Silas Cameron...pulling on my heart strings!

If you're friends with either Bethany Poteat or Desiree Rose on Facebook, you've read lots of status updated about a little boy named Silas Cameron. If you have not heard, or read about Silas, please click on his name to read about his amazing story!

Before you start reading, I just want to say that this post is in NO way me bragging on myself, looking for compliments, or anything in between. It is simply my way of sharing one of the many ways God pulls on my heart strings, and bringing to my attention the many needs of others around me.

About two weeks ago I was on Facebook, and had read a post that Bethany had written about Silas. I have probably read hundreds (no joke) of status updated about Silas, but for some reason that day it hit me...I want to help the Cameron family! I realized that I'd been reading status updates about him for months, but I didn't actually know what was wrong with him, or why he was at CHKD (for those of you not in VA, CHKD is the big children's hospital in Norfolk). I did a little research, and here is what I found out from the website.

'Please keep little Silas in your prayers. He is now 20 mos old has spent the last 4 months at CHKD in VA. It started with an ear infection that triggered a reaction and his body shut down. (This family lost another boy to this same thing in August 2007. His name was Carter and he was 15 mos. old)The doctors have now determined that both Carter and Silas had a rare genetic blood disease called HLH. While the doctors have been able to revive all of Silas' organs (off dialysis, no longer on a ventilator, etc) his brain has taken a hit from the disease. The prayer now is that as his brain grows until age 3 and neurons grow around damaged cells, that his brain would heal and he would regain the neurological function he lost. He needs a bone marrow transplant to cure the blood disease and his big sister Hailey is a match! He now has to show purposeful movement, have 80% function in his kidneys and be able to sit up and play. He is hopefully coming home June 7 with in home nursing care and they will be working with him diligently using brain therapy exercises and neurofeedback stimulation in hopes of getting him up to par for a BMT.'

Crazy, huh?! This story would have touched me before, but now that I'm a mom- it touches me in a whole different way! It breaks my heart that an almost two year old is having to go through so many tests (some painful, I'm guessing) and not have a 'normal' life! I really cannot imagine if that was Avery Dorr! I would hope that family and friends, near and far, would help in every way possible, even in the little things! I had been brainstorming ways I want to help, whether it's making a donation, buying groceries for the family, or buying them a gift card to a restaurant so they can enjoy a peaceful night out for a few hours. A Pampered Chef consultant friend of mine asked if I wanted to 'host' an online Pampered Chef party, and it sounded like a great opportunity to help! It's running on going from today-June 15th. All you have to do is follow the steps below, and DONE! The money will go to the Cameron family, and you'll have done your part in helping a child/family in need! It's something small, but every little bit counts, right?!I know that if John and I were in that situation, something to take our mind off what we were going through, and someone picking up the annoying day-to-day stuff would be a huge help!

Here are the 3 easy steps I was telling you about...

1- Visit www.pamperedchef.biz/drose
2- Click Shop Online Enter Leah Dorr as Host
3- Shop away and share the link with others to help Silas' family!

If you wouldn't mind- please pass this information along to as many people you can think of! Wouldn't it be awesome if people across the nation were able to impact his life, speed up his recovery, and bless the Cameron family? Thanks everyone!

Disposable Income

As I was in the most uncomfortable position today, pulling weeds out of our front flower bed (which you can't even tell the difference...ughh!) a thought came to my mind...

'If I had a disposable income, what is the #1 thing I'd pay someone else to do for me?'

Well, of course that thought came to mind because I was doing something uncomfortable, annoying, and what I'd say is a waste of time since I know those stupid weeds will grow back shortly! A major list started running through my mind...

* fold laundry

* cook for me

* personal trainer

* yard work

* grocery shop

But I may say the #1 thing would be cooking for me!

I don't really mind cooking, but if it's something I could never think about again- I'd be happy! I used to cook a lot, and pretty regularly, but life got kind of hectic, and unfortunately it's not a priority right now (although it totally should be)! Because let's be honest...cooking is never just cooking! There's WAY more involved than just actually cooking the meal. There's planning out what meals you want, food shopping, preparing/cutting the food, and finally cooking it. I would love to have three meals a day set up, cooked, and ready for me to eat without having to even think about it...ahhhh- that sure would be nice!

SAY HEY to Amanda Wilkinson

(Claire and Kai, me and Avery, and Amanda and Cole)


I've known Amanda for about a year and a half, but we didn't really get to know each other until last summer. I am so thankful God crossed our paths!

It was the last days of school, and Amanda was talking with another teacher about how she just found out she was pregnant. I kind of felt awkward being in the same room, but she wasn't whispering or trying to make it a hush-hush thing. She didn't want to share it with many people yet, because she was still very early on in her pregnancy, but shared it with me because she had some questions/concerns; and since I had experienced miscarriages, she felt I'd be a good person to ask.

Over the summer she called here and there to ask questions, came to check out Avery's nursery, and borrowed maternity clothes. School started up in September, but since I was 9 months pregnant with Avery I didn't start the school year off. We kept in touch every few weeks by updating each other on how our pregnancies were going, how she was adjusting to a new grade level, and how I was getting ready for Avery's arrival.

Cole was due at the end of January, and a few times before he was born, Amanda and I would hang out and talk about the anticipation of his arrival, work on getting the nursery set up, and she'd always have more questions for me. I loved getting to know her, and reliving the excitement of a baby's arrival! I really enjoyed our times together, and was excited to become closer friends with someone who was about to be in the same stage of life that I was.

I was so excited when Cole arrived on his due date (crazy, huh?!), and visited Amanda, Mark, and Cole in the hospital. John and I brought them a meal after they got home from the hospital, and enjoyed holding a newborn baby. Now that Cole was here, there was an even stronger bond between us...new moms!

She took a six week maternity leave, and we hung out each week she was off! We called Tuesdays our 'Mommy Dates', and would either go out to lunch, go to each others houses, or go walk around the mall. We got to know each other even better during those weeks. I was even able to introduce her to some of my close girlfriends who were also new moms, and they really hit it off! We were able to bond about the excitement a new baby bring, the frustration a new baby brings, doing the baby thing with no family around, how to juggle a new baby and relationships/friendships, and everything in between.

It seems like almost every weekend we hang out- whether it's for a whole day with the kids, or just a coffee meet up. She and her family came to church with us for Easter, and she also came a few weeks ago as well. She has become a huge part of my life, and it's so weird to think that it's only been the last few months that her and I even became friends! I feel like I've known her and Cole forever!

She is so fun, and always has a positive spirit about her! I'm sure everyone that meets and knows Amanda would say she lights up a room! There are so many things I love about Amanda! She's funny, hard working, motivated, compassionate, and easy to talk to. She is a loving wife, caring mother, and dedicated teacher! I feel so blessed to call her friend, and I am so glad that God crossed our paths!

7 months young

This little girl here turned 7 months old on Saturday!

She...

* weighs a little over 20 lbs
* rolls over
* sits up on her own
* laughs out loud all the time
* is chatty
* has a few BFFs (Piper, Kai, Cole, and Rosalie)
* thinks Kaya (our dog) is the best toy ever
* falls asleep on her own for naps and at night
* says 'mamama' and 'dadadada' (but I don't know if she's actually saying
mama and dada)
* wears 12 month clothes
* loves to play in water
* pushes up and tries to scoot (the beginning of crawling)

You are dearly loved, Avery Dorr...dearly loved!

October BFFs

The beginning of May we had pictures taken of Avery, Kai, and Piper at a park in Virginia Beach. The same photographer took my maternity, and Avery's newborn pictures. She is amazing! The session was short, but sweet! Here are pictures from the hour of smiles, tears, outfit changes, crazy noises made by mommies and daddies, and everything in between!

SAY HEY to Kristi

It's only right that I introduce you to a woman who is a huge blessing to me, and Avery!

Kristi Anderson is truly one of the most amazing women I've ever met, and I've only known her since the end of January! She is such a caring, tender, thoughtful, beautiful, funny, and trustworthy woman- and I feel so lucky to call her a friend!

She kind of just fell into my lap! I was getting ready to go back to work part time, and was looking for someone to watch Avery for about 12 hrs a week. I had sent an e-mail out to some girlfriends from church, and two people gave me her name. I immediately contacted her regarding watching Avery (whom she had never met) a few days a week, and luckily she was interested, and our schedules worked perfectly together!

(Looking back I probably should have sat with her or had dinner with or something to get to know her, but she came so highly recommended, I didn't really feel like I needed to!)

I was sort of nervous having someone other than myself watch Avery, give her feedings, and put her down for naps, but Kristi put my mind at rest and did an awesome job the first day! I had prepared myself to be a wreck the first day back at work, but I wasn't! I'd say 99% was because Kristi was so amazing!

Over the last four months of knowing Kristi, I have come to respect, look up to, and enjoy her and I so value our friendship! She loves my daughter, cares for her so carefully, and responds to her needs like those of her own children.

So...SAY HEY to Kristi Anderson! One amazing woman with a heart for God, her husband, her two sons, chocolate, nail polish, and keeping things clean :)

Introducing 'Say Hey'

So this morning, when I was in the shower, I felt overcome by my amazing friends and family! It was a pretty cool emotion. I try really hard to communicate to my friends and family that I love them, that I'm thankful for them, and what a big part they play in my life, but I know there are people I leave out. I thought that it may be cool to do my own version of a shout out, called 'Say Hey' on my blog every week (realistically more like every two weeks) and people can 'say hey'/meet different people in my life I'm thankful for.

I'm really excited for this new addition to my blog, and I hope it's a blessing to the people I'm writing about, and the people who read it as well :)

Fresh air

Campfire snuggles

John and Avery on our walk after Easter dinner

My sexy yard boy :)

Hanging out by the campfire a few weeks ago

Playing with the hose

Hoping he'll turn into Prince Charming

Avery and I, and Claire and Kai at Hampton Town Center

I'm so thankful to live in a place where I can get out, walk around, and breath some 'fresh' air! After reading post, after post, after post on FB about the bad weather NY always has, I'm constantly reminded we are blessed to live in a state with good weather. Now, it may not always be perfect weather, but it's often sunny...and that's all a girl can ask for! I'm so glad its...walk outside, campfire at night, play in the sprinkler, create flower pots, walk around the yard with Avery weather!

Rewind 10 years

My high school reunion is in the works, and my class is planning on doing something this August. I'm not sure yet whether I'll make the trip up to NY for it, but it's been making me think back to this time 10 years ago and what I was like, what my life was like, things I was into, how I spent my time, and so on. I feel like certain things haven't changed at all, and other aspects of my life are clearly completely different!

There are some obvious ways my life is different: I'm married, have a daughter, own a house, and have a career. But the things that remain the same are: I love Jesus, I love spending time with friends, music is still one of my biggest passions, I still love taking pictures, I'm still narotic about my eyebrows (haha!), I still hate excercising, I still use the same hair products, I still use the same brand make-up, and I still only type with my two index fingers.

10 years ago...

* I was friends with John

* I was dating a guy named Mike

* I lived in Clifton Park, NY

* I worked two jobs

* I had been on three mission trips

* I had never had sushi

* I wanted to be a teacher

Almost Triplets

Check out the photographers site for a few pictures (scroll down a bit) she posted of the 'almost triplets'! She's mailing me a cd this week, and I'll be able to upload them, but for now here are some pictures. I LOVE the outtakes...they are so funny!

5 Random Facts

My friend's blog inspired me to write 5 random facts about myself. Here we go. Ahem...

1. I love avocados, but hate guacamole.

2. I have an extremely addictive personality. When I learn that I like something, it quickly turns to love.

3. I had a pallet expander (a devise the orthodontist puts in your mouth to widen your jaw so when new teeth grow in, it doesn't crown your mouth and they grown in straight) for two years in middle school, and have a scar on my tongue from it. No lie...I have a straight up hole in my tongue.

4. I know every word to Shoop, by Salt 'N Peppa.

5. I birthed a 9 lb 6 oz baby with no pain meds. Enough said.

October babies...friends forever

Kai, Avery, and Piper were all born in October, crazy, huh?! What are the chances three best friends all have babies within the same month? (Totally unplanned, by the way...!) I asked Katey and Claire a few months back if they'd be interested in having Terresa (the same woman who took our maternity and newborn pictures) take 6 month(ish) pictures of the three kiddos. They loved the idea, so we planned for the first weekend in May. We figured it wouldn't be too cold, or too warm, the kids would be able to sit up, they'd be full of expression and personality...and boy were we right!

The session lasted about an hour, and all three did SO well! We all prepared ourselves for the worst considering it's three 6 month old babies, and the pictures were taken in the evening during all of their 'fussy period'. We fed, changed, and prepped all three babies so that right before their pictures they'd be as happy as possible! The pictures above are from my camera that I took on the sidelines. The professional ones will be up in a week or so, and I cannot wait to see how great they turned out! It took some effort to get them to all look in the same place, at the same time...but Avery, Kai, and Piper had as us as cheerleaders on the sidelines. It was so fun! Can't wait for these three beautiful children to grow up, and experience life together!