Just another day in my life:)

Well McKinley got hurt on our neighbors trampoline yesterday (for all of you trampoline haters, please refrain from leaving me comments as its been a long day here :-). Today her ankle was swollen and turning purple so I took her to the Dr. and she has a bad sprain. She is in a brace & crutches until Sunday & if she cant put weight on it by then, she will have to go to the Ortho Dr. next week.

She is NOT feeling the crutches!

So I took Madison to school at 1 as soon as she saw her teacher she ran to her & gave her a big hug and was fine. So then I left there sat at Urgent care till 2:40 and then had to pick Morgan up at 3 and then Madison at 4 (David Picked up Madison up for me today, since I had to get McKinley home & situated). He said that when the teacher took them to the playground and went back in to clean up that Madison started getting upset so the teacher took Madison back to the class with her while she cleaned up. She said that she was going to try and slowly transition Madison to going outside with the other teacher a little at a time and then hopefully, as Madison begins to understand what's going on, she will be ok.

Notice she wouldn't put down her cheese she was eating to take the picture.HA! Don't mess with that girl & her food:)



Praying day 4 of school goes well!


Melissa

Day 2 of VPK..we had a little "hiccup"

Yesterday when I went to pick up Madison, Her teacher "Mrs. Jenny" was leaving and she stopped & told me Madison had a great day & was a really quick learner. She said she was out on the playground. So as I went out to get her I saw her sitting by another teacher, not playing ,visibly upset.I went out & she was hysterically crying... Evidently her teacher leaves everyday at 4 & she takes the class to another room & that teacher takes them to the play ground to wait on their parents to come...Well Madison wasn't sure what was happening & all she knew was that her teacher left her! I have mentioned before that routine is a VERY big thing for her. Also we explain everything we are going to do for the day to her each morning and that also helps her to feel safe.

The few times in China when our translator wasn't with us & we went out without telling her what was happening she got very upset. She understands a lot of what we are saying but there are still a lot of things she doesn't get. In fact the teacher she was with yesterday when I got there asked me if she understood any English:) So Madison probably didn't understand what she was telling her. I explained to her that Mommy will always come back to get her , even if her teacher has to leave its OK because I will always come back. She said " no school stay home" several times last night:(

We are getting ready to go back to school now & I am praying that she doesn't get upset. So if you are reading this at 1pm say a little prayer for my firecaracker!



Blessings-
Melissa

VPK

Well Madison started VPK yesterday. To say that she was excited was a huge UNDERstatement. She does from 1-4 each day but she was dressed & ready with her back pak on by 10:30 and talked about going to school all morning long!

There are only 4 kids in her class, this is why I chose the afternoon class instead of the morning. I knew that she would thrive more with more one on one attention from the teacher. She had a great first day & didn't even cry when I left.

I let McKinley video her when we got in the car so I think I will lt you hear in Madison's own words what all she did at school today!!!

Did you get all that??? WEll if all you got was apple juice dont feel bad because that's all David and I understood as well.  But, let me just say she did a lot of things during her 3 hours of school yesterday and  obviously had a great day which is a huge milestone for all of us. We will keep you posted as to how things progress and we'd certainly appreciate your prayers as Madison adjusts to school.

Blessings and have a wonderful day.

Melissa

40!

Today is my husband, David's 40th birthday! I can hardly believe he is the big 40, which means that I am not to far behind...But let's be clear I still have 3 more years:


 When I think of all the things God could have allowed for me, the fact that He chose me to be a pastor's wife, David's wife, well I am both humbled & amazed that I have that privilege. David you are an AMAZING husband, Father & man of God! You have always shown wisdom beyond your age .
I have seen you handle some very difficult situations with such grace. You make me proud!

You have taught all 3 of our girls how to fish!

You have always handled the "shots" for our girls..while I stand in the corner with my back turned:)

Love that face:)

All my family loves you!

And for good measure..I must put a photo of you in middle school:) I took a picture of this picture that was on his Grandparents wall ( notice I didn't even bother to move the plant that was in front. HA!)

Now if the Tide can pull out a win tonight I think that would be the best birthday present ever. Well except actually getting to be at the game.. I tried but it just wasn't in the budget:) 

Babe, I love you and I can't wait till the next 40 years with you!

Melissa

CHRISTMAS (round 4)

I promise this is the LAST of my Christmas posts...Christmas was never ending this year and I must say, I am glad that it is finally over! Madison thinks that she is supposed to get a present everywhere she goes now:)

We went to David's grandparents on Thursday and had Christmas with them. It was really great getting to stay a while at their house and visit.

Today we had Christmas with David's parents. The girls love to play board games at their house and they got them a few new ones this year.

Tomorrow is just a "chill" day before we head back to the sunshine state & I do mean chill... the highs are in the 40"s here this week. Even though it's cold David is going to get a few hours of fishing in at his favorite little lake here in Alabama. It's loaded with fish and despite the cold weather he is sure to catch what will be our dinner...fried bass!

We have had a great week visiting with family but its back to reality soon as the return of school is right around the corner. Please pray for a safe drive home as we will hit the road early Sunday morning for the 8-10 hour drive back to Florida. Thanks!

Blessings-
Melissa

Our Day in pictures

Madison & Alayna

Ali, Chandler & Morgan

CAson only wants Keke..aka McKinley

Hanging with her Pawpaw(giving the "thumbs up" again)

Madison & Chase, my nephew

Madison with David's Grandmother

We have played lots of games this week

$$$

When I was in high school my sister & I babysat for a family that lived down the street. When Alayna

turned 3 they moved to Tennessee and we were devastated:) My whole family had gotten really attached to her. So from that summer on for the next few summers we would meet them halfway & get Alayna and bring her back to stay a week with us. Well that first picture is of Alayna today....She still comes to stay with our family, she is now a junior at the University of Tennessee! Boy do I feel OLD! I was so glad that she could come stay a few days while we were here & meet Madison.

Christmas round 3 on Friday!

CHRISTMAS (ROUND TWO!)

We had Christmas with my family today.  While everything went well I am afraid Madison is getting to used to getting gifts all the time. She is going to be in for a rude awakening next week when we get home and the present giving and getting comes to a halt:) But for now, we still have David's side of the family to do Christmas with on Wednesday and Thursday so it's not quite over.

Madison had a rough night last night, she woke up crying 5 times:( I think it is just from being off
of her routine and not sleeping in her own house. Praying we have a better night.

This is my nephew Cason doesn't he look like Dennis the menace?

Madison with her great-grandmother (this is my mom's mom).

My poor Daddy has been on this cast for 3 weeks now & has a few weeks still to go. At least he gave us a "thumbs up" on the gifts we got him.


Christmas round 3....coming soon!