Feels Like Today....

Good morning everyone! Some of you may have already noticed that I woke up on the right side of the bed this morning if you are following me on Facebook or Twitter. It is such an amazing feeling to get up excited about what the day has in store for you again.

Just a couple of days ago, life was much different. If you ever thought that your WHOLE life couldn't change overnight or even over the course of a day.....you are wrong. We all know how it feels to think that the whole world is against you, nothing will ever be good again, life sucks, times are too hard, etc. etc. God IS good. He WILL take care of us.

It is crazy how life's events happen, how we don't understand them at the time, & how we want to be in control of everything that affects us. When we finally let go, trust the Lord, give Him our lives, & accept that HE is control (& be okay with that), He just might bring you what you needed all along.

The other day my life changed in an instant. It took a turn that I never expected. Something that I would have never seen coming. I haven't stopped smiling since Tuesday & my face is starting to hurt. I have slept 6 hours  in the last 50 & I feel amazing. Despite my lack of sleep, people I see in the halls laugh at me because I am glowing. It is an awesome feeling & I am so thankful that the Lord is blessing me with this.

The last two & a half years of my life have been such a roller coaster. I am ready for a change. I am ready for what the Lord has in store for me. I have seen a light at the end of the tunnel & I am running towards it. I feel like I can't get there fast enough. I can't explain this feeling & I have tried for two days.

Which brings me to my title today. Watch the video, read over the words, & enjoy. I will never get tired of music & how certain songs can get down into your heart & make you feel wonderful inside & out. It is early this morning & I think I have listened to this song 15 times already. :)

I woke up this morning

With this feeling inside me that I can't explain

Like a weight that I've carried

Been carried away, away

But I know something is coming

I don't know what it is

But I know it's amazing, you save me

My time is coming

And I'll find my way out of this longest drought

[Chorus:]

It feels like today

I know it feels like today I'm sure

It's the one thing that's missin'

The one thing I'm wishin'

The last sacred blessin'

It feels like today

Feels like today

You treat life like a picture

But its not a moment frozen in time

It's not gonna wait

Til you make up your mind, at all

So while this storm is breaking

While there's light at the end of the tunnel

Keep running towards it

Releasing the pressure, that's my heartache

Soon this dam will break

[Chorus x2]

Feels like, feels like your life changes

Feels like feels like your life changes

It's the one thing that's missin'

The one thing you're wishin'

The last sacred blessin'

Feels like today

Feels like

Feels like your life changes

Feels like

Feels like your life changes 

Thank you all for your support, prayers & wishes for Kayleigh's birthday. You are an amazing group of people & I am so blessed to have you all in my life!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Kayleigh Bear!!

        

In this world we live in, experiencing the birth of a child is beyond any emotional understanding. We crave the excitement and milestones that are set from each passing day for nearly ten months until that child graces our presence away from the womb. Envisioning a perfect world with a perfect pregnancy is what many people live for, sharing their love and building a life that will once touch the lives of others. No one is ever prepared for trouble, no one is ever prepared for fear and no one is ever prepared for what God's plan is. We are prepared only to take what God has given to us and make it better through faith, hope and love.

In December 2007, Aimee and Adam Freeman brought a souvenir home from Disney World. Her name was to be Kayleigh Anne Freeman and little did the Freemans know, this precious girl was going to touch the world. Several months in to their pregnancy, a routine check up at CMC's Maternal Fetal Medicine downtown, was given to determine the sex of their baby, but only grim news was given that their precious little one was not going to survive much longer.

Fear of losing Kayleigh was at the tip of everyone's mind. There was zero expectancy of survival as Kayleigh had too long to go and too much to grow before she could grace our presence in this world. The Freemans bought a fetal doppler so they could listen to the heart beat morning, day and night. They wanted to know when her heart had taken it's last beat. Days turned into weeks and into months as Kayleigh kept fighting. Every doctors visit was exciting because they made it to another milestone, but left saddened as the unfortunate diagnosis of severe IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction) determined Kayleigh's growth was still falling behind.

Ten weeks later, Aimee was stricken with severe preeclampsia and was rushed to the CMC-Main in Charlotte, NC. Fear of losing Aimee, Kayleigh or both was torture to the family, but keeping faith through it all was strengthening their hearts. Time was not on their side as they feared Kayleigh would not reach a viable weight to live outside the womb. She would have had to grow over 150 grams in the past two weeks to reach that viable weight and she had only grown 300 grams in the past 28 weeks. Kayleigh's survival was looking very doubtful at this point in time because only God could bless Kayleigh with that kind of growth. And you know what? He certainly did. The test showed that Kayleigh had grown an unbelievable 170 grams since the last measurement two weeks prior.

That early morning on June 23rd 2008, Aimee's symptoms began to worsen and at 3:00 AM, she was rushed in to the delivery room where this one pound miracle from God was delivered. Kayleigh weighed an astonishing one pound, one ounce and was only ten and a half inches long. After five of the longest minutes, the neonatal team was able to insert a breathing tube into Kayleigh's lungs to allow her to breath. She was quickly rushed up to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) where she would continue to fight the battle to survive for the next ten months.

Kayleigh's fight would soon be heard across the world through the internet, on major news stations and the television daytime show, "The Doctors." Families across the globe would stand fast and pray for this beautiful little girl who faced battle after battle, and would continue to defy the odds of survival to show that anything is possible. Kayleigh faced seven major surgeries and was one of the smallest children to ever undergo open heart surgery at three pounds. Her surgeries included ROP eye surgery, bowel exploratory surgery, open heart surgery for VSD repair, tracheotomy, bilateral hernia repair, nissen fundoplication, and PEG placement.

As Kayleigh endured her final surgery that would soon bring her home to the beautiful pink and brown room her parents prepared for her, she lost functioning of her brain and her health deteriorated soon after causing her to go to Heaven on May 11th, 2009.

Kayleigh will never be forgotten at CMC or in the hearts of all of those who followed her miraculous journey. She was given a purpose to touch many lives through faith, hope and love. Kayleigh's parents are blessed that God gave them ten months with Kayleigh and they know this will not be goodbye forever.

Kayleigh is made new and is healthy in Heaven, waiting for her parents to hold her, kiss her and rejoice in the wonderful life they shared together. Time on earth is but a grain of sand on the largest beach compared to the time the Freemans will spend eternity with Kayleigh in Heaven. All of Kayleigh's family, doctors, nurses and prayer warriors are beyond proud of their one pound miracle and they all pray your life will be touched by her amazing journey.

Just click to view "Kayleigh's Story" and follow the ups and downs of her miraculous journey and how her strength touched the world. On the right tool bar are the "Archives" and you can follow it all the way back from the beginning. All we ask is that you grab some tissues and get ready to be touched by this "One Pound Blessing from God"

To see 15+ minutes of the most precious Kayleigh photos, click on the link at the top of her home page, "Kayleigh's Videos" and enjoy in the beauty of an Angel.

"Happy Birthday Sweet Kayleigh, We ALL Love You So Much!!!"

Mommy & Daddy (post written by daddy)

Ready To Go

I am so excited to write but I am getting started a little late & I have to be up early for work. Tomorrow is a double so it is going to be a long one. I work 9-3 & then 3:45-11:30. If I don't post now, it will be Wednesday night before I can.

Before I get started I want to thank everyone for all of the kind words over the last few days. I know that many of you also reached out to Adam to wish him a Happy Father's Day & that really means a lot to me. He is an amazing father to Kayleigh & it is my pleasure to honor him for her. I feel like I want to keep babbling here, but I will just leave it at that. Nothing is coming out in words the way it is in my head.

This weekend was great. We did a lot of hanging out on Saturday due to the over cast sky & not beach friendly weather. We had hamburgers for dinner & went to get doughnuts for breakfast this morning. I was trying to live it up before the diet started.

Today we spent the day at the beach & all of us are feeling it. Even though I am darker than I have ever been in my life, I am still sporting a gorgeous lobster red color this evening. Luckily, I am not hurting too badly though. We had a nice dinner, went to the store to stock up on yummy diet food, & then we walked nearly three miles on the loop.

The kids helped me portion out my oatmeal for the next three weeks, make rice, get blueberries together, & portion green beans. I am pretty set & pretty excited actually. Did I just say that? Excited to eat bland, plain, food....YES! I don't know why, but I really am. I feel like something bigger is going to happen here.

Tomorrow is going to be tricky with dinner because I only have 45 minutes to drive home, take out the dogs, change, & get to job two. I can't really eat dinner then. It will have to be a snack. Eating dinner for me is at midnight & I don't care how healthy the food, I don't feel good about eating & crawling in bed. But, I will be starving so I think I am going to do some egg whites. Any other ideas anyone?

I won't be able to do any exercise either over the next two days, but I guarantee that I get my workout at the restaurant. Heavy trays, running back & forth, up & down stairs, sweating from the heat, etc. Not working out won't be a problem. LOL

I was just thinking as I was writing all of this that I need some support. Who is it going to be? Who is going to jump out of their comfort zone & do some serious life changing for the next month? A simple 30 days. Will it be you? I need you!

Happy Father's Day 2010

I just wanted to say Happy Father's Day to Adam. It breaks my heart that our sweet Angel is not here on Earth to celebrate with her daddy. I hope that he will somehow feel her presence today. Adam - Brandon, Allyson, & I all miss you very much. You are never far from our hearts, thoughts, & prayers. We love you! Happy Father's Day!

   

Happy Father's Day to Mike & all of the other Fathers as well!

   

A Healthier Lifestyle...

Today is one of those amazing days that I haven't had in over four months. Since the kids were with their dad last night & I didn't have to work today...I slept in until noon! It was awesome. We then packed up, went down to the beach for two hours until it became overcast, & then the kids went to play with friends. I have been able to sit in front of my computer, focused, & working on a few things that I have been meaning to work on for the longest time.

One of those things is getting back on my diet/healthier lifestyle. I have dabbled in dieting but it has been hard to stay on track without being prepared each week. So, I just spent the last hour or two looking through foods that I can cook quickly, at work, on the go, etc. that I don't have to worry about spoiling, making a huge mess, or getting boring. One of our biggest negatives before was salad. I love salad, however, cleaning the lettuce, chopping it, putting it away, cleaning up the mess, & then eating it all before it went bad just wasted so much time & money. So...no salad...for now.

Here is my meal plan.

Breakfast

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 cup of fruit - (depends what is on sale that week) 

Choices are strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, apples, or bananas.

1/2 scoop of protein powder

Lunch

Gorton's Grilled Fish Fillets or fresh fish

1/2 cup brown rice

1/2 can green beans

Snack

Nutrisystem Brownie (I still have some left)

1 cup raspberries

Dinner

1 serving of shrimp

1/2 cup brown rice

1/2 can green beans

Snack

2 cups cantaloupe

I am very comfortable with these meal choices & do not see me having a problem sticking to this plan. Working out is what my issue is. I am working both jobs when I don't have the kids so I can't squeeze in getting to the gym too. I am going to start out with some cardio & light weights that I have at home. I have also committed to myself that I will take one night a week of when I don't have the kids. This will be Tuesdays. So, I will be off at 3pm with no other commitments, children, errands, etc. This will be a day for me to enjoy exercising, going to the beach, hanging out with friends, volunteering, or meeting new people. I am really looking forward to this new change. I need it. 

I also want to take a minute to say how proud I am of the kids. Brandon made straight A's for his final grade. He is off to be a 4th grader. I can't even believe it. Allyson struggled a little bit & we had a few bumps in the road but she passed her end of grade test (EOG) & she brought up many of her grades. She is going to be a 6th grader & going to yet another new school. I remember graduating from elementary school...I am sure she feels like such a big girl. She is starting to come out of this shy shell that she has had for years. During her graduation she had to make a speech & she did an amazing job. She was loud, clear, & confident!! I am so proud of both of them. 

I hope that everyone has a great weekend. I will post tomorrow for Father's Day.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

The verdict is in......we LOVED it!! It does look a little melted in the photo & it was. We wanted to try it out so bad that we only left it in the machine for the minimum amount of time. Next time we will leave it in a little longer. Well, maybe. LOL You may also notice that it isn't green. This is because I thought that I had food coloring at home & I didn't. No big deal as it didn't affect the taste. You would never know that this wasn't purchased from the store. This weekend we are going to try out strawberry. Yum!

 

What Is Your Flavor?

I miss blogging! I am so glad to be back & I have been impatiently waiting all day to get home from work so that I could write my first post. Adam & I always had the intention on creating a family blog & now it is here!! I am so grateful that we have Kayleigh's blog to look back on & I am excited that we will now have this blog to document the journey through our new lives. Having this outlet to share with you all warms my heart in a way I haven't felt in some time. Somehow, writing about my kids on the Women's Marriage Ministry blog never seemed appropriate. So let's just jump right in.

Yesterday was one of the best days that I have had in months. I have been working two jobs & I am pretty much at one of them every moment that the kids are with their dad. Not much for a social life unless I have friends in town. (I am actively working on bringing a few other friends in town & getting the BFFs to come back as well.) Even when I am home, we have chores, responsibilities, dogs, etc. to take care of.

Last night was going to be a night for just the three of us. I had been trying to think of something really FUN to do & you are helped me out with some really great ideas. I picked up the kids after work, we went to Target to roam around, & we came upon the Sunbeam Ice Cream Maker.

What a perfect idea?! We are going to make one quart of ice cream a week. The ice maker was $19.99 at Target, the ingredients were about $5. This was more of a family investment in fun that a financial savings. Although, we will save money by not going to Rita's anymore. LOL We are looking forward to experimenting by trying a new flavor each week. We will start off by following a few recipes, trying out lower fat & sugar options, & then getting really risky & dangerous by coming up with our own concoctions.

Our first flavor....

You guessed it, Mint Chocolate Chip. We are planning on doing Strawberry next. We were all amped up last night but when everything was unpacked, the directions said that you had to freeze the gel canister for 24 hours before use. What a buzz kill!? So, tonight after we get home from hanging out, socializing, & listening to some great music....we will have experiment #1. I want this to become a fun tradition so I pray that it is really yummy!

That brings me to my question.....what is your favorite ice cream flavor?