Perspective and Thankfulness

How do I feel about this upcoming Holiday season?? BLESSED!!!!! So very blessed.

Perspective -------
A few weeks ago, my entire family walked (the younger, more in shape crowd, Ran) in the Buddy's Race Against Cancer, a 3.2 mile trek. We have done this for many years now, some missing a year here and there. This year we all walked....... even Hunter. Well, Hunter was in the carrier on the front of me. It was soooooo stinkin cold, but we weren't the only ones cold. As the race began, it felt good, until the first little hill. But it still felt good.............. it felt good to know that my family is generally in good health, that we are free of cancer, and not facing that daily battle. Kathy helped me see that as I wanted to complain about walking. She pointed out that there were people facing uphill battles every second of every day. That is when I found the Perspective I needed. The rest of the race was good. I was completely tired from walking with an 11 pound kid on the front of me, but it was good. I am healthy and cancer free. So it was good. And bonus, I wasn't sore at all from the walk, just tired.

Thankfulness ----
For the new and old blessings in my life...... especially the 11 pound, eating, sleeping, pooping machine sitting in my lap right now chewing on his fist!! I could not be happier or more thankful to have him in my life. What an unexpected Blessing he is!!!! I cannot imagine my life without him. And he still reminds me at various hours of the night how much of a blessing he is by smiling and cooing at me.

For Jerry (and the girls)....... Jerry and I are closer than ever and I am embracing and loving every minute of our times spent together. It doesn't matter what we do, we have fun. Our real journey together began in September, our journey as parents to Hunter. As Jerry delivered Hunter and placed him in my arms, an umbreakable bond was formed.
I am enjoying the special times with the girls as well. They make me smile and cry all in one sentence. They are awesome Big Sisters to Hunter. I look forward to our future together.

For my family..... Lordy be, where would I be without my parents and sisters?????? They are such an amazing source of support, laughter, and tears. I was able to share Hunter's birth with them this year and I am thankful for that. It was probably the best moment of this year!!! (At least I think so anyway) My family has seen hard, crazy times, and pulled through. There is no doubt we have challenges ahead of us, but I know we will make it through, together. We always do.

For my friends ..... Everyone who reads this and even those who don't -- I am thankful for you. I am thankful for friendships that went astray and somehow found their way back to me...... you know who you are...... and for new friendships and old ones.

Right now, I feel like I have it all. Those of you that know my story, know that I have come a long way. I feel that way too. As much as that time sucked, I would do it again to find the happiness and joy and contentment I feel with my life today. Yeah, times can get tough, money scarce, tempers flare, and crankiness abounds........but at the end of the day I have more than I deserve to be Thankful for.............

Thank you to all of you who bring that joy to my life.

Chloe, Hunter, and Olivia one random morning.......

Handsome Boy, Tired Mommy

Hunter and I have survived yet another week. We are slowly but surely getting into a routine. If he catnaps at the sitters house, then we are usually in for a pretty good evening. We get home from afterschool..........fyi -- Hunter and I answer the phones in the office 3 afternoons a week for our afterschool program. Hunter had to find a way to buy his diapers and formula : )
I give him a bath, play/talk to him, watch t.v. and he finishes up with a bottle with some rice cereal in it. If I am lucky, he will sleep for about 4 hours! I never thought I would be that excited to get such a small amount of sleep. We get up about 2 times during the night, he eats, and goes right back to sleep. He decides to wake me up for the day about 5:00.................. he eats then plays on his gym mat.

He loves this thing. He is such a "talker" now, cooing and smiling ALL the time. It makes me smile!! He is changing sooooo much. It seems like he changes every day. I know they grow right before your eyes.

This past weekend, Hunter and I had some visitors. Our childhood friend, Heather, came to visit Anne and she needed to meet Hunter. And of course, Auntie Anne had to get her "num-nums".

The goofy family and Heather. Hunter appears to be distracted by what I believe is the ceiling fan. And no, it wasn't even on. Strange boy I have.

On Sunday, Hunter and I went to church with Yvette (aka Aunt Bette and Uncle Doug) and her family. We had a nice service and Hunter was a good little baby. The preacher came up afterwards and told me how impressed he was with Hunter. We also had a little boy, about 8 years old, come up and tell me how beautiful Hunter was............ I wanted to take that little boy home with me too.
My man looked so handsome, I had to take some pictures. I just melt each time I look at the pictures.




Jerry has been gone for the last 2 weeks on a hunting trip. I can't wait for him to see Hunter talk to him. I am ready for Jerry to come home. He should be home either Saturday night or Sunday morning. Hunter and I are going to get Chloe and Olivia after school today for the weekend. I know they are excited to see their "baby brudda".

I think that is all for now. Have a great weekend...........................

Love, hugs, and snuggles...................... Carol and Hunter

Halloweening

My little Pumpkin : )

Hunter and I survived my first week back to work. He stayed with the babysitter on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, I think he slept all day on Thursday, meaning he didn't sleep much for me that night. I ended up with about 4 - 45 minute naps!! Needless to say, I was extremely exhausted on Friday. I still had to deal with pre-teens all day and go trick or treating that evening. My students were good. I had warned them at the beginning of class that I lacking sleep and to be on their best behavior.
That afternoon, Sandra ended up going and getting Hunter for me and bringing him to school early so he could spend the afternoon with me. That was fun.
Mrs. Sandra holding Hunter

After school, we ran by the house and grabbed the pumpkin to take to Jerry's house. We got to Jerry's and got the girls ready for the evening, then left to go by Mamaw and Papaw Carver's house (Hunter's Great Grandparents). Hunter hadn't met them, so they were excited to meet "Jerry Jr." as they called him. Here is Mamaw Carver..........

After visiting there, we were headed to Oak Ridge to trick or treat, roast weenies, and marsh mallows at the Freeman house. We all had a good time. Hunter was still decked out in his pumpkin gear, although you couldn't see it because he was in the carrier on the front of me. When it was time to go home, I was ready to leave!! I was about to fall out. I had no problems falling asleep and apparently snored very well too. Here are some pictures of the evening:

Me holding Hunter in the carrier.............

Olivia and Aekyrah (I probably spelled her name wrong.)

My little family...............................

Take care and thanks for checking in.