Merry Christmas night out.....

One of my very favorite Christmas presents came days after the tree had been taken down and we had celebrated the new year! For Christmas Jeremy and Brad had arrange a very fun, thoughtful night for Jenna and I to share! We could not believe the time and effort they had put into this night! It was fun to open the card Christmas morning but it was so much more fun to actually experience this night! They had arranged for us to have a make-up consultation at Bennie and Friends and have a mini make over....this ended up being amazing! I am pretty sure I could have fun with Jenna just about anywhere but this was perfect for us!

We truly had the best time and were so excited!

Jeremy and Brad had wine chilled and waiting for us upon our arrival!

The salon was pretty much empty as everyone was heading to a wedding that night...it was just us and Amanda the darling gal that did our make-up. We laughed and talked and soaked up every minute of this girl time!

We even went for the false eyelashes tonight! Why not!

We loved the make over and headed over to Volare for drinks and apps to wait for Jeremy and Brad to pick us up for dinner!

We were so happy when the boys arrived and we headed off to our next planned treat of the night...drinks and dinner at 60 West!

The Martini selection there was endless!

Jenna and I are so much alike...so much it scares me sometimes...truly we are soul sisters in many. many, ways...but when it comes to Martinis we could not be more different...she likes em dirty...I like em sweet!  My first pick was the white gummy bear martini....she went with olives and more olives!

She enjoyed hers very much!

After dinner we headed to the Comedy Caravan for a show! I had never been there before...

There were three comedians...2 were a riot...one was awful but we were all just happy to be out together!

We ended the night at Krispy Kremes....we thought it would be fun to surprise the kids in the morning with doughnuts for a treat....and it was!

Thank you Brad and Jeremy for such an amazing night! We hope to get this gift again next year!

Doughnuts with Santa

We headed to the Timmerings this morning for Doughnuts and to spend time with Santa!

 Finally he arrived! Oh I love this man! He is truly full of magic and merriment!

 Baby Caroline went first but then I snagged her right back.....I gotta have my baby fix!

 Then all the children gathered for a reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas!

 look at those little faces.....listening....all sitting with their hands folded in their laps.....precious!

 Then it was photo time.....and time to whisper to Santa just what you wanted! Riggs asked for a battery powered bike, Rollins a go-cart, Sarah Kate an Easy Bake Oven.....and Lila Ray the pink Barbie Camper!

 These two were a trip...back and forth saying..... you go first....no you go first....no you...Santa told them he felt like he was watching a tennis match!

It was such a fun morning! Thank you Timmerings for inviting us to such a special morning!

in the blink.....

We were enjoying the glow of Sarah Kate's birthday party...all wrapped up in what she was going to buy with her gift card to Club Tabby...it was light and happy....I remember I was worried about getting home soon so I could get dinner started...I wanted to make a nice dinner for Jason, Tonya and Sydney...like a mini Thanksgiving for them.  And then in a blink it all changed.......

I was paying for Sarah Kate's things when my I felt something crushing down on my arm...it was Jenna's hand. She was screaming....and everything she said ended with D.......Braden is having a seizure, D.......Do something, D....help me, D.  I dropped my wallet, camera, and phone. They fell to the floor and in a blink I was huddled with Brad and Jenna over Braden.  Brad was saying Oh God...and was kneeling. This man who can not bend his knee to save his life was on his knees. Braden was shaking....Brad and Jenna were screaming....and crying.  It was surreal as I looked around at the chaos of what was happening and the agony on the faces of these people I love with all my heart. I grew calm and I guess God took over....in hind site I don't know how else to explain it.  I was able to get my sweater off and under his head.....count slowly as we counted to be sure the seizure did not reach 3 minutes...I called Jenna's brother, Jenna's mom, and answered all the questions that EMS was asking on the phone. I prayed over Braden out loud.  I did all this with one hand on Braden and one hand on Jenna. All of this happened in 57 seconds....the number of seconds he shook from the time I started counting.  

He shook and he shook...this child I love so much...and then he stopped and was still...

It seems like forever until he came back to us. He laid there coming in and out.... in his John Wall hoodie I bought him for Christmas last year...and in his John Wall basketball shoes I bought him for his birthday this year...and I remember thinking to myself...between the hoodie and the shoes, and the prayer and love...I've got you covered, Sweet boy....I've got you covered.  When he finally came to he asked Jenna why she left him...and I thought my heart was going to break into a million pieces. She  had never left his side....

As the EMS arrived I stood and was released from the clutches of the floor...it was as if I had been stuck like a magnet to that spot. It was then that I found my camera and snapped this....it hurts to look at it...Sweet Braden laying there on my sweater...Jenna crouched over her whole world...and Brad's face full of shock and hurt. But it is a moment that happened...it was real and I will never forget it. 

I told Jenna I loved her....gathered her things in her purse and watched as  they wheeled him out of the store....following behind the stretcher was Rollins...head hanging down and full of worry. He had tears in his eyes through this whole moment in time but he never lost it...and was strong for Braden.  This was the first time any of us had experienced Braden having a seizure....the first time for all of us.... but Rollins. He had been here before. He is such a precious boy, my Rollins....precious and strong. Stronger than I ever realized.  We were all devastated. It was so hard to watch our best friends go through that painful moment. But it's times like this that draw you closer...seal the precious bonds even more....and make you feel even more connected than you ever thought possible.

Back at home I no longer worried about cooking dinner.  My thoughts and my heart still with the Timmerings. We ordered in and mostly ate out of Styrofoam containers and plastic cups...but we were all together and we gave thanks and that is what it's all about....family and love....the rest are just details.

This will be a Thanksgiving I will never forget. In the days that followed I replayed those moments over and over...they stayed with me...and I think they always will. Jenna and I talked about it over and over as we heal and learn from what happened. In the blink of an eye......It can all change in a blink....so be kind...fill your life with love....and be thankful for all you have in this moment....in this moment right now. 

Team Timmering

We went again today to watch Braden play football......

 and to see Julia cheer on the Ravens!

 And to see Jenna be the best team mom ever...and Brad help coach and we came because we are a part of Team Timmering . Today was just going to a football game but in many ways it made me feel so much more. Rollins is so very proud of his best friend....we all are. It was so great to see this little boy out there playing football and loving it with all his heart.  He may not know that for a year I snuck in and slept on the floor beside him every time he spent the night here in case he had a seizure. He never knew I was there.  He may never know that Rollins always knows at any given moment what soft object he would put under his head if he had a seizure. Braden may never know Rollins is there for him in that way...it's not something we talk about.But Braden knew we were there today. He knew and being there for him in a public way was so rewarding...it felt so good to love him in that way. He is one special little boy.....

 He loves Football and we love him!

 We support Team Timmering all the way....all of them.

 and we always will....over and under....on the floor in the the night...in the stands at a football game...can you ....will you....and the answer is always yes. For you...yes. We are so blessed to be on Team Timmering!