Casey Collins!

Cadie (Ce-Ce) had a big birthday last week so she took a week off from keeping Bella to go to the beach! So, her sister Casey kept Bella. I was very nervous at first given that Bella is so attached to Cadie and has been "clingy" a lot more lately. I figured within the first day Casey would be calling me to come home! However, this was SOO not the case. Casey had Bella at the pool, park, eating, sleeping and running around happy as a lark! I was extremely excited to come home each day and see a smile on BOTH of their faces! Bella also started calling Casey "Say-Cee" It was so cute! She took to her very well!

Casey is 19 and has a Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease which is a inherited Neurological Disorder affecting your sensory and motor nerves. In Casey's situation it affects her lower extremities causing her to have muscle weakness in her legs. I was atonished to hear she had this disease being that it ony affects 1 in 2,500 people in th US and that my Granmother Shields was one of the first cases. My grandmother was very limited at times having to crawl on her knees or wear braces to get around. Casey does EXTREMELY well and is such a delight to watch! She is a very strong and independent girl with lots of personality much like my grandmother.

If any of you Mom's are looking for help this summer, Casey is home for the summer from school and is looking to help a family with children. I am the first to say she is WONDERFUL and would make you and your kids so happy! If you are interested, please let me know!
THANKS CASEY for helping me and Cadie out this week! You are fabulous!

Sweet Bella!

Yesterday we took a trip to Columbus to visit Nanu (Mom) and the rest of my crew. We also scheduled in time to meet Ms. Robin Cregeen and her girls at Lake Lowndes for some pictures of Bella. It turned out to be such a fun day! Bella was in the best mood and the weather couldn't have been better. We had a lot of fun just playing. These were some of my favorites, however I love every picture of Bella! Guess I am kinda partial!


Thanks Ms. Robin for taking them! I really think they turned out great! Also thanks to Mom, Paul, Adam and Beka for a fun day at home! I love you guys!

Mommy Day!

Yesterday was the BEST Mother's Day! I spent the entire day with Bella and It I couldn't have been happier. One of my greatest Friends, Annelise and her sister Sarah Kathryn came by to visit us. Annelise brought her puppy Norman. We had BIG time!!
Friday started my Mother's Day weekend when I received a box of GODIVA chocolates from Bella's Godmother, Stephanie! Steph and I share a love for Godiva and Bella! ;) It was so sweet and thoughtful of her to remember me. I ate EVERY LAST PIECE before Mother's day even arrived! ;) Thanks Steph.. you are the best ever!

Saturday Mom and Adam (Nanu and A-ham as Bella says) came to keep Bella for the day while Kyle and I threw a baby shower for our good friends the Bell's. To my surprise Mom and Adam had created the sweetest gifts for me! A huge wall frame of a tone of photos I had never seen of Bella. They were all so cute and It couldn't have been sweeter. Adam also made me a personalized frame from Bella that said "MOMMY I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH" with a picture of Bella standing with her arms wide open! Definitely brought tears to my eyes. I have the best family. Thank you so much. I love you.

THEN.. Saturday night after coming home, I found a DOZEN long stem Red roses and One white rose on my door step! The card read "TO MOMMY, I LOVE YOU BELLA!" I later found out that they were sent by Bella's Gammie, Zack's Mom. They were the icing on the cake! Thank you so much Mrs. Lynn, they are beautiful!! I am enjoying them so much!

As you can see not just by the gifts, but also by all the love and support that I am the luckiest Mom in the world! I have to best family and a sweet little girl who adores me. What more could you want?