Mountain Mamas

Team Boo Bees at the 6th Annual Liz Hurley Run

This is what we looked like in 45 degree, rainy weather. We rocked!! We actually had a lot of fun in spite of the weather. brrr.


Have I told you how awesome my Mountain Mama friends are? They are so awesome, I'm at a loss for words (I know, it shocks me, too). Not only did they walk 3 miles in the freezing rain, they did lots of baking beforehand. Chloe's Carnival for a Cure was the same day as the Liz Hurley run. Chloe's mom asked if I would be willing to make a little something for the Cake Walk they would be having and I passed on the invitation to my MMs. Boy did they respond!

Friday night, I took 25 baked goodies to Chloe’s grandmother’s house. The MMs delivered in such a big way and I am so grateful I am a part of this wonderful group. I have never known such a giving bunch of women. They didn’t even think twice about stepping up to the plate and helping out someone they’ve never met. I love each one of these women and now you know why! I am the luckiest gal to have these people in my life. And just so you know who to thank God for in your prayers, they are: Karen, aka Kwu; Laura, aka Danica; Jenn; Jackie; Jennie, aka Ringmaster; Heather E; Katie K; Christy; aka CC, and Mandy.

Mwah! Love you, girls.

Fall(s)

Hello all, from the Pacific Northwest.  Oh wait, we're still in Alabama.  It just feels like the PNW because it's raining all the time.  ha. 

I love Fall and cooler weather but this is crazy.  I have been cold for at least a week.  It's time to pull out the winter weather clothes bins.  The bins that have stayed in the guest room all summer because we just couldn't be bothered to put them in the attic.  You have to pass the attic access to get to our room from the guest room and we have pushed them back and forth between the rooms several times for people to sleep in the guest room.  We are on top of it, y'all! 

Speaking of Fall, Tater fell last week while at the doctor's office.  And broke his nose.  Yes, a 2 year-old can break his nose.  Did you know that?  I didn't.  He now has a lovely green bruise on the bridge of his nose, going into his eyes.  It's not that noticeable in inside lighting but get him outside and it screams, "Look at me!  My parents/brother/cat beat(s) me!"  Poor guy.  He's going to be "that" kid.  You know, the one who is going to make it count when he hurts himself.  I have a small little feeling this will not be the only time he breaks his nose in his lifetime.  The circles under my eyes should be the disclaimer about this child. 

Toser had his first ever field trip cancelled today because of the rain.  He is now begging to go outside and paint on the porch.  I feel like I should to be nice.  I won't let him build a fort out of the couch cushions and he did have to miss out on something special today, but I don't feel like dealing with a wet, paint spattered 4 year-old.  Who will yell at me 5 minutes after he comes in because I don't put his towel on him the right way or because I got the wrong, dry t-shirt.  oy.  My kids are determined to run me out of this house and seek sanity, wherever it may dwell.

I feel bad, complaining about my kids all the time.  I do love them more than anything else in this world and I will kick anyone who says otherwise.  It's only that I'm around them ALL the time and they are relentless in their need.  And I still like to pretend I have a life outside of them so I get frustrated.  I keep telling myself, "Today will be different.  I won't let the whining and fighting get to me today.  I will kiss them more and yell less."  Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn't.  I just pray they remember more of the fun times and not so much the times their mom was a crazy mess who needed a good kick in the pants and a reminder to cherish the little things.  What I want to remember is how much I love their hugs and snuggles and how sweet they smell when they wake up from a nap. 

P.S.  Tater is sacred to death of granddaddy longlegs and it cracks me up to no end.  If he goes outside and sees one, he hightails it (if that's not a southern expression, what is) back inside, whimpering about the "Daddy Wawegs."  Maybe it's the way he says it or the shear terror on his little face but I melt and laugh at the same time.  I think I'll stick around just to see what else they can come up with. 

October 17th

October 17th is going to be a very busy day.  In addition to being CC's birthday(!), it is the day of the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run and Chloe's Carnival for a Cure.  And with those 2 events, you have the opportunity to participate in and donate to some really great causes.

Did you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?  Liz Hurley is a local news anchor and breast cancer survivor who started the Ribbon Run to create breast cancer awareness and to raise money for the purchasing of  breast cancer diagnostic equipment for the local hospitals.  Equipment which my grandmother recently used.  In a span of less than 4 weeks Grandma found a lump, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy.  4 weeks! 

Before we even found out about Grandma, CC created a fundraising group for the Ribbon Run called The BooBees.  The BooBees are going to be walking the 5K course and we would love to have a crowd walking with us.  For more information, go to http://www.lizhurleyribbonrun.org/ or if you would like to donate to The BooBees fundraising efforts, go to http://www.lizhurleyribbonrun.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=320416&team=3556107. 

And later that same day, you can join another great cause at Chloe's Carnival.  Chloe has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA).  SMA is a motor neuron disease affecting 1 in 6000 babies.  Type 1 is the most extreme and most children with SMA Type 1 die before their 2nd birthday.  The fact that Chloe just turned 3 shows you what an amazing fighter she is and how dedicated her parents, Jenny and Joe, are. 

We actually first met Jenny and Joe in an infant CPR class when Tater was being discharged from the NICU and Chloe was beginning her SMA struggle.  We then met them again right after Tater got his trach and the PICU nurses brought our families together.  Chloe has a trach, is on a ventilator 24/7, uses much of the same equipment Tater does and shares the same home health nurse Tater has.  Jenny is the one person I know in real life who gets what I go through. 

Unfortunately in return, I do not know what Jenny goes through.  She lives each day in the absolute fullest because she knows her life with Chloe is going to be much too short.  But you will never meet a more upbeat or more positive person than Jenny.  I have never heard her complain.  She has more energy than is humanly possible and she makes sure Princess Chloe-Bug has the most fun a 3 year-old can have. 

Jenny KNOWS a cure for SMA will be found.  And she is doing her best to help find that cure and spread awareness for SMA.  She has a great network of friends and family who are helping her in her quest and they are having the Carnival in order to raise SMA awareness and to raise money for the Families of SMA (FSMA).  FSMA is accepting donations on Chloe's Carnival site:  http://www.fsma.org/index.cfm?id=4325&eventRedirect=1.

Please consider joining the fun and donating to either of these causes.  Even if you aren't able to donate, please send your thoughts and prayers to those who are dealing with these horrible diseases.  Breast cancer and SMA are taking too many lives and spreading awareness about them just may bring us closer to curing them.