Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

When I think of Mercy's 1st year of life - it is filled with many emotions.  It is a bit hard to not look back over the last year and see the impact cancer has had on our lives.  Mom DuRoss was diagnosed with Sarcoma a few months before Mercy was born and has gone through radiation and 2 surgeries in this first year of her life.  Heather was diagnosed exactly one week after Mercy was born with Non Hotchin's Lymphoma and under went chemotherapy during her first year of life.  What most people would look at as a devistating year, I honestly only see blessing upon blessing the Lord has graced us with.  He gave us a child whose name has lived up to more than I ever would have imagined.  She is a daughter who not only brings joy to my heart, but walked the chemo hall with me at every visit bringing smiles to the patients and care giver's day.  She slept in her NeNe's arms while she was being treated and brought peace to her soul.  She has snuggled up with Nana and Papa after returning from Boston and mom's treatments there.  Our sweet girl has experienced so much in her first year of life and I am thankful that the Lord gave her to me at just the moment I would need such sweet love from a baby.  What a gentle way the Lord choose to guide me through this year - how could you look back and not just be thankful for His love over us all??  I love you Mercy Lynn DuRoss - you have a tender loving soul, you bring a smile to my everyday, you have a presence of contentment and yet we already see your passion for life.  Mostly as I look over this past year I realize even more that I am just crazy over you!! 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl - Happy Birthday!

Our Big Man is "3"!!!

Our Favorite Things About Judah:

His face - it tells it all!!

His tender heart towards his sisters

How he plays pretend "night-night" and lays all his animals to bed, turns the fan on, sings them each a song and kisses them goodnight!

How he will follow Selah to the moon and back

How he is CRAZY over his "baby" aka..Mercy

His quirky sense of humor

His need for lots of drinks throughout the day

His eyes - they simply draw you in!

Even though he is "3" ~ he still wants to cuddle mommy all day long!

How a day spent outside working with daddy is like winning the lottery!

That he is our son and we are blest to have him in our lives, teaching us everyday and loving us with his amazing heart.

Growin Up!!!

 Selah's first "Big-Girl" birthday party at Cut N Curls!

She is moving up... Kindergarten here we come!

Mercy brightens everyday (almost 8 months old)

Bath time in the Kitchen sink!!

Judah's dog (ok...Morgan's ~ but half the day Lola is ALL Judah's!!)

Be still my heart ~ our big man will be turning 3!!

LIFE!!

OK ~ so I may be saying "LIFE" a lot lately!! But, what I have realized is though I may say it to release my emotions during difficult times, I also say it to express my true love for family and the crazy moments that can only be shared by living life together!! This month has brought some GREAT milestones and I can't help but thank the Lord that we are at this point in our lives right now. We just finished Heather's very last chemo treatment this week ~ can I hear a big whoooohoooo!!! It has been a long journey and one I feel overwhelmed to have been able to share with my sis. I am proud of her spirit, her devotion to pointing all things towards her Saviour, her will to press through the hard days, her kindness even in the midst of the storm and for her commitment to shower love to those she loves ~ I love ya sis! It was with tears in my eyes that I got to see her ring the bell for her very last treatment and do a dance in my heart that this season is past and a new season is ahead!


Another BIG milestone this month was Selah turning "5" ~ yes, it is true, she is all grown up! She was snuggled up in my lap the other night and I thought to myself "when did the day come that she was too big to pick up" and "who is this child that is reading a book to me" and "how does she draw pictures better than her own mom". I just love her so much and want time to slow down a bit to soak it all in. She is a joy to be around, she has an amazing heart, a gentle soul and most of all ~ she is my baby even if she is 5!!

So, I don't know if this qualifies for a milestone or not ~ but Judah got his very first mohawk this month and I could just eat him up!!! I mean really, should we start swatting all the girls away now from our door??? He has grown up so much this month. We're proud of all the work he has been doing with Help Me Grow for speech therapy and can't believe the progress he is making. I feel like our little man is coming out of his shell with people other than us now and I love it!! Give him a tad bit of attention and he will not only melt your heart, but make you laugh at his humor and light up your day with his smile!

And last but certainly not least is our almost 5 month old girl. She on the other hand is making more progress than I can stand. I guess it is too much to ask her to stay my sweet little infant forever ~ since this month she too reached a milestone and rolled over for the first time. Agggghhhh, make it stop!! With the other two I couldn't wait for all these big milestones, but with her, our very last, it just makes me sad!! She brings me such joy it's hard to explain ~ she is laid back, content, happy, loving and her smile too can light up an entire room! I guess I will just have to capture it all in while I can and remind her that even as she grows, she will always be my baby.

Girl's Night Out

"When you ask God for a gift, be thankful if He sends, not diamonds, pearls or riches, but the love of real true friends" Helen Steiner Rice

RELAXATION!! That is all I can say about our girl's night out this month! Courtney organized the perfect night out for all us girlies at a nail salon in Chagrin. We brought the appetizers, wine and dessert and literally sat back to soak up every minute of our fabulous pedicures. Our toes are happy ~ ohhhhh yes, they are happy and pretty cute if I do say so myself.

And, on that topic ~ Selah is always asking if she can come with me to "Girl's Night" and I am always saying "NOOOOO"!! I love her and all, but sometimes I just need a night to get caught up on all the scoop with my own girlies! But, on this particular night ~ Selah had the great privilege of joining the fun. Morgan turned 14 and got to invite 2 of her best buddies (Codi & Sarah) to join Heather & I for a night of pottery and yummy food. In the end, she asked if Kayla and Selah could join us as well ~ so for once, my answer to Selah's question got to be "YESSSSSS"! What a treat it was to see Selah make her own pottery creation ~ a cute little kitty. I loved watching Morgan with her own friends and realizing just how grown up my sweet niece has become. I am proud of her beyond words ~ she has such a tender and giving heart and has become quite the chef in her house. I love ya Morgan!!! Thanks for letting Selah and I be part of your big night out.

Better Late Then Never!!

OK ~ Yes, I am waaaaay behing on blogging, but at least I am getting to it ~ right??? So, our Christmas started off early this year with a fun-filled trip from Uncle Chip & Aunt Audrey. We strolled the Village, ate at the YT, had Wii competitions, made yummy meals together, watched "concerts" on the fireplace, and even bowled with the kids for the first time. The kiddos soaked up EVERY single minute with them they could and were left literally in tears the morning they left. Thanks Chip & Audzz for always making such leaps and bounds to get here and spend time with us ~ we love ya and miss ya like crazy!!


Our next Christmas event was with the wild Austin clan on Christmas Eve. What an answer to all of our prayers that Heather was feeling fabulous, so she could enjoy every moment with the family! I think the best part of being all together is hearing the noise that penetrates through the whole house with kiddos galore. I love sitting back and watching their imaginations at work and their love for one another shine through. Thanks too to Morgan, Logan & Kayla for getting down to the younger cousin's level and making it always crazy fun for them ~ we love you guys!


And last, but never least was our DuRoss Christmas at home just the five of us! I love saying that ~ the five of us!! Poor Mercy, we love ya sweetie, but since you are too young to realize whether "Santa" came or not ~ he didn't for you this year!!! I love setting traditions with the kids and this year we decided to let them open one present each on Christmas Eve, which was new pj's to wear for the morning. They actually did a great job sleeping in before coming to our room to start the festivities. There really is such joy in giving and watching their bright eyes and open mouths as they get just what they were wanting. I am thankful they realize it is more than just presents and are really beginning to understand the true meaning of Christmas. I love my family and treasure all these moments with them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009