A Day Out with Thomas 2009

Clay with Thomas after our train ride



Clay on the train ride

Clay as the train begins to move

Clay watching and waiting to board Thomas

Clay playing with Percy at the Imagination Station

Clay with Daddy after getting his Thomas tattoo

Clay's Thomas tattoo

Clay and Daddy before leaving for David's birthday and water fight

Clay and Daddy playing in cabinet. Clay begged Daddy to play so he did.


Clay taken at some point this week

Water Fight 2009

WOW!!!

WOW!!!!! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. August was just day after day of wondering if Matt would be home to spend any time with Clay and I. We have gotten to the point where days seem to disappear one in to the other here. His job has turned into our prison. This constantly being on call is for people that have no family or anyone in their lives. We never know when the phone will ring or if it will. We have to stay within a certain radius of the airport in case it rings. We can't go anywhere where we spend money to do anything like a movie or space center or anything else cause the phone could ring after we pay and before even half way through and then we just wasted alot of money cause a plane broke down. Our only outings unless Matt demands time off is out to eat and to the store. It isn't good for any of us. HOWEVER, God is working. We have a new job offer contingent on drug test and security background check. The drug test has been completed and fine which we knew and security should be, too. We have been told we should know something by tomorrow. HOME!!!!!!!!!!

I am still trusting John 16:33 and Romans 8:28.

Well, we had to go home for the weekend of my birthday so we could do some things and then on the 29th!!! We celebrated my 11 year old nephews birthday and we couldn't miss it. It was the day of the annual water fight!!! Yep, you got me right. Every year we can make it there is a water fight on David's birthday. This year, Clay took part. He did well. His Daddy accidentally got him and at first was about to get upset then just let it go and started trying to get everyone else. He is such a cutie. After the water fight, he started playing in the mud for the first time. Alice got those pics as I didn't get there in time. I will have to get them and post on here.

For the month of September, I got sick with the flu, from where I have no clue and then Matt got it. Just thank God Clay didn't. Even through all that Matt had to be on call. He only had one or two calls. After all the sickness was over we took off Saturday the 12th and took Clay the only place we have been able to take him all summer and that was to see his favorite, Thomas the Train. OMG! We got up early and he kept wanting to watch Thomas. I kept telling him we were going to see him but I dont think he really understood until we got to Nashville, TN and we were walking to the main gate and I pointed out Thomas as he was leaving to take kids on their ride. He saw him and from that point on he was only interested in Thomas. Since then there are two questions always asked. We go to pick Daddy up or take him to work sometime and he will see where and start asking "go plane again?" " Eventually, we will" the other, "go see Thomas" "We will next time he comes right now he is busy at Island of Sodor doing stuff for Sir Topham Hatt" so now whenever we aren't going to see Thomas he asks "Thomas at Sodor" "Yes" Needless, to say you now know what he is doing. Since then it is just work. We only took a few hours off that day. We get back to AL and he is back at work.

Please be praying that the news we hear this week is good!!! I will be posting water fight videos and Thomas pics soon. My pics with Thomas aren't great but only ones have till can order the really good ones.

Time has flown by and here goes..

Where did the time go? I really don't know. May went by in a hurry and we got to go to my parents once. It isn't easy being on call 24/7. We have to remain within 20 minutes of the airport and since July 4th Matt has been getting close to 60 hours a week and 40 of them before Wednesday. It isnt easy having Matt come home and turn around and leave for another 10 - 12 hours or more at times. When we came here we were told that we could work our own hours as along as 40 in and all Ground eqpt up and running, answer all calls for planes during the days and then one weekend a month because there are three people to cover nights and weekends besides Matt. That all changed when we got here. The people on call other than one decided they didn't want to do it any more and so Matt is now working 24/7 except when we force the issue which we have done the two weekends before this and will continue to do so. Matt and I had finally found a place away from our home that we could have made home. We can't do that here, though, because we have no freedom. I have no freedom. Matt can't stay and take care of Clay to give me time because he could get a call to leave and have to go and we can't afford to hire a babysitter to stay with them and it wouldn't be right to do so. We go some where we have to take two vehicles in case Matt has to leave. He can't get time to himself outside of work cause he wants time with us too and he can't have both being on call. Church is a time we just turn phone off and they can wait they dont like it, oh well. So are we happy here no!!! Could we have been, yes!! We have taken this to our manager and boss and he don't care he has basically made it clear he would rather have the ones doing nothing at work than the one doing all the work. Once again we are looking for a job and we have now learned that if people say your their friends it isn't always the case sometimes they are just keeping you as that to use you. You have to be careful what you tell people and get to know people REALLY well before trusting them. We have REAL friends but we have learned to be careful as to who they are.



We are trying to stay content and calm for Clay. He is ok here he enjoys the apartment and space and time in the pool. He has no fear of the pool or water which is good in ways but can make it dangerous at the same time so I have to be very vigilant. I am glad he isnt afraid of it as will be easier to teach him to swim and that is a necessity whether we have a pool or not. June was Father's Day and when Clay got his Bubble blowing lawn mower from Aunt Deborah (It was a present for Christmas and he found it plus Deborah didnt want to wait to give it to him). July we went and visited some friends I met on here that adopted their child from Guatemala as well. At this time we realized Clay loves to fly and keeps asking when we are going to do so again.



We are hoping to get to travel back to St Louis soon to see all our friends there!!!! I need to do some shopping for Clay for winter clothes while there as my favorite stores are there. We were hoping to be able to take some more of our vacation time and go to San Diego but it doesn't look like it will happen as the airplanes come first!!!! If an emergency occured while Matt was working on a plane he would have to quit to leave to come home and we know that from a minor incident. So praying nothing major ever occurs we need the job we have here until we can find another. That is the way things are here. They will get better. God said we will have troubles but He has overcome them (John 16:33) and we know that all will work out God promised that in Romans 8:28. We are going to be ok no matter what. Well I know that what everyone really wants to see is the pictures and videos so here ya go..........

Dentist Visits and Mother's Day!!

Weird title and combination, I know. Well alot has been going on since my last post. Matt and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary and it was amazing. We went to TGI Fridays and split their vanilla bean cheesecake which we both enjoy. We received word that we got the contract at Matt's job and we moved into a bigger apartment. Clay is having to re-adjust to his own room but is going well!!! Friday, May 8th, Clay had to have a filling and caps on his two front teeth. I followed the advice I received for dental visits and now wish I had taken him when he came home as this could have been avoided and two fillings instead, but is all ok. He was such a trooper. I explained everything I could to him so as not to be afraid and when he came out he was a little whiny but fine. He was back to 100% after his nap and would never know they haven't always been there. I am so proud of my boy!!!!!! He is growing up so quickly.

Mother's Day started out with a really great comment from Matt on my Myspace page and Clay telling me Happy Mother's Day (his Daddy having him repeat it) and that was really cool. We then went to my Mom and Dad's for a few hours. Her birthday is today!!!Oh yeah I got a raincheck for a nice dinner on payday! I get to choose. We haven't been to Red Lobster in awhile and I think that is where we will go not 100% sure yet though.

Today, I had to go to the dentist and underwent a root canal. Yikes, but no complaints as no pain. First time in almost a year, too.

Clay is something else. We have to watch him really close. He is tall enough and knows how to lock and unlock the dead bolt on the front door and here it has a lever handle so we had to buy a new type of lock. What a pain to install!!! The only thing I have to say there is Thank you Lord they exist. For now, he can't go out the front door without us being right there. The only time he gets cranky is when he is tired and then he will sometimes pitch a tantrum. Very rare is it when he has enough sleep. It does occur, though, but not to bad. He has started a love for motorcycles and the one for his train continues. He has a really big vocabulary, too. He can say Pterodactyl and when I am reading him that book he will point and tell me what it is and every other animal to. He has two favorite books right, now. Two runner ups, also. His favorites are "Cookies Week" by Cindy Ward and Tommy DePaola and "My Creation Bible" by Ken Ham. When I bought the Ken Ham book I thought at this age he would only love it for the pictures and I did because it is a board book, but I was wrong he likes to hear it read, too. That surprised me as I figured that would be something older kids would really like. The runner ups are Dr. Seuss ABC's and Elmo's favorite words or something like that. He loves to wear Daddy's shoes and walk in them. We have to look for Daddy's shoes when time to go somewhere. The only thing we are having to learn is how to deal with him hitting us for no reason with something as hard as he can in the head. Time Outs are the main thing right now and I was thinking was really working until he hit me in the head, today. Then not ten minutes later he comes over climbs in my arms gives me a kiss and a hug. What a sweetie we have. Yesterday had me really just thankful to God and Clay's birthmom and Veronica. Veronica was as much his mom that first year as anyone cause she is the one that cared for him that whole time and I know she misses him dearly. Please continue to pray for them.

The doctor continues to tell us that all we are doing with therapy is prolonging him being able to continue working in his present job. Once it is over that is going to start declining and sooner than later he will have no other choice to have another occupation. Needless to say, I am looking for a full-time permanent job making as much or more than he does right now. I am an accountant and until I stopped work and started taking care of my family had ten years experience. My employment gap is the only thing right now I can see that is keeping me from that position. Please pray I can find a job. If I cannot find a job making more than Matt then I need a job in GA so that we can get Matt back in school. The plan is for me to go back to work and Matt to stay home with Clay and go full time to school. He is going to go after a Civil Engineering degreee. Once he is finished with school then he will go back to work and I will stay home.

We are going to start researching our options for another child as soon as we can get to San Diego to talk to Carol. We would like to bring home a baby girl this time, Lord Willing. Only God knows. He will let us know when the time is right. I appreciate all your prayers and will keep you updated. Your prayers have brought us this far and will continue to carry us to the end of our journey here on earth. Praise The Lord for all of you that care about us and pray for us so diligently.

I will try to post pictures soon.

Video: The Sequel

This is the sequel to the previous video in the back of Daddy's truck. This is Clay repeating the Pledge word for word after me. I made a mistake when saying it one word at a time and am sorry. When I get a chance I will correct. This is the only time to make this mistake as there is no print out to read it off of and it came directly from memory. so here it goes. The Pledge of Allegiance by a two year old who was getting near the end of wanting to work at learning time. Can't you tell, he is getting distracted. This was the last video for the day as I don't push since he is so young and I just want it to be fun not work.

Video

I will post more later but this will do for now. Hope you enjoy it. This is Clay in the back of his Daddy's truck. He thinks it is fun to play there and will pitch a fit if can't. We even have to tell the truck goodnight sometimes to get him to go upstairs to bed. It is cute!!!

Let's Play Catch Up!!!!!!

On April 9th, Mary and Jennifer met Clay and I at a mall here in Huntsville and we spent a few hours together. My schedule was a little off kilter and my camera got left at home so Mary has promised to post pictures soon. Once she does, I will see what I can do. Clay and Jennifer had fun playing in the fountain and even now I will hear him start calling for Jennifer.

April 10th, Matt and I on the way to WalMart found out we were under a tornado warning. Matt being a storm tracker in the past as we were driving into the parking lot said that a cloud looked like a wall cloud and said to hurry in the store once we parked. I was the last one in as small swimming pools went flying. Matt and Clay were in front of me. We spent the next few minutes with everyone in the store in the middle. We found out later that it hit 6 miles south of us. God once again watching out for us. We continued to shop and Matt bought Clay his first bicycle and a Thomas the Train helmet.

We spent the day before Easter in Gadsden with Becky getting Clay his Easter outfit and lunch. We then went to Oxford. Clay got to dye easter eggs with David, Katy and Jacob. We had a great Easter and Clay enjoyed hunting easter eggs with Daddy and the other kids.

Since then we have found out that Matt's job is permanent and the contract was signed. We have found us a bigger apartment and will be moving in very soon. I am looking forward to that.

Matt was told at his last therapy appointment for his back that treatment will not be able to work as long as he is doing the type job he has. With that news comes the fact that his work load is going to increase and with other things going on he could end up having to be working and on call combined 24/7 /365 which goes totally against what we were told when we were hired. Life is not what we thought it would be. May God intervene and not let this happen or Clay, Matt and I will be miserable. Family is the most important to us but living is a necessity and so the job has to be kept until I can find one and get him in school so that I can keep his back from completely going out!! It is hard for me to find a job. I applied for a job at home which I was totally, completely qualified for and was told I was the only one that applied that had those qualifications. I called to see about the status of the interview and was told that they had reopened the job and was then told they found someone else. I guess with an almost 5 year gap it will take a very long time for me to find a job if I ever do. If not, I do know this. God will provide and Jeremiah 29:11 will once again be proven in our life.

Tuesday will be our 5th Anniversary and I am so looking forward to that day. The three of us together for another special occasion. Well, this is all we have for now and now I will attempt to upload pictures and videos for y'all to enjoy.

Technical Difficulities

Due to technical difficulties I have not been able to update. Please hang in there and as soon as I can get more time at Books - A - Million, I will post an update for this month with pictures and hopefully at least one video. Sorry about the long delay.

Tennessee Aquarium

The past few weeks have been pretty difficult here as every day the apartment here seems to grow smaller and the contract for our job here is never guaranteed making it more and more important to keep a place where we are month to month as the contract could end at any time. We have been under alot of stress here. In order to survive longer in this time we go home or take mini vacations on weekends. Matt works 4 ten hour shifts so we have three day weekends. The last weekend in February we went to the TN Aquarium and stayed a night with a really great friend from my church where I grew up. We got to meet her family and we loved it. Clay had a lot of fun playing with her nephews especially the youngest. For the first time I watched Clay really play with a child playing chase and just having fun instead of playing at something while the other child did too but not the same thing. There is nothing here like there is in Columbus. We miss My Gym where Clay was able to play with other kids. Please everyone that reads my blog be praying that we hear something about this job soon and whatever it is we have other options in place if we lose the contract. We also need prayers on how to get Matt back in school as we need something better for our family for different reason. Here are photos from our trip to Tennessee. We had fun watching the fish and sharks and all other fish and animals at the aquarium. Clay loved the turtles most and loved watching them. I let him try to pet a sting ray since the stinger was removed at the aquarium and I am the only one that got close enough. Clay had more fun watching them and playing in the water.

Oh yeah, Clay learned to unlock the deadbolt the other day and now can open the front door. Well, for now, I have it fixed so he can't by putting a door knob cover on it. Our child learns everything quickly and makes it known in the most unexpected and sometime heart stopping moments.

Clay's Second Birthday and more!!

I am going to start with Clay's second birthday and then I will play catch up.
Saturday, February 14, 2009, was Clay's second birthday. It is also the first actual birthday we were able to be with him and I wanted it special. We had it that way to as I planned it for Chuck E. Cheese. We had his party at 2 o clock and in attendance was Mommy and Daddy, MeMe and PawPaw, Aunt Alice and Uncle Russell with David, Katy and Jacob, Aunt Deborah, Aunt Becky(Mommy's friend since college), Shauna (Aunt Alice's best friend) and Phillip.e rere were more people we would have loved to come but because of short notice wasn't possible. I got my hair cut before my party and I was really good. I didn't cry very much at all, because mommy let me have a sucker and a plane. I looked so grown up after the hair cut mommy said I looked like a big boy and she was sad cause I was growing up so fast but happy to cause I was going to have a fun day. I had a Handy Manny birthday cake which did a good job traveling to Aunt Becky's in Douglasville, GA from Decatur, AL. I got to participate in a live show with Chuck E Cheese and for the first time I wasnt afraid of a character in costume, in fact I even kissed him on the nose. I had fun eating pizza and cake and opening presents which mommy had to help me with while Daddy took pictures and Aunt Becky videotaped it. I got some really cool stuff, though, mommy and daddy are waiting till we get in a place with a fence before getting me my big gift as with all the cool stuff I got I have taken over the whole living room where we are now. I got a Laugh and Learn Puppy, A Mega Blocks Piano and a cool Auburn Jersey and Thomas the Train Shirt, I got a choo choo train and Thomas the Train shirt and pants and a dyno truck(two of them), A Laugh and Learn Spin and Bounce Pony that interacts with the TV and Blocks and extra pieces to my GeoTrax Train set. I had fun playing on the rides too. What a busy Day I had now back to Mommy to talk about other stuff. Oh Yeah if I left anyone out about the stuff I got I am sorry I love it all!!!!!!

I am back now and running out of time cause I need to be back home before naptime is over. We have been in Huntsville since December 19th and we still haven't found anything out about the contract. The rumors coming from Atlanta aren't good. We are holding on to the hope it is just that rumors and not true. We do have options though that we hadn't had in December so that is good news. Me, I am getting really frustrated with our living arrangements but with rumors being what they are glad it is the decision we made cause we can go home if they are true and not have to be concerned with a lease. I am glad to have a job and we are grateful we have had one it is better than the alternative. We have alot of plans and hoping to get in two flights (if possible) before the contract ends if it does. If we are able to we will be going to San Diego to talk to Carol about our options for another adoption and see Mary and Anna. We wanted to go this weekend as Friday is our First GOTCHA Day. We however are still waiting on our flight benefits. Then back to St Louis to see Kim and Anne(a friend of ours that lived next door there). So there it is folks. Out loud we are going to start the research officially for another child. We want to bring home a little girl but whatever God blesses us with will be fine with us. Depending on our job will depend on when our research becomes action or if ever will. Well, I want to write more but my time has run out and I must go. Can you believe it has been almost a year since we arrived at the La Casa Grande in Guatemala City and our little boy was given to us for the final time. I am happy but I know that Saturday and then again Friday will be really tough days for Veronica and them as they miss him dearly. I am so hoping I can get some things to send to them soon. Special things. Please be praying I can as it will take a lot of computer work and getting information and stuff to do so. Be praying for them as I know they are hurting. Well, God Bless and take care until next time.

Christmas and the New Year!!

Well folks it is now 2009 and our first year as a family is quickly ending and will begin to work on the second and the rest of our lives.

Christmas was bittersweet and almost perfect. In my dreams, we were at home in GA for Christmas but in reality we were in a new location beginning a new job and in a small place until can find something we like that is bigger. Other than that Christmas was perfect. We put our tree up the week before and due to Clay being amazed and so curious about a tree being inside it just included the lights. Christmas Eve we spent as a family. We ate out at Applebee's and then when we got home Clay got a bath and in his nightclothes and then it was time for the Christmas story, hot chocolate and putting the star on the tree. Once Clay was in bed, Matt and I began wrapping gifts and getting them under the tree. It took quite awhile. We were going to put Clay's Train Set together but decided that would wait till after Christmas as we were leaving to go to MeMe and PawPaws after opening presents. So santa brought Handy Manny and Elmo Live! Everything else was wrapped and under the tree. We then took Elmo, Handy Manny and his new truck when we had all our Christmas unwrapped and went to meme and pawpaws. I have Clay on video opening his gifts and seeing the tree for the first time but until we locate the video camera (it is either left at house in GA) or worst case scenario someone took it and then I will be really sad as this is my baby's first Christmas at home. So as soon as I locate it I will upload the video.

The Sunday after Christmas we put Clay's train together after taking the tree down and since then the train and Elmo have been the only toys to get his attention. I wouldn't be surprised as much as Clay loves trains that he would become and train engineer when older.

New Years was the three of us at the apartment here playing with him and just spending time together as a family. Now as long as all works out here our flight benefits begin next week and we are planning to spend our First Gotcha Day in San Diego, CA. There we are going to meet up with Carol and hand deliver our yearly update and talk options of a possible second adoption. We are in the research phase right now and we need to research options and figure things out. We will also be meeting up with Mary and Anna and possibly a day at Disney Land or so. If all works out this will occur the weekend after Clay's 2nd Birthday.

Now for what you have all been waiting for............

The following pictures were taken at MeMe and PawPaw's house. MeMe got all us boys and Auburn baseball cap like PawPaws and here is our picture with our caps and PawPaw. My cap is a really small replica of PawPaw's and I loved having the pictures taken. Left to right: My cousin Jacob, Me, My cousin David and of course in the middle PawPaw.