It's been a while

I find that my life has been consumed of late by various things. The majority of which has been the birth and life of my great-nephew... who is beyond adorable. I know this is fact as all the pictures I take now have him in them. Here are a few to update you on his great progression:

 Why yes... he will be a Kentucky fan when he grows up. We are seeing to it.

He even went to see his Uncle Joey play a little football. Here's Uncle Joey... who also completely rocks.

Halloween rolled around and we had the Incredible Hulk on our hands. Though I'm not sure the Hulk was ever this happy. It may have been the puppy... who has become a fast friend.

We started eating real food (well, real to a baby)

But still enjoyed using Great-Aunt Cathy as a teething tool.

I took a trek to Panama City Beach with my friends John & Lou Ann:

We enjoyed Pineapple Willy's a couple of times... my fave!

I even studied for school while on the beach. That's the kind of dedicated student that I am! :)

I came home early due to a  personal tragedy. My dear friend Connie was rushed to the hospital because of a massive anneursym. I came home early and found there was nothing that could be done for her. The bleed was too massive. We removed her from life support on a Tuesday and she passed away on Thursday. Connie was a beautiful girl who had been trapped within her own body for more than 20 years due to an initial anneursym. It was such a difficult time for her family, but we rest assured that she can once again walk and talk without any impediment on streets of Gold. My best friend, Brent Gambrell, went far beyond the duties of friendship and stayed with the family and ministered to them during the last days of Connie's life. He had only met Connie and her mother once about ten years ago, but he was with her when she passed away and brought the message at the funeral. If you ever need a man of God to minister to your congregation, you need to go to http://www.brentgambrellministries.com/ and contact him. The work he does is God-breathed.

I thought that was going to be the hardest part of the year. But then, Dad was diagnosed with a heart condition: A-Fib. His heart is not beating in rhythm. We found this during a pre-op exam for a biopsy of his prostate. So, it was off to the cardiologist for him.

Before you jump on me for posting these pictures... you must know my father wanted them taken and wanted them posted. We're a funny kind of family. This was the heart monitor he wore for two days to confirm his heart was out of rhythm.

Whilst we were digesting this bit of news, we were preparing for Thanksgiving. What we didn't prepare for was my mother to have a stroke on Thanksgiving afternoon. So, a ride to the local ER and a transport to Centennial Hospital in Nashville later, and the mom and I spent Thanksgiving night in the ICU. By the time we arrived there, she was back to normal, for which we are supremely grateful.

Oh, and the stroke was caused by, are you ready for this, the fact that the Mom's heart is in A-fib. Yep. Same thing as the dad. (Don't think I don't plan to get checked out myself very soon) So, Mom jumped way ahead of Dad as far as treatment was concerned. She's had a cardioversion twice, but her heart does not like to stay in rhythm. So, she's on various medications and we continue to seek doctor care to get this under control.

She wouldn't let me take pictures. :)

So, I will show you pictures of the baby again... because he makes us smile. He's at that stage where EVERYthing goes in his mouth. Including fall foliage.

But I'm pretty sure he's the most handsome of little men.

Which brings us to the end of the fall semester for my school. I was tickled to learn that I had As in both my classes - which really is a miracle considering we were in and out of the hospital for the last few weeks of the semester. And then it was Christmas... so there should be more baby pictures. It's his first, you know...

He still likes to put stuff in his mouth.

He certainly brought smiles to all our faces this year.

Merry Christmas to you all and blessings for a wonderful New Year!