October 15, 2013 By 10 Comments

Being On The Other Side

Saturday we participated in the American Heart Association’s Nashville Heart Walk.  I was surprised at how emotional I was.  I knew it was a big day…a day we had pushed to raise funds for…a day in which you guys helped raise funds for research…a day which held such deep importance to our family and Amon…a day which held a memory that will forever be in my mind and heart.

Last year I literally watched out Amon’s hospital room window as people walked to and from the heart walk.  I remember how badly I wanted to be out of the hospital…how badly I wanted Amon to be okay and ready to go home…how badly, so so badly I just wanted my mom.  And there we were, one year later, together as a family of 6 walking, participating and remembering together that Amon is a survivor.

I found myself tearing up at every corner.  Harper writing on the tribute wall…a big heart with Amon’s name in the middle.

Checking Amon into the survivor tent and realizing for the first time…he’s a survivor.  Watching the kids play in all the bounce houses and watching Amon eat banana after banana after banana.

Searching with Harper for the poster tent just so she could make an Ace of Hearts poster.

Watching Harper, Huddy and Sol fill out their tribute tags.

Mr. Kelley…Josh’s dad…Amon’s Big Daddy…Amon’s most favorite person in the world other than Josh, being there to support us and Amon…to celebrate with us.

Walking with my brother Chris, my sister-in-law Kim and my niece and nephews.  Walking with others who have traveled a similar road, but with our own stories and outcomes.  Walking with people who understand.  Receiving a hug from Courtney…her knowing how important this day was to our family.  Receiving a tight hug from Rebecca…a mom whose little boy has had multiple heart surgeries…knowing she understands my heart and how important research is.

Having those conversations where I realized Harper understands what this is about…how Amon will have to have another surgery, but maybe, just maybe, because of the money which was so generously given, when Amon needs the surgery they won’t have to cut him open next time.  Harper doesn’t want him to have two scars.

My sunglasses hid my tears well.  I had a hard time saying certain words, spelling Amon’s name to Huddy and Sol, giving hugs, watching all the people around us…hearing their words, reading their shirts, everything.  When we finally got home and the walk was through we sat with Amon.  He was tired and deliriously cute.  We soaked him up.

It was a really emotional day..being on the other side of a year ago and my heart was reminded of how people and families can travel similar roads, but come out in very different places.  How the outcome was not always what was prayed for or long for or desired.  How Amon is still here with us and so many others are not.  My heart is overwhelmed for those families.  I have so many questions for God, but He reminded me yet again of how blessed we are…how what an honor it is to be Amon’s mom, to watch his life unfold and how humbled I am to be a small part of it.  I have no idea why we are so blessed with this child…no clue…but I am incredibly and deeply thankful.

Thank you!  Thank you for giving to help further heart research.  Thank you for being kind and thoughtful and generous and loving.  With the deepest sincerity, thank you for giving in honor of Amon.  We far exceeded our goal because of you.  Just thank you…truly, truly, truly…thank you.

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August 23, 2013 By 2 Comments

Good Things

THANK YOU!!!!  You guys are crazy kind and I just really don’t know what else to say other than thank you, thank you, thank you!  We are already almost half way to our goal of 5K for the Heart Walk.  $2340 to be exact.  This is simply stellar.  I may have been pretty weepy yesterday as my phone would go off to alert me of another donation.  If you didn’t read what we are up to yesterday then you can READ THE POST HERE.

If you still want to donate in honor of Amon to help aid in heart research CLICK HERE to donate towards our family’s fundraising goal.  I am just so excited about this.  And if you make a donation of $15 or more in honor of Amon, as a thank you, I will mail you a pretty little key fob.  I’ve already got my list going and cannot wait to start cutting up fabric and sewing away.  And don’t forget, after you donate just send me a message HERE and let me know your mailing address.

Huge happy Friday thank yous.  My heart is so full.  You’re incredible.

Okay so other good things have been happening around our house.  I have been working like a mad woman getting so many orders done and accomplished and instagramming it up all along the way.  You can find me at pitterpatterart and follow along.

I adore when my kids want to create right along side me.  Sunday morning Harper and I chilled out and got busy creating.  I love when she does this.  I love her heart and I love her creative side.  They’re both really good ones.

Amon Kelley you are ridiculous.  Ridiculous.  We’ve had some pretty easy happy babies, but he easily takes the cake.  Minus the whole communicating thing 🙂  Crazy, happy, wild, into EVERYTHING, fun, loud as all get out, sweet and dramatic.  We’re all wild about Amon.  And we think he’s kind of wild about us.

We got a chance to eat lunch with Josh this week…not once, but twice.  I know three small Kelley boys who were thrilled.  Huddy, Sol and Amon easily think their dad is the best.  And I am coming to terms with the fact that Amon likes Josh better than me.  It’s rude, but I’m dealing.

My sewing machine recently broke and has been at the repair place for 3 weeks.  THREE LONG WEEKS.  So many things I’ve been wanting to sew.  So many trips to my MIL’s house to say, “Can I use your machine for a minute?”  But I finally got her back this week and she is sewing like a dream now.  Be still my heart.

And last, but certainly not least, Amon decided to take his 4th kidness to a whole new level.  I was working and Sol and Huddy were playing play-doh at the table with me.  I realized the house was far too quiet.  I looked over at the boys and said, “Hey, do yall know where Amon is?”  They’re always my eyes and ears.  Huddy without even looking up from his play-doh said, “He’s asleep under the table.”

I peeked under and sure enough.  Dude was out like a light.  I proceeded to document with picture taking and then felt a little bad for him.  I promise he has a schedule and actually sleeps in his on crib, but he’s also this amazing little adaptable 4th kid who will apparently rock a nap out on our hardwood floors under the kitchen table.  I did scoop him up after lots of pictures and put him in bed.  I like him.

That about wraps it up.  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for stopping by.  Thanks for being kind and nice and generous and thoughtful and encouraging.  This week didn’t start out so grand, but my my my, how it’s turned around.  Hope your weekend is super good.

Happy Friday.

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August 22, 2013 By 8 Comments

That Time I Asked You For Money

I’m smiling.  I really am.  A big smile too.  I shouldn’t ask you for money.  I mean, we’re internet friends and usually you only ask close, in person friends and relatives for money right?!?!?!  And I hear that can get pretty messy 🙂  Josh Kelley laughed when I told him I had set a $5K goal for this year’s Heart Walk.  And rightly so.  It’s a lot of money.  I definitely know that much.  But this is important to us.  Our family and Amon have been greatly impacted by congenital heart defects.  Amon and his heart are vital to our family.  He made us a “Kelley party of 6”.  I hope when I write about Amon…when you read my words…you’re able to see and hear and feel the love our family has for him.  It’s huge people.  Ginormous.  My heart is totally full…he’s our ace of hearts.  God blessed our socks right off with this kid.  And we could not be more grateful to Him.  We’re also over the moon about his doctors and surgeon and the hospital for all they did for his sweet little heart.  What they did for him, oh my goodness, we could never repay.

  Last year I literally watched out his hospital window as people walked to and from the Heart Walk.  I decided last year, that we would definitely walk and raise money in 2013.  I even put the walk and raising money for The American Heart Association on my list of goals for 2013.  It’s just crazy important to our family and many other families as well.  I know it might not be important to you or your family and that’s totally cool…I get it and no worries at all.  But if you feel so inclined, we would greatly appreciate any donations made in honor of Amon.

You can donate and check out our personal fundraising page HERE.  We are currently at $900 and that is simply amazing.  So a huge thank you for those who already donated.  I have already begun working on “thank you” notes…we are truly grateful.  You guys are the best!

So there you go.  We can now put this awkward post behind us…except when I bring it up again between now and October 12…but we can reminisce and laugh jolly loud laughs…”bahahahahahah, remember that time I asked you for money.”  Good times people, good times.

Oh and I totally forgot the best part.  If you make a donation of $15 or more HERE in honor of Amon, as a thank you, I will mail you a nifty key fob.  I stocked up on some brand new fabrics just last night and I hope I get to put them to use.  Maybe I’ll get to make 273.333333333333 key fobs and will knock this goal out together.  After you donate, just send me a message HERE and let me know your mailing address.  It would be an honor to reach this goal with your help.  Big, big thank yous in advance.

Happy Thursday!

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