A Happy Birthday

I celebrated my 38th birthday today and it was a wonderful day. Raleigh chose a spiderman cake for me and it turned out awesome. The cake said "Happy Birthday silly Daddy." My mom kept asking Raleigh why I was silly and Raleigh just kept telling her what the cake said, "Happy Birfday Hilly Daddy."

God is very good to me he has allowed me to live 38 years given me a wonderful wife and two wonderful boys.

You're my best friend, mommy

Last night Ral and I made Halloween cookies. While we were eating them and dunking them in our milk, he looks at me and says, "You're my best friend, mommy." Have I mentioned before how I NEVER get tired of hearing this from him? It doesnt matter that so many people are his best friend too. He just melts my heart when he says it.

He then looks at me and says, "I don't hate you anymore."

Ummmm...ok!

A 3 year old's thinking

Yesterday Ral was anxious to go up to ME's house because he wanted to eat his moon cake (otherwise known as a moon pie). He kept saying, "Well, lets get going mom." I told him we had to change his clothes.
Ral looks at me and says, "I got a good idea. I'll wear this to ME's and Pa's. They will love it!"
I tried to explain that while I knew they would love it, he needed to wear something warmer.
He began to look at his clothes and say, "This is just fine mom. It doesnt have any holes in it!"

In his precious 3 year old mind no holes means its warm. :-)

Update on Will

We went to Winston today to see the pediatric ortho we were referred to a few weeks ago. I feel like we got the best news possible at this point. His curvature is 27 degrees right now. We will go back in Jan. to have more x-rays done to see if the curve has increased. If it is a significant increase he will be put into a brace. If it stays the same we will continue to follow it every three months. He could potentially grow up with the curve the way it is and have no problems whatsover. There is a chance that the curvature could correct itself as well. Right now the cause of the scoliosis is unknown. He will have an MRI on 11/21. The doc wants to make sure there are no problems with his brain or spinal cord that would be causing the scoliosis. Since he is developing normally, this is unlikely, but still needs to be checked. Thank you so much for your prayers! We have felt them all the past weeks!

What do you want for Christmas, Raleigh?

On the way to take Ral up to ME's house we saw a bike in someone's front yard. I asked him if wanted a bike for Christmas and suggested asking Santa Claus for it.

His response...
"No, I just want a car. I want a car like Aunt Sharon's!"

Hmmmm.....I guess the bike with training wheels will seem lame now, huh?

Today We Will Know

In just a few minutes we will be taking William down to Winston to see the Pediatric Orthopedist. My anxiety about this has been and will remain low. Everything is in God's hands. I know that whatever the outcome, He is in control. I believe that he will provide the strength to get through.

That being said, I feel like there is nothing wrong other than the scoliosis. I also know from the web sites I have read that sometimes these issues heal themselves. They could give us any option from wait and watch to full body cast until the curve grows out.

As in all things. His Will be done.

Will

About 2 weeks ago my father in law pointed out that Will's back looked odd when he crawled.

It did.

It looked as if the muscles on the left side were underdeveloped while the right side looked normal.

We mentioned it to our Ped, Dr. St. Claire who looked at it and agreed that it was odd.

He called 2 days later after speaking to a Genetisist who recommended an x-ray.

Everyone assured me that Will was fine.

Well, he is not.

My baby has infantile scoliosis.

If you want to get scared, forget Halloween. Just Google infantile scoliosis.

We are hoping that this is all we are dealing with. Sometimes it is a symptom of other diseases.

We go to Winston Salem on Oct. 24th to see a Pediatric Ortho.

Please pray for Will...that all will be okay.

Pray for the doctor...that he will be able to accurately diagnose and treat Will.

Finally, pray for Mike and I. Those of you who are parents know that there is NOTHING in the world like worrying about your child, wondering if they will be alright, wishing you could take any pain for him.

Grasshoppers

Ral saw a grasshopper in a book. He said, "I wish I could hold it, mom!" I questioned why in the world he would want to hold a grasshopper. He looks at me and says, "Grasshopper don't poop!"

Jesus Car

Today Ral was reading a book to me. There was a cat in it. He started talking about wanting a cat. I told him to go ask daddy.
He said, "No. I just want Odie."

I told him that I missed Odie too.

He said, "I know. We'll tell Jesus and Jesus will drive Odie back in his.....his....Jesus car!"

How old am I?

My birthday was Monday. ME and Raleigh went to Food Lion to get my cake. He was telling everyone that it was his mama's birthday. Someone asked him how old I was. He said, 3. Me clarified for him and asked him again how old I was. He looked at the lady and said, "Alot, alot, alot!"

A Word From Mike

Hi, this is Mike.

I'm so proud of my wife and the family history she has recorded here. I love her so much. She is the reason we have a family, and a life style that is very good. She is a blessing and I thank God for her.

God has been very good to us. He has given us two wonderful boys who are a joy. He has given us a house to live in and allowed to live well. I pray that this will continue.

Eating nuts

Ral and I spent the night out last Friday. We went to Asheville so I could have my hair cut and then we went to the mall. Ral is getting to be a good buddy to travel with.

On the way home I stopped for gas. Of course, it was a gas station attached to a McDonald's so he said we HAD to have some ice cream. "I have chocolate. You have caramel." He told me.

I was opening the pack of nuts and asked Ral if he wanted some on his sundae.

He said, "I can't eat seeds, mom. Seeds are for growing!" (Of course with the lack of "S" sound it sounded like, "I can't eat heed mom. Heed are for growing!")
He kept telling me this over and over and over.

I explained to him that they WEREN'T seeds. They were nuts!

He looks at me very seriously and says, "Mom, we are not chipmunks."