Wow!

Looks like I haven't had much to say in a while! Well, football season (for Jake and Ed) has ended, Sarah had a birthday and turned 8, and Ed and I celebrated 11 years of marital bliss!

The kids and I went to Mom and John's for Thanksgiving. Ed had to work Thanksgiving Day and the day after so we went on without him. :-( He did get to have Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday though with some close friends! John has been home from Adams Place/hospital visits for a week now. Mom says they are getting into the swing of things, but it is alot of work I know. He can not walk at all so Mom has to get him in and out of bed using a sling that attaches to a metal rolling device. He has an electric chair that he can steer with his good hand. Needless to say, prayers, prayers and more prayers are needed!

I am astounded that Christmas is almost here! Hope this lovely season finds you all well and happy!

Hugs all around!

Hi There!

I SO cannot believe that it has been almost 2 months since I've blogged! Must have just gotten busy with "life" I guess. I do have a few prayer requests for you all. First, my step-dad, John is still trying to recover from a stroke that he had more than 3 months ago. He has been back and forth from Adams Place (in-patient rehab) to the hospital a couple of times with all sorts of medical problems. My mom muses that he is one big "Dr. House Episode"! All kidding aside, they both really need your prayers. Mom is handling everything exceptionally well, but I know that it must wear on her. Secondly, my friend Charity's daughter, Kadyn is having reconstructive surgery today after having had a trach for some time now. Please pray for her and her family! (There is a link to her web-site to the right on this blog.) Thirdly, my sister-in-law's Uncle Troy is in the hospital in a drug-enduced coma and on a ventilator. He has an infection in his lungs of some unknown origin. Please pray for him and his family. My Uncle Leland passed away a few weeks ago and we made a trip to Texas. Please pray for my Aunt Jean. Also, my friend Lori's daughter Mary Peyton who is physically disabled is having a really hard time right now...lots of pain. Please pray for her and her family. As a mom, I just can't imagine.

All the McLaughlins are doing well! Jake and Ed are having some fun playing fall football for the YMCA. Well, Ed is coaching and Jake is playing. They tied their first game 14 to 14. They won their second one 12 to 0! Ed is proud. They have another game tonight. Ed is such a big kid when it comes to this coaching thing...he gets so excited. It is fun to watch! My Sarah girl is taking ballet, tap and jazz this year and loving it! She is also enjoying second grade. She got "caught being good" yesterday and got her name on the "beary good wall" in the hallway! They are both such good kids...we are truly blessed in that department! I am still loving my job at St. Mary's and also volunteering some at the kids schools...however my most important job and the one I love most is still "Mommy" (Well, these days it's more "Mom")! Jake and Sarah are growing up WAY too fast for me. Anyone have any suggestions on how to slow that down???

Hope all is well with you and yours!

Hugs all around!

Habitat for Humanity

I had a new experience this morning! Went to help work on a house that Habitat for Humanity is building here in Dyersburg. The house is being built for a friend of mine so that makes it personal for me. It was really neat to see all of those people out there working hard and pitching in for this family. I also learned that swinging a hammer is a really good cure for PMS! Talk about getting some frustration out! :)

Trip to Alabama

We had a great time in Alabama last week! Visited with lots of friends and took the kids to the Water Park one day. Here are a few pics...

SWEET HOME ALABAMA

We are now officially on vacation! We leave late tomorrow afternoon for Alabama. We have lots of visiting to do and we will go to the waterpark one day and maybe to the Space Center in Huntsville another. Mostly, I'm just happy to have some time with my family!

I've been doing a Bible Study with some gals from church on Thursday nights this summer. We start at 7 and it's supposed to last an hour, but we usually end up being there much later. Tonight I think we left around 9:45. It has been SUCH a blessing to me... neat group of ladies. I'm sad I'll miss it next week!

Talked to mom tonight. She says John's progress is slow going. Please continue to keep them in your prayers!

Hope you all are having a good summer!

Hugs all around~
Melissa

HUGS TO EVERYONE!

Hi Everybody! I know it's been a while since I've posted. Trying to get into the swing of summer and all that goes along with that. I have been home with the kids in the past during the summer so my first concern was getting my babies taken care of. My sweet friend Susan is watching them while I'm at work. I'm still loving my job, but it's weird not having my FULL summer with the kids. My buddy Dawn also started working around the same time as I did so she is experiencing a new kind of summer as well. Her working made it even all the more weird for me cuz the last couple of summers have revolved around hanging out with my buddies and the kids hanging out with their kids! We're adjusting. :)

For those of you who don't know, my step-dad has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks. He had a stroke, but is doing much better now. My mom seems to be doing well too, but I know she has to be worn out. Please keep them in your prayers.

We have a special day coming up on Sunday. We are joining First Baptist Church and will be baptized as a family. Well, one at a time, but all of us! :) The "rules" are a little different in the Southern Baptist church when it comes to Baptism, but we are okay with that and feel like we are doing what God is leading us to do. God has really been at work in Ed's heart and being at this church and everything that has followed has been by his lead so we are joyously following!

Hope all is well at your house!



Love,
Melissa

Sarah and Dad's socks

Sarah was helping me fold socks and decided this was the best way to tell if Dad's socks match! She cracks me up!

Life is good!

May has been a busy month around the McLaughlin household! We've been doing soccer and "end of the year" awards and music programs. I posted some pictures to share through my flickr account. I REALLY wanted to post a slideshow, but it seems I am too lame to figure it out! If you click on one of the pictures, it will take you to my flickr page. Then you can click on "tngirlmclaughlin's photostream" and you can see all the pictures!

The kids went to Mom and John's for the long weekend so Ed and I are enjoying the quiet (almost TOO quiet!). We are even going on a date tonight! SWEET!

My new job at St. Mary's is WONDERFUL! I am learning lots of new things and work with the two most awesome human beings known to man. What more could a girl want? Father Gary is very "techno-savvy" so he is helping me further my computer skills. I also get to work with a good friend of mine who runs Habitat for Humanity here in our little town. Her office is in the same building as mine so it is a treat that I get to see her most days as well! If you'd like to see pictures or more information about St. Mary's, go to http://www.stmarysdyersburg.org/.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Hugs all around!
Melissa

I'm back!

Hi Everybody!

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. My computer was in the shop for a week and I just got it back today~yay!

Jake and Sarah are both playing soccer on Mondays and Thursdays this season. Last night Jake scored a goal. It was very exciting! I jumped up and down and embarrassed him terribly... so fun! And of course since he was "shishing" me, I had to yell "I LOVE YOU JAKE!". Oh the joys of parenthood! ;) Sarah is doing awesome as well... she's learning to really get in there an kick that ball! I fully expect her to be scoring goals soon too!

Jake had his piano recital on Sunday. I had the video camera, but no real camera. Maybe my buddy Dawn will forward me some pictures when she gets hers downloaded and I will post them then. He did a great job, by the way... flawless I tell you! Sarah is thinking about taking piano in the Fall too if Ms. Lori has room!

I am thoroughly enjoying my new job at St. Mary's! The schedule is flexible and I love the people and the type of work that I'm doing!

Ed is working his butt off as usual, but loving it, so this is good. He is a "bit" of a work-a-holic so he is trying to create more of a balance there.

My dad had another surgery Friday to have more stints put in to open up some arteries in his legs. They can only keep him under a short time because of the possibility of damage to his kidneys (from the dye they use) so they only got part of one leg done. He will probably have to go back in 3 more times. Keep him in your prayers as he is very frustrated.

Mom and John were here this weekend for the recital and soccer games so that was fun! They are trying to sell their house in Murfreesboro so they can move closer and do these things more often! That will be nice.

Hugs all around!
Melissa

Happy Birthday John!

Today is my step-dad's birthday. Happy 61st Pops!

Sarah spent the night at a friend's tonight so I got to spend some time with Jake. We went to the movies to see "Horton Hears a Hoo"... what a cute movie! I figure I need to take advantage of this time in his life where he still likes to spend quality time with mom. I'm sure the years where he will choose to spend time with "friends over parents" are right around the corner! :-(

This cat is only 6 months old. Look how HUGE he is already! He's probably gonna be one of those 20 pounders!

Happy Birthday Mom!

So today is my mom's 67th birthday. I know, I can't believe it either! (Neither can she.) ;)

She looks really good, huh? She does have a little more gray these days, but you still can hardly see it! We are at her house this weekend celebrating! We hung out in our jammies and watched movies the first part of the day and then we went out to her favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner. John got her an icecream cake so we did cake when we got back. What a fun day! We will go to church with her in the morning and then head home. I'll be glad when she and John move closer so we can do these things more often!

I LOVE YOU MOM!

New job... LOVIN IT!

Update

Well, the wait is over... Jake finally got his Wii on Friday! He saved all his birthday money for it and then we could not find it ANYWHERE! Ed had been watching one of the game shops by where he works and he called Friday and they had 1 in! He went and got it directly and surprised Jake Friday night. Yay! We are talkin one happy boy!

We were supposed to start soccer practice today for both Jake and Sarah but the fields were too wet because of all the rain. Guess they'll start Thursday!

Tomorrow I start my job at St. Mary's. My hours will be 8:30-1:30 Monday through Thursday with Fridays off. How awesome is that? I'm looking forward to it! I went and trained last Wednesday. I think once I learn everything I am really going to enjoy it! Father Gary is super nice and my friend Mary Claire has an office there too for her work with Habitat for Humanity so it will be fun times! :)

I think I've finally caught up on my sleep since working the night shift at the hospital! My last shift was Thursday night. I came down with a cold and slept just about the whole weekend! Got up for important things like church and food, but other than that I just slept. Feeling MUCH better now! Even got to go to lunch with one of my favorite friends today! Being awake in the daytime is good! :P

Hope all is well in your world!

Melissa

More changes

So tomorrow I go train for my new part-time job at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. I'm excited and a little nervous as well. It's something I've never done before, but I really think I will like it. I will be working during school hours so I will be able to take the kids to school and pick them up too. I will still stay on PRN at the hospital, but won't be working any more nights...yay! I was really struggling with leaving the hospital and then ReGina (my boss) called and asked me to stay on PRN. I was like, "YEAH, great, wonderful, perfect". :) I love my life!

Happy Wednesday!
Hugs all around~
Mel

Easter pics

Jake and Sarah went with Daddy to hunt Easter eggs at Mr. Greg and Mrs. Dawn's house. Mommy had to sleep after working all night and staying up to go to church! I hear it was lots of fun!!!

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter Everyone! Praise God! He is risen!

MATTHEW 28:6

"He is not here; He has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

Well, it is 38 degrees in West TN... guess we'll be wearin sweaters to church! Hope you all have a great day!

HUGS ALL AROUND!

Melissa

College Road Trip

On Jake's birthday I took him to see "College Road Trip". Sarah was at Intersession so it was just he and I which hardly ever happens so that was nice. Also, I really embarrassed Jake which I think was totally appropriate for his 10th birthday. (Hehe) Well, I was already sad about him being in the double digits and growing up so fast and this movie is about letting go, so that mixed with me being sleep deprived made it an emotional time for me! I was either laughing out loud or had tears streaming down my face through the whole movie. At one point, I pulled him over in a hug and said, "Oh my baby!", evidently a little too loudly because he said, "Mom! Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Which made me laugh probably too loudly also. :) Then Raven Samone sang "The Double Dutch Bus" in part of the movie and of course I had to sing along! To Jake's chagrin they played the song at the end of the movie also so I had to dance out of the theater as well. As we left the building he said, "Oh yeah, we ARE NOT buying THAT movie when it comes out on video!" (Lol!)

LOVED the movie by the way! It is rated "G"! It was so refreshing to see a movie that was hilarious and touching without any of the junk!

Jake is 10!

Last Saturday...Snowday

Hi Sarah!

Jake...kickin back on the sled
My little snow angel

Abby, Sarah and Maeghan

Go Maeghan!

Abby goes down backwards!

Maeghan and Sarah

There goes Ms. Dawn!

Sarah and Mae

There goes Daddy! (Mom wasn't so brave.)

Hangin in there

I worked Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.... those every other weekend are the only 3 in a row that I have to work, but they may kill me! :P It snowed Friday night so I stayed up to play with the kids and friends untill about noon Saturday. Got about 5 hours sleep and then back to work. Sunday I skipped church and slept about 6 hours, but then wanted to enjoy some of the pretty day before going to work so that was all the sleep I got for Sunday. Had a really hard time staying awake the last of my shift on Sunday and then felt hung over after I got up yesterday in the afternoon! Went back to sleep last night around 11 and slept all night! Now I feel great, but have to go in for a half shift tonight... 1am-7am. So here we go again. EEEKKKS!

I will post pics of the snowday later. Ed and I took the kids sledding. They had a blast! The weather has been SO weird here! Snowday Saturday and then it was like in the 50's or 60's and sunny on Sunday!

Jake's birthday is tomorrow! He will be 10. :( (sniff, sniff) I so can not believe he's gonna be in the double digits.

Hugs all around!

Sweet Slumber!

So I worked Thursday night, got about 3 hours sleep Friday morning and then headed out to get errands done before our trip to Mom's. Left for Mom's after I picked up the kids from school, went to dinner when we got there, then CRASHED! I slept from 11p.m. Friday night till 5p.m. the next day! It was WONDERFUL! I did get up to go to the bathroom a few times, but other than that, 18 hours of sleep. So this is the only hard part about my new job. I love it when I'm there and I don't mind staying up all night, but my body gets SO discomboomerated! My sleeping's off, my eating's off, and "other things" are very off as well! :P Maybe it'll get better... ya think?

WHERE AM I?

That was my question when I woke up to go get the kids from school after my first 12 hour night shift last night. I actually made it through the night fine even after no nap yesterday, but when I crashed, I CRASHED! My alarm went off at 2:40 and I was SO confused. "Where am I?" "What day is it?" "What time is it?" "Sleep! Need more sleep! Can't function!" Anyway, so now I've been up for a couple of hours and I feel much more clear. :) Tonight is my half shift so I only work 7pm-1am. That sounds great!

Changes

Hi! Hope you all are doing well! We have had the flu bug and the stomach bug in our house this week! Ick! I think we all are well on the road to recovery now though! Whew!

Pray for us as we have some big changes coming next week. I will be working full-time nights in ER starting Monday. I will work 2 on, 2off, 3on, 2off, 2on, 3off. I know, sounds confusing but I think it will work!

Take care and keep the sick bugs away!!!

Love,
Melissa

NICE WEEKEND

I got so much done this weekend! Yay! Spent most of the weekend cleaning and sorting but it feels SO good to have accomplished something. The weather was beautiful on Saturday so the kids played outside alot which made my job much easier. They both had friends over too so it was ALL good! Got together with some friends this evening for Super Bowl and had a great time! What more could ya ask for? Life is good.

Have a great week!
Hugs all around!

Orthodontia fun :)

Jake and one of his best buddies, Abby are going through pre-orthodontics at the same time. Jake just got his braces yesterday. Are they too cute or what?

BEAUTIFUL!

Check out this little artist!

http://tinyurl.com/yxewot

If only we could learn to live each minute this way...

Attitude

There was a woman who woke up one morning looked in the mirror and
noticed she only had three hairs on her head.

Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M," she said,
"I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said,
"today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,
looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on
her head.

"YEA!" she exclaimed,
"I don't have to fix my hair today!"

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING.

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly.......

Leave the rest to God

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Emilee

My little great-neice Emilee. What a cutie, huh!

Lose To Win!

Okay I need some help here. Some friends and I are doing the "Win To Lose" challenge that's being put on by our hospital here. We start Tuesday and we have 8 weeks to lose as much weight as we can. The teams are made up of groups of 4. The winners win $1000. So anyway we need a name for our team. Any ideas?

Too cute!

Awards Day for Jake!

Way to go Buddy!

Awards Day for Sarah

Sarah received an award yesterday for her high scores in Math! Her teacher told me that she has the highest grade in the class on every Math test! She's a genius I tell ya... must get that from her dad.

Grandma and Papa came from Murfreesboro for the special occasion. We checked her out of school after the awards ceremony and Grandma and Papa took her for a special lunch. What fun, huh!

Today is Jake's turn. He is getting an award for being on the Honor Roll so today he gets to leave school early and get taken to lunch!

Good job my loves! I am SO proud of you!

Feeling MUCH better! Happy Dance!

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to update on the medical situation. I went to my doctor last Wednesday for a follow-up from my hospital visit. She prescribed Nexium for me and said to take it for 4 weeks and if I was better we could chalk it all up to Acid Reflux. That medicine worked like magic for me and I was better within a day! I have had no probems since! Yay!!! She, of course addressed my weight issues too like all doctors do, but she went about it in a way that I haven't experienced with other physicians. She spoke about it very respectfully and asked if I was interested in losing weight and then proceeded to tell me ways that she could help me while going through this process. I can't tell you how refreshing this was! Usually doctors just say basically, "You need to lose weight. You are obese." She didn't once use that word and then actually offered to help me step-by-step. Wow.... what a concept! Anyway, I was just very encouraged by her and am planning on working with her on this issue.

Well I am off to Contemporary Worship practice... time to feed me soul!

Hugs all around!