Christmas Day at Mamaw Costilow

We spent Christmas day down at Mamaw Costilow's. This tradition might very well end this year as Mamaw Costilow may not be living at home come next Christmas. She has still been staying at home pretty much by herself, except for family and sitters at nights. But over the past 2 weeks she's had 2 falls. We don't know what the future holds, but for now we enjoyed Christmas day at the Costilow house.
We opened a few presents, one of which was Emily's new dog "Cookie"...since we won't get her a real dog.

Family photo, minus Jason, Rhonda and Brandy. We just love our family photo shoots.


Emily working on her light bright that her brother got her for Christmas. I forgot just how much fun these are.
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Morning 2011

Well I'm just now getting around to it, but here it is...Christmas Morning 2011. Now don't think us weird but we all woke up, and cooked our snowman pancakes and ate breakfast before we opened presents. Joseph woke up at 6 am, and Glenn and I went ahead and got ready then cooked pancakes. We had to wake Emily up at 8 am or else she would've slept until 9. She wanted to eat breakfast first so I didn't stop her. Now mind you we don't do Santa, so no presents were unwrapped...but she was super excited to eat and get our Christmas story read so we could get into the stockings and presents.
I've not posted on why we don't do Santa, but I can just ultimately say it's a conviction from God. Glenn and I both prayed about it several years ago and agreed that we not do Santa. I have already offended several people by us not doing Santa, but all I can say is when God leads you as a family to do something you have to obey. We just felt like we were lying to our kids by saying, "Oh hey look what Santa brought you"...when we know good and well we just bought it ourselves the day or 2 before Christmas. Now some people may think we are ruining it for our kids, but it's SO not true. Emily was super excited and so surprised with everything she got. We also prayed and discussed that since both our kids already have WAY more than they need that we will only do 3 gifts each, like the 3 wise men.

This year it was a little more difficult reading the Christmas story because Joseph wanted our book, but we made it. He's a stubborn little thing when it comes to his books. Then after, we got to all look in our stockings.

Joseph got a big dump truck, and Emily LOVED her art supplies.

Mamaw & Papaw found this sock monkey hats for both kids, and they loved them. All Joseph wanted to do was push his truck around the couch with his new hat on.

...AND tear up some wrapping paper. SO funny...how they LOVE the most simple things.
Then Emily got her "BIG" present, and new bike. She's only had a tricycle so this was a HUGE surprise. She didn't ask for anything but 1. paints 2. canvases 3. paint brushes. She honestly thought those were the 3 things she was getting. She didn't know I would have "art supplies" as one gift. It has rained the past 2 days so today was the first day she got to ride it outside and she does very well.
Joseph got a riding Thomas the Train toy from Mamaw & Papaw...he wasn't left out.
....BUT the box was way more fun...right????

Merry Christmas from the Walker's. (more pictures from Christmas day coming soon)

Getting ready for Christmas

We arrived in MS after a very eventful week last week, on Thursday December 22nd. Joseph has been doing breathing treatments for his chest congestion and wheezing, but he's doing better with them. We've all had a part in helping do them, especially Papaw.

As we were preparing for Christmas day I must include the candle light service out at daddy's church, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on Friday evening. Joseph kept saying "hot, hot" the whole time because of the candles. Emily sang "Away in the Manger", and I sang "O Holy Night" with Larron.


Christmas eve we worked on our new tradition, making a cookie cake for Happy Birthday Jesus. We could've done a cake, but I wanted to do something different and since I make a cookie every year for Glenn's birthday using my home-made chocolate chip cookie recipe, we thought that would be the perfect thing to do for Jesus. Emily pretty much made it herself...except she made me attempt to write out "Happy Birthday Jesus" on it.


She was SO excited to make this, and Christmas day we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and have still been enjoying the cookie cake.

Hospital Visit

As I'm sure most of you have heard we spent Sunday night- Monday evening at the hospital Saturday night Emily complained of her right side hurting, so the following day when she started throwing up I became alarmed. After a trip to the after hours clinic that afternoon and no help, later Sunday evening we decided to play it safe and take her to the ER. Well, after 5 hours in the ER they decided to admit her into the children's hospital just to play it safe. They ruled out appendicitis, but said she had a UTI. So they gave her fluids (because she was dehydrated), and IV antibiotics. The above picture was taken around 3 am when they finally gave her a frozen fruit bar when they were almost certain she wasn't going to have surgery. Below is the next morning after the nurses gave her tons of presents.

She was such a big girl, and really didn't cry when they put the IV in. They have this magic numbing cream that they use and she said she never felt it. I kept her face covered so she couldn't see what they were doing, and she did great. The fact she never fretted over it, shows us just how sick she was.


Monday afternoon they had ornament making going on in the activity room. We were just so showered with love while there. I can't tell you how God has changed my perspective on LIFE in general after this. There were SO many kids there who are terminally sick, it just broke my heart. Glenn and I are truly blessed with 2 healthy children. This Christmas season we will be counting our blessings instead of our Christmas presents. We leave for MS in the morning so we're praying for safe travels and healthy kids. Joseph's still pretty sick, and doing breathing treatments, but I think he's going to make it.

Where Have We Been?

Sorry for the delay in posting but between completing orders for paintings, and caring for sick kids ALL week I've not had much time on the computer. Enjoy these photos I did get to take before everyone got so sick. Prayers are needed. Joseph has a horrible sinus infection/horrible cough, and Emily came home from church and threw up, and has been complaining of stomach pains. Thanks in advance for all your prayers.