Follow through

I am nothing if not a woman of my word :)  Thanks to many (most?) of you, I was able to raise $1111 for the Susan G. Komen Jazzerthon, so last Saturday, after teaching class, my noggin was shaved!  Overall, our Habersham team exceeded our goal and raised $13,300, and the event itself raised over $186,000 for the Atlanta affiliate of Susan G. Komen.

mid-shave with a mohawk

Alan is the most supportive husband in the world!

As great as those numbers and this gesture seems, I received some news this morning that reminded me that the fight is not over.  Nancy is one of my new Habersham friends- she is a Jazzercise customer, a fellow MOPS member (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers), and keeps Eli in Jazzercise childcare during my Wednesday morning class (her twin toddlers completely dote on Baby Eli!).  I received an email today with the news that she was just diagnosed with colorectal cancer.  Nancy is about my age with 4 children under the age of 10 (and older stepchildren, as well) and she doesn't have health insurance- her husband works with livestock and she is a stay-at-home-mom who does some house cleaning, as well- so she has waited a year since her symptoms started before finally going to a doctor.  It will be a couple of weeks before we have an official diagnosis of what stage her cancer is in and what the treatment is, but my heart is heavy tonight because I know how important early detection is for any cancer.  I am scared for her and her family, and I know that for the next couple of weeks the only thing that can help her is lots of love and lots of prayer, so I hope that you will help me in sending both her way.

Sorry to write such a depressing entry, but sometimes that's what our lives are about.  To try to end on a high note, here are some pictures of our sweet boy :)

Morning cat-nap in mommy's lap

Waking up from naptime (notice the wet diaper!)

"Get me outta' here!"

Baby jail

One of my recent favorite pictures :)

I'm doing it AGAIN (hopefully)

Some of you may or may not know this, but in May 2010, after my family, friends, and the student and faculty of my high school helped me raise over $2000 for Relay for Life, I let two of my student cancer survivors shave my head live on the school morning announcements!  It really was a life-changing experience, both for me and the students who supported me.

In just two weeks, I'm participating with the Habersham Jazzercise team at the Jazzerthon, an all-day fundraiser for the Atlanta affiliate of Susan G. Komen Cure foundation for breast cancer research.  And if I can reach my $1000 personal fundraising goal by Saturday, February 11th, I'm going to shave my head again!  Down to bare skin this time, no fuzz left, and it is decidedly colder this time than last time :)  It is such a small sacrifice to make in order to support those who have or are battling cancer and to honor those who are gone.

I know times are tough for everyone (in addition to adopting a new baby, we have three mortgages!), but it's even tougher for those fighting cancer or who have lost a loved one, so please consider making even a small donation to help support me and the fight against breast cancer.  You can do so by visiting my personal fundraising website:

http://race.komenatlanta.org/goto/amyhayes

Thank you for your support, and feel free to share my email, this blog, and my website :)

This is what it looked like back in 2010!

Atomjohnson photography

I can try to be a good photographer all I want, but I will never compare to my brother and his semi-pro photography skills.  of course, he literally takes THOUSANDS of pictures, but his eye for the most incredible details just amazes me.  Here are some of the photos that he's shared from his Christmas visit.

First tooth

It's the shiny white thing on the right (and it looks like another one's about to peek through on the left!)

Little man is also starting to get his rolling over down and just rolled across the family room from the jungle playmat, to his toybox (and pulled out what he could), to his jumparoo, squealing and babbling the whole time.  Now there's drool all over the carpet :)

Eli and the dogs

Eli is fascinated by Wilson and Zoey... and they are very sweet to tolerate him.

Eli's 1st Christmas

After spending the past two Christmases away from home, it was so nice to be back in Georgia, and even better to spend it with family and starting new traditions.  Alan's parents stayed in town following Eli's adoption last week, so it was the first time having both families together for the holidays.  My brother Adam came in from Colorado, as well, so whole Johnson family (plus aunt Joyce) headed up to Lake Burton.  We drove up Friday evening to join them for Christmas Eve dinner- a delicious meal of prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, green bean casserole, yorkshire pudding, and 4 different desserts (care of Alan's parents).  Eli had a great time playing with the new toys from his stocking and basically entertaining the rest of us.

 

One of those photos he'll hate me for when he's older...

 

"Merry freakin' Christmas- now get this hat off me!"

 

Playing with the toys Nana put in his stocking

 

Eli, aunt Joyce, and Lewis

 

Bill and Alan

 

"I'm so strong!  I lift up heavy toys and put them back down again!"

 

Death-grip on Lewis (fortunately, a very well-behaved dog)

 

"Look ma, no hands!  Eli does it all by himself!"

 

Eli's got a reindeer on his butt (hee hee)

 

Phyllis and Joyce

 

Bill and the Christmas tree

 

Alan and his prickly holly decoration

 

Pops and Eli

 

Uncle Scott and Eli (not believing a word he says, apparently)

We started another new tradition on Christmas morning when the whole family gathered here for brunch and presents (instead of at my parents' house).  It was great having everyone together and Eli even got to open a few of his presents before going down for his nap.

 

Decorated sunroom

 

Santa collection and the dogs' stockings

 

Decorated dining room

 

And this isn't even all the presents!

 

Eli's jumping for Christmas!

 

Opening up a toolbox from Nana and Pops

 

I thought this was so cute and funny- had to get it!

 

All wrapped up

 

Zoey and Adam

 

Straight out of Smokey and the Bandit

 

Grand Canyon Park Ranger outfit from Uncle Adam

 

A sunhat for boys!