where has time gone?

Time has been going fast around here. I hit my 12 year mark of training martial arts. It has been a long journey filled with tons of hard work, lots of sweat, tears, some blood and a couple of broken bones...and a Fourth degree Black Belt. It is something that I use in my daily life, it's something that I know can use defend myself or others at any time, it's something that I can help others do and use as well.

I got my second call from preschool saying Torie hurt herself. This time, she was standing on the slide and fell off-head first into the mulch. Her poor face was scrapped and I really thought she was going to have a black eye. I felt bad that she scared her teachers. Luckily, Aunt Kim picked her for me and kept a close eye on her until I got off work.

She was not happy that I took her picture. She even told me to throw it away!

Torie also made it through her first year of preschool. She loved her teachers and we enjoyed her end of the year party at Rock Island. I wished I had taken my camera but I wasn't thinking too well!

At the beginning of the month I took some pics of Kacie and her boyfriend Sean. He is leaving soon for the National Guard, and we wish him all the best!!

On the other side of the pictures was the rising river. It was flooding in Nashville that weekend, and our river was quickly rising as well.

Needless to say, we didn't spend too much time on the greenway.

11 years!!

Can you guess what happened 11 years ago today?? I'll post pictures this weekend, but I will give you a hint-It's been one of the best journey's of my life!!! Let me know what you think!

april brings..

April showers bring May flowers! I love seeing all the blooming flowers, and new spring life!! Torie also loves the flowers, and enjoys blowing all the dandelions. she also enjoys picking random flowers when we walk around the block. I just haven't the heart to explain we don't put dandelions and other various weeds in the vase. she is too sweet. Mother's Day is coming soon-have you made plans for your mom yet? I already know what I am giving my mother, something I know she can and will enjoy!! I hope everyone enjoys the weekend. I am very much looking forward to the photoshoot I have planned.

it's almost over...

The school year is almost over!! I am excited to know that Torie has done well at school, but kinda sad at the same time. Sometimes I wish I was a school teacher so I could spend the summer with her... I feel like I am missing so much right now, and it is really getting to me. Do all working parents feel this way? Anyone have any ideas how I could stay at home and still pay bills? LOL. ugh, if only we could sell the other house. well, I would be a step closer anyway!

It's official!

We are putting our old house up for sell! Papers have been signed, and things seem like they are good to go! I am excited to get rid of the house payment, but kinda sad at the same time. That house has almost all of Torie's 1st's...1st bites of food, 1st steps, 1st crawl-1st potty training experience..all the good stuff, lol. BUT, we are happy with the house we are living in. Torie is growing up in the house Paul grew up in, so it's kinds fun. If anyone wants to buy a 2 bed room house with a privacy fence let me know!!

walk around the block...

I believe Torie has enjoyed her spring break. She got to play with her cousins and enjoy some of their birthday cake. yes, both my niece and nephew are a year old! Happy Birthday you two! Torie got to meet a former student of ours, Lindsey, who spent a few days with us. It was fun. Lindsey is a very smart girl-top 9% in her class! But she had to make her way back to Fl, so we will have to plan another trip soon.Tonight, after eating supper at the picnic table, we walked around the block a couple times. 2 laps = 1.2 miles. Torie made all but one side of the last lap!! That is the most she has done when we take our family walks. It was tons of fun to see her run with Paul and Andre (black lab). The 2nd lap we took Alexa(husky), and I ran with her. Paul and Torie ran most of the 2nd lap. I am very proud of her! And no dogs tried to attack me this time-woo hoo! Tomorrow is back to school for everyone, and back to the daily grind. School is almost out, so we are making plans for the summer! Hmm, Florida in summer or fall? I think Fall, but that's just me. We shall see!!

she's getting so big!

I have spent the past several days reflecting Torie's surgery. If I think about what we were doing 3 yrs ago at this moment in time, I can honestly say it scares me. It scares me to think about what could have happened, and what could still happen, what Torie's life will be like 10 years from now, and even 20 or 30 years from now. But at this minute, in real life, she is sleeping. I wish my cell pic was decent enough to post here. Torie was holding her Dora ball, and as she fell asleep, she slowly leaned onto the ball. the ball is now her pillow!! Torie was at karate last night and grabbed my hands are started singing ring around the Rosy! It was too cute! This was the very first time she sang the whole song all by herself. She is growing, and I love it. We are getting ready for a huge yard sale next weekend and Torie is 100% okay with getting rid of her old toys and what not. I even had to stop her from giving up her newest Christmas toys, lol. But I am proud of her willingly giving away things. I love planning Torie's birthday parties n advance...I mean, several months early. I had her 2nd birthday party planned 7 mos before her party! So of course I am already thinking of her 4th. I told Paul last night that maybe we should just go with Independence Day. Not just because her birthday is July and everything is about our freedom, but because Torie is becoming more independent! We put her on a scale the other day and she weighed almost 36 pounds! I was shocked. No wonder why she hurts my back!! I am doing my best to remember all the good things about Torie's time in the hospital. Yes, the first 48 hrs were full of scary times. But I met some wonderful people there! There was a little boy 2 rooms down in the picu. He was probably 2 or 3. He had no visitors. None. No family or anyone else. It was very sad. How could someone leave their baby alone like this?? Then it hit me...maybe the parents didn't have custody? The grandma next door asked me and I said I had no idea, only that I was praying for him as much as mine. Well, grandma asked the nurse! LOL. The nurse simply said he didn't have parents anymore....But he should have someone right? Well, no one ever came for him. The 3rd day in picu, he began crashing. The cardiothracic surgeon, the cardiologist and the residents all came running. The nurses closed off the hall and that little boy had emergency open heart surgery RIGHT THERE IN THE PICU!! I still remember the moment I realized what was happening. I prayed as hard for him and the doctors as I did Torie. The boy was still in the picu when Torie was moved to the cardiac floor, so I have no idea what ever happened to him. But I hope he is doing well.
Torie and I will enjoy the warm weather when she wakes up. My knee hurts and has a ton of pressure on it ( i have a pocket of fluid on my knee) but I am walking the block. and this time-I am carrying the Freeze + P spray! For those that don't know, a neighbor's dog tried to attack me last weekend. Thank God for Alexa (Torie's husky) who jumped between me and the attacking dog. She scared him away!! This time, I will spray it.