Stormy Weather Ahead.........

Well, it's been a very long time since my last post. We have been crazy busy around the Robert's house the last couple of months. The holidays are always busy, but we celebrate 7 different birthdays of immediate family members between the months of November and January. Four of those are in my house!! Since my last post Cliff turned 35, Rhys turned 4, Maggie turned 1, and Turner turned 8!! Looking back on last year...I just wonder where the time has gone. We have all taken a beating with colds and ear infections this winter. I am definitely looking forward to warmer weather to come. Turner is about to finish with basketball season and Rhys is about to start baseball/Tball. Maggie insists on breaking in 4-5 teeth at a time these days so she is very restless at night. It's been so much fun watching each child become their own.....their own distinct personalities and facial expressions. They are all sooooo very different, but similar in some ways. I have completely enjoyed Maggie's first year. I was able to take advantage of the first three months of her life and stay home with her (thanks Cliff). It has been as close to "normal" as I could have hoped for. I "missed" that with Turner because of his heart surgery and all the weeks in the hospital and MD appointments for the next year. It didn't slow him down, but it slowed me down quite a bit!! Rhys was this beautiful healthy chunky little boy! He didn't have any problems; however, I had some medical issues during our maternity leave so I couldn't thoroughly enjoy our time off together. He is such a loving child (physically and mentally challenging, but loving)! So Maggie and I had the opportunity to really enjoy our time together. She is such a spunky little thing. I do believe she is going to give all of us a run for our money! We are excited about what the Lord has in store for us in the future years to come. So, regarding the weather forecast in the title......Maggie was born with an enlarged right kidney. All hopes and prayers were that it would resolve itself without intervention. It has not. So last week following a renal scan (which is a lot of fun with a 1 year old, but I do not recommend running out and doing it), it was determined that Maggie needed surgery to remove the blocked section of her right ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder). This is scheduled for March 19. We will be in the hospital about 3 days, so if anyone is in the area, we would love to see a friendly face. We KNOW everything is going to be okay. We have been rushed with memories of Turner's surgery, hospitals, doctors, needles, holding baby down.......the storm. We know it's coming, we are preparing, we don't want it to come, we're gonna get wet....we would rather stay nice and dry and warm! We know we have to do this or it will mess up her kidney.....we just don't wanna! We know for a fact without a shadow of a doubt that..."The Will of God will never take us where the Grace of God will not protect us." So just be thinking about us the next month.....we need calmness and peace..............Have a wonderful 2009! I know we will!

Thankful for.....

Wow! I cannot believe it is Thanksgiving already!! I am thankful for so many things.....here are 10 of those things on my list:
1. My Savior
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Church
5. Mexican food
6. Massage therapists
7. Irish tea
8. Disposable diapers
9. Dansko shoes
10. Daycare.....and the teachers because without them I would have never
seen my baby boy do this:

Don't worry, I was in your shoes....I had no idea what he was saying (he is also worried that he is going to miss his cartoon). The song is:

Albuquerque is a turkey and he's feathered and he's fine and he wobbles and he gobbles and he is a friend of mine. He's the best pet that you can get better than a dog or cat. He's my Albuquerque turkey and I'm might proud of that!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Rhys and Reese!

This week we celebrated Rhys' 4th birthday on the 17th. It is an emotional time in so many ways. My baby boy is growing up.....he's 4 years old! I remember when we found out. It was so exciting. We had moved back home to Tennessee less than a year prior to finding out and really had been through a lot (relatively speaking). So this was exciting times for us. Turner was 3 and would be almost 4 when this baby came. We had made some friends where we had moved from who also had a son Turner's age. So it was even more exciting to find out they were also pregnant with their second child. We didn't talk daily but we kept in touch. We were even brave enough to put on bathing suits that summer together at her mother's pool to catch up on our son's and baby/pregnancy stuff. It was really fun to be pregnant with a friend (I was about 1 month ahead of her). At no point did we ever discuss baby names....ever. Then we found out what we were having and decided on names. We were talking on the phone and it was at that point we found out that she was having a girl and naming her Reese. I was having a boy and naming him Rhys. Isn't that weird?? We couldn't believe it....we laughed and of course griped about normal pregnancy stuff.
Well, time passed and it was time for my Rhys to come on Nov. 17th. Scary and exciting times!!! We called everybody that was on our list.....exciting times. We brought our precious little baby home on the 20th. Later that night my friends mom called us to let us know that baby Reese had died and was born on this day. This is a dark day.....how could this happen....why would this happen....my heart was heavy with saddness, frustration, guilt (for having this perfect little baby to hold).....so many emotions....I couldn't stop crying....not for me, for my friend. There just isn't a week that goes by that I don't think about her and her family to this day. I think about her just about everytime I look at my Rhys when he's playing or pestering his brother......when he's in trouble (which has probably saved his hiney a few times). My friend has been blessed with another beautiful little girl since then. I stand amazed how she has allowed God to work in her life through this tragedy! She has truly been an inspiration to me and many around her. I use to think...."how do you over something like that??"......it wasn't until recently when another friend lost her husband tragically (he was in his 20's and their baby was only 6 months old).....that I realized that you NEVER get over something like that....you just have to let God carry you through it. He promises that He will, you just have to be willing to give it up to Him. These two friends are doing that and God is AMAZING. I can just see Him up in Heaven tapping every passer by ...."Hey...come her....you see that woman...yes, that one....she's Mine...look at her shine in My Glory, look at her....." He must be beaming with pride when he sees my friends.......just like a proud Father. When I lost my dog this summer...it hurt, I was sad.....but (and this is gonna sound weird) it made all of these feelings more significant.....when my friend who lost her husband told me how sorry she was for my loss I started crying...not for my loss, but for hers (I couldn't tell her that or I would cry even more...just what she needed!!). Yes, I am a cryer....don't talk to me about it....I'll cry. They are amazing women with the strength of God behind them.
So I would appreciate your prayers for my friends...God knows their names...and everyone else dealing with the pain of losing someone.....pray for the ones that know God and pray for the ones that don't......
So here is a big Happy Birthday wish to Reese who must be having the greatest birthday party in Heaven today! And a big prayer for her mom who can't be at that party today......but will see her again!

I Know How Ya Feel!

This is on our way home from Disney. This is how I feel a lot lately!

Can I get an "Amen Sister!"???

We went, We saw, We conquered! (continued)

Okay, the hamburger guy is my nephew. I know exactly what they mean when parents complain about having to feed a teenager!!! Although, my baby Maggie hasn't missed a meal yet!!

We went, We saw, We conquered!

So, we went to Disney World and Universal/Islands during our fall break. We had a really good time. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be (you know, taking a 7 yr-, 3 yr-. and 10 mo old). We had a lot of help because we went with my parents and my brother/sis-in-law and nephew. For us it is the best time to go. Magic Kingdom has the "Mickey's Not So Scary" Halloween party where the kids get to go trick or treating in the park at night in full costume. They even have a special parade. Magic Kingdom breaks out the Good candy, too. None of that dollar tree stuff made in China thats been recalled!!! Maggie slept thru the whole thing.....such a good baby!! The kid adults like to go the the Universal/Islands Haunted Halloween, too. We really had a great time! Here are some pictures. I did notice that I didn't have very many pictures with this trip.......maybe having a 7, 3, and 10mo old had something to do with it?????

Time Travel....

I think someone is messing with time....no I don't mean daylight savings time. I really believe that someone is punching the fast forward button on my clock. October flew by.....we are involved in a ministry and Cliff was gone the first weekend (thur-sun) with that...then we went to Disney the next two weekends (for fall break) then Cliff went to visit a friend in Kentucky....then Cliff and Turner had their first CubScout camping trip the next weekend!!! Now we (me and hubby) are going out of town this weekend to a B&B in Illinois. It has been CRAZY at our house for the last 6 weeks. I have got a lot to catch up on with the posts and pictures. I will start slowly as not to be overwhelming (more for me!). So for now....this is all you get...just an explaination of why the big delay in posts on my blog. Sorry!! Thanks for your patience.