tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81913674440950359282024-03-14T09:28:58.224-04:00Before The MorningPatricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06865294910862077812noreply@blogger.comBlogger1076125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-1390449295617381332018-08-01T11:34:00.001-04:002018-08-01T11:37:46.923-04:00joey the puppyBack in October we got a puppy. YUP.<br />
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We had gone to the flea market with my MawMaw to see about some vintage NASCAR stuff for Jonah. "Take your money," I told the boys. "You never know what you might find." (FORESHADOWING)<br />
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We got there and the NASCAR shop had closed down. We kept wandering around and going into to different stores. I remember going to a little store that had popcorn and expired (BUT SUPER ON SALE!) individually sized bags of chips. MawMaw gets real excited about these. "They're so fresh!" she says.<br />
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After getting ALL THE CHIPS and popcorn, we walked down to another store that had freaky Halloween stuff. I don't love freaky Halloween stuff, but alas, there was a sign on the door that advertised, "Shih Tzu Puppies." Well, I had already been feeling like Deac was lonely (read: I was lonely), and that he needed a playmate (read: I needed a playmate.)<br />
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And then we walked in and saw this and <i>I couldn't even</i>.<br />
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And neither could Gideon and Jonah.<br />
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But mostly it was me. (Also, who was going to rescue him from that freaky bat?)<br />
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So I called Matt, explained the situation and that "<i>Deac really needs a playmate and the boys really want one and they have their money and they want to pay for him and I'll clean up all the poop and of course it's no big deal and it's all going to be fine." </i>And then he said his version of yes, which was something along the lines of, <i>"Okay, but I'm seriously not cleaning up the poop, and this is on you guys, and if it goes badly, it's not on me, and obviously I have to say yes, because if I don't, you're all going to be upset with me." </i><br />
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WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A CONFIDENT "OF COURSE, BABE. WHATEVER YOU WANT" TO ME.<br />
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So we got a cute puppy.<br />
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And Jonah named him Joey, after his favorite race car driver and friend, <a href="http://joeylogano.com/">Joey Logano</a>.<br />
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Funny twist to the story. Joey may have some Shih Tzu in him, but as he's grown, we've realized he's definitely NOT a Shih Tzu. He looks like he may have some Pekingese in him. And Pekingeses shed. Which is not great for EB. <i>But now we all love him (even Matt), and he's Jonah's best friend, and it is what it is, and we're mostly okay with it. </i>Except for Granny.<br />
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But really, the whole point of this post is that we had to get Joe Joe fixed yesterday, and he messed with his sutures, so now he has to wear The Cone of Shame.<br />
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And he hates it so much. (Those raindrops on his cone are symbolic of the internal tears he's crying.)<br />
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He whines every time I leave the room. So now I'm carrying my puppy around with me every where I go.<br />
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And that's why I haven't folded the laundry.<br />
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The End.Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-66284630980519555402018-07-28T22:15:00.001-04:002018-07-28T22:15:47.696-04:00jonah rockin' the xylophoneJonah did a week at camp a couple of weeks ago with his music teacher. Mike is so cool, and at camp, the kids form a band and work to compose, record, and create music videos for two original songs. Here are Jonah's band's two original pieces. I'm so stinkin' proud of him.<br />
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Whatever you do, don't miss the end of the second song. He is TOO MUCH.<br />
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Mike at <a href="http://www.professorbstudios.com/">Professor B Studios </a>is the BEST, and can play and teach pretty much any instrument, so if you are local, you should check him out.<br />
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I'm so thankful that my sweet boy has his own thing now. He's such a great cheerleader for his little brother at t-ball games, but this seems to be something of his own he can really enjoy. And I may be biased, but he rocks that xylophone. He only started back in March!<br />
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Also, can you even stand him in the aviators and skinny jeans??? Because I absolutely cannot.Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-3231003655616929202017-10-21T21:51:00.000-04:002017-10-21T21:51:11.467-04:00pumpkin patch (and catching up)!I'm not sure exactly what it is about the Fall that inspires me to blog, but here it is a year later and here I am with a post.<br />
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The boys are doing well. Gideon turned five in August and Jonah is 8 and a half. DON'T FORGET THE HALF. Jonah's EB is getting worse, I'd say, although it's tough to measure that kind of thing. His arms and legs are pretty much a disaster all the time, and we're in a vicious cycle. Itch, Scratch, Blister, Heal, Itch, Scratch, Blister, Repeat. And of course, all of his wounds are in different parts of this cycle, so he's basically in rough shape all the time. He is still one of the happiest kids ever though, but I definitely think things are starting to get to him more. Not that things are significantly worse, but pain, tiredness, not being able to participate in everything he wants etc just seem to affect his mood more than they used to. But part of that is that he's getting older and moodier. And mouthier. :)<br /><br />He and Gideon have a love/hate relationship like most brothers do. They can be the best of friends and the worst of enemies. Gideon is into all things nerf guns, wrestling, and super heroes. Jonah is all about NASCAR (more posts coming on that soon!) and still loves car shows, car videos on Youtube, and talking cars or racing with anyone who will listen.<br />
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DID YOU KNOW THAT WILLIAM BYRON WILL BE DRIVING THE 24 CAR NEXT YEAR?<br />
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<i>Well, know you do. You're welcome. </i><br />
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We have just ordered a new tub for Jonah that I am super excited about. It is called the MicroSilk tub, and it should help his skin a lot. It has these tiny micro bubbles that can basically gently exfoliate his skin, fight bacteria in his wounds, super-hydrate his skin, and aid in healing. Several EB families have tried them with good results. I will try ANYTHING to relieve his itching. It should be here on Friday. I'm sure it will take us a while to get it installed and to reconstruct around it (I love you, Dad), but I'm so pumped. You can read more about it <a href="http://www.jasoninternational.com/wellness/microsilkfundamentals.aspx">here</a> if you're curious. I'll keep you guys posted!!!<br />
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We went to the pumpkin patch today, and it is always one my favorite places to get pictures of the boys each year. I love this time of year, and since it's finally decided to NOT be 85 degrees every day, maybe the leaves will actually start turning. We had a good time, and Gideon was especially excited about picking out at least one "punkin" of each color. "I want to carve one punkin and paint one punkin. Look at this red punkin mom. Ooooooh look! One with bumps!"<br />
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Here are the pics. Just can't believe how big they're both getting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I call this one - "Take one more picture of me and see what happens."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkrDGlk9U0YDjNL7kxHTBt5YIbc7nlJwIG7GYrrVnJR3uSMNo4p2d7IvzUu4YPVzy5CSTksOLSejVHYEX4W03YVfl4287V_Koo6cchdI4JBfDdTzUoSipCGuhqm-tthDUNVHXXUHRpK2C/s1600/IMG_8294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkrDGlk9U0YDjNL7kxHTBt5YIbc7nlJwIG7GYrrVnJR3uSMNo4p2d7IvzUu4YPVzy5CSTksOLSejVHYEX4W03YVfl4287V_Koo6cchdI4JBfDdTzUoSipCGuhqm-tthDUNVHXXUHRpK2C/s640/IMG_8294.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hair was tickling him, and we got the giggles.</td></tr>
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I'll try to post soon about our TV and Nascar adventures. A lot of crazy (fun!) things have happened that I want to record here. Life is crazy! Thank you for still being here with us!<br />
<br />Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-49208919016403325962017-02-02T09:34:00.000-05:002017-02-02T09:34:01.958-05:00article on Jonah on goodhousekeeping.comGoodhousekeeping.com did a story on Jonah this week, from my perspective. It's a good read. :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a42608/epidermolysis-bullosa-jonah-williams/">http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a42608/epidermolysis-bullosa-jonah-williams/</a><br />
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Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-40405757472641171712016-10-31T20:50:00.000-04:002016-10-31T22:14:25.406-04:00happy halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They practiced tonight before going out. </div>
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"Make sure you get the whole thing, Mom." (That was a big "blow-up," as Gideon calls them.)</div>
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"Can I hug that ghost because he is sad."</div>
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And here are the "real camera" ones.</div>
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And from all the years past. :)</div>
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2009</div>
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2010</div>
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2011</div>
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2012</div>
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2013</div>
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2014</div>
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2015</div>
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<br />Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-12430281347676533052016-10-23T20:00:00.000-04:002016-10-23T20:00:06.540-04:00the fair!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went to the fair last weekend and had a great time. Matt's sister, brother in law, niece, and nephews were in town from NY. It was great to have them down and to get to share one of our favorite things of the year with them.</div>
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And this one is from a date night Matt and I got the other night, courtesy of my mom. We went to dinner and to the mall to get smiley face cookies. Because we're mature grown ups.</div>
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<br />Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-55167311450869733542016-10-21T20:30:00.000-04:002016-10-21T20:30:19.166-04:00slices of life, vol. 10<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Here are some funnies from the last few weeks:<br />
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Commenting on the sunrise one morning -</div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Gideon: Mommy, have you seen the colors? Dere's orange, yellow, pink, and blue.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Me: I know. God is quite the artist.</span></div>
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Jonah (chiming in): He sure is. You know why?<br />(Points at himself)<br />Cause He made this guy.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Jonah: Dad, did you fart?</span><br style="line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Matt: No.</span><br style="line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Jonah: Ok, I must be smelling my fart then.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">________________________</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">From Matt:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Patrice called me on my way home from work to ask me how close I was (5 minutes out), and tell me she left her purse at school and needed to get it. She was going to leave Jonah home alone since I was so close.</span><br style="line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">I passed her in the driveway, so he was in the house for about thirty seconds by himself. When I went inside Jonah proclaimed, "Dad, I was the only human here! It felt good to be king of the house with Deac as my sidekick!"</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">_________________________</span></div>
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From Matt:</div>
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Jonah was having a tough time today following directions, being respectful, and was not using his brain at all.</div>
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For example, he threw up (not because he was sick, but because he took too big of a bite and gagged) and then immediately blew his breath in my face.</div>
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Patrice: Every decision you are making is horrific.<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"><br />Jonah: Can you change that "H" to a "T?"</span></div>
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My kid has his moments, but most of the time he is "torrific."</div>
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_________________________</div>
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From Matt:</div>
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Two of this weekend’s many disagreements:</div>
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Jonah: I’m done.<br />Giddy: Jonah, play with me!<br />Jonah: No! No hitting, no weapons, no playing dead. (brief pause) Actually, yeah, just play dead.</div>
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Giddy: You’re a dork!<br />Jonah: No, you’re a dork!<br />Giddy: Gideon’s not a dork, and Dad’s not a dork, and Mom’s not a dork, because none of them are Jonah.</div>
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_________________________</div>
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From Matt:</div>
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Scene: Giddy spills yogurt on carpet and Patrice discovers it a few minutes later.</div>
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Patrice: Gideon, did you spill yogurt on the carpet?</div>
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Giddy: No.</div>
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Patrice: Then what is this all over the carpet?</div>
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Giddy: (Looking at yogurt) Dust.</div>
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_________________________</div>
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From Matt:</div>
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Giddy seems to be getting really excited about praying lately.</div>
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Monday:<br />Dear God,<br />Fank you for dis day. Fank you dat giwaffe not eat me. Fank you dat hippopotamus not eat me...(this continued for about two minutes of thanking God for a host of carnivorous and non-carnivorous animals not eating him).<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"><br />In Jesus Name, Amen.</span></div>
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Tonight:<br />Dear God,<br />Fank you for dis day. Fank you for Darf Bader. Fank you for my family.<br />In Jesus Name, Amen.</div>
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The force is strong with this one.</div>
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__________________________</div>
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From Grandaddy (Matt's Dad):</div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">It was time for the afternoon sword fight in the front yard. Giddy had a foam sword in each hand. I had an identical sword. Jonah came outside, after getting a drink of water, and said he needed a sword. Gid just looked at him, with a sword in each hand. So I gave Jonah my sword. I told Gid I couldn't fight because I did not have a sword. Using perfect 4 year old logic he told me, "Well doofus, you are the one that gave your sword to Jonah."</span></div>
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Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-34769511128026853002016-10-19T22:47:00.001-04:002016-10-19T23:34:02.912-04:00a long overdue update and the pumpkin patch!Friends! I've missed you! Are you even still out there??? I honestly and truly do miss blogging. I can't make any promises that it will get better (I kind of have three jobs right now), but please know that I do love you all and miss you, and we still covet your prayers.<br />
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Jonah is doing well. He had a virus a couple of weeks ago that ended with a two week stent of horrible coughing. He eventually had to go on prednisone to kick it. It's pretty typical for him to do that, but it doesn't make it any easier for him to deal with when it happens. I've noticed his skin, primarily on his face, severely deteriorates when this happens. I imagine it's because of restless/little sleep. After he recovered from that, he got strep bacteria infections on his hands (and consequently infected his nurse, grandaddy, and two cousins with strep throat... oops), and is now on a 10 day dose of antibiotics for that. They look better now, but last year we struggled with infection coming right back after the 10 days, so we'll see.<br />
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Overall, he's healthy, happy, and incredibly brave and strong, like always.<br />
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Gideon is a hot mess, and we love him to death. He has endless energy, endless curiosity, gets into everything, eats on the run, never flushes the toilet, and keeps us in stitches. He is so funny, you guys. And he's adorable. He is a huge blessing to our lives, and I just can't believe he's already FOUR. He's older than Jonah was when he came to us. It blows my mind where the time has gone.<br />
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Here are some photos from the pumpkin patch this weekend:<br />
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Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-23906103225781612202016-07-07T13:17:00.002-04:002016-10-24T12:36:18.097-04:00enough.<div class="MsoNormal">
I have two beautiful boys. And every day I’m realizing more
and more that they will both be judged for their skin – one with more
compassion, for the most part. One with more disdain. <o:p></o:p><br />
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When Gideon is with us, he will be okay. Not because of who
he is, but because of who we are. He will not be like “those others” because
his parents are white. While this will certainly present him with some problems
– maybe he will be teased, maybe he will not be considered “black” enough,
maybe it will make him somewhat of an outcast with peers of similar skin tone,
it WILL likely ensure his safety. When he is with us and we get pulled over for
a busted tail light or an expired registration, he will likely not be shot four
times and killed for reaching for his wallet. <o:p></o:p><br />
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But I fear for him when he is on his own. We will most
definitely have to have conversations with him that don’t make any rational
sense. Matt was just saying this week that we will have to make sure he knows
not to EVER cut through someone’s yard, even if it is the quickest route. He
should not wear a hood when out in public. He should never knock on someone’s
door unannounced. Jonah could do these things, but Gideon cannot. Now we will
add to these warnings. Don’t ever carry a gun, even if you are carrying it
legally and with the proper license. Don’t ever get angry out in public. Go
completely and ridiculously above and beyond with respectful and placating
words when talking to police officers, even if they have pulled you over for no
reason. Even if they are accusing you of something that is totally ludicrous.
Even if they are being rough with you, grab you, shove you, push you, curse
you. Do not speak up for yourself. Do not show any disrespect. Keep your black
mouth shut. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your life may depend on it.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_a35k4QWTwuoC2gbXsjQOa7bFPzug51gXjc9xjiLzKsBMTmA1ubeNWYo1RwPdYMKXd4-vh74iUjsPou2-m6J23O_DI7MPCzF855vvdZ1gW3abt2tNUKK_qDqo0qQa4Mpkd9yTNu1bIbx/s1600/13582085_10154974542914056_3624935794354929546_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_a35k4QWTwuoC2gbXsjQOa7bFPzug51gXjc9xjiLzKsBMTmA1ubeNWYo1RwPdYMKXd4-vh74iUjsPou2-m6J23O_DI7MPCzF855vvdZ1gW3abt2tNUKK_qDqo0qQa4Mpkd9yTNu1bIbx/s640/13582085_10154974542914056_3624935794354929546_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you pissed off yet? Are you pissed at me or are you
pissed at the reality of this country where we live? Are you in complete
denial? Do you know that one aspect of white privilege is that we have the
luxury to pretend that there isn’t a problem? We can close our eyes to
oppression and abuse, because we are not directly affected. We can view
ourselves as the “we” and view “them” as the “others” and live in our ivory
towers of complacency and apathy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
black friends do not have that luxury. They live every day in this REALITY,
with these FACTS, and I get to say that because your reality does not affect
me, it does not exist. I am white, and you are a liar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To make matters worse, we start spouting phrases like “All
lives matter” to try to make ourselves feel better, like the oppressed are at
fault. I was reading a Relevant article today, and it said that this is similar
to running a race for cancer, all the while screaming, “THERE ARE OTHER
DISEASES TOO!” Of course all lives matter. Because they are precious and God
given and beautiful. But ALL lives are not being senselessly and repeatedly
taken. ALL lives are not being oppressed and threatened on a daily basis. ALL
lives are not having to live in fear when they are wrongly accused by the
privileged or pulled over by the cops. Yes, all lives matter. But that does not
stop us from standing up and saying that Black lives matter. Because right now,
it is our Black brothers and sisters who are being persecuted, are living in
fear, and who need our voices. Not because we are white. But because we are
human. I am them and they are me, and I stand up and shout out and demand what
is right and good for my fellow human beings. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can be quiet and pretend these things don’t exist if you
choose. It is not right and it is not okay, but it is your choice. I will not.
I will no longer be silent. Matt said, “The laws may be the same for everyone,
but the rules are completely different.” THAT is the truth. THAT is the
reality. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when a black man brings it up, someone who has an
audience and a platform and a voice, we, the privileged, start a petition to
get him kicked off the TV. Because the last thing we want is to feel
uncomfortable or to be accused of the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can you please stop messing up my entertainment with your realness? It’s
awfully inconvenient. I just want to watch my stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile we share on Facebook, over and over, a white teen
being tazed to the point of a coma and permanent brain damage, because he looks
like me and what if that was my son and oh, the humanity! But the guy who got
shot four times reaching for his wallet? Or the guy that was shot to death
while cuffed on the ground? They are not my people. I cannot relate to that.
Also, I’m sure they had it coming. I don’t need to stand up and make a big deal
about that because ALL lives matter. Haven’t you heard?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No. Stop it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When does the us stop being the us and the them stop being
the them? When do we stop viewing our family in compartments of “otherness” and
decide to fight for our brothers and sisters, because they are just that. When
do we scream no to apathy and denial and start standing up for something?
Something more than fighting the persecution of Christian Chicken or that the
lines are too long at the DMV and start standing up for something that really
matters? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someone. When do we start standing up for our someones who
really matter?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinjrasleZDdngdF-aRHT_Ut_pAGMsMLkfHklgV9EdRqm5wdC2nkpuaOSfuovQP54ZPJ4ivkDyNfH6RiFY43coEhyphenhyphenR8dQ1vIupqqf9MDNrWRTgZ3DL8BYq3jwk67vGuYkY29OGqrN5VrRp/s1600/13580374_10154969135729056_4958381850885316061_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinjrasleZDdngdF-aRHT_Ut_pAGMsMLkfHklgV9EdRqm5wdC2nkpuaOSfuovQP54ZPJ4ivkDyNfH6RiFY43coEhyphenhyphenR8dQ1vIupqqf9MDNrWRTgZ3DL8BYq3jwk67vGuYkY29OGqrN5VrRp/s640/13580374_10154969135729056_4958381850885316061_o.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Enough is enough. And I’m truly and sincerely sorry that it’s
taken me this long to say it. I should have never chosen silence. It was wrong,
and I am sorry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-41620903752135072352016-06-22T23:45:00.000-04:002016-06-22T23:45:32.585-04:00catching up<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just a quick update on the goings on around here. Life is busy but good. Jonah just finished up 1st grade and had an amazing year. God has seriously provided just what he needed in any and every situation. He tends to do things like that. We are so very loved and have fallen in love with his school and his teachers - from Kindergarten and First Grade. Everyone has been amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4yAQOrCMs8XCadxSC12JTT5D39TLKsXZv0G5nVrvoVwFolF701miO4x9yTzb7uVaPMkptuA2xE6AR_U9VtPbgLlxd0LziWBJibzttNMiTj7Xe7BTcI-kAdYy8wHvyiVucKSncw75tzem/s1600/20160506_174255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4yAQOrCMs8XCadxSC12JTT5D39TLKsXZv0G5nVrvoVwFolF701miO4x9yTzb7uVaPMkptuA2xE6AR_U9VtPbgLlxd0LziWBJibzttNMiTj7Xe7BTcI-kAdYy8wHvyiVucKSncw75tzem/s640/20160506_174255.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jonah is still into cars like always. His obsession only grows. He can tell you the make and model of almost any car he sees on the road. And he usually gets the year right too. It's pretty crazy. He has so many matchbox cars now, I can't even buy him any because I don't know which ones he has and which ones he doesn't. So now we get him gift cards or he makes specific requests, and Granny goes hunting on Ebay. Last week Jonah got a surprise package from a friend with a bunch of older ones that he didn't have. He was totally pumped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5hrZwQPljKw?rel=0" width="480"></iframe><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gideon is into all things superheroes, Avengers, wrestling and fighting. He is our full throttle, go all the time, can't take your eyes off him for a second, almost-four-year-old. Can you believe he's almost four??? He's extremely mischievous and often maddening, but I wouldn't trade him for the world. He is also the sweetest, most tender, loves-to-snuggle, double dimpled, hilarious little stinker you'll ever meet. He loves adventure and learning new things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UfJeihQ1Ks67VUKlX8nVX5EcY1Ch6sp82cRAHlXzlsXyiNtqgKUf-dwAFd-BDFSVXIAyrpzETO1OZeCxcRnZkFNhQPJELW3nhbwhQXNqQAgbzdA7kjS7Xf1qFMDztPCfkqWOq8orbmYX/s1600/20160616_185301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UfJeihQ1Ks67VUKlX8nVX5EcY1Ch6sp82cRAHlXzlsXyiNtqgKUf-dwAFd-BDFSVXIAyrpzETO1OZeCxcRnZkFNhQPJELW3nhbwhQXNqQAgbzdA7kjS7Xf1qFMDztPCfkqWOq8orbmYX/s640/20160616_185301.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gQDrtfWw--c?rel=0" width="480"></iframe>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They both keep us laughing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2IPCfMnhiDw?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt and I are doing well. My Dad and his wife kept the kids last Saturday, and Matt and I went to Blowing Rock for the day. It was really beautiful and so nice to get a way for a whole day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0KQAHvY9XttL_4qEY-_57ND5G0ELnyn7uD5qFF8aeupEOzK_FeuEn3XThc1qZpAIqJZaejxdu0lnTILoB0nMP7owE74QKbtW05m58RUVKU9-3Mq_-CQ4FmPWqC65Nhd_GYMTIwVxBDNX/s1600/20160611_112001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0KQAHvY9XttL_4qEY-_57ND5G0ELnyn7uD5qFF8aeupEOzK_FeuEn3XThc1qZpAIqJZaejxdu0lnTILoB0nMP7owE74QKbtW05m58RUVKU9-3Mq_-CQ4FmPWqC65Nhd_GYMTIwVxBDNX/s640/20160611_112001.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPAwIa7F17jsR-NelzeropcWjrigUNo9Qv4hJ_reLBNzDeqSnIrWBVzhhdhONPN1ju4e-W74taEvAftnNbj_WKIXHcgVP0f0f9qqkkq6OHfnvKmmsrtBf7qx3ZgqiainXmvCbg1WdtFlP/s1600/20160611_111840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPAwIa7F17jsR-NelzeropcWjrigUNo9Qv4hJ_reLBNzDeqSnIrWBVzhhdhONPN1ju4e-W74taEvAftnNbj_WKIXHcgVP0f0f9qqkkq6OHfnvKmmsrtBf7qx3ZgqiainXmvCbg1WdtFlP/s640/20160611_111840.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because most days go something like this - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(From my Facebook page on the 6th)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just stepped outside to make an important phone call. I get on the phone call. Gideon follows me out there, goes out into the front yard, and starts pulling down his pants.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Me (while on the phone): Gideon, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?<br />Gid: I need to doe poopy.<br />Me: YOU DON'T GO POOPY IN THE YARD. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />Gid: (pointing at Deac) My dog does poopy in the yard.<br />Me: You are not a dog!!! GO INSIDE!!!<br />Gid: I jus' wanna pwetend I'm a dog and doe poopy outside.<br />Me: GO INSIDE TO THE BATHROOM TO GO POOPY. YOU ARE NOT A DOG!</span></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; line-height: 19.32px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
(Gideon goes inside. Comes out a few minutes later, carrying the wipes, with no pants on...)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Gid: I all done.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ0IEAwnoImXZj0XY4pm2Bkw1n6QR-CMHDoI9tSg1cPUP7fbSnmAj87K8BjWDU4VxOBcaHk98sBX9-fQ7UqzJoKypCOSMOrrRqULsYiPrncws2wJpN-nzFhWCk6-zfAOfrEzDFT6XAJs6/s1600/13346123_10154883444919056_1753498677142612409_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ0IEAwnoImXZj0XY4pm2Bkw1n6QR-CMHDoI9tSg1cPUP7fbSnmAj87K8BjWDU4VxOBcaHk98sBX9-fQ7UqzJoKypCOSMOrrRqULsYiPrncws2wJpN-nzFhWCk6-zfAOfrEzDFT6XAJs6/s640/13346123_10154883444919056_1753498677142612409_o.jpg" width="418" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: left;">
I'm told I'll really miss these days, but right now, they seem pretty exhausting. I'm thankful for laughter in the middle of the crazy. Stay strong, Mommas. You're doing good work. And even when you don't, tomorrow is a new day. And the coolest thing about kids? Their love is pretty unconditional. They tend to love the best parts of us and let go of the not-as-great. And that's pretty spectacular.</div>
</span></div>
Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-4371688152398123272016-03-27T21:01:00.001-04:002016-03-27T21:01:45.956-04:00HAPPY EASTER from Jonah!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-twuscoCLB4" width="420"></iframe>Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-86065059827451929012016-03-25T19:35:00.001-04:002016-03-25T19:35:23.955-04:00Washington DC hopes and a funny storyHi Friends,<br />
<br />
This is going to be random and seem out of place but give me just a second and read to the end please. :)<br />
<br />
Do you guys remember <b><a href="http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/2013/08/beautycounter.html">a post I did three years ago</a></b> about starting with a company called Beautycounter? I have been with the company for almost three years, and I am just more and more impressed with the products they make, but even more importantly the work they're doing - selling high performing SAFE personal care products, educating women through access to information and education/mission focused socials, and even lobbying in Washington for more health protective laws. Did you know that the European Union bans 1,400 ingredients from personal care products? The United States bans ELEVEN. We are seriously behind in this arena.<br />
<br />
I haven't blogged about it except for that one time, just because I didn't want this blog to become a sales platform. (But I've wanted to a million times because I really wanted to use it as an education platform. :) )<br />
<br />
BUT...<br />
<br />
I have a really cool opportunity I thought some of you might want to know about. The top three sales people in NC this month (along with the top sales folks in other states) get a trip to Washington DC in May to actually meet with Senators and other Congressmen/women to talk about the lack of regulation in the personal care product industry, and ask for better laws that are more health protective. I would actually get to go and share Jonah's story with CONGRESS MEMBERS and talk about how concerning it is that in just putting products on his skin to heal wounds, I never know if that product is safe and free of toxins that could contribute to skin cancer (or other cancers) down the road. And how that is not okay.<br />
<br />
If you think this is crazy, will you please watch this? It's a piece that ran on MSNBC last year that really sums up what Beautycounter is all about and the work they're trying to do.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rFIyku4yK2k?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
I can PROMISE you that the products are amazing and that our ingredient selection and screening process is above and beyond anything else you will find on the market. Our never list is made up of over 1,500 ingredients they will never ever use in their products.<br />
<br />
So if you'd be interested in trying products (and maybe helping push me to DC), you can order here:<br />
<b><a href="http://beautycounter.com/patricewilliams">http://beautycounter.com/patricewilliams</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
Of course, feel free to email me with any questions of if you need recommendations or gift ideas at patricesbeautycounter (at) gmail (dot) com. There is also a 60 day full money back policy, so it's pretty risk free. :)<br />
<br />
Okay, thank you guys for "listening." I'll update soon on the family. We are all doing well. Jonah remains stable. Gideon remains silly and mischievous. I remain tired. Just kidding. It's a wonderful life. I miss blogging and I miss all of you. I really do have lots of thoughts I want to share all the time but don't ever make it here to share them... because, you know, sleep. The ol' grey mare ain't what she used to be.<br /><br />If you want to hear a funny story, here is one I posted on Facebook last week. Every day is like this. Well, maybe not exactly like this.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;"><b>From March 9th:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;">This just happened. Soon I will laugh. Not right this minute. I was letting Jonah and Gideon play outside while I got lunch ready. They had been out there approximately 120 seconds when Gideon came in, having pooped in his pants. As I was getting his underwear off (sticking my hand in poo), Jonah starts incessantly ringing the doorbell for me to let him in (he can't open the door handle by himself</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;">) because he has to pee. When I let him in, the dog runs out and won't come back because there are people walking on the street in front of our house THAT HE MUST SNIFF RIGHT THIS MINUTE OR HE MIGHT DIE. I go out to try to get him to come back and next thing I know, Gideon has gotten off the potty and runs out to us (yes, the walkers too) without pants or underwear, just as free as he can be, in his t-shirt and tennis shoes... with poop STILL on his bottom. Things like this are the answer to my question when I get to the end of my day and wonder why the heck I haven't gotten anything done.</span><br />
<br />Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-55592645118507684142015-12-18T22:51:00.000-05:002015-12-18T22:57:47.533-05:00Precious Vanessa<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was Vanessa's status earlier today.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">This morning:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i>I woke up early this morning in a panic because I couldn't find Anton. I couldn't remember which bed I put him in to sleep. Then I realized he was gone and my heart broke all over again...</i></span><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I can normally get though the day okay but waking up in the mornings is the worst. It's when I first wake up that it hits me... That it really happened and he isn't here...</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I miss him so much.</span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">This evening:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anton's plane just landed in Texas. I know he is in Heaven but the thought of his little body being in a different state than me is too much to handle.</span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Guys, can you even imagine? I can a little. I remember the morning after Gabe's funeral was the worst - realizing that I could never touch or feel him again... never again hold him in my arms. Now to imagine having to do that with a child I got to know and love about breaks my heart in two. Will you pray for my dear friend? Mornings are the absolute worst, and if you've ever lost someone so close to you, you know that feeling when you wake up and realize it's NOT a nightmare and the grief physically presses in on you to the point where you feel like you can't breathe. And you relive it all again, and it's almost too much to bear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpgaDSl3pts758HLGRMs3rSh8fwaFIxSdmF5sAp6ag2vwlbW2yfSj-eINDtShTXvpWa2xdOgI_pyFnMhW59Ni9gZ37xHtMANeuRg1RD-h0Yf0RMqyLxWuT9EnPNvJXZ6sYGvQ0bJOdKdm/s1600/Anton+surrounded+with+love+and+family+Dec+11th+2015-47+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpgaDSl3pts758HLGRMs3rSh8fwaFIxSdmF5sAp6ag2vwlbW2yfSj-eINDtShTXvpWa2xdOgI_pyFnMhW59Ni9gZ37xHtMANeuRg1RD-h0Yf0RMqyLxWuT9EnPNvJXZ6sYGvQ0bJOdKdm/s640/Anton+surrounded+with+love+and+family+Dec+11th+2015-47+copy.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My body is in North Carolina but parts of my heart are in Minnesota and Texas. I can divide mine into three parts. Hers is shattered into a million pieces. Will you pray for my friend?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many have asked how to help, and Vanessa has requested that as people feel led, to please contribute to Dr. Tolar's continuing groundbreaking research. When you would ask Anton what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would say that he wanted to be just like Dr. Tolar and find a cure for EB. His research and trial are the closest thing we've ever had to a cure. We are close. I can feel it. And Anton was a part of that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you would like to contribute in honor of Anton, to help realize his dream, you can do so <b><a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/antonthebrave">HERE</a></b> (you can also read more details here as well). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Thank you for your continued prayers for peace and comfort. They will be moving back to Texas on Tuesday so please be in prayer for all of that too. They're having to say goodbye to their Minnesota family and their home for the last 10 months and going home without Anton. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lord, wrap them tightly. Fill those grief suffocating spaces with your life giving breath and sustenance. Hem them in on all sides and make each moment bearable enough to survive to the next. Give them moments of joy in the mourning. Moments of laughter in the sadness. Fill their hearts with the joy of who Anton was and comfort them in their brokenness.</span></i></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span>Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-6205935620243826762015-12-16T20:09:00.002-05:002015-12-16T20:09:44.352-05:00Beautiful AntonI sent my family to church without me, which I never do... because sometimes you just need a minute, you know? I've needed several over the last week and a half.<br />
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I'm sure many of you have heard by now, but for those of you who haven't, Sweet Anton went to be with Jesus last night. Do you remember him? I first saw his picture and found out he needed a forever family in <b><a href="http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/2011/02/tripp-and-anton.html">early February of 2011</a></b>. I have NEVER in my life felt so pricked and so immediately called to do something as I did the first time I saw his face. <i>On that day he stole a piece of my heart and I knew I would never be the same.</i><br />
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Do you remember what happened next? Do you remember how God moved? Do you remember how He used me AND YOU and so many beautiful, wonderful, life-giving, love-exuding people to fight for Anton? To give him hope and a future? Do you remember how we came together to find him a family, started <b><a href="http://hopeforanton.blogspot.com/">Hope for Anton</a></b> and fundraised to bring him home? Do you remember how God used us to change a little boy's life forever? Do you remember <b><a href="http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/2011/03/antons-story-part-one.html">the God story</a></b>?<br />
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Do you remember when I had never met Vanessa but she came here and lived with us for a week to <b><a href="http://delgadosareadopting.blogspot.com/2011/03/dressing-change.html">learn everything she could about EB</a></b>? We met for the first time when I picked her up at the airport and that day <i>she stole a piece of my heart and I knew I would never be the same</i>. She is one of the most incredible people I've ever met and we were instant friends, even sisters.<br />
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Do you remember how God entwined our lives and wrote a beautiful story of love, redemption and faithfulness that changed not only Anton, not only their family's life, but ours as well? Her story became mine and my story became hers and God did something so big it took my breath away and <i>I wondered in awe why in the world He would let me be a part of something so amazingly spectacular. </i><br />
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Do you know how I have loved that child as if he were my very own from the moment I saw his face? <i>Do you know how the light he gave to the world changed it forever and how it is ever so much darker now that he is gone? </i><br />
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I got to travel to Minnesota over the weekend to see him and tell him goodbye. I can't believe I had to tell him goodbye.<br />
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And now he's gone. And I know where he is and that he no longer suffers. I know that God is good and Anton is healed and whole and running and jumping and playing and wrestling. I know that he's met his older sisters by now and hopefully even run into Gabe and <a href="http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/"><b>Tripp</b></a>. I know he's in the arms of Jesus.<br />
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But my heart is breaking. I miss his voice and his light that radiated from Russia to Texas to Minnesota and back again. I miss his silliness and his sheer will to fight and live. I miss the happiness he unleashed wherever he went... and even where he didn't. One day I'll be okay. But today is not that day. I miss Anton. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Help-Anton-142880872427136/?fref=ts"><b>As Vanessa said</b>,</a> he charmed the world.<br />
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<i>And we will never be the same.</i></div>
Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-81982971958655748572015-11-01T00:19:00.000-04:002015-11-01T00:19:09.347-04:00halloween 2015<span style="color: black;">I know it's been forever since I posted, but wanted to post our Halloween pics and let you know that we are all doing well. Jonah remains stable and infection free, which is more than we can ask for. He has his daily struggles and with his medical needs and Gideon's being, you know, three, life is not easy, but it's good. It's a hard season, but when we have days like today (zoo and then trick-or-treating), I realize that I really will miss these years when they are so captivated by wonder. I love that they feel everything big! (And I also really love it when they go to bed.)</span><br />
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Can you even stand his Spidey cuteness???</div>
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I feel safer already.</div>
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"But but but I don' wan' put my mas' back on."</div>
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I mean... I feel like this one could be in a magazine. </div>
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Dress rehearsal at our house with Dad before heading out for the real thing.</div>
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READY!</div>
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My mom went with us trick or treating and it was so fun. I forgot to grab her pic with both boys, but got this one while Gid was in the bathtub. Jonah couldn't wait to share his reading skills with Nana. His favorite books are the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems and he just giggles and giggles as he does the voices, intonations, and expressions. And isn't Nana lucky? How many people can say they've been read to by CAPTAIN AMERICA???</div>
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The new neighborhood has LOTS of trick-or-treaters. They started at 6 and when I turned off the light at 8:30 (just because our boys were exhausted and needed to go to bed), we were at 87. I'm sure we would have had 100 or more if I had kept the light on till 9. It was a fun day.<br />
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And look how they're growing!</div>
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<br />Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-40271030835867324022015-04-10T18:28:00.000-04:002015-04-10T18:28:13.976-04:00flashback: gideon, three months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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HI!<br />
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Today I turned three months old! Hooray!<br />
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Mommy's not sure how much I weigh right now, but with a face like this, she says it doesn't really matter. Don't tell anyone, but I think she's completely and utterly smitten.<br />
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I mean, can you blame her? Gracious.<br />
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I'm the smiliest, happiest thing you've ever seen. Unless I'm hungry or tired, I rarely ever cry. And guess what? I'm consistently sleeping all night now. Excuse Mommy. She just stopped helping me type to do a happy dance.<br />
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Mommy's silly.<br />
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I love to chew on my hands, and the smilier I get, the more I chew. I can now clasp a small, light weight rattle, and I LOVE to be sung to. I make great eye contact and will track Mommy (like a hawk) all around the room. I'm still not eating great and spit up a lot. Mommy says I only eat about 20 ounces a day. But Dr. C says as long as the spit up doesn't hurt me and I'm gaining weight, she's not worried. Just say no to excessive medication. :)<br />
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I still don't love my bouncy chair, but if you put me in the kitchen where I can see you, I do okay. The swing is still not my favorite. What do kids see in those? No reclining for me, <i>thankyouverymuch. </i>You know what I'm starting to like??? Baby Einstein videos.<br />
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Just say yes to TV. (That was Mommy, not me.)<br />
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Mommy's silly.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy just love my little personality and can't believe what a sweetheart I am. HAVE THEY MENTIONED THE DIMPLES??? They thank God for me every day, and just want to give him all the glory for my sweet little life.<br />
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They say they are so excited about the boy and man I will become and can't wait to tell me my amazing story. Apparently, amazing stories run in this family. I'm so loved and so appreciated, and Mommy and Daddy hope to never take one single day for granted.Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-18046387618251136062015-03-08T14:39:00.002-04:002015-03-08T14:39:48.029-04:00what we've been up to this weekendYesterday we spent decluttering the house. We're listing it in a few days. We love our house but just want to move a bit west of where we are now, closer to our church, Matt's parents, Matt's work, and the boys' schools.<br />
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Last night we went over to Matt's parents' house for dinner and to let the boys do a little driving in their cul-de-sac.<br />
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And today we finished up Jonah's family leprachaun trap project for school. We love his school and his teacher and I even ended up liking this project... although I think I complained about it for a week. I'm real mature like that. We had to use at least one simple machine in our trap, and naturally, ours had to involve a Hot Wheels car.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d7v8cgA7W3o" width="640"></iframe>Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-47229758346135714622015-03-05T22:55:00.001-05:002015-03-05T22:55:29.944-05:00flashback: gideon, two months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi World!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I turn two months old. Look how absolutely adorable I am! (Can you even stand my dimples???)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I weigh 12 lb 7 oz and am in the 50th percentile. I'm in the 13th percentile for weight but the 70th percentile for head size. I have a big noggin'! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikni-5FkUmaK5Hy7P5LyejcCmphsNqM2qdKcwMeCPp-tJqmQG3w4WuXrXaQ7vlthaIym3_mhft1N2VubP1ELQ-jU5Ycn_eBPYnbH0Mdd1pKoptjS_WdCCNdlqPW1d-T4f_kRGOJWG1SUT4/s1600/photo-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikni-5FkUmaK5Hy7P5LyejcCmphsNqM2qdKcwMeCPp-tJqmQG3w4WuXrXaQ7vlthaIym3_mhft1N2VubP1ELQ-jU5Ycn_eBPYnbH0Mdd1pKoptjS_WdCCNdlqPW1d-T4f_kRGOJWG1SUT4/s640/photo-4.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm a pretty happy baby when you're making eye contact and talking to me but I still prefer being held. Mommy loves how content and happy I am, and how I'm starting to sleep longer stretches through the night! HOORAY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love laying out on my changing table and kicking my legs. Mommy says I have to move my whole body to smile, and when I do, it just takes up my whole face. My hairline even moves back! I think it's funny that Mom told me that about my hairline, because she must not have noticed that I have very little hair to speak of. Ha ha ha.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjosQ2xqsIs0Bn0K1Yan9QJUV7BhMdo07ML4XCgLE3c7SHq5WA7nq5fimSvyu_oSvPxFEIuwoy8Re6y3SmjuBD2RdxYJhQN0cFDxZqbgZ4FogFIih_z1t0zsMO2kEdFhuRMAJLgHy94TSu/s1600/photo-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjosQ2xqsIs0Bn0K1Yan9QJUV7BhMdo07ML4XCgLE3c7SHq5WA7nq5fimSvyu_oSvPxFEIuwoy8Re6y3SmjuBD2RdxYJhQN0cFDxZqbgZ4FogFIih_z1t0zsMO2kEdFhuRMAJLgHy94TSu/s640/photo-5.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But my baby acne is gone, so yay for that! I still spit up a lot and have a pretty fussy time in the evenings when my tummy hurts. Gas drops are my friend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You know who I love? My brother. He is pretty special and helps Mommy by getting my bibs and burp cloths and putting dirty bottles in the sink. He talks to me and plays with me, and thinks I'm about the greatest thing ever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I seem to like bath time, although I don't really smile during it. I'm more of a stoic, pensive bather.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTa6I4Q0SonWbvkcnFc7cjbl8km0zY1_zjvNLDd8DRuXM7XvaJkEJgLhxcR2TBI8mkSh4v3WZDDJ67tQG2fL5iD2idL1zBel6e5_Sq9PuZTjgi6QOEmTChamw7DdMVCeOdjFZXkhD65erK/s1600/photo-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTa6I4Q0SonWbvkcnFc7cjbl8km0zY1_zjvNLDd8DRuXM7XvaJkEJgLhxcR2TBI8mkSh4v3WZDDJ67tQG2fL5iD2idL1zBel6e5_Sq9PuZTjgi6QOEmTChamw7DdMVCeOdjFZXkhD65erK/s640/photo-8.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I let the smiles roll after bath. See?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mommy, Daddy, and Jonah just love me so much and feel so thankful and blessed to have me. I have been such an amazingly sweet and precious addition to the family, and we are all so happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mommy and Daddy know we have a long road ahead but are so excited for my future, and know that God is with us every single step of the way. Oh yeah, Mommy chose my life verse! Gabe's is Revelation 7:17, Jonah's is Isaiah 43:1, and mine is Joshua 1:9. I hope you love it! Mommy says it's a perfect fit. God is good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5861A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white;"> do not be discouraged,</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5861B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white;"> for the </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></i><span style="background-color: white;"><i> your God will be with you wherever you go.”</i> - Joshua 1:9 </span></span>Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-2201703336805380552015-02-28T23:20:00.000-05:002015-02-28T23:20:17.695-05:00flashback: gideon, one month<i>I unfortunately didn't keep up with these (fact: two kids are harder than one), but you'll get to see a few!</i><br />
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Hey Everybody,<br />
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Today is my one month birthday. Mommy says I'm super cute, but I always keep my brow furrowed.<br />
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She tells me I don't need to be so concerned all the time, but life is tough for a one month old. </div>
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I'm not sure how long I am, but I weigh around 11 pounds. Mommy would know more accurately, but a nurse doesn't come to our house every week to weigh me like they did my big brother. So today Mommy just had to weigh herself and then hold me and do it again.<br />
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At one month old, I sneeze a lot, get the hiccups a lot, eat a lot, sleep a lot, and spit up a lot. I have cradle cap, am losing my hair, and have baby acne. See? You would have a furrowed brow too.<br />
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I love to be held when I'm awake and show my displeasure if I'm not. I don't love my swing or my bouncy seat. You know what I DO like? Arms. Holding me. Don't forget it.</div>
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I wake up twice a night to eat, but I have decided that I love to be awake between the hours of 10:00pm and 1:00am. Mommy and Daddy think that's just awesome. Just. Awesome. I think they started whispering bad words under their breath last night, but I couldn't rightly say. </div>
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So that's about it. Oh yeah, speaking of spit up, I spit up down Mommy's back and onto the floor today. She put me down and cleaned it up. After she picked me back up, she noticed two little drops she missed and THEN SHE WIPED THEM UP WITH HER SOCK FOOT. But don't tell her I told you okay? She said that one was just between me and her.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy are so thankful to have me and know that I was a direct answer to prayer, an answer that was even greater than what they could have imagined in their wildest dreams.<br />
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They are so blessed and so grateful that God has entrusted my sweet little life to them, and can't wait to see the man I grow up to become. They pray I will love Jesus and always trust God, no matter what. He is so good. They told me so.</div>
Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-41650341037574985952015-02-27T22:47:00.001-05:002015-02-27T22:57:24.963-05:00jonah turns six!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My hero turned six today. He is more than I ever could have imagined. Adorable, hilarious, wise beyond his years, loquacious, tender hearted, compassionate, spunky, fun, and probably the best human being I know.<br />
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I couldn't imagine this life without him, and I'm so thankful God has seen fit to let me keep him this long. He lights up my life. Happy six years, not-so-baby-boy! You are perfectly amazing and amazingly perfect. I love you with all my heart!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vsVNaCOzChw" width="640"></iframe>Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-31263198291506823172015-02-23T22:53:00.001-05:002015-02-23T22:53:10.801-05:00Gideon's newborn shootThe following Monday after we had picked Gideon up on Friday, I took Gideon to <a href="http://jennlewisphotography.com/">Jenn's</a> for his newborn shoot. I would like to say this was a wonderful, happy experience, but I remember the day being very difficult for me. After Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of getting to bask in the unexpected blessedness of being a mommy to a newborn (we were always planning on school-aged kids), Monday came with social worker calls, notification for court dates and mandated twice-a-week visitations. Although we felt our case would fairly certainly end in adoption, I was ripped out of "normal new born baby world" and transported to our reality. Uncertainty and fear, fierce love and hope. I cried between photos.<div>
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I only go into this to say- foster care is hard. It's loving completely with all your heart, praying for what you want while simultaneously praying for God's will and what's "best," not even really knowing what that means or what that is. It's feeling like you want this baby forever and always, while simultaneously greiving for his birth mother and wanting only the best for her. It's wanting complete control over everything and having zero control over anything. It's being a mother in every single way but having no say in your child's future. It's hard, it's important, and regardless of outcome, it's worth it.</div>
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I'm overjoyed he is ours. But I'll never stop praying for Gideon's birth mom. I don't take any of it lightly or for granted. We are all so broken... each in our own way. I love one line in the new Casting Crowns song. "Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete. Could we just be broken together?" I pray for peace and for us all to find a way to live together and do the best we can in our different forms of brokenness. And I pray that our main priority in our relationships, whatever kind they are, is to show grace. Grace upon grace. </div>
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I don't know what any of that has to do with adorable newborn pics. It's just where I am, thinking of this day almost two and a half years ago. If you are just starting this journey, I can't promise happy endings or rainbows and daisies. But you're doing good, important work. And I understand where you are. Hold fast. God's promises are true and his blessings are real, no matter what form they take. They are there. Don't get so caught up in the crazy or in fear that you forget to find them. He is faithful.</div>
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Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-89951658859676012015-02-22T22:22:00.000-05:002015-02-22T22:22:04.019-05:00Gideon's homecomingOn August 23rd, 2012 we got the phone call. I was really sick with a bad virus and I had called Matt to come home early from work so he'd be home when Jonah got up from his nap. I was feeling terrible and was lying in bed. Matt was lying beside me listening to me complain. My cell phone rang and I ignored it. Then it rang again, and I remember saying to Matt, "You better pick that up. It could be the social worker." <div>
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Not sure if you guys remember but on that August 15th, I had written about <a href="http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/2012/08/hard.html"><b>the two toddler boys that we had been called about that we had had to say no to</b></a>. It about broke my heart in half and I did not understand AT ALL why God had let us get the call about them just to make it so clear we couldn't take them. Knowing that I was grieving, our social worker had said she would give us a break before calling us again... a month or so she had said.</div>
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So that day when the phone rang, we weren't expecting a call about a placement. Matt answered my phone since it hurt for me to talk because of a sore throat. He picked up the phone and it was our social worker. He spoke with her for a bit, and when he got off the phone, I could tell it was something big. "What is it?" I asked. "It's a newborn. A baby boy," he said. "I want him," was my immediate response. </div>
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So that's how it started. We had 17 hours notice. This was at 5pm on a Thursday night. We were to pick him up from the hospital the next day at 10am. I immediately called my mom and sister and had them come and start cleaning the baby things that we did have (which wasn't much). We did have a bassinet and an expired car seat and a few toys... but not much else. Matt and I went to Walmart at 11pm and threw our own baby shower.</div>
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I filled you in <b><a href="http://patriceandmattwilliams.blogspot.com/2012/08/big-news.html">here</a> </b>on how God used the situation with the two boys to bring us our Gideon, so I won't repeat it here, but it's pretty amazing... as God typically is. </div>
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That night, I called our friend MaryKay to come and stay with Jonah the next morning while we picked him up. And I called Jenn to be here to take pictures of our homecoming. It was beautiful and unbelievable and wonderful and completely overwhelming.</div>
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We came home and Jonah met us on the front porch. He was three and a half then. He bent down and looked in the car seat and kept saying, "Hey Baby. Hey Baby. Hey Baby. Oh hey Baby" over and over again. It was quite possibly the sweetest moment of my whole life. I really can't put it into words. </div>
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And from that moment on, our life has never been the same... and I'm so so grateful.</div>
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Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-22912251856356540252015-02-21T23:25:00.000-05:002015-02-22T07:09:07.813-05:00HE IS OURS!It's official!!!
I introduce you to our ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OFFICIAL ALWAYS AND FOREVER SON, Gideon Isaac Williams.<br />
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We are overjoyed to say that Gideon's adoption is finalized after almost two and a half years (889 days to be exact) of waiting. We are so happy that the papers finally say what we've known in our hearts all along - Gideon is our son.<br />
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There is so much to say and so much story to tell, but for now I will leave you with these (and there are plenty more to come!) -<br />
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Gideon - newborn</div>
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Gideon - 2 months</div>
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Gideon - 9 months</div>
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Gideon - 15 months</div>
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Gideon - last week (2 1/2 years)! :) </div>
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And as always, thank you to my sweet friend, Jenn, of <a href="http://jennlewisphotography.com/">Jenn Lewis Photography</a>, for documenting so many beautiful moments in our lives (except for that last one... I took that one with my cell phone... while Gideon tried on my boots...).<br />
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WOOHOO!!! Thatisall.Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-89199951169972155832014-11-12T22:33:00.000-05:002014-11-12T22:33:34.276-05:00we are lovedJonah fell last week on the sidewalk at school and caught himself with his hands. It was bad and he took all the skin off his palms. He fell because he was skipping because he was happy. He is all healed up now, but for four days, he could barely use his hands, and for seven, they were bandaged.<div>
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After a couple of "good" days, he woke up this morning with a corneal abrasion unable to open his eyes. We spent the whole day in the dark and will probably spend the next two days like that as well.</div>
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So needless to say, it has been a rough couple of weeks in terms of his EB and the pain he has been in. BUT this is my Facebook status tonight and it goes for you guys who faithfully read this blog too... even though I only post once a month... :)</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">Although I HATE EB and all it has done to my Jonah the last two weeks especially, I am overwhelmed (and sporadically in tears) over how incredibly loved we are. To know you guys are praying for him, thinking about him, asking how you can help... it's so good. His Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Pabon </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">came over this afternoon, after teaching 11 other kids all morning, to visit with him and bring him audio books (and a casette player because ours is in storage), Grandaddy </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">brought us milkshakes and told him approximately 107 stories, his other Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Boone</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"> called tonight and let him chat her ear off for 20 minutes to break his monotony, and Mimi Marykay </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">came tonight with a stack of books to read to him (by flashlight because we had to be in the dark) and spent a long time entertaining both boys. So as much as I hate EB, I think about how much we might be missing out on if we weren't forced to slow down and let ourselves be loved. It's an important thing. To ask for help, to let people into your life, to be real with each other. To be vulnerable. I'm thankful for the hundreds (thousands?) who love and pray for us. And I'm thankful to know it. Fully.</span></div>
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Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8191367444095035928.post-81436037814425338322014-10-10T19:13:00.002-04:002014-10-10T19:13:46.796-04:00Eddie Vedder publicly advocates for EB research!Several famous people are have been and are becoming proponents and public advocates for EB research. The most recent is Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. This is so amazing. Awareness means money means research means a cure. Check it out!<br />
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And this video and a short article were on Rolling Stone today too <b><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/videos/eddie-vedder-supports-research-for-curing-rare-skin-disease-eb-20141010">HERE</a></b>.<br />
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What is so exciting about Dr. Tolar's work is that it could not only be the answer for EB sufferers but for sufferers of thousands of genetic diseases. How quickly could we get to five million if we just got the word out and everybody gave a little? I'm so thankful that Jonah was born at such an active and amazing time in terms of EB research. I truly believe I will see a cure in his lifetime. And I'm praying it's much sooner rather than later.Patricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720916684467757153noreply@blogger.com6