It's a . . . . . .

We went to have an ultrasound last week to find out the sex of our new baby due in April. Well, to keep you in suspense, i must first tell you that this one was a fabulous experience. With Oak, the ultrasound tech (I'm sure there's a more "official" name for that but I don't know it) was very rude. Carl and I decided that she must be in the witness protection program! Anyway, this woman was great! So kind and she even took the time to take a few extra pics of the babies head and had the radiologists examine it for same problems that Oak had. We're happy to say that the head looks great!! We're also happy to say that Oak is excited to welcome his baby brother to the world this April! (Mom and Dad are excited too - no new clothes :-)!!

My WONDERFUL husband!!

I just felt like writing tonight about my wonderful husband! Here are just a FEW things that make him the best!

* He halves the load, sometimes taking on more than his half!!
* He's not afraid of a poopy diaper
* He knows how to clean a kitchen!
* He NEVER fusses when I spend money
* He always supports me when I work and am away
* He spends every Tues. night with Oak - it's boys night out!
* He recently surprised me for our 9 year anniversary with a 7 day cruise!! (see above photo!)

I could go on forever and ever, but I just felt it necessary to write about my wonderful man!! I love him so much and I'm so grateful that God gave him to me as my mate!

Thanksgiving Miracle Breakfast!

About nine years ago, Carl and I started a tradition we now refer to as "Thanksgiving Miracle Breakfast". When we lived in NC, the breakfast was for those students who were "stuck" at Gardner-Webb University with no family. We served a big breakfast and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. It was great! When we moved to Nashville, we conitnued the tradition, only now, it's people who live too far away to travel home for the holiday. Yesterday, we had 30 plus people at our house enjoying our Thanksgiving Miracle Breakfast. Carl and I were re-capping yesterday's events and realizing that we have so much to be thankful for - especially the wonderful people God has put in our lives. What a blessing to have such good friends!! My cup runneth over!!!
(P.S. as a side note, the name "Miracle breakfast" comes from the fact that our good friend Trish Murray from NC would not come to our b-fast after several years of being invited. One year she FINALLY decided to show up and when she walked in the door, Carl yelled "It's a Thanksgiving Miracle"!) And so begins our legend . . .

My first GIG!!

Well, this weekend marked my first official music gig. I was asked by my good friend Tammy Bass to lead worship for a women's conference she was hosting in NC. I was REALLY hesitant but agreed. I humbly asked my husband if he'd come and "back me up" with guitar and he excitedly agreeed (He's my BIGGEST fan and supporter!!). I have to confess that I was as nervous as I've ever been! I guess it's b/c I'm used to being the BGV (back ground vocalist - for those of you not involved in music) and am only used to be a "front man" when it comes to speaking (which I get to do a lot with my MK business).

In spite of my weakness, God used it for something great!! In fact, I received an encouraging e-mail today from a man who was there (doing tech support), who really enjoyed it and asked if he could get a copy of the CD from that day so he could listen himself. I'm so humbled by that!! Praise the Lord for working all this out and for giving me the opportunity to serve!!

My son, the drummer

Not much to say here . . . a picture says a thousand words!! I guess we've got the drummer now!! Hope this next one will play bass!!

Every Mother's Nightmare

Ok - so now I understand why mom's freak out when a sick kid get around their kids. As you know, Oak is getting over the Croup. Well, when we returned home from Florida last Monday, Oak woke up with a wicked case of Pink Eye. At the Dr's office I found out it was accompanied by an ear infection as well (Praise the Lord - his first!). Anyway, they put him on oral and topical antibiotics. Well, I thought that by Thursday he'd surely be well enough to go to his "school" (since he only goes one day a week and selfishly since that's my only break!). Also, his eyes hadn't been crusting up on Wed. Sure enough, I took him to school on Thurs. and about an hour later I got the call that went something like this . . . "Um, Mrs. Cartee, I'm calling about Oak . . . his eyes are getting really mucusy and you're going to have to ask you to come and pick him up. He'll be in the office waiting, away from the other kids, so you won't have to go to his class . . . just come straight to the office". So, Carl went and picked him up and we took him with us to our first OB appt. where we got to hear the baby's heartbeat (boy, was that ever a nightmare - I'll save that for another blog!). When we got home that afternoon I called the Dr. and they said that if he wasn't better by Sat. to call them and they'd call him in a stronger antibiotic. Well, Sat. came and he was great. We had a great day at the park and he took a LONG nap that afternoon. That night we went to church and I happened to be volunteering in one of the kids classes while Carl led worship. You guessed it! About 15 minutes into the class the children's director came and asked me if Oak was having allergies. I explained to her that he had been on antibiotics all week, that the Dr. said he was not contagious anymore and that it was probably just a little extra "sleep" in his eye from his nap. Boy was I wrong. Ten minutes later she came back and said I needed to go look at him. I went to his class to find him almost not being able to see at all for all the green goo in his eye (Carl and I affectionally call him "Crusy McGoo" now!). Needless to say, we were sent home for the 2nd time in a week. So, I guess this is my public apologies to all the mother's out there!! Sorry!!

Our ER Scare!!

I've never had to rush someone to the ER, until last week. It all started last Mon. night when we kept our neighbors kids for the evening. When our friends came to pick up their kids, we heard a strange noise coming fromo what I thought to be the room where Nathan was sleeping(see above photo of Oak and Nathan). However, upon some further investigation, I realized it was coming from Oak's room. When we went to check on him, we found him up on all fours and barking like a dog . . . . . . Seriously! I went over and picked him up and he immediately started gasping for breath. My first thought was that he had something in his throat . . . maybe his pacifier had fallen apart. After realizing it wasn't his pacifier and that nothing seemed to be stuck, I started to panic! A minute later we were in the car, rushing him to the ER. We arrived at the ER and fortunately he was breathing again, however, he still had a terrible bark-like cough that caused him to choke frequently. They took one look at him in the ER and said, "Yeah, he's got the Croup". OK - on a side note, I have grown up in the south and have heard many a red-neck say that they've "Come down with the 'Croup' or the 'Crud'". I have always thought it was a made-up term - apparently not!! Anyway, they gave him steriod treatments, observed him for a while and sent us home. We finally got to bed around 3am and Oak was up and ready to go by 8 the next morning! Thankfully he's rid of "the Croup" however, I think I'm still recovering!! (P.S. If your kid ever gets "The Croup" be aware that it's HIGHLY contagious! Sorry Stacey!!)

Oak's first day of school

This past Thursday was my sons first day of "school". (It's actually a mother's day out program at a local church but it's pretty structured so I call it school). Anyway, I had one of my first "mom" moments. The night before I was busy filling out all of his paperwork and making sure that everything he owns was labeled. The next morning Carl and I went to drop him off together. I took the camera so I could capture some shots of him at his first day. And, then, in the middle of the drop off, I LOST IT!!! I could barely compose myself to finish the process and make a quick exit. Of course, Oak cried too (probably b/c the other two kids who were already there were just standing there crying!). Carl just left with me and kept asking, "are you Ok?" I think it surprised him b/c I'm typically not very emotional. It just made me weepy that I'm already starting to let him go!
Anyway, I was able to go to a Beth Moore Bible study at my church, have lunch with a friend and spend the afternoon window shopping!! It was glorious!
At 2:00 I rushed over to the church to pick him up to find it had been quite an interesting day! They first handed me the "accident report" that explained the knot on his head where he had climbed onto something and taken a head first dive over the other side. Next came his "daily report sheet" that said, "Oak was a little "rough" with one of his friends today; other than that, he had a great day!" Ok - first off, he has no friends - he's 15 months old! Secondly, rough is all he knows. I'm still not sure what to do about that one! Lastly, we got home and realized that his favorite blanket that he sleeps with every night was not in his bag. Apparently it had been left in his crib during "rest" time. I called when I realized it and they're closed until Tues.!!
He only goes one day a week so I hope next week is a little more smooth!!

Hello Everyone! It's my first blog!! I am so excited to be posting some of my thoughts (and pics of my handsome husband and cute kid)! I'll start off by telling you that I think I have the best kid in the whole world!! He's super cute and as of a week and a half ago has now officially joined the world of the walking. He's getting pretty good too. He now is almost 14 mo. and can stand from a sitting position and TAKE OFF!! I couldn't be more proud. It makes my heart leap anytime I see him do something new! We're currently on week four of seven weeks of student camps this summer. It's great being able to travel and minister with Carl and have Oak with us! God is so good!! Pics are coming . . . . thanks for reading!