Moving...

I am not sure if you are a follower of the Bring the Rain blog... if you not... you should be! Anyway, right now, Angie is in India on a trip with Compassion International. It is amazing the things that her and her team are encountering and it is really putting in perspective for me how foolishly we live here in America. Take a few minutes and check out what they are doing. You can follow all of the team members during their trip here.

Rained Out

Tonight we took our longest drive in the Traverse to date. We drove from the White Rock Lake area all the way over Ranger’s Stadium. It was raining and rush hour during our drive over there. We paid for parking, walked inside, watched a woman chew out her boyfriend, watched him leave her there, watched her tell her friends about what he had just done (it was all quite comical from an outsiders view) and then find out the game had been rained out. So, we went for some coffee and dessert near by and then made the long drive home.

But… really… I must say, what should have been a long frustrating evening of driving and weather turned out to be actually quite nice and relaxing. This car rides so smoothly, especially on the highways and is so super quite. The heated seats also make for a “spa” like feeling! I am 5 months pregnant with our second baby and my back has been acting up, but tonight it got a good hour and half with the heat on it, I am feeling quite nice.

Ryland was very entertained by my wonderful sister, so it turned out to be a nice little road trip in the rain. One other thing that I LOVE about this car is the windshield wipers! They are by far the best wipers I have ever experienced in a car before and I am totally digging them. Apparently they are special blades that suction onto your windshield, instead of the old fashioned kind and work fabulously!

You really should go try them out during your test drive! Remember, the one your taking to get your free massage from Massage Envy!?!? And… don’t forget to vote for me!!!

Not yet...

Sorry I haven't posted much in a few days. I had a really scary Saturday and have not seemed to find any words yet. On Saturday, I was home alone with Ryland for lunch. We sat down to eat a normal lunch. Ryland was eating peas, plum and cheese. She has eaten plum on numerous occasions and never had a problem with it. I cut the skin off and cut into small pieces. But this day for some reason she couldn't handle it. I don't know if she was too hungry or if she put too many pieces in her mouth before I could sit down or if one was just too big for her.

She choked. Not just the choke and cough it up kind of choke, but the full on - can't breathe - face turning purple choke.

In a split second, her life (and mine) flashed before my eyes. I panicked. For what seemed like a really long time I didn't do anything. I have not read up on giving the Heimlich to a child over one year of age, but I did remember the baby Heimlich (kind of). I didn't know if I should call 911 first and then try to get the object out or start getting the object out because I probably did not have time for 911 to respond. I thought about running out to the street and screaming for help. I did scream for help... but I think I was screaming at God.

I turned her over, her face in my hands and gave her back a few hard blows. I remember telling myself to hit her harder. I was scared to hit her hard, but I knew I needed to. I think I hit her 4 or 5 times before yelling at God again. It wasn't working. She was turning purple.

I ran with her into the kitchen where my phone was to call 911 and I tried hitting her a few more times. This time she began to cry. She was breathing. She was scarred. Me knees gave way and we both fell to the kitchen floor. I held on to her for a good 15 mins before I began to break down. I tried calling Kyle and he didn't answer. I called my mom and she let me completely break down and cry it out. She was so great in that moment and calmed me down.

For the past two days I have found myself crying a lot more then usual. I cry every time I retell the story to someone. I cry when I put Ryland to sleep. I cry when she wakes up and says "Hi Momma!" when I walk into her room.

This was by far the scariest thing that has ever happened to me and in so many ways I feel like I failed. I'm her mom. I'm the one supposed to be preventing these types of things from happening. I'm supposed to know what she can and can not eat. I failed. I know, in the moment, God helped me save her life... but I still feel like it was my fault. I know all of this goes back to the post I wrote a few days ago. I obviously am still unable to let go. I wanted to. I really wanted to and thought I was getting close and then this happened. Now I am holding on to her as tight as I can.

New Video!

Here is the new video I just posted over on the Mommy Madness site! Thanks to a bunch of really good friends, we got this video that I love! I am having SO much fun with this whole project! The car is AWESOME and I just feel like this whole thing is too good to be true and that there must be a catch. But, there isn't. I am really getting to drive this awesome car, get gas money each week, and get really cool "mommy missions" to go on!

I will be posting in the next day or so about our shopping trip to Kroger. We were given $150 to go buy groceries and see how full we could get the back of the car... again... really cool!!!

Don't forget to VOTE!!! If you don't live in Texas, you can only vote once (from that computer... if you own multiple computers or have access to a few hundred in a computer lab.... I'm just sayin...) sorry, but if you do live in Texas you can vote as many times as you want! AND by voting you are registering yourself to also win the awesome getaway to a great Spa in Austin!

Thanks for your support! I am up against some pretty tough competition (the other women really are awesome) with large blog followings so every vote counts!!!

Reminders

Reminders can be so hard! Why do we need to be slapped in the face sometimes to not take things for granted? I find myself getting caught up in 'life' most of the time that I forget to be thankful for every little thing. I know the our God is sovereign over EVERYTHING that happens in our life, that NO MATTER WHAT, He has a purpose for all that He chooses to do or let be done to us, and yet, questions will always linger.

A sweet friend of mine from college lost her baby two days ago. She only had 2.5 weeks left in her pregnancy and the cord got wrapped around her precious daughters neck. I cannot even begin to fathom the pain she is experiencing right now. The hurt and devastation from something so tragic is something no mother should ever have to bear. And yet, God is sovereign.

At the beginning of my pregnancy another sweet friend of mine lost her baby while sill in the womb. I found out that she had miscarried the day before we were going to announce the exciting news of our pregnancy. At that moment and even still, I cannot imagine the hurt that she bears everyday with that lose. And yet, God is sovereign.

My best friend of almost 8 years (wow, I can't believe it has been the long) lost what should have been her baby to a molar pregnancy while I was pregnant with Ryland. It hit me very hard during my pregnancy with her and still affects me during this pregnancy. The pain and emotions that they experienced after that and the constant reminders because of medical interventions needed the year following (and that they still deal with) is something that I cannot comprehend. And yet, God is sovereign.

Talking to a friend today about her desperate desire to have another child. Their first was conceived through adoption and the questions that are now raised about how to, financially and physically, continue down the road to adoption for their next baby. Also, the desire to have God open her womb to carry a child of her own. The pain, emotions and stress that has been on their journey for so many years is really something that I cannot imagine. And yet, God is sovereign.

There are SO many stories of tragedies during pregnancy and conceiving that I hear all the time. I am probably more tender to them while being pregnant or while having a newborn, but all the same, I feel like God is slapping me in the face. Reminding me that everyday is a precious gift from Him. That everyday I should be thankful for the big and the little things. That everyday I should give to Him and let Him have control over. He is sovereign. This is defiantly my area of stronghold. I am holding the health of my two babies in my hand and saying to God, "God, do whatever you want with all of my life, but you cannot have what is in my hand!"

I know He wants me to let go. I know that He wants me to place my babies in His hands and say, "OK God, do whatever you will and I will know that you are sovereign and I will serve you." My prayer is that I will get there. I am not there yet. I want to be.

"Please help me God to give ALL of my life to you. To not just know that you are sovereign, but to believe it completely and to trust in your will for my life."

Check me out!

OK, click here to read my bio and here to read my first blog. I can't believe this happening! I am so pumped about this project and hope that you will spread the news! And hey, if you live in the area.... go test drive one! You'll get a free massage from Massage Envy, no strings attached!

Mommy Madness

And so it begins! The site and promotion officially launches tomorrow (4.20.09) so please go check it out (click on the above logo)!!! You can read about the other 4 moms that are getting drive this awesome car and you can vote! The mom who gets the most votes wins a get-away-weekend to the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Austin, TX. And get this, by voting you also are getting a change to win that same weekend!!!

So, please... check it out and vote!!! This whole thing is SO much fun and I am SO excited to be apart of it! I have been driving the car all weekend and absolutely LOVE it! Can't wait to share this journey with you!

Sleepy

OK, here we are... in our new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse... more on that later. For now, enjoy this little funny video of Ryland that I shot with our brand new Flip Video! This awesome camera was given to us to record our time in the car and we get to keep it!!!

Kyle and I did not want to stop driving the car today, so poor thing took her nap in the car. This is just before the nap, a little grouchy but still sweet. :)

Baby Names

When I was pregnant with Ryland I was so connected to her in the womb. I felt a bond right away and I could not help my thoughts from wondering to her every moment I got. Things are a little different with this sweet baby girl in my belly. Between keeping Ryland happy, fed, entertained and Kyle as well... I don't have much time to day-dream about this baby. Don't get me wrong, I am so super excited for her to join our family and I can hardly wait for August / September to roll around, but I just feel like I am missing that bond with her right now.

I am glad we decided to find out that she was a girl, that has helped somewhat in the bonding process. But, I think when we name her is when I will really feel that connection. So, I am on a quest to find the perfect name for this sweet girl and it is both fun and frustrating. One thing that is helping is this awesome site for baby names, The Baby Name Wizard. My neighbor let me borrow the book, written by Laura Wattenberg and I am really liking it, but the website has so many names and really great ways to look them up. Just thought I'd share in case you are in the name shopping business. :)

Laundry has never been so fun!

It has been 13 days of no clean laundry in our house! First off, can you believe that the three of us can go 13 days without doing laundry... I guess that means we seriously need to clean out our closets!

Right after I recovered from the flu, our washing machine broke. I was in the middle of washing a load when I smelled this awful combination of burning rubber and oil. At first I thought it was my flat iron, I was doing my hair at the time. Shortly after I realized that it was not my flat iron frying my hair off, I realized it was the washer.

Kyle tried hard to fix it himself, but honestly people, the washer is probably over 20 years old! We have had the washer since we got married (6 years ago) and the sweet lady we bought it from had used it since it was new... and lets just say it was not new anymore! We got our $150 out of that thing and it lasted well past what I expected it to, but no body enjoys spending money on a new appliance, unless they are upgrading and have the money to spend, right!?

I don't think Kyle and I will ever be those people that get to "upgrade" an appliance, at least not anytime soon. We are the kind of people that just pray the things make it another year (or another month, depending on how bad it gets). We do save money every month and have an emergency fund, but really, I would rather not use the emergency fund on a new washer. Don't you think that an "emergency" vacation sounds much more appealing!?!

Well, we had to break down and get a new washer, but after 13 days of no clean laundry, I am rather excited to have a new washer!!! We bought ours from Home Depot, which won us over with the free delivery and take-away service. So they delivered it today, installed it and I am half way through my second load! After the newness wears off I will give you all a review on the actual washer, but for now... it is cleaning my mounds of clothes... so it gets an A+!

With LOTS of Lemons

Just feel like gripping right now. Paying bills and working out our budget and needing to take out some aggression. Every time I go out to eat, I get one of two things to drink, either water or coke and with both I ALWAYS ask for LOTS of lemons on the side. I would say 98% of the time I will actually get more then one slice of lemon, and then it is usually only two measly slices. Why is it that when I ask for LOTS of lemons NO ONE gets it!?!?! I like lemons people and LOTS of them!!! I hear by promise to leave a VERY generous tip to the wait staff that brings me more then two slices of lemon on the first try!

For Your Weekend Viewing Pleasure

Ryland and her best buddy Zach (also our neighbor)
Matching hats at the Galleria, our new favorite place to play!

Board in the Dr's office, he was delivering a baby, we waited 45 mins... but we found things to do!

The "Mom Squad"

OK, It's time to let the cat out of the bag... I have been chosen to be apart of an AWESOME marketing event that is going on in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Kansas City!!! Finally, someone (probably a woman) decided to tap into the booming market of 'mommy-blogs' and market this crossover, a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse! And... I get to be a part of it!!! I know, I am probably way more excited to tell you, then you are to hear it... but get this...

For 8 week, yes, that is EIGHT whole weeks, I get to drive this awesome car, get free gas, a free massage, free tickets to six flags and a whole bunch of other REALLY awesome stuff and all I have to do is blog about our experience in the car! How cool is that!?!? In the DFW area, there were 5 moms chosen to take part in this experiment and we are all super excited! I have been hesitant to share all of this cause it was still kind of in the works, but today I met 3 of the other members of the 'Mom Squad' and it made it so much more real and like I might actually get to do this!

Click here for the link to the 'Mommy Madness in DFW' page to read my posts about this really cool car and the other mom's posts as well. I think the whole event is kicking off around the 20th of this month... so exciting!!!

New Link

OK..... in a short while, this blog will be down and you will have to go to our new link.... www.savvyandsimple.blogspot.com . Hope to see you there! :)

New Blog Name and Link

I will post more later today, but for now, I wanted to give you a little heads up... our blog name will be changing and so will the link!!! That means, this link will no longer work! Sorry if that causes any of you some inconvenience, but I am removing our last name from the blog for personal reasons.

I will be changing it shortly, so please check back for the new link! Thanks!