birthday fun

Grammy's birthday is the day after Christmas so we try to make it special just as she makes all of ours special!! Her and Papa J came to our house and spent the day with us. It was a great day but now our energetic almost 3 year old wants to talk about her birthday!! And for those of you who don't know when it is, she will tell you "my birthday is coming up and I am having Cinderella birthday and my birthday is March 25th and I will be three!!" She is very excited and it's going to be a long time until then!! Ha

Kris and I went through the playroom to make room for all the goodies they got and can we say our girls should NEVER say they are bored!! Yeah right!!

I am getting ready for a little girl time with Courtney while the girls go to Nana and Pops for the night.. I will miss them terribly but it will do us some good for some time apart!

Oh and P.S. we found out yesterday we were approved for Medicaid going back to November 1st.. Hallelujah praise the Good Lord!! They are still trying to get us the disabled child living at home but at least we have it until November 1, 2013!! And that is a Merry Christmas to us!!!!

Until next time,
Megan

merry christmas

This has been a wonderful day!! Watching Christmas through the eyes of a child is one of the neatest things ever!! Kris and I didn't care what we got, we had the most fun watching Madeline and her excitement! There was a lot of "that's so cool" and "look mama and daddy!" She really liked being Santa and giving everyone their gifts and especially liked all of Chandler's gifts. She just better be ready for next year when baby sister is able to fend for herself and her toys!! Madeline put all of her stocking stuffers in her new car and took THE LONGEST time opening gifts!! Didn't like making a mess or tearing them open.. So unlike her mama and her shimmy!! Santa brought Madeline a Barbie escalade and donuts.. Not sure which one she was more excited about haha and he brought Chandler a tummy mat and a phone.. They both got lots of books and other goodies. They must have been good girls ;)

Grammy, Papa J, Shimmy, Mamaw, Nana and Pops were able to spend the day with us at our house which we have made a tradition since Madeline's first Christmas. It is so nice to have everyone under one roof celebrating this special time of year!

The kitchen is clean, two girls are asleep and Kris and I are watching a movie on our new tv! We hope everyone had a great day just like us!! Tomorrow is Grammys birthday so we will be celebrating with her and watching a little girl ride in her new car and "frank" up the radio. :)

Until next time,
Megan

the most wonderful time of the year

School is FINALLY out and for that I am thankful!! What I am not thankful for is a sick hubby!! He has gotten some meds and is hopefully on the mend. This household works better with a Mama and a Daddy!!

Yesterday, Shimmy and I took the girls to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop along with every other last minute person!! Ugh I hate crowds any time but it was super crowded yesterday!! But we survived and they got their picture made anyway. Again Madeline was all about him and was going to tell him she wanted "donuts" but was not very happy about sitting in his lap! He was very friendly and Chandler sat in his lap with no problems.. Madeline never cried but let's just say she pouted.. As you can see for yourself!!

Santa will be getting Chips Ahoy at our house this year..not some fancy homemade cookies but maybe next year!! We cannot wait until in the morning and see our big girls face when she sees all the presents!! Also she has her own manger scene in her room and every morning she looks in to see if baby Jesus is in there.. So she will be very excited to see Him in there in the morning.. The REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!! Much love from the Smiths...
Kris, Megan, Madeline and Chandler

chandler megan smith

As promised, birth story for daughter number 2...

 

 

Our original due date was September 29, but we knew we wouldn't have the baby on that date because I would have a c-section since I had one with Madeline.  During one of our visits to see Dr. Perry in Jackson, they moved the date up to the 27th.  The sonographer even commented on the last visit in August that the baby was face down, head down and I asked what that meant and she said, "this baby will be born at 37 weeks."  Yeah right, whatever!!  Madeline might never have come, so certainly this baby would do the same thing..haha!  As September approached, we scheduled a delivery date, Wednesday, September 19 at 8:30 a.m.  We had even spoke with our pediatrician, and he was going to be there, too.  Soooo, on the morning of Wednesday, September 12, Chandler had another plan!!  I woke up that morning having some "pains" but I just chalked it up to being 37 weeks pregnant and went on to work.  About 9:30, I started having some different kind of pains, but wasn't really sure if they were contractions, because remember, I never felt ANYTHING with Madeline!!  So I decided to stay calm and finish some reports and get some things ready for my sub just in case this baby was coming sooner than we thought.  I didn't get too alarmed until I passed a little blood and was still having some pains, so I called the doctor's office and left a message for the nurse to call me back.  In the meantime, I called Kris to tell him what might be happening and he was cutting grass and said for me to call him or Mike if I needed him.  One of my fabulous co-workers, came in some time during all of this and offered to take me to the doctor if I needed her to.  Now, this may be too much information but I lost that (plug), which up to that day I had NO CLUE what that was, well I do now!!!  I then called the doctor's office again and they told me to come in at 1:15 and it was almost 12:00.  She wasn't alarmed at all and I was beginning to freak out just a little and decided to take my co-worker up on the offer to drive me to the clinic and to stop by the house and pick up mine and the baby's bags (just in case).  I called Kris to tell him to meet me at the clinic, but guess what...he doesn't answer!  Sooo, I call Mike and you guessed it..he doesn't answer!!!  Didn't they know I could be having a baby?!?  Eventually he calls me back and meets me at the clinic.  But my sweet mother-in-law informed me that even when you loose that (thing), it could still be a week before we had the baby! So, I still kept thinking that we weren't going to have this baby today and so did Kris, because he told Mike that he would meet him at the next yard after he left the doctor's..boy were we wrong!!  They get us back pretty quick and listened to the baby's heartbeat and checked my blood pressure.  I am laying on the table waiting for the doctor when I feel like I tee teed on the table, so I asked my wonderful husband to make sure.  Now, rewind to when Madeline was born..they had to keep checking on him during the delivery because he was just about to pass out.  So, needless to say, he isn't much help in a crisis when it comes to us, but can pull strangers out of burning buildings and cars..what can I say, he loves us!! :)  As I was saying, I needed him to see if my water had broken and this was his response, "but there is not any on the floor and it didn't gush out on the floor!"  Um, I think that only happens in movies ha!  But anyway, he then times my contractions and what I thought had to be 10 minutes apart were really 2 minutes apart!  I then said "get some help!!"  And off he goes running down the hall, telling anyone who would listen because he wasn't about to birth our baby!!  One of the doctors came in and checked me and said "yes your water has broken and you are 4 cm dilated."  What?!?!?  This baby was not scheduled to come until NEXT Wednesday!!!  I still had to get my hair done because I had some major roots and was looking like white trash and I was planning on getting a pedicure so my toes would look good, too.  As for Daddy, he had been cutting grass, so can we say "FILTHY" in his cut off t-shirt!!  We were looking great!  haha  This baby was coming whether we liked it or not, so they put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me over to the hospital and up to the fourth floor while Kris went to admissions.  Now the contractions were coming on faster and harder and I was getting pretty uncomfortable, but my darling hubby was doing everything in his power to help make me feel better.  For example, he was "helping" me breathe in and out and I told him to get his hot breath out of my face!!!  And as he is backing off, he says, "just think, Megan, you will only have to do this one more time!"  Ooooo, if I could have gotten my hands on him, I would have strangled him!!  And P.S., IF there is ever a third time, it is going to be a while from now!!  They FINALLY gave me something for pain..that was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life!  After I had Madeline, I kept saying how I wanted to know what a contraction felt and that I didn't "experience" the whole birthing process...well now I have and don't care to ever feel it again!  They got us back into the O.R.  Now, remember we were scheduled with Dr. Remley and Dr. Charles for the next Wednesday..but God is so good and they were both on call that day and were able to be with us!!  And at 3:59 p.m., we met our beautiful daughter for the first time..  Dr. Charles took pictures for us and they even let me hold her and introduce her to the family!  What a nice change from Madeline's birth..this is what it is supposed to be like.  Chandler's birth and pregnancy were much better experiences than Madeline's was and I am glad given all that we had been through to get her here..again GOD IS SO GOOD!!  Everything checked out with her and the echo showed that there was no change in her heart condition which was a good thing.  She even passed her hearing screening!  Dr. Charles said that she didn't have a heart murmur, so...if we hadn't been to Jackson to check on the kidneys, we wouldn't have found the hole in the heart and so on.  You get the point..The Lord works in mysterious ways.  She was good and I was great!!  I bounced right back this time!  Everything happened so fast that big sister wasn't there for the birth, so "Miss Misa" brought her up to the hospital wearing her "big sis" shirt.  They finally brought Chandler in our room about 8:00 that night and the look on Madeline's face when she saw her little sister was priceless.  Brought tears to every one's eyes just as it is doing to me now!  She was in love and so very proud!  We only actually had to stay in the hospital 48 hours and were able to go home.  Even though I gave/still give Kris a hard time, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else by my side through either one of these amazing experiences!!  The day our family became a family of four was a wonderful, blessed day!!

Chandler Megan Smith

7 lb. 14 oz, 19 in. long

 

 

 

P.S. These amazing pictures and all my professional pictures are taken by my friend, Amanda Smith.  Her website is www.reflectionsbyamandasmith.com.  Check it out..she does incredible work and if she can capture the best pictures of our little monkeys, she can do anything!!!

until next time,
Megan

 

 



craziness and sadness

The Christmas festivities have continued with the Thompson parade this past Saturday.. I know you are thinking Thompson has a parade?! But yes they do and I promise it is the best one around!! Make plans to go next year. Of course Chandler slept through the entire thing as big sis got a bag full of "tandy" oh goody just what we needed!!

After figuring some things out, Madeline went to my parents and spent some time with Papa J and Chandler had her second sleepover and this time with Nana and Pops. I headed to Hattiesburg with every other last minute shopper.. Ugh! But I had my trusty sidekick Kimberly with me so all was good!! And I mean that.. We started at Target and moved on to Toys R Us.. Yes I said Toys R Us with a little over a week left until Christmas! It was just as crazy as Thanksgiving night which Kimberly and I braved..or were just plain stupid for going whichever way you look at it! Anyway let's back up to that particular night.. I had one item that I really really really wanted and just assumed that I would get it cause we showed up and waited in line for an hour and a half.. Right huh?!? Wrong!! They only give out so many tickets for the door busters and the girls in front of us in line kept saying you better start wishing on a star ha wow this is serious business!! Well we did get the ticket but it wasn't in so we got a rain check. So I didn't pay for it and was nervous that it wouldn't come in in time... I even called before I went over and it still hadn't come in. I needed to get some stuff at Toys R Us so my sis asked about it and it was in!!!! However the thing is huge and I wasn't in Kris's truck like on Black Friday but in the Explorer. After taking both car seats out and putting packages in both of our laps, we got the Barbie Escalade but shhhh don't tell Madeline and Chandler!! I know one of them is going to be super excited on Christmas morning!! Whew, it's never a dull moment with us haha

On a more serious note, the recent tragedy in Connecticut has made me realize just how precious and short life really is.. I have hugged and loved my sweet girls a little more and prayed for those affected by the shooting.. I can't even begin to understand but I trust in The Lord and know He will take care and comfort everyone.. And when Madeline says "mama can I help you?" Or "lay down with me" or when Chandler just wants me to hold her and talk to her, I am going to stop what I am doing because the laundry can wait and time with them is so precious.. As Christmas Day approaches, please remember those affected and lift them up in your prayers..

Until next time,
Megan

baby it's cold outside

As my sweet Mamaw says, "Jack Frost came last night" and it is really starting to feel like Christmas!! Going to try and finish shopping this weekend with a kid free dash to Hattiesburg with Kimberly.. Whew this "Santa" business is hard work!! I will leave you with pictures of two of Santa's elves..

Until next time,
Megan

surgery date

Just a quick update on our sweet girl, Chandler.  We went to see the cardiologist on Friday and guess who weighs 10 lbs. 3 oz?!?!?  Our big girl does and we are so proud!!!  So, after that news, Dr. Parnell said the dreaded "surgery" word and said we needed to talk about a date.  Wow, we knew it was coming and have been "preparing" ourselves since June, but it has been fine to talk about it but now that day is approaching, quickly...  We are ready for it to be over but not ready to hand our baby over for heart surgery.  Anyway, we scheduled the surgery for January 31st...we go back on January 4th and will meet with the surgeon, Dr. Salazar, that day.  Whew, ready or not, it will be here before we know it!!  As long as she doesn't get sick between now and then, that will be THE DAY.  So, we are now on super germ patrol since we have come so far.  Dr. Parnell said she looks great and increased her lasix (fluid) to three times a day..which means more diapers :)  She even asked Chandler if she could teach her other babies how to eat because they aren't listening to her.  Made this Mama and Daddy very proud!  She will be in the hospital at least five to seven days if all goes well and Dr. Parnell feels confident it will and so do we :)  Feeding will be the main issue that we will be concerned about..some babies have difficulty feeding after heart surgery, especially a baby with Down syndrome, but since Miss Thang doesn't have any trouble now, she more than likely won't have trouble after surgery.  Please continue to pray..your prayers are being heard, cause Chandler is evidence of that!!  We are looking forward to the Christmas holidays and spending time with family and friends and remembering the true reason for the season.  Madeline is so precious when she says "that's baby Jesus" and "look at the lights," Christmas is already so much fun at our house this year!!

As for big sister, Madeline, she has FINALLY gotten the hang of this potty training business...she will work for M&M's!!  ha ha She is now super attached to "pink blankie" and is now like Linus on Charlie Brown, dragging the darn thing EVERYWHERE!!!  Oh well, whatever makes her feel good!  But on the way to "school" this morning, she kept telling her Daddy it was in the house and go back and get it...so he did, only to find out that Mama had already put it in her bag!!  We are in for it at our house with all these strong-willed personalities :)

until next time,
Megan

gratitude

Since November was the month for "thankfulness," what a better time than to write this post.  I know, I know, I am a little late but it's been a little crazy at the Smith residence lately!  Also, this post has been one that I have been trying to figure out just how to write it so that our gratitude shows through my words.  People have been SO GOOD to us, it is hard to comprehend just how good, as I swallow this lump in my throat and fight back tears...we have certainly felt the love and prayers...we are truely blessed to have this awesome support system in our family, friends and even strangers!!

Shortly after we found out that our baby would have to have heart surgery sometime after birth, Kris' cousins' wife, Stephanie, contacted me and wanted to put together some fundraisers.  Now, I have to admit that at first I was prideful, and thought why would we need help, but then the bills started coming in, and we hadn't even HAD the baby yet, plus we HAVE insurance!!!  Argh..it was so frustrating, and we knew that it was only going to get worse especially when she had the surgery.  So, Stephanie contacted my sister, my dear "brother" Ryan Hall, and best friend, Amanda Smith, and away they went organizing events. 

The first event was a bake sale that was held on August 25, outside of McComb Market.  I can say that there were lots of delicious treats made by some talented women and even men!  In the words of my honey, Ryan, "forget about your diet for one day and come get your sugar fix!"  And believe me they did and even bought whole cakes!!  They had to hide some to bring to us!  People were SO GENEROUS and came out and supported our baby-to-be!! 
Below is a list of people who made yummy treats and/or manned the tables..my cup runneth over for this fine bunch of folks....and for the people who bought the sweets!!

STEPHANIE SPEARS--without your "get up and go attitude," none of this would've been made possible..love you bunches..muah!!
Kimberly Dykes AKA "Shimmy"
Ryan Hall AKA "brother" or "honey"
Jillian Lally AKA "Dillian"
Kathy Smith AKA "Nana"
Aunt Colleen AKA "Aunt Tolleen"
Amanda Smith AKA "Miss Manda"
Jessi Jeanfreau AKA "Miss Dessi"
Kelly Hart
Ronda Temple
Joann Callum

The spaghetti dinner fundraiser was on September 15, 2012 (my Daddy's bday) at the Summit Health and Rehab.  It was a hit, and they ran out of spaghetti..it was some good stuff!!  Again, some special people helped make it such a success, and they actually had alot of fun..I am kinda jealous that I missed out on the spaghetti slinging, but I was home rocking a brand new bambino!! 
Stephanie, Kimberly, Ryan Hall, and Jillian made the plates in the kitchen with music blaring and sporting hairnets...can you picture it cause I surely can!!!  I know they were all looking h.o.t.t. in those hairnets, and we certainly felt all the LOVE that went into preparing those plates :)  Kristen McBeth, childhood friend of mine, made lots o' noodles, and Amanda Smith manned the front.  These wonderful people took precious time out of their busy lives to contribute to our sweet girl and for this, Kris and I will be forever grateful..they all hold special places in our hearts and always will...


Mr. Ryan Hall, attorney at law :) set up a Give Forward account online that allowed people to donate monetary gifts.  The overall goal was $2,500.00 and 95% of that was reached with $2,383.00 being donated.  Whoa!!!  That is AAAAMAZING to say the least..again, I cried at just how generous and good people really are..  We would like to give those wonderful people a big shout out:

Chuck Paulk
Max and Anita Fenn
Troy and Kandi Whittington
Paul and Heather Moorhouse (my cousin from Canada!!)
Josh and Ginger Simpson
Stephen and Kristen Ladner (good friends who live in Knoxville, TN)
Landon and Kristin Ratliff
and even an Anonymous donor..you know who you are and we thank you!!

Our precious church, Fernwood Baptist, sent a generous gift and have also sent love and prayers that have all been greatly appreciated!!
Thompson Baptist Church, the church I grew up in and that we were married in, took up a love offering of a generous amount...I know that times are tough and that people are strapped, but they still gave to help our sweet angel and again I am speechless...which is a hard thing for me!! ha

We have never felt so loved and supported as we do now...we also feel the prayers and God as He has taken us in His arms and continues to comfort us.  There is absolutely no way we would have gotten this far without these fabulous people in our lives!!  There are so many people that have given and done so much for us that I don't even know about but please know I am talking to you when I say, "THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!"  Please know that all the money is and will be put toward mending our Chandler's heart.  Given our situation, it has certainly put the importance of fundraisers and awareness into perspective and that every little bit helps!  There are honestly no words that can express just how grateful we are...

As I wipe the tears streaming down my face, please know that we love each and every one of you and thank God for putting you in our lives.. 

until next time, with lots of love,
the extremely grateful Smiths--Megan, Kris, Madeline, and Chandler

kids "doo" the darndest things

Wow, we have had a fun and eventful weekend to say the least!!  It all started Friday night with the Magnolia Christmas parade.  Nana came and met me, Kris, Madeline and Chandler..we got lots of candy and a stuffed lion that roars when you squeeze him.  Not sure who threw that out but I would like to thank them because that is all we have heard since then :)  Saturday, me and Shimmy took the girls to the McComb Christmas parade.  Nana and Papa J came and met us for this one..Kris had to work, but that meant that he was going to be in the parade walking beside the firetruck!  Hearing our sweet girl yell out "Merry Fristmas" was music to our ears..but she certainly didn't like Sparky the firehouse dog..only from a distance!!  The parade has really gotten ridiculous with people yelling for candy and blaring music that is not Christmas music, but whatever, Madeline had a ball and that is all that matters!  So, the firetrucks were last and Madeline was so very excited to see her Daddy..he even gave her and Chandler stuffed animals..it was a tear jerker, for sure!  She cried a little when he had to leave her, but perked up when I told her we were going to a birthday party. 

Madeline loves her Shimmy and her Shimmy loves her



Someone slept during the entire parade

he is our hero :)

Courtney's daughter, Dani Leigh, was having a party at the Gym of Dreams that afternoon.  She was having a great time jumping on the trampoline, staring at everybody, when she said her belly was hurting.  She never complains but was almost in tears, holding her stomach.  She fell asleep on the way home.  Shimmy had taken Chandler home after the parade, so when we got there, I took a nap, too.  My sweet Mamaw wanted to buy the girls some clothes but didn't know what to get them, so she gave us the money to get them some things because they can't wear the same old ratty things haha.  Once everyone woke up from their naps, we decided to go to the mall.  Now keep in mind, Madeline was complaining that her stomach was hurting earlier ;)  Now, you do not need to be eating or drinking anything during this next part!!  We were shopping in JC Penney's and Madeline said "Mama, I gotta go to the bafroom" but as she was saying it, she was squatted down..#2 was already on the way!!  So, Shimmy threw her purse down, said "watch the baby" and ran with Madeline to the bathroom.  Well they didn't quite make it, so she took her cute panties off and put them in her bag.  So, she now has on cute big-legged pants with no panties.... We continue shopping and Madeline says again, "Mama, I gotta go to the bafroom" really, again?!?  And how do you tell a two year old to hold it?!?  So before we could even pick her up to take her to the potty, she says, "uh oh" and points to the floor!!!  You can only imagine what she was pointing to!!!  All Kimberly and I could do was laugh and laugh and laugh and then scoop it up with wipes and deposit in the toilet.  What would we do without these girls?!?!?  hahaha

Sunday, we went and got our tree from our friends, Terry and Sherry Pigott at Christmas Memories tree farm..If you haven't gotten your tree yet, you should visit them!  It is really neat and is a tradition in the Smith household. It was entirely too hot to be picking out a tree, but what else do we expect living in the good ole south!  We usually go with Kris's parents, but since Mr. Randy has just had open heart surgery, Ms. Kathy was the only one who was able to join us this year..but you were missed Pops!   Madeline liked helping us pick out the tree and even "helped" Daddy carry it to the truck.  Chandler missed the excitement and slept :)  I am sure she will be all in it next year!!

 

Merry Christmas from the Smiths

 she woke up for just a minute!

 someone loves to help!

 she thought she was something else helping her daddy!

 big girl

In the middle of all of this, I got the stomach virus ugh ugh ugh!!  Thankfully, Kris, Brittney, Grammy and Papa J came to the rescue and HOPEFULLY no one else will get it!!  I hate to whine but we just can't catch a break...it has to get better, it just has to!!!  Friday, we go to Jackson to see the cardiologist...pray for a good check up, weight gain, and not a 4 1/2 hour wait! 

I will leave yall with a picture of sisterly love...warms my heart :)

until next time,

Megan