Kyle the Turtle

This is "Kyle" Eden's turtle that has made his home our backyard.

Eden checking out Kyle from a safe distance after Granpa told her that she couldn't hug him because turtles bite. So as you can see Eden is now afraid of Kyle. LOL Poor baby girl.

Eden and Papa playing in the sandbox while watching what Kyle is doing. Papa is very happy to have his playmate back. They made lots of sandcastles and had to save Sleeping Beauty.

Papa and Eden making pretty sidewalk chalk pictures on my patio. Papa was drawing a picture of Eden. She got up too quick, but I was trying to get a picture of her while she was on her tummy, chin on her hands watching papa. It was the sweetest thing ever. So happy to have her back home. : )

She likes to pose just like her mama does. She even says " Cheese Please". Too sweet.

Precious Gifts from God!

Little Layton Cove two days after leaving the hospital got to come and play at Grandpa and Grams' house. We tuckered him out.

Eden Rae loving on her Uma. She loves playing with my mom.

This was the only picture I could get of the little one. She wouldn't hold still. : )

There's my happy boy. Praising God for getting to see that sweet smile. After his time in the hospital I was wondering if we'd get to see it again.

Got my baby back in my arms where he belongs and with no tubes!! So thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers. God is such a gracious Father. So thankful that Layton is feeling better and getting stronger every day.

Evan's First Swing Ride

6 month old Evan Joseph having fun in the swing. He was smilin' and laughing. He loved it.

Aaron and his little man. Evan loved the swing.

He looks just like his daddy did 25 years ago.

That's our little "Booba" He is such a sweet little guy.

Right now everything is cause for putting in the mouth and drooling on. Too fun.

Update Layton

Praise God our little Layton was able to go home yesterday around 12:00 pm. They figured out that he had "campylobacter". The cause is from poultry/farm animals. The only thing we can come up with is that Ashley and Travis left the kids with his parents while they had a night out and Travis's mother has chickens as pets. The most we can come up with is that someone went to feed the chickens and stepped in some chicken feces and wore those shoes in the house. Well now that Layton is crawiling all over we guess he probably contacted it there. The Health Department called and talked with Ashley to ask her about 200 questions so that they could figure out if it was from a grocery store, zoo etc... They wanted to know if they were going to have take chicken off Walmart etc... They took him off of everything for 24 hours and let me tell you that was miserable to watch. He kept going from person to person hoping that one of us would give him something to eat. But by not putting anything in the intestine it gave it time to flush it out and for him to heal. We started giving him small doses of watered down formula on Friday and he was looking at us like I want more than that. He'd cry every time the bottle got empty. He is home, happy and playing with his family. Ashley says he's waking up more than normal but that he's just powering through his bottles.
Ashley is still feeling poorly. She started getting the same symptons on Thursday afternoon. By 5:00 am on Friday I had to go get nurses from the nurses station to take her down the ER to get some help. She was there for a few hours and then was able to come back to the room and rest. They have given her perscriptions for the stomach cramps and the diarreah. I'm hoping she'll be better in a couple days.
Layton had a two blood tests come back abnormal so they are re-running the tests and will talk to Ashley at Laytons follow-up the week. Please continue to pray for our little man. We don't know what's up with these results. We're hoping the levels were high because of the viris he had, but we don't know.
Thank you all for you love and support to all of us during this terribly hard time. We are so greatful to have friends and family to pray for us and hold us up. We appreciate you being God's hands and feet.

Poor Layton!!

Pray for our little Layton Cove Jennings. Ashley little boy has been sick for a while but over the last week he started bleeding in his diapers. She took him to her pediatrician 3 times and they said everything was fine that she was over-reacting. So yesterday morning she called around until she could fine a pediatric GI specialist and was able to get him in to see them at 1:00 pm. They have admitted Layton to St. Joseph's pediatric hospital and he is currently in quarantine until they can figure out what is wrong with him. This doctor is going to be calling the pediatricians office to let them know that they mishandled the case. Blood in any diaper needs to be taken very seriously. They are running tests on his stools, blood work, x-rays, ultrasounds etc... to try and figure out what is going on with him. He is in a lot of discomfort. Please lift Travis and Ashley up in prayer and of course our little Layton Cove. He's only 8 months and we don't want to lose him. We know God is the ultimate physcian and He can do all things. So join us as we ask God to take care of Layton.

Capital One Bowl

Here we are at the Capital One Bowl Game. Aaron bought tickets for my Christmas present. So excited.

Aaron wearing short sleeved jersey and shorts. Uhhh... didn't he hear the weather report? Rain all day until 7:00 pm. hmmmm....

Yeah, that's the rain, coming down in buckets. And here come the teams with their police escorts.

Police escorts bringing in the teams.

The Penn State Blue band.

The helmets where the teams will come out. Great seats Aaron!!!

There's JoPa!! Leading his team out unto the soggy, muddy field.

Touch Down Penn State!!!

There's the Italian side of Joe Paterno. He was so mad about the placement of the ball. We lost 2 yards on that call. He was a yelling at that ref.

Aaron enjoying the game but freezing none the less.

Half time. The blue band playing to our side of the field while the grounds crew work behind them replacing the divots made by the cleats. Notice the guys with the big buckets. They would come and push in the sod. Too funny.

Getting ready for the team to come back out after half-time. The Penn State Cheerleaders and Nitany Lion.

Soaked to the bone and the wind was gusting. So cold. But man was it a great game. I had no voice for two days afterwards. : )

WE ARE......... PENN STATE!!!

FIELD GOAL!!! Can you find the ball going throught the goal posts?

The fans were on their feet for the last march down the field. We were cheering and screaming. Let me tell you it was a nail biter.

WE WIN!!!! Penn State Beat LSU 19-17. So happy!!!

The Penn State crew!!! We Are.... Penn State Fans!!! Thanks Aaron for a great game.

Getting the MVP trophey. So cool.

Jo Paterno's 26th bowl game win. Not bad for a guy who's been coaching for 44 years. He turned 83 a week earlier. What a legacy to have. He's a guy with a lot of class.

December Happenings

Eden Rae opening her first gift. She shook it and said "There's nothing in this one."

Jullian Scott, Eden Rae and Papa getting ready to open more gifts.

Evan Joseph waiting for everyone to get to our house so that we could open gifts. He loves his Uncle Adam

Uncle Adam and Evan Joseph. What handsome boys.

Anna Council, Teresa and Paul Strickland, Sheila Cannon in the dark, Claude Cannon at the end of the table, Fred and Valerie Nassar, and of course us. Pic was taken by James Council.

There's James. Had to get a picture of James and Anna!! We were so glad we could all come and fellowship together.

Who is that pretty "Pookie Pie?" We sure do love her and miss her tons. Ash bought her these foot pajama's and she loves them. She doesn't like to take them off.

There is my happy smilin' grandson. Layton Cove 7 months old. He is such a lover.

Eden and her Ma'am. I miss her more than anyone knows. I miss our breakfast time, our reading times, our bath times etc... She was my little friend.

One last hug before she had to go. Gram loves her girlie.

Notice his orange face. He had just eaten a whole jar of sweet potatoes. He loved them.

Papa and his Pookie playing Princesses. Dean misses his afternoon playtime with his girl. This has been so painful. Hoping and praying our hearts will be mended this year.

Brother Chuck baptizing our Kelly. I cried of course. It was so meaningful to be able to see it. We all cheered and clapped and scared poor Evan, but he'll understand one day.

yes, that is me with tree limbs stuffed in my shirt. I was a Partridge in the pear tree, so I put on the tree, flapped my wings and cawed, cawed. I guess I should have cooed, but whatever. Everyone loved it.

Well, we were blessed to see our daughter in-law Kelly baptized at Kings Avenue but... out pictures really didn't turn out. Karey Erickson took a couple up in the baptismal so I'm hoping to get a copy of them from her. Kelly was supported by her family and her small group family. We were all so excited to be a part of this wonderful event in Kelly's life.

Adam was awarded MVP of his football team and he received the Captains cup. Both prestigious awards for him. He also received a letter inviting him to a football combine in June in Atalanta GA. He plans on attending and doing his best. We don't know what God has planned for Adam but this is a dream of his so we're very excited.

I went to the ladies Christmas party at Kings Avenue and they made us all play a game. We had to act out the 12 days of Christmas while singing. Everyone had to pick a sheet of paper and that would be your day to act out. Every day had two people to act out except the first day. Well, just my luck, I got the first day. So I had to act like a partridge in a pear tree 12 times. I'm glad that I've worked with Jason and Randy with the youth so I could just be crazy and have fun. Everyone was still razzing me the next morning at church. I'll probably never live it down, but I'm sure no one will be as creative as I was either.

Ashley came by on Monday, December 20th to pick up Adam. It was the first time seeing Ashley since October. Needless to say there was nervousness on my part. We both came out alive and Dean invited their family over for dinner that night. It was awkward for me and I really tried to make sure I didn't do or say anything that would be offensive. I felt like I had a bowling ball in my stomach. I think it was hard on Ashley's family as well. Dean thought everything was great. It was nice to see the kids. I've missed them so much.

Then we got to hang out with some of our good friends at Smokey Bones and just fellowship together. It's neat that some live far away and some more are leaving but to know we will always be friends no matter where we live. God has brought us together for a season and I am so greatful to be able to call these people my friends. The Cannons from North Carolina, the Councils from Knoxville ,TN, the Nassars who are moving to Texas, and the Stricklands who thank goodness are staying here for now. I have laughed, cried and fellowshipped with these folks for 9 years. Thanks guys for loving us!! We sure do love you.

And on Christmas Eve our whole family was together again to open presents. Eden was a joy to watch. She wanted to open all the presents and she couldn't wait. She went around offerring to help everyone open their gifts so that she could open more of hers. Jullian was wonderful as always. He wanted to be Santa and hand out the gifts. He did a great job and I was more than happy to let him take over the job. I think he should do it from now on. Aaron bought him a fishing pole and tackle box. I wish I could have gotten a picture of his face. He was so elated. Definitely the best present of the night. Layton Cove was very sick. He had a horrible fever and was whimpering the entire time. I felt so bad for the little guy. He's trying hard to stand up at the coffee table. He's crawling all over and boy is he fast. Evan Joseph is a sweetheart. He loved holding the wrapping paper. His mama tried to take it away from him, but he cried until we gave it back. Aunt Ashley gave him a Penn State Dinosaur that moved around and his spikes on it's backs light up. But it plays this horrible DISCO song. But Evan absolutely loved it. I made the most amazing appetizers ever. Everyone loved them. Poor Dean had the flu and so he went to be early and when that happened it kind of made everyone uncomfortable so they all left.

And on December 26th Dean was told that they had fired the other regional manager up in Jacksonville and so Dean has all of Florida again for his area. We are both happy and frustrated since this will be a lot of traveling for Dean but it makes more since than to have two regionals for 10 stores. So He'll be very busy because Jacksonville is a hard area to staff. Keep him in your prayers as he'll be going up there at least once a week for the next several months.

I hope God richly blesses your 2010 and I can't wait to be able to blog about all the blessings God provides for our family this coming year. Much love from Dean and I.

Things are still awkward. I'm sure it will take time. I'm trusting in God to take care of it. I'm leaving it at the foot of the cross because I've let it eat at me for far too long. I have to get back to trying to function and not cry at the drop of thinking about missing Ashley and my grandbabies. I'm praying for healing in 2010. I know God can do all things and as 1 Peter 1:6-7 says I'm being refined by the fire. So I'm keeping my eyes and my heart on God. This is a trial and it's only for a time. May God refine me so that I can be a stronger witness for Him in the end of this.