I'm baaaaaaack...

OK. So the thing that stresses me out about blogging is the time lapse between each blog. I feel the need to update every single thing I missed and let's be honest...aint nobody got time fo dat.

So...here's my update. Maggie turned 4. We had a butterfly birthday party at Kamper Park. Brian and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary. We had a baby. Thanksgiving came. Miller turned 2. We had a small family party. Christmas came. New Years Came. The end. WHEW. Now I feel better.

Now...about that baby.

Russell (named after my Dad) Mangum Moore was born on November 25, weighing 9 lbs 2 oz. He was 22 inches long! Big boy!! He is pure sweetness. We had a wonderful experience, and I was out of the hospital in 2 days!

He looks JUST like Maggie. Kind of like Miller, but JUST like Maggie. He is an angel baby. I really didn't know babies could be this good, but they can. He is just the sweetest little thing.  I think God knew just what we needed! He fits perfectly into our family and we honestly don't remember what it was like without him. Maggie and Miller have been absolutely great with him. Honestly, it's been waaaay easier around here than I was expecting. For me, the transition from two to three kids was way easier than going from one to two.

Blessed is an understatement. My heart swells every day with joy. I'm loving the life I've been given, and thankful for my 3 precious gifts from God!

3 Years

I love October. I love fall. I love pumpkin spice lattes, mums, and picking out Halloween costumes. I love having Maggie's birthday. But I don't love October 25.

3 years ago was the worst day of my life. People often ask me how I made it through Miller's open heart surgery. And while yes, that was a horrible day, it was NOTHING compared to the day we said goodbye to our little girl. People often treat miscarriage very lightly. Believe me, if you haven't personally experienced this, it is REAL pain. It is gut wrenching, heart breaking, barely have the will to live pain. And the 10 little fingers and 10 little toe prints I am looking at today show me just how real it really is.

So Happy 3rd Birthday Baby Girl. I can only imagine the kind of spectacular birthday party you are having in heaven.

Boy Oh BOY!

Well hello there blog. How I've missed you. This tired mamma's been busy busy. Not sure doing what...but it feels like life is flying by. Sorry for all the iphone pics. I haven't picked up my real camera since Christmas. Sadsville.

Ok, so this happened.

And it's a BOY! Due Dec. 5th! I'm almost 22 wks. And the heart looks great! We go to Jackson next week to meet with a specialist to get a second opinion, so say prayers!

Brian and I took a weekend trip to Memphis to see Dave Matthews. SO FUN! And he made eyes at me several times during the concert;)

Been spending lots of time at the pool this summer!

Miller had a minor surgery in May. I say minor...I guess nothing is minor when you have your chest cut  open. But we are used to that by now. One of his wires from his last surgery came undone so they had to remove it. We left the same day, and he recovered with flying colors!

 Maggie had her first dance recital! She was a dancing poodle! As you can see from the last pic below, she was just SO happy after her performance.

Miller brushing his hair for church:) So grown up now.

Daddy got tired of all the bubbles I dress him in, so he dressed him in big boy clothes one morning when I wasn't looking! Turns out he's pretty stinking cute in anything;)

Their favorite thing to play..."hair salon"

We've done lots of playing outside, but this big mamma can hardly handle the heat anymore!

Maggie got her first sno cone. She didn't eat but one bite, but drank ALL the juice.

I spent a week helping Maggie's class in Vacation Bible School. Whew that was a long week!!

We took Maggie to the circus at the Gulf Coast Coliseum. She had a blast and said she wants to go every day! She now says she wants to be an acrobat when she grows up.

Maggie had her first teeth cleaning this week. We've been to other appts but this was the first time they actually cleaned her teeth! She did great and laid there watching Cinderella. No cavities! 

This guy is all smiles and has the BEST personality. He loves snuggle time after his bath!

Pop got a boat and we've enjoyed many late afternoon rides around the lake!

They love to snuggle. Maggie was telling him a story here.

I took Maggie to Pinkalicious Play. She LOVED it!

 I also took her to Monsters University. Not such a great idea. I had NO idea it was about scaring kids while they were sleeping. She already says there is monsters in her room so this movie did not help at all! Needless to say, we had to leave before it was even over!

More blogs to come on these kiddos. Maggie is my BIG helper now, and Miller is a BLAST these days!

February Recap

February used to by my favorite month, before kiddos...because it is my birthday month! woo hoo! I finally got the old camera out to download some pics, and realized I had only taken like 10 pictures since Christmas. Ridiculous!!! 

Getting some outside play time before Daddy gets home. We do this every afternoon between 4-5 waiting on my "helper" to arrive home. :):):)

This was the best picture I could get with the kiddos on my birthday! This was right before Brian took me out to dinner and to see "Les Miserables." If you didn't see it, then I am so sad for you. Seriously one of the best books I've ever read in my life, one of the best plays I've ever seen and now one of the best movies I've ever watched!  I was so cool in high school that I even had the "Les Miserables" sound track. I knew almost every word to every song! The sound track reminds me of my grandmother, Honey. It was always playing in her car when she took us somewhere. Such an incredible love story!! I really hope you saw it!

This is a typical day at my house. Miller climbing all over Maggie and irritating her.

I FINALLY let Miller play at the germ infested Chick Fil A playground.  I think you can tell from the smile on his face, he was in heaven!

We made Valentine cookies for all of Maggie's friends at school. Pink cookies for the girls and red cookies for the boys, of course!! Maggie LOVES to make homemade cookies and take them to school, so this is always a fun (and tedious) project to do with her!

 Her best friend in the whole wide world, Anna Caston!

Their adorable little class at school for the Valentine party!

Daddy showed up for the party and surprised Maggie! She was SOOOOO excited to say the least. She wouldn't let him put her down! Such a sweet relationship right here.:)

And poor old Mommy. I guess she was glad I was there too. :)

 
I don't have any pictures but Brian and I also went to Advocare's Success School in Dallas. It was one of the most amazing weekends I've ever had in my life. George W. Bush spoke Saturday morning. He is so real, and so hilarious, and so true to himself and his family. I just love him! Drew Brees and several other football players were there as well. Really cool! And to end the weekend, Michael W. Smith led the worship service on Sunday. It was one of the best worship services I have ever attended. I have worked for 4 difference companies in corporate America, and not one single company I worked for paid tribute to my Lord and Savior like Advocare does. It is truly rewarding to get to work for a company who puts faith above all else.

January Recap

OK- I don't know how else to catch myself up than to do it month by month. Seems the busier Miller has gotten the busier life is!

January started out with a nice after hours visit to the doctor with Maggie. She was running at my parents house and fell and cut her head on something plugged into the wall. She had to get 4 staples in her head. Thank goodness it was under her hair and they didn't have to shave the area. We had to keep the staples in for a week. She was SO brave!

This was lunch at our favorite after church spot, Movie Star! She finally was brave enough to ride the horsies. They go really fast!

Miller did not enjoy them quite as much! On a side note...Look how skinny and young my Dad looks. He has lost over 35 lbs since starting Advocare:) He might kill me for putting that on here but my mom and him both look fabulous!

We went to the zoo for a bday party. I thought Miller would love the train but he was very unsure of the whole place and didn't like the loud noises of the train at all!

Maggie and Mommy had a Saturday morning date to get our toes painted.

This little guy is trouble. He is such a dare devil. Loves his new 4 wheeler.

Enjoyed running around outside at Yaya and Pop's house.

Brian was asked to be a dignitary in the Zeus Coronation this year. I still don't quite understand everything but it's basically the big Mardi Gras Ball in Hattiesburg. The actual coronation was themed "Oz" and Brian was the scarecrow. He did a great job! We had fun and danced the night away!

Our best attempt at a family photo...

And last but not least...Brian killed his first deer!! This was actually the second time he has ever been hunting in his life and he went on a boys hunting trip for the weekend. He killed 2 deer! Or "reindeer" as Maggie says. She told everyone at school her daddy killed a reindeer and she won't eat it. :)
We have been enjoying tons of deer sausage, which has been wonderful!

TODAY

Yes- I realize I haven't posted since CHRISTMAS. Tragedy...right?

Today Brian and I went to the Bradberry's Blood Drive in Hattiesburg to donate blood. If you remember, about 8 months ago I posted about a little boy in Hattiesburg who also had the same condition Miller had. He passed away after his second surgery. The mom is pregnant again...with twins...and one of the twins has the same heart defect. While these babies are in the hospital having surgeries, they get numerous blood transfusions. I know Miller had at least 2, but it was probably more. I felt compelled to go donate blood today and meet this sweet family. After 5 minutes, we knew everything about them. Their son was perfectly healthy, just like Miller was. He went in for his second surgery. He did great through the surgery, and then a few days afterwards, coded one night. They got a call from the doctors in the ICU saying their son had been brought back to life, but all of his organs were now failing. He lived on life support for one month until the doctors decided even if they found a heart for him, he wouldn't be strong enough for any type of surgery. So they took him off life support.

This mom and dad were full of smiles today. I felt joy in their presence. They talked about the 6 months they had with their son, and the full life that he lived. They talked about a beach trip, a trip to the coast, and his bubbly perfect personality. I cannot even imagine what they are going through. They have a very strong faith, which I'm sure is the only thing keeping them together. That, and their 5 year old daughter. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to go through all that, and then be pregnant again  with a son who has the exact same thing. And knowing about the surgeries, the risks, the statistics.

This is weighing very heavy on my heart tonight. I write all of this for 2 reasons.
#1- PLEASE pray for their unborn baby and this family.
#2- LIVE each day to the fullest. Please!! This family's world was turned upside down while they were peacefully sleeping one night.  It could have been me. It could have been Miller. I still don't understand some days why Miller is so healthy and perfect. But I choose to live with so much thanks in my heart that it is overwhelming on most days.

Sorry for such a heavy post. I guess I feel for this family more than most people would.

Pics of the kiddos coming up next!