Friends...

I have been teased for "collecting" best friends.  Doesn't the title "best" friend, imply only one?  Well, I have quite a few and they all hold VERY special spots in my heart. 

At church on Sunday I dropped the kids off and as I walked upstairs to the service realized it was my last Sunday and teared up.  I am really sad to be leaving this place I really didn't want to come to.  After singing they had a brief children's sermon.  During it she talked about Ebenezer- the God who REMEMBERS.  And that got me thinking...about Jenny who was my first friend in kindergarten when we moved from MA to DE.  I do not remember much about that move- just that I didn't like it!  I was only five and we moved in the middle of the year.  Jenny was one of my first friends and her family invited my family to Brandywine Valley Baptist Church- where we went for the next ten years.  Where I met Jesus and asked him into my heart.  Where I was baptized.  Where I made MANY good, lifelong friends (Julie, Laura, and more!).  This got me thinking and I am opened my bible and started writing out each major life change I have had- and the friends God had blessed me with in each season.  I more than filled the page.  I ended with "Amherst, MA.......God will fill this in too"  Thank you Lord for the MANY friends I am blessed with- all over the world! 

Now for pics- my friends here in State College surprised me at the park yesterday!  I was going to meet Laura- mom to Olivia's best friend Lily- and before I knew it I recognized all the cars pulling up!  Cameisha, Christine, Erica, Jess, and Becca all came too- with their accompanying children, now numbering 7 with one on the way! 

Hannah, just two and half weeks old, Jack, and Isaac

Lily, Breanne and Olivia eating lunch- well chips and cookies at least!

One with the Moms!  Me, Cameisha and Laura with our girls!

Olivia, Lily and Annalise playing in the sand- Annalise lives across the street from us and is also moving this weekend- just across town to a great house her parents bought.  Thankfully they move Sat and we leave Friday- I don't know if our little street could handle two 26 ft trucks on the same day!

Checking out the creek!

Connor too!!!!

ChickFilA Leadercast

As you may know, we are fans of ChickFilA- very disappointing when we missed out on the opening festivities when it came to State College in October 2010 but since then have lost no time becoming regular attenders- Nate especially!  He even played a trivia contest and won 52 free sandwiches!  Olivia loves to go too and says "dip dip dip" as she dips her chicken, french fries and fingers in whatever sauce she can get her hands on!  This fall our friends Mark and Hope started working there part time and through them I think Nate met the owner, Bruce who is a great guy.  And found out about the leadercast- he was pumped to go!  It was held at the church right on our street and that morning while Olivia and I had breakfast Hope texted me to say that the cow was there and available for hugs:)  (it was Mark, who is one of Olivia's favorite people!)  We walked as fast as a two year old can to see the cow- and Daddy too I suppose:)  She was kinda freaked out at first but eventually warmed up and then asked about going back for a long time after...and even mentioned seeing the cow at the mall with Aunt Liz in MA!!! 

Olivia Checking out the car, not sure what to think just yet...

Daddy says he is ok...

Closer...

A hug!!!  I love the ChickFilA Cow!

Can I stay here all day Dad?!

Baby/Toddler Dedication

On Mother's Day we dedicated Olivia and Isaac.  Even though we will be leaving this church soon (yesterday was our last Sunday, and I cried on the way home...) we went ahead and had them dedicated here- this church will always be part of our story.  And as a bonus our friend Grayson was dedicated with us too!  He was born just a few days before Isaac.

Pool!

There has been a request for more pictures of the kids (Liz, liked by Meredith:))and as I just downloaded this months pics many blog post ideas came to mind...I will start with the most recent and go backwards and see how far I get...


This weekend the POOL opened!!! And although there is a pool in our new condo complex in MA, the pool here is like a waterpark, walking distance from our house!  Last year we had pool passes and went almost everyday- it was fabulous!  Olivia was just getting good at walking early in the summer and by the end she was content to sit and play...its awesome to see her there this year. 


Saturday morning the pool opened with Dollar Days!  We were the third group in the door I think with our friend Ava.  Olivia had NO fear this year and wanted to do everything all by herself- even the deeper water:\  Isaac thought it was pretty cool too:)  We are heading back again today when it opens in an hour...we will miss you welch pool!!!

Caroline Health Update

Well, I want to update you all, though unfortunately I do not really have any answers, just an update...

I had a FNA biopsy on Wednesday May 9th.  Truthfully, it was much more painful than I remember, but "successful."  They were looking at a lymph node on each side of my neck, just below my jaw.  In my past FNAs, they looked right in the center of my neck.  On Friday my doctor called with the results and now it makes sense why this FNA was a bit different than my others. As it turns out, what showed up in my ultrasound was two lymph nodes that do look larger than "normal"- but just barely!  By .3 cm if I understand correctly.   They did NOT find any thyroid cancer- Thank you Lord!  However, there are too many similar white blood cells in them- I think there are supposed to be lots of different kinds, but mine are only showing up as one kind.  SO, I was referred to an ENT doctor who thus far has been great.  This last Friday, the 18th, I had an amazingly simple CT scan and met with him again today.  There are no tumors in my lymph nodes, but they are slightly larger than "normal."  A biopsy/removal is recommended but first we are going to try an antibiotic to see if that shrinks the nodes at all.  I am under strict orders to see an ENT doctor as soon as we move- if you have any recommendations, please let me know! 

Basically I think they are looking for lymphoma- which is super scary to me, even though I don't really understand the disease, and many tears have been shed.  However, this doctor said he would bet money I do NOT have it...  We just need to track down a bit more what is going on in these nodes.

Please pray that we, especially me!, rest in God's arms and not my own.  I do okay when I am not thinking too much about it, but when the doctor calls, about anything, I get nervous again.  And please pray we find some great doctors in Amherst- again, recommendations greatly appreciated!!!

On a happier note, we had some amazing family photos taken a week ago- check them out here:

http://stephaniedee.wordpress.com/

We drive out of State College in 11 days!!!!

Isaac - Two Months

Isaac had his two month checkup on Wednesday and he was a champ.  The appointment included three shots!  He does not cry often so when he got the shots, his face was SO red and eventually he made a sound, but really it was all bottled up in his face!  Poor guy!  

However, he is NOT a little guy!  He weighed in at 13 pounds, 9 oz and measures 24 inches- around 80th percentile.  It was not until late last night though that I realized just how big he is when I looked in Olivia's baby book to find that she didnt weigh this much till she was PAST four months old!!!  I thought his clothes were getting a little tight, but now I know why!  He is a great eater and sleeper and I guess it is serving him well!!!  He is a happy happy baby and we are so grateful!!!