I am SO excited!

Okay so we headed to the mall for lunch, I was craving Houlihans farm house sandwich (my fav give it a try). After lunch we needed to burn some calories (btw every person that saw Blaine loved his hair....go figure) We headed into Pottery Barn Kids and O.M.G Brian and I both were WOWED and wanted this:






Brain and I are die hard Dr. Suess fans! I truly believe the books are for adults! LOL
We are so going to do the kiddos bathroom in this! We did a frog theme from there for Blaine when he was in utero so it is time to redecorate! I want the bed set for my room, but they don't make it in King- DARN YOU POTTERY BARN!

Where the heck is mom?

SERIOUSLY BRIAN!?!?!?!??!?!??!?! I know I have been somewhat preoccupied. I know you have been telling me to take him to get his hair cut, but REALLY?!?!?!? Did you have to Mohawk it, AGAIN! Like it was okay when he was 1 1/2, but c'mon, now what?! UGH, it was So much cuter then!

Can you feel my pain?

Leelyn's FIRST sled ride

why I said trip in the video shows how tired I am.

What time is it?

Here it is, 11:23 pm and I am still sitting here at this computer! I can't even begin to describe the burn out I feel! I have been working tooth and nail on my website and yes I am designing it myself. I can see why people pay big dollar to have someone do it for them. I like to take on a challenge, and this is IT! I am getting close to opening my doors and while I am ready, I am so nervous. Sometimes I am not sure that this is my time. Then I pray, then I doubt, then I pray, then I doubt.....I think I like to torture myself or something. I still have my hair so that is positive right!

Both kiddos now have strep, Blaine became ill yesterday which sucks because we have an awesome snow storm on the way. I hope they are better by Wednesday so we can play in it. Got to love the gym, germs everywhere! Now I say awesome snow storm because we haven't had one and I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow. I can't wait to sit Leelyn in it ;-) ha

This is why I serve my hubby beer

Because he gets out on the floor and builds beautiful displays like this:





He could just sit in his office......Well done babe!

Poor little man

We woke up to a very sick little man this morning. He had a fever of 103.4 with no 'ill signs' other then the fever. Turns out he has strep throat! My poor kiddos seem to stay ill. Our pediatrician said he has only had 1 other baby under a year old that had strep....guess who is his 2nd...ugh~

On a brighter note, I am officially meeting with an accountant next Wednesday (sorry Jen I had to cancel our lunch date) to go over all the major details of my soon to be up and going business. I am hoping that my website will be up and going by next week also, so stay tuned! My photo blog is also receiving a professional polished makeover ;-)I am so nervous but ready and excited also. I want to thanks all of my friends and family for your wonderful support during this transition. Most importantly Brian who has really stepped up and helped me out with the boys and house work. I love ya babe!

It AIN'T easy

being breezy! ha ha. Things have been chaos, simply chaos around here! Leelyn is cruising all over the place and he is into everything! He is pushing jar food away and wants what we have. We have been battling a rash with him because he has been getting what we have and it is obviously to rich for him.

Blaine is a game fanatic. I can't beat him at anything!!!! It drives me nuts, as does his smarty pants mouth he is getting! Ha It was a GORGEOUS day here in the Lou and so nice to walk the hood and let the boys get some fresh air.

We are set for our Tx trip, woot woot! Houston, Austin here we come! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to see our family and friends and our precious Godson and his new brother YAY!!! We are also celebrating Leelyn's 1 year birthday in Austin and I am so excited about that. I am looking forward to some warmer weather. OOOOOH and I get to go on a ride along with one of my bff's who is a cop, so exciting.

I am in desperate need of a little RnR, looking forward to the grandparents being around......ahhhh!!!

My friend has passed away

This little bird has hung around me since the beginning of last summer. I would go out and sit in my chair on the deck and here he or she would come....flying very close to me and then it would perch itself on the table next to me and hang out until I went in. If the kids were out with me, he would perch up on the deck railing.

A couple of weeks ago it was a warmer day so I headed out on the deck to pick up some things and here comes my little friend, like clock work. He perched right on the table, about 12 inches from me. Yes, I would chat with him.

This morning I went to set up a backdrop and O.M.G, my friend was in my chair on it's side passed away.

I am heart broken over this.

My little elf

Thi
Lisa Julia, my mentor, friend, idol made that for me. She is a natural, true talent. Check her art out, on my blog roll. Thanks you Lisa, we LOVE it, I can't wait to hang it up on my wall.

Praise the lord Jesus

THANK YOU, THANK YOU to EVERYONE for your prayers!!!! Leelyn is FINE! WOOHOO!!!! The reflux is no more and the left kidney has grown and is the size it should be! Praise be to the man above.

AWESOME news and we really just want to give thanks to everyone, for your prayers, emails, phone calls, text messages....thanks from the bottom of our hearts!

Did I say THANKS?????????

Sweet Leelyn, all smiles

I find it funny how yesterday I felt as if Leelyn held my hand comforting me. My precious little angel was all smiles and not one burst of cry from him. I was so relieved that they numbed him this time before inserting the cath, as last time they didn't and it was horrid.
We will hopefully receive the results this week, but the doctor who ran the test said he didn't see anymore reflux, and his right kidney look comparable to the left praise the Lord Jesus!
I feel like we will be putting this behind us, finally after 16 months. God is good!

Major props to my awesome husband

In STL once a month they have what is called a moonlight ride. Basically die hard bike riders (road bikes) get together on the full moon and ride starting at about 10 PM. Now, let me preface and say my hubby isn't in the best of shape. He has a very nice MOUNTAIN BIKE, not road bike and trust me, they are very different as you can imagine.
Our neighbor invited him and he decided to try it. Word was there is less riding and more drinking....not this night! Boy was Brian in for it. They rode from Dog-town to downtown...about 20 miles in FRIGID temps. on the major roads and bad areas. My poor honey wanted to give up numerous times but good ol' Jim was an awesome coach and pushed him like he has never been pushed! I think he set out for a good time and ended up I believe a changed man! In almost 17 years I have NEVER seen Brian like that when he walked thru the door at 4AM. I am SO proud of you Brian! I could not have done what you did and this story will go down in the books for the boys! Congrats to you babe, that was no small task! Brian has some shots that he took I will DL later if I have time.

Leelyn's VCU Kidney Procedure

Is scheduled for Monday the 12th. Please lift him up if you remember, we kindly thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We pray this will be the final set of tests and we can put this behind us- oh how I believe! ;-)

My farewell to 2008 blog

What a whirlwind of a year 2008 brought. First and foremost, our little miracle boy Leelyn Daniel Gourley born Leap Day 2/29/08, 20 3/4 inches 7.4oz via c-section. Most of you know the horrible time I had with this pregnancy and the fear of not knowing about his kidney's........(which leads me to state that our test is coming up, date will be announced for as many prayers as possible, thanks)





Our first meeting of our Godson Jace:




Some WONDERFUL friends I was blessed to hang out with and spend valuable time together:




Time spent in the ER (true to form) on our trip to Houston which was also Leelyn's first airplane ride and Blaines tenth I think: (now is a good time to mention all point and shoot photos here) LOL



Our first family of four vacation to Indiana Dunes, Ky, and Ohio:




We did a lot of travel this past year and are already jammed packed this year with trips. Our year ennded with a bang, pun intended with a car crashing into our home due to a drunk driver and just one or two more trips to the ER. I have met many wonderful people, rekindled one or two friendships thankfully and most importantly I am just happy that my family is here, healthy and happy.

Here is to a new year which has started off with a new addition: Cohen Michale Weed, my Godsons new baby brother. So long 2008, your memorise will be with us forever ;-)

Fruits of my labor

I really don't like having to cook every night, and I don't. Lastnight I was feeling blah and really didn't want to make dinner, but I did. Then, as I walked over to the buffet I turned around and saw this

and boy did I enjoy the fruits of my labor of being in the kitchen preparing this meal. All three boys chowing down, Leelyn included:


That little booger wants nothing to do with jar food anymore but he has no teeth, not one! Seems like we have been teething for months!

I also love it when dad comes home from work:


as does the boys!

Let me introduce

Cohen Michael Weed......my cup runneth over!

OMG- EXCITED

My BFF is @ the hospital ready to deliver! She is approximately 3 weeks early but......she had her OB appointment today and he told her to get to the hospital because she is 5cm and 90%!
Pray for her please!

YAY KIA, I can't wait to meet the little man, and see my Godson of course. Another miracle about to enter the world.

Thank You

To Jennifer M. my customer with the beautful 5 kids for offering to me for free those beautiful props, I am touched and honored you thought of me, wow!

Also, to my other friend Jenn for buying my landscape print, again honored and touched. I can't believe that my photos are actually hanging on walls in my clients and friends homes. It really is overwhelming to me and this feeling I have now will never ever go away. I almost don't know how to deal and handle these emotions I have right now.

I pray the good lord keeps me here in this place of such wonder and joy with my photography and that I grow and learn more every single day.

I must be dreaming........

thinking.....

I can't believe the responses I have received off that picture in my header on my photo blog....I mean I took it @ 80mph in our car, sure I spotted it ahead of us and saw such beauty in it, but I have had three people want to purchase it. I really don't know how to deal with that, LOL

Picture time

Back home! ughhhhh so much to do. True to form once again I had to get my pics. off the camera and onto the computer first, LOL I forgot my battery charger at my daddys and I am thankful John will be sending it to me asap!
Kids are feeling better, thank you Jesus! I have so many pictures, some I will post on my photo blog and you can also visit my flickr (to the right) to see my favs. Praying for a good start to the new year. Brain and I are committed to getting back into health. He did a healthy shopping today. My goals are all photo related and health related, God willing. As always, thanks for stopping by. Be well! xoxo