thankful

Well, Spring has sprung. We are enjoying the beautiful weather being outside playing and getting some vitamin D. :) Caleb love, love, loves being outside and throws a royal tantrum when it is time to come inside. Needless to say, we spend a lot of time outside. Spring is my favorite time of year. It is a time of new life. A time for all of us to witness God's beautiful work. Spring time always makes me thankful for my life, my family, our health and our wonderful times together. This feeling was made more apparent to me this past week...

This past year I have been following the Caringbridge site for a student at the high school in the cluster I work in. This girl was diagnosed with bladder cancer a year ago. The tumor in her bladder was the size of a football, and aggressive chemo was needed. After months of chemo, the cancer was GONE. Goodbye. Peace out. It was a miracle. After that, she still had months of radiation to make sure the cancer was gone for good. Christmas Eve they received news that the cancer was indeed out of her body. A true miracle for sure. In January she had a major setback. She started having headaches and going numb in one arm. After a series of tests, they found out she had brain cancer. This horrible disease had returned. But, after surgery, the tumor had been removed. More radiation was needed, but again, the cancer was gone. After about a month, the headaches returned, but this time they were much worse and incapacitating. They performed a body scan and the news was devastating. The cancer was back, coating her brain, and in her spinal cord. There was nothing they could do. This 17 year old athlete's life was cut short on Friday, April 9, 2010 just 2 weeks after the last cancer was found.

On my way home from school today, I was caught in her funeral persession. I watched her family and friends follow her casket down the road. I could not help myself; I cried. I looked back and told Caleb how much I loved him. As a parent, I can not imagine the sense of loss and helplessness her parents must feel.

I tell you this not to upset you or worry you, but to make sure all of you hug your families a little tighter tonight, and let everyone you love know how much you love them. I did not know this young lady. I kept up with her illness through her Caringbridge site, and she and her family have no idea how much their story and struggles have touched my life and made me realize that even when things don't go my way or a little hard, I am a very blessed person.

Easter 2010

Our Easter fun began Saturday at Grandmother and Granddad's house (Michael's parents). Every year for the past few years they have hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for all of the Grant great-grandchildren. There are 8 kiddos under 5, so mass chaos is a good term to use. :) They kids had a BLAST hunting all the egss, but the group shot at the end didn't go so well. Here are a few pics from our egg hunt, 2010.

Looking for those eggs!

Still lookin'
He wouldn't let go of that basket for ANYTHING!!!
Caleb and his cousin, Owen (he's 5!)
Caleb wanted NOTHING to do with this picture! There were eggs to hunt, mom!!!
It doesn't get any better than this. A BUUTBALL aka: football) egg!!!
All of the kiddos together trying to get a picture.
You WILL smile, and you WILL LOVE your cousins!!
he he
(from left to right: Thomas, Frances, Tucker, Owen, Henry, Sarah, and Caleb) Annie Rees didn't quite make it for the picture. Let's just say she had other plans. :)

After the egg hunt we all played outside. It was so much fun!!!

Caleb and Thomas playing ball.
Caleb riding his bike.
Daddy riding Caleb's bike. :)
What a good daddy!!!

Easter Sunday we woke up and the Easter bunny had come to our house and brought Caleb his very own basketball goal! Caleb bypassed the clothes, books and candy he had brought and went straight for the basketball goal. He only stopped for a quick M&M. :)

Then we went outside for the traditional Easter pictures. Caleb wasn't really feeling it, so this is all we got.

After church we went to breakfast with all of the grandparents. It was so nice. After breakfast we went to Grandmommy and Grandpa's house for a little bit, and we took some pictures.

The Andersons, 2010
Caleb with Grandmommy and Grandpa
Caleb and Grandmommy

Lastly, we went to the park with Savannah. She didn't fit too well in the swing, so we put her in with Caleb. To say he wasn't impressed would be an understatement.

Whew! That was our Easter weekend in a nutshell. It was a wonderful weekend filled with memories. This week I am home with Caleb all week for Spring Break. I will write about our adventures later on!

4 years...

Yesterday Michael and I celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary. Wow, 4 years. We celebrated by going to Bonefish. Caleb stayed with my brother and sister-in-law. Originally we had just planned for them to keep him while we ate, but after begging from a certain 10 year old and 7 year old, we caved. This was not an easy decision. Since he was born, Caleb has only ever spent the night with his grandparents. It took us 18 months, but we finally did it. Of course he had a great time with Sara and Davis, but I was more than ready and excited to see him this morning. :)

I thought I would take a walk down memory lane in honor of our anniversary...it has been a heck of a 4 years. The best 4 years of my life. I would not change 1 thing...(insert theme song...I've Had the Time of My Life) :)

I don't have any embarrassing pictures from high school on the computer, but believe me. They are out there. Michael and I started dating in May of 1999. Our first date was junior prom. I wore a stunning HOT PINK dress, and looked like an animal had died on top of my head. But I thought I looked good...what a joke. I told you those pictures were out there. But alas, y'all won't have the pleasure of viewing them today.

Our walk will begin in 2005 (when I first started uploading pictures)...
Michael proposed on November 1, 2004. A few months later our siblings hosted an engagement party for us. Here we are. I swear we weren't 15 when we got engaged...


The wedding. April 1, 2006
This was right after we had walked back down the aisle. I love this picture.


Honeymoon to Cancun...


We spent the next 2 1/2 years enjoying each other and doing fun things...
UGA/AU blackout


The Masters


The Aquarium


The in January, 2008 we found out we were pregnant. So, for our babymoon we went to Hawaii.




The past 18 months have been some of the best months of our marriage...





And it keeps getting better. We are so blessed!!



We know the best is yet to come...

come on April...

The Anderson family is not sad to see March coming to an end. It has been one heck of a month...whew! In the past month, the Andersons have been through the ringer. Just to name a few things, here is what we have faced in the month of March and the end of February...Michael threw out his back TWICE, Michael got the nasty stomach bug, Caleb is in the middle of his 2nd DOUBLE ear infection in 2 weeks, and last but not least, Sunday we spent all day in the ER with Caleb...

Sunday morning Caleb woke up with basically a dry diaper. This is not normal for him. When we started thinking about it, it occurred to us that he had had very few wet diapers on Saturday, so off the the ER we went. Boy was it an experience.

After a very long day with some very strange, dirty people, we found out that Caleb has hand, mouth and foot virus. What this basically is, is multiple ulcers in the back of his throat that make it very painful to eat/drink hence why there were no wet diapers. (We had chalked all of the not eating/drinking to the ear infection.) With the virus comes a rash on his hands, feet and around his mouth (which we thought were bug bites).

Yeah, we aren't doctors...

The ER doctor, who I will go on record and saying, had the personality of a door nail, gave us some concoction to give him to coat the sores to help him eat. He also said he still had the ear infection. Lovely.

But the best news of all...he his contageious for 7-10 days which means NO MRS. ANNE! You have GOT to be kidding me!!!

After a mild freak out on my part, Michael and I worked out a schedule for Caleb's care this week (thanks, Grandmommy!!!).

The good news is that the concoction seems to be helping and he is eating/drinking/peeing like normal. Today he also seemed to have regained some energy. THANK GOODNESS!!!!

Last week Michael had to have an MRI on his back...it has been a long week waiting to see the doctor. Today we went to get "the news." Do you know what he said...NOTHING! Not a dang thing is wrong...seriously??!?! Well, not really. He said he does have some bulging discs and a possible tear, but nothing to diagnose. Good news to say the least. But not more excuses from Michael... :)

To say the least The Andersons are truly looking forward to next week when April finally arrives (and our 4 year anniversary). Hopefully everyone will be well and we can enjoy our Spring Break!

tiny dancer...

This past weekend we headed down to Columbus, GA for my cousin's wedding. I was SO excited because this was Caleb's first family wedding, and let's just say my family is crazy and fun!!! And, of course, you always look for a reason to show off your baby to the people you know will agree with you. :) Another reason I was so excited to go was because since Caleb was born, there have been 6 other babies born, and 4 would be at the wedding. For those of you who don't know, my mom's side of the family is HUGE (I am #17 of 18 grandchildren), and I am close with all of them. I consider myself lucky to have relationships with my 1st cousins, as well as my 2nd and 3rd cousins. I hope Caleb learns to love this family as much as Michael and I do.

Anyway, the wedding was a blast. Thanks to Grandmommy, Caleb made it through the ceremony without a peep, and only colored 3 programs in the process. :) The reception was another story...the minute we got there Caleb started running and dancing. He did this for the better part of 3 hours. He had a great time and was a hit with all of the family and the bridesmaids who wanted to dance with him. Mommy isn't ready for that quite yet!!!

All of the Camuso women at the hotel before the wedding...
Grandmommy, Sara, me, Lisi, Savannah and Kim


The Andersons at the wedding -- sorry it's a little dark


Caleb on the dance floor with Sara


If Caleb wasn't on the dance floor or running around, he was with Davis. Caleb L-O-V-E-S Davis. Caleb thinks Davis is IT!!! I love this picture! This is Caleb and Davis in a nutshell...


me and mom


Here are some of the babies. I didn't get pics of all of them ---
Bo - born August 27, 2009


Emma - born October 8, 2009


Other than the wedding, we have been bust re-doing our kitchen, and I am happy to report that we are almost done!!! I will post the pics as soon as it is completed!!!

Update

Caleb is so much fun these days! It amazes me how much is able to communicate to Michael and me. His favorite phrases to say are "dit down" (sit down) and "duce, pease" (juice, please). I know I have said this at every stage, but I think this stage might be my favorite. :) With all of the fun, also comes Caleb pushing the envelope. He has learned "mine!" and "no" and uses them frequently. Let's just say Caleb has been spending some time in time out. All in all, we have a great baby boy who are love with all of our hearts!

The past few weeks have been busy for The Andersons. Here is our past few weeks in pictures...

In honor of the Winter Olympics, Caleb wore his downhill skiing PJ's...GO USA!


Baby Savannah was baptised. Caleb sat through the ENTIRE service like a big boy!! Thanks Uncle Craig for your help!

The Bell Family - my sister, Savannah and Russ


The Camuso grandchildren...Davis, Caleb, Sara, and Savannah


Aunt Jennifer, Savannah and Sara


Caleb in the buggy at Lowe's with Daddy's sunglasses...what a cool dude! :)


This weekend we are headed to Columbus for my cousin's wedding. We are really looking forward to it and I am sure there will be tons of pics to share!

Snow in Georgia and a visit from friends

Friday afternoon the snow starting coming down around 1:30 and didn't stop until Friday night around 10. I had to work that day, and even though I kept hoping they would send us home early, it was still a lot of fun to be with my other "kids" at school as the much anticipated snow came into town. The entire 3rd grade took the kids outside to play in the snow and we had so much fun!

I was so excited to get home to take Caleb out into the snow. It snowed last year (he was 5 months old), but he was too young to really play or stay out long. So we got home, bundled him up and out the door we went. It did not go over well. Caleb SCREAMED. LOUDLY. Much like you would expect someone to scream if say, their legs were being cut off. Don't let the slight smile in the first picture fool you -- he was not a happy camper.





Needless to say, we didn't spend a lot of time in the snow this weekend. But that was OK because our friends, Brian and Erika and their son, Matthew, from North Carolina came to visit. I was "that southerner" on their way down Friday afternoon (calling every 15 minutes, telling them to get a hotel room, etc.), but they made it safely to our house Friday evening. The boys had a great time playing together and making memories (OK - they are more memories for the adults, but who cares!).

Our babies who love to hang out in their diapers. (This was the best we could do!)


In the wagon, in the snow. This was the ONLY way Caleb would go out Saturday.


In the bath - they will love this when they get older. :)


It was so much fun to watch the boys play together (they are 8 months apart)! Caleb would never say "Matthew," but he did say "baby" all weekend! There will be many more fun times to come - they are moving back to Atlanta in June!!!! YAHOO!