The Handmade Dress

...we head out for 5 weeks of wandering from Alabama to Canada and back again. We finished the airstream at the very last second last night! I don't have time to go into details right now (but soon!) but here are some pictures. I'll try to check in often! Xo, Sam            

We got all of the tests back and it showed that my sweet Madeline has been fighting a long case of walking pneumonia. Obviously she didn't have the classic symptoms, like our doctor says "Sometimes diseases haven't read the text book so they don't act like they should." she has had medicine and she is feeling better And better everyday!!! I'm so grateful that in the end it wasn't something more serious! Thank you friends sooooo very much for all of the prayers! God heard and has protected my baby. Today we are painting cabinet doors for the Mrs. Agnes (the airstream). I can't wait to see what they look like installed! We used chalkboard paint on the fridge, and we are going to install that tonight. This last bit of work has been fun because it's more of the cosmetic stuff. Pictures coming soon!!

First off, Maddie is feeling MUCH better!!!!!! Thank you soooo much for all of the prayers! In a long urine culture some bacteria grew out, we got her the right antibiotic and she has perked up! The weird thing is that none of her symptoms pointed to a UTI, but we think it was just a smoldering infection that was keeping her down the whole time. I pray this holds out! Oh my, we have been working nonstop getting ready for our trip. With only a few days left we are down to the wire getting our new home live-able! There is still so much to be done but we are thinking that we just might make it happen. We have beds, a shower and bathroom, Ben put in the sink and countertop today, the fridge is in, the plumbing is mostly done, and the axle has been replaced. There is still the mattresses to cut and put in, cabinets to build, the front bed needs to be secured, we need to hang curtain rods and curtains, finish up the bathroom plumbing (for the shower) polyurethane all of the wood, make the...

The stress about Maddie is pretty near my breaking point now. I haven't been able to write much lately because no matter how hard I try to be fun and upbeat my deepest feelings seep out when I write, good or bad. Sometimes the words even surprise me there on the screen. Somehow I can write out thoughts and feelings that I haven't even told myself yet. I'm an ignorer of feelings, a darn good one, but my writing betrays me. We just spent another day at a doctors office running tests, and telling the whole story again from the beginning on January 16th. For the last two days she has went from a chronic low grade fever to a high fever. Today I almost broke at the office, my eyes were filling up when I looked down at Maddie's sick little face and I decided that if she saw her mama cry it may make her feel worse. My kids don't see mama cry very often, and it hurts them. Besides she has already seen me cry once this week when we got the news that our sweet Granny Dear ha...

Mrs. Agnes got her first wall put in this afternoon! We were outside last night until after midnight painting, I love the way the color looks. Yep, our old girl is shaping up. I can't wait to live here for 5 weeks!! A lot is going to happen in the next few days!

Spring is here in Bama! And today that meant coming home from church, changing into pajama pants, and putting the 'park blanket' in the front yard to relax and listen to a good book! ( Kilmeny of the Orchard)  Oh, and naps for chubby little babies with a full belly and a fresh diaper. Can you even stand her? (taken by my Madeline) Ramble: I found this picture on my phone from today and when I saw it my first thought was '' Jo, how could you, your one beauty!'' Isn't that silly? But When I heard that line in the ''Little Women'' movie as a young girl a true love of red hair was born in me in that moment. From that moment on I truly loved red hair because it wasn't common, or wouldn't work for just anyone, it was my niche, my thing, my identity! It was my one true beauty, and I was so overjoyed to realize it! I have never LOVED anything else about me, but I have always loved the color of my hair. It's nice to have that one thing...

Maddie's blood work came back all normal! Praise God! We still have some mysteries to figure out, but if she had anything very serious there would have been some markers indicating problems. That makes this mama feel much better! I'm so grateful for all of your prayers, thank you friends so very much! xo, Sam

My sweet Madeline has been sick on and off since January and as of yet we don't know why. We took our third trip to the doctor today (we've made many more phone calls) and we just got home after a very stressful day of doctor's office waiting, concerned talking, a few melt downs, and blood tests. We could really use some extra prayers right now friends. I'm so ready for answers and for my baby to feel better. Thank you all so much! xo, Sam