Our first week

This is our trial run at the airport! We went to the airport in Cola, checked in with all 8 bags, 2 strollers, 2 car seats, 2 carry on bags, and 2 personal bags, went to our gate and found out our flight was delayed because the crew had not arrived. The flight was so delayed that we would miss our international flight. So, here Allen is counting our bags coming back off the carosel to make sure we aren't missing anything.

The great part of the delay was getting extra time with my sister!!

We arrived and had family here right away which was awesome and a huge blessing. Ben woke up asking for ShoSho and Papa the first morning. I think it has really helped him transition having them be here for a short time. Then we were off to IKEA to start buying stuff for our house. Ben helped gett everything in the car!

We found a toy at a used shop here just like their cousin, Emma, has in the states. We made the mistake of talking about the cousins too much and Ben thought we were going to see them.

Our dear friends were visiting England and stopped by for the afternoon. They are Gamecock fans so we had to put up our sign to welcome them! Ben keeping watch at the window for them.

Our dear friend, Brenda with the boys. Nate is struggling with a little cold.

Trying out the local fish and chips joint. It was wonderful!

We arrived!

We arrived safely on Friday morning. We were welcomed by Daniel, Lauren, Mom and Dad who came to stay with us for the weekend Friday evening. It was wonderful to have them in our new home. The boys loved it! Lauren cooked and prepared all the meals. We had a great time with them and were sad to see them leave on Sunday. So thankful to have Daniel and Lauren here in England with us!

We are still here!

Life has been a little crazy to say the least. We head off on our next adventure tomorrow and are so excited! Of course, it is bitter sweet to be leaving family and friends behind. Can't believe how the time has flown. Here are my two sweethearts. Ben is now 2 and Nate is 9 1/2 months old! Where has the time gone?!

Blessed Beyond Measure

We leave Friday for a week in Dallas but I really feel like I need to write this down. I am reading through the Bible this year and have been reading about the Isrealites wondering through the desert and how time and again God delivers them and yet they forget. I wanted to share a little bit of the last 24 hours to remember His goodness and how He takes care of his children.

Last week, Allen and Ben were in the upstate and Nate and I were in DC. The boys did ok but not great, no full nights of sleep. We are just beginning to live with it at this point. We came back this weekend and thought life would settle down so that we could get ready for our week in Dallas.

Monday afternoon, Ben's eye started oozing and Nate's as well, but not as bad. Yesterday, it was still oozing but his eye was not red and he really was not fussy. But last night Allen and I were talking and we really felt like we needed to take the boys into the doctor this morning if they were not completely better when they woke up. The boys are staying with my parents next week while Allen and I are in meetings, and I did not want to hand them off sick boys. Yesterday, the boys and I hung out with two of my college roommates. One of them lives here in Lexington and told me if I decided to take the boys to see the doctor she had a great pediatrician. So, I called her last night and got the information, checked our insurance website and found out they were approved, and so I waited for 8 am. Ben woke up every 30 minutes last night till about midnight! Then he finally conked out, but we had begun to expect this. This morning I called the doctors office and they said they would be happy to see us but to just double check with our insurance to make sure it was ok.

So, I called Cigna, only to find out that we were no longer covered by Cigna. Our company now uses Cigna International. I thought they were one and the same, but they aren't. So, I called Cigna International and they said we were good to go. So, I called the doctors office back and made an appointment for the boys at 9:40. The office is litterally 10 minutes from where we live and a small practice. So we go in and get the boys checked out. Nate has pink eye in his right eye and Ben has a nasty double ear infection! Yes, that is right, his nurse mom had no idea and even was second guessing going into the doctor. Oh, our Father is so good to continually nudge me to take the boys to the doctor!

Now, Ben is on an antibiotic for the first time in his life, which was free from the great people at Publix. And Nate has eye drops that were also free thanks to our great insurance! So, I feel great about going to Dallas knowing that my boys have what they need to get better. Hopefully this means that they will both sleep better for my parents next week. Nate slept through the night last night so that is good and I am sure Ben will be on the mend soon.

On top of all that, my mom got a bill in Arkansas for a well baby visit I made in January. So, from all of this, I have learned it was because they doctors office billed Cigna and not Cigna International. So, this should be a quick easy fix as well.

Thank you Father for your goodness to our Family! May we always remember how you care for us in the big things in life and the small.