tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44776151325234810842011-07-30T09:20:37.043-05:00Leahnoreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-5735042353730645282011-02-25T15:26:00.000-06:002011-02-25T15:26:05.245-06:00

Okay, so I feel pretty silly writing a letter to you. I know you are living it up right now and this letter is really nothing. It's just that I've been missing you a ton lately. I just told a friend today that while life gets easier after losing a loved one, it's still hard and sad sometimes. I know a lot of my emotion is just from pregnancy hormones. I am 31ish weeks with another baby girl!

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-45419428866474150002010-10-20T07:50:00.003-05:002010-10-20T07:52:49.440-05:00

Leahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-7554027032837833902010-06-16T15:12:00.009-05:002010-06-16T15:58:32.083-05:00

A few weeks ago, Evan and I were looking at several pictures on our fridge. I think it all started because I put Kendall's preschool class picture up there and we were looking at it. Anyway, as we were looking at the pictures, we were started talking about who Kendall favored. No doubt, Kendall has Evan's eyes and she seems to have my lips/mouth, but her nose always throws us.That is, until we

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-8163784518427002612010-05-07T22:31:00.003-05:002010-05-07T22:57:31.320-05:00

For two years, I've had these great ambitions to focus on what Mother's Day can mean to me now. You know...honoring all those people who are "like mom" to me (because Lord knows there are a ton of them out there!)and reflecting on what an honor it is to be Kendall's mom.Two years in a row, I failed.I had big plans to buy cards and mail them to several people, but it just didn't happen. When I

Leahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-21756966047640162022010-04-30T16:57:00.003-05:002010-04-30T17:02:44.838-05:00

Pioneer Woman's Mocha Brownies I nearly cried in the batter bowl as I made these brownies just a few minutes ago. She would love 'em.

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-50144265528001883702009-12-08T12:54:00.003-06:002009-12-08T13:11:25.785-06:00

Kendall has been especially fun during this Christmas season. It's really neat to watch her learn things, even though I'm not quite sure she understands it all yet. She has especially enjoyed the Christmas trees in our house and knows which ornaments are okay for her to play with/touch. One ornament in particular is a Baby's First Christmas ornament that is a plush yellow duck with wooden

Leahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-18819108011786019262009-11-19T14:21:00.002-06:002009-11-19T14:33:03.688-06:00

Much of my mom's "stuff" is still in place at my parent's house. Everyone is okay with that. We've gone through her jewelry and many of her clothes, but that's about it. Really, I think Kara and I both find comfort in going to dad's house and going through things of hers and bringing something different home with us each time. Someday, there will be nothing left to bring back, so I cherish

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-34951323788531870782009-08-08T22:47:00.003-05:002009-08-08T23:30:36.347-05:00

A year ago tonight, I got a phone call from my dad that rocked my world. I remember so many things about that day...I remember talking to my dad as I was driving home from meetings at school. Mom wasn't feeling well and didn't want to talk, but I could hear her in the background telling my dad stuff to tell me.I remember the weather being unseasonably cool, so we went to Cherokee Park to grill

Leahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-66798348483979391332009-06-18T20:03:00.005-05:002009-06-18T20:27:21.859-05:00

I was invited to participate in a women's bible study this summer at a precious church member's home. I was thrilled at the invitation, as Evan and I have grown very fond of this couple and their precious daughters who adore Kendall. When I received the first email about the study, I grew even more excited as I saw the other ladies' names on the list, many whom I highly respect and others that I

Leahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-11988521541302450532009-05-05T20:32:00.006-05:002009-05-11T20:03:11.805-05:00

Last week I started writing a post about Mother's Day, but got busy and never finished it.Today, I am reflecting. This is so therapeutic for me.This weekend my dad decided to come and visit. Arkansas had received a lot of rain that was keeping him from working, so he decided to go ahead and take off. I was thrilled, being that I hadn't seen him since Christmas and he's been talking about coming

Leahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-30748402095660158322009-03-16T19:37:00.000-05:002009-03-16T19:38:02.877-05:00

I just want to give a public thanks for all of you thoughtful people out there.I have received 4 (2 large, 2 small) Mediterranean Fig candles in the mail, and have cried opening every single one of them. Some of you people are just way more thoughtful, way more insightful than I've ever thought about being. I don't think I would have ever read that on someone's blog and said, "You know what? I'm

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-83580532408319468932009-03-05T19:56:00.004-06:002009-03-05T20:28:54.383-06:00

While Kendall was in the bathtub tonight, I was just thinking about how much my mom would be IN LOVE with her and loving this stage of life. Mom loved little babies and toddlers and just had this way with them that I can't even explain. I don't know ANY kid that wasn't attracted to her from the get-go. For some reason, this one memory came flooding back to me. Last May, when mom fell and broke

Leahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-20050281835709755522009-02-22T14:26:00.003-06:002009-02-22T15:56:14.890-06:00

Last night, Evan and I were at a SS class fellowship and in the course of the conversation with a relatively new member of our class, I had to say that my mom died about 6 months ago. I'm pretty sure that's not the first time that I've said "my mom died" but honestly, most of the time when it comes up in conversation, the other person usually says, "I'm so sorry" and moves on.On one hand, I'm

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-7937177591182920512009-01-26T20:27:00.003-06:002009-01-26T20:58:54.274-06:00

I haven't posted on here...not sure if anyone really checks this site much, but writing is still good therapy for me. I guess since the last couple of months were so full of anticipation and lots of emotions, this month has been somewhat of a break of thinking about mom not being here.Our Holidays were fine...very bittersweet and I personally wasn't sad to see the Christmas season come to an end

Leahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-52926804721146642192008-11-29T20:19:00.002-06:002008-11-29T20:49:33.808-06:00

So, it's been a while since I've posted on here. I've thought about it, just haven't done it. Sometimes, it's kind-of painful for me. Tonight, I'm going for it.I didn't really think the Thanksgiving/Christmas season would be much different than any other time. I kept telling myself, "My mom really wasn't a big holiday person." The truth is, she really was, she just was unable to really enjoy

Leahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-41146787285410627252008-11-03T19:58:00.002-06:002008-11-03T20:07:06.884-06:00

I'm not going to lie. I've been missing my mom a lot lately. Not really had any tears over it or anything. I just miss her. And it's not really the big stuff that makes me miss her, it's little things...like how Kendall tried to put her paci in my mouth today, then proceeded to try and put it in her baby doll's mouth. Or like wishing my mom could hear Kendall say "Uh-Oh" because it's the

Leahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-2141637733610005582008-10-20T20:25:00.003-05:002008-10-20T20:26:49.765-05:00

Today, October 20, would have been my mom's 54th Birthday. Wonder what kind of celebration she's having in Heaven?!?!? Hopefully, all the hot fudge brownie sundaes and birthday cake she can eat!

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-79836474559537971692008-10-04T22:27:00.002-05:002008-10-04T22:51:31.356-05:00

I really wanted to add this to the last post, but I'm having terrible issues embedding this video to Blogger. I'm not patient enough to figure it out/make it work, so I'm just going to add a link.Heather Payne, a member of the Christian group Point of Grace, is a member at our church. The week we were without electricity, she sang How You Live at the outside service. I was choking back tears the

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-20088203479795566472008-10-04T20:55:00.006-05:002008-10-04T22:27:27.085-05:00

I've been wanting to write on here all week, but can't seem to find the time to do it. I wonder why...we are only in the middle of working on our new house and trying to move in by Friday!!!Add school for Evan, work for me, taking care of Kendall, and church activities...there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs to get done!Before I go on about October, I think it's

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-34439482787739083122008-09-22T19:49:00.002-05:002008-09-22T19:54:48.467-05:00

My mom's favorite prime-time show, hands down. She was a religious watcher and voter. The night I delivered Kendall, she watched the results show in the delivery room (which if I remember correctly, was the one after Marie Osmond took the plunge on national television). Her favorite season was when Emmitt Smith. She wanted Daddy to take her to the tour show when it was in Nashville that year,

Leahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-33150568408374354542008-09-12T19:44:00.005-05:002008-09-12T20:02:45.152-05:00

I posted this picture on our family blog, but I thought it was worthy of a double post. Isn't it great? Miss Carol Hickman sent it to me this week. It was taken at Kyleigh and Chad's engagement party out at Warrior. I remember mom calling me the next day to tell me how much fun the party was and how she and daddy had such a great time. I'm so happy to have this picture, and I'm glad that Miss

Leahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-35483304937979349532008-09-05T20:17:00.004-05:002008-09-05T20:50:09.523-05:00

Fridays and Saturdays have been especially difficult for me the last couple of weeks. I think it's because I'm so busy during the week, that my mind isn't on the loss of my mom constantly (don't get me wrong, I think about it a lot), but when Friday hits, all I can think about is the phone call from my dad. Then, I start replaying the whole day over and over again. Anyway, the last couple of

Leahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-60263219617708162262008-08-31T21:46:00.004-05:002008-08-31T22:27:31.171-05:00

I'm so thankful for pictures. I have looked through the same stack of pictures a thousand times since my mom got so sick in June. Pictures have a way of helping you remember and notice things you otherwise might not. I know this one is not of my mom, but I couldn't help but notice that my sister has on a church dress and is riding a three-wheeler with my dad. What mom would let their child do

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-52318308220399289632008-08-24T22:38:00.009-05:002008-08-24T23:25:13.416-05:00

My parents were able to come visit Evan, Kendall, and me the weekend before they left for San Diego. Initially, the visit was supposed to be my daddy and Granddaddy Dub to bring all my classroom stuff, but when mom called me to tell me she was getting to go to Cali, the first thing I said was, "I want to see you before you go" to which she replied with, "I know, I want to see you too, I'll beg

Leahnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-37337932021840900612008-08-23T21:53:00.007-05:002008-08-23T22:17:54.831-05:00

I've been wondering what to do with this blog site, now that my mom is in heaven with Jesus. Delete it? End it with a thank-you and just leave it out there in the blog world? I don't really know, so for now, (at the advice of my friend Angie) I've decided to maybe share some pictures and memories of my mom with whoever is still reading this thing. I think it will help me with the grieving process

Leahnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-91585338420636211892008-08-13T15:32:00.000-05:002008-08-13T15:33:35.180-05:00

Visitation for Janice will be held Friday from 5-8 pm at Turpin Funeral Home in Stuttgart.Funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 pm at Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church in Stuttgart.

Leahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-73607114906720139802008-08-09T22:23:00.003-05:002008-08-09T22:35:20.777-05:00

Hello all!Just a quick word to let you know that while we are all so very sad, we are okay. God is good, all the time, and even in our sadness and pain, we see glimpses of his grace and mercy.My dad will be in Yuma, Arizona until the autopsy is finished. My Aunt Marva is flying to Arizona tomorrow morning so daddy doesn't have to be by himself. She will ride back to Arkansas with him. He was told

Leahnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-78330191665469835342008-08-08T23:42:00.003-05:002008-08-08T23:53:53.055-05:00

Posted by Evan Smith (Leah's husband):Leah's dad called us about an hour ago to let Leah know that her mom passed away tonight.Leah may have mentioned this in her earlier post, but apparently Janice had not been feeling well most of the day and this evening she passed out in their hotel room. She came to and didn't even realize that she had passed out, but her vitals were really low so Roger

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-81231013191239196692008-08-08T20:37:00.002-05:002008-08-08T20:44:58.907-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updating while my parents are traveling...here is the latest:When I talked to mom and dad today, they were in Tuscon, Arizona. They are thinking they will be in San Diego sometime tomorrow. Please, please send prayers up for them. I can't remember if I posted this or not, but mom came down with a sinus infection (very normal for her) the day they left. She got a Decadron

Leahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-47267202722123841472008-08-05T20:42:00.003-05:002008-08-05T20:59:33.552-05:00

Mom and dad left today for San Diego. There was a little debate about what was best-flying or driving-but after her appointment with Dr. Robbins last week, they decided to drive. Dr. Robbins said that with mom being on such high amounts of liquid oxygen, it would make traveling in an airplane difficult. Anyway, they are planning on driving 5-6 hours a day, so mom doesn't get too tired along

Leahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-84272052475056614542008-07-31T20:32:00.011-05:002008-07-31T21:07:56.534-05:00

My Aunt Marva set up a bank account for anyone who would like to help my parents with expenses of going to San Diego. This money will be used to help pay travel expenses and utilities, etc. while they are gone. With travel time and time in the hospital, they could be gone for about a month. Here is the account information:Twin City BankATTN: Beth Lindsey9501 Maumelle Blvd.North Little Rock, AR

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-3625430491444915362008-07-23T20:00:00.002-05:002008-07-23T20:21:10.426-05:00

Mom got THE phone call today!!! From all indications, she IS a candidate for the surgery to remove the blockage! Praise the Lord! What an answer to prayer already! She has to be in San Diego on August 10 and will go through three days of testing. The doctors in San Diego want to do thorough testing with their own equipment, since they are going off the test results from Vanderbilt. If the

Leahnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-19245843751658421982008-07-21T16:01:00.003-05:002008-07-21T16:06:14.792-05:00

I talked to my mom this morning. She has an appointment scheduled with Dr. Robbins on July 29. Hopefully, she will get some answers.She is still doing very well...she and my dad went to Kara's house on Saturday for Coby's birthday party. They brought Coby home with them so he could go to Centri-Kid (camp) with my parent's church. (I think he could hardly sleep on Sunday night he was so excited

Leahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-32350701450771742782008-07-13T21:05:00.003-05:002008-07-13T22:12:23.841-05:00

*Edit* Apparently, mom went to church this morning. (Thanks, Shannon, for giving me the update! And thanks for praying! We love your family so much!) I knew she was aiming towards that, but had not talked to her today! YAY!!!Mom is still waiting to hear from the lab in San Diego. To me, it seems like it's taking a long time. In the medical world, this may be nothing! Hopefully, she will

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-82347638999429778922008-07-06T19:59:00.002-05:002008-07-06T20:10:10.523-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updating; there has really been no news to post. Mom is still waiting to hear from the lab in San Diego. She thinks the holiday weekend probably slowed things down a bit. Hopefully, she will know something this week! Everything has been going pretty smoothly...until today. Apparently, a a pin hole got in the Hickman Catheter and blood started backing up. Dad had to

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-87437194872554817642008-06-28T21:17:00.004-05:002008-06-30T20:51:08.438-05:00

I talked to my mom on the phone this morning for a good bit. She sounds wonderful. I know she is just really glad to be home and in her own space. On Friday, she went to the beauty shop and had her hair washed (yes...like a little old lady!) and was even able to go over to the Hickman's house and sit out on their pool deck for a while. Sunshine is certainly good for the soul!The blood thinner is

Leahnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-44874090518687549122008-06-26T16:46:00.002-05:002008-06-26T16:53:37.500-05:00

I just talked to dad about 5 minutes ago, and they are on their way home from Nashville.Mom is doing really well. She has lost 20 POUNDS of fluid since going into the hospital two and a half weeks ago. Through the different testing done while she was in the hospital, some blockage was found in her lungs. The doctor put her on a blood thinner for now, and has sent the test results to a lab in

Leahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-48297990681527222502008-06-24T14:59:00.004-05:002008-06-24T15:19:48.276-05:00

I don't know if some of these people will ever read this blog, but I just want to say thank you to the following people. I know my parent's feel the same way, but they didn't ask me to do this. This is just from me. I may post thank-yous periodically through this journey...these are just fresh on my mind right now!*Ginger and Amy-you two are so sweet. My mom loves your families dearly and I was

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-24389403679247697712008-06-23T21:18:00.002-05:002008-06-23T21:19:51.978-05:00

I also put mom's contact info in the sidebar of this web-page, so the info is always at your fingertips!

Leahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-65445096602333015332008-06-23T21:07:00.008-05:002008-06-23T21:17:05.281-05:00

Here is the latest news on my mom...PLEASE keep the prayers coming!Apparently, there are three kinds of PH. The only way to determine what kind of PH my mom has is to do a lung biopsy. Dr. Robbins said at this stage, a lung biopsy is too risky. After reviewing all the test results from Friday, Dr. Robbins decided that he isn't going to pursue changing her medicine to Flolan. From his observation,

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-2413753045482690862008-06-21T09:20:00.003-05:002008-06-21T09:39:05.636-05:00

I checked my email just a few minutes ago, and I had an email FROM MY MOM!!!She gave me a room number and a phone number for me to call her, so I IMMEDIATELY grabbed the phone!! Besides our 30 second conversation last Wednesday evening, today was the first time I've been able to talk to her in two weeks! I was excited to the point of tears!!! She got moved into a regular room as of about 6:00

Leahnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-69542410355343584722008-06-20T14:30:00.003-05:002008-06-20T14:45:14.218-05:00

Dad just called again, and everything is going well. Mom has been going through quite a bit of testing today, a lot of the same tests she had at Baptist, but of course, all hospitals want their own readings. Mom's new doctor's name is Ivan Robbins, and he is the leading research doctor at Vanderbilt. She really liked him a lot and feels as though she is in good hands. Right now, he wants to

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-23410839274040159352008-06-20T07:27:00.002-05:002008-06-20T07:34:46.470-05:00

Dad called around 8:00 this morning to say that mom made it to Vanderbilt around 10:30 last night. Everything is going smoothly-no big news, really.Any time she is seen by doctors, it's a team of doctors, and will probably be a different team each time. Last night, one team came in and asked she and my dad a bunch of family history questions. Aunt Judy flew with mom, so she is there, too. Dad

Leahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477615132523481084.post-49283750355482194862008-06-19T21:08:00.006-05:002008-06-19T22:16:54.751-05:00

Well, I guess I'm the designated PR person for the family! My dad has had so many phone calls, he can't answer all of them, so he is handing out my email so I can keep folks up-to-date with what is going on with my mom.I'm glad to keep everyone informed on our situation but decided that rather than having write the same message over and over again in email, I could set up a website, write it all

Leahnoreply@blogger.com8