Short Lived Forgiveness

This is Link the cat asking for forgiveness yesterday. Its been quite a while since we had some one on one time. I used to have a nice wooden rocker next to my side of the bed, and when I get a few moments to breath, I sit and relax. Link, on occasion, would jump in my lap for a quick pet and we would enjoy life for a bit together. For those of you that don't know Link... This is RARE. I like to say that Links one main mission in life is to be left alone. Not as by himself, but he just really appreciates his personal space. He is forever where we are and follows us around but only likes attention on rare occasions. Have I mentioned he is the size of a medium sized dog?? Yeah, He's huge....

So when I would find him on my lap in that old wooden rocker... I know we are sharing a special moment. He does that for NO ONE else in the house....

EVER.

Anyway, this past summer has been full of visitors, surgeries and new babies. That old wooden rocker was moved into the living room for extra seats. and with that move, came no more midday visits from my big fat cat.

On top of that, our relationship has been strained. I may or may not on several occasions threatened to kill him, or perhaps chased him up the stairs with a wooden spoon when he would make me trip and almost smash my face on my kitchen floor.  I may never admit to having rants and rages when I find a 10 pound poop freshly dropped on my very nice bathrug...

I won't even mention what happened when he peed in my laundry bin FULL of fresh clean clothes.

I have the local humane society on speed dial.

I was even ready to ship him off despite the sobbing and begging of my 13 year old daughter... who treats Link as if he is her own son.

But to my surprise, it was my hubby who gave Link his 9 lives...

Hubby, The cat hater.

It was hubby who reluctantly gave him another chance... and another and another. Making sure he had just the right kitty litter and food..

Perhaps, like the Grinch, His heart grew 3 sizes too big...

Or maybe the sight of his daughter utterly broken hearted made him change.

We may never know, but I think deep down Link knows that hubby is his personal savior...

In more ways than one.

Our trust in Link is broken and will need to be earned in time. My finger is ready to hit that send button and make room for him in the cat-inn. But we shall see...

My friend Michelle lent me her white and pink rocker. Her last baby is 6 years old and she may or may not have more, so her son brought it over to my house this past weekend.

I was so happy to have another rocker back in my room again. Another place for my kids to sit when they come in at night to chat or watch tv with me. I have already started crocheting in it at night.

But yesterday, as the rain beat against my bedroom window, and the chaos that is my life ran amuck, I slipped away for a quick moment of peace.

I sat in that rocker and enjoyed the view outside. I rocked for a few seconds before I noticed something in my peripheral.

It was Link.

His big green eyes were darting around for a place to jump. I wasn't sure if he would in fact snuggle. and I wasn't quite sure If I wanted to.

I heard his purring from across the room and before I knew it, he was curled in my lap. I ran my fingers ever so lightly through his fur and felt his whole body vibrating.

He was back.

He tilted his face and stared into my eyes for a few minutes before licking my nose. I took that as an "im sorry..."

I forgave him of course but I asked him what the heck has been wrong with him? and then wondered if I was completely crazy for talking to my cat...

At the same time, we looked away and stared out the window. The rain falling and the wind blowing...

And for just about 2 seconds...

we understood each other..

Xoxo

GiGi

Im Getting Sssslllleeepppyyyyyy.......

Its a perfectly awesome rainy monday in my corner of the world. I was actually able to get more than a few hours of consecutive sleep and thanks to the darkness and rain, my kids slept in just a bit. I attribute it all to prayer... lots of prayer. I collapsed into bed last night simply exhausted from the daily grind, praying that my morning would not be a glimpse of hellish chaos that was last week....

Me in a coma, Baby Caleb screaming, Penny tearing the place up and my kids asking me too many questions that I could not answer due to sleeping brain cells. Yup. Thats what my mornings looked like last week and I would not have a repeat. So I prayed. Hard.  As hard as I could for the 45 seconds I remained conscious. 

And God, so graciously answered me. Prayer DOES change things.

I also prayed that God would help me find my 2 missing shirts. Long story... but I figure if He can part the waters, my lost shirts should be a piece of cake. Im just afraid He might lead me to the back of my freezer or inside my fireplace... another reminder what lack of sleep can do to a momma. Did I mention I misplaced a 1/2 stick of butter while cooking sauce last night?

I still can't find it. Sweet hubby promised he would find it before Miss P fingerpaints with it. I think the hubz has come to realize I have lost my marbles too.

But thats ok. I know this season is temporary... My last season of newborn-ness and my last Babymoon.

Im reminded every time I walk into my closet and stare at my pile of maternity clothes. I cleaned my closet yesterday while searching for those missing shirts. It came out quite nice but I don't know what to do with that one pile.

The pile I will never ever get to wear again.

Yeah, Im still dealing with closing that chapter of my life.

I know most of you don't understand and won't understand either. Just like you can't comprehend having 7 children... but thats fine. I don't expect you to.

But I can't bear to give them away. Not yet.

But life goes on and today is October 1st! Another big day in our Little Red House. As tradition says, tonight we gather around the TV and watch " Its The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and drink Hot cocoa. My daughters friend is sleeping over and she will get to partake in the tradition too. Perhaps a little bit of Monkey bread will be served as well.

Today starts all things pumpkin and scary. Tricks or treats and candy corn. Our little red house comes complete with a Big fat black Cat.

Yes, Link is still here. But just because of this girl:

She loves that furball more than life.

She claims SHE is his Mom because...

"HE SAW ME FIRST..."

He pooped outside of his litter box again and he almost became a lawn ornament...

I mean, who would know it was really a real cat with Halloween approaching and all. 

I can claim insanity...

I plead 7...

or just deny...

"What cat??"

But for now our little lion roams the halls of our house still. His days might be numbered if he can't control where his hairy butt lowers.

Off I go. My kids are eating out of the cheerio box as I try to type this blog and half of them are on the floor. . School is almost done for the day and 8+ grilled cheese sandwiches need to be made.

I know what your thinking... DANG... and I know what your going to ask...

YES! Its hard. But aren't all things in life that are GOOD and PURPOSEFUL hard?

I wouldn't change it for a second.

I wish you all could have a taste of the blessings that abound among the mess.

The fun we have, the loneliness we will never experience...

Yes, please, come over and have a big slice of my pie...

and while your here, I will slip away for a nap!

Xoxo

GiGi

Way Down South In Brooklyn

In Brooklyn NY, neighbors are friends and friends are neighbors. Moms scream out the open windows at their kids, food is exchanged between apartments and waves from the front porch are a common sight. Kids run in and out of various houses and bikes decorate lawns sidewalks.

This past Saturday my favorite Italian and I are resurrecting Brooklyn in the south!

She officially became a resident of our block and now lives directly across the street from me!

For the next 2 years at least.

See?? Thats the view of her house from my front porch.

We spent the weekend helping them move in. All 9 kids ( minus Caleb) ran back and forth from both houses while Michelle and I took turns screaming out the window to 

" LOOK BOTH WAYS..."

OR

"GET YOUR SHOES ON..."

Good 'ol Cuncle was here too, carrying the heavy furniture and supplying us with fresh jokes.

You can read more about who he is HERE

As the sun was beginning to set and their house continued to resemble cardboard chaos, Aunt Diana and Uncle Joe came over to continue helping.

She slipped a tray of lasagna into their fridge. I had plans to slip it back out and into mine when they weren't looking, but never got around to it.

Shhh, don't say anything.

They also live on our block... just 5 houses to the right. Aunt Diana supplies us with late night banana nut bread and stuffed peppers.

Really!!

Im sure I have been caught by more than one neighbor running down the street in my leopard slippers for a late night pick-up!

Anyway, it was a perfect Brooklyn-like evening yesterday. The day was coming to a close and the kids still ran amuck through the streets.

Aunt D, Michelle and I stood on the front lawn chatting about everything, and the guys continued to unpack.

We are a loud bunch and in the 24 hours since the move....

kids and food have already wandered back and forth.

You know....

Like the good ol days, before people became recluses and locked themselves in their houses.

 

And if you drive by our neighborhood and hear some moms screaming out the windows...

 

Just pay no mind....

 

That's just me and my favorite Italian...

 

Bringing some loud, NY goodness to the sweet, southern south!

 Xoxo

GiGi

End Of The Road...

 Hello my dear friends who I have neglected for so long. Its good to have my fingers back on the keyboard again. I slowly feel my bloggy brain cells returning. I didn't expect it. I was happily sitting in my backporch watching a competitive game of soccer between my kids when It just hit me. I had to write you.

So here I am. And I really have no clue where to begin. SO much has happened... and Im serious when I say so much!

ButI guess I should start by introducing our newest edition to our family!

Caleb Benjamin

made his arrival on August 18th after a long, hard and not so joyous labor.

I will save his birth story for another time but I will say that after 6 vaginal deliveries...

S-I-X... Lucky #7 arrived by an emergency c-section after hours of hard labor, no dilation, epidural complications and non stop worry of losing him. It was topped off with being put under general anesthesia halfway thru the c-section and ended with me vomiting hours later with a fresh incision due to the medication.

Yes, thats how my precious son entered this world. He was worth every pain and heartache and everyone just oohhed and ahhed over his full head of hair, with natural blond highlights.

The above picture was our first night together. It still is bittersweet to look at. I was swollen from the iv's which would later lead to even more complications and I had not slept due to nightmares I was having from the delivery the day before. It wasn't the best night of my life but holding him made it all better.

5 days after this picture was taken, I was re-admitted into the hospital due to peripardum Cardiomyopathy...

Another long story that I will elaborate on at another time but basically I was in congestive heart failure. It happened so fast, that by the time I processed it all, I was in an ambulance being transferred to another hospital and put on the old people's cardic care floor.

My eyes were practically swollen shut from crying so bad and my baby wasn't even with me. I was a mess. Im surprised they didnt put me on the mental health floor.

its a not so rare/rare complication of pregnancy/postpartum period that can be extremely fatal. Thank the good Lord in heaven, it was caught early and only moderate heart damage occurred. 

But to be honest, for a split second I felt like I slipped thru the cracks. God must have been too busy that day with other world problems and somehow little ol me ended up in a mess. I mean, I had just given birth to a baby boy... the one he TOLD me I would keep AND that it WOULD be a boy. Remember??

I had 6 other kids at home and a husband I loved to pieces... a life I adored.... I wasn't ready to go anywhere!!!!

Hubby sent out prayer requests on facebook and we prayed and prayed that others would pray on our behalf because honestly...

We just didn't have the words.

I couldn't put 2 words together.

That was 2 weeks ago. I stayed in the hospital over the weekend and was sent home 20 pounds lighter from diuretics and 7 bottles of pills to take a day.

I was treated aggressively and prayerfully, since I am responding well to my meds, will make a full recovery in about 6 months to a year.

Prayerfully. 

Thats what Im praying and believing and according to hubby...

demanding. His words..." there is no other alternative..."

So any prayers from y'all would be greatly appreciated as well!!!

Because of my heart problem, my Dr. made it quite clear that NO MORE BABIES were in my future. Next time I might not be so lucky.

So, im dealing with that which is worse than the actual problem OR c-section recovery.

I mean, I swore this was my last pregnancy but I say that during every pregnancy. And I certainly don't like decisions to be made for me. Nothing infuriates me more...

So, this piece of news has left me with a lot of questions and absolutely no closure.

Im dealing with the fact that this is the end of the road for my life as a baby maker...

and its hard.

But besides that, taking it easy and lots of dr visits, life is continuing in our little red house.

I havent even begun to tell you about the surgery my Miss. P had a week before Caleb was born or what Link the cat put us through...

His furry butt was almost out on the street...

But i'll save that for another day soon!!!

After all, how much excitement can you take in one blog post??

Xoxo

GiGi

The Months Before July...

Such an original title huh?? Its the best I can do right now. My brain is sucked dry as I make the final touches on my brandy new son Caleb!! 

Thats right folks, Im still pregnant. 8 more weeks of preggo bliss. Its been a rough one, between the normal discomforts of a 7th full term pregnancy, sickness, illness and a bought with migraines that lasted long enough to acquire several hundred dollars of ER bills due to MRI's and narcotics to help me ease the pain.

All due to a root canal ( I will die swearing that caused it.)

So excuse me if I prefer never visiting a Dentist again!

But God is good and saw me through a very rough patch. With some good friends, prayer and a VERY special friend who forever changed the meaning of Psalms 91.

I am healed and will add another praise report to my ever growing Praise book.

I also will repeat how Good God is because just a few short days after I recovered and regained strength, I was able to recover on the 14th floor of a beautiful resort for a week. Swimming and listening to the sounds of the sea with the 7 most important creatures in my life!!

I did a lot of this

and this too!! Hubby and I took turns taking the kids down to the beach and pool since Lil Miss Penelope  prefers running away over swimming. It was just easier. The kids waved and screamed 14 floors up at whichever parent was happily left behind.

I met some really nice people that week. Most just stopped me to ask me if all the children were mine. I didn't mind answering the questions and chatting with them about our every days.

I met another nice woman who's husband owned a private jet and flew them from Oklahoma to the seashore for their vacation. 2 hours in flight verses 19 plus hours... Yup. My kinda hubby!

After our week, we were sad to leave. A beach vacation is so our speed. Relaxing, no schedule and a beautiful condo that I didn't have to clean. What more could I ask for?

We didn't make any advanced plans. Took each hour as they came and really enjoyed.

Many people cannot say that about their vacation. But its how vacations should be.

At night, we retired on our balcony and watched the colors of the sky wheel and fell asleep whenever we wanted.

Ahhh, the life.

but its back to reality. School is out in our little red house and our calendar is full.

My Oldest went to her first PROM!!!....with a B-O-Y!! She was just 14 at the time but because we knew him, his family, his siblings... and he knew my hubby's ability to snap his neck in an instant, we made an exception.

She was beautiful and she had a BLAST!

I felt old as I waited up in bed for her. She came in my room as soon as she got home and chatted all about it. I smiled and let her talk and talk. Hannah lay next to me and asked a million questions too... and patiently, she answered them all.

It certainly was a big milestone in our house. As a mom of 5 girls, I know this is just the beginning of many"coming home late night chats..." but it doesn't make it any less surreal.

The next picture of my bedsheets is a strange one... but to me, its everything. I went to Homegoods and purchased a set of expensive sheets as we were in desperate need of sheets....

Well, the said sheets are the reason I may or may not dive into bed by 8 every night....

and find every reason I can to never ever leave the comforts of my blue room!!

OMG!!!

Never underestimate the power of GOOD sheets. 

I think this is what heaven must feel like.

I have had them for over a month and the novelty still has not worn off. Perhaps if I had them before my horrific migraines, just laying on the sheets would have CURED me!! ;)

to make matters even BETTER, I finally found the PERFECT curtains for my bedroom and our long awaited dresser ( the very last piece to our set we have been waiting for) arrives Thursday.

With that said...

I might never leave my bedroom. Its just too delightful for words!

I also got my act together and made my Baby Caleb his love-y blanket. Im just obsessed with monkeys now and insist everything he has, has monkeys on it. But not just any monkey... brown and green monkeys! It looks blue in the picture because it was taken late at night but its green. I assure you.

and his clothes will have the same as well as towels and washcloths and onsies and anything else I can get my swollen hands on!

Last but not least, My sweet Banana had her first co-op dance as well. Since the dance was a few weeks after co-op ended, she was SO happy to see her friends again and have some fun.

Well, folks, thats it. Sorry for the boring post but my creativity seems to be gone. I hope to get it back after delivery. In the meantime, pray for my hubby and children... and for my neighbors and friends and members of my town.... or just anyone I might come in contact with. I may be a tad bit cranky due to my size... and I may have slight road rage...

and I may or may not have almost told off about 20 people...

Its a tough job but someones got to do it right??

Ta Ta

Xoxo

GiGi

Our Easter

Honestly, Easter kind of snuck up on me this year. I feel bad that I didn't do as much with the kids as I always plan.

I even may or may not have almost forgotten to read them some of their favorite Easter story books...

Although, the real reason for Easter is always talked about in our home.

Despite the pathetic lack of planning, we did manage to cram some fun stuff in a few days before and hopefully my children were none-the-wiser that their Mama is one big SLACKER!

Eggs were dyed and dad rejoiced every time one broke...
Cause that means he gets to eat it!

Hard boiled eggs are his FAV!

Our huge collection of plastic eggs were rinsed off and counted to prepare for our annual "morning egg hunt."

And baskets were stuffed with goodies and placed in their spots to greet them on Easter morning.

Easter morning went well and surprisingly smooth. I have a feeling some dear ladies were praying for me and my sanity that morning.;)

I did manage to buy everyone new dresses/shoes or whatever else were needed and off to church we went. The feeling of holiday in the air and a special presentation waiting for us to see.

The rest of the day was spent quietly. Our children played outside and Hubby and I watched from my favorite green chairs. They laughed and played and hubby also planted some new blueberry bushes. We discussed our spring garden and named a big fat bee that lives in our azalea bush.

Link the cat lounged in the screen porch... tired from all the hunting he did of all the bugs he can't catch from being locked in the screen porch...

And Little P learned to climb UP the slide in nothing but her diaper. We all gathered around her as she climbed up and threw herself down laughing the whole way.

All in all the day was so GOOD.

Really good.

A day I wanted to capture in a mason jar and never forget.

How was your Easter Sunday?

Xoxo

GiGI

Behind The Baby

Its been a long and emotional day... all good though.

Our sono went well and we are SOOO happy to announce that in 20 more weeks we will be welcoming a 

SON

To our family. How sweet is that??? Our count will now be 5 girls and 2... TWO boys!

Hubby was ecstatic. He may or may not have hollered out loud, fist pumped, punched the air and declared his love for the ultrasound tech. He audibly praised God, squeezed my arm and hollered some more. It was a happy moment for us. And for a brief few moments, in a world dominated by social openness...

It was beyond special to share it just between us.

Although, just like I said in my earlier POST, I felt like I was just confirming what I already knew. For my long time followers, your all are well aware of my history of pregnancy losses... so when I first saw those 2 lines confirmed on Christmas Day, I was already setting myself up for loss. It wasn't until the next day that for a brief 7 seconds, I heard a stillness in my soul confirm that I would keep this baby and it would be a boy. For those split seconds, I had complete peace and confidence. 

I came out of the room and told my hubby what just happened...not wanting to say it was "God." NOT because I didn't believe it could happen, but because I am a firm believer in not throwing "God told me..." around. As women, (myself first on the list) I think we are too emotional and sometimes get the two confused.... Only to be proven wrong and be labeled "the wacky holy roller." 

You wont catch me in casual conversation claiming God spoke this and that, after all, before I put words in HIS mouth, I am going to be darn sure they are HIS words, make sense?

Anyway, whenever fear crept in, I prayed that I would use that moment as comfort and deep in my soul, I just knew I would be holding a son this summer.

Today's day of joy for us was shadowed by many other thoughts and emotions as well. As I saw my healthy baby bounce around on screen, I had the faces of many women close to me on my heart who are currently struggling to be where I am, right at this moment. Friends who visit infertility clinics instead of OB's, Ladies who are on bed rest from just losing their precious baby and other friends who are still emotionally healing from their losses as well.

I prayed that they too, could be where I am one day soon.... sooner than later. Although, I am desperately thankful that as of today... right now... I closed that season of my life. I hope I can be celebrating with them.

But today, we will be doing our own celebrating. Pizza and eggplant parmesan from our favorite Italian restaurant. My cell phone has not stopped going off from all the good news on Facebook, Twitter and text messages and I am soaking it all in. I am so thankful to be able to share another blessing with so many people....

and a name??

Caleb Benjamin of course.

Xoxo

GiGi

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

Today is the day of the big sonogram reveal.

Im so excited but at the same time, I feel as if I'm going to just confirm what I already know. I have never been this confident before in any of my other pregnancies but this one is different. 

I'll have to explain some other time...

After we definitively find out.

Hubby took off of work. Partly due to sickness and partly due to the big appointment.

Either way, all bets are made and we are ready to finish up this second half of pregnancy...

follow me on TWITTER for hints!!!

Stay tuned....

Xoxo

GiGi

GiGi Resurrected!!!

 I'm back! Can you believe it? Yes, I know... you have heard those words before. Actually, several times over last fall but this time it is for REALS!

I needed the break and lost all interest on keeping up this site. So much was going on and something had to give. I did think about you all often and wondered how you all were, but for some reason, my writers block turned into writers refusal. I lost readers, followers and fans. Sponsors stopped emailing me, BlogHer lost my address and all giveaway offers ceased...

which kinda made me sad but then i received those private emails from readers asking if I was ok... or just writing to say hello and thats when I remembered why I write here...

For them. My friends. The ones who love me. =)

So, yesterday, as I played another round of scramble on my phone. (my latest addition...)

A blog "bling" came into my head. See, that's how my blogs usually come to me. I never plan what I write... they usually just POP or BLING up in my brain and I get to it. So, I was quite surprised when one actually sprouted in that very dusty corner in my mind. It was then I knew it was time.

But how? How do I go from sharing my dailies with you, to filling you in on the last 4 months???

So, I figure I would share in quick highlights and go forth from there. So much has happened in our Little Red House and so much has stayed the same. It will be easy for all of us to pick up where I so selfishly left off.

So for the 2 readers out there that might still visit me from time to time...

Here's whats been happening...

 YES! You guessed it. Another addition is on its way. Lucky #7 surprised us all on Christmas day. With our crazy holiday schedule I lost track of too many things and VOILA... in August another beautiful bouncy baby will be added. This was another reason I abandoned this blog. This first trimester was a doozy!

But I am happily in my 19th week and im getting excited to meet this next member of our "little" family.

January kept us busy. I was hiding the pregnancy from just about everyone. After having such a high history of losses, my greatest fear was putting my kids through all the hurt of losing another sibling. I was doing an awesome job until my Hannah ratted me out as I sucked down ice pops...

" MOM!! Are you pregnant?? The only time you eat ice pops is when your PREGNANT?"

I casually responded that I didn't know and she had to ask her father...

(insert me darting out of the room)

In which he replied...

"I have no clue.. Go ask your mother..."

Yes, the game was fun and her and my Emma kept a good secret for 8 whole weeks. We kept busy with the republican primary and going to the BEST political rally EVER... where we met the Duggars!! My kids were thrilled to stand next to the Duggar girls. It was a day to remember for sure.

Although... I DID tell ONE person my secret very early on...

Mrs. Santorum was elated to hear we were welcoming our 7th :)

We also welcomed another teenager into our brood. Hannah crossed over into the realm of childhood to young adulthood..

And she also got a Facebook!!

That was the highlight of her day.

A few weeks ago, we packed up our big black van for one last HURRAH and headed west to Tennessee. Not so much as a pleasure trip but to pick up our NEW 15 passenger van!!

We prayed and prayed and God provided and threw in some fun in the process.

So we went from the picture below:

TO THIS:

AHHH It feels so good to stretch our legs. The only bad news is our Big black beauty is up for sale! It will be bittersweet to see her go but its time.

Then the biggest and latest news was the premier of THE HUNGER GAMES!!

My older girls have been counting down for over a year and a half for the midnight showing.

They had friends sleep over and off they went giggling and screeching the whole way.

So our Little Red House has been full of the same. Living life as best as we know how. Thanks for finding faith in me again as we  Find ways through it all and try to remember that "These are the days..."

Xoxo

GiGi

ZABARS

Our mail lady is awesome. Really! She delivers our bills mail in a silver jeep with her freshly dyed maroon hair and many piercings. She knows my big black van and never forgets to wave as I drive on by. She casually chats with the neighbors and delivers all my packages right to my porch.

This morning we were still in pajamas with bed head getting ready for the day when our doorbell rang. I tiptoed to the peephole in hopes the visitor did not hear the chaos behind my walls. If I was very careful, perhaps I could just "pretend" we were not home. I shushed and yelled quieted the children.

What a relief to see my favorite lady dropping packages off for us. I opened my door and waved and said thank you. We exchanged pleasantries as some children escaped out the open door...

I was quite baffled since all of our expected purchases had already arrived, but I picked them up and brought them to the kitchen table for a closer look.

My children were now hovering over me like little mosquitoes trying to catch a peek at the return address. I, again, shooed them away until one white box caught my eye.

A big piece of tape was on the side that said "perishables... open immediately.'

It was from ZABARS.

Hmmm... Zabars? Perishables? I knew Zabars was an awesome epicurean store located in NYC but why are we getting a package from there and who was the sender??

I must admit, it was quite exciting on this otherwise rainy day.

We quickly ripped open the package and pulled out

THIS:

A bag FULL of FRESH NY BAGELS!!

GLORY!

Do I hear an AMEN as well??

A piece of home never made 8 people sooo happy.

And the bag that the bagels were in??....

PRECIOUS!!!!

But who were they from??

A little note fell out and it read:

Good 'ol Aunt Eva... Hubby's sister and our nephew...

She's the best isn't she.

And she really made us feel special today...

So Aunt Eva... if your reading this...

THANK YOU from the very bottom of our tummy's. You could have not picked a better gift if you tried. The only thing that could have made it better, was if you and that sweet boy were joining us on Christmas morning. All of us, around the table, eating and laughing and eating some more...

In spirit you will be. We love you

Xoxo

GiGi