6-Month Evaluation

Today, Victoria's physical therapist, Candice, and her Early Intervention service coordinator, Dianne (pictured to the left), came out to our house for her 6-month evaluation. Dianne had the long list of physical goals that we set for Victoria 6 months ago. We were so excited to see that Victoria has met every goal in her therapies that we hoped she would in the past 6 months! I felt like shouting today! It was such an encouraging EI visit!

I have seen the Lord take a little baby that could barely do anything because of such major heart defects and heal her with the help of surgeons! Then, I've seen the Lord carry that baby through a wonderfully quick recovery! THEN, I've seen the Lord help her accomplish every physical goal that her therapists and I have worked with her on all throughout her 12 months in Early Intervention! I tell you the truth ... every time I look at Victoria Jayne, I am reminded of what her name means: "victorious victory!"

God has been so good to our family, I cannot help but boast of His faithfulness! He has helped us in the toughest of times and I know that without Him we would've been lost. He took what felt like a helpless and hopeless situation and used it for His glory. I'm so thankful to the Lord for all of my sweet girls, but I especially thank Him for letting us walk down a little different path than most people get to. I never thought I'd be thankful to the Lord for giving me a child with Down syndrome, but now I'm convinced that we get to experience His glory just a little bit more than most.

After All Is Said And Done

The Pastor's Conference was a wonderful and interesting experience. Let me explain ...

Saturday was a long day for Mark. He had meetings all day preparing for the conference, which started on Sunday afternoon. I, on the other hand, had a day to myself. Besides ironing and going to the workout room in the hotel, I rode with Beth White at lunchtime for a sandwich at Panera Bread. We had wonderful conversation to go along with the great food. Later I went back to my hotel room and took a nap. Naps never happen for me at home, so this was a real treat for me!

That night, after Mark finished up with his meetings, we met up with other North Mobile staff to eat at PF Changs. It was awesome!

After PF Changs, we decided to ride around and see if we could find Churchill Downs. We were able to find it and believe it or not, it was open and almost empty of people. We were able to walk all around the buildings and track. What a cool experience!

Unfortunately, during all the rest and fun, I had been getting calls from my mom. She had developed a very serious Staph infection. This was obviously terrible news. I was very concerned about my mom, but also was stressed because she and my dad were keeping Victoria and Natalie. So, during the weekend I was making many phone calls to line up another sitter for my kids. Fortunately, we have such a sweet lady in our life that has kept our kids many times that stepped in and saved the day! We couldn't be more thankful for Syble Parten! She is awesome!

Sunday afternoon was sound check for the band and praise team and Sunday afternoon the Pastor's Conference began.

We kept trucking full speed ahead the rest of the time we were in Louisville.

The speakers were wonderful and the music was awesome! God really moved in such a powerful way during the weekend. We were so thankful to be a part of such a powerful event. Even in the midst of stressful situations at home, when all was said and done ... it was a GREAT weekend!

PS - Here is a short video I took while at Churchill Downs!

Long Day Flying

Yesterday Mark and I began our trek to Kentucky for the Pastor's Conference.

We flew out with our Worship Pastor, Jason Breland, and his wife, Amy. Our flight left Mobile at 9:40am and arrived in Atlanta about an hour later. We had around a 2 hour layover in Atlanta, which allowed us plenty of time to get lunch in the Atlanta airport. Our plane was supposed to depart Atlanta around 1pm (Atlanta time) and arrive in Kentucky around 3pm, however, our plane seemed to have some mechanical difficulties that couldn't be fixed.

We had to wait an extra 3 hours in the airport while our plane was investigated. The announcers over the loudspeaker in the airport finally reported that our plane could not be fixed and we were given another place to fly on. We were glad to finally have transportation to Kentucky!

Being in planes and airports all day really wears on you! We finally arrived in Kentucky and met up with one of our Executive Pastors, Scott White, and his wife, Beth. We all had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Mark has meetings today and I've had the day to myself in the hotel room. So far I've watched a lot of HGTV and have gone to the little workout room in the hotel to workout. I might even take in a nap, which is unusual for me when I'm at home with little ones.

This weekend promises to be an exciting one! I'll post photos as the weekend progresses.

Pastor's Conference

This year Mark and I are blessed to be able to attend the Southern Baptist Convention Pastor's Conference in Kentucky. Our Pastor, Ed Litton, is the president of the Pastor's Conference and has planned the entire event. Our Worship Pastor, Jason Breland, asked me to sing on the praise team for the event and I'll also be singing a solo, as well. Mark will be in charge of the ushers and greeters, so he will have a big job, too!

Thousands of pastor's will be in attendance and it will be a wonderful opportunity for the worship ministry of our church (First Baptist North Mobile) to minister to the men that faithfully fill the pulpits each week in our country.

If you would like to see LIVE streaming video of the Pastor's Conference, go to the following website: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=87349732638&h=33xhv&u=Teaf9

There are many wonderful speakers who will be encouraging the pastors during the conference that you will not want to miss hearing! And, the music will be awesome, of course! Make sure you drop by the website Sunday afternoon and all of Monday to see and hear all of the wonderful things going on during the Pastor's Conference. And, if you miss the LIVE streaming video, you can go back and watch the videos at any later time that you choose! Great, huh?

Thanks for your prayers for Mark and me as we fly out on Friday afternoon and return Tuesday night. Please keep both sets of our parents in your prayers, as well. They will be keeping our girls for us while we are away. Pray that the girls stay healthy and sleep well for their grandparents!

Mark and I are looking forward to having some time away and are especially excited to see how God is going to move during the Pastor's Conference!

Potty Training Already?

Today was a nice day. After a full week of Vacation Bible School it was nice to stay home and get some things done around the house. Mark cut grass and I put pine straw out in the yard along with cleaning inside the house and washing clothes. It was a very productive day.

This afternoon, after I had already given Elyssa and Natalie a bath, I took Victoria into the bathroom to start her bath. I noticed her diaper was dry and decided to put her on the potty to see what she would do. I immediately said, "go tee tee." And, believe it or not ... my little one-year-old Down syndrome baby pottied! I couldn't believe it! I went crazy with praise for her and she just laughed. I really believe she knew what she was doing!

After Victoria's bath, I got her all dressed in her PJs. We were still in the bathroom and I said, "stand up." She was holding my fingers and she stood up. Wow! It is so encouraging to know she is understanding my commands! Then, I said, "walk." I backed up some, still holding onto her fingers, and she began taking steps! She took several steps before she decided to sit down. I was amazed! Praise the Lord that Victoria is responding so well! I was so excited to see her doing these new things! I ran into the bedroom, where Mark was doing some work on his computer, and told him all about the exciting things Victoria had just done. He was equally excited! Then, I began calling family to tell them the awesome news!

Some of you may not understand, but kids with Down syndrome and usually very slow to potty train. I know this is just a beginning, but I plan to keep introducing her to the potty training concept in hopes that she'll take to it sooner.

I just believe my little girl is special! God is helping her in so many ways and I couldn't be more thankful!

Emergency Room Visit

Welp, last night was Natalie's first visit to the Emergency Room! She had sounded bad all day. She was coughing terribly and was running a high fever. I gave her several breathing treatments during the day and tried to treat her fever with Tylenol. She seemed to get worse through the day. Last night around 8:30pm, she woke crying and was really struggling to breathe. Mark was very concerned and thought I should take her on to the hospital while he stayed with the girls.

The doctor at the Emergency Room ordered x-rays and found that her lungs were okay but her throat x-ray showed some significant swelling of airways. He ordered two steroid shots (one in each leg) and gave me a prescription for an antibiotic.

Natalie was so brave during her visit to the hospital. She let the doctor do everything he needed to do without the first cry from her. The only time she cried was when the shots were administered. I kept telling her how proud I was of her. She was so sweet and courageous!

Her shots have already seemed to help some, although she still seems to feel under the weather. But, I know before no time she'll be back to her normal self!

She Is God's Child VIDEO

I would like to share a link with you to a song that I wrote about Victoria that has been put into video format. I sang to this video at the end of my most recent speaking engagement and it was very powerful. There was not a dry eye in the place!

Just click on the link below and it will take you to the video. The song I wrote is called "She Is God's Child" and the video was compiled by Dave Simpson, my dear friend. Hope you enjoy it!

http://dsimpson41.blogspot.com/2009/05/one-of-our-dear-riends-is-heather.html

Mother's Day Brunch

Saturday was a special day for me. My sister, Shana, had invited me to sing and speak at an event she was planning for the ladies of her church in Louisana. The event was a Mothers & Others Brunch. Shana had rented out a hall for the ladies to have their brunch in and the men of the church graciously served the ladies brunch. The tables were decorated beautifully and the fellowship was sweet.

Mark and Victoria were able to go with me and that made the trip such a great one!

The especially sweet part of it all is that I was able to share my testimony about my little Down syndrome girl, Victoria. This was my first "official" time to share my testimony in front of a group and it went incredibly well. In fact, during some parts of my session there were almost no dry eyes in the place. Everything was so moving and I could see how receptive all the ladies (and men) were to the message I was sharing.

To end the morning, I sang a song with my niece that I wrote called, "She Is God's Child." A video played while we sang the song. The tears flowed in the room. It was a great time!

I pray that I will have more opportunities to share about my sweet gift from God. It really hit me Saturday that God may just use my "special" little girl to bring many to saving grace! How cool would that be?!

I feel blessed to have been a part of such a special day! And, it was an extra-special blessing to have my husband, Mark, and Victoria there with me!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Easter!

We took a picture of the girls today in their matching Easter dresses and wanted to share it with you! Hope you enjoy!

Deep Questions From Elyssa

Yesterday after I finished singing in our family worship service (KidGrid), I went downstairs to get Elyssa. She was in her 3-year-old Sunday School Class. Once she realized I was at the door, she quickly ran toward me and we headed down the hallway to get Natalie from her 2-year-old class.

On the way to get Natalie, from out of nowhere Elyssa asked me, "Mamma, are you going to die?" I was blown away to get such a deep question thrown my way without any warning! There were people around listening as we passed by them in the hallway. They all looked at me with huge smiles on their faces and made comments like, "Good luck answering that!" and "Whoah, what a deep question!" It took me a minute to answer her. I said, "Well, Elyssa, I guess I will one day." To that she answered, "I don't want you to die Mamma!" By that time in the conversation we had neared Natalie's room and the subject changed. I almost felt myself sweating at how to try to explain such a thing to a young child. I couldn't wait to tell Mark what Elyssa and I had talked about. I thought he'd probably be as surprised as I was by her question.

When we finally met up with Mark and Victoria to head to the car, I began explaining to Mark what Elyssa and I had been talking about. He was, in fact, as surprised as I was. We have always thought Elyssa acted much older than her age and this was just another instance that proved our feelings about her maturity. We all walked together to the van and herded the kids in so we could go get something for lunch.

On our way to pick up some grub, Mark asked Elyssa what she learned about in Sunday School. This began the discussion of death all over again. Mark tried to explain to Elyssa that one day everyone would die. Like a good pastor, he started to quote Hebrews 9:27. It says, "And as it is appointed unto all men once to die, but after this the judgement,...." I quickly told him that she would not understand that wording. So, in my south Alabama dialect I told her that everyone would die at one point or another in their lives. Mark went on to tell her that those of us that have asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins (mistakes and disobedience) and come into our lives would be able to go live with Him in Heaven. Elyssa said, "I don't want to go to Heaven to live with Jesus! I want to stay with Mamma!"

That was the funniest thing to hear Elyssa say. I even smiled when I heard her say she wanted to stay with me. But, I must admit that somewhere in my heart, I long to hear her eventually say that she does want to live with Jesus in Heaven. I pray that one day little Elyssa will give her heart and life to the Lord to follow Him all her days. What a wonderful thing to know that even a 3-year-old has these built-in questions about eternity and what comes after life. We will all face death one day and I'd rather know in advance that I will be meeting my Savior in Heaven than hoping it will all turn out okay in the end.

Thank You, Lord, that You made a way for all of us to live with You one day in Heaven and that You can give peace for our deepest of questions!