Ella

I have a dear dear friend, Sheli. I've known her since 1988 when we met in 7th grade...I think it may have been the DeKalb County Patrol Trip to Washington D.C...then we went to the same high school and we were inseparable. Even though we went to separate colleges (I have forgiven her for going to Auburn---haha), we were in each other's weddings and have stayed close as we have each expanded our families to include children. She is the kind of friend where it can be weeks since we've talked "live"...you know how it can be to play phone tag these days...but as soon as we get hold of each other, watch out---the marathon phone call begins and there is not one bit of small talk. We just pick up right where we left off.

Well, earlier this summer, I received a text message from her to pray for her 2 1/2 year old as she was going to have an MRI done on her abdomen to investigate a mass the doctors had found there. After the doctors removed the mass, the biopsy showed that it was indeed malignant. There are no words to describe the pit in my stomach as I heard that word. How can this be happening to someone I know so well? These are the kinds of stories you hear about a friend of a friend or a co-worker's friend as emails circulate to pray for this child or that child. Cancer isn't supposed to directly affect the people I love so dearly. But, on this side of the Kingdom, cancer does affect so many people's lives.

Sweet Ella has begun her chemotherapy and has had a rough couple of weeks (fevers, constipation, mouth sores, etc.) which has really taken a toll on both Ella and Sheli. I know that when my kids are sick, they only seem to want Mommy, and this seems to be the case for Ella too. Also, as the Mommy, we need to have a finger on the pulse of everything in our children's lives, especially something as serious as this. So, I'm sure it is hard to take that much-needed break to get the rest that Sheli so desperately needs.

I did get some good news from her this morning as they were able to pack up and go back home from the hospital, hopefully, until her next round of treatments. Praise the Lord. Anyone that has spent the night in a children's hospital (or any hospital for that matter---not being the patient) knows the accommodations are cramped and pretty uncomfortable.

If you want to read more about Ella, go here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ellaupchurch

I guess the reason I am writing about this is that I feel that this is something that I am "praying without ceasing" about. Sheli, Ella and the rest of her family are never far from the forefront of my mind. In my pregnancy-induced-insomniac nights, I am praying for complete healing of this precious child. As I am driving around town getting my last-minute Nesting errands run, I am praying for this child. I feel like I am constantly either thinking about giving birth or Ella.

I can't wait to one day look back on this post and praise our Great Physician for what He plans to do for her in His own amazing timing.

3 1/2 weeks and counting!

I feel like Santa Claus...I am making a list (or 2 or 3) and checking it twice... And I am making some headway with progress towards Baby's arrival! Woohoo! No, the scrapbooks have not been touched, but with a suggestion from a friend (thanks, Jill!) I did make an online one for the remainder of 2008 (where I had left off) and I think it is so cute! What a great idea and SO much less work! Now, I just need to tackle 2009 and the majority of 2010 and I'll be all set in that department!

The nursery is finished and I LOVE IT, baby laundry is folded and put away (the neutral things, that is---a pretty pitiful small stack, but it'll do---I cannot believe how many girl things I have for Newborn through 3 months!), the pack-n-play is set up in our room, my bags are packed (for the most part), my camera(s) are charged, and I have made so many trips to Goodwill, that the lady knows me by name, now.

So, I feel much more "together" than I did a couple of weeks ago! Bring on the Baby and those sleepless nights! I'm not getting much sleep as it is right now anyway with my pregnancy-insomnia!

The picture below is of me and Kevin's sister, Shannon, who is due one month after me, in September. Baby bumps galore!

Summer Fun...so far!

Summer in Atlanta can be stifling, but so far, we have done our best to keep cool...

With my internal thermostat being completely off, I haven't had much desire to head out in the heat of the day. And my girls have been very patient with me (maybe they don't know what they are missing at their age?).

We went to the Decatur Beach Party again this year. It is always great to eat street food, listen to fun music, and play in the sand with friends (they cover E. Ponce de Leon Ave. with sand for about 1/2 a block and rope it off). Quinnie loved it, especially.

And Mia and Chloe still LOVE filling up the ol' plastic baby pool and playing in it...even if most of the playing entails using it as ammo for their water guns on each other and their unsuspecting sister:

Things coming to an end...and some exciting beginnings

It feels like many things have come to an end lately...even as we are on the verge of many new beginnings, a major one being that we will soon become a family of 6.

Mia and Chloe are officially finished with Preschool/Pre-K. In a few weeks, they will begin at the "Big Kid School" across the street. Kindergarten seemed like it was so far away for so long and now it is almost upon us! As many of us moms ask, "Where does the time go?" and "Wasn't it just yesterday that we were bringing home our little bundles from the hospital?" Can you tell I am probably going to be a mess come fall? :) A few short months ago, our girls began all-day Pre-K:

heading in with BFF Megan

Here they are on the last day of school...they look so much older!

Here are a couple more pics of my 2 monkeys from the last day of school:

Another ending we encountered this summer was the ending of our current church small group. This has been such an amazing group for Kevin and I to be a part of and we have all learned so much and grown so much together over the past 18 or so months.

We can only pray that God places more incredible people in our lives for our next group!

Speaking of small groups, there are a couple of couples from this same small group that have become like family to us. The Shokats and the Hickeys are 2 of the greatest sets of friends we have had the privilege of knowing. Unfortunately, they were both in Atlanta for only 3 years because of the hubbys finishing out their residencies at Emory. For the first 2 years that they lived here, our children all attended the same church preschool and since they became great friends that is also how we became great friends. It was awesome when we all started going to the same church. We even began a girls Bible Study during the week while the kids were in school this past year, and this only served to bring us closer as friends and sisters in Christ. This past school year, Jennifer's little girl, Megan (in the photo above) and Mia and Chloe all went to the same Pre-K. We knew that June 2010, when both families were moving, was always around the corner, but it really came quickly...too quickly, if you ask me! So, 2 of my favorite people have moved on and I miss them terribly...

But, the Hickeys did throw a great going-away-happy graduation pool party before they left!

The girls from Wednesday Bible Study: Laura B., Kristin, Jennifer, and me

The funny thing about the following 2 pictures from the pool party is that Mia and Chloe were so excited to see our old small group friends, the Locklars (another Emory medical school family), that moved to Kentucky in November. The night before, Mia said, "Mommy, tomorrow at the pool party, I can't wait to hold hands with Naomi and Chloe and all jump in the pool at the same time!" I just had to get a picture of her "dream come true":

So, (jokingly) Kevin and I have vowed that, from now on, our qualifying "friend" question will be to find out if they happen to be residents at Emory or not :) It's just too sad to see such great people move away....

And lastly, our baby girl, Quinn, is growing into a Big Girl. It is officially the end of the crib-stage for her. We wanted to make this transition before Baby arrives in August so she wouldn't feel like this new person was "taking" her bed from her. We have moved her into a Big Girl Bed and she is doing so well with it! I am so proud of her:

Here's to nostalgic endings and exciting beginnings...