Happy Halloween

Happy *belated* Halloween from the Carrolls:)

And until I figure out how to upload video to blogger, visit these links for these adorable videos of Eden.

You've been warned... there are no photos of E in this one:)

I have managed to find some time to craft lately, I know... surprising! Its amazing what a little crafting can do for my stress level! I will start by saying, when we moved, I quickly realized there was little crafting space in this "small" apartment of ours and was quite disappointed when my five day a week job left me NO time to sew. After a little rearranging and changing jobs, my life now seems a little more balanced as the sewing machine has found its rightful place back in to my home!

I've got a few new Bible covers in the shop, including my own personal favorite (which just so happens to be on my Bible right now). This one is made from a vintage 1940s Wedding Ring Quilt bought HERE. Go ahead, hop on over and check them out! CLICK HERE





I'm also working on a bunch of TRUTHlets that will be displayed at a craft show in TN (thanks Mom!) in November (details to follow for all you Tennesseans).

Enjoy the week, hopefully I'll be back soon with more pictures of the *not so little* girl!

Pigtails = Big Girl!

I'm not sure how well my math is, but we discovered pigtails this week and already, she's looking more like a big girl!

Working on the Parallel Bars for PT

Many of you have heard, but in case you haven't - we received WONDERFUL news from Eden's Neurosurgeon here! We met with Dr. Tuite last week and he reviewed her chart, repeated her MRI and reassured us that her surgery Dr. Fuchs did in February has done its job of keeping the fluid stable and some areas even appeared to be smaller than her previous scans! Praise to God! I have to admit, I was a little surprised when he shared the good news with us. We have prayed so much for healing, I had convinced myself that she would need another surgery. I know its probably a lack of faith, but every other scan has lead us to the OR, so I expected another surgery and for the Lord to heal her through surgery. I can't even begin to describe the emotions in my heart when Dr. Tuite said the MRI looked great and that if she makes it to 1 year past her surgery with no fluid accumulation, the chances of her needing a shunt in the future are small!

Not much else new here... just wishing for a piece of NC and TN fall:) Pumpkin Spice Latte + 90 degrees does not equal fall!

And a few pictures from our weekly visit to the park:

new table, new skirt, new skill

Gigi and PopPop bought E a new little table when they were here... she absolutely LOVES sitting at her table! When we are in her room playing, she will crawl right up to it and do the sign for "help" - precious!

I've had this fabric for a while now, and have been saving it for a new skirt for baby girl... it makes me think of fall (which I'm eagerly awaiting!). For some *crazy* reason, it also makes me think of this dress I had growing up which makes me laugh:)

And her new skill - Miss Jenny would be proud! She is learning to bend down and pick things off the floor when she's standing... its adorable to watch her try to so hard and be so proud of herself when she is able to pick it up!

Oh, I love this little one... more later... I'm pooped... today was my first day at the hospital and I'm back tomorrow night!

its been a long day...

"More"? Maybe tomorrow, Eden, Mommy's tired...

lots to say

It seems Eden has had a lot to say both "vocally and with sign. She's taken off with the sign language the past few weeks! Her vocabulary now consists of "more", "all done", "help" and we're working on "thank you". I've found myself saying the words over and over just to watch her make the sign and look at me so proudly! I have prayed so much for the ability to communicate. There were definitely times in the past year I wondered if I would ever get to communicate with her, thinking she would never catch on to this whole signing thing, but its so amazing to see how the Lord has continued to prove faithful in her development! She's also got her own little language as well - even though it only includes the consonants "m" and "n". It seems like she can make a hundred different sounds just from those to letters and her vowels! Talent, I tell you!

Eden had her evaluation last week for therapy services here. We're going to start speech/hearing therapy and physical therapy soon and I am so glad! We're praying for our therapist that will be placed in our home. We were blessed with the most amazing therapists in Raleigh, I can't imagine any better ones! This was one of the hardest things for me to give up before we moved, was not knowing who are therapists would be when we got here. But, God knows and I know that He will provide the way He has all along!

Many of you may have heard by now, but I'm changing jobs! The job I was (and will be for two more weeks) was such a blessing to have for our move and obviously God's provision in helping us get to Tampa. It wasn't however, a job I enjoyed, nor a job I wanted to do long-term. Sitting behind a cubicle, staring a computer screen was not my forte. I had been talking with a recruiter at the children's hospital and they were hiring for their Peds Oncology/Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant unit. Um, yes, I would like that job please! So I interviewed and was offered the job last week. I start on Sept 14th and am so excited to get my feet back into the hospital. There's just something about hospital nursing I have always been attracted to and love this aspect of nursing more than any other I tried my hand at!

Enjoy the pictures, more to come early next week - we're planning a morning trip to the beach tomorrow - hopefully I don't forget my camera:)

And yes, she's started the doll phase!

holland...

a dear friend of ours sent me this video yesterday. what sweet perspective it gives...

http://www.cflparents.org/presentations/holland/index.htm

(in order to view, you have to select an option from the drop down box, but you do not have to give an email)