Virginia Hope will be one!!

It's hard to believe that one year ago, Virginia Hope Magoulas was not here!! I was still waddling around waiting until her time to be here. We hadn't picked out her name yet. Was she going to be Virginia Hope, or Hadassah Hart?! Would she have hair or be bald? How much would she weigh?

The doctor had set up and appt to induce our precious bundle so at 5 AM on Thursday Oct 22, 2009 Alex and I woke up and got ready to go to the hospital. Nehemiah was spending the night at GrandMom's house.

When we got to the hospital, I was already in labor!! In fact, they had to slow labor b/c she was coming too fast!

The doctor had set appts to do some c-sections so I waited...and waited and waited. I finally called the nurses station and told them she was coming!! Within 10 mins of the doctor being in the room, our baby had entered the world!!

Virginia Hope has brought so many smiles to our lives. She's a happy little girl who knows what she wants!! She has her favorite person, Jesse!!

Happy 1st Birthday Virginia

We love you

Happy 50th

Monday my Mom had a birthday! She turned...50!

I know better than to post a pic...she wouldn't be happy *whisper* they're on my Facebook...just look there ;)

She had the day off b/c of Columbus day and spent most of it with her family! (And some good friends from high school!)

I started to think that 21 years ago, my Mom was my age.

At that time she had an 8 year old (me), a 6 year old (stephanie), a 4 year old (Nicole) and Joseph was going to be 3 in Dec.

So much has changed since then.

Mom went on to have 3 more boys! Jason was born in '91, Jordan in '94 and Jesse in '96

In '99 My Mom's Mom last her fight with cancer.

Not long after that my Dad was laid off when his factory was sold.

While Dad was in school, Mom went back to work. Soon after Dad was out of school, Stephanie got married, in Aug of '06.

Nov 7, 2006 Mom's Dad died in a car accident.

Nicole was married in March of '07 and I was married in July of '07.

Jan 2, 2008 Mom was no longer just a Mom...she was now a GrandMom!! Her first grandchild was born. Within two years, she had 4 grandchildren!!

Dec '08 One of Mom's favorite nephew's was murdered.

In March of 2010 Mom went back to work.

May 31, 2010 Mom called me sobbing, one of her Frenchies had died.

By June of 2010, 5 of Mom's 7 kids had graduated high school!! At this time, all three girls were gone, and she had all 4 boys still living in the house.

Sept 8, 2010, Mom's 5th child, Jason, died.

Through all the losses and hurts, my Mom had never grown bitter, never blamed God.

She's been a rock to our family.

We know that our Mom will not judge us, but always love us, no matter what mistakes we make.

My prayer for my parents, is no more hurts, no more losses.

I have learned

I've learned I'm stronger than I thought.

A peice of me was taken when Jason's life was ended, but it has drawn my family closer, not torn us apart.

I have learned to not let the little things bother me.

I hug my kids more, kiss them when I can.

I treasure my family and thank God for them.

I'm learning to bite my tongue when it's needed, and speak my mind when I should.

I listen to what people say to each other, and think, "don't you know that doesn't matter?! Why are you saying that?! Why would you hurt someone like that and not care?"

I dread going to WalMart,

Little things make me cry, who knew pumping gas could bring tears to my eyes? Or seeing a shirt Jason would have liked?

Just saying "I was the oldest of seven" Breaks my heart.

This is the picture that will go on the marker. Lookin at it makes me sad.

I have alot of pics of Jason, and the most recent ones, he looked so sad. Getting him to smile was hard.

This post was supposed to be a happy one! About what is new in my life, and here I am going back to Jason.

I wanted to put how Nehemiah fell and hit his eye but he's ok.

I meant to put how Sissy's eczema is clearing up. Maybe I didn't b/c I put all that on Facebook, I'm doing my best to not be depressing to talk to, to dwell on the positive.