Weekend - April 19-20, 2013

AMAZING!  That is my one word description of this past weekend.  It is always good to see family, but to enjoy a couple of days away from our busy schedules was truly wonderful.  Friday afternoon our family headed to Montgomery for the night, but not before we stopped for Austin Kieff to tell Silas goodbye.  This was Silas' first overnight trip away from home.  The kiddos were so excited to arrive in Montgomery.  The first question out of the mouths was "where are Jacob and Lily?"  And just who did we see waving from the window of their hotel room?  None other than Jacob and Lily.  David was the first to spot them, but once the rest of us did it was very hard to keep the kids from rushing across the street! 

We checked in and settled in our room.  We were lucky enough to have a fabulous view of the river front. 

The kids could not wait to see their cousins and Uncle Grady and Aunt Mary Margaret.  We all met up and went to pick up our registration packets from the train shed.  The kids were full of excitement.  They did not want to part ways for a minute.  In fact, I had two very upset little ones when we decided to grab a snack before the Biscuits' game.  On top of not being very happy with her parents, poor Caroline started feeling poorly.  She did color a little bit at Wintzell's but did not touch her food.  Austin Kieff on the other hand at every bit of his grilled cheese.  David and I split a fried shrimp dinner and a bowl of gumbo (far too spicy for me).  It was all delicious!!

The kids could not wait to go to the stadium.  As we approached the crosswalk, I happened to notice Mrs. Martha Roby there with her son.  No matter what a current official's political affiliation is, I think it is important to respect the position and to appreciate the sacrifice they and their families make.  Now, I happen to really like Martha Roby.  I have met her several times and have been privileged to be a part of a couple of sit downs with her.  While she did not remember my name, she did remember the location and circumstances we had met in the past.  That is amazing.  

This sweet boy posed for a picture with me!

Caroline was not feeling great and slept through most of the first inning

Dancing trying to get on the jumbotron

It did not take too long for Caroline to come alive!  She and Lily bundled up under the

blanket...it was FREEZING!

We left during the 4th inning because of how cold it was.  No trip to a Biscuits game is complete without going to Dreamland!  We have a favorite little waitress there and we try to always sit in her section.  We thought we might have missed the firework show.  This did not bother Austin Kieff because the noise level still bothers him.  However, after we made it back to our hotel room, I opened up the curtains.  It was not very long before we experienced the fireworks from the warm comfort of our room!

Morning came a little earlier than I would have liked, ha!  Race Day!  I was excited about all the day would hold.  The starting line is shown below

The fountain is one of my favorite parts!

We were all ready to run!

Our before pic:

After:

The pink "pig" was Caroline's favorite after-race perk.  She LOVED looking at her.  It took some convincing to get her to believe it was a pink cow.  Cows are not supposed to be pink!

The rest of these are some not so good i-Phone photos, but they are all I have to document, so they are being used!

Caroline was so excited to finish her race!

The awesome cousins.  They all did GREAT!  Austin Kieff even came in 2nd

in his division:

I am so glad Caroline is getting over her mascot/dressed up in a costume fear!

Beautiful Survivors

For the sake of actually posting, I will update on the remainder of our weekend later!  Saturday was an awesome day.  When we arrived back in Jack, Nanny and Aunt Sue were there!  The kids were on an excitement overload for sure.  More about this amazing weekend to come...and also several other updates...

Broken

Yesterday was a day of if it could go wrong it did.  Not anything major, just a lot of little things that made for less tolerance with each additional event that unfolded. 

My Nanny is coming for a visit.  We are so excited that my Aunt Sue is bringing her up to stay for the weekend.  We will get to spend Saturday afternoon/evening with them and Sunday until they head back to Pensacola.  This will be a weekend of fun memories for sure (more to come on this). 

While Mom and I were doing a little cleaning at Nanny's my sweet Caroline was playing with a doll.  This wasn't just any doll, it was a very special doll.  My mom gave it to me for Christmas when we lived in Mobile.  She is beautiful and wears a little heirloom dress and bonnet.  She is also porcelain.  She was not a doll I ever played with very much, just looked at or pushed in my stroller.  My Nanny has kept her safe all these years for me. 

Caroline has been allowed to hold her and push her around in my old doll stroller.  She has always been so careful with her until last night.  While scrubbing the tub, I heard something smash.  It is an easily identifiable sound.  I knew exactly what had happened, but hoped I was wrong.  Caroline was not holding my doll sitting down.  She was not pushing her in the stroller.  She was bouncing around the kitchen like a hyena and smash.  The fragile porcelain foot of my doll lay broken on the floor.  Poor Austin Kieff was more upset than Caroline because he understands sentimental value.  He has the sweetest heart.

I remember another little girl who smashed something once.  I was about six years old.  We lived in a beautiful red house on Old Shell Road in Mobile.  My favorite home we lived in growing up.  It had a HUGE backyard, the layout of the house was awesome and the bathroom had ceramic tile.  My sweet mom just happened to have a brand new bottle of Oscar de la Renta Perfume on the counter.  She did not mind me wearing a little, but I was not supposed to get it myself.  Oh, the temptation was just too strong.  I could not resist.  Of course in trying to spray the perfume which was a little difficult for my small hands and the large bottle, it slipped from my grasp and hit the floor in an explosion of glass and perfume.  On the bright side, the bathroom smelled wonderful.  I know my mom was upset, but she made sure I was alright and did not have broken glass on/in me.  I keep a bottle of Oscar de la Renta perfume on my bathroom counter.  I love the way it smells, not so much on me, but in the air.  I spray it periodically just to get the scent.

Material things of this world can be broken and lost. Disappointment may follow, but am I as impacted by the broken world we live in?  Do I do my best to make an impact on this broken world?  The broken souls that I encounter each and every day?  I pray God will break my heart for the broken...and am reminded of the lyric, "Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours."  Complete lyrics below...

Lyrics to Jesus, Friend Of Sinners (Casting Crowns) :

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet
Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

Saturday = Fun Family Day

Saturday, April 13, 2013, was a very BUSY, yet VERY FUN day for the Jordans!  Caroline had her second T-Ball game at 10:00 Saturday morning.  David and I were responsible for concessions that morning for the 9:00.  Thankfully we live very close or we would have been very late, ha!  Caroline helped in the concession stand.  She was excellent at retrieving sodas from the cooler and giving them to our customers.  She even tried to help make decisions for a few!  Caroline was the sweetest little helper I could ask for.  While not the cutest picture, this is her giving me two thumbs up after retrieving several drinks from the cooler.  She said "see, I got this."  There is so much spunk in such a tiny package!

Caroline had fun during her game and was super excited (so excited she had to leave the playing field to come and tell me) that her friend Ben was playing on the Red team.

Just hanging out waiting to bat.  Caroline did not want to wear her hat Saturday

because it "smushed" her red ribbon!

After the T-Ball game we had to hurry over to the Troop 99 Hut in Enterprise for the Pinewood Derby.  This was a bit funny.  The Hut is located on S. Main Street, so finding it should have been fairly easy, right?  Not at all!  The GPS on my phone was of no use.  David did find the Hut after about 10 minutes of driving up and down Main Street. 

Here is our Tiger Cub waiting to go in and register.

Registering to compete.

We were so proud of Austin Kieff on Saturday.  He was asked to call the colors,

a task that he has never participated in before.  He did a GREAT job for his first time.

Austin Kieff placed second in the Tiger Cub competition.  The little boy who won his

division was the overall champion as well.  He placed 4th overall, not too shabby for his first year!

After the Pinewood Derby, David had to go to work and the kids and I went to Grandmomma and Papa's for a visit.  Papa had a surprise for the kiddos (well not really "for" the kiddos, but they will enjoy them!).  We went outside before checking on the surprise.  Caroline had to ride the tractor.  Papa said this was a "big violation" and she asked him not to "put the beat down on her."

Silas joined us for the visit.  We are taking a Gator ride to see

the surprise.  Grandmomma was driving not me, ha!

Baby Chicks!  The kids have been wanting Papa's eggs to

hatch since the first gathering.  Papa's eggs don't last long

enough to hatch!

I love Spring!

Our sweet boy is growing!

Papa's hay fields are full of wildflowers.  I love the visual, but not

the effects on my allergies!!

Austin Kieff helped Papa clean up his tools. 

She was not supposed to be in the dirt...Guilty!

David rejoined us and we spent some time cleaning up the livingroom.  It is amazing how many toys can accumulate if not put away nightly!!  It was definitley a FUN, if BUSY Saturday.

More than a dress...

On Good Friday, I received a very special package in the mail from my Aunt Bob.  Enclosed were items that I thought were long gone...treasures from my childhood.  The package contained some very special items including two dresses.  One of the dresses my mom had made for photogenic pictures when I was 5.  The pictures still hang on her wall.  The other dress was made by my Aunt and all the french hand embroidery was the product of her loving hands.  It was so special for me to let Caroline wear this dress to church last week.  Unfortunately, there was a small accident handling the dress when removing Caroline from her carseat and the delicate inset was detached (hoping this is repairable).  Here is Caroline sporting my dress:

She will not wear the other dress until I am ready to have her picture made.  I am not risking any more accidents!

Picture Day!

As a little girl, I LOVED picture day!  It was a day where my Mom took extra time to make sure I looked extra special.  As the years passed by, I began planning my outfits and fixing my on hair, but Mom always gave her approval.  One of my favorite pictures is from second grade at Leinkaulf Elementary in Mobile, Alabama. I wore a beautiful ivory dress and my Mom rolled my hair on pink sponge curlers the night before.  My Nanny gave me one of these pictures several years back (ours were all lost in the flood) and I hope to have Caroline a dress like this one day!

Wednesday was Austin Kieff's Picture Day.  He was very selective with respect to what he DID NOT want to wear, ha!  We did settle on khaki pants, his yellow button-up shirt (with the sleeves rolled up and ironed down) and Sperry's:



Today is Caroline's Picture Day.  She is not as easy to please, but finally chose a dress her cousin Lily gave her.  After searching for 15 minutes for a hair bow that did not make it back to the bow holder, we found it and she was ready to go:

A few cute/not so cute pics from this morning:

Prissy

Really Mom???

I am done smiling

Have you taken enough, yet?

 

Caroline and Her Ears

Miss Caroline’s ears continue to be a source of discomfort to our little princess. This is even after the events I am writing about now. We are not sure what will be the ultimate source of relief for her…hopefully she will just outgrow the issues altogether!

Caroline had her second set of tubes in August 2011. She began having problems with them almost immediately. She has gone through numerous rounds of Ciprodex drops, a ruptured eardrum, abscesses and more pain than I care to admit. Poor little thing has had constant trouble. She was at the Doctor for her ears in December, February, April, May, July, August and September. At the September visit, Dr. McRae said he thought our best course of action was surgery.

So the following Tuesday Caroline and I left bright and early from Grandmomma and Papa’s house to go get her ear fixed. Backing up a bit, she sure did enjoy her Pre-Op appointment. There are some super nice ladies at Troy Regional. Caroline was actually a little excited. Poor baby was tired of her ear hurting all the time and so was this Momma! We “checked in” and were shown our lovely room. Caroline was given a puppy, a Looney Tunes gown, a warm (and I mean really warm, like fresh out of the dryer) blanket and access to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She was beginning to enjoy herself just a bit! From the race car (I mean hospital bed) ride down to the first floor, the sweet nurse who brought her a hat and “dr.’s mask,” to the folks in recover, we could not have asked for better service. Her nurse even told me to get in Caroline’s bed so that I could hold her while she pushed us to the room.

Sometimes the little things make all the difference. We even saw Nurse Anna. She is such a sweet and special lady!! Caroline was on the 2nd floor. A little over six years ago the 2nd floor was Labor and Delivery. Nurse Anna was my nurse when I was checked into the hospital for a non-stress test and ended up with a baby boy! I was scared and didn’t really understand all that was going on. She is the one who told me I might better call my husband because we were probably going to have a baby. She was calm and kind when I was scared and very nervous. Every time I see her, my heart fills with gratitude and precious memories come to mind.

Dr. McRae said scar tissue had formed to the eardrum which was part of what was causing Caroline’s pain. The current abscess was around the tube and he cleaned that out and removed the tube. We are hoping Caroline is at the end of her journey with ear troubles…unfortunately, she continues to cry with her right ear and complain that it hurts. We will see what Dr. McRae says at her followup...

In the meantime, here are some super adorable pictures (biased, I know):

Hold me 

In her gown and with her bracelets like Daddy's

Warm blankets

Her puppy is wrapped up in her gown

Fred

Her Race Car

She won the race!

Check her out...she is ready now!

Let's make sure we get the right right ear

Being silly picking out prize...before she got sick all over the place

Primping later that evening with some lip gloss the

sweet lady at the Este Lauder counter sent her