Much Needed Time Away

This past year and a half has been an emotional roller coaster (to say the least). With all that we have been through, Darrell and I agreed that it would be good for us to get away for awhile and enjoy some time together. Many of our family and friends suggested we take a vacation and it didn't take much convincing.

We had already talked about taking a trip to Hawaii for our ten year anniversary, so we just moved it up a couple of years. On a side note, Darrell and I have NEVER been on a big vacation together by ourselves. We didn't even go on a honeymoon because we bought our first house instead.  Needless to say, we were really looking forward to this trip!

Arriving in Honolulu

Our view from the Hotel on Waikiki Beach

Hawaii was absolutely beautiful and we've already decided that we'll probably go back for our ten year anniversary! We started our trip going to Honolulu to visit Pearl Harbor. That was such a touching and emotional morning!

Standing in front of the Arizona Memorial

Arizona Memorial

That afternoon we hopped on a tiny plane and headed to Maui for the rest of our week. Two words...LOVED it!! We did a sunrise bike tour down a dormant volcano. A bus picked us up at 2:30 in the morning and took us up the mountain. Standing in the middle of clouds we watched the sunrise. It was freezing, but I think it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. We were at a little less than 10,000 feet in elevation. From there we were taken to 6,500 feet where we rode bikes the rest of the way down. Again, beautiful views and a lot of time to pray and just think...loved it!

Right before sunrise

The sun starting to rise

After sunrise

Love this picture of the sunrise behind us!

What a view!  One of the spots on the mountain we stopped for a picture

On our bike ride down the mountain

One day we went for a drive and went to Twin Falls. We thought we would never find them, but after hiking in flip flops...yes, flip flops (we had no idea what to expect), we found them and got some great pictures!

Twin Falls (the water was freezing!)

One afternoon we visited Maui Brewing Company.  The Friday before we left Darrell found some beer at the store from the Maui Brewing Co., so he researched where it was and lucky for us it was five minutes from our hotel.  They try to use as many ingredients as possible from Maui when brewing their beer.  The entire process of the brewing and packaging of the beer is done in a tiny metal building. I was shocked at how small it was.

The five beers we got to sample

I just thought this sign was funny because of how small it is

We also enjoyed our first time zip lining. We both really enjoyed it! Darrell even did this swing thing that I was too chicken to do.

Getting ready to zip

Darrell getting ready to zip

Look at the view behind us...unbelievable!

Ziplining

Ziplining some more!

Darrell doing the swing with a girl in our group

That would be Darrell upside down on the swing

We also walked down the beach from our hotel and went to Black Rock where we were told you could see some pretty large turtles and fish.  We were about knee deep in the water getting our snorkel gear on when we hear someone shout, "Tortuga, tortuga!" I look right in front of me and there is a huge sea turtle!  I loved it!

Ready to snorkel

The sea turtle that was right by us

The night before we left we attended a luau in Lahaina that gave the history of Hawaii. We got some great pictures and enjoyed watching the hula dancers.

Before the luau started

Our dinner

One of the dances

Our hilarious waiter

With two of the dancers from the show

I think the best part of our vacation was being able to relax at the pool and the beach. Maui is so laid back and it was nice to just be with each other!

View from our room in Kaanapali

Hanging out at the pool

Sunsetting while we were at dinner

Dinner one night

Just another amazing view

Just the two of us (and yes, I'm humming that tune right now)

Happy Father's Day, Darrell!

Even though there is only one day of the year that bears the official title of Father's Day, Dad's get to celebrate every day of the year (just like moms).  I would hope that dads everywhere cherish each day they have with their children.  I know Darrell did!  Darrell was able to celebrate five "official" Father's Days with Cade and Addi, but we like this number better....1,748....because that is how many days that he got to spend with Cade and Addi before their Heavenly Father called them home.

All three of my love bugs!

At the pumpkin patch

Darrell is truly an amazing dad!  The moment I found out that I was pregnant with Cade, he was elated.  He couldn't wait to find out what we were having.  When we found out it was a boy he was ecstatic!  Cade looked just like his daddy.  From the moment he was born, every one, and I mean every one, would say "Man, he looks just like Darrell."  If we got even a penny each time we heard that statement we would no longer have to work because we would be set for life financially.

Cade's first day

Looking at the fish (Love this picture)

Some of my favorite memories of the two of them are just hanging out in the garage, playing some sort of sport outside, and wrestling on our bed.  My ALL time favorite though, is hearing them through the monitor talking and playing around in Cade's room, especially when they thought no one was listening.  Right before Cade passed away, we bought an old truck (1923 Dodge Brother's Truck to be exact) to fix up and Darrell was really looking forward to working on it with Cade.  Cade was just as excited; he loved to help his daddy put anything together.  The truck continues to be worked on in honor of Cade.  What an emotional day that will be when it is all finished!

Cleaning the wheels of the big truck

Getting the yard done

Being silly

At the pool...on Mickey's "big boat"

Playing at Castaway Cay

Nice Glasses!

Jammin' with their guitars

Ready for the Astros game

Soccer game

Then in September of 2009, we found out I was pregnant with our sweet girl Addi!  I knew the moment we found out it was a girl, that someone was going to have their daddy wrapped around her little finger.  That was proven true the minute I had her.  Darrell was so sweet with her!  I loved to watch him interact with her....so gentle (a big difference from being rough and tough with Cade).  There's something to be said about a daddy and his daughter.  He would crinkle up his face and rub his nose against hers and when he rocked her he would hold her close to his face and just snuggle.  At home, he LOVED to put her to bed at night!  AND...everything she did was worthy of a video!  He has several videos of her doing random things on his phone.  

Addi's third day

The football hold

Too sweet!

So sleepy!

Being silly

Nice shades

Daddy with his princess

Christmas...her hair is "A-Mess"

Darrell also took Addi to most of her doctor's appointments by himself.  He hated having to take her to those appointments, but he did it with a smile.  Those couple of times that she was admitted to the hospital, he spent every day at the hospital with us and did his work from there.  One of my favorite pictures is of him working on one of his inspection reports at TCH.  Addi was sitting next to him, and when he would listen to the recorder, she would hold up his extra recorder, copying what he was doing.

Difibrilator surgery

Drain tube stay

Copying Daddy

First time chest to chest after surgery

Darrell, you are truly a wonderful dad!  I loved watching you every day with our two beautiful children.  The 1,748 days that we had with Cade and Addi are some of my most cherished times.  Thank you for being my rock, an unbelievable husband, and a wonderful dad!  I love you right up to the moon and back!

My handsome boys!  I adore this picture!!

Daddy and his princess

Happy Birthday Addi

Two years ago today, at 1:01 p.m. Darrell and I were blessed with our beautiful baby girl.  What immediate joy she brought us!  She was born screaming and didn't stop for about 30 minutes.  I remember Darrell looking at me saying, "Oh man!  I hope this isn't a sign for is what to come."  She was the sweetest, easiest baby.  We had to wake her up to feed her.  The first night, the nurse brought her in for me to feed her, and she said that she was such a "good" baby and they had to wake her up to bring her to me.  When we got home, it was the same!

Precious-One day old

So tired!

First day at church

It's amazing to me how two kids who come from the same parents can be so different.  Both Cade and Addi were both very content and happy babies.  Both of them loved to cuddle and be with their mommy and daddy.  Cade continued to have such a kind, easy going nature about him.  Addi, on the other hand was different.  She was still sweet, but she had more of a feisty way about her.  As she got older, she definitely had a way of letting us know if she wanted something or if something wasn't going her way.  She had a strong and sassy personality.  For example, there was a little boy that went to Ashley's with her that she did not really get along with.  He may not have even been doing anything to her, but she was going to let him know who was boss (as a mom of a little girl, this made me smile...I didn't want her to put up with any stinky boys).  She was quite the little princess!

One of my ALL time favorite pictures.  This is just one example of how much he loved his sister!

The past ten months Addi had grown up a lot.  I can honestly say that she looks nothing like she did when she was a baby.  I look back at her pictures, and it is crazy how different she looks.  Her appearance had changed so much.  It seems like all of a sudden she got so tall and turned into such a little girl.  One of the nights that we were at the hospital with her, she was laying in the bed and Darrell and I both commented on how "big" she looked.  She was quickly leaving the baby phase and turning into a precious little girl.

6 months playing in the exersaucer

6 months posing for a picture

Watching her grow and learn new things was wonderful!  She loved to tease you and play hard to get.  One of my favorite things was watching her dance.  Oh how she LOVED to dance!  The older she got, the more of a girly girl she became.  She was a girl who LOVED accessories.  Each morning when I got her up she would ask for her bow and her shoes and neither of them came off until it was time for her bath.  The girl also LOVED bracelets and purses, anything she could carry on her wrist...and the more of them, the better.

First Birthday--Seriously...how cute is she!

Stylin in the pool

Today we will be celebrating her second birthday without her.  It is an emotional day for me for so many reasons.  Because we were waiting on Addi's new heart, I had purchased some things early for her birthday just in case we would have been celebrating in the hospital.  We were going to have an Olivia (the pig) party, as Olivia was one of her favorites.  Both her Olivia tutu and Olivia "2" shirt are sitting in her closet and will not be worn.

Pre-Surgery picture

Post-Surgery

21 Months--Again SO cute, look how she's resting her hands

2nd Birthday outfit

For her birthday this year, we will be sending her pink balloons to Heaven!

We miss our sweet girl more than anything.  I miss seeing her come around the corner in our house with Mr. G in her hand (hanging from his tail) and her hair all in her face.  I miss her sweet voice and the innocent laugh that made me smile so big.  I know that she is having the best party of all in Heaven!  Happy 2nd birthday sweet girl...Mommy and Daddy love you right up to the moon and back!

Pretty in a Pink

I started working out at the YMCA a few weeks ago. As I was walking in I passed the tree that was planted for Cade. There was a new addition...a pink bow! There I was walking into the Y ready to work out with tears in my eyes. I'm sure a few of our soccer moms had everything to do with that! Again, we are so blessed to have such sweet people in our life. Thank you for thinking about Addi and adding something about her to Cade's tree.

Amazing Students and Great Parents

I absolutely love teaching.  I have been so blessed to be a part of so many kids' lives over the past nine years (by the way, where did the time go...I can't believe I have been teaching for nine years).  The past two years my students and parents have been through a lot more than they had planned on.  At the beginning of this school year, I sent a letter home to all of my parents letting them know about Addi's condition.  I also had a conversation with each of my three classes letting them know that Addi was going to need a new heart and that we were hoping that one would come some time this year.  Everyone has been so loving and supportive along the way.  I have received TONS of drawings, cards, and notes from my students, and such uplifting cards and letters from my parents.  Several of them also came and visited us at the hospital during our different stays. It is truly AMAZING how much love my students and parents have shown my family!

Being a teacher has touched my life in so many different ways.  I love being a part of community that cares so much about what is best for children.  I have met some pretty amazing people and have developed some pretty amazing friendships.  Thank you so much to ALL of my students and parents!

My Homeroom Class at Field Day

All Three of my Classes at Field Day

Mother's Day

I'm not going to lie, this is a day that I was not looking forward to this year.  I thought that last year would have been the hardest Mother's Day, but this year has that one beat.  I have never celebrated a Mother's Day with both of my children, and this is the first Mother's Day without either of them.  It is definitely difficult not having my two precious kids here with me and I've definitely shed quite a few tears about it...and then I realized that the tears aren't because of Mother's Day, it's simply because they are NOT here at all.  But there are many times when I think of Cade and Addi and I will smile and laugh. The memories I have of them mean everything.  How blessed I am to have had them for the time that I did, and I absolutely would not trade that for the world!

A big part of who I am today is because of Cade and Addi.  My life was forever changed the day that both of them came into my life.  The love a child brings to their parents can't be described or explained.  We still share that love, and even though we are in two different places...that love is constant and will never change.  Whether I am with them or not, I am always their mom, and that makes me a pretty happy mommy....EVERY DAY and not just on Mother's Day!

Me and Caderader    August 20, 2006

Me and Cade   May 24, 2010

Me and Addibelle     May 26, 2010

Me and Addi     January 20, 2012

With God, my Lord and Savior, and the love and support from my family and friends, each day gets a little easier.  God carries me through and I am going to honor Him by being the person He created me to be.