Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Our Hearts are Saddened


We just got news that Gabriel's neurologist has passed away. Our hearts are heavy, not only was he just the sweetest man ever, he was very intelligent and warm and he has helped Gabriel have amazing seizure control and has been able to help Gabe keep a calm mind where he has been able to grow leaps and bounds developmentally from it!
He will be greatly missed!

Norfolk - Dr. Donald Wray Lewis, well known in the community as a child neurologist, educator, researcher and outspoken advocate for children's health, died on February 17 after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage. He was 60 years old, and was preceded in death by his parents, Wellington and Peggy Lewis.
Dr. Lewis was born on May 15, 1951 at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Growing up in Navy family, he attended schools in Newport, R.I., McLean, Va. and London. He graduated from Portsmouth's Woodrow Wilson High School in 1969. Dr. Lewis was also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Medical College of Virginia. He trained in pediatrics at Naval Regional Medical Center, Portsmouth and completed a fellowship in pediatric neurology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
At the time of his death, Dr. Lewis was chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Senior Vice President of academic affairs at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. He was a gifted teacher and an inspiring mentor to a generation of young pediatricians.
Dr. Lewis won countless teaching awards, including the EVMS dean's outstanding teaching award in 2009. His research advanced the understanding of childhood migraines and he published more than 50 studies, over a dozen book chapters and two books on the subject. He also led a team of doctors that developed national guidelines for evaluating and diagnosing children with migraines.
He was a well-known lecturer on a variety topics related to children's health and will be remembered for his speculation on the diagnosis of Charles Dickens' character Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol.
His passion for children went beyond the US. He participated in medical missions to Honduras and Haiti, where he gave hope to hundreds of children and their families. He was looking forward to another visit to Haiti to establish a coalition of health-care providers to treat children there. He will also be remembered for his love of golf and gardening and his willingness to offer an opinion on any subject. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.
Dr. Lewis is survived by his wife, Penny Barlow Lewis of Norfolk; sister Cherie Morris of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; a niece, Jennifer Morris of Washington D.C; a great-niece, Hailey Wray Love, of Washington, D.C.; and a nephew, Melvin Barlow IV, of Aiken, South Carolina.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 22, at 2 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Norfolk, where Dr. Lewis was currently serving as Senior Warden. The family will receive friends at H. D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk Chapel, on Tuesday, February 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1009 W. Princess Anne Road, Norfolk, VA 23507, or Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, 601 Children's Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507.Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Valentine Cupcakes!

I had so much fun making these cupcakes for the orders that were placed and for John's work potluck! After I was finished and admiring my work...Nathaniel (gotta just love the honesty of kids!) say...."so how long did those take you??? You will never make it on Cupcake Wars...they only get 2 hours for 1000 of those!" hahahahaa..but then he says "But they don't look that pretty!" So glad he knew how to turn that all around into this sweet compliment :)
(from left to right)"Coco 4 Cookies" Dark chocolate cupcake filled with cookie pudding and topped with chocolate butter cream and chocolate drizzle and mini cookie ~ Chocolate cupcake with chocolate raspberry butter cream and a heart Dove chocolate ~ "Nutty 4 Nanners" Banana peanut butter cupcake with a peanut butter butter cream and chocolate drizzle and mini nutter butter cookie and crumbs!


Packed up and ready for delivery...
loving how my assistant DiNozzo is double checking everything!

Was so excited to hear that the girls who received these in the 3 different B of A banks were still talking about how delicious they were days after Valentine's!!!!

DiNozzo watching the snow...

so cute!

He LOVES me THIS MUCH...

Thanks Honey for fixing the windshield wipers despite the snow fall, so Destinee and I could go to the movies to see the Vow! You are the BEST!!!

Destinee...

Isn't she just the most beautiful girl you have seen???
(loving how her hair in this picture seems to be the same color has her hoodie!...
although it really isn't...it is a really pretty auburn now...done with the blond highlights!)

More pictures of our Roosters and Chickens...






Maybe it is me but it seems the number of these feathery friends seems to be increasing!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Roosters, Chickens OH MY!

I suppose this would fall under "only in Virginia"! hahaha
About 2 months ago a rooster showed up in our backyard and every morning since he wakes us up at 4:30am and doesn't stop crowing until 7:30 (which is when we are all now up of course!)
Well 2 days ago we seem to have adopted 3 additional chickens to keep our rooster company!
They are really pretty and hopefully i can get better pictures of the all but it is just so funny!
I can't help but wonder if we are being punked! hahahaha
Seriously though, wonder who lost their rooster and chickens!



Friday, February 3, 2012

Happy 12th Birthday Gabriel!

Can't believe it is already 12 years! Wow what God has done in these past 12 years! How can we not celebrate and give thanks!
John and I brought cupcakes to his class today...i think he enjoyed them ;)

You are amazing Gabe!
God made you special and He loves you too!
Happy Birthday Mister...
we love you very much and can't wait to see what amazing things God does in your life this year!