Tommy and Mandi's Visit

Tommy, Mandi, Jaelee, and Jax came to visit last week. We all had a blast! The first weekend they were here my Grandma, Aunt, Cousin and her family came into town. We enjoyed visiting, swimming, Jett's pizza, and my Mom's coffee cake (YUM!). They left sunday afternoon, and sunday even we had a "Welcome Home" bbq for Tommy and Mandi. Over 30 came to my parent's house for dinner. It was really good to see every one.

We spent the week shopping for the kids and even spent a few days camping at Holland State Park. Mandi and Jaelee had never been to the beach before. Michigan beaches are the best!

Molly

It is no secret that we love our dog! She is a typical one year old lab. She is crazy as can be, but the best snuggler. Our favorite thing about her is how well she does with Karson. I can leave the two of them in a room together and not worry. She brings toys to Karson, and sleeps next to him on the floor.

Molly's only downfall....she is so stinkin accident prone!! We have had her for over a year. We have never gone more than a month with out a visit to the vet. I am pretty sure we fund the place. She has turned into our little savings account.

A break down of Molly's health issues...

May 2009

Less than a week after we got her.
Bladder Infection.

She went back numerous times because we couldn't get rid of it.

June 2009

Shots

A routine visit.

July 2009

Shots

Again, a routine visit.

August 2009

Partially tore her ACL.

She was xrayed, casted, and seen 5 times in two weeks.

September 2009

Got the "Doggie Flu"

October 2009

Seen for her leg again.

Still was not healing right.

November 2009

Seen for her leg.

Still not healing right.

December 2009

The ear disappeared off her favorite stuffed bunny.

We woke up at 6am to a puking dog.

She ate the ear off her stuffed bunny.

It got "stuck."

She had to stay at the vet while she "passed" the ear.

P.S.

I was pregnant.

DJ was sick.

I woke up sick.

I could not stop coughing and throwing up.

We all ended up with doctor appointments that day.

It was a great day...

January 2010

Got spayed.

Got infected.

We almost lost her.

Went to the vet every day for 2 weeks.

Had many follow up appointments.

She had more shots of penicillin that I can count.

Pretty sure we were there every day in January...

February 2010

Re tore her ACL

Four weeks before Karson was due.

March 2010

Surgery to repair her ACL.

Went back every week for three weeks.

Mind you I had a 2 week old and a dog who could not move.

She was in so much pain she would hide and just whimper.

She was on three different pain killers.

It was very sad and heartbreaking!

April 2010

Molly took it upon her self to remove her cast.

She did not do a very good job.

I had to rush to the vet with a month old baby.

And Molly.

Who had only taken off half of her cast.

It had slid down her leg, below her paws.

It was very unsafe for her to walk on.

Plus, two more rechecks of her leg.

May 2010

She took five steps into the side yard.

The side yard had grub killer in it.

An hour later, she started throwing up.

She threw up for 3 days straight.

A vet visit.

Call to the company and ASPCA.

We finally got it undercontrol.

June 2010

Shots
A ROUTINE visit for Molly?!?

Unheard of!

July 2010

Eye infection.

While we had family in from out of state.

August 2010

Currently awaiting a call from the vet.

To find out why her "noncontagious eye condition" has passed to Maggie.

Five Months

I can't believe you are five months old already!!

At five months you are..

Eating fruits and veggies really well!

Your favorites are carrots and bananas.

I am trying really hard to get you to like avocados though!

Rolling from your back to your tummy, and back to your back again.

You always wake up on your tummy in the morning.

I love how you stick your head up and smile at me when I walk in the room!

Are so close to sitting on your own. (You are now sitting on your own!)

You LOVE Molly!

You reach for her whenever she walks by you.

Have started giggling.

Most of the time you giggle with Daddy, but I have gotten a few out of you too.

Your favorite thing to do is jump in your Jump-a-Roo.
You also love to lay on the floor with no clothes on.

Had your first (and last!) visit to Urgent Care.
Next time we promise to take you to Devos ER instead. :-)

We love watching you grow and learn more and more each day!!

Lake Michigan

Mommy and Daddy took me swimming in Lake Michigan when our whole family camped at Holland.

This time I actually got to swim, and not just put my toes in.

I LOVED it!

The water was really warm, and the waves were fun to splash in!

Mommy says she does not remember the last time Lake Michigan was this warm.

She did not get any good pictures of me swimming though.

EVERYONE was in the water swimming!

Family Pictures

While Tommy and Mandi were home from Colorado, we had Alycia take family pictures. They turned out really well!

Molly...Enough Said...

We have a one of a kind dog.

We really, really, really love her!

But the things she comes up with....one of a kind!

She, for the most part, always goes with me when I leave.

She loves going to my parent's house.

Whenever I go into town, I drop her off there to play with Maggie.

When I do not bring her with me, it is traumatic to her!

I usually pack up the car before I put Karson in.

Molly always comes with me.

She ALWAYS gets in the car.

Not a big deal if she is coming with me.

If she isn't it goes something like this.....

She jumps into the drivers seat.

She usually stays there while I finish loading the car.

As soon as she thinks I'm going to get her out, she goes to the passengers seat.

I can't reach here there.Then she jumps to the back seat.We end up with all the doors in the car open.

She just keeps jumping from the front to back. From side to side so we can't get her.This can go on for five minutes.Until we finally DRAG her out of the car.Frustrating when we are in a hurry!

But we really do love our sweet Molly!

Our Plan

I am a planner!

I have lists for everything. Sometimes, my lists have lists.

DJ and I got married young. We figured, when you know, you know.

Plus, I had everything all planned out.

Our plan...

I would finish my degree to become a Special Ed. Elementary School Teacher.

When I graduated, I would find a job teaching kindergarten.

By this time, DJ would also have his degree.

We would be able to get a bigger house.

I would work until we saved enough money.

Then we would start a family, and I would become a Stay-At-Home-Mom.

Sounds perfect right?

A year ago this week we found out that God's plan, was not our plan.

We found out I would not be finishing my degree to become a Special Ed. Teacher.

I would not be teaching kindergarten.

We would not be saving the money, I planned on saving.

We would not be getting a new house.

DJ does not have his degree yet.

Only one part of our plan, was also God's plan.

I would be becoming a Stay-At-Home-Mom to the sweetest baby boy.

When we found out we were expecting, I started making more lists.

I started making more plans.

When I realized, once again, God's plan was different than my own.

I decided, I would just listen.

On March 1st, we welcomed Karson Allen Craig into our family.I still do not have my degree.

Neither does DJ.

I did not get to teach kindergarten.

We do not have a new house.

But, I have the sweetest baby boy!

My days are now filled with everything that comes with a baby boy.

Plus lots and lots of playing and snuggling.

I can not imagine filling my days with anything else!"The Lord Almighty has sworn this oath: 'It will all happen as I have planned. It will come about according to my purpose. I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken-who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?'"

Isaiah 14: 24, 26-27