A Carter update

This is just a quick update on Carter's surgery. He will be having eye surgery on October 22nd around noon at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas. It will be for both eyes and will be an outpatient procedure. Please pray that everything goes well and for safety as we travel. We will be leaving at 5:30 that morning as they will be doing measurements and all pre-op that morning. I will probably post more that day or the next. Thank you to everyone who prays for Carter. I know that he would not be doing as well as he is if there were not people praying for him. God's hand is very evident in Carter's progress and we are very grateful.

Carter's doctor appointment

Tuesday we took Carter to the eye doctor in Dallas. Carter has alternating esotropia and we were going back to discuss possible surgery. They looked at Carter's eyes and didn't see any improvement. Surgery has been tentatively scheduled for August 27th at 12:30 in the afternoon. Please pray for us right now as all of this is tentative until we know what is going to happen with Aaron's back and work situation. God is good and takes care of his children, but we covet your prayers right now more than ever. Here is a picture of Carter at the doctor office. He is such a trooper. 

Carter turns 5!

My little boy turned 5 years old today. It's hard to believe but it's true. He has gotten so big he'll probably be taller than me in another 5 years. God has brought Carter so far with the help of some wonderful therapists in the last year it is almost mind boggling. Carter brings so much joy to people around him. Several of his therapists through the years have told me that if they are having a bad day coming to see Carter makes it better. All of our kids are blessings but God blessed Carter with a very sensitive and loving spirit and he has brought us a lot of joy. Please pray for us as we are taking him to the optamologist tomorrow. They will be looking at his eyes again and we will be discussing whether or not he will need surgery. If surgery is needed it won't be a major surgery but any surgery is a concern and we would appreciate your prayers. I'll try and update tomorrow with what the doctor says. Here is a picture of Carter with his birthday cake. He was very excited this year. I also found some pictures of him as a baby. It is amazing to see how far God has brought him and believe me it has been a long journey. God is good and has given us the grace we needed when we've needed it.

Carter in the NICU 

Carter was in the NICU for 2 weeks before he could come home

Having fun at the park with Mommy and Arica

YES! It's my birthday and I get cake!

Arica turns 8!

It's hard to believe, I know, but Arica turned eight years old Sunday. Time goes by faster and faster every year. She will be starting 3rd grade this year with a brand new teacher. School starts back up for her August 21st and I'm sure she'll be excited when it gets here. Arica has really been a big help around the house this summer and we are very proud of her. Happy Birthday Arica!

A great family day

 Today started bright and early with Aaron taking Bailey out for breakfast. She has now gotten to the age where she can start doing things with just her and Daddy. Then it was off to soul-winning and Kings Kids Clubs for the kids. After lunch we headed back to the church to help with the food pantry. Carter helps Aaron take food to people's cars and Arica helps me keep track of what number gets called next.

It is wonderful to have something we can all do together as a family that is a blessing to other people. After we were all done for the afternoon we came home and ate some delicious watermelon that was given to us today. It was a special treat after a busy day and the kids really enjoyed the watermelon. Here are some more pictures. Hope you have a great weekend.

Happy Father's Day

I just wanted to take a moment and say Happy Fathers day to my father- in- law and my Dad.
I want to thank you for all you have done as  fathers and let you know that even though all your kids are grown your sacrifices have not been forgotten.

To my father -in- law, thank you for raising a man that works hard and loves God and his family. I know Aaron learned how to work hard by watching you go to work day after day for many years so you could provide for your family. Thank you for raising him in church and giving him a good foundation to build his life upon. I want you to know that even though we live 1,100 miles away now, you have not been forgotten and we love you.

Grandpa Bruski with Aaron, John and all the grandsons

To my Dad, thank you for all you've done for me. Words can not express how grateful I am to have been raised by a father whose love was unconditional. I'm not sure if you will ever understand how much that meant to a horribly shy, insecure little girl. Thank you for working all those long hours so I could go to a Christian school. As a parent, I can now start to understand what that took. Thank you for taking me with you on your bus route in college. Even though I know I slowed you down, I'm grateful you allowed me to tag along. It gave me a greater appreciation for all God had given me, and taught me how to love people that had nothing to give in return. I watched you love the families on your bus route. I watched you teach them about a Heavenly father that loved them. I also watched you pray for them, rejoice when they did right and cry for them when they didn't. Honestly, it made me love you even more and want to serve God more. I could go on and on but I guess it all boils down to this. Thank you for being a Dad that loves God and taught me to love God. As a child we can never fully appreciate our parents. Now as a mother of three children I think I can be able to understand and appreciate better all the love and sacrifice that comes from being a parent. I love you and I'm thankful for all you've done for me. Happy Father's Day.

Our family with my Mom and Dad

Trying to beat the heat

It has been a hot week here in East Texas for us transplanted Yankees. It's already up in the 90's and pretty humid. When Aaron came home from work today he hooked up the hose and we all went out to play in the water. Here are some pictures of the kids that I thought you'd enjoy.

Bailey turns 3

It's hard to believe but our baby turned three yesterday. It seems like just a few short days ago she was born. She has brought a special joy to our family and we are thankful God saw fit to place her in our family. Here are a few pictures. Enjoy them she is quite the little ham!

Arica won a new bike

This year our Christian school started collecting box tops for education. To encourage participation they gave out prizes for the kids that brought in the most box tops. Arica turned in 631 and won a bike for turning in the most in the whole school. Thank you to all of you that sent their box tops to her. Keep saving them as the school is trying to raise enough money for new playground equipment. We appreciate any that you send.

School will be out this week for another year. Arica is finishing second grade and Carter will start Kindergarten this fall. Please pray for us as we have some important decisions to make about Carter and school this summer. We hope you have a wonderful summer. God bless!

Helping with the food pantry

This afternoon our family headed down to the church to help out with the food pantry. Every Saturday different families rotate helping distribute food to people in need. It is such a blessing to be part of a church family that does all it can to help people. It is good for our children to also be involved and experience the joy of helping others. I've included a picture of Carter helping Aaron take food to people's vehicles. Carter loves pushing the "buggy". ( I know it's really a cart but down here they're called buggies. Lol!)

Our tenth anniversary

This past Friday was our tenth wedding anniversary. We decided to get away for the weekend to celebrate. The Arrington's, some friends of ours from church, were kind enough to watch the kids for us and I think the kids had as much fun as we did.
Aaron and I decided to go to Natchitoches, Louisiana. We stayed at a bed and breakfast, a new experience for us, in Robeline. It was an old plantation house that had been moved in the 1870's to be a hotel by the railroad. We ended up having the whole place to ourselves and it was nice to get away. I've included some pictures of Natchitoches and of the kids.

They were having a Jazz festival the weekend we were there. :(
 So were weren't able to go down by the river without paying.
This is all the tents and booths and stuff they had set up down there.
The pontoon offers tours of the river.

Believe it or not that big yellow building is a bank.

The downtown historical district of Natchitoches

A special events area by the Cane river

The Cane river in Natchitoches

The kids helping with yard work.

Stone Arrington giving Bailey a ride.

Carter's turn getting a ride

Looking back at 2012

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT ON THIS NEW YEARS EVE TO REFLECT ON ALL THE THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN 2012. WE HAVE HAD SOME TRYING MOMENTS AND MOMENTS OF WORRY, BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN GOD COME THROUGH FOR OUR FAMILY IN SOME WONDERFUL WAYS. SO AS WE SAY GOOD BYE TO 2012 I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL GOD AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF HIS BLESSINGS. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO IN 2013. HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR! ENJOY THE SLIDESHOW.

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
We had a wonderful day together as a family. To top it all off we got a dusting of snow this evening. I think Carter was more excited about the snow than he was about his presents. Arica would have been too except she has been sick with the flu.
Hopefully the snow will still be there in the morning so the kids can play in it before it melts. Here is a picture I took out the side door. If the kids are able to play in it tomorrow I'll post more tomorrow.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Another trip to Dallas

Well, we made another trip to Dallas last Monday for more doctor appointments. We received all positive reports so we are very thankful for that. Carter is doing very well and his speech has even started picking up more. God has been very good and we are thankful for all the improvements we've started to see.
After all the appointments we took the kids to see ICE at the Gaylord Texan Resort. They really had a good time and it was nice to have some fun before heading home. Here are some pictures from our trip. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to take a minute and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and I think sometimes we forget just how much we are blessed. I hope you'll take a moment today to stop and thank The Lord for all he's done for you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you Lord for saving my soul
Thank you Lord for making me whole
Thank you Lord for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

Happy Veterans Day

Fall has arrived

We were on our way to church Sunday morning and Carter found a leaf on the ground that he really liked. After looking at it for a while he held it up in the air and said "star". To him it looked like a star and stars go in the sky.

It is amazing to me how simple things become something of wonder when looked at through the eyes of a child. Carter carried that leaf around all day and showed it to everyone he saw. It was a good reminder for us to stop and take a minute in our busy lives to appreciate the beauty of God's creation.

Family day

Arica had off school Thursday and Friday so we were able to take the kids to the park on Friday after Aaron got home from work. On Saturday we went to the Boardwalk in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was nice to have some time to spend having fun together as a family this weekend. Enjoy the pictures.

Dallas Again ?

This past Wednesday Carter, Bailey, Jessica and I headed out to Dallas once again. Carter goes to Dallas several times a year for various types of appointments. This time however was a little different, because we were meeting with a Neurosurgeon at the Dallas Children's Hospital. Wow, that's a big word. Carter had an MRI a while ago, and we had been awaiting the results of what they had seen and found. Instead of us receiving a good report of the MRI, we received an appointment with a Neurosurgeon. There's that big word again. I would like to think of myself as a brave, strong, calm Man but I was tore up on the inside for the last month or so not having any idea why, or what to expect from this appointment. We have gone through some things in the past with Carter, but the thought of neurosurgery seemed too much to bear at this point. The main concern was a tethered spinal cord. The MRI's will not always show it, so to be sure more in depth precautions were taken. The Doctors have never seen anyone like Carter, so we must always look at every option when making decisions about his treatment. But praise God, I can gladly report to y'all that after extensive study of all Carter's history and information, and upon a physical examination by the Doctor there is no need for Carter to undergo surgery for his brain or his spinal cord. God is good. We do not know why we were blessed with Carter, but I am very grateful for the special gift God has given us. I want to say thank you to all those people who pray for us and Carter. I also want to mention a couple families who time after time have helped watch the other children, so we could go and focus on our appointments with Carter. Thank you so much to Bro. and Mrs. Rick Story and to our good friends Bro. and Mrs. Arrington. Y'all have been a bigger blessing than I could ever express.

Carter needs a pick me up.

4th floor of the parking garage, looking across to the Hospital.

Carter always maintains His sense of humor. 

Carter turns 4 !!!!

It's hard to believe but today is Carter's fourth birthday. I couldn't help but remember when he was born. Holding him in the NICU looking at all the wires and the feeding tube I remember begging God to give him the strength and grace he would need. We had no idea what was wrong or why or what to expect. How little did we know that God had just given us a very special gift. God has been good to us and given Carter a special kind of inner strength but yet a very tender and loving heart. Daddy and Mommy are very proud of you and we love you very much.

We took Carter to play at Chuck E Cheese with one of his friends
from church. He had a really great time and loved riding this horse.