Princess Ashleigh's Birthday Parties

Well another year and our Princess Ashleigh has turned 7 and where the time has gone...I just don't know. It still feels like I just had her and she is my little 8lb baby. Well Ashleigh is growing into a beautiful sweet and loving young lady. I am so proud of her she won a principal's award for the month of May at school and has had perfect attendance all year except for 1 day that she was out and it really made her sad that she missed that one day.... (she gets that from her Nana Lizzy) Anyway, here are some PICs from her birthday partieS...yes she had more than one and is going to have another on in June. The place we had it at messed it up so bad that they have offered to do another one for her and 10 friends for free. Her family birthday was on Saturday 5/24 her actual birthday at Babe's in Carrollton. All of Ashleigh's family was there.. Lee Roy and I, her daddy, Jonathon, her BFF Brittany, Kyle's parents, my mom and grandmother... All of Ashleigh's favorite people. We had a really great time, she was happy that we were all together and that is all that matters. :)

Prayer Request - Surgery 6/05/2008

My sister will be having surgery next week and would like to ask for prayer. She will be in at 7:00 AM in Ft.Worth. This is major surgery, they will be operating on the back of her head to repair her cerebellum. My sister is 20 years old and never imagined that she would be facing such a procedure at her age. See below..

Arnold-Chiari malformation is a rare malformation of the brain that is sometimes, but not always, apparent at birth. It is characterized by abnormalities in the area where the brain and spinal cord meet that cause part of the cerebellum to protrude through the bottom of the skull (foramen magnum) into the spinal canal. This interferes with the flow of cerebral spinal fluid to and from the brain, leading to accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the empty spaces of the spine and brain. The portion of the cerebellum that protrudes into the spinal canal can become elongated and is called the "cerebellar tonsils" because it resembles the tonsils.There are four types of Chiari malformation. Depending on the type, the impact on the affected individual may range from mild to severe.

Family - Russell, Clark, Rodriguez..it is all Family

Well 1 year later here we are. We have been through so much in the 3 years Lee Roy and I have been together it almost feels like we have been married for 10 or 15 years. Our family is made up of so many last names it is just a funny thing to think about. Salazar, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Clark and Russell...LOL! No matter what the last name though, we support each other day in and day out. Since Kyle and I divorced we have kept a great co-parenting relationship. He actually lives in the same complex we do for now and is great about being a co-dad. He and Lee Roy share the dad duty and it works out great for the kids. I have Mom duty all alone but don't mind it too much...I still get my girls day out with my mommy....we love to go shopping!!!! Even if we are not Shopping in Bev Hill on Rodeo Dr... We love the time together and hunting for good deals. My posts for now might be a little out of order but will catch up o the actual day in a bit.

How We started May 12, 2007

Lee Roy Russell and Valerie Salazar (me) joined together with my kids to become one BIG happy family. Jonathon and Ashleigh are the center of our world and we just love them more than anything! We have had a trying first year of marriage but who doesn't. We know that God has his plans for us and that is what we live on everyday! Lee Roy and I realize that people will try and bring you down and will try to make you feel less than your true worth... BUT God does not make worthless things and we are God's personal creations! I thank God everyday that He brought Lee Roy into my life. I have never been happier and my kids just love him.