A few weekends ago we hot the road early AM to join grampa Mike in blowing out some birthday candles! You would never know it by the time we got to Statesboro but believe it or not we hit the road at 9am for the birthday party that evening!
Lola and daddy decided to make a pit stop on the way down…. or three or four! Lola didn’t mind this one, there was so much to see and do and she loved seeing all the fish!
After a three and a half hour trip turned into about a six hour trip we FINALLY made it to see Grampa Mike!!
The chemo and radiation have really taken a toll on him but thankfully he is in good hands and has had lots of company lately!
It was so hard going to visit and see him for the first time in the same hospital bed we watched Adam spend his last few months of life in… I feel like as frustrated as he is by this whole situation and what it’s taken from him he is still cautious and thinking of others and how they are perceiving the situation…. it was as if he wanted others to not feel down about his worsening condition.
Which is SO Mike, always thinking of others. He has a way of wanting to take on the worlds problems and fix them for everyone without expecting anything in return.…it just doesn’t make since how something so horrific can happen to someone so kind hearted.
Alex has been in awe of him since he first came into his life which coincidently was the same year Alex and I met… I only wish they had met sooner but i am so thankful for the years they have spent together!
Thankfully the girls have spent a lot of time at the house recently cheering him up and Amber has been able to keep Ms Karen company and Curt has been there to physically help Mike get around which we are so appreciative for! 
The girls used to get SO excited to see me and now it’s race to see Lola!! Lol I still get my lovings from them even if i have to bribe them with Lola kisses! They love holding her, touching her and trying to “feed” her! It was so nice having everybody in one spot!!
Julian is slightly obsessed with Lola and baby Avery is too now, they want to squeeze her face every chance they get! ….. Literally squeeze it, so I have to be mean Auntie and tell them “Um yeah STOP!”. 
Our exciting news for the weekend was Lola finding her toes!
In other exciting news, not only was it mikes Birthday, it was him and Mrs. Karens 8 year Anniversary!
She pulled me aside right before we did cake and said “it’s been a darn good 8 years”! I wish nothing more than for them to have many, many more happy years together!
Praying for miracles at this point and so much comfort! 
#fightformike 
It’s such a helpless feeling when someone you love is going through something so tragic, I think it does Alex good just to be in his presence. Every time I turned around if Alex wasn’t holding Lola he was sneaking off to either help do something at the house for his mom or keeping mike company… 
This gave Lola, Milly, Julian, Avery and I lots of girl time and golf cart rides!
Milly was SO upset form all the boys shooting that she was being so clingy and needy of me…. you know i took full advantage of that right!?!?!?
Of course we managed to sneak in an El Som trip before heading home and some time with Gigi, Lola sure had missed her! 
Tara has very little regarding where she goes and what she does… if Lola’s there she’s game! We talked the whole fam into coming out to visit Mike and to get a little extra Lola time in before we headed back. 
On the road again!
We headed home that evening and we know know why Cracker Barrels are so popular for families…
They serve breakfast all day and better yet not “road” food, rocking chairs and shopping all in one spot! How can you go wrong… oh yes and they have a TO GO!
Im hooked! So we pulled over and had a photo shoot, ate 9lola included) changed into jammies and the rest of the ride she was out! Halleluiah! It’s the closest thing to a date Alex and I have had in months- well if you consider him in the front, me in the back and us whispering to each other a date that is!
The next day Uncle B flew all the way in from Philadelphia and a few days later drove up to Atlanta to meet Lola! 
It’s no wonder you woke up after we already put you to bed to meet him- you two were made for each other!
Lola was hit by love at first sight… I told B to run up to her room with me as soon as he walked in the door since she was crying from waking up in her sleep anyway…. As soon as i picked her up I handed her over and she just starred at him! 
He was so scared he was going to break you at first but I think after seeing how you and your daddy “play” he soon learned your a tough girl and you love testing out laps! 
Oh yes and you know we had to eat something “weird” while Billy was here! Lou was our go to man for that! He has worked with enough variations of people to have tested out all the restaurants and know the best ethnic go to’s!
So we hit up a Jerusalem spot that was actually really good! 
Little did he know, first one in the clean plate club gets to entertain baby!
Ok, ok I think he did it on purpose Lola, you are pretty fun! 
We sure are going to miss you Uncle Billy but we LOVED getting to spend time with you eating oatmeal together and showing you our cadillac ;) 
P.S.- Please bring us Aunt Angela next time too!
