On a lighter note...the BEACH

The Potts clan packed up 5 cars with more groceries, toys, and people than we needed and headed to Ft. Morgan, AL. We totaled 5 children under the age of 5, 1 grown-up child (that's you, Michael), 10 adults. We expanded over 2 houses and took up almost every inch of space available.

We only had 1 case of the stomach virus (Dad), 1 fever virus (James)....3 others suffered after the vacation was over (2 of those were Byrds and poor Emily took one for the team). BUT, we had a wonderful trip. The kiddos played in the sand, in the water, on the porch. We lounged around during the day, soaking up the perfect weather and warm sun. We ate A LOT, talked a lot, and laughed a lot. It was  great vacation, orchestrated by the one and only...Judy Potts.

Here are a few pictures of our time together.

 There was a lot of love to go around....Sarah, the caretaker of the younger crowd.

 Pre-fever, enjoying the sand and sun.

 Many sandcastles, race tracks and other creations were masterminded by these two.

 Check out the crawling skills, even in the sand.

 Swinton is quite the walker these days. He could even run after the big boys in the sand.

They are still trying to figure each other out!

This time last year...

This time last year, we were celebrating fall in the hospital. My dear sweet friends and family showered me with pumpkins, flowers, a big tv, food galore, magazines, Rosetta Stone, and anything to take my mind off of the fact that baby Byrd wanted to arrive WAY too soon. As I write this, that little baby Byrd is pulling on my jeans and whining to be picked up. We have come a long way!

On October 12, 2010, I was on day 8 of my hospitalization at Methodist Germantown, and we received the news that my fetal fibronectin test was positive, meaning there was a 60% chance of delivery in the next 2 weeks. I was beyond disappointed. In my journal (a.k.a. my book of venting frustration and sadness) I wrote the following: "I am not in control and this baby is in the hands of the Father. He knows the day he will arrive and He is knitting him together just as he should be and in His time. Our baby has been fearfully and wonderfully made- at 28 weeks and full term."

I am so thankful for those extra 8 weeks God gave us for James to grow and develop. God is and was merciful and gracious to us.

I sang this hymn over and over in my head over those first few days:
Children of the heavenly Father
Safely in his bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge ere was given.

God his own doth tend and nourish,
In his holy courts the flourish;
From all evil things he spares them;
In his mighty arms he bears them.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers
Your protector never slumbers
At the will of your Defender
Ev'ry foeman must surrender.

Who would have thought that this 28 week- 2  pound, 12 ounce baby would end up weighing 21 pounds at 10 months.

Thank you for Your mercy.