This Time Last Year...

So - while we were out Christmas shopping this year, I couldn't help but reminisce about last year. Actually I don't know if I would call it reminiscing - that sounds like I am remembering something positive! Anyway - I couldn't help remembering that this time last year I was shopping in a wheelchair, remember?!?! I wasn't allowed to stand for long periods of time due to my pregnancy, so I was sentenced to a wheelchair. I learned to have alot more respect for those in need of a wheelchair. Seeing the world from that perspective is VERY HUMBLING as well as it made me quite motion sick many times!! (Maybe it was my driver - hee, hee, hee!) You are not able to reach ANYTHING and it is extremely hard to carry on a conversation with someone standing up while you are sitting there. Let's not forget the electric ones in stores. I tried one out last Christmas because Joel said he couldn't push me AND carry toys. I don't see why not! Talk about fun!! Actually there were way too many people in my way for me to go above the 5 mile speed limit in the stores as well as the very LOUD beeping anytime I had to go backwards because I didn't know how to work it! Also I received many a look from jealous customers, wishing they had an excuse to cruise around the store and them wondering what I was doing in such a thing. I mean, besides, I was just pregnant! Joel did say that he thought shopping was easier last year. Due to the wheelchair, he said that people did get out of our way faster and so we were able to get done quickly. I don't really remember much of it except for what I have already shared.

So anyway, I was reminiscing - remembering how things were this time last year. WOW! Pretty exhausting when you think about it! I am so blessed that God is continuing to heal me daily. So - next time you see someone who is in a wheelchair, take a minute to help them out! Hold that door open, grab something off of the shelf that they cannot reach, and remember to smile!! I was once there and know how different it feels to be restrained to one! Hope all had a very Merry Christmas!!

8 Things About Me (for Lauren)

8 things you've always wondered about me!I was tagged by my niece!

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Panera Bread (even though I am still rebelling against the chicken salad sandwich)
2. Olive Garden
3.Fuddruckers
4. McAllisters
5. Sweet Basil (thanks to Evie for introducing this one to me!)
6. Chilis
7. Abuellos
8.Cozymel's

Things that Happened Today:
1. Gave my kids a bath TWICE!
2. Went to Stonebriar Mall
3. Made a build a bear rabbit with my son for his sister's first birthday
4. Bought her birthday cake
5. Took back a Christmas gift
6. Went to Fuddruckers
7. Listened to Taylor Swift's new CD
8. Gave my hubby a kiss!

Things That I Look Forward To:
1. Next break from school (Spring Break)
2. traveling to Louisiana next week in my sister's sweet ride!
3. Getting together with all of my family again
4. My children getting married
5. Summer
6.When my husband has days off!
7. weekends
8. Seeing my friends at church

Things I'm Scared Of:
1. Being alone
2. Crickets
3. Spiders
4.Letting my family down
5. horror movies
6. drowning
7. Losing loved ones
8. Having a car crash and injuring my children

Things I Wish For:
1. ALL OF MY CHILDREN HEALTHY!!!!
2. to not have to worry about money
3. Christ centered house
4. my children to have a spouse that love the Lord
5. . No more medical bills
6. To Travel the world
7. To be able to go to every show on Broadway
8. to take care of family and friends financially

Things I Watch on TV:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. CHUCK!!!!!
3. Life
4. Leverage
5. Without a Trace
6. Disney Channel or Sprout (anything that the boys like)
7. Hallmark Christmas Movies
8. American Idol

Enjoy... send me yours back if you get a chance : )

Ainsley's Black Eyed Pea

So - Ainsley received her Christmas gift early this year - a beauty of a black eye! I am not real sure what happened. I have had the kids the last two days and we have been having a blast (these days make me want to stay home :). I really had to go to the restroom and had been holding it for quite a while! Noah cannot be left alone often with Ainsley - she usually winds up quite disoriented and unsure of who she is. So I told Caleb that I had to go and to hold down the fort for a few minutes. The next thing I know, Ainsley is crying her head off!! I hurry as fast as I can and come back into the living room. In the back of my mind I KNEW that I should have just taken Ainsley with me to the back. But of course I did not follow my gut. They were all playing so good together that I didn't want to mess with or interrupt a good thing!! When I picked up Ainsley I couldn't believe it!!! Her eye was swollen and red! After much investigation, one of two things had happened. Either she ran into the edge of the fire place OR she ran into a toy in Noah's hand....I have my suspicions of what really happened....although everyone has claimed innocence. SO, this year, for her very first Christmas, she has a beautiful purple eye for all her pictures! Merry Christmas, darling! (And I am sure that it won't be the last incident of your life - welcome to the clan!)

Why Change a Good Thing?!?!

My question today is - "Why Change a Good Thing?!?!?" The other day, Joel and I did some Christmas shopping and decided to eat out. We went to one of my all time places - Panera
Bread (thank you, Shelly, for introducing this to me!! You have helped me form a beautiful friendship with this place!) I was all excited because I had not been there in awhile. As I waited in line with the crowd, I automatically knew what I wanted - a chicken salad sandwich! No doubt about it! I crave, dream of, wish for, long for at times for this delicious sandwich. When it finally is our turn, I order the tomato soup and chicken salad sandwich (of course....!!) The man behind the counter looked at me and said, "Ma'am - we have changed our chicken salad. Now it has almonds, grapes, etc....in it. Would you like to try a sample of it?" By this time, I had zoned out. What in the world was this man talking about?!?! Is he from here, or was he shipped from another sandwich store to help corrupt the business of Panera Bread?!?!? I looked around - maybe someone was videoing me and waiting to jump out and tell me surprise- JUST KIDDING!!!!! Unfortunately to my demise, there was no camera and this "boy" truly was an employee of this well loved restaurant. I took a sample, but couldn't taste anything - by then the tears had begun. My relationship with this so called "well loved" restaurant had been severed-crushed-demolished. Taken away from me was my ultimate FAVORITE sandwich, and given back was a much more HEALTHIER sandwich that did not quite meet up to my high standards that I have as a sandwich eater. So I ask you one more time, why change a good thing!!???? Why do we change things that were perfectly fine!!!.................. I ask you................. FYI - My new favorite chicken salad sandwich - MCALLISTER's DELI *and they have great tea!!! Good bye Panera Bread!!! I feel as if I have lost a friend.....

The Bartlett Curse

For those of you who do not know, we have an addiction in our house. I call it an unwanted addiction. We can't seem to get rid of it no matter what! It is known to our friends as "The Bartlett Curse!" Since Joel and I united and became a family, we became plagued with it. Surgery after surgery, hospital visit after hospital visit, sickness after sickness - that was how we lived out our first 5 years together as a couple. When we thought it was all ok - the "curse" had lifted - we had our first born. For those of you who know Caleb, you would know that it had not lifted at all ! It reached a different level! He was an extremely sick little boy and once again we found ourselves in and out of hospitals and doctor offices for the next three years. Then our second son came, who we thought when first born, he would be normal. But no - he too was born with the curse having stomach problems and ear issues. A year after that, I continued the curse and am just now getting over the unwanted addiction after two years.

So here we are again. A new baby girl who can't get over ear infections and LOVES to CRY, a middle son who has stomach problems (probably because he eats anything!), a first born who "catches" anything around him because of a weak immune system AND is allergic to pet dander (which is why we don't have pets), a mom who is trying to get over extreme anemia problems, and a dad who has constant arthritis pain where he has had surgery in his arm. Does that sound like a curse or what?!!? Every year at work, Joel and I both use up all of our sick days and then some- and you wonder why?!?!?!

God is good despite all of this! He has blessed me with three beautiful children and a one of a kind, perfect husband ( I think God had him become a paramedic so he could take care of FAMILY!) I have realized recently that God truly does not give you more than you can handle. At some point, I have had a one on one conversation with God about that verse but as always He is right!!!

So - if we are not at work, Caleb is missing from school, a Bartlett is not found at church on Sunday or Wednesday, no one shows up for a party, the house looks as if it is in "quarantine" mode, then you know.....The Bartlett Curse is upon the house hold once again!!!!!!

Christmas Time

I love this time of the year! I love people wearing smiles more than normal. I love seeing Poinsettas everywhere ( My FAVORITE flower!) I love waiting to go shopping for Christmas during December. (Yes I know that sounds crazy!) I love hearing Christmas music playing over the intercom in stores and all the Christmas decorations that are out. There really isn't much about Christmas that I don't like!!

The other day Caleb and I were in Alco in Pilot Point on our way home from school. "Jingle Bells" was playing over the intercom. Caleb, being the future JONAS Brother that he KNOWS he will become (ask Joel about this sometime!) broke out in song. Now of course I thought it was adorable as did other customers. Smiles were sent our way and pats on his head were given. My son provided them with a little "Christmas spirit" that day. Now....where is that Christmas spirit all year long?!?! The most obnoxious thing to be around Christmas time is a person who is a Scrooge!!! But when I think about it, I guess they may be Scrooges all year long! Would it be as adorable if Caleb broke out in song in the middle of the summer when we are all complaining how hot it is? Why don't we carry that Christmas spirit all year long? Makes me wonder.......

Thanksgiving - So Thankful we are no longer sick!!

As Thanksgiving approached this year, I was very excited to get to hang out with all of my family. It had been awhile since we all had been together, so I was glad we would have a couple of days to visit. On top of that, I was interested in meeting Lauren's new beau - pretty serious since she was bringing him to meet the clan! (I remember when I brought Joel to meet everyone. My brothers were vicious and Joel still has nightmares - hee, hee, hee!) So...with Bartlett tradition (more like bad luck)...everyone got sick! We started off the beginning of the week with Caleb having strep throat...then Noah....then Ainsley with the stomach bug....then Joel...then me! That about wraps up our holiday! Needless to say, we at least keep to our tradition - someone in our family being down and out when we could be having fun!!

Anyway - Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope all of you enjoyed a relaxing holiday and were able to spend time with family and friends. I know I did, even if it was around the restroom!!