Every year the question is asked. "Where were you on September 11, 2001?" I always replay that day in my head on the anniversary of 9/11. People are right; you never forget where you were and the feelings you had, even 16 years later.
September 11, 2001- I remember being in the 7th grade, kneeling at my locker, getting my things ready for the day. My friend, Jessica, ran up to me and said, "Did you hear terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Centers?"
*I really didn't know what a terrorist was until this day. I knew what the word 'terror' meant, so I assumed 'terrorists' wasn't good.
*I had never heard of the Twin Towers before.
Once she told me this, it was like the hallways of our middle school were filled with whispers and cries about what was going on in our country. I still didn't realize the severity of what was going on. I shrugged it off and went to homeroom. Our teacher brought in a TV and this is where my heart sank. I remember the feeling I had watching the planes fly into the towers. My teacher standing with his hand over his mouth. Some of my friends crying around me from fear. The intercom going off calling kids to the office to checkout. I wanted to checkout. I still wasn't quite sure what was happening, but I knew I wanted to be with my mom.
September 11, 2001 was the first time in my life that I realized that our world wasn't as perfect and safe as my seventh grade self thought it was. Don't get me wrong, I knew about "Stranger Danger" and tornadoes that could demolish our house. I mean, if the news mentioned rain my mamaw had all of the grandkids hiding in her closet under the stairs. I knew about those dangers, but knowing that there were people who wanted to hurt Americans was unheard of. I remember the days after 9/11 and being scared whenever I saw a plane in the sky not knowing if it was going to crash into the mall or in the neighborhood I lived in. The fears and anxiety never really went away. My first airplane ride in 2006 to Disney brought back all the fears I had. "Would this plane crash, too?" Our family vacation to New York City in 2010/ 2011 gave me all the anxiety. We tried to get into Times Square for the ball drop on New Year's Eve and I was terrified. There were going to be thousands of people in such a small area. If someone wanted to hurt us then that would be a perfect time. The subways had me nervous. All the anxiety because of people who wanted to send our country a message of hate years before.
16 years later and I won't lie... I still have some of those fears. I think that day changed the way many of us (at the time) kids perceived our world. Our world opened up. It wasn't just 'small town Arlington' anymore where nothing bad happened. We lived in a big, sometimes scary, world. I learned that there is going to be hate everywhere, but I have to be the one to teach my children about love. They will be the change.
"Hate: it has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet." Maya Angelou
Monday, September 11, 2017
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
One Year Later Update.
One year has gone by that we started our journey full of therapies, doctor appointments, and a new school. It's been a year full of IFSP (individualized family support plan) meetings, PT (physical therapy) days, working with our SLP (speech-language pathologist) and EI (early intervention).
Welcome to the SPED (special education) world, full of acronyms for big, intimidating words. God knew what he was doing when he put on my heart to become a special education teacher. The SPED world of acronyms doesn't intimidate this momma anymore!
I don't think I can accurately put into words how proud I am of Sam. He has worked incredibly hard this year and it has shown in every aspect.
Let's start with physical therapy. We had his evaluation in June and his evaluating therapist looked at me and said, "I have been doing this for 11 years and he is one of three children who have "grown out" of their diagnosis." This is the therapists who pushed me to get Sam tested because he was showing all the signs of autism when she first worked with him. She gave me different neuropsychologists names to contact. She saw the same thing we saw: poor eye contact, no verbal speech, very independent, not meeting milestones for his age, didn't want anything to do with his classmates. To hear her tell us she couldn't believe this was the same child she evaluated a year earlier had me in tears in her therapy room. After this summer, we will go from physical therapy once a week to just evaluations every three months!
Our speech... I mean, Sam just literally looked at me and said, "hydraulics!" (Shoutout to Blaze and the Monster Machines for that BIG word!). He is saying sentences, telling us what he needs/ wants, and is being pretty bossy. "Mommy, you go to kitchen now!" We just got his PLOP (present levels of performance) this past week. *Keep in mind, Sam turned two (24 months) in December of 2016. We were significantly behind in our speech and language.* Since January of 2017, just six months ago, Sam has gone from being at 12 months in receptive language to 22 months! In expressive language he was 16 months and is now at 28 months! Hello! Please, look at this growth. I could not quit smiling and saying "thank you, Jesus" as I was looking over these scores last week.
Sam's social interaction has come so far. He used to just sit and watch everyone else play. Now, his teacher tells me that he brings toys over to other kids who aren't as mobile to play with them. Sam helped a blind friend play in the water at school. His friend kept asking him to pour water on his head so of course Sam did it! He has friends that he asks for by name; "Ben-Bett" is his best friend from school. Sam always wants to go to "BenBett's" mimi's house. He gets to have play dates with "Mommy Cake" at the splash pad and our house. If we put our swim stuff on he knows it's either to play with his "Mommy Cake"or go to his Honey's house. "Kayney" is his friend from church who he loves to sing and dance with. Watching him play with his friends makes my heart so happy.
It's been 8 months since I made the leap of faith to stay at home with Sam. Jovie was born in March and Sam is in love with his sister! He wants to kiss her head or hold her ALL the time. Sometimes, it gets to be too much lovin' for Jo and she lets him know real quick. If she starts crying he looks at me or Matt and says, "baby so sad." The growth that we have seen in Sam has been absolutely incredible. I am so excited to see the growth in the coming six months. God heard our prayers for our baby and he answered them.
I think this fortune Sam picked out the same day we got his present level report speaks volumes. When my mom sent it to me, I couldn't help but cry happy tears for my baby.
Disclaimer: We don't believe in fortunes BUT we do believe in signs from God.
Welcome to the SPED (special education) world, full of acronyms for big, intimidating words. God knew what he was doing when he put on my heart to become a special education teacher. The SPED world of acronyms doesn't intimidate this momma anymore!
I don't think I can accurately put into words how proud I am of Sam. He has worked incredibly hard this year and it has shown in every aspect.
Let's start with physical therapy. We had his evaluation in June and his evaluating therapist looked at me and said, "I have been doing this for 11 years and he is one of three children who have "grown out" of their diagnosis." This is the therapists who pushed me to get Sam tested because he was showing all the signs of autism when she first worked with him. She gave me different neuropsychologists names to contact. She saw the same thing we saw: poor eye contact, no verbal speech, very independent, not meeting milestones for his age, didn't want anything to do with his classmates. To hear her tell us she couldn't believe this was the same child she evaluated a year earlier had me in tears in her therapy room. After this summer, we will go from physical therapy once a week to just evaluations every three months!
Our speech... I mean, Sam just literally looked at me and said, "hydraulics!" (Shoutout to Blaze and the Monster Machines for that BIG word!). He is saying sentences, telling us what he needs/ wants, and is being pretty bossy. "Mommy, you go to kitchen now!" We just got his PLOP (present levels of performance) this past week. *Keep in mind, Sam turned two (24 months) in December of 2016. We were significantly behind in our speech and language.* Since January of 2017, just six months ago, Sam has gone from being at 12 months in receptive language to 22 months! In expressive language he was 16 months and is now at 28 months! Hello! Please, look at this growth. I could not quit smiling and saying "thank you, Jesus" as I was looking over these scores last week.
Sam's social interaction has come so far. He used to just sit and watch everyone else play. Now, his teacher tells me that he brings toys over to other kids who aren't as mobile to play with them. Sam helped a blind friend play in the water at school. His friend kept asking him to pour water on his head so of course Sam did it! He has friends that he asks for by name; "Ben-Bett" is his best friend from school. Sam always wants to go to "BenBett's" mimi's house. He gets to have play dates with "Mommy Cake" at the splash pad and our house. If we put our swim stuff on he knows it's either to play with his "Mommy Cake"or go to his Honey's house. "Kayney" is his friend from church who he loves to sing and dance with. Watching him play with his friends makes my heart so happy.
It's been 8 months since I made the leap of faith to stay at home with Sam. Jovie was born in March and Sam is in love with his sister! He wants to kiss her head or hold her ALL the time. Sometimes, it gets to be too much lovin' for Jo and she lets him know real quick. If she starts crying he looks at me or Matt and says, "baby so sad." The growth that we have seen in Sam has been absolutely incredible. I am so excited to see the growth in the coming six months. God heard our prayers for our baby and he answered them.
I think this fortune Sam picked out the same day we got his present level report speaks volumes. When my mom sent it to me, I couldn't help but cry happy tears for my baby.
Disclaimer: We don't believe in fortunes BUT we do believe in signs from God.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Thanksgiving or Mother's Day
"Mommy, I kiss you."
Oh. My. Gosh.... (Sam can also say "my gosh" now, but that's a blog post for another time 😑).
These four words mean the world to me when I hear them coming out of my two year old's mouth. This time last year Sam wasn't saying anything. Not mama or dada. Nothing.
This Mother's Day I am thankful for his words. Every new word and sentence we hear makes us so incredibly proud of Sam. I love to hear him repeat prayers at night. "Jesus, mommy, daddy, and GoGo. Sleep. Good day. Amen." That's usually how his prayers go and I know God knows exactly what he's saying. My absolute favorite sentence I hear is, "I luh you mommy" in a whisper at bedtime.
This Mother's Day I am thankful for this blessing in disguise that has allowed me to be at home with Sam and Jovie. I never thought that I would be at home with my babies at the age of 27. It is definitely one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I will say that God has given me more patience than I have ever had in my life. Shout out to whoever has been praying for me! I feel the prayers and the peace that comes with them. I love being able to drop off/ pick up Sam from school and talk to his teachers about his day. I love being at home with Jovie every day. Watching her beautiful blue eyes light up and a smile come across her face when I talk or sing to her makes my heart explode. I love kissing her fat cheeks over and over and over.
This Mother's Day I am thankful for both of my babies who fall asleep next to me every night. I selfishly didn't want Sam to get in a habit of sleeping with us every night but it's become one of my favorite things! He slept in his bed, in his room, with (usually) no problem. Once Jovie came home and he realized she was sleeping in our room it was over. He has been in our bed since. I love waking up in the middle of the night with an arm wrapped around my head. I love falling asleep with little fingersbrushing pulling my eyebrows. I love sharing a pillow with him. I love having Jovie sleeping peacefully in her pack-n-play right next to me. I know if she needs me I am an arm reach away from her.
This Mother's Day I am thankful for my mom. My mom has shown me what it looks like to be a selfless mom. To put your children first always. To pray fervently. Love unconditionally. Now that I am a mom, I know the fears that she had/has for us. The hopes and dreams that she has for us. She is our biggest cheerleader in life. I am thankful my babies have her as their Honey. Sam is crazy about his Honey and asks 12,068,083 times a day (we've counted) "Where Honey go? "Gam go Honey house?" Today and everyday I am thankful for her guidance, her patience, and her heart that gives and gives without question.
Oh. My. Gosh.... (Sam can also say "my gosh" now, but that's a blog post for another time 😑).
These four words mean the world to me when I hear them coming out of my two year old's mouth. This time last year Sam wasn't saying anything. Not mama or dada. Nothing.
This Mother's Day I am thankful for his words. Every new word and sentence we hear makes us so incredibly proud of Sam. I love to hear him repeat prayers at night. "Jesus, mommy, daddy, and GoGo. Sleep. Good day. Amen." That's usually how his prayers go and I know God knows exactly what he's saying. My absolute favorite sentence I hear is, "I luh you mommy" in a whisper at bedtime.
This Mother's Day I am thankful for this blessing in disguise that has allowed me to be at home with Sam and Jovie. I never thought that I would be at home with my babies at the age of 27. It is definitely one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I will say that God has given me more patience than I have ever had in my life. Shout out to whoever has been praying for me! I feel the prayers and the peace that comes with them. I love being able to drop off/ pick up Sam from school and talk to his teachers about his day. I love being at home with Jovie every day. Watching her beautiful blue eyes light up and a smile come across her face when I talk or sing to her makes my heart explode. I love kissing her fat cheeks over and over and over.
This Mother's Day I am thankful for both of my babies who fall asleep next to me every night. I selfishly didn't want Sam to get in a habit of sleeping with us every night but it's become one of my favorite things! He slept in his bed, in his room, with (usually) no problem. Once Jovie came home and he realized she was sleeping in our room it was over. He has been in our bed since. I love waking up in the middle of the night with an arm wrapped around my head. I love falling asleep with little fingers
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Golden Birthday. Golden You.
Matty's golden birthday is today! He's 27 on the 27th. Birthdays in our house can be kind of big deals.... Sam and I LOVE anyone and everyone's birthday 🎂
In honor of my golden boy's golden birthday I wanted to write 27 things that I love and appreciate about him and maybe a few random facts. I don't tell him enough how much he means to me.
1. 2016 was an interesting year for us. We found out we were pregnant and we also had to make important decisions regarding Sam's schooling and therapies. When I quit work to take care of Sam, Matt never once questioned it. He works so hard to take care of us so I can be at home with our babies.
2. He works hard without complaining.
3. Matt is a great listener. He listens to everyone who needs him and gives great advice.
4. Ask him anything about the Grizzlies and he will know the answer. If there were ever a Grizzlies trivia night you would definitely want him on your team 😊
5. He's the best diaper changer!
6. Every night he puts Sam to bed. Watching them on the monitor is my favorite.
7. This is a given BUT he's so crazy about both Sam and Jovie. When they were both born he looked at me and told me how beautiful they were. He's an amazing daddy.
8. I love watching him play with Sam. He makes these crazy sounds that Sam thinks are hilarious. Like the sound from that crazy Panda song.
9. He's a great bug killer... 😐
10. I love how he politely tells me when I get song lyrics or sayings wrong. "Court, that was close, but I think this is how the saying really goes." You mean it's not, "You just went from 1 to 180."
11. He tells me how great every meal I cook is. Even when I know it was the worst thing he's ever tasted.
12. I love watching him play the drums.
13. I admire his drive to finish his degree. For 18 months he studied and worked hard all while having a toddler running around, a pregnant wife, and work. On top of all that, he graduated with honors.
14. I love how one day his eyes are green and the next they are blue.
15. I love how he tells Sam how proud he is of him and his accomplishments.
16. His smile is my absolute favorite. So is his belly laugh.
17. He really is a great movie picker-outer. Most of the time I don't like the title of the movie and I don't want to watch it. Once he gets me past the title I actually enjoy the movie. 🙈
18. He is pretty funny. I mean, maybe not as funny as I am, but he's funny. Kidding, kidding... He's quick witted and makes me laugh all the time.
19. I love how sometimes he knows momma needs a break. He will send me to take a bath while he plays with the babes (and dogs).
20. He makes the best chocolate milkshakes!
21. Matty compliments me everyday. And he's absolutely sincere with each compliment that's made.
22. I love how mornings (especially Sunday mornings) we can all be running around like crazy trying to get out the door and I look over and he's stopped to clip his toenails. So random... I know. At the time, I get so angry, but it's really funny to me. He's the calm to my crazy.
23. I love listening to Matt lead us in prayer at meal time and bedtime with Sam.
24. He supports all of my dreams no matter how far fetched they may seem.
25. I love when we are watching a movie or show and he predicts the ending. And 100% of the time he is correct. It's like magic. I don't understand it.
26. Our conversations at night are my favorite. We may talk about work, the kids, Grizzlies facts, or just our lifetime dreams but I look forward to this time every night.
27. I love how creative he can be. He planned a Geocache proposal that was unforgettable. For my birthday one year he got me a blanket with Pippa and Presley on it. Seriously, one of my favorite gifts ever. I may have cried when I opened it...
Happy golden birthday, Mart! I love you more than you'll ever know.
In honor of my golden boy's golden birthday I wanted to write 27 things that I love and appreciate about him and maybe a few random facts. I don't tell him enough how much he means to me.
1. 2016 was an interesting year for us. We found out we were pregnant and we also had to make important decisions regarding Sam's schooling and therapies. When I quit work to take care of Sam, Matt never once questioned it. He works so hard to take care of us so I can be at home with our babies.
2. He works hard without complaining.
3. Matt is a great listener. He listens to everyone who needs him and gives great advice.
4. Ask him anything about the Grizzlies and he will know the answer. If there were ever a Grizzlies trivia night you would definitely want him on your team 😊
5. He's the best diaper changer!
6. Every night he puts Sam to bed. Watching them on the monitor is my favorite.
7. This is a given BUT he's so crazy about both Sam and Jovie. When they were both born he looked at me and told me how beautiful they were. He's an amazing daddy.
8. I love watching him play with Sam. He makes these crazy sounds that Sam thinks are hilarious. Like the sound from that crazy Panda song.
9. He's a great bug killer... 😐
10. I love how he politely tells me when I get song lyrics or sayings wrong. "Court, that was close, but I think this is how the saying really goes." You mean it's not, "You just went from 1 to 180."
11. He tells me how great every meal I cook is. Even when I know it was the worst thing he's ever tasted.
12. I love watching him play the drums.
13. I admire his drive to finish his degree. For 18 months he studied and worked hard all while having a toddler running around, a pregnant wife, and work. On top of all that, he graduated with honors.
14. I love how one day his eyes are green and the next they are blue.
15. I love how he tells Sam how proud he is of him and his accomplishments.
16. His smile is my absolute favorite. So is his belly laugh.
17. He really is a great movie picker-outer. Most of the time I don't like the title of the movie and I don't want to watch it. Once he gets me past the title I actually enjoy the movie. 🙈
18. He is pretty funny. I mean, maybe not as funny as I am, but he's funny. Kidding, kidding... He's quick witted and makes me laugh all the time.
19. I love how sometimes he knows momma needs a break. He will send me to take a bath while he plays with the babes (and dogs).
20. He makes the best chocolate milkshakes!
21. Matty compliments me everyday. And he's absolutely sincere with each compliment that's made.
22. I love how mornings (especially Sunday mornings) we can all be running around like crazy trying to get out the door and I look over and he's stopped to clip his toenails. So random... I know. At the time, I get so angry, but it's really funny to me. He's the calm to my crazy.
23. I love listening to Matt lead us in prayer at meal time and bedtime with Sam.
24. He supports all of my dreams no matter how far fetched they may seem.
25. I love when we are watching a movie or show and he predicts the ending. And 100% of the time he is correct. It's like magic. I don't understand it.
26. Our conversations at night are my favorite. We may talk about work, the kids, Grizzlies facts, or just our lifetime dreams but I look forward to this time every night.
27. I love how creative he can be. He planned a Geocache proposal that was unforgettable. For my birthday one year he got me a blanket with Pippa and Presley on it. Seriously, one of my favorite gifts ever. I may have cried when I opened it...
Happy golden birthday, Mart! I love you more than you'll ever know.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Another Adventure!
Being a stay at home mom has me looking for outside work to help my husband with a little of our income. I don't want to be too busy because I still want to be able to attend to our babies needs.
As of this week, my mom and I have started an online women's boutique called Honey Jo's Boutique. It will be rune by me, mom, and my two sisters when they have time. I am so excited that we have started this new adventure together. I still get to be at home with my babies AND work with my favorites! Make sure you visit Honey Jo's Boutique on Facebook to see all of our cute and affordable Spring clothes.
As of this week, my mom and I have started an online women's boutique called Honey Jo's Boutique. It will be rune by me, mom, and my two sisters when they have time. I am so excited that we have started this new adventure together. I still get to be at home with my babies AND work with my favorites! Make sure you visit Honey Jo's Boutique on Facebook to see all of our cute and affordable Spring clothes.
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