Uncle Bert and Christian Come to Town

Andrea's Uncle Bert (father's brother) and Christian visited this week from Atlanta, GA. Here are some pictures from last night with Micah and Ella.

Hanging out with Mom and Dad

Standing...kind of

Chatty

MRI

Ella did SO good in her MRI today. She went under with gas happily (they do call it laughing gas) and then she had her MRI/MRA/MRV (I think those are all the correct letter). Here she is coming out of the test...could you find a happier child coming out of anesthesia? We then went on to Occupational Therapy where she did great holding her head up.

And then she crashed:

Fro-Head

Girls Weekend

Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell came in town and helped Daddy while mom when on a "girls trip". I was SO refreshing to have a weekend with Godly women and have some fun...here are just my pictures from the weekend...soon there will be more pictures on the Fellowship Class blog.

Blog Slacker

I have heard that I have been slacking again (don't you HATE it when people don't update more often!!).

We moved Ella's MRI to this Thursday so we will give you updates when we get them.

Here are some pictures...which is really what I think everyone wants!!

Goofing off:

Happy Birthday Micah (first at Houston's for lunch, then at the birthday pool party):

Feeding therapy (we tried to use these wraps instead of tape...here's what it looked like):

If you would like to help...

I received the following email from our Preschool Department at church. If you feel led to contribute then there is information to do so. I know that many of you know how difficult it can be to care for any child, having to give up everything for a sick child has to be twice the stress.

Linda was born with cystic fibrosis and has been in our ministry since she was a baby. Her mother, Patty, has raised Linda and her two older sisters (Diana and Josy) as a single parent. Now Linda is in kindergarten, and she needs a lung transplant. Patty and Linda have to move to Houston to be ready for the transplant as soon as a lung becomes available. Diana and Josy must move to Tennessee to live with their father. Patty cannot work in Houston because she must care for Linda and be ready at moment's notice for the lung transplant. This puts a major stress on their family, not only emotionally and physically, but especially financially.

The Preschool Ministry has the opportunity to donate money to a Benevolence Fund for Linda and her family. If you would like to contribute to the fund, contact the Preschool Ministry at 214.969.2432 or any Preschool staff member that you see at FBC. Checks can be made out to FBC Benevolence with "preschool VBS offering" in the memo. Linda's website is http://www.caringbridge.org/la/linda/ if you want to check it out!Please spread the word, keep them in your prayers!

Head Update

Ella talked to the neurologist yesterday...okay, I really talked to him, but she tried. The doc said she is improving. He made a comment that kind of made Joe and I roll our eyes "gross motor again seems to be the biggest problem"...ummm, could I have saved our money and just called that in?!?! We are going to another (either 4th or 5th) MRI/MRA/MRV next Friday. They will have to sedate her, but I feel like we've done this enough times that it's just like another trip to the doctor. She does pretty well with anesthesia...I can't even count how many times she's been "under" in the last 14 months.

Oh, yeah, and can you believe she's 14 months old now...CRAZY. Yeah, I know, crazier that we'll have another one in 6 month...or a little more. Oh, and the popular question lately is how am I feeling...like I have really bad morning sickness...2 weeks till the end of the trimester.

God is good...that's my constant right now.

Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Pool Party

We had a wonderful pool party tonight at the Spearman's. They allowed our Sunday School class to converge on their new pool and backyard...and it's a good thing they are so gracious. Here are a few pics from the event (the rest of the pictures can be see on our class blog):

29th Birthday-Part 3 FINAL

Growing up we were SPOILED on our birthdays. We were given birthday months...since each of us were born in a separate month...even our parents. We had birthday parties galore, got to pick where we ate lunch after church, and our grandparents made sure EVERYONE got presents, not just the birthday person. It was a HUGE deal. As I've gotten older I've tried to recreate this for myself. In 2003 (for those of you who remember) it was a birthday week of celebrations...including all the 4th of July festivities and a dual birthday with my friend Kent (who at the time had a roommate named Joe Mitchell...whom I barely knew). The following year we spent the weekend at a wedding for the Sinclairs and then Joe and I spent some time in beautiful Graham, TX. Since having a child I have realized that MY birthday isn't as important as I once thought. I spent months thinking about Ella's birthday party...and barely remembered that mine was coming up. Last year Ella was so sick that we didn't do anything on my birthday after taking her to the doctor and watching her closely (she'd only been home a month). This year was perfect. I spent time with friends, my family, and my daughter is so much healthier this year than last...which is my true wish when blowing out my candles.

Here are some pictures from Saturday lunch with girlfriends Maggie and Jennifer (who came in from Louisiana, but not for my birthday).









And here are some pictures from my dinner with family (missing Drew and Mike). Micah was funny...trying to steal my cake. It was just a good end to a great celebration.

29 is going to be a great year. I have an amazing husband, a healthy and happy baby girl, and we will welcome our 2nd child this year. Sara's husband, Mike, will come home...and the Witschorke family will be whole again. Ella will continue to amaze us with her development. And hopefully most of all God will be glorified through our lives.