The Liebster Award- Part 2

11 Facts about Me:

1. I can still do cartwheels and have been known to do so when a wide open space (like a hotel hallway) presents the opportunity.
2. Although my name is April, I was born in May. I was the first child, a new beginning to the marriage, so my parents wanted to name me after Spring, the season of new beginnings.
3. My middle name is Michelle, after the Beatles' song.
4. I have been to 48 states for work. I still need to get to Montana and Alaska.
5. Although I love my job & wouldn't trade it for anything, if I could go back and change my career path, I think I'd enjoy being a TV newscaster.
6. One time I drove away from the gas pump with the handle still in my tank. Yep. True story.
7. I have been on ESPN twice. (National Dance Team Championships- nope, I wasn't raised in the Church of Christ ;)
8. I can touch my tongue to my nose.
9. We were robbed when I was five years old. The burglars came into my room & told me to go back to bed, which I did. I was the first to discover the next morning that our TV was gone.
10. While traveling for work, I got to meet Richard Simmons and sat on the plane next to the singer, Bruce Hornsby.
11. Although I love to hear birds singing outside my windows, I don't want one anywhere near me. Their abrupt movements freak me out!

Now to my Liebster Award winners are as follows (in no particular order)...

Some of my favorite blogs are those that share daily life from a Christian mom's perspective. At Eli, Emma, and Abe...our childhood stories you will find stunning photography and inspiration from my friend Leah.

At Why Amy Smiles,  Amy will make you smile, laugh, and see God in the small things right along with her. Check out her blog for wonderful devotional thoughts, touching family moments, and lots of laughs.

Jenny at Our Little Chilli Tribe is a wonderful writer and excellent photographer. She shares the ups and downs of raising six children (one that has Down syndrome). Her heartfelt thoughts often bring me to tears. She shares the thoughts many moms think but aren't willing to put into words, I appreciate her very much, and I'm sure you will, too.

I love keeping up with little Ellie at the Chronicles of Ellie Bellie Bear. There is something about going through the journey of raising a child with Down syndrome with others that gives me strength. Knowing that this sweetie made it though her tonsillectomy (even though it was pretty rough) last month gives me confidence that we will also make it thought this tough time as well.

Tara provides a lot of great teaching ideas on her blog Making the Most of Today. She is homeschooling her preschooler with Down syndrome & shares lots of great resources and great photos of her sweetheart, Vada.

(Those of you that have been given the award, check out my last post for the rules, and please know that I understand that this is something extra for you to do and understand if you choose not to participate.)

Levi goes in at 6am Thursday morning to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. I will be giving updates here.

We are enjoying a special day with my aunt & uncle who are visiting from out of town. And when I say out of town, I mean WAY out of town...like Malaysia! Such a treat! The windows are open. It is in the 70'. The boys are napping after a fun time at the park, and life is good!

 Here are a few pics from this morning.

The Liebster Award

Liebster is German for beloved or esteemed and is the name of an award given from one blogger to another, (nominees must have less than 200 followers). It is a great way for writers in the blogging community to support one another. I'd like to give a great big shout out to Treyton's Posse for presenting me with this honor. Click here to read one of my favorite Treyton's Posse posts (about what a four-leaf-clover and people with Down syndrome have in common). It will bring a huge smile to your face.

At Treyton's Posse, you will quickly notice the positive perspective on parenting a child with Down syndrome, which I appreciate so much. It is organized well, has nice photos (Treyton is a cutie), and is sure to quickly become a big hit...and any blog that gives mine an award has got to be pretty awesome- right?

There are some requirements that go along with accepting the Liebster Award.
Rule 1: Post 11 facts about yourself.
Rule 2: Answer the 11 questions posed by the person who nominated you.
Rule 3: Nominate other bloggers with less than 200 followers for the award. (I've seen some rules that say to nominate 5 and others that say to nominate 11. I am nominating 5.)
Rule 4: Go to each blogger's site and let them know you nominated them.
Rule 5: Thank the person that nominated you and link back to that person's blog.
Rule 7: Display a Liebster Blog Award badge on your blog. 

Here are the questions given to me along with my answers. I will do the rest of the tasks in my next post.

1. Why did you start to blog?

I started blogging as a way to keep my family & friends from out-of-state informed about our family. I used to do a lot of scrapbooking. My blog was an even better way to tell our stories and share our photos with a lot of people at once, no matter how far away they were.

2.    When you were a child, what did you dream about being when you grew up?

An astronaut!

3.    What are better cats or dogs? Defend your answer. 

Cats. They are less needy. I like that.

4.    Assuming money was not an issue, where would you travel to and what would you do when you got there?

I just want to go back to Hawaii with Wes. I would want to stay in Honolulu and repeat each day’s itinerary from our first trip. It was great. I know it would make more sense go someplace new, but that’s what I’d choose.  

5.    What do you prefer and why – Apple iOS or Android?

I am an Apple girl for sure. I am an iMac, MacBook Pro, and iPad user, so Apple iOS just makes sense for me. I love Apple products because navigating around them is so simple for me & I like the way they feel in my hands. I love the way my fingers can flutter across the keyboards of my iMac & MacBook Pro so much that using a PC feels archaic to me, and the Cloud is amazing! It thrills me to be able to add something to my iPhone calendar or take a photo on it and have it automatically sent to all my devices. So awesome! (I sound like a commercial! Don't I?)

6.    Baseball is widely known as “America’s Pastime.” Do you agree? If not what do you think should be considered America’s Pastime?

Watching TV is America’s pastime :)

7.    What is your favorite candy bar?

Almond Snickers bars (but I like peanut butter cups better than I like candy bars)

8.    Your kids are in bed and your spouse is off doing something else. You have the television to yourself and the DVR has been recording everything for the last week. What is the first show you watch?

The Voice or Doc Martin

9.    What would you consider to be the greatest invention ever? Why?

The camera! It is amazing that we can capture moments in time to cherish for years (and generations) to come!

10. What is the one thing you cannot stand to be without?

My camera!

11. Who is the greatest superhero of all time? Choose from: Batman, Spider-Man, or Superman.

Superman, because I have fond memories of watching Superman movies with my parents, and there is nothing more super than good memories with family.

Tune in next time as I fulfill the rest of the Liebster Award requirements, and again, thank you to Treyton's Posse for the pat on the back. It inspires me to be better and to get back to some more meaningful posts.

A Lesson in Prayer from a Four-Year-Old

Today I want to share a story about my sweet four-year-old. The other day, we were about to leave for one of Levi's therapy sessions. Adam was heading out to the car & I told him I'd be right there. I grabbed Levi & realized a diaper change was needed. It took a little while to get Levi all cleaned up & when we got back out to the car, Adam was buckled in & had a little tear drop under one eye. I asked what was wrong, and he said, "I got a little scared because you were taking so long, but I prayed for God to help me. I feel better now."

Philippians 4:6

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

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I am so pleased to announce was given the Liebster Award by a fellow blogger. My next post will explain more as I follow protocol on this thoughtful gesture.

Our Mini-Vacation

Wes & I got to take a three day trip all by ourselves last weekend. It was wonderful.

This photo was taken at the unique steak and seafood place we went to for dinner Thursday night on our way to Lexington, VA. It was an old home turned into a restaurant. The food was amazing (maybe the best prime rib I've had) and it was full of antiques and beautiful things to look at.

We stayed the night at a Hampton Inn that had bed and breakfast type area, too.

Our room had a fireplace, and even though it was unique, I still got my beloved Hampton Inn pillows to sleep on! (I have a Hampton Inn pillow on my bed at home. I had one bad experience at a Hampton, and the front desk worker said, "If there is anything I can do..." I told him I knew just what would make things right...and ended up with 2 Hampton Inn pillows of my own.)

The next day we did some antique shopping and drove the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway to Richmond, VA, where I presented a child care seminar on Saturday. We stopped at a lot of scenic overlooks on our drive.

Do you see the face?

That night we had another cool dining experience at a Brazillian steak house. They bring huge skewers of steak (think, swords full of filet mignon), lamb chops, and other yummy meats to your table and carve it onto your plate. They also had a salad buffet that was really nice.

Since we've been home, I've been back to the usual kind of day, enjoying the boys and tackling all my responsibilities as time permits.

My boys are turning in to little photographers. Adam took this of the sandcastle we built the other day.

Levi took this...

And this (while I was changing his diaper)...

It cracks me up to pick up my phone and find whatever pictures he's taken since the last time he had my phone. Pretty entertaining.

These two sure keep things interesting.

Levi is getting a sleep study done tonight to determine if he has sleep apnea. If so, his tonsils will be taken out.

"Dude, Can't you see I'm trying to play on the iPad here?"

Have a great weekend.

This and That (and LOTS of photos!)

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This is a boy that’s always thinking.

Adam is always asking what words mean. I can’t remember what word he was asking about a few months ago, but I remember telling him that “re” means to do something again, like when we redial a phone number or reorganize our toys. Last week while we were on our way out to eat, he asked if regardless means to guard something two times. I told him no & explained regardless as when something happens no matter what. I told him we were going to eat dinner regardless of if Levi fell asleep or not. A few nights later, I was putting lotion on him after his bath & asked him to stand up so I could get his calf. Instead, he straightened his leg & I was able to finish applying the lotion. He said, “I didn’t stand up, but you got the lotion on regardless!”

Adam’s follow-up blood work indicated that strep was not the cause of his tics, which is a good thing. Other infections can cause the same symptoms, but if strep were the culprit, we would have a higher chance of reoccurrence, worsening, or permanence. We didn’t have any luck changing up the antibiotics, but his symptoms lately have been mild enough that most people wouldn’t notice. It hasn’t been affecting his speech or thinking anymore, and we are grateful for that.

That is Levi eating his first bowl of spaghetti! Hooray!

This is Levi sorting colors!

It was an Easter activity they did at the library during story time. We've been working on this skill at home, and I was so excited to see him sit down & get right to work without any help!

This was a fun family trip.

Wes was off this week for Spring Break. We spent one night with his sister and took the kiddos to the zoo the next day. They love spending time together.

Levi was so enthralled with the manatees he didn't move for close to 15 minutes. I finally had to tear him away so we could catch up with the rest of the group. Wes thinks this is a good reason to get a fish tank...

On the way home :)

That was the mess I made the other night. While Levi was at the table waiting for dinner, I caught him pouring his apple juice out of his cup & onto the dining room table. I had a plate of spaghetti in one hand & I grabbed his cup with the other hand. I ended up pouring the entire plate of spaghetti into the bag of clean clothes I was packing for the boys, who were leaving the next day to spend the night with their grandparents.   

Wes & I were cracking up & the first thing he asked was if I got a picture of it.

This is what our Easter was like. We hunted eggs in the front yard & had a peaceful day of worship and time at home together.

That is how I found them the other morning when I got out of the shower: all snuggled up in a blanket watching a cartoon.

Hoping all is well with all of you. I can't believe I let so much time pass between blog posts! Have a great week!

Who I Am

I am hardworking.

 I am valued.

I am capable.

I am brave.

I am loved.

I am making the world a brighter place.

 I am molding those who know me into better people.

I am more than an extra chromosome.

That's who I am.