One Day at a Time...

I'm sure that most of you have heard by now that on September 27, 2010, my
Dad passed away from pancreatic cancer. The Memorial Service was on Friday and I think we did him proud. He wanted a joyful celebration of his life, and I do think we accomplished that. Several of his friends spoke and told funny stories about him and talked about all of the reasons why they loved him. There were about 275 people at the service which is a true testament to him and the kind of person he was. I think we were all a little overwhelmed by the turn out. But, surprised? Not a bit.

He was someone who loved his family so much. Not only are we family, but we are all good friends. I will miss him as a father, but I will also miss the advice and friendship that played such an important role in my life. He worked so hard over the last year to prepare so many things so that his death would be an uncomplicated as possible. He was always so worried about all of us. He loved my husband (and Marty's wife) like his own children and never hesitated to tell them that. He couldn't stand to see any of us hurting or in pain, and was the first one there when we needed support or advice. I only hope that one day I can have the same bonds with my adult children and their spouses.

There are a million things that I am so terribly sad about and will miss. But, I'm trying to focus on the wonderful blessings that we have and all of the memories that will stay with us forever. He fought this cancer with so much strength and dignity. I never heard him complain about anything, and certainly never saw him feeling sorry for himself. I only hope that I can follow his example, and mourn with as much strength and integrity as he had when fighting this awful disease. I pray that we will all find the peace and comfort in his memories.

My Dad and I-1980

Daddy's girl-1983 (ish?)

Granddad with Logan-2007

....oh how he loved this little boy....

Posted in: on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at at 5:30 PM 3 comments  

I just got back from the doctor and everything is still looking good! The baby is still head down and is getting lower (the dr said he could feel his head! Eeeek!) but I'm not dilated yet. Yay! He predicted we'll make it another couple of weeks, but is hoping that we can get to in between 38 and 39 weeks. Me too! My Strep B test came back negative, so I'm really happy I won't have to have the penicillin during delivery. (I did with Logan since they hadn't done my test yet and it burned so bad!) We definitely still have projects left to do in the baby's nursery and I still have to pack our hospital bags, so this makes me hopeful we'll have time to get it all done before the big day.

Thanks for all of the positive thoughts and prayers for the baby, for our family and for my Dad. We appreciate it more then you know.

Posted in: on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at at 12:17 PM 0 comments  

I just added a poll so you can vote for when you think Baby Boy #2 will be here! :) Go Vote!!
(Please DON'T say overdue.....)

Posted in: on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at at 8:36 PM 0 comments  

34 1/2 weeks pregnant with baby #2 I went to the doctor this morning for my 34 week check up and we got good news all around. I'm not dilated or effaced yet, and he estimated his weight to be 6 pounds already! I'm really relieved and hoping this means I'll be able to carry him another 3 weeks at least. I'm starting to get pretty uncomfortable (and quickly losing sight of my ankles) but it will all be worth it to have my healthy baby boy in the end! Now, I'm off to buy a car seat and a few other things for him while Logan's at school :)

Posted in: on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at at 11:12 AM 1 comments  

I'm going to try my hardest to start updating the blog after each of my Thursday doctor visits from now on. It's getting closer and closer to baby time!! Throughout this pregnancy, the baby has been measuring about a week big (both in the earlier ultrasounds and when the dr measures me.) Last Thursday, he was measuring THREE weeks big (so at 33 weeks I was measuring 36 weeks.) Wow! The dr said this is a good thing. I tend to agree since we're wondering how long I'll be able to keep this little man in there. At my next appointment on Thursday (34 1/2 wks), he is going to go ahead and check to see if I'm dilated (he also checked me at 32 weeks due to contractions but I was still closed,) do the strep B test and go over all of the labor and delivery instructions with us. I'm still getting the weekly progesterone shots and only have 4 more to go! I counted up and so far I have gotten 19 shots! My last one will be at my 37 week check up. It is kind of making me nervous that I delivered Logan two weeks from now.....we're praying to make it until at least 37 weeks this time and for developed lungs and no NICU time! I'm sort of following the same path that I did with Logan. I've started swelling at exactly the same point in my pregnancy (I'm expecting the arrival of my cankles any day now....) and am starting to have some painful regular contractions. The other night they were 10 mins apart for about an hour and a half. So, I'm hoping when the dr checks me on Thursday that I'm not dilated or effaced at all yet. I'll update again after that appointment.

Posted in: on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at at 9:17 AM 1 comments  

Yummy!!Paxton (with Joe) laughing at the giraffe

Logan and Daddy

Logan and Mommy driving on safari :)Mommy and Logan taking a break in one of the awesome air conditioned rest areas

Luckily, this TX weather has finally started to cool off (Can I get a WOO-HOO!?) so the boys were able to play outside in the sand box and on our swing set.

We had a wonderful weekend with them here and were so thankful to them for making the trip up here. I can't believe the next time we get together I'll have TWO boys!

Posted in: on at at 8:46 AM 0 comments  

Logan has been through 2 weeks of preschool and he is doing great! The first day was pretty rough...he was not excited about the fact that I was not going to stay there with him and started crying before we left the house. He kept saying, "If you leave me there, that will NOT be a good idea!" It was hard on him AND Mommy! I didn't get any cute first day of school pictures because he was just too upset :( I did take this one sitting outside of his school after I picked him up. It turned out okay.



(Funny note about this picture-I went to Walmart the next day so that he would have shorter ankle socks for his second day of school. I was worried he would get teased about his nerdy tall socks! LOL)

I was really relieved that the first week of school they got out at 12pm. It seemed like it took FOREVER until I could go pick him up! (Are all of you working Moms laughing at me?!) The second day, he did much better with the drop off and only sniffled a tiny bit when he was walking into his classroom. I was nervous this week because they started full days from 9-2pm, but he did great! The teachers have been talking about all of the funny things that he says and how he makes them laugh all of the time. I think they're already loving him :)

There are a few things that I really like about it so far. One, he gets to have music class (which of course, he LOVES--I mean, his Memaw does play piano and his Mommy was in the marching band) and I think it's been really good for him (and Mommy) to learn to trust other people and let go a little bit. He brings home adorable artwork most days, which immediately goes on our refrigerator. So cute! The hardest thing for me is that I only know what he chooses to tell me about his day. Whenever I pick him up, I ask him a million questions but sometimes get silly answers since he loves to make up words. Shane and I are always trying to piece together his day and find out what he learned.

Fall has also brought about a new semester of swimming lessons for him. We debated until the last minute about re-enrolling him after his Spring and Summer sessions, but eventually decided to do it. We're over at my parents sooooo much, and even though we take every safety precaution possible (there are locks, doorknob safety things and a safety fence between him and the pool) I just feel so much better knowing he could get out on his own if anything happened. Plus, he really loves it! He's taking an evening class so that Shane will be able to take him as I get more and more pregnant, and then need to be home with the baby. I think it's been such a good thing for Daddy to do! Logan's now learning to come up and take a breath while swimming and can swim underwater over 10 feet. It's amazing to watch! He earned a ribbon last week for jumping off the side of the pool from a standing position and getting out all on his own. What a big boy!

Posted in: on at at 7:50 AM 0 comments