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Saturday, June 14, 2008

PANTIES, PANTIES, PANTIES & HAPPY FATHER'S DAY





The title does go well together don't you think ???? I can't really put into words how I feel about my honey ... He deserves a happy Father's Day celebration everyday ... He always puts us first ... He makes decision based on what is best for his family ... He could be coaching at a big college somewhere and never be at home, but he always made the decision that while the children are young he wants to be home ... He re-signed from coaching while I was in China because of Maggie's condition and picked up the load here at home while I loved on her and helped her to heal ... There are times I can't believe all he has given up in the secular world to be here and be present in the daily life stuff ... I love him and adore him ... Thank you Lord for the Father in my house and a special shout out to my dad (Allen), my father-in-law (Poppy), and my sweet sweet uncle (Boo Boo), and my brother (Paul) ... These men are fabulously gifted and have impacted many lives ... I love you !!!






NOW FOR THE PANTIES, PANTIES, PANTIES ...OK, no "haters please" ... Miss Maggie has potty trained herself ... We are on day 4 of panties w/ only one accident ... Now before anyone starts saying how unfair this is may I remind you of the fact that I am up every night TILL MIDNIGHT w/ the princess who doesn't sleep (or even nap well) or the fact that she can throw a temper tantrum like no other in Target or the fact that she will scratch your eyes out if you come near her stuff or her fabulously loud NOs, or her OCDness w/ buttons (now don't feel bad for her bratty behavior because I have learned to thank the Lord for it ... She is a survivor ... She needed to be strong willed to survive what she did and I am so thankful she did survive because she brings HOPE to me every day) ...YEAH MAGS, mommy is so proud of you !!!

SURGERY UPDATE ... OK, I think this is the last change and the correct course of action for the sweet baby girl ... Due to insurance changes and the new job, we will be starting surgery in Jan 09' ... The doctor has decided to do scalp extenders (stretching her scalp) to pull this skin over the new bone that will be put in ... He feels the skin she already has is attached to her brain and he doesn't want to chance removing it (YA THINK ... UNBELIEVABLE) ... This process will require us to go to the hospital once a week for about 3-6 months for them to inflate the balloons in her head ... Then they will let the skin relax then put the bone in sometime during the summer or fall ... PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY ... This all seems so unimaginable to me, but I know the Lord has sent us a really good doctor ...

THE BOOK ... I am working on a title right now ... There are 51 writers ... I received 3 more stories last week ... Please if you haven't consider writing, pray about it ... I know your story can touch someone ... The stories are so different ... It is like when you sit in church and some sermons touch your very soul and some just glide over you .... When the a sermon may glide over you it may touch someone else's very soul ... I hope that makes sense ... I just know we are to give an account of the good God has done in our life and THE BOOK will share the story and I know God can get it into the hands of those who need to read it ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ...

27 kind words.:

Lynn said...

Hi Gwen, I'm Lynn and I found your blog the week sweet Maria passed. The stories you are wanting for your book, are they the ones about our adoption story and special needs adoption? We found our daughter on a waiting child list in 2006.

Lynn

mommy24treasures said...

yay for Maggie! You are right... you do come to appreciate their strength and determination. I will stand and pray with you during this next year for the drs to have perfect wisdom and for this procedure to work with out complication.
Love
C

KT said...

Love your entire post
Maggie is a survivor! You are so right on the money, all of those attributes do add up and have purpose for her life before adoption and even after. I used to pray for Sophie to have a loud cry, knowing she'd get the most attention that way. Well, she certainly did have the loudest cry of any of the children adopted with her, and she was the healthiest and fattest of any of the babies. Now, when she came home, my prayers changed,but it was too late, loud crying baby was set in stone. Now I just have a loud talking almost 3 year old!LOL
Sophie says hi and is dying to see your girls. I think she is jealous that they have one another.
kj

Kim said...

LOVE the pictures of the family..
You are all soooo beautiful..
Congrats to Maggie for potty training herself.. what a Good girl..
Glad the surgery is going to be rather simple.. she will be fine.. she is a survivor..
Have a Great WEekend..
Love ya girly..
HUGS..
I am checking the mail every day for that package....LOL.. Hugs..

Steffie B. said...

beautiful family pictures....and hooray for Miss Maggie....and I have seen her in full force....she is one strong willed child....lol....whatever works....especially those suckers! ;) *wink* Iknow I still owe you my story....it will come.....give me time!

Love and hugs.....hoping for a July or August visit. ;)

Nikki said...

Beautiful pictures of one of the most beautiful families I have ever met...well, one of the Oatsvalls I'm still waiting to meet...SOMEDAY sweet Maggie! Oh, and congrats on mainly dry panties for her - that is big news!

Hope you have a wonderful Father's Day with your incredible man!

Love you!

Kelly said...

I had such a wonderful time tonight. Thank you for being a great friend, and for my goodies :o). Can't wait to get started fillin' it up w/info. Love you lots.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful post my friend!

LaLa said...

YAY Maggie!!! I know what you mean about "haters" I sometimes cringe when people ask me when A was potty trained b/c it was so early and easy...but YOU have not had it easy anywhere else...and Miss Maggie is a survivor and I know she blesses all of you so much!!

My story will come...I just keep putting it off until it is "complete" with our VN adoption (hopefully) coming through...

Terry said...

You really made me think about something. These kids are fighters because they had to be. It's been almost 2 years Evans been home and sometimes it's almost normal now
:-) But Evan will still pull the screaming Tantrum in the middle of Target. I sometimes forget his ruff beginning. And that he's been through more medical procedures in his 3 years then most adults been through. He is a fighter! And it's a good thing.

Evan just got potty trained. He turned 3 June 1st. He wore his last pull-up last sunday(except for nite nite). shortly after his birthday I told him that he now has to wear underware and could not potty in his pants anymore. It worked. It took less than 1 week once he stopped wearing pull-ups and we had that talk...

by the way, love the siggy! Terry

Jewels of My Heart said...

Love the pic of your BEAUTIFUL family! Your words to your husband are beautiful and what a blessing he is.
So proud of Maggie! Woohooooooo I think it only right that at least one thing comes easily for you girls.... heheee
Will continue to pray for her and I am so glad that your Dr is good! Will be praying for him too.
I understand exactly what you mean about the book...... I haven't forgotten... I am just a procrastinator!
Love you friend,

Musings from Kim K. said...

I always look forward to your posts, Gwen. Thank you for sharing all your updates on sweet Maggie. I think my Josie and your Maggie share the same no-sleep gene. I'm so glad you have found an awesome surgeon. I thank GOD everyday for my little fighter. Her fighting instincts got her through her heart surgery & hospitalization in 5 days. Maggie has great things in store for her too.

Hugs,
Kim K.

Laura Nipper said...

Awe those are beautiful photos. Congrats on Maggie being potty trained. She is one smart little girl. We have been diaper free in our house for about a month. It is so nice. Happy Father's Day to Scott.

Rhonda said...

Wow, you go Maggie!!!!!!! Now, we just need to get sleepy so you and your mama can rest! You're blessed that your mom has more energy than most 10 year olds! Gwen, can I borrow some of yours' b/c I'm gonna need it VERY soon! And I have to AMEN what an awesome Daddy your girls have. Scott, we all admire you...happy belated Father's Day!

Now Gwen, in my typical style, I've been resisting coming over here to say that I'd write for your book. Why? B/c I'm still like Moses, thinking I have no skills to do that. But, like my adoption story, I know that it's exactly THAT (my ordinary, seemingly unskilled, position) that puts me in the posture for the FATHER to do the extraordinary in me. So, YES, I'll write for your book. Afterall, the story of adoption in my family is HIS! He started it, He's doing it, it's all about Him, and He will bring it to fruition. And hey, "AIN'T NO ROCK GONNA CRY OUT FOR THIS GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

LOVE YOU!!!
Rhonda

Anonymous said...

Good a.m. :)

Your family SHINES!!!

AND....good job, sweet Maggie,

Diane

Leigh Ann said...

LOVE the family picture from the wedding!

Surgery plan seems to have covered all the details and WTG Maggie with the potty training. Very impressive!

The book sounds wonderful.

Unknown said...

Your family is SO beautiful! LOVE the pics!

Way to go, Maggie! I'm glad you got a break somewhere! Maybe Jordan will finally get it soon as well!

I'm still praying for your family to get all the issues worked out so Maggie can haver her surgery. :)

Michelle R Photography said...

Yeah for Maggie!!! I will continue to pray for your precious Maggie before, during and after her surgery.

redmaryjanes said...

I have been so busy Gwen, I'm sorry that my story isn't finished. I am committed to it though.
I think that Maggie's treatment will be very successful. I know that God is in control.
Thank you for signing on with No Place Like Home.
You know, it doesn't matter how far apart we are...we can still do great things together.

Denna said...

Love the picture of your family. Congratulations with the potty training. You will love not having to buy diapers.
I love your signature on your blog post. That is really neat.

Mommy Spice said...

Oh, I can't wait to read the other stories in the book. That's awesome that there are so many.

Congrats on the potty training. Our Spicy Girl was pretty easy with it as well. We put Dora panties on her, and she took off.

Ali Tanner said...

i just LOVE you! Is it possible for you to ever get coffee or anything? Have felt the Lord calling me to hang out with you more and more. Loved this post which made me laugh and thanks for your encouraging words on the blog. I want to dream with you and ask your wisdom on some stuff as well. Let me know. my email is redeemedintohope@gmail.com.

have a great day.

The Shingletons said...

YEA for Maggie! Molly potty trained herself early also! I think having a big sister helps a ton! That strong willed spirit will be an asset as a teenager! I don't think they are nearly as affected by peer pressure! She knows what she wants and just wants to let you know it! hehe. Love the picures of sweet family!
Shawnah

Denise C said...

Love these beautiful pics of your precious family!!!!! Hope Scott had a fabulous Father's Day!!!
Love you!

Kim said...

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH..
I LOVE THE PIECES....
HUGS
Love the braclet..
Love ya girly...

Missy said...

Ok, I must admit I have had a week of potty training hades so I did have a twinge of uber jealousy there for a moment but it is true sister, you deserve some grace in the panty department like no other woman, and so does Maggie! I am thrilled that God sent you this not-so-little blessing of something EASY.

Anonymous said...

Your children are soo beautiful! congrats...

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