Wordy Update!

Being that it has been almost a month since my last blog, I thought I should go ahead and update. I am going to use the excuse that we have been really busy but honestly who isn't busy? Well, be prepared this may end up being a long post...

Trey: He is doing really good. Work has been busy and keeping him running all over the place. Don't think I am complaining because I am not. Busy-ness beats the alternative. He has been so helpful with school, doctor appointments, and all the other day to day stuff. He had a college alumni game back in September which is always something he looks forward to. Even though they didn't win they had fun trying to be young again! Haha! He has also been really involved with hunting this year. He has joined up with his brother to be on a deer lease, added feeders and cameras out on a friends land and made many a trips to multiple locations to check game cameras, ect. He hasn't shot any deer yet, especially since it is only bow season right now, but he has shot quite a few hogs. In East Texas hogs are really a problem and Trey takes pride in doing his "Civic duty" or so he refers to it as this and one by one riding the area of them. It is all fun and I myself enjoy hearing his stories and seeing him light up as he talks about it. In fact about a week ago, we got a sitter for the girls and headed out to a friend's land. We climbed up about 15 feet in a tree and sat in the dark for 2.5 hours waiting for the hogs to come in. It was quality time together and I enjoyed being outside in the woods as well.

Maddie: I must start with saying that she loves, loves, loves school. She has something to tell me everyday. She has started buying her lunch on occassion as well. She says her favorite part of the day is riding the bus over to my school which is less than 0.25 miles away. She has started bringing home books to read and she is doing really well. I am so proud of her. She even wants to do math workbook pages. I am so glad she has a love for school. They had a fundraiser recently and she was one of the top three sellers for the school. The top sellers got to ride in a limo to the local burger place in town for lunch. Then they had a dance contest, which she won for all the girls in the school. Finally they had a money wheel to spin. She won $10. Needless to say, she had an AWESOME day at school. Last week she also brought home her first report card. She did wonderful in everything and didn't have any negative marks. It made Mommy and Daddy so proud of her! She is also still doing gymnastics. She is doing so well. She is very agile and learns really quickly. She will be testing for level three pretty soon. Level 3 is when they start competing in gymnastics. I am not sure if I am ready for that but we are happy that she loves it so much. Last week, she even asked if she could start taking private lessons with a coach! This girl is dedicated! Everywhere we go she is cartwheeling all over the place. We are so lucky to have a her as a sweet daughter. She loves Jesus and is even telling other kids at school about him.




Mollie: Mollie is adjusting well to all the new things going on. She loves staying with Mrs. Shannon and playing at her house. I think she does pretty well or at least Mrs. Shannon makes me feel like she is doing ok! Mollie is definitely in the terrible two's. We didn't experience too much of that with Maddie but Mollie is making up for that. We are trying our best to stay consistant and take it one day at a time. Things get better and then she tests us again. At times it is very difficult but then she will cuddle up on our laps and just love on us like nothing else and all my worries fade away. She is starting to talk more. I think being with another 2 year old is helping her. Not all of her words are very clear but we are just happy to hear her starting to try! YEAH Mollie! The lack of communication is very trying and often makes the fits harder but God is carrying us through and we are working through it all. Mollie is also in gymnastics. Not every week is great but she is doing well and learning lots of things. She does like it and is really good at forward rolls. It is her favorite skill. Many times she runs past everything else, cuts in line, and rolls down the mat...getting in trouble the whole time. Trey and I just laugh all though I know her coaches are probably frustrated. It is just too cute how much she likes it. Every week she gets better and better. Last week we went back to the infectious disease doctor. She is right now on two incredibly strong antibiotics. They make her tee tee and poop orange as well as her tears. They are very hard on her liver too. Therefore, she has to have her blood taken every two weeks to ensure there is no damage being done to her liver. All of this has been difficult to swallow. They believe that it is still Non-tuberculosis mycobacterium but they aren't 100% sure without a biopsy. The doctor feels like as long as the lymph nodes being affected don't increase in size or change texture then we are making progress. We will be on this medicine for at least another month. The meds are the same things they treat patients with full blown tuberculosis so you can imagine how a little toddler body handles them. God is good though, because we could be dealing with lymphoma or something worse. We are praying that he will keep his hand of protection on her and help the doctors to discern and diagonose correctly. Mollie is my little angel. Even though her temper is strong it just shows me that she is a fighter. I am so proud of her because she has gone through so much at such a young age. I know that as she grows up she will know how to persever through trials great and small. It is strange how your heart can break and be inspired at the same time.



Me: Well, school is well underway and I think I am finally getting my feet under me. I have a great class and I feel a unique opportunity with the kids I have. I have had a few break downs as I too have had to adjust to going back to work but I don't think things could be going better. We have had some amazing friends help us through all of this. Even friends bring us dinner on the first day of school and invite us over when times are tough to make it a little easier. We are lucky to have people like the Prewitt's in our lives. They are the definition of "church" and friends. They minister to our family and our hearts all the time. I was so routinely working out before I went back to school and I haven't been able to go as much as I would like. I had lost 25 lbs before school started and even though I haven't been able to go to the gym as often as before I haven't gained it back. I was afraid I might. I think I underestimate how much exercise I actually get at school. I also participated in a Women's ministry event at our church. I was in charge of decorating a table for a dinner event with a guest speaker. My Mom came for the event and it was lots of fun. Right now I am looking forward to Halloween. We will be going to Florida to spend four days in Tampa to visit Trey's dad as well as go to Disney World for one day. It is a special treat. The last year we got to trick or treat in Maryland and this year we will do it in Florida. We might just have to make this a yearly tradition.




There you have it a major Carlile Crew update! I told you it would be long.