Prayer For Emma Grace...

Just a note to say that Emma has been sick since Saturday. We took her to Dr. on Monday with the diagnosis of an ear infection and bronchialitis. Basically, an infection kinda like RSV...but Not. She had a terrible cough that breathing treatments don't help. After phone calls back and forth to the Drs yesterday, we finally were told to take her to the ER. There they gave her a new medication in her nebulizer which seemed to help for a little while. She finally ate pretty well. They didn't admit her since I felt comfortable with the treatments. They want me to take her back to the Pediatrician this am to see if her lungs are responding any better. She is so congested and wheezy...it sounds terrible. She vomits after feeding due to the....well you know! Please pray for us and we will be wise in her health care decisions. We also would love to have a good long nap!!! Peyton has also been sick with the same thing, but due to his age he can have the steroids and is doing better. Please pray that Steven and Carson don't get it as well...I'm assuming its contagious??? Love to all!

Update: Emma was diagnosed with RSV. She is one sick little girl. She is having a hard time keeping any food down due to all the mucus in her lungs. We covet your prayers for her at this time!

Here are some pics of Emma Grace. I took these just today...yal should be proud of me! I can't believe how red her hair looks in this picture. As you can see in the other pics it is still brown on top! She is a great baby...it's Mom that still needs a few adjustments! For all of you concerned, we are doing well and couldn't be happier. We are soo blessed to have Emma in our home.

This is a picture of Emma's room. I'm not quite finished...I want to have her name above her bed from Upper Case Living...haven't got to order that as of yet. I made pillows and a valance to match her bed from a couple of hideous valances that came with the set. It turned out very cute I think. Thanks everyone for the sweet comments you have left on my blog.... they mean a lot!

Emma Grace Sams has arrived!!

Emma Grace arrived on November 3rd at 8:21a.m. She is 7lbs 13 oz and 19 inches long. She was my smallest baby, therefore a easier delivery. The Lord answered my prayer and my epidural worked and baby was very healthy! She is the cutest little thing! We have had her in our home less than a week and we already wonder what life would have been without her. She is a great baby. She slept 5 1/2 hours last night between feedings!!! Momma was very happy! The first few nights she woke up for a few hours during the night. I pray those nights will be few and far between. Her brothers were all great sleepers so I am a spoiled mom!

Here are some pictures that were taken at the hospital. We do have pics with her brothers, but they are still on the camera...which I do not have at the momoent. As you can tell, we are very blessed to have this new little girl in our home. I told Larry that all the nausea, headaches, aches, pains, and being in the darkest hole of my life....IS ALL WORTH IT!!! Enjoy the pics! You can also view pictures on Larry's facebook...he does better about updating!!!

A New Look...

Can I take a minute to say how proud I am of myself??? I have done something different to my blog...I hear the round of applause!! Thank you for checking out the new look!

Update....

Well, I'm finally am getting a few minutes to sit and update you on my life. It has been a very long time since I've written. I will try to make it short and interesting. Ha! With a few pictures as well.....I may leave those to the end to keep you in suspense! NOT!
July -We had the opportunity to go to Pell City Camp as a family. Larry's Dad was one of the evangelist and did a SUPERB job! (Don't tell him I said that! Ha!) My parents and siblings also were there for some parts of the camp. We were so excited that David (Christa's fiance') was able to be there also. The Marines gave him a week off over the 4th of July. We had a great time enjoying family and old friends. My Aunt Carole was there and we once again made some great memories. My Aunt Martha and Uncle Edgar were able to attend for a couple days as well. It almost felt like old times....minus my wonderful cousins!!!! It is neat to watch my boys making memories like I did when I was their age. It was wonderful to see Melodie Sankey and her family. Here is a cute picture of our boys playing.....they are the sweetest kids to play even thou there are a few years difference in ages. It was neat to see second generations getting together. We also got to see Kimber, Charity, and Nate!!!

Our family had some difficult decisions to make during this month regarding our boys education. I have homeschooled Steven for 2 years. With the little princess coming in November I questioned what I should do for this coming school year. To make a very long struggle short, we decided that for this year, the Lord wanted us to send them to our local public school. I know that sounds like an easy decision for some but for us it meant alot of tears and feelings of guilt. I had to come to a place of surrender that God was in control of what He was asking for us to do. I never thought I would be sad to not homeschool my kids. How far the Lord can bring someone when we are obedient to Him! I have "enjoyed" teaching Steven and was looking forward to see Carson learn as well.

August - We were faced with a management move for Larry inside his company. It was a very unique situation and we wanted what God wanted and not what we saw as best. To back up a step or two, earlier in the summer the Lord had blessed Larry with a raise on the EXACT day that we found out we are having a girl!! I think it is a sign of things to come! Larry accepted this new position and is doing a fabulous job in this capacity! I am so proud of him and his witness to his employees and customers! It does intell some time away, but the Lord is blessing us with other special times as a family.

A week before Christa's wedding, my great-aunt Cora passed away at the age of 96! She and her husband are the reason that my dad moved our family to that small town in GA when I was 7 years old. As my dad grew up, he never saw a preacher come to visit his aunt and uncle. As he finished college and moved on with his life, he would ask God if He could go to GA to start a Church. The Lord said no until many years later. He felt that if he could help them to know God his move would be successful. I am pleased to say that the Lord used my Dad and his ministry to lead both Aunt Cora and Uncle Hardin to Him. There have been MANY people along the way that have been blessed by Daddy's work, but none as meaningful to our family!!!

The boys and I traveled over to GA for the viewing and the funeral. What a joyous occassion to celebrate the life of a saint!!! She will truly be missed by all!!!

This picture is of us girls and Billy and David Mantooth. Aunt Cora help to raise them and we grew up together. What great memories we have together!

After the funeral, we (boys and I) stayed with Mom and Dad in preperation of the big day at the end of the week! It was so nice to be with Cheryl, Susan, and Christa!! My Aunt Janet was also able to come early and we LOVED spending time with her. David's family started arriving on Tuesday evening so the party began!!! His family fits right in with the rest of us crazy people. David was able to make it out of the Marines grip in time for his rehearsal on Friday. We also had a bridal shower for Christa on Friday morning. We had a great time! Here is the group picture. Christa is standing in between Momma and Aunt Janet! We were so blessed to have so many family members be able to attend her wedding. All of my cousins, except Andrew, were able to be there. (It has been 11 years this October since that has happened!) Andrew had a very good excuse, seeing that he lives in Alaska and has a wonderful family of 8!! We did miss all of them!!!

The wedding rehearsal was funny in the fact that we three sisters and brother-in-laws pulled a little stunt! We three older sisters have always teased Christa that we were going to be so old by the time she was married that we would be on walkers, wheelchairs and cains!! Well, that is excatly what we did!! The guys wanted to "honor" David so they bought patriotic wigs.....So handome!!! It caused a great laugh! Here are a few pics from their special day! I can't believe that my baby sis is finnally married!!! YEAH!!! We tease David that he got the raw end of the deal!! (Love ya, Chris)!!! I think that is what Dad is telling David right here....

Christa's BEAUTIFUL wedding gown!

Being in the wedding it was hard to get good pictures, so this is the only one I have of them together!

Here is the next generation cousins picture! We were missing, my Peyton, (he was napping in the nursery) and all of Andrew's kids. They belong to my sisters, Heather Dickenson, Laura Hausman, Lincoln Bryan, Jane Allard, Esther Miller, and two of my boys.

Peyton was having "issues" with having his picture taken!! Dad was trying to help.

Steven was very excited to walk with Cassidy! This is the first time he saw her in her beautiful dress. He's a lot like his father!!! The next picture, she is putting him in his place!! Her dad should be proud!

Hopefully, it won't be so long before the next update! I have 7 weeks til my due date!!! A little nervous and a lot excited to meet our little girl!

After leaving the wedding, we rushed home to start the boys in school on Tuesday. It was much harder than I ever imagine. I was "losing" two boys at once. After leaving Steven in tears and Larry forcing me to leave, I stayed on the couch and cried most all day long. When I picked up Steven, I was so worried that he had been sad all day......he didn't even remember crying!! He said, "Mom, weren't you a little sad on your first day?" Both boys are enjoying their new school experience alot. When the first round of test came, Steven decided he likes homeschooling better!! He is doing a great job! Carson has never looked back! He loves his new school. But, he did say that he thought I would be a better teacher!! GO MOM!! Do I have him brainwashed or what!!

IT'S A.....

.....GIRL!!!! Can you believe it? I feel like I'm lying every time I tell someone the baby is a girl. I have yet to wrap my head around it! Larry is the happiest daddy in the world today.

God is so good!! Larry was given a raise today...the first in 8 years!!! His company didn't even know we were expecting another child. The Lord and His timing.....!!!!

I'll try to think of more to say later when I'm not in a state of shock!

Love to all!
Marty

AHHHH Summer has arrived....I LOVE IT!!!

Well friends, I am still alive and kickin! Oh, that's the baby kickin, I'm dragging!

Here is a little update on our life...I am feeling a little better with the nausea! Yeah! I try to keep comparing each day to about a month ago and things are better. I am still EXTREMELY exhausted. I can't get enough sleep!!! (Like every mother out there!) My belly (and other things) are growing at a very fast pace. I'm a little worried about my size in the future!! Larry is doing a little better with the baby idea...he is working himself to death so he doesn't have to think about it! For those who know Larry, he is a little stressed at the moment. He only "wanted" 1, maybe 2 kids at the max....NOT 4!! We are still making the BIG curve in our thinking! Thank you everyone who has been praying for us. IT IS BEEN FELT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION!!!! Please keep them coming!!!

On June 24th, hopefully we will find out the sex of the baby. I'm not feeling either way at the moment. Larry says it will be worth it if it is a girl.....what is he thinking????? I'm kinda in the boy mode again...then again look at Sams' track record!!!

Speaking of Larry, he has been very busy with his full time job and his side job of cabinet building is going beautifully. Check out his blog at www.woodworksbysams.blogspot.com
you can see some beautiful pics. He working tonight on the last little touch ups. He'll post the final product soon. He has more jobs in the waiting. Please pray that the Lord will continue to bless this work as HE chooses! I am VERY proud of Larry and stepping out and making a passion of wood working a reality! I think you will like what you see!

The boys are doing great. Steven is finished with 1st grade!!!! We are still praying about what the Lord's will is for this next year with 2 being in school and 2 year old and a baby in November! We are definitely needing some direction!

Thanks for checking up on me!

Spring Brings New Life......

My dear blogger friends....
I have deeply missed sharing with you for the past couple months. It has been crazy around our house for many different reasons. I'll start with the BIGGEST reason. We are expecting our 4th child on November 9, 2008.......I'll pause a moment so that everyone can take a deep breath and exhale. As many of you know, we (Larry and I) were done having children after our second little boy, then 3 years later we were surprised and blessed with our 3rd son. So to say the least we have NOT been very happy with this latest news. I know what half of you are saying and gasping..."I can't believe that someone would feel that way about a blessing from God!!" Well we are being honest...We KNOW that this baby is a gift from our Heavenly Father and we are going to love him as much as the other three, and he is going to do great things toward the Kingdom of Heaven...Yeah, Yeah, its in our heads and it will eventually get to our hearts. For me, it passes the nausea and STOPS!!! Maybe I'll feel different when I can once again see straight! My family and friends have been very supportive in helping us in many ways. From providing childcare, food and scriptures and promises from God that we can quote when we are not feeling the best. Everyone has been very nice and letting us "muddle" in our stupidity for a while! Larry was out of town last week for the Masters in Augusta, GA. He was the top computer support for the whole week. He had all access pass just like the members. He had the BEST time!!! But most of all, he got rave reviews for the club and his company. They want him back for next year. They said that this was the smoothest year in a long time, thanks to him. He even got to watch Tiger on a few holes, and VJ Sing (sp?) gave him his game ball from Thursday!!! He enjoyed hop knobbing with the big name in golf. Even a hand shake and short conversation with Arnold Palmer!! I'm sure your husbands will be more impressed with this than many of you. Larry is also very busy finishing up a big cabinet job and works long hours into the night trying to make everything perfect. I'll post pics of the final results. We are also very busy with Steven and Carson both playing Spring baseball. This is Carson's first year and he is the cutest ever. Steven has played since he was 4 and is a natural! He has alot of talent and we are very proud of him. The other day Carson asked him if he loved baseball and Steven said "NO, I just like it!!!" He is sooo much like his father! Since Daddy has been to the Masters, the two oldest boys have decided they want golf lessons next. Yeah, right! I have no time as it is (or money)! We have only 20 more school days to finish up!!!!! We will continue to work on things during the summer just at a more relaxed pace. I am very proud of Steven and the things he has learned this year and his ability to retain knowledge. Pray for us as we have decisions regarding next year and two boys in school. (and a baby on the way...HELP!!) The Lord will provide the his grace when needed! Thanks for reading my ramblings and sorry it has been so long. I can't promise that it might take a while f0r another post! We covet your prayers and we accept our new family "picture"!

Love,
Marty

BIRTHDAYS!

My dear friends, I am still alive and in my right mind. (That is still up for debate! I did pinch myself so part of that comment is correct!)

January is full of birthdays at our house. Steven turned 7 on the first and Carson turned 5 on the 20th! Peytons is coming up with the BIG #2 on the 22nd of Feb.! I will try to share a few cute photos from the big days! Steven had friends over for a BeeBee Gun Party. They all went down to the creek and shot his new "old" gun that Papa gave him for his birthday. He is huge into GI Joe right now so he was happy with a homemade cake!

Carson wanted to have his little friends over to jump on his new "old" trampoline. He is still loving CARS, so his theme was based on that, therefore, the CARS cake. He finnally realized the CARS was part of his name!

Here is my little mini me! Although he looks like me, he asks just like his Gramps Sams!

I will try to get pictures of Peyton's B-day out sooner! Thank you for everyone who has been checking up on me! I am loving hearing from some old friends! Keep the comments flowing! Love to all!