So, I was packing up the kitchen tonight and let Anna Kate play with some pots and pans while I worked.  All kids do it, fun right?  Well, not so much.

I just saw blood and more blood.  I thought her tooth had come in and chipped all in one whammy.  As it turns out, this is only loose gum sticking out.  Her tooth is about to come in, so it’s okay. 

Our sweet Anna Kate.  Feel better, baby!

P.S.  This picture was taken for me to email Poppa to examine, but thankfully Mike touched it and realized it was only gum tissue.  

"I will announce that I will file as a candidate in the Republican Party Primary for the office of Texas State Representative for District 11, at an 11:45 AM press conference on Monday, November 16, 2009, in front of the Norman Activity, 526 E Commerce, Jacksonville." said Dr. Michael Banks of Jacksonville.   "My love of East Texas and my passion for our way of life has led me to this decision, and I will do everything in my power to represent all the people of this region well."

Dr. Banks was born in Jacksonville and is a practicing dentist there.  He has recently achieved recognition for conservation efforts associated with the Neches River in East Texas.  He has been a leader in Rotary International, serves on the Board of East Texas Medical Center-Jacksonville, and has been a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America.  Banks has served as Trustee for the Jacksonville Independent School District.  He is a director of the Texas Wildlife Association and an active member of the Texas Conservation Alliance.  He currently serves as vice president of the Board of Visitors at Jacksonville College.  He is also a veteran of the Texas Army National Guard and a former public school teacher.

Texas House of Representative District 11 includes Cherokee, Houston, Panola and Rusk counties and represents about 140,000 people.

Dr. Banks states he is a political conservative and would seek efficient government.  He states, "Texas is growing and our business climate must be protected because business is what drives the economy, not government.  But this growth also challenges the functions of government.  We have our work cut out for us since the next state budget will start out with a nine billion dollar deficit mainly due to the decrease in sales tax revenue."

Dr. Banks and his wife of 35 years, Rose Mary Arnett Banks, have three children, their spouses and four grandchildren.  He is an avid outdoorsman; enjoying hunting, fishing and kayaking.

"I am taken back by the outstanding support Rosie and I have received as we have contemplated this decision to run for public office.  I look forward to organizing our campaign and meeting with the people of this district."

Hey guys,

Just wanted to give you our moving schedule and ask for any and all help.  Please email me at melissajpond@gmail.com if you are able to help, come one come all!  🙂

Thursday day – Continue to pack

Thursday night – Packing fragile items in two cars and a van, continue to box

Friday 12:00 Noon-11:00PM – Move fragile items (lamps, dishes, china, pictures, decor, etc) to new house

Saturday 8:00AM-5:00PM  Movers to come move furniture, big boxes (this is the only time we don’t need helpers because of space)

Sunday and Monday – Get remaining items at the townhouse (which I have a feeling will be quite a bit)

We have to do a final walk-through at some point on Thursday and close on the house on Friday morning.

If you are afar, please lift us up in your prayers!  We are already so tired but are in good spirits and having faith that it will all work out.  Thank you!!!

This is the artwork of Noelle and my dear friend Carol from when she watched Noelle one morning this fall.  It makes me smile!

This song has helped get me through the summer.  I sing it to the girls all the time, and Noelle sings it back to me.  I can hear God singing this song to me too in response to my many anxious prayers.

Oh my goodness!  I had no idea moving would be this difficult, and we are just getting started.  I have had a crazy cold since last Monday.  Anna Kate got it mid-week, but she is handling it awesome, as she does everything.

Noelle is spending the week in Jacksonville with Poppa and Rara, and I spent today packing up her room.  There is still so much left to do in that one room, and I spent all day working on it!?!  I know it will start coming together, I just have to stay focused on one room at a time, one task at a time.

As my Aunt E said, before you know it, the move will be long in the past. 

That’s what’s going on around here!

At Noelle’s 3 year check-up in May, our pediatrician noticed Noelle had some left-sided weakness and referred her to a neurologist to make sure everything was okay with her heart.  Throughout the summer, Noelle has had limping spells with no injury or pain and a few other symptoms.  The neurologist we were seeing ordered a brain MRI (she had to be put to sleep for) as well as an EEG (pictured below) and lots of blood work.  Lots.

All of the results were a mixed bag of emotions.  We were told Noelle had had a stroke in utero and could be at risk for recurring strokes.  Noelle’s blood results were abnormal, but mildly so, and really inconclusive.  Are you confused?  We were too, and as a result, haven’t shared with many people, because we really didn’t know what to say.

I consulted with a friend from church who got us into the stroke clinic at Cook Children’s Hospital.  That appointment was today.  They have a neurologist/hematologist that work together to figure out what’s going on in children who have stroke-like symptoms.  After reviewing all of Noelle’s tests, they concluded that she does not have an increased likelihood of stroke.  That’s what we needed to hear!

Noelle has been such a trooper this summer.  She’s done amazing in physical therapy and gets her blood drawn like a champ.  There are bits and pieces of the story I have left out, just as a way of protecting Noelle and her sweet spirit. 

Due to some abnormal blood work, our hematologist has ordered another round of blood work that has to be done in two sessions because of the large amounts of blood needed.  Hopefully that blood work will all come back normal, and then we will totally be able to put this behind us as Noelle continues to grow healthy and strong.  Worst case, she has some issues with clotting, and we will have to deal with that. 

I guess I’m writing this so that everyone can know a little about what we’ve been going through this summer.  We are tired.  We are weak.  Our faith has been tested in the periods of not knowing, and we have grown.  We give thanks to God for this life we are given and that we are in it together.

*In other news, our house is almost completed!!!  We are scheduled to move next weekend!  Hopefully I will be able to take pictures of the house this weekend.  It’s beautiful!!!

Our sweet brown-eyed baby girl!

This was our first year to trick or treat and both girls absolutely loved it!

This picture is surreal! Absolutely fantastic!

The girls with Emme’s little brother, Tate, Dorothy’s lion!

I asked Noelle if she was having fun.  She said, "Totally!  This is fun, fun, fun!"

Jackson giving Noelle a "popcorn" kiss!  🙂

The Kelly’s neighborhood was amazing.  Several of the houses had bounce houses by the sidewalk for the kids to jump in on their way by.  The whole thing was neat.

Elizabeth and Emme at the pirate-themed house.  They actually let everyone tour the inside of their house – I don’t know where they put all that stuff after Halloween!

Noelle’s so wonderful.  She said, "That sweet old lady said her dog might lick me."  She didn’t even notice "his" imperfections… we expected her to be weirded out and come back to us, but she is just so kind and good – we love her so much!

Emme and Anna Kate had such a blast riding around the neighborhood, feet propped up and livin’ the good life!

Thanks Kelly family for hosting Halloween – it was a blast!