...Before Panama...

I seriously have some catching up to do on this blog!  My goal is one or two posts each week in an effort to catch you up on the Clark's but don't be surprised if I become a slacker again!

The week leading up to our Panama City Beach trip was very hectic.  On Tuesday (the first) I had my glucose screening.  I was so nervous about this test but I passed with no problem.  I was so excited but that excitement was short lived.  

That afternoon poor Hannah became so sick with a sore throat and a high fever.  A trip to the pediatrician ruled out strep, mono and hand/foot/mouth disease.  The doc believed that it was something viral but prescribed an antibiotic since we were leaving for the beach the following Sunday.  If Hannah was better by Thursday I should continue with the antibiotic but if she wasn't I should stop it.  She gave us Zithromax (sp?) which I was leery of because I'm allergic to it.  My mom and I are also allergic to penicillin and amoxicillin -and so are Hannah & Samuel.  The doctor assured me that Hannah would be fine.  By Wednesday afternoon Hannah had a rash around her mouth that quickly spread to her arms and legs.  Poor baby girl also had blisters around her mouth.  But, she was better by Thursday so I figured I could handle a rash and we would be fine.

Wrong.

On Friday morning Samuel woke up with a fever and sore throat.  That evening we met our dear friends, the Jobs, in Helen, GA.  This was our only chance of seeing them until the fall.  I monitered Sam all day and he said he felt well enough to go.  

We had a great evening with Belinda, Beresford and Bethany.  There's always so much to talk about but not enough time!  I don't think any of us stopped chatting except to eat.  I totally forgot to ask Belinda & Bethany if they were excited about the Olympics this summer - because I definitely am!   Leave a comment and let me know ;-)   I wouldn't have any pictures except that Hannah took my camera and snapped a few.  They're not the best but they'll have to suffice (sorry Job family...I tried to make them look good with some photo editing!)

At the end of the evening they were so sweet to pay for our dinner as an early anniversary present to Bobby & myself.  ---Job family, we love you and truly appreciate your kindness to us!! 

Poor Hannah had a rash all around her mouth...

Friday evening/early Saturday morning Bobby said he was so nauseated.  Saturday morning poor Sammy woke up at 6:30, throwing up.  I panicked.  There was no way we would be able to go to the beach with such a sick kiddo but thankfully Bobby was feeling better.  Bobby told me to pack anyway and I tearfully began the task of organizing clothes and getting our food/snacks together.   I prayed the entire time that he would heal our family and bless us with this vacation that Bobby had worked so hard to pay for.  Praise our Heavenly Father who is the Gentle Healer, by 3:30 Sammy was definitely feeling better and asking for a corn dog!  After he kept down two bowls of soup I was relieved and knew the Lord had answered our prayers and we would be able to go on our trip.

So my next post will be pictures from Panama City, FL.  We had a lot of fun and I can't wait to share those pictures!!

...lately...

 March and April were busy months for the Clark's.  But then it seems like every month is busy and full of its own challenges.

In March, Bobby made two trips to FL.  His first trip consisted of a SCUBA trip to Panama City for the weekend.  He thoroughly enjoys scuba diving so this was a fun trip for him!

March also brought the loss of Bobby's cousin, James Barnes.  James was brutally beaten on a beach in FL and died a few days later due to the injuries he sustained.  We were all overwhelmed and devastated  by the circumstances in which James was murdered.  I won't tell the whole story here but I'm sure most of you (who know us) know the entire story anyway.  The Lord is so faithful though.  The kids and I stayed home while Bobby & his brother, David, made the trip to FL for the memorial service.  Upon their return, Bobby shared that James had called on the name of Jesus and was saved two weeks before his death.  There was one particular sin that he had struggled most of his life and after his salvation he told his mother that the Lord had delivered him from this sin!!  What a beautiful testimony!! 

James and four month old Hannah in New Port Ritchie, FL

James was one of my favorites out of all of Bobby's cousins.  He had such a fun sense of humor and the funniest laugh!  He was so sweet and laid back,  I don't think I ever saw him get angry or raise his voice.  We visited James and Aunt Patti (James' mother) when Hannah was just four months old.  He took us to the Tampa Aquarium and the Salvador Dali Museum during our visit.  At both places, he carried Hannah the entire time, just snuggling her and talking to her.  Other than Bobby & myself he was the first person Hannah ever reached for!  That is such a sweet memory for such a sweet man.

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April was spent alternating between babysitting and working at Tots & Teens.  I've worked like crazy in an effort to save up some extra money for our beach trip this month.  Poor Bobby always saves the money we need for our yearly trip but since I've been blessed with two jobs I wanted to help out this time. 

We also celebrated Bobby's 35th birthday and my mom's 58th birthday.  Poor Bobby, we didn't have much of a celebration for him.  I went in search of a new gym bag and a marathon sticker for his car but couldn't find either around our area (Seneca).  I was too stretched for time so I couldn't get to Anderson.  Hannah & Samuel did buy him a gnome for his garden that they've affectionately named 'Gnomeo.'  We will not be getting a Juliet (at least not a Juliet from USC...maybe just a solid red one?  We'll see...)!!

We celebrated my mom's birthday with a cook-out at her house.  My Daddy worked the grill while everyone else brought side dishes.  I made the cake and Sammy & my Dad bought the ice cream.  It was so fun just to spend an evening with my family laughing and eating.  They're an interesting group for sure!!

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Hannah completed kindergarden in April.  She has really enjoyed learning at home and is looking forward to next year when she starts first grade.  She's also found a new medium for her creativity.  She now loves to sew.  My mom was trying to teach her to cross stitch but she would rather sew her "own way."  I think her cross looks pretty good!

Sammy won't start school for another year but he's already been working on his letters and can write 'Amos' and 'Mama' without assistance.  He loves spending time with Papa and enjoys fishing.  He still spends every free moment on the trampoline or playing the Wii.  He's still so laid back and easy going.  He's not hard to please at all.  And he adores Hannah, he follows her every where she goes!

Now they're both preparing for our yearly trip to Panama City, Fl and anxiously awaiting the arrival of their little brother. 

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We've decided to name this squirmy little guy Amos James Clark.  We agreed on Amos as a family (we had narrowed it down to Titus and Amos and the guys liked Amos the best.)  We were having a hard time deciding on a good middle name though.  Then James passed away and Bobby asked if I liked his name for a middle name.  Plus my mom's maiden name is James.  It was perfect.

As I've mentioned before, this little guy is a mover!!  He's constantly kicking or squirming around.  You can see my belly move when he's really active.  Hannah loves to feel him kick and will sit for several minutes patiently waiting for him to flip and flop.  Sam, on the other hand, will run up, place his hand on my belly while asking if Amos is moving.  I'll tell him to wait a minute but Sam is gone again before the words are even out of my mouth!  

I had my glucose test yesterday and comfortably passed it.  I failed by one point with Hannah and ended up taking the three hour test, which I passed.  I barely passed when I was pregnant with Samuel so I was very relieved when I got such a good number yesterday. 

My blood pressure has been great every time and I've only gained a total of 5 lbs.  I'm completely amazed that it's only five but I won't complain!  I also had another ultrasound yesterday and this time Amos was more cooperative.  We got all of the pictures we needed and we finally got to see his little profile.  I'm almost positive he's going to look just like Bobby!!

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Now we're preparing for our vacation next week, our eleven year anniversary and my birthday.  So, May is going to be just as busy...  but at least it's going to be all fun stuff!!