Thomas' Baptism

On Sunday, the newest member of the Campbell family, Thomas Campbell was baptized. Catholic of course just as all the other Campbells. Happy mother and father, Brodie's brother Tom and Diane, asked Brodie and I to be his Godparents. We were touched and very honored. However, I am not Catholic. I am Mormon. So I am considered a Christian Witness. That's good enough for me = ). Thank you Tom and Diane!
The baptism boy. Isn't he the cutest baby ever! Handsome indeed!The BaptismAlex- Isn't she beautiful!This is Joey trying to entertain himself.Parents and Godparents Brodie's brother Kevin, Little Kev, Steffie, and baby Thomas Steffie and Alex
Joey found a friend at the celebration after the baptism that brought some Thomas trains. Of course, he very quickly became Joey's new best friend. Our Family. It figures, I had to be the one to mess up the picture with my eyes closed.

ALS Walk to Defeat ALS

This years walk cotributions were very dissapointing to me. I was dissapointed in myself for starting late and having to adjust my goal downward because I was not even close to what I hoped for. I was dissapointed in my friends and family for not supporting me like they have in the past. With that said, A big hooray and thank you to those of you who donated to me. You were very generous. Hence me reaching my secondary goal. I was dissapointed in the amount of people who raised money. I was dissapointed in the couple of people who signed up who were no shows and raised a big fat $0 (I'm not talking to you Tiffany=)). Overall, I was happy with the people who attended the walk. The weather called for rain and thunder showers but we chanced it and managed not to get rained on. Here are my photos:
Our Walk team after the walk minus Aunt Lisa who had to rush home for a niece's bridal shower. Hope it was fun Aunt Lisa. You were with us in spirit.
My boy getting a ride. I don't think he walked at all. Except for the few kamikazes off while we were still moving.
These are the names of all the people we were walking for. Momma's name is on there.
My Punkin, Steffie, and Laura holding our team sign. =)
Me & My Siblings

I will definately try harder next year. I know I just have to buckle down and do it. The hardest part was reliving my story and now that's done, I won't have to do it again next year. I know my Momma would still be proud. Of me and the rest of us at the walk. She was with us in memory and spirit. Although we miss her, we must fight on so others do not suffer the way that she and my family has. If anyone is still interested in donating, it's not too late. Here's the link to my walk page just in case http://community.alsphiladelphia.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=466&frsid=1421. They will continue to accept donations until 1/31/09.

Turbans Anyone

Alex always sees me wrap my hair in a towel whenever I get out of the shower. Just the other day, after her shower, she asks me to do her. Laura (Brodie's goddaughter) gave me these hair towels for my birthday, which I love by the way. So I wrapped Alex up just like me and she poses. Of course I think she's the cutest thing ever!
We Pose together. I like to think she looks a little like me. Especially here. What do you think?

CAT FOUND

So this really awesome cat shows up on Aunt Lisa's doorstep and now she has to find it a home. So she drives it down to us and we discover that this is the sweetest cat ever. Joey picked her up like crazy and she never minded. To make a long story short, I really wanted to keep her. I begged and begged but wasn't allowed. Brodie's brother Ed said they'd take her. If he'd said "no", I think we would've ended up with her. Anyway, she was so sweet!

Walk for Momma

This is a photo of our walk team, Always & forever Leslie's Soldiers, from last year. I am the team captain and am having an exceptionally difficult time contributing to the walk this year. Without my Momma, my motivation and desire has severely dwindled. However, I am pressing on because this is a fight I believe in with all my heart and so does my Momma. Without experiencing it first hand, it is hard to understand.

WHY I WALK TO D'FEET ALS
My Momma, Leslie, was diagnosed with ALS July 10 2006. That is the day my life forever would change. Momma was 48 years young when she lost her battle with ALS on January 5 2008, 18 months after diagnosis and merely 2 years after the onset of her symptoms. She has 5 grandchildren that love her to pieces and 3 children who love her more. In 2006, Momma married her soul mate and love for the last 15 years. This disease took the ability to play, run, sing, dance, and do other activities from her including standing, walking, speaking, eating and ultimately breathing.

We don’t know why my Momma was afflicted by ALS. She was always a great mother, daughter, sister, wife, and grandmother. She had always done all that she could for family and friends alike. She got up every morning with a smile, knowing there may be new challenges facing her each day. My Momma required assistance in everything she did from getting dressed to going to the bathroom and brushing her teeth. She had to get a feeding tube due to the difficulty taking her medicine, because ALS affected the muscles in the back of her throat. This disease affected her brain causing her to be unable to control her emotions and comprehend things. She eventually was unable to communicate with us because we simply could not understand her or what she was trying to tell us. My Momma spent her last days uncomfortable and then incoherent in a hospital. I'll never forget the way I felt looking at her dead body or asking "Was that it?" with tears in my eyes, after her obvious last breathe. The nurse said she died peacefully but it sure didn’t feel that way to those who loved her as we watched her gasping for her last breathes. Words could never describe what we felt or saw that week or what it was like to have to make the decision not to give food or water to your mother. The horror that was felt as we watched her stare into space and wonder what her mind was thinking. The worst part was watching her weak and tired body in discomfort when the pain medication wore off. In the beginning she would just moan and her arms would flail. After a few days, she was only strong enough to barely lift her arms off the bed. I had to tell my dying mother goodbye and so did her other 30 year old daughter and 23 year old son as well as her loving husband, her parents, her only sister and 3 brothers. To think, she went into the hospital because the pain medication caused constipation and she was having severe stomach cramps after not having a bowel movement in 7 days. Yes, 7 days. 9 days later, she passed. We never thought she wouldn't be coming back home. Today, I miss her more than ever. I would have taken care of that woman for the rest of my life if God had let me. Today, Alex still asks questions about why Mommom died and it makes me sad to think that she probably won't remember a thing about her in 20 years. The following is a picture from Christmas last year. I tried to get her to smile but she was just too uncomfortable and unhappy. She never even opened her presents. Two days later, she went to the hospital. New Year's will never be the same for me. Don't let this disease keep destroying people's lives. Please help by sponsoring me!

Why We Need Your Help
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries. We walk to support comprehensive patient service programs and leading edge ALS research. You can play an essential role by sponsoring me. Both walkers and donors directly impact the lives of those affected by ALS by providing the means to raise awareness and to offer the services needed to treat and defeat this disease.Not only do proceeds from the Walk go to services that improve the day-to-day lives of ALS patients and their loved ones (like wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), but also the money we fundraise is directed toward programs that look to the future. Promising research indicates that we are getting closer to finding treatment options and scientists are hopeful that a cure will one day be discovered. Please consider sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by ALS. The ALS Association made a significant difference to my Momma by loaning her a wheelchair and walker. They also gave her an aide 3 days a week. Not to mention the care and support from the doctors, nurses and staff at the ALS Clinic. I encourage you to get your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers involved!

Anyone who has already donated whether it was to me or someone else, I greatly appreciate it! If you have been asked to donate to another walker, by all means donate to the other person. But please donate. Every little bit counts! Thanks so much! If you have any questions send me an e-mail.

Here is the link to my walk site. http://community.alsphiladelphia.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=466&frsid=1421
Just click on Sponsor Me to donate here. If you'd rather send me a check, send me an e-mail and I will reply with my address. I'd rather not post it. If you do not have my e-mail, click on view my complete profile under About Me to the left. Once there, click on e-mail on the left hand side under contact under my picture.

Saying Goodbye to Summer

One of our favorite things to do as a family is go to the boardwalk. The children love the rides and we love watching them. It's also my favorite place to eat pizza in Cape May county. Not to mention, it's not a bad way to get in a little exercise. This picture is of us in the "Big Chair". We always say we'd get this picture at the end of the season when it's cheaper. This year we finally did and it only cost $5. I'm a little dissapointed that my husband chose a beer but I felt what better way to hide a fat girl belly than a big fat cheeseburger. The children were excited about the ice creams, however, Joey would not stop licking his. DISGUSTING!

So my big girl will be 5 in November. While Joey doesn't like any of the rides that go remotely fast or spin, Alex is so bored of the kiddie rides. She loves the roller coasters. There are 2 on the boardwalk that she's allowed to go on with daddy. Totally frustrated with her size, she pouted a little when we made her go on a kiddie ride with Joey and it was one of the more fun ones. To make a long story short, Alex is only about 1/2 an inch too short for the log flume. Brodie talked the attendant into letting her on with him. I wasn't there so I didn't see but Alex was quoted saying, "that was awesome!" Although, I wish I was there to see and gotten a picture, I am very glad that she got to end her summer with something as exciting as the log flume. I used to love all those big scary roller coasters too, but not anymore. So I'll be just fine with Joey wanting to ride the easier rides for a while and Alex and Daddy can be the thrill seekers of the family. Goodbye Summer :(

Also I wanted people to know my best friend Stephanie did a really nice blog about me for my birthday. There are some old pictures of me on there. To see it, click on this link. http://kennyandstephaniehart.blogspot.com/2008/09/chance-made-us-friends-hearts-made-us.html. She's really good at this blogging stuff. If you ever want to check out her page again, there is link to it on the left. Click on stephaniehart under My Friends.

My Birthday Present

So I got some embossing supplies for my birthday and here's what I've done so far. I Love It!

Alex couldn't wait to try it out either. She did pretty good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SITTER!!!!!!

My sister,
Happy Birthday!!! I love you and miss you....and I wish I was there to celebrate another year with you!
You're the bestest friend ever--and we've got to get moving on purchasing those ranches!!!
Love you ,
Steph

Happy Birthday To Me

So it's my birthday. It's hard to believe that I'm actually 32 years old considering I don't feel a day over 24. Except when my knees hurt or I just don't move like I used to. Never thought I'd have so many routine ailments at 32. As well as I feel it is extremely odd that Brodie's 18 year old niece refers to him as an old man and Brodie's 10 year old Goddaughter (and honorary member of our family who is pictured below), Laura says wow when she hears 32 as a response to her question "how old are you". You know your older when the kids driving today don't look a day over 12... When did 12 year olds start driving anyway? When you are young hoping to be older you feel this time will never come and somehow it has managed to sneak up on me. I do, however, feel that I will never feel my age and hope to always have the mindset and agility of that of the youth. Although, I do find it hard to keep up with the times. Especially music when all that seems to be playing in my car is "kidstuff". I find myself forgetting to change it even when they are not with me.

My birthday does bring some gloom sometimes. I tend to be extra sensitive for some reason so it is not hard to make me cry and it's not always for a good reason. And then there was that 9/11 problem that used to really bring me down. This year, although I thought of 9/11, it did not bring me down. It was more of a remembrance of those lost not as much of the horrible things that happened. And I only cried once, briefly. No biggie.

So, as a tradition, ever since Alex's 2nd Birthday, we have taken the kids to Chuck E Cheese for their actual birthday separate from a birthday party. This year, we decided to do it for mine & Brod's Birthdays too. It's fun for us just to watch them.

Brodie and Alex riding the virtual roller coaster.
Joey and Laura riding the kiddie coaster.Laura teaching Joey to skee ball.

This is a random kid that Alex made friends with. She did not win BTW but they played a much better game than I expected.

When we got home, I opened my presents. I got a Webkinz, which is actually Alex & Joey's but they share better when it belongs to me. I got a trash can. This is because our current trash can only holds half a bag of trash, therefore it spends a day or two on the floor until it is filled. -Brodie hates it! Last, I got an embossing heat tool and accessories. I love it! Brodie did an awesome job picking it out and I can't wait to try it out tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. All in all, it was a good day.

Little Man & his favorite things

My Little Man has a handful of favorite things.

Joey loves to mow the lawn with Daddy... It's so neat to see him dart out to get his lawn mower when he sees Daddy mowing. Daddy gets a kick out of it too. I guess we know who'll be mowing the lawn in another 7+ years.
The stuffed kitties... There must be at least 20. There are two Mommies and the rest are babies and I think he and Alex play with them at least once a day. When they talk to each other, they just add a meow meow at the end. It's pretty cute.
WATERMELON... who doesn't?Hangin with Poppop... Poppop and Joey have a special bond. It's kinda hard to describe. One thing is for sure, they enjoy each others company. Joey especially loves jumping in Poppop's seat as soon as he gets up. His new quad!... Not exactly new just new to him. He's a mad man on this thing! He doesn't seem to know how to take his foot off the pedal. It's a good thing we have plenty of yard! Mommy's jacket... This obsession is slightly disturbing to Brodie. It's my jacket. It's an old velour maternity jacket that I loved until I was asked one to many times if I was pregnant while wearing it. It was then that I realized I needed to stop wearing it. It's was shortly before that that Joey realized he liked it. He likes the way it feels. Today, although he does not play with it, it does go everywhere he goes, even the potty. We do feel the need to make limits. It goes in the car but does not come out until we are home again. He sleeps with it and asks for it multiple times throughout the day.

But most of all.... He LOVES TRAINS! Especially Thomas the Tank Engine but all trains!
My Little Man is such a neat little boy. There are many things he loves but one stands above the rest. He loves his trains. I love to watch him play and talk to himself. His scenarios are usually situations he has actually experienced or fantasies that he and Alex have created. The rest have come from Thomas cartoons. But it does not end there. He loves all trains. He loves model trains. We find ourselves frequenting Train Museums. He loves to ride on trains. Even pretend ones. It has become quite an infatuation. My living floor is regularly covered in trains and so is Mommoms. At least one train goes everywhere he goes, including the potty!

He's one of a kind and he's all boy. I think we'll keep him!

We're Ready for Kindergarten

Wow! First day came and went and it's hard to believe. My big girl was nervous but she tried hard not to let it show. Mommy, on the other hand tried really hard not to cry. I can't believe she's growing up so fast! She survived and so did I. She drew a really great picture of herself on the swing. I didn't know my punkin could do that! I was amazed and extremely proud! Joey was a little concerned. He asked when she was coming home a few times. By this time next week, he'll look forward to his alone time. Sayin Goodbye... A little reluctantly.


One last hug from Mommy =(...=)
Mrs. Tomlin, Alex's new teacher! She had a great day at school!