Our Rainy Thursday............

Aubrey

Lainey

FYI: No, we do NOT leave the girls in these seats on the counter! This was only for the photo shoot!

And yes, Aubrey likes to model more than one outfit per day!

We miss you, Popa Jim!

This picture was taken on the Saturday of Alabama's Homecoming. Jim, Krisha, the girls and I had planned on spending the day on the Quad. However, since the weather was freezing, we decided to have lunch at Mugshots, and watch the game from the warm comfort of our home. Jim is back at work in Texas. WE MISS HIM. He calls each morning to "talk" to his girls and to make sure Eli is getting enough to eat. We are hoping that he will be able to come to 'Bama for a visit very, very soon.

COME HOME SOON, POPA JIM, WE MISS YOU

Happy Birthday to Colonel Mark Prine

To our family, Mark is known as well, just Mark.....and Uncle Mark. He is the greatest husband (almost 20 years) to Judy, the best father to Caleb and Mary Grace (he is involved in ALL of their school activities), greatest son to his parents, and was Weezer's favorite son-in-law.

He is the picture of a true Southern Gentleman, and is one of the most hospitable people you will ever meet. Our family is truly blessed to have Mark........but, YOU are also truly blessed that Mark is among us. How you ask?

Mark is a colonel in the Mississippi Army National Guard. He works full time for the United States Army, wearing an army suit everyday to work. He is currently in his last year of "war college."

He served his country overseas and was awarded a bronze star for his outstanding service. He also worked with the Mississippi soldiers with security on the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.

We love him as our husband, father, uncle, and in-law. However, we are also very, very proud to say, "That soldier is part of our family!"

The poem below is our tribute to Mark on his birthday.

A Soldier

There is discipline in a soldier, you can see it when he walks,

There is honor in a soldier, you can hear it when he talks,

There is courage in a soldier, you can see it in his eyes,
There is loyalty in a soldier, that he will not compromise.

There is something in a soldier that makes him stand apart,
There is strength in a soldier that beats from his heart.

A soldier is not a title any man can be hired to do,

a soldier is the soul of that man deep inside of you.

A soldier's job isn't finished after an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week,

a soldier is always a soldier, even when he sleeps.

A soldier serves his country first and his life is left behind,

a soldier has to sacrifice what comes first in a civilians mind.

If you are a civilian - I am saying this to you, next time you see a soldier remember what they do! A soldier is the reason our land is 'home of the free', a soldier is the one that is brave, protecting you and me.

If you are a soldier - I am saying this to you, thank God for every soldier,

thank God for what you do!

Author Unknown

Happy Birthday, Uncle Ben

(Uncle Ben, Mabrey and Aubrey at the 2009 Neshoba County Fair)



Happy Birthday to Uncle Ben, otherwise known as Jim's little brother. He has been known to make the statement, "I don't even like kids." Nothing could be further from the truth with this man! He has the biggest heart of anyone I know when it comes to children.



Action Jackson, the race mule in the photo above, Uncle Ben gave half ownership of him to Aubrey and Lainey! I'm sure that they will be able to pay for college off of their earnings!!!!



Ben is an amateur race car driver. After all of his wins he always gives a child in the stands his trophy! He loves seeing the smile he puts on their faces when he hands the trophy over to some unsuspecting little fan!



We all love Uncle Ben dearly and want to wish him a great birthday!!

WE LOVE YOU!

Happy 50th Birthday, JUDY!!!!!

Jim's sister, Judy, will be turning 50 years old on October 18th. But, don't let the age fool ya, she can.....and IS, still doing cartwheels at soccer games! Yes, folks you read that right. Just a week or so ago our one and only Judy promised her daughter, Mary Grace (the goalie on the team) that if she did whatever it was she was suppose to do.....then she would do a cartwheel, right there on the sidelines! So, she did! THEN, the team almost got penalized for "excessive celebration" because everyone was cheering Judy for the outstanding performance!

She is a SUPER mom to her two children, Caleb and Mary Grace. She is also a great wife and best friend to her husband, Mark.

She loves her two big brothers and all of her extended family of nieces and nephews. She has already spoiled Aubrey and Lainey. She is constantly sending them surprises in the mail. She is a wonderful great-aunt!

I love her too as a wonderful sister-in-law. We are all very proud of the way she has held her family together this year after the passing of their mother. I know that Weezer is looking down from Heaven and is so very, very proud of Judy.

We love you, Judy...................(now dry that $#@* up and go enjoy your birthday!)

The Epley Maneuver

After many dizzy episodes, hours and hours of testing, and a week full of appointments, we now have a diagnosis. Jim has been experiencing a condition known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV.

Within the inner ear, there’s a little pouch called the utricle that contains about 1,000 little pebbles (crystals) made of calcium carbonate. The tiny crystals serve an important purpose: They stimulate nerve cells when we move our heads — and send signals to our brain that guide our sense of up and down. When the crystals fall into one of the inner ear canals, the brain gets confused. As they roll around in the canal, the brain senses that the head is moving a lot more than it actually is. The result: vertigo.

Head injuries and viruses can trigger the crystals moving around as seen in BPPV. But several studies also document that the condition is more prevalent among adults over age 50.

The dizziness could be relieved by a series of simple movements that take about 15 minutes!!!

The main strategy used to move the crystals out of the canal is called the Epley maneuver.

So, after hours of testing last week at the Lamar University's Speech and Hearing Center, the Epley Maneuver was done. Jim is still somewhat weak and has to be careful getting up and down suddenly, but we think we have at least put a name now to the condition and found a treatment.

It may take more than one therapy session of the maneuver being done, but ususally within two or three sessions the patient is back to normal.

We have an appointment with the Otolaryngologist in the morning and are very hopeful that Jim will be released to return to work soon.

Thanks to everyone for all your prayers!!!

On October 5, 1981, the world became a better place

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Thanks for making the world a better place for all us! Also, for taking us along with you on your wonderful journey through life. We are so proud of the woman you have become and everything you have accomplished.

You are and always will be MY greatest accomplishment in life!
Mother

We love you!!!

Jim, Mother and Eli

Our Sweet Little Treats.............

Most people that read our blog, also read Dan and Krisha's. So, I admit, I "copied" some of these cute pictures from their blog this morning, but honestly, could you EVER get tired of looking at these two little treats?

Jim and I are looking forward to being in Alabama for Aubrey and Lainey's FIRST Halloween at the end of the month. It is hard to believe that the girls are already four months old! We just can't imagine life without them now!


And, for those of you that come to our blog for news on Eli too, here are a couple of his previous Halloween pictures too: