Pre-op checkup......

Done. We went today and my baby girl was so strong! She had to have like half of her blood drained out through a huge needle, and then sit in the doctors' office answering questions that her doctor should already know the answer to.....so we are officially ready for surgery. Well, physically, we are ready. Emotionally, we need some more prep work, but either way, November 10 is our big day......keep Carly in your prayers.....

My Life is a Sitcom....

I have been told this before, and now I believe it. Been busy carting Carly to and from school and doctors appointments since her latest injury - not really anything new, but have been too busy to blog. Sorry, Shane and Kevin, but this is an update for you guys!

One day, I took the trash outside and put it in the outside garbage can. Later, Mike took Cj out to throw around the football. They heard something in the can and tipped it over. I had put the trash right on top of a little possum! (I know it starts with an "o" but this is how its spelled in GA!) - they took a picture.....

Then last week we all loaded up and headed to Georgia for my Mom's 75th birthday extravaganza! She has never had a surprise birthday party, so we pulled out all the stops! Invited 100 of her closest friends and family and got everyone together at my sister's new house to celebrate. My brother drove Mom over while we all were waiting. She drove in and saw all the cars in the driveway and on the street and thought we were having a yard sale! So funny! She also thought that my brother was taking her to eat at the Golden Corral. She was almost disappointed until we told her we had cake.....great time, and here's a picture of Mom with all the grandkids except Sam and John. From top to bottom - left to right, Daniel, Coley, Grace, Caitlin, Mikaela, Cj (trying not to do the rabbit ear thing over Nana), Carly, and Mom- aka Nana

Before the party, Mike took Cj to his first UGA football game. They had a great time and Cj even made friends with Coach Vince Dooley. He had his picture made and got autographs. Such fun!

Found out that he needs to get a little taller before he can play football at UGA. He needs to at least be able to see over the hedges!

Then it was back to Baton Rouge and back into football (gotta get ready for UGA!)

And now, tonight is Cj's best friend Alec's birthday. Its a laser tag party and Cj is so excited. I had to take his picture, because he wants to wear the hat so no one will see his red hair and shoot him with the lasers. Carly informed him if he runs fast enough it won't matter! Oh well........

Oops, She did it again.....

You guessed it, Carly dislocated her knee again. This time she was hurrying to catch up with me to leave church and it just gave out on her. We tried the whole, ice, elevate and rest, but she was in a lot of pain, so this morning we went to visit her doctor. We took candy since they are always so good to us and a little bit of a bribe for the doctor. We discussed on our way the conversation that we had with him at our last visit. Its been over a year since her surgery and this is the 2nd dislocation since the surgery (6th overall), so we knew he would recommend major surgery. He had a long talk with her and gave her the choice of more of the same therapy or stop prolonging the inevitable and get this over with. A unanimous vote of surgery now and get on into shape for high school softball is the road to take. So in a few weeks, I'll be posting hospital pics and you will all get to take this journey with us. We are nervous about the surgery, but excited about pain meds (just kidding) and getting back into ball.

Wait, the doctor approved softball for her future....he didn't say anything about football.....this kid is really trying my nerves! Gotta love her, though - she's got spirit!

Escape from the flip phone....

I remember my first cell phone. It was nothing like this thing I'm trying to figure out now.... If the phone were not free, I would still have the bag phone. I'm just that frugal. BUT, with the rebates and some credits I was able to get the newest phone Sprint has to offer. It's comparable to the Apple I-phone. It's great, but it does way more than Beck can explain to me that it does......I mean, I love to text (I think God loves texting) and that is my favorite way to communicate, but that's about as high tech as I get. Beck shows me all it does, but it just doesn't compute in my simple mind....This phone does so much more, and it is so much better than my old Cracker Jack phone (as Paula would say). So, I'm new, cool and hip.....or at least I will be, when I figure out how to make a phone call.......

Football practice

So we are in our second week of football. Cj's excited because he finally gets to hit somebody. He loves to wear the "armour" and he's having fun tackling. Tonight I had a small "ah-ha" moment. About half way through practice, Cj told his coach he had to go to the bathroom. So his coach told him to go ahead. But before Cj could, he asked the coach to undo the belt on his pants. Which his coach did. I laughed it off because I had fastened it kind of tight, so it could have given him problems. Anyway, the "ah-ha" moment came when Cj comes running back on the field and asks his coach to "re-fasten" his belt! Is that a sign that I do too much for him? He's still little, right? Maybe?
Anyway, here are some pics from today's practice. Cj's wearing the "Chicago Bears" shirt. (navy/orange)

Cj with his favorite coach (um, and Carly's too!) - going out for a pass

Cj hitting the dummy

Cj trying to get by without getting tackled

Cj just gets by and the dude grabs with one arm - but its not enough to hold Cj back.