Joyful Noise!: November 2004

Gobble Gobble!

Okay, so Thanksgiving was good! It was a blur of eating, chasing kids, Christmas shopping, and working... but good just the same! We spent Thanksgiving day over at my parent's house. We had a world class dinner, with everyone pitching in! It was awesome (in left over form too!). Then the boys and I hung out at their house until Hank got off work and we took our family Christmas pictures by one of mom and dad's trees (they have 2 up!). On Friday I went with my Aunt Mary and my sister-in-law Kayla shopping at the Galleria. I was up at the ungodly hour of 4 am and at the mall by 5:30 (after I had picked everyone up). I did some serious shopping for my mom then headed back to work to finish out my week. On Saturday, I got to spend time with my wonderful friend Traci and her family. Olivia is just over a year and such a doll-baby! I felt terrible because we fed her a hot dog for the first time and she broke out in a rash! But she acted fine, so Traci and I still went and did a little shopping! I love spending time with Trac... she is one of the few people I can be 'unedited' with. I love that! I only wish she lived closer or I lived closer. Until that happens, sporadic visits and frazzled phone calls will have to do, huh Trace? I love you girl!

Bathtime has gotten a ton easier since they take it together! Now we just have to watch for Tres trying to "baptize" Bryant!

Meet Spike! We like to play with Bryant's hair when he is fresh from the tub. We're thinking of getting him a nose ring and a tattoo that says "Mother" too. What do you think?

Bryant sucks in his cheeks and pops his mouth now. I call it blowing kisses, but I think he's just finding new things to try!

We got our tree up and decorated with just about exclusively Bama ornaments except a few keepsake ornaments. Tres really likes the football shaped ones. We had a hard time making him understand that we shouldn't throw ornaments into the tree!

I made Tres pose for this picture and you can tell he REALLY wanted to can't you!

Christmas & Sickness

Yesterday was super fun for my family (can you sense the sarcasm?)! I started off my day feeling queasy. By the time I had Bryant fed and ready to go, I had progressed to nausea with a side of chills. By the time Hank got up I had made 3 emergency trips to the bathroom and 1 to the sink to throw up. I stayed home with my boys and Hank, and by mid to late day I started feeling better. All I can think is a possible case of food poisoning. I had went out Sunday evening with my mom and my sister Tonnie and my friend Kerri. I was the only one who ordered chicken.
Anyway, after that fun time, we decided to go ahead and decorate the tree. Since Tres says he doesn't want Christmas, we put lights on it while he was napping in hopes that this would change his little mind. And of course, it worked like a charm! We hung all our Alabama ornaments on the tree (or in Tres's case threw them... or in Bryant's case chewed on them). I always have such a feeling of accomplishment once that is done. Now I need to wrap up that mountain of presents on the table and we should be good to go!

This is Hank's grandfather, Herman Boemer. Doesn' this picture look like an old movie jacket or something?

Come here, Bryant!

Wednesday, I got everyone home from work, daycare, etc. and Tres was being a terror. So I sent him to his room. He walked down the hall, very dejected, with his head down and sort of fake crying. Usually a few minutes without someone's attention is enough punishment for him, so I took this little break to call my mom and clean the kitchen while Bryant played in the den. I turned around when I heard Bryant making his goat noise laugh and heading down the hall. When I looked down, Tres's was laying on the floor of his bedroom with just his head laying on the threshold of the door. He was saying "Bryant, come here! Come here Bryant!" And my little goat baby was obeying. He was making some pretty decent time down the hall when I scooped him up. I can tell that in about 6 more months they are going to be big buddies. Tres already gets upset when I drop Bryant off at my mom's house or Valerie's. And Bryant absolutely LOVES his big brother. Life is good.

This is Josiah Atchison. He looks so much like his dad. Dan says he is obsessed with Spiderman and is very imaginative!

Stay Current!

Here are 2 websites you can go to and stay current on Josiah Atchison.

http://hopecs.net/josiah

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=BroDTA

I spoke with Dan Atchison this morning. He seems calm and certain that our God is in control. Please visit these websites for SPECIFIC prayer requests that Dan & Maria have. And keep them in your prayers. They are being told that this process will be a long one.

Josiah Update

Josiah Atchison underwent surgery today to have a 'port' put in for all radiation/chemo treatments. Please be in prayer for this family. This is a totally unexpected hurdle in their lives, and to have to make life and death decisions where your child is concerned has to be grueling and exhausting.
God give them strength. God give them peace. God give them grace. God give them rest.
For those of you who want to send cards or encouragement to the Atchison family, you can do so by sending to the following address:
Dan & Maria Atchison
c/o Clearwater Masters Commission
1739 S. Greenwood Ave
Clearwater, FL 33756

This is my niece Sierra Miran Glover! Isn't she adorable! She looks just like her daddy!

This is Dan Atchison. I pulled this off of the Clearwater Master Commission web site. He is the director there.

Josiah Atchison

I got the news late yesterday afternoon. A long-time friend of mine, Dan Atchison, needs prayer. He and his wife Maria, are having to make some pretty tough decisions about treatment for their little boy Josiah. After some health issues came up Sunday, they took him to the doctor and discovered that he has a tumor the size of a golf ball in his brain ( at the brain stem). Apparently, it is inoperable. They are starting radiation treatment. Please send a prayer up for the Atchison family.
"For I know that my God can do exceedingly, abundantly, above anything we could ask or think."

Wanna see?

Yesterday, we went out with my parents and Tonnie's family to eat at the Mandarin House (chinese). We were sitting at a huge table... and of course both Tres and Luke just had to sit next to Grandaddy. We were talking about Christmas and presents and Santa. And Luke looks at my dad and says, "We wrapped your present yesterday." And my dad says, "Tell me what it is!" Luke smiles sweetly and says, "It's 2 shirts, you wanna come and see?" Tonnie said she would think twice before letting her little helpers wrap presents again!

Bryant is officially crawling now! He is a little man on the move too! All over the place!

You would never guess that Tres's grandad is a plumber would you? I guess it's in the genes!

Model of Motherhood

As I sit typing this, I hear my mother in the next room rocking Bryant to sleep. She's singing "You Are My Sunshine," just like she did when my siblings and I were little or sick or just needed our mommy. I learned most of what I know about motherhood from her! She shows me in countless ways each and every day unconditional love. She helps me with my kids, she helps chauffeur my family around, she cooks for us, she works for me... all very physical forms of love. But more importantly, she talks to me, listens to me, encourages me, prays for me and with me, and advises me whether I think I need it or not! She gives and gives of herself and of material things... so much so that you would think she would be give-out... but she never seems to deplete. Thank you, Mom. Thank you for the thousands of boo-boos that you kissed all better. Thank you for all the birthdays you made special. Thank you for raising us in the church and helping to instill morals and values that seem to be going the way of the dinosaur these days. Thank you for being the super model of motherhood. I love you, love you, love you!

New Stuff!

I forgot to tell everyone about Bryant's latest accomplishments! Besides the scooting and rolling across any room... he also rocks back and forth on his hands and knees. He has 1 tooth and it looks like 2 more are on the way. And he is waving! He also likes to try and play pat-a-cake! He's such a cutie pie! And I am fortunate enough to get to kiss on him all I want!

This was me and my niece Delaney on Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdon. This was her first ride on it and she loved it! We got to ride in front!

This is me and Tres at Buzz Lightyear's spaceship. He doesn't know it, but Tres is getting Buzz's ship from Santa for Christmas! Not THIS one, but we think he'll like it just the same!

You Goin' To 'Donalds?

Today, Tres and I were on our way to meet my sister Tonnie and her husband Brett and their little boy Luke for lunch. While we were driving, I was singing along to the radio and wasn't paying attention to Tres at first... then I noticed he was talking so I turned down the radio and listened. He was saying, "You goin' to 'Donalds?' (He was referring to McDonalds). Then he would say to himself, "I goin' to Donalds. I get chicken nuggets. You goin' to Donalds?" This type of 'conversation' went on until we got to Golden Corral! My poor baby needs some friends to talk to!

Announcing a new blog friend!

I have a wonderful friend Traci who has decided to give blogging a try! Visit her blog at http://tidmorefamily.blogspot.com!

McProject

I have been fortunate enough to be able to help out my buddy Mike McDaniel with a Praise and Worship project he is working on. It has been so much fun to get into a studio! How cool! On top of that, I get to spend time with Mike who I rarely get to see! We recorded some awesome songs... Everything, Shake the Foundation, Holy Spirit Fill This Room, and a bunch more. Some of my favorite were written by the minister of music at The Church at Chapel Hill, Brandon Divine. You can check out the church and even listen to some of Brandon's music on their website: http://churchatchapelhill.com. Go to the "More" section and click on listen.

McFamily! This is Mike, Barbara, Lindy, and Jessica McDaniel. This is one awesome family. They make you feel a part of their family.

Me and Tres at the end of the Buzz Lightyear ride. We must have riden this close to 10 times!

Hank at Epcott. He did pretty well hobbling around all the parks!

Cool daddy Tres on the Tea Cups. He loved riding all the rides!

The first couple of days at Disney... this was the only way we could get Tres near a character... in a dead sleep!

This is our "Future Mousketeer" in training!

What a cutie! And he loves his football!

Here is Henry John Boemer, III... Tres at 2 years old!

Order Restored?

Well, Hank is doing pretty well post-op. He is now putting pressure on his leg some and walking around with some confidence assisted by his crutches. Today finally feels a little normal. Tres came home from his visit with Hank's parents in Nashville. We were so happy to see that smiling face! And Bryant came home from an overnight visit to my parent's house. I finally had a chance to get our bags from Disney unpacked... a week later! And Hank finally felt up to downloading Disney pictures for me. I also had a chance to take our film to get developed.
I took Tres in to get his 2 year pictures taken. He did so good! He is talking so well for a 2 year old. Heck, he talks well for a 4 year old! His typical sentences are 5-7 words. He knows colors, numbers, and most of his ABC's. His memory is phenominal!
Bryant is growing by leaps and bounds! When we came back from Disney he was longer, and he also had a tooth! He is extremely responsive. He likes to stick out his little tongue and blow bubbles at you! And for the past couple of days, he has been saying Mmmm.... but only to me. So, naturally, we know he is saying momma! He can scoot and roll all over the floor these days! And he gets up on his knees and rocks back and forth, so while he is already mobile, crawling is immenent!
Well, our little family is done with traveling and surgery for a while (hopefully for a very long while on the surgery front!). So blogging should return to normal soon!

After a long week away... this little face was the sweetest thing to see!

This was this past Saturday night. We left Orlando and went to my sister-in-laws house and let the kids trick-or-treat at a few houses. Both Donovan and Tres absolutely had to be Buzz!