Well it's not always what we expect.

Preston up and ready for the swing

AliPaige and Faith

Dugout Madness

That's my boy

Preston running out during line up

Most of the Team all ready to walk out

Me and the newest member of the Keating family Miss Ava Grace

Only Hours old.

Me and Preston UP CLOSE and personal

Well we are all just having a ball in the Gregory house right now.

Well we started our Baseball season Saturday. In the cold rainy yucky weather. And it's not exactly what I was expecting. Our little team didn't win or even score. But They played their best. They will get better. I am very proud of Preston. Tonight he actually got a double out! And he was playing a spot he's not use to. I hope and pray that this season will end better than it started.

Also yesterday we took Ace to Huntsville to the Neurologist. And didn't get any answers. He wants to run more test and also send us to the Rheumatologist. I have no Idea why or even who that person is and what they do. But I do know something has got to give. He is still having trouble with his right arm and leg. It hasn't locked up like before thank goodness but still whining and crying in pain isn't going to cut it. I am tired of running in circles and going from doctor to doctor. I pray that this one will answer our questions and figure out a simple way to fix the problem. And on the way home I was in my own little world in the Yukon and I look up and there are the " BLUE " lights no one wants to see. And yes he got me and gave me a ticket. Just another thing to worry about. Josh said I have to start picking up cans to pay for it. So I guess I need to get to work HUH.

Josh started his shut down at work so he will be working ALOT for the next 21-31 days and I'm sure he will be a happy camper in about OH 5 days. Well that's about it for us for now.

God bless everyone and I pray you have a great rest of the week.

LeighAnne

P.S. I have a special prayer request. There is someone very dear to me going through a rough time and she needs alot of prayers right now and she needs to lean on her family for the support to get through this time in her life. If you just pray God will know who it is. Thanks.

What a week

Well it's been a rough week around here. Josh has been working nothing but nights so I feel like a single mom. Monday I did get to go to the beauty shop and get my hair done. Different color and much shorter. ( No pictures. Sorry the kids lost my battery charger to the digital camera) Then it begins to rain and rain and rain. Tuesday we have a unscheduled practice and let me tell you THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD SEASON. Not because the kids aren't good it because of the lack of coaching. There are a lot of kids that are first time " coach pitch' players and the Coach doesn't seem to care weather they are playing baseball or catching butterflies. The poor kids have no direction from our " Head coach" but luckily we have two awesome assistant coaches that are trying their best to help. Wednesday I call and find out NO ONE has even thought to make a banner for the team so I try to take on the job myself but with three kids wanting to help it just didn't go as I planned. But never the less I got it done. Today we had a field trip to see the Wizard of Oz in Birmingham and let me tell you I had more fun on the ride up there than at the actual play. BORING!!!!!!!!!! I at least got a short nap in. But afterwards we got to go see Miss Brandy and her brand spanking new baby Ava Grace Keating. Which by the way was a whopper. She entered the world at 9lbs even. And a head full and I mean FULL of black hair. But mom and baby are doing exceptionally well. After we get home I am running around trying to find our "Coach" to get uniforms cause the jamboree is TOMORROW. and Come to find out he doesn't care weather we get them or not. ( INSERT IDIOT!!!!!) But luckily we got ours cause one of the neighbors was up there handing out his teams uniforms and picked up the whole neighborhoods and passed them out. Well I get home and TRY to clean up but no luck there. The kids were all crying and screaming about SOMETHING. As I try to cook and pay bills and do the dishes I notice my " team Poster has GREEN marker drawings all over it. OKAY we are navy blue and Red. NO GREEN!!!!!!!! at this point I am ready to just say forget supper and everyone go to bed. Because after I get supper fixed ( taco's at the request of Preston) All of a sudden he doesn't want the kind I cooked and AliPaige decided she hates taco's. So more crying and whining. AliPaige is actually standing here right now crying cause I'm a bad mom and cooked Taco's and her daddy isn't here to fix it.I just pray that tomorrow will be a better day. Cause my nerves for the week ran out yesterday.

Birthday Party Plus 2

Birthday boy

Faith and AliPaige

The girls
The boys

Blow baby BLOW

See his cake just wan't as good as Dad's

I GOTCHA BRANDY! 6 days and counting

Josh's cake of his own. Couldn't leave him out!

Aww he loves me

Ain't she a sweetie

I wish you could really see his face in this one

newest member of KISS
That's his daddy's cake

he loved his gifts
Finger licking good

Well Ace's had his birthday party Saturday and it was looking kinda slim to begin with. But after a while the people started to roll in. I also had a special cake made for Josh and this is the cake you see Ace eating. He liked it more than his. I guess deep down he knew it would be much much messier than his own. But it was too cute watching him eat it. He got a lot of nice presents and not to mention MONEY. It's hard to believe that my little man is TWO. My how the time files when you have kids. They are such a blessing from God. As a parent you want to watch them grow and be successful in everything they do. But deep down I wish they would stay little forever that way I could just keep them innocent and all mine for ever. Ace has grown so much and come so far in the past few months. He is such a joy to have in my life. And at church tonight I asked for a special Prayer for him as we go to the neurologist next week and one of the moms said that he just lit up the room when he comes in. And she is right he has become quite the social butterfly I never thought he would be. He is actually turning into a normal two year old. I still feel like his mental state is still behind for his age. He understands and comprehends what you tell him but sometimes I am unsure just what all he and process. Lite telling him No and trying to discipline him. We can't just pop his legs because of him muscle ( or whatever) problems would be like torture to him. So I do pop his hands trying to teach him right from wrong but I feel so bad for him cause I really don't know if he understands sometimes that what he is doing is wrong and then he gets in trouble for it and he just looks devastated. But I just keep praying that he will catch up and we will have no pain, no therapies, and no more problems. I know one day I will be able to look back and say " See what God did in my life" He is working on him we just have a few more little things to repair. I am so blessed with the family and friends to help me along the way. I am truly blessed with everyone in my life . I have a amazing Husband and he is becoming more and more amazing to me everyday. I am so blessed I can't put it into words. I have the BEST friends and the BEST Family including my in-laws. I guess I lucked up on that one. And my Church family has just blown me away . I never knew that there were such caring people out there. They have adopted my family as their own. I just love know that my children WANT to get up and go to church and they ask how many more days til church. Even Ace knows what a bible is and he tries to say his prayers. It's so cute. The older two fight over who says the blessing. AliPaige's version goes a little something like this " God is great God is good I pray the Lord my soul to keep AMEN!" But hey she tries. Well I guess I have rambled on for too long. I need to get ready for bed. SCHOOL is back in tomorrow!

Have a blessed week

LeighAnne

It's Birthday time at the Gregory's

Well it's that time of year at the Gregoy's. Well it happens to come around quite a bit with 5 in the family but we get to have two birthday's this month. And this is a little something special we did for Josh. He is at work tonight and me and the kids decided to fix him a little birthday surprise when he gets in at 5:30 in the morning. The first pictures are what the kids and I made for his birthday book.The next one is the actual books I got for him to go in the bag. The next is actually what he will see when he opens the door first thing. Also I got him a little cake of his own that I am going to give him at Ace's birthday . SHHHH it's a secret. Speaking of Ace's birthday I am getting everything ready for that as well. I have just about gotten all I need. Me and KP went to town today and bought all his decorations and food and not to mention presents. I can't wait. But I am a little sad cause there aren't many people coming. I guess Spring Break just wipes everyone out. But never the less it's my baby's birthday and the show must go on. He is so sweet. He is now telling everyone he loves them and when he went to bed tonight he told everyone " night night Aa paisha, night night Peston" he has his own words for them. But he is growing so much with his speech and that is such a blessing. I can't believe how far along he has come just in the past few weeks. I know God's working with him but now we just got to get to work on those legs. He can run and I mean RUN fast. But when he gets to going he will get up on his toes and drag his right foot and that causes many falls. But it will all work out in the end. Just got to keep praying. Well I need to get myself in the bed I got a big day tomorrow with getting the church ready for his party.

Good night and I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

LeighAnne

AliPaige's first field trip to the Fire Station

Yesterday we got to take AliPaige on her first field trip to the fire station. Which she loved. She got to see a fire truck go out on a run and one coming in from one. So she got to see all the flashing lights and sirens. She got to sit in the fire truck and play with some of the stuff . She got to " hang " on the pole. and then she got to dress up in a fire suit. She was so cute.

I had a horrible headache yesterday and had to leave the field trip early but luckily Miss Lisa figured out a way for AliPaige and Ace to go with her so they wouldn't miss out. But after I got home Josh had to take me to the doctor and get a shot. And it was crazy at the doctors office. I had to wait 2 hours in the waiting room in much pain and there was a screaming child and his mom just screamed back at him. Making it a LOOOONNNNGGG wait. But after I got my medicine and went to check out as soon as I stood up for a minute I almost lost it luckily the nurse was there to catch me and I had to go lay back down for about 15 more minutes and I don't remember anything after that. But I feel much better now. Josh has taken the two older kids fishing and me and Ace are just hanging out. It's been a long week and weekend so I think we are going to take it as a lazy day today. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

God Bless

Leighanne

Sorry it's been a while since I have been on here. We've had a lot going on. Baseball practice and doctors appointments. And so on and so on. I am getting Ace's birthday invitations out hopefully tomorrow.I am so happy with how they turned out and I can't believe he is turning two.He is doing so well in speech therapy he actually told me " I love you mama" last night. It was so Sweet and made my heart skip a beat. He is still having troubles with his legs and his allergies but we will work through it. Just pray that we can get in with the neurologist sooner than our scheduled appointment cause I don't want to wait that long. He needs help now. Well I need to hit the sack so I hope everyone has a good night and rest of the week and a Blessed weekend.

LeighAnne

just a few more pictures

Here are a few more of our Easter pictures. It's been a long weekend. Josh was off yesterday and we had ball practice. Then today Josh worked today and when me and the kids got home we were wiped out. Time change just kicked our tail. SO we took a nap and went to church tonight. Josh is in there trying to learn how to play the harmonica and the kids are getting ready to go to bed. So I thought I would just post a few more of our pictures for everyone to see.

I hope everyone has a blessed week

LeighAnne

All About Ace

This one is all about Ace. We went to the Allergy doctor yesterday and he was diagnosed with ASTHMA. So we go to get his medicine and equipment and it was $140.00. It's only just one more thing to add to his list of diagnosis. He has now such a list of problems I hate going to the doctors and having to fill out the medical lists. He has had more doctors that Josh and I combined. A neurologist, Neonatalogist,urologist, gastrointerologist, Cardiologist,ENT and ENTspecialist, Orthodist, orthopedist, physical therapist, speech therapist, special instruction therapist, Allergy and Asthma specialist. The trips to Children's for testing and the Trips to Huntsville to the neurologist are not that easy to co-ordinate with two other children. But when you have a Child with so many problem you will do what ever it takes to make them as normal as possible and let them live a life as normal as possible. I have more medicine in my cabinet for him that myself. He takes his breathing treatments and inhalers like a pro. I know he could be much worse and things are not as bad as others have it and I am so thankful for that. People ask me sometimes "How do you do it" And all I can say is you adapt. When you have healthy children you just go about your business like normal but when you have a special needs child you just deal with it. It's my normal. I love Ace and he is a special child and I know that God gave him to me for a reason and one day His testimony will glorify God to the highest. Because it has truly enhanced mine. Ace gave me strength I didn't know I had and he has opened my eyes to another world. God's grace is sufficient. And if his can be so can mine. I know the ultimate plan is set in stone and I can't change it so I just go with the flow. I love my child no matter what problems he does have and even if they were worse I would love him the same because in my eyes he's perfect and I know one day the world will see him that way too.

Have a Blessed weekend

LeighAnne

Getting Better

Well today I feel a little better. I have to just share how yesterday went. I got up decided to keep Preston home cause I wanted him to be with me through the day. My mom in law called and was telling me where to get some flowers and I began to cry and AliPaige asks why and I tell her I just miss my Grandmother well her eyes got HUGE and said " I want to talk to her" She thought she was on the phone. But we finish getting ready.We go to get the balloons to tie the poem on, I go to the psychologist cause I knew it would be very difficult to go through the day without encouragement and he helped me tremendously. And prepared me a little for what I had in store. Then I go to Hobby Lobby spend a tremendous amount of money on colored Gerber daisies. They are my favorite. All the way to the cemetery I cut them into individual flowers and it toooook the whole ride there ( about 45 min). We get there and the kids were wonderful at helping and they kept saying Grandmother will like this and God will like it to. After we were done I made Josh go take the kids to the car and I stayed and shared my poem with her which by the way was terribly difficult. But I held on to the one tied to the balloons and I couldn't let it go. I told God when he was ready he was going to have to take it. And after a minute or two a STRONG wind just took it out of my hands. BUT IT GOT STUCK IN A TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I am going back tomorrow to try again. I have had so MANY uplifting and encouraging words that I can never repay everyone. All the prayers and hugs means the world to me. I did actually have one person share with me that she went to see her grandmother and explained just how much of an impact she has on her life and that made every tear I shed while I wrote my poem worth it. BUT the funny thing is she never even saw my blog. She just had me on her mind. She also left me a very inspirational card in my mailbox that meant the world to me. Much encouraging scripture and just kind words. Even if she just signed it the thought of it was worth every tear I shed while I read it. THANKS ALLISON.Thanks to KP who came and spent the night just to help distract my mind and hug me in the morning and tell me that it's gonna be okay. Thanks to all the messages and comments I received I know each and everyone and they bless me every time I think of them. My Husband was a true GODSEND for me. He helped me be strong when I didn't think I could get up off the ground. He helped me breathe when I felt there was no air in my body. He is a great support system. AND YOU TO LINDSEY. I know you froze you r booty off while I had my panic attack and you got my medicine and helped me through it. I am blessed with such a great circle of friends and family. Today has been better . Not so many tears and I can breathe a little better. Still feel exhausted from the medicine though so I am going to say a good night to everyone and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!

LeighAnne

love ones lost.

Today is a tough day for me. It's been a year since my Grandmother passed away. No words can describe how I feel and the grief and sorrow that I have in my heart. Not for her because I know she is in a much better place than I but for me left here on this earth to go on without her. For my kids who will never understand how much she loved them. I know God blessed me with this wonderful woman to show me the true meaning of a humbled, loving , caring and gracious individual whom I can only hope that one day I become. She was the best Grandmother I could ever have in my life. If you picked all the qualities in a person she would be it. She loved unconditionally no matter what. One thing I will never forget is her hands. They were crippled from arthritis and she was ashamed of them but still when I think of her hands I think of caring hands that made food for her family that held on to mine when I need her to that hugged when I needed it. I will forever have her in my heart. I haven't yet said the g00d b-e word to her and I never will . However I did write this poem to give to her today and I feel the need to share it. It is personal and if you think I shouldn't share it maybe you need to click off my site. I know this is helping me cope with this the best way I can.

Dear Grandmother,

How do I say the words I know I should say
When all I wanted was for you to stay
You were the best Grandmother I could ask for
You were my family, friend and so much more
You meant the world to me is so many ways
That’s why I can’t say what I need to say
I still hold you in my heart so close
I guess that’s why I miss you the most
I have so many memories I can share
And they are all wonderful stories because you care
You never got to see Ace walk and fall
You never got to see Preston play baseball
My children will forever know the love you had for them
I tell them constantly the love you had for her and both him
I know you are up there looking down with a grin
I just wish I could share this life with my friend
You had a heart that was as large as the sky
I just can’t grasp WHY oh WHY
The time has flown by I can’t believe it’s been a year
I know you’ve been here with me through every tear
You shared so much of your life with me
I wish you were here and your smile I could see
But I know God needed you to come home
And We are left here feeling all alone
We live our lives with grief and sorrow
Knowing that there’s always a better tomorrow
I know God picked you out just for me
And I hope you know you still live in me
A piece of my heart is forever gone
But with time and healing your memories will live on
One good thing I have taken from this tragedy
Is when God calls me home YOU’LL be waiting for me
One thing I miss the most is you caring hand
You took pride in your family like no one else can
I hope I can be half the woman you were
Than I’ll know I’m a great person for sure
I will never be able to say the words I should say
All I can tell you is I’ll see you again one day

LOVE YOU FOREVER
LeighAnne

Romans 5:2-5 says
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us to this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance . And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

As I leave you this morning I ask one favor. If you are blessed to have your Grandparents still here with you PLEASE PLEASE call them and tell them you love them. They are one of a kind and you never know when they will be called home.
LeighAnne

I'm feeling a bit BLAH!!!!!!!!!

Well it's just been one of those days. I have alot in my mind right now. Tomorrow will be a year since my Grandmother passed and it's been a very difficult day for me cause I know a year ago today she was alive and tomorrow she won't. I have been trying to surround myself with people to talk to and keep busy so I don't get upset but it hasn't help. So Please pray for me tonight and tomorrow.

LeighAnne

A Baby is on the WAY( NOOOOO NOT MINE) and Ace is playing dress up

I just had to post these pictures.. The top two are of me and Brandy at her shower today. I just love a baby belly. And I can't wait to see miss little Ava. She got a TON of stuff today and I am so happy for Brandy to be preparing for the arrival of her sweet little girl. What a God send. The other pictures are of Ace. He dressed and POSED himself. he has on one long sock and one short. AliPaige"s shoe and a hat and little sunglasses. He is such a mess.I can't believe how he is coming out of his little shell. All this physical, speech and special instructions therapy is HELPING out tremendously. But keep praying for the little guy. his legs aren't co-operating like they should and hopefully after a trip to the neurologist we can get him straightened out.Of course right at this moment he is running around just dadny but I'm sure in a little bit when it's time to go nighty night he will not be so chipper. That is when it's the worse.. It seams to be moving up the right side of his body and his arm is begginning to bother him sometimes to. I don't know what to do but to give it to God and trust that he will take care of it. That's all we can do

good night and God Bless

LeighAnne