It's Been Awhile

I haven't blogged in quite awhile. I can no longer upload photos unless I pay for more storage...bummer. I guess I've been blogging for too long. At least I can still write!

 

We had a fantastic Christmas season and it was wonderful to be healthy and able to enjoy it. Our family was blessed beyond measure with visits from family and wonderful gifts. I was able to attend Cadlelight service for the first time since 2010. It was beautiful and our little church had a packed house! Standing room only! I helped work in child care for the 2nd service with one of my good friends. We had a great time with the littles.

 

The new year has brought us a lot of joy! Ryan has started counseling once a week with a new trauma therapist. I am so hopeful that she will be able to help him overcome the mess wehave all been through as a family. He seems to like and and we are looking forward to his next session. I have behun a heavy regimen of healthy eating and exercise. I got a new little buddy, my Fitbit Zip!! I have lost 3 lbs already! It is a calorie and step counter. Now, combined with www.myfitnesspal.com (Which it can link to), I am able to see exactly how many calories I am burning in a day and how much I can eat. It's working and I love it! I only have 24 lbs. to go to reach my ultimate goal. It has been very hard and sacrificial work, but worth it when I can button my tight jeans.

 

Our family is doing wonderfully. Life is good and I am blessed. Hopefully I can get back to blogging on a regular basis.

I've Had a Change of Heart

but only for the BETTER! My heart is completely 100% healed! I went for my follow-up today with my cardiologist and he said my echo was perfect. I cannot believe I am fully healed from my medical nightmare. Praise be to God for seeing me through the darkest time of my life. I am off to live a normal life filled with nothing but good, healthy times ahead!

 



Lunch With My Boy

 

Last week, in lieu of a Thanksgiving feast at preschool, Ryan's class had a special McDonald's lunch treat. There are many kiddos in his class this year with severe food allergies, so the teachers (and this mommy) thought it best to play it safe and just do something fun without risk to any little one's health. I asked Ryan if he wanted me to come eat with him and he said, "Yes!" without hesitation. Lunch with 15 four & five year olds was exhausting, but fun.

 Ryan's class sang in chapel last week too. They sang "Hallelujah- Praise Ye the Lord" It was so cute!

 

 

My little disciple

 

 

One tuckered out kid



Portrait Time!

 

I am so grateful for my dear friend Emily who took our portraits this year. Head on over to the Smith Gallery Journal and scroll down to the "W. Family". I am so beyond thrilled with the way they came out!

Thankful Day 13 & 14

Day 13: I am thankful for a lovely bunch of ladies, most of whom I have never met. Back in the day 5 years ago before the facebook craze, we all metup on Ivillage.com. We ARE the April 2008 Applebottoms. Yep, every one of us has a precious little one born in April 2008! From the moment we discovered the miracle of life growing inside us, to the birth of our little loves, diapers, formula, sleepless

 nights, potty training, and now the ever-looming kindergarten monster, these women have bonded together and become some of my closest friends. When one of us is down and out, you can count on the rest of them to pull together to help and support the fallen. When I was sick, they kindheartedly donated over $300 out of the goodness of their hearts and their own pockets to help with my medical bills and Patrick's funeral expenses. Nobody told them or asked them too. They did it all on their own. I have been fortunate to meet some of them, and hopefully one day we can all connect! We live all over the world, but all are intertwined through the gift of our sweet babies. I love you all dearly and am so blessed to call you my friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 14: I am thankful for my heart, and that it's still beating. There is nothing like a close call with life that will truly make you grateful for what you have. A normal person's EF (ejection fraction) is between 55-60%. At my lowest point last year, mine was teetering on the edge of 30-35% with fluid-filled lungs and I was gasping for breath. After Patrick's birth, it rebounded to between 40-45...

% and that is where it stayed all last year. My last echocardiogram was last year while I still had Cushing's and there was no change. Today could change all of that. I have my first echocardiogram post-Cushing's. After 19 months on Coreg (beta-blocker) and getting rid of that horrible desease, I pray my heart has healed and is back to it's full strength. If you could spare a prayer that the results of my echo would be normal, I would appreciate it. My sweet boy is praying that one day Mommy will have a good heart and to "Ask Dr. Waldman if you can ride roller coasters!" Today could be that day....

 



Thankful Day 12

Day 12: I am thankful for having the right to say I am thankful. I am very, very thankful for my mother in law, Elaine LeCrone Birkinshaw. I remember the first time we met at a band competition, where the Marching Knights were an exhibition band, at Seminole High School in 1996. Thank you for always putting your kids first and making my husband the man he is today. Thank you for showing him a great

 work ethic and teaching him the value of hard work and commitment. Than man he is today not only reflects his choices in life, but your guidance and framework from the beginning. Thank you for loving me as your own daughter for over 16 years now. Even through the midst of Cushing's, when I was less than rational and very, very angry at the world, you continued to love me and support me as your own. Thank you for your help with Ryan, and for never giving up on me. Thank you for driving over here to go to the endocrinologist with me this time last year, and for suggesting that I bring pictures of my former self. For those pictures are what tipped her off as to my real problem and lead to a diagnosis. Thank you for dropping everything to come for the birth of Ryan & Patrick. They are both blessed to have you as Blondegrandma! I am proud to have you for my mother in law and could not ask for anyone any better. Thank you for all of the Black Friday midnight shopping excursions, baking goodies in the kitchen, and being there for me through everything. Most of all, thank you for raising the man of my dreams to be a loving, committed, Christian husband. I am honored to call you my mother in law!

Video Update: You Don't Know You're Beautiful!

 

I took this video earlier this year, shortly after Ryan turned 4. He loves the One Direction song playing in the background, and told me his teacher at LifeSong Preschool taught him how to do the "Robot". So, Miss Tori, this is for you!

 

 

 

 

Thankful 9,10,11

Day 9: I am thankful for Mike's job. It has allowed me to stay home to raise our son. It has provided for our family in more ways than I can count. They understood all his time off last year when I was sick and never questioned it. I love that he is home at 5:20 every night and has every other Friday off. He is able to be here for his family, but still have the stability of his job. I am so grateful that his job allows him so much family time and keeps a roof over our heads and food in our mouths. We are very blessed.

 

 

Day 10: I am thankful for my sweet pets. Sputnik is the best welsh corgi in the world and Angel, well, Angel is the funniest, silliest, most loving cat I have owned. They brighten my day when nothing else can. They listen, snuggle with me, ...

and are so fun to watch when they play together. Sputters loves to go for walks, get treats, play at the dog park, and go for rides. Angel loves her wet food once a week, treats, snuggling on the couch or next to me in bed, and tearing up tissues and toilet paper and leaving me presents with it throughout the house. My family would not be complete without my furbabies. They came long before the real babies and I have loved spoiling them completely rotten.

 



Day 11: I am very thankful for all of our Veteran's who have fought hard to secure our country's freedom. Freedom isn't free, and I thank you for your service to all of us in this wonderful country of ours!

 

Thankful Day 7 & 8

 

My thankfulness challenge continues...

 

 

Day 7: I am thankful that God is in control!

 

 

 

 

Day 8: I am thankful for my parents who gave me life and who raised me to be a Godly woman with a hard work ethic and sense of responsibility. Thank you for showing me unconditional love and support through everything. From "playing rough", pillow fights, dancing in the living room in the dark with flashlights to the Bongo drum record, to birthday parties, band concerts, and the birth of my boys, ...

you were always there. I could count on looking out into the crowd at any event and you were there. Thank you for not letting me watch certain TV shows, eat junky food, and stay out entirely too late, for it taught me to take a sense of pride in myself and what I allow into and around my body. Thank you for making me work at McDonald's when I was 16 and buy my first car. Thank you for making me earn things instead of handing them to me. Thank you for sticking it out in the rough times and not giving up. Dad, thank you for holding down the fort and responsibilities at home while Mom lived with us during my health crisis. Mom, thank you for the support and love you gave me through that time. You were so strong. Thank you for being strong during my ultrasound when they told us Patrick was gone. You never shed a tear and were right there for me. I love you both dearly and thank you for being my mom and dad.

 



I am Thankful Day 6

 

 

Day 6: I am thankful for my sister, Cristy Turner Albrecht-Carrie. She has truly shown her loyalty to our family over the past 2 years. She took over the mothering role with Ryan when I was unable. When I hit heart failure, she dropped everything to come take care of Ryan so Mike could be with me. She fed him, changed him, bathed him, and bought him clothing. She read stories, took him to preschool, and put him to bed, either at her house or mine. She brought him to the hospital every day to visit me. She ran with him through the "magic doors" and swam with him in her pool. She set up a donation find to help with my medical bills and Patrick's funeral costs. She was there for me in ways that I could never have imagined. She listened to the doctors tell her I was a few hours away from a ventilator and a flight to Shand's in Gainesville. She held my Ryan when he was born and cried tears of joy and she held my tiny Patrick the night he was born and cried tears of sorrow. She cried with me at her own wedding when I was so upset about my appearance and what Cushing's had done to me. I don't know many people who have such a wonderful sibling. I am so beyond blessed. Because of you, my son had stability through the most horrific of times. Because of you, my husband could be with me. I thank God for you every day. It breaks my heart that Ryan will never experience the sibling bond here on Earth. We have something special. I love you skank, hootch, B.L., and chicken butt! The past 32 years have been a blast. I can't wait to see what's ahead! I LOVE YOU!

 

 

I am Thankful

 

So, I am sure by now most of my Facebook readers have seen the Thankful Challenge for this month. I figured I would post some of my thankfuls here as well, so that my non-Facebook readers could enjoy as well. I have so MUCH to be truly thankful for this year and I want to shout it to the world!

 

I missed day one, so I will start with day 2:

 

 

 

Day 2: I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful to God for sparing my life and taking my Patrick so he wouldn't have to suffer here on Earth. I am grateful that I know I will see him again one day.

 

 

 

Day 3: I am thankful for being able to sleep. After sleeping 1-2 hours a night or sometimes not at all for 16 months, being able to sleep through the night is a gift. I am grateful for feeling rested each morning I wake up and having an abundance of energy for Ryan!

 

 

Day 4: I am thankful for my husband who truly has proven unconditional love and support over the last 2 years. He has more than proven the seriousness of the vows he spoke 14 years ago. When my personality and body were completely altered by Cushing's, he loved me and stood by me in the most horrific of times. When most would've walked out, he stood strong. He slept on hospital cots watching my heart

rate monitor and oxygen levels praying for God to spare me. He, along with Fred Turner planned the funeral for our son when I was stuck in the hospital. No matter how much weight I gained, how many ugly scars and extra skin my body has been given, he has loved me unconditionally. He watched me morph from a 150 lb happy, sane, loving wife and mother to a 220 lb, mentally panicked, angry, irritated, Cushing's monster, and never left me for one second. He always reassured me that, "I married you for what is inside, not for what life does to you on the outside." I love you Mike Williamson. Thank you for always being there for me and for our boys. I am eternally grateful for the outstanding role model your provide for Ryan and I know our angel Patrick is looking down on you from heaven saying, "That's MY daddy!" Here's to many more wonderful years and much better things to come!

 

 

Day 5: I am thankful for my children. I was told at one point that I may not be able to have any children. After multiple failed and expensive tries, Ryan & Patrick both showed up on their own! What a shock and surprise I received both times! Ryan, you have changed me for the better my son. I am a completely different person because of you. You light up my life with your humor, laughter, and silliness. Oh, to be a child again and not have a care in the world. We may have our struggles, but I wouldn't change the last 4 years for anything.

 The best and hardest decision I ever made was giving up my whole career and quitting my job just for you. I was worth every single minute!! I don't regret anything. I have my lifetime to work, but you are only little once. Thank you Mike Williamson for providing for our family so I can be here with our son. Patrick, you were a blessing in disguise. I truly believe your short time here with us saved my life so I could be here for your brother. I may have never met your soul, and only held your tiny body for a few hours, but your spirit will live with our family forever. When people ask how many children I have, I say two. I have Ryan here on Earth, and Patrick in heaven. You are my son, Ryan's brother, and my life saver. To my children, I will be forever grateful to you for making me a better person and changing my life in the most profound way. I am truly blessed that God chose me to be the mom of the two most beautiful boys in this world.

 

 

My goal is to keep this challenge up all the way until Thanksgiving!



Happy Halloween!

What a FUN and crazy busy day Halloween was! It was by far the best Halloween I have had since Ryan has been born. The part 2 Halloweens I have been ill, so this was my redemption year! Here is how we spent our wild and crazy day:

 

 

We started off with Ryan's Fairy Tale Parade at his school. I found a cute bee costume for $5 at Target, so I decided to have him dress up as Alfredo Buzzito from the Skippyjon Jones book. It wasn't actually a fairy tale, but it was from a children's book...and it was inexpensive! I made his shirt though. That was a whirlwind crafting project the night before. It really made the costime though and was worth it!

 

 

Ryan's class...The Polar Bears

 

I was substitute room mother for the Fall Party that day. The other room mom had a sick little one, so she emailed in a panic and asked me to take over. No problem!! I got this! I love the kiddos and we had a blast.

This was the calm before the storm.

 

We had pizza, fruit snacks, pretzels, juice, chips, & cupcakes.

 

I was in charge of craft #1. I cut out a paper pumpkin for each child and they painted them with a glue, water, & pumpkin spice mixture. They smelled so good once they dried!

 

 

Then it was pumpkin carving time!

 

Once the seeds were counted (over 400 in the little pie pumpkin), it was craft #2 time. The class made a Christian pumpkin art project.

 

 

It was then time to get up and move! The kids danced to Animal Action which I have heard all about from Ryan on multiple occassions. It was a lot of fun to see him interact with his friends.
 

After the craziness of the party, we spent the afternoon at church with the kids in Extended Day. I was worn out, but got my second wind so I could go trick or treating!

 

 

Sputnik dressed up as a bumble bee

 

 

My 2 trick or treaters

 

 

Photo by Ryan

 

 

Ryan's "Roach pose"

 

 

Our neighborhood was awesome this year!

 

Someone was tuckered out after his huge day. 

Florida Forest Festival

 

This past weekend, Ryan and took our first Mommy/Ryan road trip since I have been well. What a GREAT bonding time it was for us. I was able to spend some serious one on one time with my boy and he is really learning that he can count on me once again. We headed up to Perry, FL for the Florida Forest Festival. I was so sad to have to miss last year and was not going to miss out again. Mike stayed behind, as he had a golf tournament to raise money for our church preschool. Enjoy the long list of pictures and our adventures:

 

 

 

Oh, Cheezeburger! That cat was in love with my red grocery bag. Every chance he got, he was laying on it!

 

 

 

On Friday morning, Dad, Ryan, and I started our day at Johnson's Bakery. There is no donut in the world like theirs. Ryan at BOTH of those giant donuts! It was a real treat for him, as we don't eat donuts very often at all.

We ended up at the Tallahassee Museum and really enjoyed the cool weather and all of the animals!

After a much needed nap for Mommy & Ryan, we all headed to Deal's Famous Oyster House for dinner. YUM!! It is my favorite place to eat when I go home. Ryan sure loves his shrimp!

On Saturday morning, we went downtown for the King Tree Parade. We grabbed our usual seats in front of the Courthouse. It was chilly!! I am glad that Ryan's jacket was in the bottom of his backpack!

 

Photo of my mom, taken by Ryan

My high school band

After the parade, we headed to the festival and the World's Largest Free Fish Fry. Ryan sure enjoyed riding the horse!

 

 

2 hours of carnival rides!!

Standing in this line, the most profound and exclamatory statement was issued to me by my son. As I held him here, he looked at me, hugged me, and said, "Mommy, you really ARE back!"

My heart melted. I said, "Yes, buddy I am back and I am not going anywhere!"

Ryan sure loves his new pop gun!

That evening, Grandaddy & Ryan did a little BB Gun balloon target practice!

Cheezeburger, feeling a little extra cheesy!

Sunday morning, before we left to go home, we took a very cold walk to see the neighbor's cactus plants. If you know Ryan, you know he loves all cacti!

 

It was a super fun weekend, and we are all still recovering from the trip. I can't wait until next year when we get to do it all over again!