Tuesday, April 15, 2014

April 15, 1999

 
On this day, 15 years ago I was on my way home from high school. I was 15 years old myself and of course anxious to get home. When I pulled into the driveway I noticed my Dad was there. My parents were divorced at the time and it wasn't my day to go to my Dad's so it was odd but then again my parents are great friends so I didn't think too much about it.
 
Dad got my brother (Brandon) and I together who was a senior in high school at the time. Dad went on to tell us that our mother was in the hospital, it was raining that day so I assumed a car wreck. He went on to say that she has suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and is waiting to hear about when her surgery will be scheduled. All of Mom's family at that time was called to the hospital and on the way to Memphis from Atlanta. I knew then it must be something serious. My 15 year old mind couldn't comprehend the seriousness of having a brain aneurysm but hearing all of Mom's family was on the way scared me.
 
That night Dad took us to the hospital to visit my Mom. She was so strong and didn't want us to be upset, she was in a terrible amount of pain but amazingly she had a conversation with us. I remember one vivid moment at the hospital. She asked Brandon and I to step outside of the room so we sat in the hallway on two metal chairs, next to each other. We had a chance to talk about what was happening and from that point on our relationship changed, we relied on each other. Mom asked my Dad to stay in the room with her. Years later I was told that Mom told him everything she wanted him to do with us if she didn't make it through. We were told she would not make it but as a mother now, I could not imagine having that conversation with my children's father. What a blessing Mom had to be able to speak to him and at the same time I can only imagine the thoughts both of them had. Dad never left our side, he was amazing and was there for us through all of the difficult times we had.
 
Mom's surgery was scheduled for the next morning so we all went home for the night and came back early the next morning. I don't remember much about that day but us all being in the waiting room for the whole day. My aunts, uncles, grandmother, Dad, Mom's co-workers all stayed the entire day. The doctor's came out to speak to Brandon and I to explain what all happened. Mom suffered another ruptured brain aneurysm on the operating table which that one would of killed her if she was not in surgery at that time. As you can see, God has His hand in this whole ordeal. She is literally a walking miracle! The doctor's explained to us that she would not know who we are, she would have to relearn everything from walking to talking to eating and everything between.
 
After surgery, Mom asked to see Brandon and I. After talking to her and seeing she was ok, I knew we all would be ok. She beat all of the odds. Everything they prepared us for she did the complete opposite. It was an amazing and hard time! They tried to keep our schedules normal while she was in the hospital recovering but I couldn't do it. I wanted to be by her side all the time so that's mainly what I did. After she was in the hospital for only one full week, she came home! Her long recovery process started at home and it took her years to recover. She is now thriving and is a reminder each day that miracles happen. So many people we have met throughout the years have died from this evil medical problem and I'm so blessed Mom was not one of them. It could of easily been Mom but God had more plans for her life at that time! He was not over with her life.
 
I look back as a Mom now and think of all of the terrible thoughts she might of had knowing she could of died. She was so strong and is still so strong to us all! She was only 38 when this happened. That is only 8 years from my age right now. I encourage anyone who has lost a relative to a brain aneurysm to get tested yourself. No one knows exactly why aneurysms happen but they do know they can be hereditary. I get myself scanned every 5 years. I actually have a very small aneurysm but it hasn't grown in the last 10 years we have been getting it checked so it will likely never grow and never become an issue.
 
Aneurysm awareness is the best. Always trust your body and it will tell you if something is wrong. Mom walked into the emergency room from the worst headache she's ever experienced. She had just passed out at work from this headache and that saved her life. Her co-workers dropping what they were doing to rush her to the hospital.
 
Hug the ones you love the most, we are not promised tomorrow!
 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Monday Happenings...


We had a busy weekend but they always seem to be that way. Luke has started to play baseball and is the first one of the boys to enjoy playing baseball. Notice I said enjoyed, Will tried it when he was 4 and it was not for him. I can't get him to try it again. Luke has fallen in love with this sport but I have to be honest, it is so boring to me. I'm trying to get into it and I'm sure I will but I have lots of learning to do! Saturday was Luke's first game and he was just super excited! I'm so proud of him. With him being the middle child I worry about him feeling left out but with him playing his own sport he has really grown and he is proud of himself. 


 After the game Saturday J took the older boys to his parents to work in their yard while Westin napped I got lots of things done in the house. We are in the process of getting the house on the market so there is a "to-do list" a mile long. Saturday night the boys had a friend come play and I caught Westin watching them play while he was on his scooter. Sweet boy!!
 

Sunday we made a quick decision to head to Oxford for the day. This is a family time and we just love this little town. We had lunch and let the boys just play for hours. We met some friends and family there as well so it was just a fun day!
 

 
The boys are playing in the Grove here.... sweet boys!!
 
 
I hope you all are having a blessed Monday. It is raining and starting to get chilly again. I hope the warm weather comes back and stays!
Much love to you all!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Two

 
I'm not real sure where the days went the past two years. I mean they really do fly by when your having fun. My sweet little bundle of joy just turned two on Thursday, April 3. Westin is such a joy. My word for him has always been joy and he continues to be nothing but a joy in our family. He is the funniest & smartest little boy I've ever been around.
 
How does this little smiley baby grow up so fast???
 

 

On Saturday afternoon we had a family birthday get together for him at my in laws house. They have lots of land so the kids had fun running around in yard.
 
Westin loves to play (dusty) Mimi's piano.
 

You can see he is thrilled about his Thomas the train and Tonka mini trucks. Disclaimer: he was in a weird mood all weekend. Not his usual smiley self. I think he had a tummy ache all weekend. Poor guy!
 

He is definitely a Clements child, he loves his cheese dip and chips. :)  
 
 
On the left he looks so big blowing out his candles and to the right this was no more than 10 seconds after leaving. Being the birthday boy can be exhausting!
 
 

 
Now, Westin turning two does make me sad in many ways. I can't believe I will never have a newborn to nurse and love again BUT I'm so happy to finally be in a spot in my life to be happy to see the future. I'm glad in many ways that the baby making days are over and we can embrace our three boys. Nourish them and watch them grow into three gentlemen.
 
I hope you all are having a blessed Monday. It's rainy and gloomy here so I can't wait to get my booty home and finish up my laundry. A big update is coming up for you all! I've missed blogging and I hope to get better at this.
 
Love you all!