Florida living from the 'other side'.

Fort DeSoto State Park January 2011

 We made it back home safe and sound from our very snowy trip to Georgia. We had just about 24 hours to pack up and move to our new temporary home. We tied up some lose ends and it wasn't long before we were on the road. We were moved in, Uhaul returned and sitting at the nearest IHOP for dinner by 8pm that night 1/14/2011.We've been here on the west coast of Florida now for a month (is that all it's been???) and we are really enjoying it. We spent the better part of the last two weeks  sharing some crazy virus and we went home the weekend before so we could do the endocrinologist dance.

~ FORT DeSOTO STATE PARK~

~WEEDON ISLAND PRESERVE~

This is our first visit to Weedon Island Preserve. It's a nice little park with a neat dock to fish from. Caitlan used her roller blades and Taylor rode her scooter while Tommy Bryce and I fished. The park closes at dark and of course we fished right up until the last minute and  it being a preservation area there are no street lights...not an easy task to get out of there with my aging eyes (wink, wink).

Bryce and 1 of the 3 flounder I caught.

Hanging out on the dock.

~CARILLON PARK~

 Last weekend we spent some time at Carillon Park. It was very cold to this Florida girl so we didn't last very long but it sure was pretty. There are winding board walks that go over a few big lakes.

We saw some really cool sculptures at Carillon park. This was a really neat one it's of a cowboy that Caitlan and I thought looked a lot like Teddy Roosevelt (Night at the Museum). He was all decked out in chaps looking very old west like yet he was sitting in front of a laptop. We thought he needed some tunes, so we shared Bryce's iPod with him.

 ~HELEN'S HOUSE~

This is a pic of two of the nurses I work with here. Even though I was completely cheering for the Steelers (like I know anything about either team), I thought they were just the cutest pair so I had to share this...a little glimpse into my world here at "Helen's House".

SNOWED IN

After finding myself unemployed for more than a full week, we decided to take an impromptu trip to see our friends in NW Georgia for what was supposed to be the weekend. I thought it would be neat if we saw some snow before we left on Monday morning. Looking at the weather channel, we soon realized there was a "winter storm" headed right toward us. We almost left Sunday morning, in fear that we would get stuck in Georgia. We knew this was a big storm and could leave some significant snow on the ground (at least compared to what this area is used to). This would not only make for some great fun making memories with our kids, but it would also make driving dangerous. Eventually after having a family meeting, we decided not to run.  This was our first decision to live intentionally, even in the midst of fear and the unknown, in 2011.

Our kids had never seen snow and I had never seen snow fall. It was beautiful!! We all sat around bundled up, waiting for the snow to fall. The forecast said it would be 9pm but it was more like 10:30pm. It was amazing. I marveled at my children as they were busy taking it all in. They were running around and playing in it; catching it on their faces and in their mouths. We wrote our names in the snow, made snow angels and used a snow board to slide down a hill into the road and down the street. The snow was so fine and powdery. It was our own little winter wonderland. This was Sunday night.

Monday & Tuesday, we spent most of the day getting dressed and undressed to go out and play in the snow. We walked through our friend's neighborhood to the main road to check it out, but other than that never actually left the house. The fireplace burned day and night and the kids entertained themselves with the boogie boards and four-wheelers.

 

 
So, here we are in the early morning hours of WEDNESDAY and guess what...we are still SNOWED IN. We are planning to leaving in the morning to head home, but we had the time of our lifes these past 5 days with our kids and our extended family, the Kimbroughs. Since we didn't get to spend our annual couple of days together in December (2010) because we were in the hospital, we are calling this our 2010 visit. We've done a lot of nothing and it was great!. We sat around the house, made meals together, had conversations and lots of laughs. Our kids played in the snow and in the house non-stop. With 12 people, there was always something going on.

This was one of the most memorable family vacations we've taken. I'm thankful God gave me this time with my family and friends. He made me slow down and just be. That's something I hadn't been doing, so I grateful to have been snowed in. 

 **UPDATE - We made it home safe and sound Wednesday night.

Our life...forever changed.



Taylor and her friend Jenna, on our way to the movies.



December 21st has always had special meaning, in 1984 my little brother was born and in 2000 our first daughter was born. This year on Decemeber 21st our life again was changed forever. This is the day that our youngest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.



Caitlan & her friend Abigail, at the theatre.



We woke up early that day to take the girls to see the movie Tangled for Caitlan's birthday. Caitlan and Taylor both brought a friend. It was a special day, so I allowed each of the kids to get candy and a small drink of their choice, including soda. We all know I am the soda Nazi so I still find this ironic that I allowed this on the very same day all this came about. During the movie Taylor drank the equivalent of 48 ounces. She drank her own, asked for mine and then asked for her friend's. This was my first red flag of the day. We ended up running to the bathroom 2-3 times during the movie (not uncommon for Taylor). Then after the movie we walked to the restaurant. Taylor ran and played on the walk and had to used the bathroom, yet again, at the restaurant. As we were ordering lunch, she announced that she wasn't hungry and only wanted a drink. I soon learn she that she wasn't hungry because her stomach was hurting too much to think about eating. She ordered a 20 ounce Gatorade and drank the whole thing (except for the small amount she kindly shared with her friend). The wheels in my head were turning, as I sat waiting for the food I was thinking about all the little red flags I had noticed throughout the day. As our food arrived, I realize I too have lost my appetite. I grabbed my phone and google diabetes symptoms for the 200th time in her 7 short years. I knew we were teetering on the edge of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) and like a light switch I knew it was time to head to the doctor.



Our view from the window in Taylor's hospital room.
Can you see the helicopter on the roof? 



Taylor had made plans to go with her friend so first I went to the doctor's office without her. I think I secretly wanted them to tell me I was crazy. I asked to speak to her pediatrician, but she wouldn't see me without an appointment. I began to feel helpless, but the nurse in me afford me the courage to fight for my patient; my daughter..after all isn't that what we nurses do. I started to explain why I was there and at the same time began to feel as though I was over reacting. Like what I'm saying sounds so absurd. These people aren't going to believe me. They are only going to see this hysterical mother. I couldn't even get the words out. I found myself crying, and all I could say is "I don't know what to do". At this point I wanted to talk to the doctor. I didn't want the office manager to talk to me...I knew what I was talking about and I knew why I was there. I want to talk to someone whose degree says she knows more than me. The doctor still never came to the office where I was crying, but I was told that if I went to get Taylor they would fit her in to be tested that day. I left the office as quickly as I arrived.

When I returned to the doctor's office, we spent a few minutes in the waiting room. It was like I was looking at Taylor for the first time. Suddenly I was seeing her through nurses' eyes. My beautiful little girl with her pink flushed cheeks and her dark red lips was the poster child for dehydration. Her urine that I had to beg her to allow me to catch in a cup was as clear as tap water. God must have been holding me up at this point, because looking at that specimen cup as I placed it on the counter to be checked, I felt as though I could've past out right there. Sitting in the room, the medical assistant came in the do her vital signs and check her blood sugar. Attempting to hide the results of the blood sugar meter with her shoulder, I look over and notice that it says "HI". HI for that particular meter means >600mg/dl and normal is about 70-120. The rest is like a world wind...the next thing I know we are being handed a little pink post-it with direction to the only pediatric endocrinologist in the area (40 miles away). We were told not to go home but to drive straight to the doctor's office.



Just arrived to the hospital.



I did end up driving 3 miles to my house. There was no way I was doing this without my husband who was at home cooking Caitlan's favorite dinner for her birthday. I called my brother on my way home to have him pick up our older two. I walked in the house to tell Tommy. I must have scared the daylights out of him, but I wanted to say what I had to say before the kids followed me in the door. "The tests were positive. Taylor has Type 1 diabetes and we need to go to Melbourne right now. She's going to be admitted to (the hospital) for a few days and that's all I know for now." I didn't want to alarm the kids especially because I hadn't had a chance to talk to Taylor. My brother arrives, and he drives off in one direction with 2/3 of my babies, while we drive in the opposite direction to save the life of our littlest.



One of the therapy dogs brought in for the kids.
Taylor thought he was so neat.



When we arrived at the doctor's office, they smile and say they've been expecting us. We are taken back to an exam room after they weigh Taylor, recheck her urine and blood sugar and do her vital signs. In this room, we are given two bags of stuff. I think to myself "You're a nurse, you know what this stuff is," but I can't bare to look in the bags. The doctor comes in, says alot of things that I already knew, but could barely focus on his words. It wasn't until the end of the conversation that I realized that Tommy was hearing all of these things for the first time. I had taken for granted that I knew what was being said because I learned it in nursing school. I will never forget the look on his face when he realized this was life long. Soon the doctor was asking if we had any questions and then left the room. I looked at Taylor laying on the exam table playing a game on my phone. I rubbed her leg and said "do you have any questions?" Without missing a beat or even looking up at me she says "I just think I'm going to die". As I walked over to the door to call the doctor back in the room, he comes walking back in, and matter of factly looks my baby in the eye and tells her "you are not going to die". He then explains again to her that she will need to check her blood sugar and give herself the insulin that her body doesn't make...but that she "is not" going to die. When your child says those words and you can't fix the problem...that's a pivotal moment.



She called the IV a cast.



Sister signing her "cast".

We went to the hospital to be admitted. As soon as we walked in the door she was showered with gifts. There was an older man and woman volunteer at the admitting desk, who gave her a checkers game, a big pencil and a stuffed animal. When she arrived to her hospital room, there was a brown bag with a coloring book and crayons, a little game and a few more stuffed animals. The nurses brought her another board game for the pain of having the IV in and we woke up with a huge stuffed teddy bear at the foot of our bed with a note on it that said "Have a great day Taylor". The next few days we learned to take care of our daughter. As her blood sugars came down and she became more hydrated we began to see our vibrant, funny little girl emerge again.



She loved having us sign the "cast".



The symptoms had come on so slowly that it was hard to see how they had changed her into a different person, but now we were beginning to see a different yet familiar smiling face appear. Her energy increased, she wasn't waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and we had successfully demonstrated that we could manage her care at home. So, less than 48 hours after being admitted (on the very same day that we brought her older sister home from the hospital ten years earlier) we were discharged home to enjoy Christmas as a family.





This is Taylor on Christmas Eve, the day after she was discharged. She is so excited because we are on our way to Memaw and Papaw's house to open gifts...she doesn't realize that God gave us our Christmas present early by keeping her safe in the palm of his hand.

Today is two weeks since Taylor was diagnosed. We are beginning to find a new normal and learn what it means to have a child with diabetes. There is so much to learn and we are approaching this together as a family. It's hard to believe that one day I am going to turn all this responsibility over to her, but like anything else in this life we will do it one step at a time.  **I'm very proud to say that she has already checked her own blood sugar TWICE.

Run Your Own Race

A very wise woman once taught me about developing a motto...a phrase or sentence in which to live by. This motto could be for a season of life or longer depending on how it applies. I myself found it difficult to come up with a motto that applied to me and my life. Most of the time it was something like "Keep your head above water" "Just keep swimming..." or "This too shall pass...". I look back at these attempts at a motto and realize that I was just trying to survive.

 Even though there are times in our lives when we find ourselves in survival mode (new parents,the toddler years,family tragedy, just to name a few), there is more to life than just surviving. And so was born my motto....

Run Your Own Race

(Luke 10:38-42)

 

This passage attached to my motto is the story of Mary and Martha. You see, Martha had a rather important guest, Jesus. As she was busy preparing her house for Him (possibly cleaning, cooking etc.), her sister was at his feet, hanging on his every word. Martha gets upset and says to Jesus, something like this..."I'm am running around here like crazy and you are just going to let her sit there and not help me? Tell her to get up and help me take care of you." Jesus anwers "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."

Some see this well known Bible story as a way of describing how being hospitable is not always about being busy preparing for your guests. It isn't all about the acts that you do but sometimes it's more important to be like Mary. I whole heartedly agree with this, however I've gained a new perspective from this story. God made us all differently. We aren't all fulfilled by the same things. We aren't made to be good at the same things. This is where "run your own race" comes in. Run with your talents, run with your hearts desires, run with the flow and by all means run with God's gifts in your life. Some would be filled up by sitting at Jesus' feet (I know I would) and some are filled up by cooking him dinner. And sometimes the things that fill us up change throughout our lifetime. 

So, as I walk out this motto "run your own race" (no pun intended).....I am reminded that no one else is like me. I would love to be a mom like June Cleaver or Carol Brady, but I am not them, I am me. I am Tommy's only wife. Bryce, Caitlan and Taylor's only Mommy. I am priceless and cannot be replaced. There are important things in this life that I am here to do, and if I spend my days chasing what others think is important or trying to run someone elses race, because I think what they are doing is right, more important or more worthy than the things I have going on in my life. Then I will have wasted my life.


This coming year I encourage you to dig deep and find the courage to stay true to who you are. Keep your eyes on the road under your own feet and "run your own race".

Living Intentionally

So something's been missing in our lives and we weren't sure what it was. We've tried almost everything and it seemed that nothing fit the void that was there. I thought, maybe we needed to move and find it elsewhere. Well, we never ended up moving but we have decided to "live intentionally". We want to say the things that need to be said, do the things that need to be done, and enjoy the people that God placed in our lives as family and friends.

We've spent the days since the funeral totally engaged in our children and family. It has been so fulfilling. I am completely sure that God has had me on a journey while trying to move (over the past 4 years) to learn something. I was sure that the lesson involved actually moving, but I'm not so sure anymore. You see, our kids are with us so much of the time that we had become numb to the treasures in this life. Going through the day to day life had left us with a "same ol same ol" attitude and we had become stagnant. We have decided that we are not going to be that family. We want to enjoy our children, our family and our friends. We want our children to enjoy their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins; oh and us too (wink, wink). The kind of connection I'm speaking of is not by chance. It is not developed by having the "same ol same ol" attitude. It is, however, something that is completely intentional. You have to be connected, plugged in and yes vulnerable. I look forward to living intentionally.

Here we are again...





So, here we are again...this time last year we were having the same conversations. The same questions and concerns were on topic. We were in a position that we should be moving, but yet we just hadn't climbed in the car and gone. With a sweet job in place, a house already leased and my best friend waiting for my arrival. My husband and I sit wondering what continues to keep us here. Last year it was fear. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of making the wrong decisions. This year we were 100% confident. There was 'NO FEAR' involved or holding us back. We were ready, hands down. But how come it's moving day and we are still here in Florida? Why aren't we spending our first night in our "new" house, waiting to start a new job on Monday? The only answer I have is because we are supposed to be. Tuesday night, I sat on a pew holding on to my husband as we grieved the loss of our friend and we realized what our family is missing and it wasn't what we had thought (more about this later). So, do we stay or do we go? There are many many reasons to stay here and endless possibilities if we go, but one thing is here that I can't get back and that is time. Time with our parents, our brothers and sisters and their families, especially our nieces and nephews who are growing so fast.

Time is short, life is short and it looks like "Our Big Adventure" will be continuing here in Florida. With short trips to new places here and there. 

Life is short!

Last Thursday my husband lost his best friend. A friend that was like a brother to him. He can be found in some of our fondest memories. He was even the best man in our wedding. With his quiet temperament and his giving nature, he always seemed to make me smile. We were always laughing.

His name was Bobby. He was only 35 years old and he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in April of this year. We researched what all this meant on our own and soon learned that Bobby was in this fight for his life. You see, the cancer was already stage 4 when they found it. We knew that this would take a miracle. Bobby was a fighter! He fought til the very end, harder than anyone I've ever seen fight, but in the end the cancer won and the world lost an incredible man. 

I find it very sad how it's so easy to say these things about a person after they die, but our pace of daily lives or maybe the fear of sounding silly keeps us from saying them directly to the person when they are alive and really should hear it. 

Tomorrow is the funeral. It will be the second funeral we will attend for a friend that was more like a brother. Like SteveO's funeral, we will gather at the funeral home. Old friends standing shoulder to shoulder, talking about memories of Bobby. About how much we love him and how much he will be missed. Then the conversations will turn to how fast time flies and that we should get together more often. How we should let conflicts from the past go and how we should stop having reunions at funerals. 

Well the truth is....life IS short. You never know when your time is up. You never know when your spouse, your brother, your sister or your best friend's time will be up. So, tell them you love them. Tell them how great you think they are. Tell them the things you would say about them when they are gone, because really WHO CARES if you look silly doing or saying these things. The reality is one day you may not be able to.

As my husband and I were saying good-bye to Bobby's dad in the hospital parking lot Thursday, he said "Go home and kiss your kids." And that's just what we did.

We love you Bobby and can't believe that you are really gone. You will be missed so much, but you will live on through your baby girl. See ya in heaven, one day. Tell SteveO we miss him.

11 more days.....

So, here we are 11 short days from the biggest adventure that we have ever been on as a family. On November 27, in the wee hours of the morning, we will kiss our mothers and brothers (and everyone else, too) good-bye see-ya-later and point the nose of our truck to the north east. We will drive for more than half a day arriving in Tennessee. To a house we've never seen (well only in pictures). I will start a job where I have not see the facility or met the managers face to face. Some may see this as scary, while others think we are just plain NUTS. We see this as perfect opportunity to trust that the Lord has orchestrated this right down to the fine details and that he is in control.

Strawberry Pickin'

We took a trip with our friends to a local fruit/veggie farm to pick strawberries....the best thing is that we didn't have to spend time on our knees to pick these strawberries....everything is grown hydroponically on towers...it was great!!

Some of us and our friends...

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

I'm personalizing a post a came across here while randomly searching other mommy blogs...

Outside My Window… the sun is shining and it around 70 degrees. It was supposed to be colder today, but has warmed up very nicely. It's warm in the sun and cool and breezy in the shade.
.
I am thinking… doing my taxes, what I'm cooking for dinner, how much I'd love to take a nap but can't because I will never fall asleep tonight, my camera battery dying right as I was taking the very important Pocahontas Park picture for Sharon, how my girls are digging in the black dirt in the hole the dog keeps digging under the fence.....

I am thankful for… my husband and that we are still friends not just husband and wife, I'm thankful that God is who He says He is, for my job in these times of economic crisis, healthy children (thank you God) and MANY MANY more things to come.
God who lets me put all of my worries, cares, struggles, burdens and doubts on Him. I couldn’t carry it all. His strength is very much a part of my daily life.
.
From the kitchen… Looks like steak and rice tonight..beyond that...your guess is as good as mine :o)
.
I am wearing… My old navy pink velour pants and my long sleeve black shirt...its either this or scrubs...been a long time since I've needed to wear anything more...no shoes, hair down....and my normal hodge podge of jewelry...
.
I am creating… well in my head I have a hand full of pages I'd like to accomplish when I go to work on my scrapbook with Kristen on Saturday...I'm also creating our wish list for next years curriculum.
.
I am going… to take Bryce and Taylor to their first karate class in about 45 minutes...and then I'm going home to finish dinner...then I'm going to put some kids to bed and myself to follow.
.
I am reading… The Politically Incorrect Wife...

I am hoping… that tomorrow's bible study will prove to be what God wants for me...I've decided to do the Beth Moore study...I real excited.
.
I am hearing… Bryce playing the XBOX in the living room...the girls outside....the neighbors little doggie barking...Oh wait...I could hear the dog barking because he was crawling under the fence into my yard....I hear my husband breathe as he naps after school....
.
Around the house… There is entirely too many things in this house...that's a goal of mine, some things have to go. We love this house (even though we are out growing it)...so since we aren't getting any smaller....some things have to go.
.
One of my favorite things… Ummmmm, I will have to get back to you on this one because I am so tired the only thing I can think of is curling up next to my husband and taking a nap....
.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Bible Study, one night of work (instead of the usual 3 nights, the Frog Leg Festival (yep, I live in the south for sure!!) a night cropping with my bestie!! and finally a Sunday where I can go to church without having worked the night before or after. Oh and lets not forget MLK day...that's a FREE day!!