”.  He’s too smart…. He knew I was up to something.  I told him I needed some plastic spoons to send to school with him and on the way we would take a few pictures.

 I bribed Ford and John Brantley with Sweet Tarts.  Ford totally got it, but John Brantley didn't.  I gave up.  We left.

 I love talking with Ford and watching his little mind work.   We were in the living room the other day and I was hot.  I asked him to turn on the fan.  Our fan has buttons on the wall you can push: off, low, medium, and high.  I told him to put it on medium.  He said, “Okay, so you don’t want it on large?”  He was referring to high!  Made me laugh!!!

 On October 13^th John Brantley turned 16 months old.  I have gotten to the point now where I can take or leave his morning nap.  This makes my days run much smoother.  Like for instance on Sundays, he doesn’t get a morning nap because that would be much too stressful.  I do like him to have a morning nap on the days that Ford goes to school so I can get some productive things done.

He still isn’t talking.  He says the same things: bye bye, da da, mommmma, but mostly he just squeals.  He understands whatever you say to him which is helpful.  He has 11 teeth.

He still bites.  He is the worst eater I have ever seen.  If sweets were healthy he’d be set!  He loves animals, outside, drinks, Sweet Tarts, tractors, balls, books, and playing with Ford.

 I use to read to Ford ALL the time before I had John Brantley.  You throw two kids into the mix and it puts a serious kink on your one on one time with your children.  Therefore, I have failed the last 16 months pretty bad.  At age two Ford had memorized (pretty much) 2 books.  He loves books.  He loves to be read to.  I have been feeling super guilty about this.  In my research I have found that reading to your children at least 20 minutes a day is so beneficial to them in numerous ways.  So yesterday during Bitty’s nap I decided we would read and begin learning new words.

Yesterday we read for about 30 minutes and we found the word “the” on every page and in every book.  I’m pretty sure that Ford was super annoyed with me because I’d pause and point.  He kind of did a huffy breath at me and would say “the”.  So last night after he went to bed I stepped up my annoyance even more.  I took a sheet of white computer paper and folded it into 8ths.  I wrote “the” on all 8 sheets and placed them in various spots around the house where I was sure he’d see them.  He quickly noticed them this morning and inquired about what was going on.  Next word: “and”.

 Yes, I am aware my stainless needs to be cleaned.

We love our little Bitty even if he acts like a terrorist most of the day.  He’s all boy and just perfect for our family.  We love you, John Brantley!!!!!

He bit her TOE!

At the end of last year one of Trey’s lifetime dreams came true.  His family bought a farm.  There is over 500 acres of beautiful rolling hills, ponds, trails, woods, etc.  His parents have spent a lot of time fixing up the little house at the farm, and last weekend we stayed there.  

 Trey grilled steaks and we ate and then headed outside to this view….

 Puddin and Pops didn't spend the night, but they did come out for a spin on the new tractor.  It was quite a sight seeing Pops drive a tractor and Puddin sitting in the “buddy seat”.  I needed to document the occasion!

 We decided to build a fire and enjoy sitting outside before we went to bed.

 We noticed that Ford was being really quiet which is highly unusual for him.  He was sitting really still and refused to turn off this head light.  We finally figured out that he was scared.  He was determined that a coyote was going to come up and get us.  Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and caved and said he needed to go to bed!!!

Saturday was game day.  Ole Miss was playing Texas A&M and we decided to go and take the boys.  It rained before we left for Oxford which made the Grove extremely muddy and muggy.  Fortunately our tent isn't in the Grove so our area wasn't bad.  

 Slick needed to wear his rain jacket even though there was not a single drop of rain the entire time we were there.  I guess it’s cool to zip your jacket all the way up to your neck too!!!  I need to get more into fashion I guess!!!

 Bitty will be a diabetic by age 3 because all he eats are sweets.  He’s trying to break into my stash right here.

 Family shot….. Take note that Jill has her hair down!!!  It was curly, but still… it’s down!

 His third cookie

 We finally got to our seats and trying to keep John Brantley still was quite the challenge.  He was into everything.  He was sticking his hands on the girl’s leg behind us.  He stuck his hand in her brother’s drink.  Then John Brantley got mad at Ford so he bit a hunk out of his back which caused Ford to cry and carry on.  The next thing I knew John Brantley stood up in his chair, turned around, and BIT the woman’s toe behind us.  That was it!  Enough is enough!  The boys and I left at 9:00 and were home by 10:00.  Trey didn't get home until 2:15 due to TERRIBLE traffic.

My attempt at a picture before church….  FAIL  

 And since we like to stay busy and on the go we decided to go to Chuck E Cheese today.  Ford is out for fall break and we must celebrate such with a fun activity!

 We went with my friend, Elizabeth, and her children.  Her daughter loves John Brantley and chased him around for me!

 Chuck E Cheese wore John Brantley OUT!!!  He slept over 3 hours.  After naps we headed back to the farm to play!