Parker's First Day of School!

Today was a big day! Parker started preschool at a local church. He was very excited! He walked right in and didn't even look back for Mommy! I was a little teary, but glad he was happy!

Parker and his buddy Lawson. They have been friends since the womb. :)


Ms. Staci, Parker's teacher

Papaw's Website

I have created a Caring Bridge site to update friends and family on Daddy's cancer battle. Please visit there to recieve updates. You will need to enter your e-mail address to access the site. Your e-mail will not be used for any other purpose than access.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/kenbyrd

Don't Adjust Your Monitor....

Don’t adjust your computer monitor. It’s really a new blog post. So, I’ve not been so good at updating lately. Here are my top three excuses: 1. I have TWO kids now...And they JUST recently got on the same nap schedule which is fabulous. 2. Our camera died. 3. When I find an extra block of time lately, I’ll be honest…I usually take a nap.

But…excuses aside I decided to update today. And then it dawned on me that I have a LOT to update. So, I’m gonna give the cliff note version.

I got a new job! I left the classroom at the end of March and accepted a new position with the state department. I am a Pre-K consultant for the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. I’m in charge of 60 Pre-K sites in surrounding counties. I make sure they are adhering to guidelines and provide technical assistance to directors and teachers. The best part is that my office is right in my house! I set my own schedule and I work from home. Answer to prayer!

Addison is now almost 8 months old. She is such a sweet, sweet girl! She has two bottom teeth that are constantly shining ‘cause she is constantly smiling! She is so much daintier than her brother ever thought of being at this age. While she is above average in height, she is just at average for weight. A stark contrast to her “jug-butt” brother who was too heavy for the infant carrier by now! She is crawling, pulling up, attempting to climb, and she adores her big brother! It is so much fun to have a little girl!

Parker is quickly approaching his 3rd birthday in August. He will start preschool in the fall which just doesn’t seem possible. His vocabulary never ceases to amaze me. You can’t be careful enough around him because he will repeat ANYTHING you say. Like when he arrived at Sunday School one week and his teacher said “Good Morning Parker!” and he said “My Daddy pooted.” Nice. Makes us proud. He loves to be outside! Parker helped Moma and Doodad plant their garden and loves to go help harvest the crops! After they planted the seeds, Doodad and Parker prayed over the ground. When Parker got home he told me that they “pushed the dirt, put a seed, and said the blessing."

Joshua just returned from a week in Louisville, KY grading AP Exams for the College Board. It was a looooong week for us all! Being apart for that long was not fun and we are glad that he is back!

Papaw is doing well. He is officially retired. His PSA level remains low and we praise the Lord for that! He has been feeling decent lately and we enjoyed some time with him and Mamaw while Joshua was in Louisville. We expect to see a lot more of him since he is “unemployed.” Parker is definitely Papaw’s best buddy and I am so, so, so thankful for the memories they are making together! Parker has to call Papaw every night and talk about the boat. So precious!

So that's an update in the brief version. Maybe I can get back on the blog routine. I'm hopeful...but I'm not making any promises....cause I might need a nap!

Update on Papaw

Papaw has begun radiation treatments on his spine. Over Christmas he was in some pretty severe pain. After a trip to the doctor, it was determined that the tumor on his spine was pressing on the vertebrae and causing the intense pain. Daddy was given some medicine to help which made him pretty loopy and sleepy. After meeting with his oncologist, it was determined that radiation therapy might be helpful in relieving some of the pain. The radiation will not cure the cancer, but will hopefully shrink the tumor some so that it is not pressing on the spine with such force. We are praying that this works so that he doesn't have to be on such a high dose of pain medication. Daddy is now sporting a new tattoo as they have to "permanently mark" the spot where the radiation is delivered. His tatt is just a small cross...nothing too fancy. He is experiencing some side effects of radiation with constant fatigue being the main one.
I feel completely helpless being 2.5 hours away. I know it's not about me...but I feel like I could do something if I were closer. I praise the Lord for my Uncle Larry who has been a huge help getting Daddy to his appointments so that Mamma can work some. Kolby and Meredith have been lifesavers too.

Joshua was dancing with Addison in the kitchen the other night and I couldn't help but think of how I used to do the exact same thing with my daddy. And how during my teenage years when I was "mad at the world" Daddy would start dancing around like Bill Cosby singing some Motown hit just trying to get me to smile. It always worked despite my best efforts....and it still does. I've always seen him as invincible. And I've always believed that he could and would fix anything. So it hurts this girl to see her daddy hurt and not be able to fix it. But I am so thankful that God has a plan. And though I don't understand it, I know and trust that in the end it will all be good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

Christmas, Sickness, and a girl named Bobbie Sue

Things are beginning to settle down here at the Todd house after a whirlwind holiday season. It started on Christmas Eve. Parker and Addison both had to be escorted out of the sanctuary during the candlelight service. Parker hit his head on the pew and was yelling "I hit my head-bone! I hit my head-bone!" Addison took a bottle during the service, but failed to get a good burp and decided to let us all know about it right before we sang Silent Night. Then it was back to our house where we hosted all the Todds for dinner. Joshua had spent the entire day smoking his inaugural Christmas Ham. We all gathered in the kitchen to bless the food. As Mr. Dan, (Doodad) began to pray Parker began to whine. A whine that sounded very much like his fake whine that he does to get attention. After the "Amen," everyone begins to fix their plate while Joshua and I reprimand Parker for his behavior during the blessing. As we are scolding our child, he lets out a shriek and proceeds to throw up all over me and the floor right in the middle of the kitchen where our guests were gathered. While I changed clothes, Parker throws up again all over Joshua and his bedroom carpet. So, Joshua and I spent our lovely holiday party cleaning up vomit and tending to a pitiful little boy. I heard the food was good.

The next morning was a whirlwind. Parker appeared to be better so we rushed through Santa in order to get suitcases packed and loaded to head to the mountains. A snowstorm was headed to Mamaw and Papaw's and we were in a race against the clock. The clock won. By the time we got our house cleaned up from the night before, clothes washed, suitcases packed, and car loaded...there was already 2 inches on the ground in Rabun. After a minor meltdown on my part, we enjoyed breakfast at Moma and Doodad's and a LONG afternoon nap at home. The next day the snow stalled and we headed north. We spent 5 days with Mamaw, Papaw, Uncle Kolby and Aunt Mere. It was wonderful.

Before Christmas, we took Parker shopping at the Dollar Tree. We told him to pick out a present for each member of our family. It took him a few minutes to figure out that we were NOT shopping for him. Once he got in the groove, it was quite humorous. He definitely made a connection between present and gift with Uncle Kolby and Doodad. Everyone else....totally random. Here's a rundown....

Moma: Bath loofah with handle

Doodad: Back scratcher

Mamaw: Doggie Clean Up Bags

Papaw: A blue "whistle" (as Parker called it...also known as a recorder)

Uncle Kolby: Fishing Rod Game

Aunt Mere: Snowmen Headband

Uncle Jason: Black cowboy hat

Uncle Jacob: Clown sunglasses

Aunt Bethany: Pink Pig Piggy Bank

Uncle Ike: "Lucky in Love" CD

Aunt Beth: Star shaped pop light

Uncle Larry: Ethnic Angel figurine

While at my parents, Parker discovered my old Fisher Price record player. Mom had some old 45s and Parker became our D.J. His favorite record of choice was "Bobbie Sue" by the Oak Ridge Boys. He played it non-stop and demanded that everyone dance. Bobbie Sue played for 5 days straight. And then Aunt Mere showed him the YouTube video of the actual Oak Ridge Boys and now we watch that at least 50 times a day. He asks for "Baaabee Sue" daily. He does have some good moves though.

Oh. And it was Addison's first Christmas. Poor second born. Here she is smiling with her stocking at Mamaw's. So pretty. So content. She turned 2 months on Christmas Day. Her 2 month stats: 12 lbs, 23.5 inches and has slept through the night twice now. I love her so!