Trip to the Library

Just last winter, our little town of less than 9,000 got a new library. Today - we FINALLY ventured out to visit it. I'm such a slacker Mom sometimes! I haven't taken the kids to a library since we moved here from Indiana 2 1/2 years ago!

The kids loved it! It's well organized and easy to find what you're looking for. Paige spotted the youth section before we were even done at the service desk getting our cards! Kayleigh ran right to the James Patterson books, and even Chase found something (now if he sits down and actually reads it I'll be impressed!).

I think we have a new Saturday afternoon activity!!

Friday's Favorite Five Returns!

Sorry - I've slacked a bit on the Friday's Favorite Five! So - here we go again!

I'm thankful for:

1) Paige's ability to know herself!! Here's a conversation I had with her just last night. She was so hyper all evening - I finally came down to my room to sit on the couch in quiet and watch TV/read.

Paige: Mom, can I sit down here with you?
Me: Paige, only if you PROMISE that you can sit quietly and let me read my book in peace.
Paige: (pauses about 10 seconds) Hmmmmm... I think I'll go back upstairs because I don't think I can do that. (and off she goes!)

2) Chase's smile. What a week I've had at work between new patients, discharged patients, and even a few who passed away. Coming home to his smile every night just settles me right down and gets me smiling too!

3) Kayleigh's ability to create her own style and fashion! This child is truly gifted! She is able to cut apart clothes, recreate them by sewing them differently, and look like it came of a designer stores shelves! What a gift she has and she's making great strides towards making it her future career!

4) Devin's heart. I have watched Devin grow in his faith over the last months and watched him really start to care about people in his life. What an amazing power God has over this child! He has a best friend going through a tough time right now. This friend's Mom told me this week that Devin sent HER an email saying he's there for his friend and he's praying for their family. Wow!

5) My husband, Michael. Plain and simple. This man works hard, loves all, and is our rock. Michael - I love you always!

Bottom line - I am so thankful for my family and the qualities they each bring to our home.

Look Who Lost a Tooth!

Yep - at 5 years and 9 months old she lost her first tooth! She kept saying it wouldn't fall out last night, this morning it was laying sideways in her mouth!! Out it came without even a tug! Won't be long and the one next to it will fall out too. What a cute smile!

Our Sweet Girl!

This was too sweet not to share!

Paige's bedtime is 8:30pm. Usually she's wide awake until then and it takes her about 30 minutes to fall asleep. Tonight, after her 2nd day of kindergarten, she was wiped out on the couch by 7:30pm hugging her backpack!!

I think it's safe to say our sweet girl is exhausted!

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for the kids.

Paige is now officially a kindergartener - how bittersweet! Last child off to school, but we now have no babies at home ... She was sooooooo funny this morning! She didn't let me even walk her to her classroom - said she'd do it all by herself! Chase - being the big brother (and a 5th grader this year) said "Mom, don't worry, I'll make sure she gets to her class". And that he did!

No pictures of Kayleigh and Devin! Being in high-school I was told "no-way" when I asked to snap a few! Kayleigh said her first day as a freshman was "exhausting"! Her classes are all over the place and she didn't even have time to go to her locker to get her bookbag before she got on the bus home!

As for Devin - he was just glad to be back in school with all his friends! They really need each-other right now - it's the best therapy for all of them ... just being together.

Look at the smile on Paige's face getting off the bus this afternoon! I think it was the highlight of her day! What a big girl we have!

A "Heart Buddy" Is Losing His Battle

Update: Johnathon David passed away in his Mother's arms at 4:06pm this afternoon.


As many of you know - we have a group of blogging "Heart Buddies" that all follow eachother, are there for eachother, and pray for eachother.

Johnny is 4 months old and endured his second open heart surgery last Tuesday the 19th. After a difficulty first 48 hours, he seemed to be doing well. But as of the early morning hours his heart is not pumping the way it should and he's experiencing some clotting that the doctors have not been able to stop. The family is with their little man, comforting him as he seems to be nearing the end of his journey.

Another that I've posted before about, 4 month old Elaina, has also had more difficulty in the last few days - experiencing dangerously high fevers and low oxygen saturations. Her family, also, has been told to expect the worst.

Both families are having to make very difficult decisions and have been given "the talk" by the hospital staff. Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts - they need all the strength and comfort they can get.

A Rough Back To School Day Tomorrow

Locally - our kids have lost 2 classmates in just under a week.

First - Katie Fitzgerald was junior who has had a long journey with Leukemia. On Monday, she passed away at Duke Medical Center.

Then, a sophomore football player, Matt Gfeller, was critically injured during a play. After several hours of surgery, he passed away yesterday afternoon at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.

Winston kids all return to school tomorrow without two of their friends. For the first time, as a parent, we are at a loss and don't know what to say to Devin, or what to do for him. Other parents are feeling the same way that we are. All we can do is tell him we're here if/when he wants to talk.

Matt and Katie - Peace to each of you now and forever.

Devin - We love you and are here for you always.

Haircut for Paige ...

Paige has been begging me to cut off her blonde locks for quite sometime. Daddy, however, has been begging me not to. With her starting kindergarten next Monday - I decided to go ahead with it. I took a picture of her before the haircut for Daddy to hang on to!

As I was cutting Paige's hair - it became clear how much older she was going to look! Hard to believe my "baby" is growing up so quickly!!

Then ... I got to the front of her head and realized that there's a bit of baby in her still ... seems she got tired of her waiting on me to cut her hair and she attempted to do it herself sometime recently. Notice the "I'm busted" look on her face!! (Look closely at her bangs that she never had before!).

Overall - the end product was pretty cute! We took off 3-4 inches. Daddy is dealing with it ... Lots of hugs and kisses from his Little Princess helped!

Chase's Choice!

Mike had to work Thursday (Chase's birthday) so Saturday was his day. He requested the Pampered Chef Taco Ring for dinner and a Lemon-Lime Fizz drink that has quickly became his favorite. Kayleigh made him an awesome cake from scratch - icing and all! We had a fun night as a family and just kept eating!!

Happy Birthday Chase!

Chase turns 10 years old today, at 12:25pm to be precise! What a day that was for all of us. Grandma and Grandpa Casto made the drive to Bloomington for your birth - we were so glad they were there!

Chase was determined to be born that day regardless of the planned c-section! I woke up that morning and went into labor before we even left for the hospital. Created quite the stir when we got to the hospital considering I HAD to have a c-section! Little did we know that was just the beginning of the day's chaos.

After all 9 pounds 6 ounces of Chase was delivered via c-section things got pretty ugly for a while. I remember being in the recovery room and Mike being with me. Then all the nurses scurrying around, Mike being pushed out of the room, and then rushing me back into surgery. At one point, after losing several pints of blood, the nurse went out to tell Mike and my parents I was bleeding bad and they weren't able to stop it - the outcome was looking very grim. Fortunately, by the power of God, they were wrong.

I don't remember anything after recovery until the next day when I was told what happened. Mike looked at me with tears in his eyes saying I scared them all and I was never to do that again. He was terrified of losing me and being a single father of 3.

I spent the next week in the hospital and have enjoyed every minute of watching Chase grow up! He's struggled with more medical problems than any child should have to endure, yet is always smiling from ear-to-ear!

Chase - you bring so much joy to our lives! We're so very proud of how far you've come and we know that you will continue to reach for the stars!

We love you Buddy!

Mom and Dad

Visit From Jim, Jenni, Juli, & Jake!

(L to R: Paige, Juli, Chase, and Jake)

We had a great weekend with old friends! Jim and Jenni came down from Ohio to scout out the area for an upcoming move. I am sooooo excited for them! I have known Jenni for over 30 years and we've always stayed in touch - it will be so nice to have a true old friend here with us in North Carolina!

Our kids all enjoyed each other, we had a great time catching up and enjoying the gorgeous weather. Jim and Jenni explored the city yesterday while I took the kids to the park and the back here to play on the slip & slide.

They'll have a good handful more trips this way as Jim has interviews and they come to house hunt. I can't wait for the next visit!

Here's a few candids we got while they were here.

See you again soon J&J!

Jake reading TO Chase!

Jenni reading Paige and Juli their bedtime Bible Story

Saying Goodbye . . .

Update: Baby Elaina

Baby Elaina is not doing well. Her health is failing still and hospice/palliative care has been presented to her Mother and family. It truly lies in the hands of our Lord. Please visit her blog and leave her encouraging words of support by CLICKING HERE.

Our Drama Queen!

AMTC is a Christian based talent company that came to Greensboro over the weekend seeking people for modeling as well as acting for advertisers. It's a company that we researched and is very reputable. The "AMTC is a company embracing Christian values in an industry plagued with scandal. Yet, it is also an industry of beauty, truth, and art."

Paige has always LOVED the camera - so we figured why not try it. We received word this morning that they want more from her! She's now practicing a line for a Twizzler's commercial and we have to video tape her doing a skit that she can create on her own. She's had fun all day saying her lines and posing for more pictures! The video is a quick take of her saying her lines from memory (well.. it has to be from memory because she can't read yet!).

She's well aware she may not make it any further, but she sure is having fun in the process and we're going to let her enjoy the ride as far as it will take her!

Pampered Chef Party!!

I used to love doing Pampered Chef shows! Haven't done it in years, and decided to host a party to gear up for the fall, and upcoming holidays! So - join me August 14th at 7pm. We'll be learning how to make a few appetizers and fun beverages (non-alcoholic of course!) and spending some time with the gals! You can email me by clicking "Email Michelle" to the left sidebar.

If you can't come, but would still like to order some products you can do so by visiting Deidre Smallwood's Pampered Chef website and entering my name (Michelle Lyons) as your host.

Hope to see you soon!

Photoshoot!!!

Kayleigh, Chase, and Paige got bored this afternoon and decided to do their own photo-shoot - with Chase as the photographer. I was shocked at how fun and good these pictures are!! Not bad for a 9 year old photographer!! Enjoy! I know I did!





The following 3 pictures are others he took that I thought were really good! He took them from odd angles. The first is our backyard from the ground level (yes we need our grass cut!). The second is our trampoline. The last is a tree - looking upwards.

Vacation to Canaan Valley 2008

We had a great time in Canaan Valley, WV - the heart of the Monongahela National Forest. This slideshow should sum it all up! There's also pictures on our Photobucket Shared Files that didn't make the slideshow.

We look forward to the next vacation with the Taylor-Schroeders!! Thanks for the great memories friends!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Kayleigh Turns 14

Saturday was Kayleigh's 14th Birthday. We were traveling home from vacation that day so we didn't get to do a whole lot. She did pick where we ate at along the way - a Shoney's in Bluefield, WV. After we got home we went and got her a chocolate-chip cookie cake (her favorite!) and ice-cream. All-in-all we had a good day and we were sure to repeatedly sing her Happy Birthday!!

She goes with Mike later this week to pick out her first cell-phone. She's super excited to have her own finally!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! We love you!

Awesome Adventures!

White Water Rafting was AWESOME!!! More later with pictures - but wanted everyone to know that Mike and I took the boys today and we had a blast!!! I think we've may have found a new hobby!!!

Tomorrow's our last day of vacation in the mountains. Weather permitting - we're supposed to go climbing at Seneca Rocks. Do the "no rain dance" with us!! We were supposed to go yesterday but it poured all day!!

More later . . .

Never a Dull Moment!

Not even on vacation do we get a break from medical bills!! Devin bought a new pocket knife at Blackwater Falls on Monday. On Tuesday he was playing with it on the bed in his hand and it snapped open unexpectedly - slicing his pinky finger on his left hand wide open at the knuckle. We knew when we saw a pearly white tendon that it needed stitched!

The problem - where was the nearest emergency room or urgent care!!!??? Took us about 20 minutes to figure out where to go - in the meantime he fainted FOUR times!! We had to drive 45 minutes to Tucker Community Emergency Clinic (smaller than an urgent care, but very equipped). They were very nice and took him right back.

Four stitches later - we were set to go. He still gets to go rafting Thursday afternoon - with a splinted finger wrapped securely in plastic! He's not letting a stitched up finger stop him he said!

V - A - C - A - T - I - O - N ! ! !

By this time tomorrow - we'll be on VACATION!!!

We'll leave early and meet up with very good friend's of ours in Canaan Valley, WV. We've rented a huge cabin/house in Timberline Ski Resort where we can enjoy a week of white water rafting, ziplining, hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and more! Their kids are the same ages as our kids - and we've been friends for years! I can't wait! The ticker in the top right of our blog has been counting down the minutes fora while now!

I'll try to post at least once while we're away . . . providing we're not exhausted at the end of each day!