You are Invited!

Hello Everybody!

You are welcomed to join to celebrate Austin 1st birthday. The party will be hosted by us at The Church at Brook Hills, room# 130 at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. We will take care of the refreshments, all you have to do is bring the fun!

This party is to show appreciation to those who has supported us throughout Austin two operations in January 2007 and May 2007.

See you there!

Andy, Heather, and Austin

The Church at Brook Hills
3145 Highland Parkway
Birmingham, AL 35242

From Tuscaloosa (West)
Follow I-20/59 East/North until you come to the I-459 junction. Take I-459 North past I-65 to Highway 280. Take Highway 280 East toward Sylacauga. You will go 2.8 miles to Brook Highland Parkway and take a left at the traffic light onto Brook Highland Parkway. Follow Brook Highland Parkway 1.5 miles where you will find the entrance to the church on your left.

From Montgomery (South)
Follow I-65 North to Exit 246, which is Highway 119 (Cahaba Valley Road) exit. Turn right at the bottom of the exit. Follow Highway 119 approximately 9 miles until you reach Highway 280. Continue across Highway 280. The Church at Brook Hills is approximately 1/2 mile further on the left.

From Atlanta (East)
Follow I-20 to I-459. Take I-459 South to Highway 280. Take Highway 280 East toward Sylacauga. Go 2.8 miles to Brook Highland Parkway and take a left at the light onto Brook Highland Parkway. Follow Brook Highland Parkway 1.5 miles where you will find the entrance to the church on your left.

From Nashville (North)
Follow I-65 South to interstate 459. Go North/East on I-459 toward Atlanta. Take Highway 280 East toward Sylacauga. Go 2.8 miles to Brook Highland Parkway and take a left at the light onto Brook Highland Parkway. Follow Brook Highland Parkway 1.5 miles where you will find the entrance to the church on your left.

From Sylacauga (South on Highway 280)
Follow Highway 280 West (towards Birmingham) to Highway 119. Turn right on Highway 119. The entrance to the Church at Brook Hills is on your left just after the light at Brook Highland Parkway.

4D!

I found a 4D picture of Austin in our MAC laptop! I didn't relazie that Austin looked same when he was born. Here are 2 pictures of Austin from my womb and after he was born!

School?

We discussed that we will not go to Gallaudet sooner because of our VR. Our Vr won't pay Andy going to Gally or where ever to get his another BA in education. We discuss about stay in Alabama and take classes in Columbus Ga or move back to Montevallo for me to finish my degree and Andy takes classes for another BA degree so that he can become eligible for a teaching fellows program where he can get all tuition covered. We are still want to go to Gally. We will wait until the room become avaiable, then we will go there for sure. I will update the blog when we have confirmed about this.

Christmas

Some for you were wondering how was Austin doing for Christmas. Where were we during christmas? We went to Athens, AL to see my (Heather's) family and stayed there for 2 days. Austin got some clothes, laptop (toy), music book, and "Jesus loves you" music box. Austin went to see his grandmother (Heather's mother). He never have met her and finally, he got a chance to meet his grandmother.
After we visited my family in Athens, we went to Smiths, AL (near Phenix city) to be with Andy's family for Christmas. Austin got some more clothes, train, elmo, cars, flash cards with texture, and sport balls. Later that evening, we went to andy's grandmother's (Austin's great grandmother) house. Too many people in grandmother's house and Austin was having a good time with people's attention! it was so hot in the house because many people are around and cause the house became hot! We had a great time with our family for christmas!

Almost walked!

Merry Christmas!

His first shoes and ornament

Smile!

apartments

We had been discussing about us going to Gallaudet in MAY. We were thinking about go ahead to look for apartments to live in. We wanted to start looking in may because thats when most students are off for the summer and more apartments will be available. But Andy is concern for us to live in Washington, D.C. because it is dangerous. So, we're trying to find apartments in the Virginia or Maryland area. We don't know what's best for us... yet.

Me being silly!

Sad...

I got an email from housing office and they told me that we are still on waiting list. We are number 23 on the list. Long way to get a room! I was VERY disappointment because they told us; it will take 2 to 3 years to get a room! If we go ahead and find an apartment near Gallaudet, Our VR will pay the rent but won’t pay us for utilities and food. If we live on campus, our VR will pay everything. I prefer to live on campus so we don't have to worry about paying bills, we can focus on paying other bills such as pagers, insurances, and etc.

Happy Halloween!

MONKEY

Our little Pumpkin!

Austin wants to make the WHOLE WORLD smile!

Wondering...

I looked at Austin and wondering… Since I was accepted by Gallaudet but I have to wait for a room to be available so we can go to Gallaudet. We are still on waiting list. Deaf parents with a deaf child will come first. When I requested for a room first since I have a hearing child, Deaf parents with a deaf child requested 2 months after I requested, they will get a room first because they have a deaf child. I know the deaf parents with a deaf child are blessed but I have a hearing child that is blessed too. I feel like Gallaudet is discriminating me for not have a deaf child. I was wondering if Austin is deaf, will I get a room right away. It is not fair because I can't decide to have a deaf child! If God wants me to have a deaf child, it's great! But God didn't want me to have a deaf child (yet). I don't know why Gallaudet wants deaf parents with deaf children first!

Austin and his grandfather

Good News!

Last Wednesday or Thursday, I got a letter from Gallaudet. At first, I saw a simple letter with no applications, You know when You are accept from a college and you should get thick letter with applications. I assumed that I was not accept, Andy told me to not jump in to the conclusion, look at it first to see what this letter say. Its said I am accepted! We are happy that we will go back to Gallaudet but we have to wait on Kendall to be available for us to stay. We don't want to live off campus because we can't afford to pay the rent and bills. We wanted to have some money left for Austin's needs such as medications, diapers, food, and etc. Please pray for Kendall to be available in January!

smile

Tigger

Two weeks ago, we gave Tigger to Andy's sister's friend, Sara. Because Tigger didn't get enough attention from us, we were busy taking care of Austin. We think it is the best for Tigger to find a new home so we found her a new home. We gave her to Sara. It was hard for me to give her away but I know she will be happy because Sara will give her a lot of attention. When I woke up in the morning, I always wondering about Tigger, what is she doing? Will she forget about us? Is she happy? many questions in my mind about Tigger. One thing that important to me that Tigger is happy.

Back...

Hi! I'm sorry for not updating my blog for a while. We were busy packing and move out. We moved out on the second week of September because our VR won't support Andy for his MA degree and we cannot afford to pay the rent so we had to break the lease and moved out.

Right now, we are staying at Andy's parents' for a while. We are waiting on Gallaudet to send me an acceptance letter and let us know that we can go back to Gallaudet in January. I hope we will go to Gallaudet this spring! So, Please pray for us that we will be hearing from Gallaudet soon! Please pray for Andy's VR that will approve him to going to Gallaudet as a graduate student. This year, VR policy changed some and they are more strict on graduate progarm. Please pray for us to get a room for married couples/ family at Gallaudet. We are on waiting list, have to wait between 1 and 3 years for a room to be available. (pray that a room will be available this spring!)

Since past 5 and half weeks, Austin have been picking up so much things like he ate puffs with his own hands, sit up by himself, take his socks off, hold his bottle himself, ate 2 jars of 2 stage 4 times per day, slept thur the night (but he wakes up 1 or 2 times for his pacifier then went back to sleep), making noises, and more... Can't think of anything more that Austin have learned. We are excited to watch him grow! We enjoy watching him grow but don't want him to grow too fast, haha!


I can't update the pictures right now because I can't find my digital camera's usb feeder to download the pictures in the computer. I will update the pictures when I find it. If you can't wait to see the pictures of Austin, Check out on www.austincarteranderson.blogspot.com

Look Who's Talking!

Sorry for not have enough light to see because of my cheap digital camera! At least you can see Austin.. Enjoy!

Almost!

Austin's almost sit up without my support! I'm looking forward for him to learn to sit up by himself! :o)

Tigger

Tigger ran away few weeks ago and my brother, Ronnie found her behind the house and he brought her back in. Because of that Tigger had VERY bad flea problem. We tried to get rid of them and not work so we had to shave her. She doesn't like her new looks but after shaved her hair, we got rid of flea!

Our little chief

His grandmother bought this outfit when we were in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Austin's bear

Austin got a bear as a gift from Daric, who have HLHS and from Kansas. We named his bear, Toddy and sign "T" on the heart. We like this bear because this bear has a heart with sewing. It reminds me of Austin's operations. Daric, we wanted to thank you for give this bear to Austin when he was in the hospital for his 2nd surgery!

Mommy and Daddy love me!

Auburn Fan!

Swinging...

Austin tried to get his bottle while he's swinging!

Love my jumper!

Slight changes, no.. Big changes...

Andy's comment:

Ok here it is, I was supposed to go back to school this fall, but my sponsor cannot support me because of limited funds. So, I will have go back at a later time and to find a school that will make me better qualified to teach the Deaf. I realized that University of Montevallo's secondary edu program is made to teach for hearing students, but not for deaf edu. So, We all are in a rut, and trying to get out. Now, I am searching for a job for meet all of our needs. Please pray for us. Thanks.

Picking up...

Austin learned how to pick up light things! So cute!

I am a big boy!

Austin hold his bottle by himself for short time. I am looking forward for him to hold it (full) by himself! :o)

Love my gloworm!

He loves his gloworm. He MUST see/hear his gloworm before he goes to sleep. If not, he would stay awaken!

He loves prune!

He loves prune! When the bowl is empty, he's disappointed, haha.

Summer of what's up with us...

Andy's comment:
We are almost settled down in our new rental house, plenty of space for all of us to finally breathe. Only 1 mile from University of Montevallo campus. This fall, I will be working on another bachelors, in what, guess? Social Sciences, that's right I want to teach History in secondary education. Oh and yes, I will be going to grad school for secondary education too. Will finish in 3 years tops... Hopefully. Heather and Austin are doing great, Austin's already 6 months old now. To tell you the truth, I commit that I did forget all about what Heather and I have went through with Austin's 2 operations and everything. I feel like Life doesn't really allow me to stop and reflect on what we have gone through. But again, that's not the case, you have to stop whatever you're doing and reflect on your life. I realized that Austin has only been with us at home for 4 months. Wow... It may be insignificant... But it really makes Heather and I grateful for Austin being able to be home with us, living it out as he should, and he is.

MOHAWK!!!

Vacation

We went to Panama City Beach, Fla with Andy's family. We stayed at a nice condo, near beach. We stayed there for 4 days. we got a little sun burns. Andy is more tan than me because he went to Shocco before he went down to Fla. I didnt have time to stay outside because of Austin. He just got a new tooth. He was in pain and had a little fever so I had stay at condo. When Austin got a new tooth,he slept alot and I was concerned. Austin swam in the pool. He likes to splash the water! Andy's father bought Austin a float, Austin was not crazy about it. He likes us to hold him and he splashed the water. The float that Austin rode, he can't splash the water.
Andy's parents bought Austin a shirt, it says "I love Mommy and Daddy but grandma and grandpa are the best!" This shirt is so cute! its too big for him to wear now. He have to wait until he is a year old so he could wear it. Here is the picture of Austin's new shirt from his grandparnets.

We went to the beach and swam there. I don't like to swim in the beach because the seaweeds are everywhere! When I got in the beach, I could feel seaweeds around my legs, eew! And I could feel seaweeds that try to trap me! Andy pulled me into the beach and go a little far that have less seaweeds. We float by the waves, and some waves are hard and hit us! it was fun!

moving in...3

I'm sorry for not update sooner! I had no internet when we moved in. We got the internet few days after we moved in but we were busy, unpacking everything. Now we are done with unpacking! We are stuggled with our things that need be in the storage. Our house do have a shed that can use as a storage but our new landlord doesn't want us to use this shed at all. Our landlord's daughter's stuff are in the shed. We are very fustrated because we need to put our stuff somewhere. I had to get rid some things that we don't need. I dropped them at thirft store. Some of them are good that we want to keep but we don't have a place for them to put. Oh well, I will always remember that we should be happy what we already have.

While Andy was out of town for a week. My brother, Ronnie and I wanted to surprise Andy so we painted a room. The room's color was yellow and purple! yuck! We decied to paint soft grey and white. It looks good! When I come in and feel relax in this room! This room is a guest bedroom and office. When Andy came home, we were not finished. Andy saw this room, he acted that he was not surprised but he was. He was tired when he got home. He didn't have energy for his facial expressions. Andy likes the color of the wall in this room! Next day, Andy and Ronnie put up a bed loft and it looks so good with the color in this room!

After we unpacked, we left to Fla for a family vacation...

Do you remember that A/C was not working. A guy came by and tried to find what's wrong with it. He said everything's look good. He went under, look at it, still look good, then he looked up, he noticed something's up by the upper wall so he went back to the house, and look for something that will turn on. He found a swtich is for A/C. Andy thought it is for a light for the attic. Andy and I feel foolish and wasted a guy's time for came here for nothing! Now, A/C is working! yay!

Moving in... 2

We went to our new house, unpacking small stuff because we don't have enough boxes to pack so have to unpack then bring boxes back and pack more from old home. Our new home is so hot! Our new Landlord put a new A/C unit last May and its not working. Werid... Because it was working when Landlord's daugther was living there. She turned off when she left. We came in and turned it on and nothing air comes out! Poor Austin, he was hot! We are trying to keep him cool by portable fan. Austin can't stay there longer. It was hard for me to unpack small stuff because of Austin. If A/C is working, Austin could play and sleep in his playpen. I REALLY need to unpack most small stuff before Friday and Saturday! ugh! Avey Jane will take care of Austin on Sunday so I could focus on cleaning at old home before I give the keys back to Landlord. I hope we will finsih with our stuff before 1st of July!

Moving in...

We got a house key from our new Landlord this afternoon! So we are packing small things and bring to a new house and unpack them. Because the house is less a mile from here (old home) This Friday and Saturday, we will bring big stuff such as couch, shelves, dinner table, and etc. Andy's father will help us out. His father have a truck and will rent a trailer. We are excited to move in but I am scared to leave here (my old home) We had been here for one and half years. My old home was our longest residence ever. I feel like I want to stay here but I think a new home is the best for Austin because new home have one floor and less problem with A/C.

Standing

Austin started to stand up for one minute this morning! Of course, he stood up with my help. Look at the picture of Austin's standing! We are so proud of him!