Snow and Ornaments

So DC is having a winter storm! It started snowing last night (Friday) at about 8pm and is still supposed to snow until 5am on Sunday. I know we have had at least 2 feet so far. This Florida girl has never seen anything like it! It is absolutely beautiful and so very peaceful. I took advantage of the time to finish up my ornaments for an ornament party on Sunday. I made about 20 total. I made reindeer out of three clothespins (without the metal on them). A three year old could make this so I don't feel crafty or special in any way but this gimp girl crutched around Michaels for an hour with Josh trying to find a good craft and they were all so expensive...well, I had to make at least 17 ornaments so that is why it was so expensive! So, I called my mom and she told me I could make these reindeer. I painted them a tannish color and then slapped on the glue, wiggly eyes, nose, and bushy white tail and then tied the reins and added a bell. :-) Hopefully the ornament party doesn't get snowed out! Here are a few pics of the snow and my lovely ornament. :-) Enjoy the holidays!

And surgery number 10 here we come...

I thought I would let my fellow bloggers know that I am coming up on my 10th and hopefully final surgery (due to the knife/foot injury). I think most everyone knows the story but I'll try and recap quickly. In April 2007 I dropped a paring knife on my foot. I thought my foot was okay because I was not in pain and my cut was very small. However, after a week I noticed I could not move my great toe. I went to a podiatrist and he said my tendon was lacerated. So, I had an outpatient repair surgery (1st surgery). After being home for about a week I was still in excruciating pain and my pain meds were not working at all . Come to find out I was in pain because I had an infection from the surgery. I had to have an emergency in-patient surgery to get all of the infection out (called a debridement). My infection still worsened though. After having 5 surgeries at one hospital and with my podiatrist, he said it appeared I still had infection and he did not know what else to do so he referred me to Georgetown University Hospital. I had my 7th surgery at Georgetown in which they found that my infection had gotten so bad that my tendon was no good and the infection was heading to my bones. From that point, I had my 8th surgery (another debridement) and then finally my 9th surgery, a 9 hour reconstructive skin-flap and tendon transfer surgery. The doctors at Georgetown were so wonderful. To be sure my new tendon in my foot was protected, they packed in extra tissue, which they had hoped would go down completely (although they did say it may not). So, here we are. My tissue in my foot has in fact gone down quite a bit since my surgery in June 2007, but it has not gone down enough. I still can't fit into a lot of shoes/boots. This 10th surgery will be lyposuction/tissue readjustment. I told my doctor to feel free to stick the needle in my tummy, thighs, and under my arms too. :-)

My surgery is Thursday, December 10 at 8am at Georgetown. This is the same doctor that did my reconstructive surgery and he is one of few microsurgeons in the United States. It is supposed to be a very simple surgery and as of now I will go home later on that same day. I am not nervous yet, but I know when I get there I will remember everything I experienced two years ago which is very emotional for me. If you think of it, please say a prayer that I will feel at ease , my surgery will go smoothly and I will have good results. :-)

Kelly's shower

This past weekend I was able to go to my best friend Kelly's church shower in Birmingham. She had a whopping 80 people or so that came...what a great turn out! It was a couple shower so the guys watched the Auburn -LSU game (Auburn was decimated) and the ladies of course, mingled and enjoyed one another. The shower was so wonderful. The girls who put it together worked so hard--the pumpkins they painted for decorations were adorable and the food was delicious! Kelly got a lot of great gifts and little Colton will be all set! As of now she is due November 29 so it is just around the corner. Please be praying for Kelly and baby Colton, specifically that they both stay healthy, that she will have a smooth delivery, and that our faithful Lord will give the doctors wisdom as they work with Kelly. (For those that do not know, Kelly is a high risk pregnancy).

Also, please be praying for Ryan's mom, Bev, as she has been battling cancer. She will find out towards the end of November if the treatment has worked. I was so excited to see her at the shower and she was just as happy as a lark wondering around and snapping pictures with her new camera. She is an encouragement and a great example to me as she is enjoying the life that God intended her to have and is keeping her spirits up.

My prayer to God is that this Thanksgiving the Hinote/Key family will be blessed with a healthy baby boy, Colton and that Mama Key (Bev) will receive wonderful news that her treatment has worked and she is cancer free. Please join me in prayer!

Here are some pictures from the shower!

My Grandaddy

Today has been technically four weeks since my grandmama passed. I have been calling my grandaddy at least once a week to call and check on him and he sure has had a hard time. I called today to check on him (not really realizing it had been exactly four weeks since my grandmama's passing) and he sounded so horrible...stuffy cold sounding. At first I thought he was sick but I asked him if he felt bad and told me no, but that he had had a really tough day. He said he doesn't think he is getting any better with dealing with my grandmama's passing, but I am sure he is. I talked to my mom (who was there) and she said he had been crying all day--from the moment he woke up till this evening. Every time I talk to him he cries a little--imagine a 79 year old man in complete tears. Imagine having a wonderful marriage with your best friend for 56 years and a month and then boom---she's gone. So hard to imagine and comprehend. If you don't mind, please say a short prayer for my sweet grandaddy, that God will give him peace and comfort as he mourns every day and longs to see the love of his life again.

My Grandmama

On September 2, 2009 my grandmama, Sarah Elizabeth Weaver passed away to be the with Lord. I miss her so very much. There are so many memories that I will carry with me about her and the good times we had at "grandmama and grandaddy's" house. Fortunately, my sweet grandaddy is still living at the house and I am so blessed to have him in my life still. Please say a prayer for him as he is adjusting to his life without the love of his life. They loved each other so very much.

Here are some of my favorite memories:

-She had the softest hands
-She was a sassy, funny thing...she always had the "gossip" of small town Atmore, AL
-She would always let you know her opinion...she didn't like my nose ring that I had when I was in college. :-)
-She and my grandaddy had such a wonderful relationship...they loved each other so much and it was so evident in how they spoke to each other and loved on each other. They were a great example to me.
-She made the best chocolate layered cake...the chocolate was something special! Every holiday everyone always looked forward to grandmama's chocolate layered cake...yum!
-When we were little she and my grandaddy grew corn in the back yard...she always made fresh creamed corn and boy was it the best
-She made the best grilled cheese sandwiches...she used Sunbeam bread with American cheese and some butter on the bread...she put them in the oven and they were always so crisp and yummy.
-Often times our family (mine or my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc) would bring people over to grandmama and grandaddy's for Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, etc and she would just love on them and tell them they were always welcome to come at anytime they wanted
-She always made her bed...always! And if any of her grandchildren were playing on her bed she would let you know she didn't like it...I wish I could hear her tell us to get off of her bed...:-)
-She had a white swing on the front porch and me, my sisters, and my cousins would sit on the swing and the rocking chairs and play "Cars". We figured out our seating order on the swing and chairs and every time a car came by we would see who's car it was...if I was first in the order it would be my car. If my sister was second, then the next car that came would be hers and so on...Sometimes we got clunkers and sometimes they were the coolest cars...at least at the time.
-She loved the Lord...She put God and her family above anything else.

Here are a few pictures of my sweet grandmama...I love you so much grandmama and can't wait to see you soon.

Late Honeymoon in Dominican Republic & family in FL

Josh and I were blessed to be able to go on a late, well needed honeymoon to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort and it was absolutely beautiful and incredibly awesome! We spent most of our days sleeping in, going to the beach/pool, and eating. :-) We did rent a car with some another couple we met and explored a few towns about two hours away just to see the real DR. We are planning on going again possibly for spring break and we are thrilled!

After I got back from the DR two days later I flew to Pensacola, FL to see my family. Josh joined me a couple days later but only stayed for 4 days. It was wonderful seeing family and visiting my grandparents. I was also able to see my very best friend Kelly, who is preggo!!!!! I loved seeing that little belly of hers. She looks fantastic!

My summer is now wrapping up and I will begin working again...bummer! :-) Here are some pictures from the DR and FL.

Photos and Fun

So I have been having fun editing old and new photos with the www.picnik.com website (thanks to little Mrs. Echols)! Here are several that I have done of my family and friends.