{Loose Caboose 5K}

My third 5K and I convinced my son to join in on the fun! Actually...I signed him up without his knowledge and being the great kid he is...he trained and ran and medaled! Love that kid.

{Brandi Parkinson, Me, JoAnn Williams, Blake, Tommy Parkinson}
They talked me into going on a group run to train. I've avoided group runs like the plague, knowing I'm the slowest one of the bunch and hating to slow down the rest of the group, but they talked me into it and it wasn't too bad. Brandi pushed me as she always does and they would double back and get me when I would get too far behind.

Group Training Run...Blake looking back to make sure I'm still back there! LOL.

{JoAnn Graham, Me, Brandi Parkinson}

These ladies are on the Praise Team with me at church and our so much a part of my life that I call them family. I don't know what I would do without them. We represent three different decades, but you would never know it by the close-knit friendship that we share.

Me & Brandi for our "every race photo"...LOL

{Me, Mom, & Olivia}

Mom & Jack came from Pocahontas to watch Blake and I race...Matt, Mallorye, & Olivia were there also. I can't tell you how much it means to know that your family is at the finish line cheering you on and waiting to see you...it helps keep you moving when you feel like you just can't climb another hill.

Me & Blake...he did such a great job. So proud of him for being willing to go along with his mom's crazy ideas. He has grown up so much this past year and I'm just trying to savor every moment.

Blake crossing the finish line at 23:29

...and since it's his first race...it's a PR for him and a good one at that!

 

Sprinting to the finish....

 

Crossing the finish line at 44:07...another PR for me!

So far I've managed to PR at every race, so although I'm slow...I am improving :)

Olivia snatched my post-race granola bar and just had her a little picnic on the pavement!

{Olivia & Mallorye}

I think Olivia was intrigued by all the runners and she loved the granola bar!

"Oh, were you eating this Nana?"

Mine & Blake's race bibs

Future runner in training...Adorable!

Blake won 3rd place in his division. Not bad for a first race...and barely sweating.

Blake & Tommy both brought home the 3rd place trophies for their divisions. Blake has a great mentor and role model right there.

Bucket of shoe tags after the race...where all good shoe tags must go.

Now...to get my plantars wart removed and train for the next race!!

{Laryngomalacia & Olivia}

Miss Olivia has had more than her share of illness since she came into this world 15 months ago, but this time it landed her in the hospital with dehydration and pneumonia.

Olivia has laryngomalacia which causes swallowing difficulties, coupled with the fact that she also has a laryngeal cleft. Her liquids are thickened to help with swallowing and prevent aspiration and she's on reflux meds to help as well, but sometimes Olivia just will not eat or drink causing dehydration.

Checking out her new ankle bracelet. She is an inquisitive child :)

I love that snotty nose....

Resting in Nana's arms. This was Day 1 of the hospital and a tough morning. Mallorye & Matt both had their last final and Olivia was needing admitted to the hospital, so I went and got her settled in to her room while they took their test. I know the agony of being pulled in different directions.

Full throttle! Bring on the fluids. This was the biggest obstacle...getting Olivia hydrated and keeping her that way. It's amazing how stubborn a little girl of 20 pounds can be.

 Olivia getting her "smoke" on with daddy & mommy.

Mallorye & Matt are the best parents for Olivia. I know they get frustrated with all the sickness and doctors...they just want their little girl to be healthy. Mallorye is a wonderful advocate and is constantly researching about LM and the best way to help Olivia. She pushes for the therapies that she needs and is not afraid to question the doctors if she feels things aren't progressing. Matt supports Mallorye and defers to her in all things medical. They are great together and Olivia couldn't have a better team fighting for her.

 Checking her oxygen level...something LM babies struggle with is O2 sats falling. It's important to keep a check on her levels and make sure they're not falling too low.

 Dancing with her puppy...even when this child is sick, she is a ray of sunshine! I'm certain most people don't even realize that she is sick because she just keeps smiling and singing and dancing. A lesson we all could learn.

 Giving Nana's kisses away to her Elmo balloon! LOL

A rare moment of Olivia being still and watching cartoons...we know she's sick when she's still!

Check out these links for more information about laryngomalacia (LM);

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Coping with Laryngomalacia

*side note: Olivia spent 3 days in our local hospital and then was released only to be readmitted to Arkansas Children's Hospital for 3 days with dehydration again. An EGD, MRI, and skeletal scan were done to make sure there wasn't something additional going on and all was normal. I cannot stress how important it is to encourage drinking in the LM child.

{Mother's Day 2013}

Mother's Day weekend 2013 might go down as one of my favorites. We spent Saturday at my mom & Jack's....me & my kiddos, my sis & her kiddos, and mom & Jack. It was almost perfection.

The day was gorgeous and Jack & mom made a wonderful lunch for us. We enjoyed time outside, swapping stories, laughing and just good ol' fashioned family time.

 Mallorye & Olivia...that little girl adores her momma and her momma adores her. Watching them together is a breath of fresh air for me.

 Squealing with delight...oh how I wish pictures had sound! You would just die at the sound of those precious giggles.

 Me & my little sis...Tiffany. I remember when we didn't even like each other much...and now we're best friends. Amazing how time draws us close to the things that truly matter.

 Being goofy...

 I really love this girl! My family is the best. We absolutely are crazy!! And love to have fun...above picture as Exhibit A

 Me & my baby boy on Mother's Day...I still have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that he only has one year of school left...then college. I'm not ready.

 Me & the one who made me a mom. She has been my guinea pig on all things mothering and has survived with a smile. Now, I get to watch as she tests her wings as a mom...I might add, she is doing a fabulous job!

 My first born with her first born!

 Me & my momma...we've seen plenty of ups and downs, but this woman has taught me what it means to persevere. I know many of her choices in life were for me and my sister...I know she put some of her own dreams on hold for us...she has taught us what it means to savor life and to cherish each day as if it was your last....to not be afraid to just be yourself...and that its ok to make yourself happy. I love you mom!

 Mothers Day Picture take 999

I love this picture...me, glaring at the camera as if to say "just take the dang picture." Blake and his dopey grin and Mallorye laughing hysterically at how many times it takes to get a good picture of us three!

 Finally...almost perfect. Except I'm looking at the wrong camera and you can't see Olivia  pulling on her mommas leg...that I cropped out...LOL..but I'll take it. My kids. My life.

 My sisters youngest...Caleb...the thinker (or dreamer)...

My sister, my mom, & me.

Three women who have journeyed through some tough wilderness, but you won't find more strength or love than in the hearts of these.

My sister and her boys...Daniel & Caleb

A mother of boys is no trivial task...she is a hero!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

{Lest Anyone Forget...}

Lest anyone forget, an entire post dedicated to my awesome son, Blake!

Since becoming a grandmother, most of my pictures end up being of sweet little Olivia and much of my conversation is about what cute little thing she's done or how much she's growing. It's tough to be a grandma when you still have a child of your own at home, so today, I wanted to share with you my favorite man-child.

 Uncle B teaching Olivia how to roll the basketball...gotta start them out early...and of course, Olivia is cheesing it up for the camera.

 This is the tender side of Blake that most people don't get the privilege of seeing. He is so patient with Olivia and that little red-headed spitfire adores her Uncle B. Watching him with her, assures me that someday he'll make an excellent daddy. I've witnessed this same tenderness and patience with his cousins and the children at church. I pray he always remembers that little people are watching him and following where he leads.

 Blake definitely dances to the beat of his own drum and I'm so thankful! Who wants "cookie cutter people?" Be an individual!

 FYI: Don't ever tell Blake that he won't do something. He most certainly will!

He is riding Olivia's rocking horse down the sidewalk in front of our house...I made the mistake of saying that he wouldn't do it...but of course, he did.

 The boy has mad skills! This is his balance-a-quarter-and-2-forks-on-a-glass trick. Now that's just pure talent right there. If ever you're in need of some random trick or useless information, such as, the medical term for inhaling volcanic ash (Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis: I know this because Blake has told me a million times) then Blake is your go to guy!

 The goofy, fun-loving side of Blake.

I'm not sure how many people really get to see this side either, but this kid loves to have fun and I encourage it. Life is too short to take too seriously.

 I think he makes a pretty cute spider man.

 He towers over me, but he will always be my baby boy with eyes so big & brown.

One of my favorite things to do is watching him play ball and cheering him on. I yell louder than anyone, but he swears he can't hear me. Tunes me out and focused on his game...LOL.

 Getting some instruction from the Coach Lindsey...yes, Blake is the tallest on his team.

 I know the picture is a little blurry, but I had to add it. Basketball is one of Blake's passions. I'm certain when anyone mentions his name, basketball is the first thing that comes to mind...it's what he's known by, what he's passionate about. I can't wait to see how he improves his senior year.

Sometimes, you gotta sit the bench. Although not his favorite place to be...he never complains. He just waits it out and does his best once he's on the court.

I love this kid and can't believe he will turn 18 in a few short months and that in a year he'll be graduating. Where has the time gone? I just want to freeze it for just a little while.