Pages

Friday, January 4, 2013

Livy's 1st Christmas!

We had a most wonderful Christmas!!

I am in awe of God's blessings on our family!

We tried to soak every minute out of our break and just enjoyed being together!

Jackson, Benjamin, & Olivia Grace just love Santa!! He was tooo good to them!

He brought them corn hole boards, books, movies, a new trampoline, sweet little kitchen, baby dolls, stroller, movies, books, the gun (only thing Ben asked for), and a glorious cruise to Mexico!!

Yep, that Santa Claus is sooo awesome!!  


We spent time with family members and some we wish were family members!!

 We enjoyed celebrating Christ's birthday!  

Seeing Olivia Grace's face when she walked in on Christmas morning was worth all the worry and buying and slaving away to get ready!!



Here are some pics of this first Christmas for Olivia Grace!! So special!!


The cruise boat that Santa left to let them know they got it!!


The toy gun Benjamin loves!!





 Check out her new kitchen and bed head!! 


The corn hole boards (NC State and Clemson) We love both teams!!


She loved the baby dolls and stroller!! She actually hugged them and gave them kisses!  It wasn't too long ago she would just throw them down!


One day Benjamin is going to kill me because of this pic!!



Olivia and her Asian doll!



I just love this pic of Hilly and Natalie!



Playing games at Aunt Mildred's house!!



2012 has been the most wonderful year!! Its the year that God blessed us with Olivia Grace!! 

We all had such a great time over Christmas and during all the festivities!!

We hope you did too!!!














Monday, December 17, 2012

My Birthday Boy!!

This month has been Crazzzzyyyy!!  

I promise I am going to catch up on this blog.  I want to continue this blog as a sort of online photo album for my kiddos. 

In the month of December, we have celebrated Jackson's 8th Birthday, took a trip to NYC, celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary....and its only December 17th...
.

I want to dedicate this post to Jackson Reid, my first born.


This year instead of a big "friend" party you got to pick a buddy and we all went to a college football game.  We ate at Mellow Mushroom for lunch, went to the game, and then went to a "cook it in front of you" Japanese restaurant.  Then on Sunday, we had a big family party at Mawmaw Maxine's!  We had such a wonderful time celebrating your 8th birthday!



Dear Jackson,

When they laid you up on my chest, I remember being scared to death.  I had never been a Mama before.  I didn't know exactly what to do.  I prayed to the Lord to give me the strength and knowledge to be the best mother I could.  We left that hospital a family. You, me and Daddy!! When you turned one, I cried because I was only going to have 17 years before you left to go out into the world.  Daddy just busted out laughing at me.  You were the sweetest, cutest thing ever!!! You ALWAYS had a smile.  When people were talking about the terrible twos, your Daddy and I would just look at each other and praise God for such a great baby boy!!!

I remember when you held Benjamin for the first time.  You were so proud!! Not one ounce of jealously ever entered your body!  And Olivia-oh how you love your baby sister.. You are the best big brother to both Ben and Livy.

This year you were sick, really sick.  You were in the hospital for 4 days at Levine's.  We were scared but you always had that smile.  The doctors couldn't even believe how wonderfully happy you were (despite being so sick)!

You love football (despite me trying to change your mind), basketball, baseball, family, reading, making up stories, going to church, pizza, playing outside, and spelling homework: to just name a few!  You work so hard at everything you try.  You are a great student and friend to others. 

I love you to the moon and back!!

Love,

Your Mama

Such love for you baby sister!!




Jackson and Manteo Mitchell, a hometown Olympian!







I couldn't be more proud of you!!













Friday, October 26, 2012

Sweet Livy....

is TWO years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

This time last year I sat in my office and was so incredibly sad that I was not with my daughter on her first birthday! I couldn't imagine her all the way across the world without her family on such an important milestone. We had a care package and cake sent but it was no where near enough!! The next day I opened my email and I received a pretty amazing gift. There was an update with pictures of Olivia Grace enjoying her cake!! 

Here she is one year ago:








and here she is today:







I am amazed!! I put on facebook that you have brought so much joy and happiness into all of our lives.
That is the truth!! I am so lucky to get to be your Mama!!
I am so thankful that God chose us to be your family!! Adoption has blessed our life beyond belief...
You have blessed us beyond belief!!



You are such a happy spirit!  You always laugh and are smiling.
You love to eat! A few of your favorite foods are bananas, goldfish, livermush, grits, corn on the cob, and especially mac 'n' cheese...NO more congee for you!  Such a true Southern GIRL!!!

You give the best kisses and hugs.  Your language skills are growing everyday.
Some of the words you try to say are
 "Mama, Daddy,  Jack, Ben, Elisha, Thank You, Love You,
Bye Bye, Hey, Out, Eat, Cup, Mawmaw, Pawpaw, and more."

You love your brothers but Benjamin can sometimes try you nuts!!

You have such a special bond with Mawmaw Brenda, Mawmaw Maxine, Elisha, Susan & George, Uncle Andy,  Brandon, Hillary & Phyllis...well actually everyone you meet!!!


You Love, Love, Love your Daddy!


You love to get your fingernails painted and put on lip gloss (which is funny since your Mama doesn't even own any)!!

You seem to enjoy playing ball (I'm going with that)!!

You probably have already been to more football games than most little two year old girls!!

Your Best Friend is Emma!!


I love you my Livy Grace!!! I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for you!


Here are some more pictures from recently!!

Such a Ham!!




I show lots of people my belly!!


I'm watching my Mawmaw Maxine make strawberry jam!!




After my first haircut...I am looking like a little Diva...even covered in spaghetti!!




Me and my handsome Daddy!!




I am going to be Lady Bug on my first Halloween!


I'm even happy in the car seat!! (Maybe we were going to McDonalds)


We started partying yesterday but my big family shindig is Sunday!!!

So more pictures from that coming soon!









the long road

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Hair Drama and Our Little Eater!!

I have been letting Olivia Grace's hair and bangs grow all one length and its driving me nuts!!

We have bought bows, clips, hand bands, and elastic thingies and she just pulls them out and/or breaks the hand bands!! Our little independent girl!!

I am not the most girlie girl...if you can't pull it into a pony tail ...I am at a loss!! Lol

But Olivia Grace- I promise to learn...

My goal is to learn to French braid.....
My grandmother used to braid my hair daily during the summers and before my games
and I want to do the same for my sweet girl!!


Also my girl has gained five pounds!! She is an eater...so she fits right in with us....lol


These pics show the hair drama I am having and my precious little eater....lol















Thank you for your prayers for Jackson!! He is doing so much better!!

This week we start to celebrate our Livy's 2nd birthday!!! I cant wait!!!
God has blessed us!!


Ni Hao Yall


Monday, September 24, 2012

What Brought Me To My Knees!

When I was a little girl I used to always get beside my bed, get on my knees, look up toward Heaven, and pray to God!  I don't know exactly when I stopped getting beside the bed on my knees, but I never stopped praying.  I usually pray in the mornings on my way to work or at night as I lay in bed.  

A couple of weeks ago my son, Jackson, who is 7 years old, was diagnosed with Spinal Meningitis.  He had been sick on and off for a few weeks, having both high fevers and headaches.  We had been to the doctor, ER, urgent care several times and we still couldn't figure out what was going on.

I finally took him to Charlotte to the ER.  They admitted him immediately and started running several tests including a chest x-ray, spinal tap, echo cardiogram, etc.  They ended up doing the spinal tap around 1:00 in the morning.  The doctor (who was awesome) came into the room around 3 o'clock in the AM and told us something we weren't expecting. 

She said, "Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, your son Jackson's white blood cell count in his spinal fluid is supposed to be under 10, his levels are 848."  Both of us just sat there for a few seconds and I said, "What does that mean exactly?"  She said it means he has spinal meningitis and we are not sure if it is bacterial or viral but would like to start treating him for bacterial immediately.

We knew of a man who had been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and died within 24 hours.  So I honestly, started to freak out and panic.  I did not do this on the outside because I had to be strong for Jack but I was a wreck on the inside.  

I went into the bathroom, shut the door, and got on my knees.  I looked up toward Heaven and I prayed to the Lord.  I begged for my son to get better.  I asked the Lord to please not take him.  I cried out to Him for strength and courage to face the hours and days ahead. 

I honestly cannot imagine losing one of my children.  It's one of those things that is unimaginable.  My grandmother lost her son when he was just 19 years old and to see what her and my grandfather have gone through is just unthinkable.  I think as a parent, that is one of those things that is your worst nightmare.  But I know God can help us through anything.  We are told he does not give us more than we can bear.  He has a plan for each of us.

I laid in the hospital bed that night.  Jack looked at me and had tears in his eyes.  He said, "Mama, am I going to Heaven?"  I just looked at him and said, "No baby, not if Mama can help it." Then he said, "If I do go, will you go with me?"  I honestly could of crawled into a ball and started crying and screaming.  But I just looked at him and said, "Your going to be just fine, we are at a great place with great doctors, and Daddy and I are not going anywhere."

There are things in life that we have no control over.  Every single day is precious and is a gift.  Jackson is fine.  He ended up having viral meningitis. I can honestly say that was some of the scariest and most frightening days I have experienced in this life thus far.
I look at life differently now. 


I now pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of my son and the fact that I get to be his Mama!!



These are some of my favorite pics of my beautiful boy:



 This was when he was 6 months old!




He has always been the happiest boy, always smiling!!





His first ever trophy!!!





 He was soooo proud when Benjamin was born!!





His favorite cousin!!






His grandmother's graduation!!



He loves to play ball!!




He said, "Just like swamp people, Mama."



This is one of those rare bonding times!!!


This would be more accurate...lol



This was after a hot day of plantation touring!




My beautiful boy!!!







My all time favorite pic of my boys!!!




I thank God everyday for the many blessings in my life:  especially my three amazing children!!!



And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

Isaiah 12:4-5























































Sunday, September 2, 2012

Finally!!!

We have had so much going on with school, football, baseball, palate surgery, and recovery that I have not had a minute to post. I am going to keep posting because it can be my way of scrap booking our daily journeys!!! So many have asked me to keep updating so y'all can keep up with this wild clan!! We are doing really well!! But just too busy!! Olivia had her palate repair and I will do a post on just that!!

These pics are from when Mama and I took the kiddos to Howard's knob in Boone. The boys loved seeing Appalachian State from there. I took them to all my favorite places from my ole college days!! We even went to the candy store.. Definitely heaven for the boys!!!


School has started and life is a little on the crazy side. Jackson is enjoying every second of football (that he has every day...lol). He is fighting a strange virus and I even had to take him to emergency room. He is okay just has to rest and ride it out. Ben is enjoying preschool and coach pitch baseball. He won't let me call it t- ball but makes me call it baseball..cause he is a big boy now!! Olivia will start preschool on Tuesday. I am really nervous about it but she will be going to a great place. She had her palate surgery which I will post about next. She is on soft foods and has gotten rid of the no no's...she is such a blessing!!


I am one lucky gal!!!




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!!!