4 years in Glory Land

 

 

The good Lord has had Adyson for 4 years today.

 

 

I'll never forget how I felt that day. She passed away and all I wanted to do was run (right after I threw up in the trash can). Run out of that hospital. Run and pack our things from the Ronald McDonald House. Get in the car and drive straight home. Run! Run! Run! As fast as I could away from the place my daughter had left me. Like leaving would somehow help how crushed my heart was. Like I could run away from how I was feeling. My heart would never heal. I was mad at God. I yelled at Him many times. How could He take my baby when so many were praying for her. I know He could work miracles. And what I didn't realize then, was that He did work miracles. He worked miracles THROUGH Adyson. Marriages were saved, lives were saved, hearts were softened, broken families came together because of this little girl who didn't speak one word. But I can tell you God spoke loud and clear through her. He used my daughter for His work and His glory. And I will always cherish and treasure that.

 

I'm brought back to a verse God showed me after she passed away 1 Peter 5:10-11 says, "Now the God of all grace, who called you into His glory will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. The dominion belongs to Him forever."

 

He has done all these things to me.

He is good!! 

Merry Christmas--- a little late

Charley Hope | {4 months}

Another month has flown by and Charley has hit some major milestones and growth spurts that I didn't think we were going to survive. Once she turned three months she stopped sleeping well, ate more, fussed more, wined more... all of the above.. major sleep regression and major growth spurt. Growth spurts never affected the boys one bit. So this was so new to us.

 

 

And since you can't read what I wrote very well I will type it here:

14lbs 1oz      23 inches long

5oz every 3-4 hours

Always keeps her right foot up (picture above and below)

Keeps hands in mouth

Not much of a napper

Getting used to baths and car rides

 

 

You received your four month shots and you took it like a champ. You didn't shed a tear. It reminded me of your big sister, Adyson, she could be poked and prodded with needles and never flinch.

 

You don't like to be around a crowd of people-- like your Dad.

 

We think you are teething since you always have your hands in your mouth and you drool, drool, drool.

 

You love your big brothers and are always interested in what they are doing.

 

 

You celebrated your first thanksgiving.

 

You love to be outside.

You don't stay on your blanket to play. You roll all around the living room.

 

This is how you like to sleep. Your big brother Rivers did this too.

 

You celebrated your first Christmas.

 

You are such a happy baby and always full of smiles and laughs.

 

We love you sweet girl!!

 

 

 

 

O Christmas Tree

I have to be honest. I haven't been thrilled about Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching. I didn't even take out my fall decorations (which has a cute owl pillow). There are many reasons why I just wanted it all to shimmy on by in a quick hurry to be on to the next thing.

With all that being said, I do have kids and Dan said he wanted to get a real tree this year. So I said if we were going to get a real tree, I wanted the whole experience for the boys. You know, go to a tree farm and walk through all the trees until you find just the perfect one, take a picture with your kids by it and then a picture of the tree on your car or in our case in the trailer we brought.

So that's just what we did!!

 

 

 

The boys had so much fun running and playing through the trees. We weren't out of the car yet and Konner already said he saw the one he liked.

 

 

The perfect tree!!

 

 

We let the boys ride in the trailer to go pick up the tree.

 

 

And there she is!! Our Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree!!

 

 

Charley girl had a great time picking out her first Christmas tree!

 

 

 

I love our tree!! BUT-- my really nice, heavy ornaments won't stay. The limbs are too flimsy.

The boys love their tree and I do too!! We even put a little one in their room.

 

And, Buddy, our elf showed up!!

 

 

 

 

 

Charley Hope | {Newborn Photos}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My heart may just explode!!

 

The Lord has over and abundantly blessed me!!

 

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color Vibe & Bulldog Dash

 

 A few months before I had Charley I signed up for the Color Vibe in Gulfport knowing I would only have about 4 weeks to train after my 6 week check up. Not long after Charley was born I found out the Bulldog Dash was also the same day as the Color Vibe. Two races in one day--- I got this!!! Once I got the all clear, I strapped Rivers and Charley in the double stroller and we got down to business. 

My best friend Hailey and her two youngest came with us. For not running in over a year, we both did fantastic!!

A few days before the races we went running without the strollers and ran the 5k route for the Bulldog Dash!! Go us!!

 

We took Konner and Olivia along with us to the Color Vibe.

They had a blast. Konner got cranky and tired towards the end but after it was over he perked up quick when he got a Frisbee.

 

 

This was me after the first color!

 

As you can see, Konner was not thrilled after the race. He was covered in color and when he took a bath that night the water turned blue after rinsing his hair out.

 

 

 

He did win 3rd place at the Bulldog Dash 1/4 mile Fun run for the kids--- in his crocs!!

 

 

And me and my running partner!!

So proud of us!!

 

Disney here we come!!!

Charley Hope | {2 months}

 

It's true!! Charley girl is 2 months old.

She received her shots and thankfully did not run fever!!

 

Mommy loves big bows and owls!!

You don't like baths.

You don't like being in the car.. only if we are moving... no stopping.

You can roll over from belly to back.

 

You sleep on your belly.

Nap in your crib.

Sleeps with mom and Dad at night. Soon you will be in your crib at night.

 

 

You found your thumb.

You eat 4 oz every 3.5 hours

You go to sleep around 9 and wake up anywhere from 7-8:30

 

 

Ahhhhh.... LOOK at that double chin!! I could eat it off!!

 

We love you very much sweet girl!!

 

Charley Hope | {One Month}

 

We are just smitten over this girl!!

She is already spoiled and has Daddy wrapped around her finger. (maybe Mommy too)

And this month has flown by.

 

For the past two nights you have slept through the night... on your belly... right between mommy and daddy.

You don't like your Rock N' Play sleeper.

At your two week check up you weighed 8lbs 12oz and were 21 inches long. But I am sure you weigh more now and maybe even longer.

 

 

You had your first growth spurt at two weeks and now you are going through another one. Just today I fed you at 11 and 1.

You nap in your crib.

 

 

Mommy loves putting bows in your hair. The BIGGER the better!! Which is funny because Mommy was the total opposite when she was a little girl. Just ask Mimi!!

You sleep with your mouth open which makes you drool and I think it's the cutest thing.

 

 

And your two big brothers adore you!! They are so happy you are finally here!!

 

 

You already fill our lives with 'hope' of what the future holds for our family.

We love you more than words can say and are so thankful for another blessing from God.

 

4

Happy 4th Birthday, Adyson Lea!!

 

It's still hard even 4 years later.

Yesterday was a sweet day.

My precious friends and I went to lunch and celebrated my sweet girl.

Yesterday evening I took the boys to the Homecoming parade and they caught lots of candy.

We have yet to do our traditional balloon release and sing happy birthday with the boys and have cupcakes.

 

Although tears still flow, my God is still good!!



Evening at the Beach

Late yesterday afternoon we decided to load up and go to the beach for the evening.

 

 

Charley slept and the boys played in the sand

 

and Dan helped them catch hermit crabs.

 

It was so nice and relaxing. This will definitely become a family tradition.

All I Wanted Was A Haircut | {Charley's Birth Story}

Thursday, August 22, around 2 a.m., I woke up with some contractions. I thought nothing of it since I had been having them for a month or so already. Until, they didn't stop. So, I started to document them. As you can see nothing major.

 

 

I was already going to the hospital for my last treatment, so I just let the nurse know when I got there about my sleepless night. I was checked to see if I had dilated (hadn't) and she hooked me up to monitor Charley while I received my treatment. I had a few pretty intense contractions here and there. One specific one that put me in tears. But they still weren't "timable." Did I mention my regular doc was in Chicago? The doc on call said she would let me have some pain medicine, but I declined. For one~ I wasn't going to be there all day and I needed to drive myself to get a haircut (to prepare for arrival day-- Tuesday) and back home. For two~ my contractions weren't steady.
Dan came to check on me around 10. Still nothing major was happening.... that I knew.
My treatment finished about 10:45 and I was checked again- not dilated anymore- but my contractions were 3-5 minutes apart. I had no clue. Nurse left to call doc on call and I told Dan there was no way they were letting me go home with my contractions being that close together.

Low and behold she came back in and said C-section was scheduled for 12.

AN HOUR AWAY!!

Dan and I were both in shock. He asked my nurse if she was kidding and she wasn't. Talk about hurry/scurry mode!! Dan was suppose to host a seminar at work and had to call and cancel that and he called our parents. I text my friends and they all freaked out and hurried to get to the hospital in time! I can't help but laugh about those texts.

 

 

My mom checked Konner out of school and got Rivers from my Mamaw's and came to my house and grabbed my bags.

 

During all the craziness of everybody rushing to get to the hospital, I was FREAKING out!!! Even shed a few tears sobs. I was scared to have a C-section. Terrified!!

 

This was not MY plan on how my delivery was suppose to go.

It was suppose to be scheduled for the following Tuesday.

My hair was suppose to be cut and fixed.

I was suppose to have my big camera and not just my camera phone.

My doctor was suppose to be present.

My kids were suppose to be in their cute "Big Brother" shirts.

Friends and family calmly waiting in the waiting room

 

If there is ONE thing the Lord teaches me daily, is this life I live is HIS.

And His plan was for me to have my C-section August 22.

His plan was for my hair NOT to be cut and fixed.

His plan was for me NOT to have my big camera.

His plan was my doc NOT to be present.

His plan for my kids NOT to be in their "Big Brother" shirts.

His plan for everyone NOT to be calmly waiting but frantically rushing around and forgetting their purse.

 

Around 12:30, I was wheeled into the operating room and was given my spinal.

The spinal did not take and I had to be put to sleep, which meant Dan was not allowed in the room with me. He was allowed in after she was born.

Charley Hope Cheramie made her grand entrance into the world at 1:15 p.m.

 Weighing 7lbs 13oz (not 10lbs like we thought)

 20 inches long

 

 

We have settled right into our little family and are loving every minute of it.

 

 

 

P.S. I still need a haircut!