Finally Good News...

       OK...I totally know that I have been the biggest slacker ever when it comes to this blog....does anybody look at it anymore?  Oh well, I am going to continue to on with spreading this amazing news!!
        This has been a rough 6 months for our little Miss Molly.  This past fall she started experiencing some symptoms that when "lumped" together it didn't look good!  It was very alarming when we got the phone call from our pediatrician (who we love!) that Molly's recent lab results did not look good.  Poor thing had been stuck so much that when we said the word Knoxville she would go into complete panic mode!  Molly's Neutrophil level was at zero!!!  Human terms....her body did not have the correct white blood cells to fight off any bacterial infection - dangerous business!  So we were sent to a Hematologist/Oncologist...what a humbling and terrifying experience this was.  But let me just say that the nurses, doctors, and child life staff are simply angels!  In the past it took several people to hold our little spunky lady down when needles were involved!  The child life staff distracted our girl with puzzles, coloring books, stickers, bubbles, as well as princess dress up.  I am so thankful to these women for their efforts.

I believe the coloring worked well for Miss M and her daddy.  ;)  

      Well after months of going back and forth to the hospital for more tests we have received GREAT NEWS!!!  Molly's WBC levels are normal...yes normal!!  The specialist had a very difficult time explaining to us what had happened to cause her Neutrophil level to be at zero.  Molly's recent symptoms combined with her low Neutrophil level "should" have indicated either Lymphoma or Leukemia.  However by the grace of God Molly's scary symptoms are no longer present as well as her WBC levels are normal.  We will follow up with the specialist in August to confirm more "normal" blood-levels.  However for the time being we are rejoicing in the power of prayer and in the miracle we have in our Molly.

Here is Molly - super happy that the doctor only required a little finger poke this time!  

    Molly, we are so happy to be your parents!  We are so happy to know that you have a heavenly Father who is watching over you and who loves you more than we could ever imagine!  Being your mother is a lot of hard work little missy however there is so much joy that comes from it! I pray that you continue to beat to your drum and always remain true to who God has created you to be!  

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139: 13-16

Yea I know....

OK....I am a total blog slacker!  But give me a break already...(insert excuses I can not seem to find right now!) Anyways, it is summer time and I could not be any happier!  Home Sweet Home each day with my girlies.  This is totally how life should be!  This year has been a complete whirlwind here in the Schmalz world.  But if you know me at all you know I tend to not function well on anything else.  This past year I have learned so much about myself and human nature in general.  Kind of strange that I am still learning about myself and I am close to 30....when does this stop?  I'm beginning to wonder if it ever will happen.  Oh well...I guess I'll keep learning more. Anyways...I apologize for the rambling.  This Spring has been met with some trials in several different areas of my life.   Through all of this God has taught me so much about his will/purpose for my life, to rejoice in that will even if its not your own (gasp....what a concept that I am now dealing heavily with!!!) and also just how evil and destructive jealousy and insecurity can be. I pray that I have learned from these situations and now I am prepared and ready to face them all with God's plan for my life and not my own.

So now onto the fun stuff...pictures of my family over these past few months that I have completely failed!  Enjoy....

Winter bliss....I graduated with my Ed.S degree, my research paper was chosen for publication (YAY to Colleen and I!), snow day fun, Chicago Anniversary getaway, baking, fort making, along with lots and lots of snuggles!

Spring time fun...happy growing baby, weekend trips to see Nana, new puppy "Sally", Yay for playing with Dadda!, new "lucky" shoes, tractor rides, sunny baseball games, shopping with Momma, wedding bliss, and fun in the sun!

Shutterfly plug....

One of my favorite places to create my cards and gifts with some adorable pictures of my girls on them....thanks shutterfly for helping me share some of my life's greatest memories and joy.  For those of you not familiar with Shutterfly check them out....

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

Sweet Memories

Capturing the sweetest moments of my life.....

What is "Home" to you?.....

Recently Ryan and I traveled back to my "home" for Olivet's homecoming.  This trip has sent so many thoughts swirling through my mind.  Oh how I miss being "home".... I miss the closeness of some of the people I love most!  I miss the relationships we could still have in our lives if we lived there.  There is so much to miss and long for when you are miles away from home. 

Ryan and I moved away within a month of being married.  Although this was one of the scariest times in my life it has been one of the best adventures ever!  I have learned so much about such a different part of the country from where I most recently grew up.  Life and the people in general are much different from "home".  I will admit at first I did resist the differences but shortly chose to embrace them.  I am so thankful I have.   The people we currently are surrounded by have made an incredible impact on us.  I am slowly realizing these new friends are turning more and more into family. Although our current location is not what I would have imagined us to end up it is turning more and more into our "home".  However for some reason my heart still feels a bit empty inside without our true family close by!  My prayer is for God's will and direction to become more apparent in my life.  I need to somehow find the purpose...or more effective would be my purpose. 

Picture update....

Sorry Folks....a few pics is all I have in me right now.  I am working really hard to stay on top of "life" as a working momma of 2 (single momma at times).  Ryan is super busy recruiting which means he is away a lot of weekends.  This is getting super hard....Miss Molly really misses her "gaga" when he is away.  She isn't the only lady in this house that misses him.  :( 

Pure Joy......

My little snuggle bug....

Our little Janie is growing so fast.  She is smiling, cooing, and becoming so much more aware of her new world.  Molly has adjusted great to being the big sis and Ryan and I are also taking this whole parents of 2 better than I had imagined.  I am one lucky lady to have such an amazing partner in life!  Thanks Ryan for being an incredible hubby and daddy to me and the girls!  We are blessed....

This summer has definitely had a lot of changes!  I normally am in love with change...I know I know not the norm.  (but am I ever near the norm??) This change however has been rough on me.  I am thankful though that it has been rough, at the age of 27 I have learned a lot about myself in going through this.  I never realized just how much I lack trust in others, myself, and unfortunately my God. (wow that was harder to write than I thought)  I am not sure where this lack and struggle of trust comes from exactly but I am grateful that I have come to terms with identifying it.  Having no control over what our future holds has really taught me to trust in my God more and to let go of all control!  I am such a doof for letting this whole ordeal take over 2 years for the light bulb to go off.  I get it now God....I need to trust you 100% and not just 90% like I have been. 

As I write I am waiting on a call that will change the direction of our family.  I am waiting to hear if I have been hired on as a teacher for this school year.  The call was suppose to come yesterday but that day came and went and I have now been told it will be today.  I am eagerly and hesitantly awaiting this call.  If the call comes that I am hired a lot of changing will rapidly occur....classroom will need to be prepared before students come in 3 days!  ahhhhh  The girls will need to be become adjusted to the new nanny (okay okay, more me than them!) and Ryan and I will be moving out of the apartment and back into our home.  Wow....I am exhausted just writing it.  BREATHE.....





My prayer is for peace and direction....where or what ever that may be! Thank you God for being so patient with me. 


(Ha....this post was just going to be pics of miss Janie.  Opps!) So here are some shots from Janie's "welcome to the world party" that our sweet Celia took. 

Celebrating our Molly....

I can't believe my sweet, crazy, adorable, and nutty kiddo is 2!!!! Instead of a party we decided to take her to Chattanooga for the weekend.  She had a blast!!!  Happy birthday to the little lady that steals my heart on a daily basis!

100 year old carousel downtown Chattanooga 

 

My sweet little family!!!   

                                 

      

  Butterfly garden at the Aquarium...

 

Shaved is the best way to cool off after a hot day!

       

 What kiddo doesn't like to play in water.....

 

Happy Birthday Molly...Thank you for being mine and filling my heart and home with Joy each and everyday!  Keep on being you!!!!

Love your Momma