Please Pray

Tonight I sincerely ask for your prayers for friends of our family, Michael and Crystal Clark. Many of us have followed their adoption journey that began a few months ago with the adoption of their precious little girl, Resiana. The birth-mother was pregnant at the time, and the plan was for them to adopt this baby as well. This week, the little boy was born, welcomed and named by Slick and Crystal, and plans were being made to come home. Today they learned that the birth-mother had changed her mind. They were in Hawaii for the birth and are now on their way home empty handed. Please pray for their comfort and for the safety and protection for this little boy they already loved as part of their family. However hard to understand, we must trust that God's plans are bigger than ours. Please just pray for their broken hearts and empty arms......

Our Adoption Journey

"I Pay Wit Kidz"

In the words of Ellie Kate, "I pay wit kidz!" And so we started Mother's Day Out last week! I wanted her to go - Abby went at her age, but WOW, when they called and said they had an opening, it was a major shocker!! I knew she needed to, but she's the BABY!!

Well, all fear I had was laid to rest quickly by the strong willed one! That morning as we were pulling through the car line to drop Abby off, EK started trying to unbuckle saying, "Bye Mommy. I go skool wit Abby. See slide! Pay wit kids!!" Let's just say she was NOT happy when the safety patrol shut the door and Abby walked away and she was left in the car!! An hour later, she walked herself (did not want to be carried) into the church, straight to her room and started playing! It's a class of 11 BOYS and her - hehe! The teachers seemed hesitant, but I assured them she would take care of herself! She never even blinked when I bent down to kiss her bye, just said again, "Bye Mommy! I pay wit kidz!!" When I got there to pick her up, there was no running reunion. I'm not even sure she was happy to see me! She just looked up and said, "Oh- Hey Mommy!"

I'm thankful. She is her own little person who can light up your life one second and bring on the thunder the next!! I'm just waiting on the call that EK is face first in the floor pitching a fit! Maybe she only does those for Mommy :)

Here's my big girl - ready to go :)

Lots of new things happening here!!!

Swim for Melissa 2010

We did it!!! Our first Swim for Melissa and we had a blast!! Abby raised $500.00!!!! This year she was an individual swimmer, but next year we want a BIG team! Come on friends and Fam - get ready!!

Here are some pictures from the morning. It was SO good to finally get to hug Amy! It seems like we've been through so much for so long, but we never actually knew each other!! She and Mom had a moment too - Mimi is a Amy fan :) Just a sweet, sweet day :) Amy even came out just to cheer on Abby - too precious! We look forward to this being an annual family tradition!

Why we do what we do.......

TEAR JERKER ALERT!!!

I just watched this, and quite simply, this is why we do what we do! I've made it no secret that Amy George has "virtually" supported our family through our walk of losing Olivia like many could not - she's been there. Yes, the circumstances are different, but the hurt, the loss, and more importantly, the FAITH that God has everything in control is the same. Oddly enough, Amy and I have only met in Publix, once! Hopefully I will get a chance to hug her and thank her for what she does for millions of babies tomorrow as Abby participates in her first Swim for Melissa.

This was aired last night on Channel 19.....enjoy! And contributions are still welcome if you'd like to support Abby for tomorrow. Scroll down to the post below for the link - and thanks to those who have already contributed!!

http://www.whnt.com/videobeta/5d7c389d-94be-406e-a6f9-c85a3d3a86ba/News/Ann-Catherine-Gets-Ready-to-Swim-for-Melissa

Abby Good - Mommy NOT!

WOW! What a great start to the school year for Abby and Stewart. Me - NOT SO MUCH! I have no idea where this came from, but I fell apart Monday!! This shouldn't happen to me! I am THE ONE who had the responsibility of kindly escorting crazy, crying Kindergarten mothers out of the building every year! I'm THE ONE who told mothers over and over, "They'll be just fine - it's where they need to be, etc."

Well last year was a breeze - Abby was and IS a school pro! She marches right in, hugs about 10 different adult's necks (because she seemingly knows everyone and everyone knows her!) and glides right into her new routine just barely remembering to look back and wave bye! That is SUCH a blessing! I think last year I was so overwhelmed with my own job (we started the same day Abby did), and I literally had time to just drop her off and RUN! That afternoon when the bus forgot to drop her off and she took a joy ride, I wasn't worried because I was responsible for 300 other kids getting where they needed to go and had 25 other mothers spazzing. I knew she'd get home - eventually!

Enter this year! We breezed in like normal, but somehow the further down the hall I got, the more of a panic attack I had! She marched right in, put her stuff away and sat down for morning work while I just stood speechless!! She gave me a hug, I got my pictures, and I went into the hall - but I couldn't leave!! So I went over to the K hall to check on a friend (who was having a great time - go Mason!!) and then went BACK to peek at Abby! I was so bad all morning that I cried off and on and even went back to eat lunch with her. Stewart's response, "You went back? On the first day??" Then I even left work early to meet the bus even though her grandmother AND great grandmother were there to do that! Part of it was probably a little out of pocket "I should be starting school too" syndrome. Don't get me wrong, I do not doubt the change I made, but after you've had the same schedule for 12 years change is a little strange sometimes!

Oh well - chalk it up to Mommy Syndrome! All is well if we could just get a morning routine worked out.......ahhhh...you can't have it all!

So, here are the pictures. Notice there are none of me or Stew - Stew left at 6:00 that morning, and I was too panic stricken to even think of getting any with me! Maybe we'll recreate the day later!




School isn't all we've done this week! We had a homecoming singing Sunday and our good friend Cassie joined us. In case you don't know - CASSIE ROCKS!!!!! Drea - make sure you tell JD that. It will make him SO nervous :)

We also had friends over Saturday night for a little Steak Out and playing Rock Band. Check out what the kids rigged up while we were waiting on the food - can we say redneck Riviera?? They LOVED it!!

So, I'm getting my Strong Mommy face back on to finish the week, but I tell you I could cry right now if I let myself!!! Babies shouldn't grow up (unless of course they are in that lovely "I will scream for 2 hours until someone comes in here with a bottle and rocks me until I am unconscious stage like EK is treating us to right this very second!) Ahhhh......love my life :)

Fabulous Flippers!!

Hi friends!

We hope you are all having a wonderful summer! Our family is currently gearing up for the 5th annual Swim for Melissa. As you all know, this event benefits the Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund at Huntsville Hospital Foundation, which purchases life-saving equipment for the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. This cause was established by Amy and Chris George after the death of their daughter Melissa. Amy spends countless hours raising money to help other children and has been a tremendous source of strength for our family over the past few years. Ellie Kate spent a few days in the NICU after she was born, and we are so thankful for the care she received there! On Saturday, August 14, Abby will take part in a non-competitive swim at the Hampton Cove pool. She will try to swim as many laps as possible in a set amount of time and all of the money she raises will go towards the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for critically ill premature babies. Some of these babies are so small, they can fit in the palm of your hand!

Would you please consider supporting Abby as she swims in this year's event? To visit her page, click on this link:
http://foundation.hhsys.org/abbythorson . You can make a donation by clicking on the "Support Me" button. You can even leave comments on her page to cheer her on! Your donation will go to help fund critically needed equipment for the NICU.

Thanks again, and if you'd like to come see her swim, come out to the even on Saturday, August 14th. Email me for specific times :)