American Idol Visit

On Tuesday, we had the American Idol Top 11 stop by the hospital to visit kids at The VOICE. Here is a very sweet video recap as well as a link to some great pictures from the day.

PHOTOS: Idol's Top 11 at The Voice in Atlanta

Idols Visit The Voice at Egleston: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Something blue

Last weekend, I bought new curtains for our guest room... well curtains really, because we've never any in there. When we (Dustin) hung them up, we (I) didn't like how they blended in with the walls. Therefore, we (I) decided we (Dustin) should paint the room. Dustin claims that this is the only thing I am ever "spontaneous" about. So off to Home Depot we went and decided on a light blue/grey color called "ice rink". Since I'm still not supposed to do "strenuous activity", Dustin ended up doing most of the work (he's so great). It only took 18 episodes of Friends on DVD, but we are both happy with the result.

Before


After

I lift my hands

Chris Tomlin's new song has not only been an encouragement during his time, but it also features one of my favorite patients. Creed's mom Stephanie has a blog that tells their story if you want to check it out. In the video, you see Creed wearing an extraordinarily large beads of courage necklace. For more info on the Beads of Courage program, check out their website here.

Your mercies in disguise

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

"Blessings" by Laura Story

We have felt overwhelmed by the love and support of our family and friends over the past week. From the emails, to the meals, flowers, edible arrangements, and more- we have really felt incredibly loved. For those that don't already know, last Friday, Dustin and I went for my 12 week appointment at my OB. On the way to the appointment, I was already envisioning the creative blog post I was going to write when we came home to announce it to "the world". God had other plans. We were told that the baby no longer had a heartbeat and had stopped developing. As the ultrasound technician said those words, I was thinking "She can't possibly be saying this to us"- but she was. In that very minute, the hopes and dreams and plans that we had for this baby ended with the stillness of our little one on the monitor. Because I was so far along and my body had not gone through the actual miscarriage yet, I had to have a procedure called a D & C on Monday. While I would not wish this experience on anyone, I know God has a purpose for it. When babies stop developing, it is most likely due to a chromosomal abnormality or developmental problem and the baby most likely would have not been carried to term or could have been born with incredible challenges. I feel that the job I have gives me a firsthand look at these children and what these families go through every day. There is a beautiful video called 99 Balloons that gives an inside look at what many families I know go through. While this has been a heartbreaking experience, I know that it was because God thought it was more important for our "little buddy" to be with Him now and He could have been sparing us from further pain later on. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers during this time. Through all of this we know God is still God and God is still good.

"God gives. God takes. God's name be ever blessed."- Job 1:21

The Right Stuff

That's right... Backstreet's Back and this time they're Hangin' Tough. Yesterday was quite the "somebody pinch me" kind of day at work. We had the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block visit the hospital. While most of the kids did not know who they were, the excitement from the nurses, physicians and other staff members made up for it. I was very excited to be in charge of the visit, but the downside was that I was not able to take pictures. Something about giggling and taking pictures paparazzi style doesn't exactly give me the most credibility. Most of these pictures were taken by others. Enjoy...

The E! News interview



I stood 2 feet from Nick Carter during the entire visit and restrained myself from getting a picture with him. Nothing has ever been more difficult...



At the end of the visit, I finally gave in since Brian stayed a bit longer. That would be his bodyguard behind me.

Last night, Dustin won the "world's best husband" award by going to the concert with me. I didn't know it was possible for 30 year old women to scream louder than 14 year olds for 2 hours straight. Handmade t-shirts, posters, uncontrollable shaking, crying and all... I'm sure their husbands that were home with the kids would have been so proud.
















These last 3 pictures are courtesy of the AJC.





Lastly, I leave you with these. In Dustin's words "the choreography has not changed at all". Exactly. That is what made it so awesome.

Cruise

Whew! So it's been a while? We have been out of town every weekend for the past month or so and I haven't had much time to catch up. Here is an attempt to do that. A couple weeks ago, we were able to go on a cruise with my family (thanks mom and dad!). Here are some pictures from the trip...

The promomenade in the ship.


The balcony on our room.


Our room.


Waiting to sail away!






Coco Cay in the Bahamas.


One of Dustin's many attempts on the "flow rider" on the back of the ship.


Formal dinner.


On our way to Magen's Bay in St. Thomas.


Ours was the one on the right.


"Scenic Overlook" on the way to Magen's Bay (i.e. hundreds of tourists trying to get pictures on the edge of a cliff while flies the size of my fist buzzed around our heads)


Magen's Bay, St. Thomas


On our balcony before dinner one night.


Our ship, Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas.

Happy Day

May 12 is a very special day! 28 years ago today, my husband and best friend was born...


And 4 years ago today, we got married!


These past 4 years have flown by and I'm looking forward to the next 70! I'm so blessed to have married my high school sweetheart and best friend!