Dead Heat

I happened to catch an interview on Glenn Beck's show Friday night with the author of Dead Heat, Joel Rosenberg. I have not read the previous 4 books in this series, but I understand all of his books are fast moving geo-political thrillers revolving around the crisis in the Middle East. This book is an individual and global challenge to get us to pay attention to the headlines of our rapidly changing world through Biblical prophecy. I'm going to pick up this book this week.

Saturday at the Birmingham Zoo

We took Nolan, Frankie, and my mom to the zoo yesterday to see the new Kangeroos...which were so adorable! We had a great time and the weather was perfect! I think this fall we will get a zoo membership and take Nolan more often :)
















Enjoying the petting zoo




























Nolan had so much fun on the tractor!!















Nonna takes Nolan to see the Flamingos


















Eric and Frankie had fun riding the camel


















Mommy loves the Giraffe's


















Riding the Zebra on the carousel with Daddy

My 1st time to slide!

Eric and his mom took Nolan to our local park in Chelsea yesterday to let Nolan slide for the first time. It looks like he had so much fun! Eric also ran in the Statue to Statue 15k on Saturday morning. We were so proud and excited for him as he crossed the finish line. He has really taken up running lately and has frequently been running in different races on the weekend around Birmingham. He's in the best shape ever and I'm so happy for his new love of running!

Our weekend in Mississippi

We had a such a good time visiting with Eric's family and seeing friends in Hattiesburg on Saturday. Nolan was such a trooper and behaved so well at his first USM baseball game. The weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed being out in the sunshine. We spent Sunday at Oma's house and she cooked a big German meal with all of our favorites...yum! Nolan had her homemade banana pudding for the first time and he couldn't eat it fast enough! It was hilarious! We also let Eric's mom take some pics of us around Oma's house before we left to come back home.

I love my wagon!!!

Everyday and sometimes twice a day I take Nolan for a 15-30 min wagon ride around the neighborhood. He looks forward to it and socializes with our neighbors along the way. He adores being outside so he's already getting a tan! I think he's got his mama's skin!

Anyhow, just got our bags packed for the road. We're heading to Laurel tonight and then we'll be in Hattiesburg for the baseball game on Saturday and the spring training game that night.

Update on doctor's appointment

I was able to see Dr. Fisher at the Kirklan Clinic today about my cavernous malformation. He's the best neurosurgeon for AVM's...so I was glad he was able to see me. He spent a lot of time with Eric and I and we felt a little better about everything. He wants to see me again in early August for another MRI to see if it has grown in size or leaked. He's also arranging for me to see a dermatologist for a full body evaluation for melanoma. He has had only 1 case where they were sure it was a cavernoma like I have but, but it turned out to be a melanoma tumor. The chances of it being that are very slim, but I'm getting checked to rule that out. As far as surgery, again, it would be the very last resort to have this removed. It can be done and can be successful, however, the risks are high and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

We're believing in total healing and that when I go back in August for another MRI, it won't be there anymore. I need you to pray with me daily and truly believe with me that God is going to completely heal me.

"Then your light will break out like the early morning, and you will soon be healed. Your right and good works will go before you. And the shining-greatness of the Lord will keep watch behind you." Isaiah 58:8

Keep Believing

My dear friend Debbie who is close to me and my husband through our church, sent me this precious e-card and I thought it was so sweet. You and click and view on the link below:

http://www.hallmark.com/ECardWeb/ECV.jsp?a=EG2727002804555M256651532Y&product_id=

8 months old today

Our sweet baby Nolan is 8 months old today. He's such a big boy now! He just learned how to eat Cheerios yesterday and actually chewed it before quickly swallowing like everything else! He's still scooting backwards and rolls all over the place very quickly. He's very curious about everything, loves being around kids and dogs, and constantly has a huge smile on his face. Nolan's favorite thing to do each afternoon is go for a ride in his red wagon. He's such a snuggle bear and very much a mama's boy (although he sees Eric and says da-da!!) and always shows so much affection. We are such proud parents and are really having a fun time with him at this age.

Millie Moo is the little happy we bought him for being 8 months old! He loves this book:)

Your will above all else

I want to say thank you to family and friends who have been so prayerful and encouraging over the last few days. I cannot express enough how much your commitment to prayer means to me. God is indeed the Great Physician and I know in my heart he's healing me...no matter what.

I did see the first neuro-surgeon today for his opinion on where to go from here. He said that since my quality of life is pretty good and since the numbness & tingling I'm having is manageable and not severe, he recommends living with this AVM and not surgically removing it. The surgery is very high risk and very invasive and could do more harm than good. He thinks we should monitor it through an MRI every 6 months to make sure it's not growing or bleeding, and of course continue praying for healing.

As far as exercising, he thinks it would be okay to resume normal activity, but was not positive if pregnancy would cause this to grow or bleed. Because this is so rare, not a whole lot is known on prevention. So, he said it wouldn't hurt his feelings if I got a 2nd opinion from a doctor at UAB who specializes in AVM's...who I'm trying to get in to see.

In the meantime, please continue praying.

My thoughts:
I went for a long walk went I got home today and sang out one of my favorite songs on my ipod- From the Inside Out by Hillsong. You know sometimes things happen that are SO larger than us that we can't even comprehend or begin to understand why things happen or worse, why me? Instead of getting discouraged I think the most important thing I can do for myself and my family is completely surrender this to God. Nobody wants to have a lesion on their brain stem, nor live each day knowing it can change or worsen....resulting in surgery. However, I believe God is completely in control here and wants me as close to him as I can be right now - faithfully and humbly His. Consume me from the inside out Lord.

From the Inside Out
A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending Your glory goes beyond all fame

Everlasting Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

Ready for the sand!

Our neighbor Terri knocked on our door yesterday evening with a little beach set for Nolan. It had shovels, buckets, and a sand castle mold. We were so surprised by the happy and couldn't get over how thoughtful she was. He loved it and was all smiles as we laid it all out for him to play with. We're looking forward to taking him on his first beach trip to Seagrove in Florida this June. He's going to love playing in the water and building sand castles with mom & dad :)