Ugh

(I stole this picture from our friend James who took it and posted it on Facebook.. pretty cute huh?)

Awwwww what a sweet family moment that was. Everyone was well.. happy.. adorable......... and now that we have (hopefully) warmed your heart.. let me just say that the last week has been the complete opposite of all of that. Tuesday afternoon, Margot had a temp of 101 and woke up at 4am with a fiery forehead at 104.5... to the doctor we went... with a white count of 28K (really God.. really!?) and a red throat full of ulcerated sores we were officially ordered not to leave town (no big family Thanksgiving as previously planned) and to come back on Friday for a recheck. By Friday Ada had spiked a high fever too and they were officially diagnosed: "hand, foot, and mouth disease" + a potential ear infection for Ada Grey = 10 days of antibiotics for A.G. and days of writhing in pain on the floor for both. Insanity. They both have extremely painful sores in their throats/mouths/ on lips/ and diaper areas. They are starving but it is nearly impossible to find something they will/can eat. We spent all of Stephen's break trying to cuddle and snuggle and love the sadness away.. poor sweet little babies. Now Stephen is back at school and I am here with a migraine trying to manage the two of them as best I can.. sigh.

In fairness.. despite the sickness in our home.. we had loads to be thankful for. My daddy drove over on Wednesday night with a car full of Thanksgiving goodies since we would be missing the big family meal. Since Ada was not yet showing signs of illness on Thanksgiving morning, she and I made the trip to High Point and enjoyed spending some time with the fam.. despite missing Stephen and Margot ... the meal was delish as always and it was so nice to see everyone. Oh Friday.. despite our diagnosis.. Pam and Diana came over and braved sick and sad babies for a few hours while Stephen and I went to see "The Blind Side" which was so heartwarming. THEN on Saturday I got to go to Handel's Messiah as performed by the Carolina Ballet with Joyce and the fam since Carolyn had to work. It was so delightful to be included in such a special family event. Then that evening Joyce and I went to Target and took advantage of some of their 2 Day Sale. FINALLY on Sunday evening Stephen brought us home a lovely Christmas tree which is now lit and decorated... and protected with the baby corral around it. So I guess you could say our break was pretty great despite shedding many tears with our little ones as we watched helplessly as they told us in no uncertain terms just how uncomfortable they were.. are..

Still, the Lord is good and faithful and we believe that all of this sickness lately is happening for a reason and they will be well soon. We will keep enjoying the giggles when they appear and drying the tears as they fall... and looking forward to braving the next adventure with a little more fortitude and a few more knowing smiles.

Jingle Bells

Well...it has begun. I couldn't wait to start decorating for the Christmas Holiday ... yeah I know we haven't even eaten the turkey yet. I made my first wreath today! What do you think?



Remember that tree skirt I made from old sweaters a few years back? Well I still have quite a few left. I am currently working on stockings for our family out of these but while I am working on those.. I thought I would try my hand at some door decoration. I got a grape vine wreath yesterday at the craft store. My idea was to cut strips of sweater and wrap it around the base and tie it in the front. I think it turned out pretty well!



Now for the best part of all :) As Margot and I were browsing in the store, I found some clip on birds.. a cardinal and my absolute favorite.. the chickadee. I think they look just perfect! I also got some red jingle bells and sewed them to the open spot in the wreath were the birds are perched. I think they look like lusciously ripe berries, don't you? Such a fun project. It took me about 1 1/2 hours this afternoon and cost me about $13. I have found about 57 reasons to step out onto our front porch this evening :)

Parade

We all bundled up and headed downtown this morning for the Christmas Parade. We live close enough to walk so walk we did. The weather was just perfect. Cold, but perfect nonetheless.



We met our buddy Josie, who brought her parents along just for kicks.



We all took turns holding various babies. Here Margot is enjoying a ride on Mr. James.



Ada was extra happy that Daddy is so tall, it made it easier for her to see the jump ropers.



Josie bug and her sweet mama.

There were so many people this morning - supposedly around 60K. It started at 9:30am and we were there for the very first police car. Two hours later we finally gave up on waiting for Santa and headed home for lunch. The girls, all three of them, spent the entire time being so sweet and were mesmerized by all the action. Those are some pretty good attention spans for such little girls. They squealed at the horses and ponies and clapped for the marching bands. Waved back at the beauty queens and firemen. It was a delight. They were a delight. I am so glad the Holiday Season is here. Definitely the most wonderful time... of the year :)

29

Stephen turned 29 on Saturday. We took a mini break and went to Pilot Mountain for the day/night. The weather was perfection.



I am not sure we have been back there since we first met.. maybe once since then.. at any rate we talked about how incredible it was that almost ten years ago we were there with campers and other staff and now... we were back.. married..with twin baby girls at home. Time flies when you are in love.



We climbed out onto a ledge and shared a picnic lunch of hot soup, avocado, herbed goat cheese with crackers and sweet/spicy pecans. The soup was still boiling hot courtesy of the vintage picnic bag with matching glass insulated soup and coffee thermoses. It was so good.



Hot coffee on a mountain peak. It was just a wonderful day. As the sun started to set we headed to our little getaway at the base of the park. Our room in this bed and breakfast was beautiful and cozy with a fireplace and a whirlpool tub for two... wink wink. It was spectacular. Geez... sounds like it was my birthday or something! We even got to go star gazing that night on the grounds of the place we were staying. The sky was so clear and the stars were magical. We saw 4 shooting stars. Happy Birthday, hot stuff.



So what were the babies doing while we were away? Why playing with Nana, Papa and Aunt B of course :) Here is Papa reading to them before nap time. There is something about seeing my dad read to my kids in the rocking chair that belonged to his father that feels so special.

On a completely unrelated note, we are all sorta shakin' around here tonight. We are praying with/for a beloved, treasured, cherished family member who had surgery today to remove a malignant tumor. Our family is banding together in prayer on this one, please join us.

Uniquely Margot

Rainy Sunday

What do you do with two little wild things on a rainy Sunday? Hug 'em till they giggle :)