Neeley Family Blog

We are into about week 5 of t-ball practices for Brayden.  Brad is doing an excellent job coaching.  He makes it fun for the kids.  Several of the parents have told me their kids really enjoy it and they think he is doing a great job.  Many of the fathers/grandfathers have been helping out during practice as well which has been great.  I am the "team parent" and have been doing emails of information and printing items to handout when need be.  I am also in charge of our fundraising.  Our team is doing awesome! (Thank you to those who have supported us by buying some of the meat sticks :) ) Here are a few pictures from our practices.  We have been so lucky with our Tuesday/Thursday schedule and have only had one rain out so far!!!  Brock playing catch with Grammy. Games start the first week of May which we cannot wait for! It is going to be so fun to see the little guys running around the field.  There will defin...

We have an new Neeley joining the clan!!! Eric (Brad's brother) and Jenn just welcomed their little girl Audrey Grace Neeley.  She was born today 4/13 weighing in at 7lbs. 6oz. and 19.5 inches long.  She and mom are doing great.  Audrey Grace is a great little baby so far and we cannot wait to meet her in person.  Here are a couple little pictures I stole from some emails... Congrats Eric and Jenn!!!! And Happy Birthday Audrey Grace!!! Welcome to the Neeley clan.  We are so excited and happy for you guys.  Love you tons!!!

Well, folks the last couple weeks have been eventful and challenging.  I thought we had been dealt enough on our plates recently, but I guess I was incorrect in that assumption.  While the kids were cycling through their illness from the last post of "Sick of All the Sickness," the accident came along. Then came my dose of sickness. Here is the latest on the accident:  Brock is A-OK.  He got a clean bill of health as far as any possible injury from the accident with our Pediatrician.  He did somehow contract Walking Pneumonia however.  He had been coughing some just like the other kiddos, and a runny nose, but I had no idea it was this bad.  Brock has really been acting quite normal for him despite being sick.  So he is just finishing his last dose of antibiotics today from a 5 day prescription.  He still has to do a nebulizer throughout the day as needed for his cough.  I haven't really heard him cough much the last couple days t...

We are getting ready to start another adventure here in the Neeley house, Brayden is going to be playing tball this year and Brad and John will be coaching! Brayden has been saying for some time now that he wants to play sports.  He lists about every sport out there as one he wants to play.  I told him one at a time, because I would like to have a little life other than running him (and his brother when that time comes) to sporting adventures.  I can however see that my social life (not that it is much of one anyway) will be slipping away in the distant future to a mom of driving to and from games and practices almost 7 days a week.  Upon signing him up, the tball president asked if I knew anyone that would like to help with coaching or games and events to write that down.  John had said that he would help and I knew that I could help with things at games as well. Fast forward a month later, to her emailing me if we would be interested in coaching....

This Neeley family will once again be walking in the March of Dimes "March for Babies" walk.  At this point it is a little over a month away.  I think my sister and her family, as well as my parents (for the first time ever) said they will be joining us on our walk.  I LOVE IT! It is such a beautiful walk through Downtown Portland.  The people are awesome, all the families that walk are amazing, the entertainment factor is a 10 and the food and music at the end of the walk is great.   Now that we are done having children, I can safely say that I will not have to make another trip into the NICU for any of my children.  2 out of 3 children was more than enough for this momma and let me tell you it does not get easier the second time around.  I have said before, it was very surreal to have Brylee in the NICU after "living" there for 3 months when Brayden was born.  I felt so blessed when Brock was born and we did not have to go through th...

Well, just this morning we hit yet another milestone in the Neeley household.  Though, it is not one I am pleased with or one that I was hoping to see anytime soon.  Two of our family members were in a car accident this morning.  Brad and Brock.  They are OK.  Let me just start by saying that they could have been injured more seriously than what occurred if you were to just look at pictures.  They have bumps and bruises.  "Violet" on the other hand is pretty badly damaged (this is affectionately the name Brad has chosen for his Ford Mustang).  Brad decided to go for a quick run for our morning breakfast- donuts.  Yes, if you know our family very well, this is almost a weekly routine.  We had missed the last couple weekends because of my work schedule, the kids being sick and who knows what else.  Brock wanted to go as well for a ride and Brad said if he hurried to get dressed he could go.  I have not seen the kid get dressed ...

Recently I was given a copy of my father's death certificate.  I have since had many thoughts on this piece of paper now in my possession.  Does this piece of paper make it even MORE real?  Am I suppose to treasure it as an artifact?  Should I carry it around so that when I am having a bad day I can just pull it out to let people know that is my excuse?  My first reaction: I don't want this! I don't need this! It is just so odd to me.  I don't possess hardly any material items from my father, yet now I have this paper that says he is no longer living.  Where does one go from here?  He chose a bad path.  He let himself slip away into alcohol day in and day out.  It is sad and unfortunate.  He once was a great guy, full of energy, knowledgeable in cars, electronics, gardening, horses and a force to be reckoned with when it came to Wild Horse Races.  He lost that all and his family.  You could feel really sorry fo...