CATCHING UP!

Somehow, I have let the blog get away from me! This is an attempt to catch up on the last several months in the lives of the Whitleys:

IN NOVEMBER, we took Ross to Build-a-Bear where he made a puppy dog...
dressed in a Pujols Cardinals uniform (which is apparently soon to be vintage).

Ross raked leaves with Daddy...

and played in them too!

IN OCTOBER, we went to KC for another half-marathon.

Ross enjoyed cheering on Daddy and Uncle Bruce.

We played at a park...

and visited a pumpkin patch.

We enjoyed the amenities in KC, then...

came home and watched the Cardinals win the World Series!

IN SEPTEMBER, we took Ross on his first camping trip.

IN AUGUST, we celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary by going on our first overnight away from Ross...a whole 30 miles from our house. Jonathan said, "Look at that beautiful sunset" and when I looked out the hotel window I said, "You can't see the sunet from here. Are you referring to that reflection off the Golden Corral sign?!" Folks, the answer to that question was, "Yes." Boy, did we need a vacation!

We couldn't go away without bringing something back for the little man.

IN JULY, Ross mowed a lot of lawn with Daddy,

played a bit of piano...

and we celebrated being pregnant with Whitley "Baby Deuce!"

IN MAY/JUNE we visited friends in North Carolina...

and took Ross to the beach.

First look at the ocean

Playing with toys in the sand

The sand took a little getting used to, but...

Ross very much enjoyed the water.

We got some Brit's Donuts on the way out of town...

and Ross tried ice cream for the first time at a roadside peach stand.

IN APRIL, my cousin, Becky, got married! I was honored to be a part of her wedding and to get to know the great guy God placed in her life.

Becky's parents are farmers and they let us ride on one of their antique tractors, which once belonged to Ross' Great-Great Grandpa, Noble Williams. Thanks, Uncle Dave! This is when "tractor" became one of Ross' favorite words.

Ross got to meet Aunt Jeannine...

and Aunt Joy.

Puppy Party! Ross is ONE!

For Rossy's first birthday party, I took him to Party City and he picked out his theme. We went up and down the aisles and the only thing he pointed to was the puppies. He then added a "woof, woof, woof!" I went by the puppies twice to be sure, and he pointed both times so that's what he got!

We decorated the house in puppy prints and got excited for guests to arrive! Thank you to Grandma, Grandpa, Grammie, Aunt Andra, Uncle Bruce, Cousin Layla and the Kisat family for coming to the party!


Ross and Cousin Layla were ready to greet friends!

Rossy's friend Collin was a special guest: they were born one week apart and baptized on the same day. Collin's family just moved in down the street so the boys are really getting to know each other now!

Ross was sure Aunt Andra had milk just like Mommy.

Pin the paw on the puppy!

A puppy themed feast!

He even ate some gluten-free, all natural cake! It was the first time he ever fed himself and he really enjoyed it.

Ross had fun opening his presents. He ended the night with a determined walk on the sidewalk out front. Thanks to all who made his big day so special!

Red Carpet Delivery!

We recently purchased a new bed for our upstairs bedroom. We ordered it through The Mattress Firm and took advantage of their "red carpet delivery" service. It was a fun experience and not something we normally do (we're all about taking the truck and haulin' it ourselves)! So naturally, I had to document the occasion. With this new bed we are one step closer to moving upstairs, folks! Woo-to-the-hoo!

First Official Haircut

A few weeks before Ross' birthday I realized it was time for a real haircut--not just the trim in the back and around the ears. I attempted it myself and I have to say, it turned out better than expected. And now he's due for another one....

All Gimped Up...again.

My last post regarding Jonathan and visits to the ER is a bit outdated. He has now added 3 more trips to the ER in our 9-plus years of marriage. With a case of the swine flu and two more shoulder dislocations, the count is up to 8. It became evident that something needed to be done regarding his shoulder...after talking with 2 different shoulder surgeons, he begrudgingly scheduled surgery. The shoulder was repaired as well as possible at the end of February and he spent all of March in an immobilizer sling. Jonathan starts physical therapy on Monday and is hoping to be rid of the sling for good mid-April. It has been a trying time for the whole family. He is unable to drive, so I have become chauffeur as well as sole diaper-changer (and pretty much everything else having to do with Ross). Jonathan has had to sleep in a recliner in our living room for the past 5 weeks and misses being with us. Ross has had to learn the limits of his daddy as a playmate and is looking forward to a good wrestle when all is said and done.

The crux: the shoulder is not as strong as we had originally hoped. The surgeon drilled into the bone in order to attach the remaining tissue...but Jonathan's tissue was in bad shape. He didn't have much to begin with, and what was there ended up being quite torn and damaged from all the dislocations. So sports will always be questionable and if the shoulder were to dislocate again, it would mean total reconstruction surgery.

I was the one to learn all this news from the surgeon in the waiting room while Jonathan was coming out of the anesthesia. When the doctor asked me if Jonathan was very active, I knew it was a bad sign. After everything was explained to me, I sat there feeling devastated for Jonathan and wondering how to tell him this would be a life-long struggle that could lead to total reconstruction surgery...the poor guy can hardly stand even getting a shot. I sat there mulling it over just kind of in conversation with God about my concerns. During the surgery I had been working on a Beth Moore Bible study I'm in at church and when I opened my workbook back up after speaking with the doctor, I was amazed at where I had left off. The very next thing written in the study was, "Accept God's appointment as your reconstruction worker." I was floored. In that instant I realized that God is the ultimate reconstructor and healer. I felt a peace that we could trust Him and not worry about the "what ifs" regarding Jonathan's shoulder. It is so good to be reminded that God goes through our trials with us and is aware of every detail--nothing gets past him and there is nothing He can't handle. We are never alone and we are never left to figure it all out ourselves. He cares for Jonathan even more than I do (more than imaginable) and He will ultimately take care of him.