Weekend with the Oxners

My sister and her fam was in town for a long weekend. We had a blast hanging out. The kids enjoyed all of the water activities and a boat ride with grandpa. We are all exhausted in my house and on top of it very cranky. Hopefully we will rest well tonight and tomorrow will be another day. A little more than three weeks and we will have a family reunion at my other sister's house. We are counting the days. Can't wait to have everyone together to hang out. Christmas was a little different this past year and we weren't all together very long. As I have gotten older being the family baby and all I have grown to truly love cherish and respect my sisters. Used too I would try to get out of their visits. If you didn't know I was the family rebel too. I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and most of you will have a short work week. I am looking forward to that too.

I love to be right!

I know probably not a nice way to start this off but at least I am not lying!
While visiting with the dr today which by the way I loved she affirmed that a baby Blaine's age is too little and does not have enough muscle and fat to handle shots in the arm. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I don't know why I let that nurse argue with me and why I didn't just get up and walk out with my baby. Some of you wouldn't put it past me if you knew me very well. We no longer will be getting shots at our local health unit. Instead I will go to our pediatrician and do them at a well visit like big city folk do.
On another note I was told that I need to feed Blaine more butter. He is 1% on weight and 10% on height. Oh my. Not so worried. He has always be low on his percentiles. I just found it funny that she said he needed to eat more butter. She must watch Paula Deen.
We had a great day together. Now off to Walmart at 10pm. Crazy I know.

Another not so good morning

Blaine had to get shots this morning. I was sick to my stomach last night and this morning thinking about it. He did pretty good. I just can't stand to hold him while they do it and to have to put him through it. It breaks my heart. On a good note. I was going to say something about him getting 5 today and see if I could just get a couple and come back in a few weeks and get the rest. I don't think it is good to get that many at once. Well I didn't have to say anything. They only gave him 2 today and he will go back at 15 months to get the others. Some may say to get them over all at once but after doing some research and reading this post I am glad they changed it up. Brenden had to get all 5 at once and it was horrible.
Blaine is sleeping and I hope he will for a while. He is on meds so I hope he doesn't have any weird side effects or fever.
Tomorrow we have a well visit in Little Rock. I have decided after going back and forth on the issue to use a pediatrician in LR. Every time I go here I have drama. The dr doesn't take the time with me, prescribes unnecessary meds, misdiagnoses them and after 4 months on one drug go to a different dr to be diagnosed as something totally different, takes your kid and does tests on them without telling you what the tests are, and almost lets your kid die before getting them out of this hospital, and allows staff to do things to your child behind your back that is the cause of your child being sick! So needless to say after using several of our drs here and having several traumatic experiences we are moving on to LR.

Entergy

We woke up this morning to banging on the door. A little irritating but when your day doesn't start as early as others that is what happens. It is either something like that or the phone. Oh well I needed to get up. I could sleep all day if someone would let me.

It was Entergy. They were going to trim the tree in our back yard that I have called about twice. The limbs and power lines were in a bind and when we get a wind storm you see lots of pretty colored sparks. I didn't think that was a good thing and they finally came out to check. They didn't cut all the ones I thought needed it but at least some are gone. This tree is massive for a pine. It is 3 trees with one base. We had a tree company look at it and they were going to charge $1300 to cut it down or we could call Entergy and they would trim it for free since it was in their line. We chose the free route.

Our Sunday Afternoon

We spent outside while Blaine napped. He got to swim later. But we were trying to get a few things done and chasing him around I don't accomplish much. We have to watch him because he will eat things! Totally not like his brother was.

Brenden loves his new sprinkler. We have not set it up for Blaine yet. I know they will have a blast.

My sister is coming in this week from south Texas. We haven't seen them since Christmas so we are excited. I will probably have pics later of their visit.

Shopping Trip

In the middle of the chaos at our WalMart I had a wonderful shopping trip. I was standing on the cereal isle trying to find Brenden's cereal when an associate came up and asked me if I needed help finding something. I said yes and told him what kind I was looking for. He said I will go check in back. He was in the middle of stocking and had not gotten to that yet. I was thankful that he took the time to help me. It is hard explaining to a 3 year old they don't have the cereal you like and mommy approves of. So off the the check out. I have gone to the same person the last few times I have been in there. She is nice, doesn't take her stress out on my produce, and puts more than 2 things in a sack. While I was visiting Brenden found a penny on the ground. He was so proud of this penny. The woman behind us saw his excitement and gave him more change from her coin purse. How precious is that. Of course Brenden wouldn't even acknowledge her existence. I have to tell people that he has been taught not to talk to strangers. I don't want them to fell offended by him not speaking. He is so bashful. We don't have to worry about him talking to strangers!
I guess Dean hasn't been to Walmart today.:o) And if you have you should know it didn't effect my trip at all. Please continue with the stories. It is hilarious. Probably not so much for you but I do get a kick out of reading it.

News article

I read this article this morning and it got me to wondering how many we have registered in our county. I would be dumb to think this is all of them. And you never know if these people have turned there life around or what the whole story is. I do think we need to know for our children's safety. It will make us aware of their history and we can then decide for ourselves if our own children are safe around them. And ourselves.

Comfort Zone

I recently leaped from my comfort zone. I am so glad I did. The Lord answers prayer. You may have to go through some junk first but that will make you appreciate it when He answers you.
I was invited to a pool party which if you know me is not my idea of fun getting in a bathing suit in front of people. But I did go. Did not swim though. I know party pooper! The pool party was a kick off to a women's Bible study. I was still out of my comfort zone at the thought of going to another function not hosted by my church. Why? Don't know just was. Today I had no fear and just went. The study is wonderful and the women are just the cherry on top of the sundae. I am so excited to grow in my walk and being able to meet new people that are there to learn and be honest.
I do have a tendency to talk and not listen. Being in a group you don't know you tend to listen so you can learn about them. I grew up in the church I am in. There is nothing wrong with being at home but when you stay at home you think you know everything and there is nothing left to learn. I am enjoying learning new things and meeting new people. I really needed this.

Blaine's Pics

My sister was visiting this weekend and I got her to take some pictures of Blaine. It worked out that they were going to be here so I didn't have to spend more than I have for his one year pictures. We are really trying to set money back for preschool and other things and pictures are just not in our budget. Thankfully my sister was a photographer in Conway before they moved and I get to use her skills. My camera but her skills. Thanks sister.

So which one do you like? I put an add in the paper on my kid's first birthday and I need to pick a picture. I know it will be a week late but I have seen them in there later and his birthday did fall on Wed and that is when the paper comes out so oh well at least I am not extremely behind.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
The fact that we are being persecuted proves that we have been faithful.

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted 2 Timothy 3:12
It is going to happen. You are going to be misunderstood, looked down on, broken, talked about. The only one you need to worry about pleasing is God. Keep living your life like you know you should.

Plans

So I am ready for tonight and tomorrow. My sis and fam is in for the weekend. We don't get to see each other as often and soon it will be even less. They have surrendered to the mission field and will be leaving out in about a year and a half. I cherish every moment with them and even every phone call. We are not sure where the are going and if they will have a phone or internet. Even snail mail is questionable. I hope you all have a wonderful Father's Day weekend.

My dad

If he's got it he'll give it, if you need it take it, don't ask him to do it if you don't want it done and done right. Failure and doing something half way is not in his vocabulary. He didn't start with much and has earned all he's got. He will work you to death before he ever thinks of quiting. God's way is the only way and always comes first. He is a leader, a friend, a daddy, and a christian man. He expects the best but loves you no matter what. Always encourages never do you fail.

My dad is a working man. His hands tell the story. He has done it all from a soldier to a farmer a carpenter to a business owner. What ever it takes to provide for his family. We have always been priority.

They say you either marry someone just like your dad or someone totally opposite. My dad and I haven't always seen eye to eye but the qualities I love about him I see in my husband.

Thank you dad for all you give, all you do, for who you are, and always being there. You are loved, appreciated, and adored. It doesn't matter how old I am I will always be my daddy's little girl. The perks of being the youngest.:o)

Father to my kids and love of my life.

I could not have asked for a better father. Two and half years ago he committed his life to Christ two years ago he publicly showed his commitment, and today he is definitely a changed man. This man displays the servant heart and attitude we are to have. He stands up for Christ in his daily activities and never slams or makes others feel below him. He has a heart and passion for kids, family, and sports. He has love for others and a quiet personality that everyone adores.

My husband never rests. He is always doing something and most of the time it is with his boys. He will get on the floor and act silly, read bedtime stories, and give baths. He is constantly wanting them to have new things and experience everything. He spoils, cares, and disciplines(not as much as they need it).

For some reason I can never stay mad at him for very long. He always treats me like a queen. He wants me to be happy first.

We love you hunny and I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day.

Couldn't stop thinking til I posted something.

So I was wondering around on the Internet the other day and stumbled onto this post. She has some good points that I have been really thinking about.
How do you decide who to forgive? I don't think it is something I really have ever thought about. I know when a family member hurts me I dwell on it for a little while and maybe vent some but it usually is set aside and normal life continues. There may be a comment or two about it thrown out there that may or may not be nice but other than that it is over with. I am sure that is not healthy. If it is a close friend that is like family pretty much the same applies.

However thinking about all of this if it is someone that I am not close to I am caught off guard by the hurt and for some reason it seems to bother me more. I tend not to let go of it and the enemy constantly brings it up in my mind. I do forgive but not forget. Mostly because when I am not close to them I want to talk about it because I want to be sure they are ok with me before I put myself out there again. If it ever does get talked about then it is much easier to forget. I think it works the other way too. When I stick my foot in my mouth I am waiting on them to go off on me so I can apologize. I don't want to just bring it up out of no where in case it didn't bother them. Then I sit there while I am talking to them really not listening just wanting to apologize and I don't have the guts. Most of the time I go home and pray about it ask God for forgiveness and pray that if they are hurt by me it will not be used by the enemy and they will find a way to forgive me.

A year ago today...

Blaine Jackson was born at 7:39am weighing 6lbs 12oz. We truly had a wonderful experience at Baptist. We really cannot say that about our first child at a local hospital. Let's just say before we got to go home with our first he took a helicopter ride to Baptist and it all could have been avoided. All of that is behind us now and we have 2 healthy beautiful boys.

I am very blessed to have had no trouble getting pregnant, carrying them, and no major problems at delivery.
No matter how stressed or frazzled they make me at the end of the day when I watch them sleep I thank God for these 2 precious miracles.

So do they look alike?

The top picture is Blaine on his first birthday. The bottom picture is Brenden on his first birthday. Of course I had to find one in the same pose with similar expressions. I see some of the same features but they have a totally different look. Oh well just playing around. Not that I have anything I need to be doing.:o)

Not being a copy cat.

So last week I read a blog that posted about comments. I totally appreciate all comments. I do want to know who you are so I can visit your blog too.

Picture from Blaine's party!

He had too much fun digging into the cake. Between burger, baked beans, pickles, cheese, and cake his hair was awful. For some reason he constantly puts his hands in his hair when he eats. The giraffe was a hit. We knew he would love it. When he sees an animal he gets so excited and all he wants to do is bury his face in their fur. He is such a mess. I am a little sad that my babies are growing up so fast but excited to experience new things with them. I am ready for the baby stage to be over so we can go and do. It is sad that this will be the last baby of our family though. Barry and I have considered adopting a girl mostly because I am not putting my body through all of that again and get another boy.:o) We will see. You never know what God has in store.

Our Saturday

We didn't do much today. It was nice. We did spend the morning going to rummage sales. Brenden was not happy when he got up and momma had gone without him. He wanted to go. Andra and I went early and we came back and picked up Barry and the boys when they got up and had eaten breakfast. One thing I don't do is wake them up before it is time unless it is extremely necessary. Especially to go rummage salin at 6:30 in the morning. We did find some bargains. One thing we found was popsicle trays. I had been looking for them and we found 2 sets of 4 for $.50 and they had never been opened. Brenden couldn't wait to get home and make popsicles. Hope you enjoyed your Saturday.

So here they are:

We are doing a wagon this year! I thought it was cute and simple.

This one is just for the birthday boy. It is only 3 inches but has 3 layers. Too cute!

So this is my attempt. You will possible see later what I will be doing with this one. If it turns out. I didn't have the special icing that Nana makes. Hers is stiffer and will allow you to work with it. Mine is out of a can that I added color. Oh well I don't do it for a living.