Here, There, just...Everywhere

These past two months have been INSANE! I literally just unpacked my suitcase for the first time since August. Not kidding. 4 Alabama trips, 1 Florida trip, 1 Ohio trip, and 1 trip to South Louisiana for a Troy game. We are tired. But, we are happy, safe and thriving. I am thankful.

I am back into another school term with Troy University and of course, love it. It is such a nice "adult" outlet for me. I truly don't know what I would do without my link to the world of higher education!

We have had such fun this Fall. Troy games, lots of laughs and memories at the Waters in Alabama with my family, a GREAT trip north to Ohio for my sister in law, Annie's surprise shower I helped put on (I'm gonna be an AUNT for the first time! Due 31 December! WHOO HOO!), and so many fun moments with our two kiddos. They love each other very much and constantly make each other belly laugh. And having Noah as a big brother, Ellyotte is guaranteed to be a tough child. She gets kicked and rolled around all day! And she loves it.

My beautiful beach girl - 15 months old

Right at home in the sand

Nothing compares to the beauty of the Florida Panhandle

Go Troy!

Two peas

Enjoying the view from the press box at the Troy game

Ellyotte and gorgeous Aunt Kelly

I got to meet up with one of my lifelong friends, Trish, and her kids while at the condo in Panama City Beach. We were supposed to go from Alabama to Nashville but my BFFs kids got sick there and so we postponed our trip and went to the beach with my folks instead. I hadn't seen Trish in ages. She was a cheerleader at Troy back in the 90s and was my gymnastics and cheer coach. We have been friends for 20 years now and I love meeting up with her whenever I can! We flew kites with the kids on the beach and just loved seeing one another. Isn't she a knock out?! And she has three babies!

View from my folks' place

Noah is stll so into the Troy Sound of the South marching band but he's also decided he wants to be a Troy football player when he grows up. So when he's not marching all around the house, he's throwing the football and practicing his hike. And the kid is so entitled: he expects to be on the field constantly when we are at the games. He doesn't understand that normal kids don't get to sit in a luxury box or go down onto the sidelines during the games! He even got to be on the field of the Super Dome in New Orleans last year when Troy played in the NO Bowl! He's a mess.

We are continuing to miss Bella (please see my previous posts), Noah's friend who went to Heaven on 17 September. Her Tiger class is not complete without her there. They talk about her and remember her every day. Today's Halloween festivities were fun but her absence was noticed. Through this tragedy, I have made great friends with her mommy and daddy. It is wild how two babies born worlds away (Noah in Hawaii in Feb 2008 and Bella in England in April 2008) could end up in the same small MDO class in Bossier City, Louisiana and through the passing of one of them, two mommies could become such good friends. I am thankful for the Paquettes and admire them immensely for how they are going on with life without their Bella here on earth. But Janelle is doing well as she can be doing while grieving and yet pregnant with their baby boy, Noah. Please remember her and Calvin in your prayers.

Bella's backpack hook at school

The Tigers miss Bella

Happy Halloween!

I am thankful to have a good friend who lives in England because I am able to avert future crises: Ellyotte has a kitty that was given to her when she was born. To say she can't be separated from that cat for a second is an understatement. Wouldn't you know the cat is no longer made and is out of stock worldwide. I finally tracked ONE down in a boutique in London and my girlfriend ordered it, had it sent to her house and is mailing it to me to save on the astronomical costs of shipping directly from the boutique. The other night, Ellyotte got poop on her kitty right before bed so I had to wash it. Of course it wasn't dry before putting her down so we had to distract her enough to get her ready for bed. We literally watched her sort through all of her passies and babies in her crib (over the video monitor) and start screaming uncontrollably. Elly is not a cryer so it was pitiful. I ran into the laundry room, turned the dryer up to high and prayed the cycle would hurry! I ended up giving her a wet kitty but she fell sound asleep. All was right in her world again. So, if you run across the Gund Huggybuddy Kitty then hook me up! I will pay you back! We need lots of back ups :) And THANK YOU LESLEY! You rock.

Here are some cute pictures from the fall fun we have been having. I love making memories and taking pictures but the uploading and sorting through the pictures is not something I enjoy doing! SO I will post more in the upcoming days.

The Highest Honor

Genesis 6
7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

We knew when we named our Noah that we wanted him to have a Biblical name and a family name. That was the tradition of the Beall side of the family and we wanted to continue it.

We chose the name Noah after the Bible character we all learned about from an early age. He was righteous, blameless among men. And Noah's middle name was after my grandfather who was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland in 1898. We absolutely couldn't think of two more incredible and God fearing men than Noah (Bible) and my Papa Eddie.

When Noah was born - after 41.5 weeks of pregnancy and 36 hours of painful, induced labor that resulted in an emergency C-section (I had a high fever and Noah's heart rate had dropped significantly - a very scary situation) - we knew our baby was special.

I learned at 20 weeks that Noah had a clubbed foot, thus we had to go into Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii for monthly ultrasounds of his foot. We SAW that his foot was deformed. Then at 34 weeks, we SAW that Noah had not one, but two clubbed feet. We met with the pediatric orthapedic specialist and had a follow up set up with him once Noah was born. Through the advances of modern medicine, we SAW our boy's deformity. Because of the visual, we were afforded the opportunity to pray for our boy. We prayed day after day, moment after moment that Noah's feet be "righted."

We had an ultrasound at 36 weeks to confirm the deformity and we actually saw Noah's hair floating in the ultrasound. Our tech (who we loved very much; she helped us through some difficult times) said: "That boy looks like he's on fire!" Low and behold, when he entered this world finally, his head was emblazoned with the most incredible red hair.

Thus, we knew from Noah's entrance into this world - and given the strongest of names - we had a "winner" on our hands.

Fast forward three plus years. Noah is in school in Bossier City, Louisiana 2011 and has been since we moved here in 2009. He loves his class, and we do too. As his mom, I can't imagine a better place to have my kid going day after day. One of Noah's precious little class mates is named Bella Paquette. Her mom and dad are Air Force like us. Noah loved Bella very much - he talked about her daily. Bella went to be with Jesus at the end of September (see my previous posts). She was too sick to remain here on earth with us. Bella's mommy is 5 months plus pregnant with her little boy. Bella was able to know that she would have a little brother before she passed away.

I have been in touch with Janelle, her mommy since Bella went to heaven. While we were visiting Aunt Annie and Uncle Todd in Ohio, Noah ran out to their yard to let his balloon go so Bella could play with it in heaven. He talks to her daily, as well as prays for her and her mommy and daddy.

I got an email from her mommy just 2 days ago letting me know some astounding news: per Bella's request, they are naming her little brother (to be born in March 2012) Noah. Her mommy wanted me to know that Bella loved her friend Noah enough that she wanted her little brother to be named after him. I wept when I read that email. It is one thing to live your whole life and then have a building or a baby named after you. It is an entirely different thing altogether to be only THREE and have a child named after you.

To say that I am a proud mama is an understatement.

Communicating

Last week, I realized I had 1200 Facebook "friends" and it freaked me out. So I started to go through and delete those I wouldn't even recognize if I ran into them on the street.... Daunting task when there are two babies running around your feet. Then I realized that in the 6 years I have been on Facebook, I had thousands of pictures posted of myself, husband, friends and now kids. Even more overwhelming trying to go through and individually delete pictures.

Thus, I deleted my entire Facebook account. Yep - the whole darn thing. Years of posts, pictures, and friends gone into cyberspace history. It was really a weight off of my shoulders!

I have received some nasty emails from "friends" who thought they were individually deleted. I reassure you, that wasn't the case so please (if you read this) don't send me another email asking me why I deleted you!!!! It hurts my feelings!!!!

If we were Facebook friends and you haven't received a new request from me, please know it isn't personal. I will remain diligent about blogging because it is an outlet for me: writing. But I don't think Facebook will remain something that I am actively participating in; again, don't take it personally! Just find me here if you want an update ;)

A Baby's Grief

Noah has been going to mother's day out at the same school for 2 years now. He has his little circle of friends and they all love each other so very much.

He is now a member of the Tiger's class in his Pre 3K class and goes 5 days a week. There are only about 7-8 of them in his daily class. In that circle of little, long time friends is a girl named Bella.

Bella is the only child of her mommy and daddy. She is going to be a big sister in about 4 1/2 months. Bella loves Dora and loves to dance. A little over a week ago, Bella got a bug bite that got infected. It resulted in viral encephalitis and she got very, very sick. The doctors did 2 brain surgeries to relieve the swelling and a drain was put in. Just when they thought she was improving, she took a turn for the worst.

By Friday, there was no brain activity and by Saturday evening, the decision was made to take her off of life support. I had prepared Noah that Bella was most likely going to go on to heaven on Friday night so we talked about it. He was a bit familiar with death because my Aunt Mamie went on to be with the Lord last November and he was very close to her. So there has been a lot of open talk about heaven in our home. He was okay after our conversation on Friday night.

Dan is in the middle of an exercise so he's been working long hours and worked all weekend. So when I got the call that she'd passed away on Saturday, I shared it with him and then asked him how he felt. He said, "I'm happy for Bella. She's in Heaven now." and then he went back to playing ball. I was so heartbroken as a parent but happy that he was dealing so well.

All day Sunday, he talked about Bella but never showed any sadness. He even wanted to make her a card so he told me what to write then he colored it. He said "Maybe this will help her mommy and daddy not cry so much."

Even at school yesterday, he only sought to reassure his heartbroken teacher that Bella was in heaven and while we wouldn't see her soon, we would see her again. Ms. Hayley grabbed him tightly and tried not to cry. I was so proud of him.

But when he walked out of the building, he LOST it. He was hysterical. When we got home, I put Ellyotte down for a nap and then just scooped him up and rocked him. He wouldn't let me put him down for over an hour. It was clear that his grief - while delayed - was very real.

I didn't know what to do so while I held him, I called my mom and put her on speaker phone. She reassured Noah that it was okay to be sad and to cry and that Bella was not sick anymore and he would see his friend again. While she talked, I cried with my boy and just held him tightly.

It was a hard experience and while Noah's first experience with losing a close friend was way too young (he's 3.5) , it is not going to be the last time we experience death in our lives.

Please remember Bella's family. The Paquette's will need the prayers for strength and healing mercies as they journey through the rest of their lives without their firstborn.

Love on your babies a little harder today and praise God for the gift of the moment; we never know when we will enter our last here on earth.

Words from a Hero

The best way to share this is from an email I sent to several folks requesting the transcripts. I went back to Alabama this past weekend - 478 miles - with only Ellyotte in tow just three days after having returned from two weeks there. My best buddy since 1999 was asked to speak as the guest of honor at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Troy University. I went back to not only see him, introduce him to Ellyotte but to also introduce him to the hundreds of students and faculty sitting on the floor of an overflowing auditorium. He is a true hero in every sense of the word. Below is the email I sent followed by my introduction/speech and then his brief transcripts.

----------
All,
Jeff provided me with his bullets but I promise, 2/3s of what he said was in the moment. There were some swear words, some mentions of actual kills he's had, he said the one regret he has in life is that he hasn't killed more terrorists, he has killed just at 500 terrorists with his own hands, and he couldn't stress more that we need to be VIGILANT and teaching our children how to be vigilant. Dark days are ahead of us and he looked at everyone and said over and over "they hate you, they want each and every one of you dead. Don't forget that."
He warns that our schools are extremely vulnerable. Said the best thing we can do for our children is order and read "Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools" by John Giduck.

He carries a 9mm with him - even sleeps with it. He is an example of paranoia because of experience - we can never be too careful. He spoke of the 22 buddies he lost last month - his best bud was the one who's dog laid at the base of his casket. Jeff was a pallbearer at that funeral. I am sure you all have seen the picutre of Hawkeye, the dog.

I am including my intro to him so you know a little more about him. He's an amazing American, we have no idea how fortunate we are to live in a country where men like Jeff Nichols serve us so selflessly.
Please pass along to those you think would be interested.

__________________________________________________

Good evening. I am Katie Beall, oldest daughter of Chancellor and Mrs. Jack Hawkins. It is my honor to be able to introduce my best friend, Navy SEAL Jeff Nichols, to you all tonight.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Those of us who witnessed the horrors of Sept 11, 2001 and then made the difficult choice to serve our nation can best identify with that statement.
The majority of you in the audience tonight were in grade school when the American way of life changed forever.  Tonight, you are being introduced to true, selfless American heroes. You are literally in the presence of greatness and of men who have sacrificed so much for your freedoms.
A native of Iowa, Jeff Nichols came to Troy University on a baseball scholarship. He graduated from Troy University in 2002 with a degree in exercise physiology.
 Jeff joined the Navy in October 2002 and was chosen to be a candidate for the Basic Underwater Demolition School. He completed  Basic Army Air-Born Parachute School and then was sent to SEAL Qualification Training in San Diego where following an intense 6 months, he earned the official title of SEAL in May 2004. Out of 164 SEAL candidates that started the training in Jeff’s class, only 22 completed.
In his 8 years of service, Jeff has completed 12 combat deployments to half a dozen countries. He was deployed 306/365 days in this past year alone. Jeff has been awarded multiple combat awards with valor. He is a SEAL sniper, a SEAL explosives breacher, is a static line and freefall parachute jumpmaster, a Naval master parachutist and he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
My friendship with Jeff began when we both transferred to Troy University in 1999. From Day 1 of meeting, Jeff told me that he was going to be a Navy SEAL. There was never any mystery to what he dreamed of becoming.
We immediately bonded over our love for our country and through our shared dreams of serving our great nation. We were kindred spirits from the beginning: we’d go to baseball parties and spend hours in a corner talking about and planning our military futures . I like to remind him that we were the “weird ones” but he thinks we were normal and everyone else was different!
I commissioned as an active duty Air Force intelligence officer through AFROTC here at Troy University in May 2002. Through our years at Troy, Jeff supported me 100% and encouraged me daily to push forward towards my dream of military service. It was during my vulnerable years at Troy University that he became a hero of mine.
Aside from my father, a Vietnam veteran, Marine Corps officer who was awarded 2 purple hearts and a bronze star, and my own husband, a highly decorated Air Force intelligence officer, Jeff is my hero. These three men are examples of true heroes and to be able to call Jeff my friend is an honor. He is loyal; a devoted father to his 4 year old son, Mason; a proud Trojan; and a one of the most amazing Americans I have ever known. Ladies and gentleman, let’s welcome Navy SEAL Jeff Nichols.
_________________________________________
Thank You’s Dr. Hawkins Mrs. Janice Hawkins Troy For Troops Committee All those involved in getting me back to Troy Schaughnessy Introduce Myself Name, 2002 Grad from Troy Navy SEAL w/ numerous combat deployments Numerous awards for Valor Most Importantly I am an AMERICAN and a Father of a 4 year old little angel. Troy for Troops message Before I Proceed I did not come here to recruit for the Navy Comments expressed are not Troy’s, US Gov, or the Navy’s Comments are mine and mine alone If anyone is offended come and see me afterwards and we can talk. Keep in mind if you have enough confidence to come and see me afterwards I have lost 29 of my friends in 4 yrs and 22 last month. We can all guess how that little talk will go. 1. It is often pointed out to me how different a life I live and have lived. Which is why relating you to all became the one question I had. I am not too far removed from you all are. My life was decided while I was here at Troy. I remember where and why I decided to Join the Navy and become a SEAL. WHEN, WHERE, WHY. I AM PRETTY HARD ON MYSELF. I NEEDED THIS CHALLENGE SO I COULD LOOK MYSELF IN THE MIRROR, AND ULTIMATLY LEAVE MY LEGACY TO MY FAMILY, GRANDSON….. I was also here at Troy on Sep. 11th. WHERE AND WHEN. Sept. 11th has lived with me every day since then, TRULY!!! 2. I have two Goals this evening. 1/make a point and not be all over, 2/ Not to package my opinions as fact, but give you a sense of how sep 11 changed lives. 3. I was given guidance in the form of topics to address (which I will) such as +personal experiences +career Experiences +broad effects of 911+why 911 matters. ****Bring light not Darkness***** All good things, but one overriding fact still remained with me through all my soul searching. We were attacked “WE WERE ATTACKED” NO AMOUNT of feel good stories will make up for the anger I have on that topic. Pres Bush Said “we will not make the distinction between those who carried out these terrorist acts and those that Harbor them”. He also said “I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you, and soon those responsible for knocking down these towers will hear all of us soon” I HAVE LIVED BY THESE QUOTES I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 9 YEARS NOT MAKING THAT DISTINCTION. Because I know you are all thinking one of these questions? 2 most common – breath hold – killed someone – how does it make you feel. 911 is why I am here / why I am always gone/ why I fight / kill / and why my beliefs and values are continually being shaped, and reinforced. And it didn’t end for me when UBL was killed. In the past 9 years. Every time I have bled, every time I have pushed myself to my physical limits, every time I have been scared, and every time I have cried has been because of 911. 4.Broad Effects of 911 5. Perspective on Leadership and World Security. Janet Napalitano. Said “one of our greatest threats to homeland security is our returning vets” and yet we have more than 2 dozen know terrorist training camps inside our boarders right now. Most all of them formally established post 911. Perspective---Weak as it has ever been- we as a country have become so dependent on others (who are not experts) who present their opinions as fact. 911 taught us (or should have) that everyone need to take a proactive and not a reactive stance in protecting and caring for our freedoms so many have bled for. Troy for Troops/ Students/Parents Be Proactive and not reactive Learn to love our country, it’s never too late! Stand up for our Freedoms (not an excuse to be pathetic) Be a good role model for all children (example: national anthem) Conclusion 911 matters to so many. It is my generations Pearl Harbor. For those few who are still alive who lived through that, and the even fewer who were serving or there, my LOVE and ADMIRATION goes out to them. I know how they all felt. This time around my brothers and I were the ones who took up arms. HERE IS WHERE I HAVE A HARD TIME PACKAGING MY THOUGHTS INTO FACT….BECAUSE I JUST CANT. All of you will look back at this statement and remember it. Sep 11th 2001 was just the beginning for us and the world. A lot of eyes have been opened (on both sides) and so many eyes have turned away. Darker days are coming unless we find the love for our country we once had. They are already here, they are just waiting. Waiting for what….Waiting for us to be weak and divided. We are pretty divided right now. So next time someone asks you what your political affiliation is…..say it proud, look them into the eyes and say………… I AM AN AMERICAN.