WOW! It has been a year since I posted on here! SORRY!! I almost forgot I had this blog! Alot has happened over the year!

Gary has been working here in Jefferson, about 6 miles from home from 2-11pm. It has been tough at times, but we are grateful he has a job! He recently was offered day shift (starts Feb 28), but he will be driving to Gainesville, which will be a 30 minute commute. The good news about that is that it won't be interstate! After his horrible accident 4 years ago on 85, we are grateful he is not on that road everyday anymore.

Ansley started Pre-K this year and loves it most days! She is wiped out when she gets home! She is learning to read-if I would work with her EVERY day, she could already be reading. She is so smart! We are very proud! Ansley has also been cheerleading and I think she enjoys it! It's so cute to watch!

Kayleigh is my sweet little girl! SO affectionate and loving. I have absolutely LOVED being a stay at home mom! SO blessed to have this opportunity! She has a wonderful personality! She started potty training about a month before her 2nd birthday. She asked to go, and I didn't stop her! She still wears diapers to bed and when we go out, just in case. But does VERY well! She likes to cheer too-you will hear her saying ball, hoop, hoop! She doesn't really like watching tv much (like Ansley does), but she will watch Barney a little,but LOVES kidssongs videos!


Gary's dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer this year and has been living with Gary's sister for the last 4 months or so, with Hospice coming 3 days a week. His dad, Don, lived a good, healthy 83 years till this, so we are grateful for that, but it has been hard to see him stuck in a bed for months. I pray I am alive to see the day they find a cure for this horrible disease.

Speaking of cancer, we also found out my Uncle Brannon (my dad's brother) had lung cancer, and shortly after, fell and hit his head, causing a hemorrhage in his brain. He passed away Oct 30, 2010. It was very sad and I think of his children and wife often. He is missed.

And to top all of this...my dad and mom were diagnosed with cancer. My dad has bladder cancer and has had scopes and biopsies done. At the moment, he is doing well and will go in for another scope soon (hopefully) to make sure it hasn't spread. My mom has nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is cancer at the top of her throat behind her nose. It spread into 2 of her lymph nodes. She began chemo this past Monday and will do a total of 3 rounds, every 21 days, for 4 days at a time. Then she will do radiation every day, for 7 weeks. I look forward to the day when all of this pain, treatment, and doctors will be over and she can be PAINFREE and enjoy her life again.

It will be a rough next few months, between my mom and Gary's dad. We just pray alot and hug alot. We know that God is watching over us and taking care of us. We have alot of wonderful people in our lives that are very supportive and we know that we have alot of people praying for us and our families. Prayer is a powerful thing!

To keep my mind off this for a little bit every day, I have gotten addicted to couponing, which has really helped our family save so much money. And I have enjoyed it so much that I have taught anyone that is interested and wants to learn and will listen. This passion has developed into a "business", if you will, and I am now officially teaching coupon classes and making some money doing it! So to all of you that I taught for FREE-you lucked out!! I am so grateful for this opportunity to make some money to help our family while still being able to stay home with my baby!

So, it is late and I'm ready to get in the bed. I will post more soon!
Thanks for listening.
Courtney

We are still here!

It has been awhile since I've updated this! I forgot I had it! Much has changed since my last update! Gary has a job he loves-in the computer field still! It's only 5 miles from our home! He comes home to have dinner with us every night! He works 2 in the afternoon till 11pm. So we get up at 8 and hang out till 1:30, when he leaves for work. Somedays the girls and I do stuff with friends or the Moms Group, but we spend alot of time with him.



Ansley is 4 1/2 now, and Kayleigh is 14 months. Now that its getting warm outside, we have been spending alot of time out there. They both love it! Ansley has 2 months of preschool 3 days a week left. Hopefully in August she will start Pre-K!!! She LOVES school and impresses us everyday with all the things she knows and understands. She is starting to learn sight words (words we see alot like the, of, it, and), she can sound out words like cat, ham, etc. She can do alot of things and will do well in school! She loves to watch tv, but I try to limit it, which will be easier now that we can get outside some! We have taken her skating a few times and I wish we would take her more so that she can actually learn how to skate-I hope she loves it like we do!! Although, we don't do it much these days:( Kayleigh has been walking for about 4 months now. She is very busy! And VERY sweet. I love her age-I am sad that my last baby is growing so fast. She LOVES to eat and play outside! She is talking some-she says bye-bye, baby, night night, momma, dada, kitty kitty, shoo, uh-oh and a few more that I can't seem to remember at the moment! When I put her in her carseat and turn on the music, she bounces her shoulders and dances with the cutest smile on her face! I could go on and on about my girls!!!



I am LOVING staying at home. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to be with my girls everyday all day long. Watching them grow, learn new things, loving on them, and just enjoying our life together!



My mom is still fighting headaches daily and I pray that she finds help for this soon. My dad recently had a tumor removed from behind his eye that was affecting his vision. He has recovered nicely (although it was rough for a few weeks!) and is still taking it easy! My sisters live in their own house now and love it. Ansley loves to see her aunties:) Leia works at a cardiology office and Amanda works in an MRI office.



We have enjoyed having another baby in the family-little Miss Sophie! With Abbey, Lily, Ansley, Kayleigh, and Sophie-we have lots of fun, especially during the holidays!! Its hard to believe Jake and Paige are driving now-when I met Gary they were about Ansley's age!!!! Sad-why do they have to grow so fast! April and Chris just moved into their first house and we will go see it this weekend!! Nikki got accepted into nursing school-woohoo! And Paige has decided to go to Auburn! I am so proud of all our family! We are very blessed!!!



I am really excited about my cousin Wes coming home late August from Germany. He will be stationed in Tampa FL, so I will hopefully get to see him more often!!



I've been working on getting back to my pre-pregnancy (before Ansley) weight, but can't seem to STOP eating. I enjoy exercising so I walk some, have recently starting jogging, and attending bootcamp where we do kickboxing and weights. I have NEVER worked out like that in my life and I'm really enjoying it!



I still scrapbook-Ansley has a book for every year of her life and Kayleigh's 1st year is almost complete. Just need a weekend to myself to get caught up!! I haven't gotten to line dance much lately, since Gary works nights and my mom is having so much trouble with headaches. I miss dancing and skating-they helped me stay in shape!!



Well, naptime is almost over (I was going to scrapbook, but got sidetracked with this!!). Guess I'll go clean some more! I'll try not to forget about this and post some recent pictures. Although most of you are on facebook, where I post pictures regularly! Gotta love facebook!!



Love

Courtney

The latest...

Hi! It's been awhile again since I've updated-I just can't seem to find time to do things like this-or I should say make time! When the girls go to bed, we usually go to bed! Ansley is 3 1/2 years old now and Kayleigh is almost 5 months old. Time is flying by, and the busier we are the faster it goes! Ansley is out of preschool for the summer and will return first of September. She LOVES school. She missed alot of it last year due to her cough. She had no other symtoms besides the cough and her doctor finally diagnosed her with RAD (Reactive Airway Disease), which is another term for asthma. The dr said her airways are reacting to an unknown allergen. I want to have her tested for food allergies to see if its something she's eating. I don't want her to continue having this cough if we can help it. She has been doing breathing treatments for about a month, one in the am and one at night, but I hope that we don't have to continue doing that for much longer. She seems to be better, for now. Ansley is having a good summer so far-playing outside all the time, riding her tricycle, playing with friends, and doing stuff with the Moms Group all the time! I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't joined that group-its a wonderful group of ladies! Ansley was recently the flower girl in my cousin Paige's wedding. She did an awesome job-I was pleasantly surprised. Ansley tends to be shy when she is first around people she hasn't seen in awhile, so I didn't think she would like having to walk down the aisle and stand in front of all those people, but she did it!



Kayleigh is growing so fast. She rolled over for the 1st time last week! She coos/talks all the time, laughs, smiles, gives kisses-is so sweet! She loves to stand up in your lap (all the time!) and can even sit up pretty well! She will probably be an early walker like Ansley, who was walking at 8 1/2 months old!! Until recently, she would scream when people held her, other than me, Gary, and Nana. But she has gotten better-thank goodness! She loves to be outside and watch the kids play! She has been sleeping through the night since about 8-9 weeks old, but lately she's been waking up to eat-She must be going through a growth spurt. Between her midnight feeding and Ansley's bad dreams-I'm up at night alot! But for the most part, they both sleep well.



Gary still doesn't have a job:( I never thought he would be out of work for 5 months!! Hope he finds one soon. He did get to join us on a field trip at Ansley's school to a farm. Afterwards we had lunch and went to Monkey Joes ( a jump place). It was a wonderful family day. We need to make time for more of those!! Gary's sister, Missy, is expecting a little girl in August, so we are looking forward to another addition in the family!!



My mom continues to have headaches daily, some worse than others, and we don't get to see her and Dad as often as we'd like to. She also broke her foot a few months ago and is still healing from that. My parents recently celebrated 40 years of marriage! I feel so blessed to have parents that are still together! They have been so good to me and my family-we love them so much.



My sisters were living in an apartment and moved in with a friend recently, and have now decided to buy a house on their own. They move in this week! I am very excited for them and can't wait to see it! They like to come get Ansley and take her out and spoil her rotten! It gives me a break-which is nice!



Its hard for me to remember what all to put in here! I know I am forgetting stuff to put in here, so I will just put it in the next blog!

Hope you are doing well.
Love
Courtney

Yes, we are still alive!!

Hello! Sorry it has taken me so long to update, but we have been adjusting to all the the new things going on in this house! Gary has been home for 6 weeks searching for a new job. The week after being laid off, Kayleigh arrived. It has been nice having him home to help, but we are ready for him to have a job!!!

Kayleigh is a precious little baby. She sleeps pretty well, as well as a newborn is expected to sleep, getting up every 3 hours to eat. She likes to eat and weighed in at 10 pounds 11 oz at her 1 month check up, which means she has gained 2 pounds and 7 oz in 3 weeks (she lost a little in her first week and weighed her birth weight of 8 lbs 4 oz at her 1 week checkup). This week she has started smiling at us when we talk to her, which is absolutetly adorable, and is trying to coo a little too. She grunts ALOT, especially at night, for long periods of time (like 1-2 hours). She is growing so fast.

Ansley is getting smarter everyday and continues to amaze us. She has recognized her letters for awhile now, and knows most of the sounds of the letters. She can even tell you what letter a word starts with. I am so excited and ready to teach her how to read! She is going to love reading-she loves books and being read to. She will sit and listen to you all day! She loves her little sister, although she hasn't gotten to be around her much since she has had a cough most of the time Kayleigh has been here. The cough went away for a few days but returned recently. I took her to the dr yesterday and she has her first ear infection and bronchitis. They gave her a breathing treatment and sent me home with an antibiotic, albuterol, and a cough syrup. The antibiotic is thick and gritty-she spit it out the first time and threw up the second time, so that $40 presription is down the drain:( So I will have to call the dr Monday for a different one. This is the first time she has had to be on an antibiotic, so I guess I should feel grateful. She is still playing and begging to go outside or have friends over, so at least she isn't too pitiful. Ansley continues to enjoy preschool and also loves all the friends we have made over the last year with the Moms Group we joined. We look forward to getting back into the swing of things now that Kayleigh is almost 6 weeks old.

Gary has been great about making sure I get plenty of rest. He has also been great about letting me get out of the house some, usually to see friends but sometimes even just to go to Kroger, while he stays with the girls.

Its hard to believe I've had my degree in Education 5 years now (and that I'm not using it!). I just finished my online classes to keep up my certification for when I do go back to teaching. Hopefully it won't be till Kayleigh is in school full time:) I LOVE being home with my babies and am so grateful that Gary supports me in that. We both know that it is the best thing for our children.

Hopefully it won't be so long before I update again!! Hope all is going well for you and your family.
Courtney

Kayleigh is here!!

Our precious baby has finally arrived! I decided to be induced, after the doctors gave me the option, in case she was big. If I had continued to wait for her to come when she got ready, she may have been almost 9 lbs, which the dr said I would not have been able to have without c-section.

Kayleigh Jo West was born Wednesday, January 28th, at 2:54 pm. She weighed 8 lbs 4oz and was 21.25 inches long. She has dark hair, but is missing some at the front of her head:) She is a wonderful baby and seems to be pretty happy. She only cries when she is hungry or when you are changing her diaper. I love to watch her sleep after eating-she smiles and laughs alot. Its SOOOO cute!! Ansley is a good big sister. She loves to help and loves to rub her head and give her kisses. It has been a big adjustment (which we expected) for all of us. But each day seems to get a little easier! Gary has been wonderful-taking care of me, Ansley, and Kayleigh, and all the stuff around the house that has to be done.

We are so grateful to have 2 precious, healthy little girls. Our family is complete. We are just going to enjoy every moment while we can because it is going so fast. We have also been blessed with wonderful family and friends that have been so good to us. Thank you to my awesome friends in my Moms Group that have been bringing us dinner every night (which they are doing for 2 weeks!!!)-what a relief to not have to worry about whats for dinner-my least favorite decision of the day!!!! Thank you to Rebecca for keeping Ansley so we could go to the hospital to have Kayleigh-I know Ansley had a great time and I was happy knowing she was in good hands! Thank you Anna for bringing Ansley to us at the hospital so she could meet her little sister and for bringing dinner and cookies (YUM) the night we got home from the hospital.!! Thank you to Mom and Dad for taking care of Ansley and always being there for us-Gary and I don't know what we would do without you!And thank you to all those that have kept us in your thoughts and prayers, came to see us, called to check on us, and everything in between. I'm sure I am forgetting someone or something, so hopefully you will see it on my next update.

Courtney

Kayleigh is hanging in there!

Hello! The latest is that I AM READY TO HAVE THIS BABY!! It is definitely harder to be pregnant with a 3 year old needing your attention and help 24/7 verses when I was pregnant with Ansley with no children to take care of (except the husband!). My back is hurting and I can feel the pregnant "waddle" beginning. And there are contractions too. Knowing that she is gaining an ounce a day is making me nervous, but I really hope she comes on her own. I don't really want to be induced. At my dr visit this week, I was 2 cm and 50% effaced, so I am making progress, but not fast enough!! I have another appointment Tuesday, so we will see how things are then!

Our bags are packed and we have been talking to Ansley about what will be happening so she is prepared. I am sure she will be fine. She knows she will be spending the night with Rebecca and Max or Nana and Pop, and she is looking forward to it.

I am trying to enjoy the last of eating without too much guilt. I am looking forward to working on being healthier-eating and exercising. After Ansley, I knew I was going to have another baby and wasn't very motivated to get to my goal weight (that last 15-20 pounds is so stingy). Since this will be my last pregnancy, I am motivated to get my body back. I have a great group of friends that live close by that will walk with me and Gary to support me in eating healthier, so wish me luck!

Gary is looking for a new job so wish him luck! Your prayers are needed:)

Courtney

Kayleigh is already a big girl!!

Hi everyone! We had an ultrasound on Friday and Miss Kayleigh is already bigger than Ansley was when she was born!! If she goes full term, she could be 9 lbs!!!! Yikes! I have another appointment Wednesday, so we will see if anything has progressed. If not, they said they would induce so that I don't have to wait for her to get any bigger!! I would really like to wait till she is ready to come on her own, but I don't really want to wait till February either, so I am not sure what we will be doing!

I am getting more uncomfortable every day and more tired, but I still love feeling her move around. It is the most amazing thing ever!!

Ansley continues to keep us busy! I can't wait for her to meet Kayleigh! She will be such a wonderful big sister and a big help to me! I am glad that we waited till she is 3 to have another one!

Hopefully I will be giving you good news here very soon!

Hope you are doing well!
Courtney