Team Screws

Neglected Again.....

2009-03-14T13:59:00.005-05:00

I have once again neglected our blog but I wanted to atleast post some pics of the kids.

Marathon Runner

2009-02-17T11:41:00.004-06:00

Just a little video of Bear "running"........

I know it is sideways but just turn your head and enjoy.......

Silence

2009-02-16T08:32:00.004-06:00

Lake is almost never away from us overnight except when we are in Alabama.

We are only in AL twice a year. We love our kids. But, sometimes Mommy and Daddy need a break.

Everyday is filled with endless chatter, giggles, questions and a little whining. Which we could not live without..... except maybe the whining.

This is an actual photo of our sign in the kitchen above our sink. I can not stand whining. It applies to everyone in the house except Bear......... But his day is coming. And yes, it even applies to me.

So....as I have mentioned before, I have the most fabulous friend, Debi. Her niece is 5 years old. You know what that means....PLAY DATE! SLUMBER PARTY!!!!! ON VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

On Saturday, Debi came to pick up Lake around 1:30. For some reason my brain was only worried about a few hours of silence because I forgot about the slumber party. As they were getting ready to pull out of the driveway, Debi's husband said.......

" Have a good night!"

Wait a minute........A good NIGHT?!?!

I threw up my hand and shouted.......

" Is she spending the night?!?"

Her husband states.......

"Well yeah. It's a slumber party."

HOLY COW! How could I forget? The day just got better! I had only packed baby doll clothes in that Hello Kitty bag. No clothes for Lake. I started jumping for joy as I shouted.....

"Wait! I forgot she was spending the night. She needs clothes."

As I ran into the house I thanked Jesus and few times and Jason seemed confused. He asked me what was going on and I told him the good news. He got a smile on his face and helped me pack.

We got her things together and off she went to Debi's and to the store we headed. We planned to cook steaks and enjoy the peace. Yes, we still had Bear but it still seemed like we were alone.
Except for a few crying spells, dirty diapers, spit-up and a tummy ache.......

We returned from the store and Bear was sleeping in his car seat. We just brought it inside and left him strapped in while he slept. Jason and I looked at each other and smiled.........

IT WAS SILENT! The only thing we wanted to do was enjoy this moment of silence. We wanted to listen to NOTHING. And we did. Our neighbors came over after a while and we cooked with them. The nice thing was that all of their kids were away too. We ate dinner. They went back home and we were in a moment of silence once again. We even took a pic to remember the day.

At 9:15, I went to bed. After a quick good night call to Lake, I was out. I was exhausted! I slept harder than I have in months. Jason slept in Lake's bed because he said when he came into the bedroom I looked so comfortable and I was snoring so he did not want to wake me. So Sweet! Of course, his feet were hanging off of the little twin bed and the High School Musical sheets were not long enough. He said he slept well.

On Sunday morning I got a text from Debi that said Lake and Laney did not want to come home. I thought I was dreaming. This never happens. I gladly agreed to keep her out of school for this special occasion. Besides, it's only kindergarten. I spoke to Lake and she said she was having a great time. I was so glad she was enjoying herself with Laney. They are silly little girls that love to laugh and chit chat together. Debi said they were "working" in their office. In other words, cutting up pieces of paper as small as snow flakes and using up all of the gem clips to make a chain... ;)

They played in makeup and also made a movie. Thanks to Debi's daughter, Heather, for being a good sport... ;)

This morning Lake called to say good morning. She immediately started telling me that I did not pack her enough clothes. Typical girl. I did not know she was staying for 2 days so I only packed 3 outfits. Guess she needs more choices next time.

At 1:30 both girls will be here at our house. I really am ready to hear the giggles and chatter. We have enjoyed the silence but we have missed it too.

BIG "THANK YOU" to Debi for giving us this time to relax and remember what silence sounds like...........

Puke Patrol

2009-01-25T11:10:00.002-06:00

Lakelyn and Bear have been sick ever since we got back from AL. Bear is now on a nebulizer. Lakelyn has a ruptured ear drum, both have had ear infections and sinus infections. It has been a never ending pool of snot.Luckily, besides the usual spit-up from Bear, there has been no "big girl" vomit. For those of you that don't know, I can not clean up chunks from the stomach! It makes me sick. I start to gag if I get too close.

Well, last night Lake was eating dinner and she said her stomach was hurting. Being the mean Mother Monster that I am, I made her eat 3 more bites of meat and drink her juice. I mean, standard procedure from parents is three more bites when the usual "Mommy, I'm full" starts ringing in our ears. Being the obedient girl she is (most of the time) she ate her food and headed to brush teeth, brush hair and then snuggle under the covers.

As Jason and I were getting ready for our nightly Guitar Hero gig, I heard a scream that I had not heard in a long time. I ran down the hall and I found a bed FULL of "big girl" vomit. At that point, I started screaming for Jason as I was trying to get out of the room. He came back there and shouted his normal quote..."Daddy can do it. Daddy can do anything!" ........He's so cute! She seemed to feel better because she was examining her up-chuck and giving me an updated report while I was contributing by getting sheets out of the linen closet in the hallway. I really could not say anything to her because it was pretty funny.

If I would have been here by myself, I am sure I would have thrown up, but I would have been able to take care of her. Although, my thoughts are, that if Daddy is here to help........let Daddy help. So Super Dad washed hair, changed sheets, washed mattress pads (thank goodness for those) changed to PJs, and settled her back into her little nest. I was sending my mama emails with the play by plays because she knows how I feel. My daddy always had to take over because the smell would always gag her....Maybe that's where I get it from..... ;)

Well about 30 minutes later, I saw Lake at the end of the hallway. Luckily our GH song was almost over..... :) She said it had happened again. Super Daddy to the rescue! Same scenario. Changing, washing, brushing.........

So..........after about 5 more times of this happening throughout the night, it was then 6 o'clock in the morning. Bear was wide eyed and bushy tailed. ready to eat, talk, and play. Lakelyn finally went to sleep and Jason is still sleeping too. Thanks goodness I did not have to be on Puke Patrol!

God Bless My Husband!

Driving Test????

2009-01-22T11:46:00.004-06:00

We have lived here in TX since December 2006. Even though I had to move back to TN, blah, blah, blah I have still "lived" here. I still have a TN drivers license that does not list my married name. It is still a reminder of the past. I really need to rid myself of the last reminder of all of that mess.

So.......On my birthday, I looked at my license and I realized it expired that day. OK, no problem.
For some reason I was under the impression that you had until the end of the month to renew a drivers license. Like your car tag. I was under the wrong impression.

I have been telling Jason that I needed to go to the DMV. I called today to get the information. My last question was " Do I have until the end of the month to renew because my license expired on January 2, 2009?" All I heard was a giggle and I knew this was not going to be good.

Not only do I have to take the written test BUT I have to take the driving test too!!! I tried to explain to the lady that I was 30 years old and all I needed was to change to a TX license. I told her that I had not taken a test in YEARS! All she could say was "Well, you better start studying..." Great.

So, I am getting online to find the study book for the written test. I have Road Rage and I know there are no teachings on that in the book. That task is just learned as you drive around idiots. I have that part mastered. What I am not sure about is all of the rules of stopping, going, and whatever else you have to know when you are 15....... The driving test should be interesting, too. Jason said that at least I get to turn back time for a few days. I'll keep you updated on my studying and the test.

Hopefully I'll pass..........

Embracing Thirty

2009-01-19T11:11:00.004-06:00

On January 2, 1979 I was born.

On January 2, 2009 I was thirty years old.

I decided to embrace thirty with a smile on my face and with much hope for the future. Let's face it, my twenties were filled with many ups and down. The ups were the births of my children and my marriage to Jason. No need to go into the downs.......they are water under the bridge and I learned from my mistakes which is the most important part.

When I turned 21, I was a new mom and I ate hot wings on my couch. When I turned 25, I was a new mom again and I felt stuck in the middle of nothing. At thirty, I am a new mom once again and I feel like a new woman. I feel like I have a lot of wisdom that I never dreamed I would have at this age. This is going to be a new chapter in my life and I plan on making it the best yet.

I was able to spend this birthday with my family and friends. I would not have had it any other way. I was asked many times if I "felt" 30........Well, not really.

I have glasses now and I think I have stiff joints and a little premature memory loss. It could also be selective.... :)

I keep having to remind myself that I am thirty. I am no longer in my twenties and I am a real adult. Not that I wasn't before, I just feel more grown up now. That's all. Not older just more grown up.

Jason will be thirty at the end of March and he does not let me forget that I am older than him. I hope he embraces thirty as I have. With a new attitude, new goals, hopes and dreams for the years to come.

ByPass Surgery

2009-01-16T09:31:00.004-06:00

My mom and Terry were supposed to be able to join the family in Alabama for the holidays. Unfortunately Terry's heart had other plans for them. The day before his flight out of Texas, he was trotting around at the river bottom and began to have chest pains. He checked his blood pressure and it was Sky High! Like, 202 / 178 or something like that....Too High!

Luckily the River Bottoms aren't completely filled with frog-giggin' rednecks.

There is a neighbor that is a nurse. Terry made the call and told her that he thought he was having a "Panic Attack"...Yeah Right! He thought his blood pressure machine could have been messed up....WRONG! Off to the hospital they went and the news only got worse.

When they arrived at the hospital, many tests were ran. I soon found out the news from my mom via text message... Don't you just love texting........ Once I finally got my mom on the phone, I got more details and the number to the room. I talked to Terry and all he said was " I won't be on a plane tomorrow." Well, duh! I was only concerned about his health and anxiously awaited the results from the tests being ran the next day. My mom took the Red Eye out of GA and into TX. She arrived at the hospital to find out that he was going to have bypass surgery ASAP. Quadruple Bypass Surgery, that is.

My mom was a wreck. Her husband was on the verge of death and low and behold they lost her makeup bag at the airport. For those of you who know my mom, this was a TRAGEDY! Jason and I proceeded to AL to carry on with our plans for Christmas with the family. I must admit, it was not the same without them, but we have their presents so we can have Christmas in February if need be.

Terry was in Intensive Care for days and days. At one point the thought they were going to have to put the breathing tube back in, deflate his lung and repair the lymphnode they had punctured during the surgery....Great..... Apparantly Terry's anatomy inside is a bit different then the average human's....We always knew he was special! Luckily that procedure did not take place. My mom finally got some makeup from her friend so she could "have her face on" while she was at the hospital. So things seemed to be looking up for the both of them.Once Terry could finally talk he gave me some extensive details on his cuts and bruises. OUCH!

The plans were for my mom and Terry to attend my "Embracing Thirty" party in AL but of course duty called in TX with Terry and his health. I made sure I dedicated a song to him and my mom. We will have another bday party when he can function correctly again. New Year's Eve was spent in the hospital as well. Luke and David went to see Terry and as they entered the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital, they blasted him with Silly String........I'm sure the nurses were proud. No word on if they got in trouble or not but they did get together for a group picture. Not real sure if Terry even knew what was going on. Looked like there was noone home after that shot of Morphine.......

After recovery time in the hospital was over, mom took Terry home. Poor thing has to do what she says because he can't defend himself for awhile. I make regular calls to check in and make sure she is treating him right. He feels much better and says she is not being too mean... :) Mom spent $500 to replace her face and potions.

I think some of that was just pure retail therapy because she misses her little Nelson. She and that dog have a very un-natural relationship. She says he is just a baby. Trust me, that is a brand new blog. I'm not planning on going there......

Anyway....Good News! Mom got the call today saying the airline had found her makeup. It is in Atlanta. Sounds like to me she won't need makeup for a while.........

Where has the time gone???

2009-01-12T11:58:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I have realized that it has been a few weeks since I have blogged about our life and kids. With the holidays, it has just been overwhelming with all of the tasks at hand......Here are a few things I will be blogging about soon

1. Quad By-Pass Surgery

2. Nightime Driving

3. The Holidays

4. My Birthday

5. Sick Kids

6. Back to Work

My goal is to have these topics addressed this week. Hopefully I will have time!

2 Years Ago......

2008-12-20T16:40:00.015-06:00

On December 18, 2006 I married the greatest man I have ever encountered. Jason and I have known each other since we were 14 years old. After graduation, we only saw each other two times in 9 years. I was at my parent's house in July for Timberly's soccer party and I heard someone call my name. As I stood there with no make-up, my hair in a bun and a t-shirt covering my bathingsuit, I saw him looking over the privacy fence with that million dollar smile. We picked up right where we had left off several years before. Jason and I were always great friends but we had both changed in many ways. These ways brought us closer than ever.

He was stationed on a boat that patrolled the Caribbean. We planned to meet up when he came home before attending school in VA in November. On September 1, 2006 we had our first "date." Neither of us planned on what that night would lead to, but it lead to the greatest feeling I had ever felt in my soul. I had dated before and never thought twice about friendly dates but this one was different. I could not shake the boy that I once knew and the man he had become. He completely captured my heart and soul. I was puzzled by the feelings I had sooooo quickly.
Eventhough I had ben married twice for the wrong reasons, this feeling was different. It felt "real."
I returned to TN and finally he called. I was consumed with nerves and happiness. I took off work the following Friday and I drove to MS to see Jason for one night before he set sail into the ocean for his final tour on the Decisive. After a few weeks I found myself missing him more and more. My best friend Misti and I picked Jason up from the airport in Birmingham when he returned from the deep blue sea a few weeks later. I knew it was true love from that moment on.......

We spent as much time together over the next 2 weeks as possible. Jason left for VA to attend MST school. I felt like half of my heart was gone. Of course, I had my babies and family but he filled a part of me that had been empty for so long. We talked for hours at a time while he was gone and one night decided to make it official. We were going to get married. I was excited and nervous at the same time. What would his parents think? I knew my parents would not surprised because I had left no stone uncovered throughout the course of my 27 years. What if I did not know how to be a wife? I had failed twice before, but I quickly let those thoughts go.

Jason graduated on December 15, 2006 and officially became a MST in the United States Coast Guard. I attended the ceremony in VA and then we headed home to Bama. I quit my job and grasped the fact that I would be moving 10 hours away from my family. This was hard, but I wanted to be with the man I was truly in love with. On December 17 we had a "meet and greet" with our parents over dinner so they could atleast meet before we became husband and wife. On December 18, 2006 I became Mrs. Jason Screws. This was also my dad's birthday so there were 2 celebrations in one day.

It was then that I felt complete.

We left the next day traveling to Houston to find a home. We found what we thought was perfect for us. Within 3 days we found a home in Houston, traveled back to AL for Christmas and to move our things to TX. After 3 weeks of living here, I was forced to move back to TN due to circumstances beyond my control with Lakelyn's biological father. It was devestating for all of us. My baby was confused and Jason and I were at a loss for words. We knew this would be hard.

Over the course of the next ten, yes, ten months we were apart from one another. 750 miles or 10 hours. Either way we looked at it it was too far. We had many fights, concerns and misunderstandings! We saw each other only 4 times during these months. It was so hard being away from one another and trying to have a marriage over the phone was almost impossible. Jason had to move out of our house and move into an apartment. We almost gave up several times but when the end looked like the best solution for our heartache, we reminded each other that our love for one another was too strong and we refused to let this obsticle ruin the future we had planned.

FINALLY, in October 2007, I was granted permission through the court system to move back home and I was awarded FULL and COMPLETE custody of Lakelyn. We would only have to take her to attend a supervised visit one week of the month until she began school in the fall. Jason is truly a great man. He stepped right back into taking care of our family and being a positive male role model for Lakelyn which she had never had before. He traveled with concern and support for me and Lake. He missed her as much as I did while she was gone.Times were truly tough because we had to get re-aquainted in so many ways while dealing with these issues. Although we had been married for almost one year, we were like strangers in so many ways.

After a few long months of traveling for Lake's supervised visitations with her father, they were eliminated due to bad choices on his part. In many ways this has been and was the best thing for Lake. Jason quickly became Lakelyn's DADDY. Jason had been there for her and she loved him very much. They made the choice together to be daddy and daughter. Their bond is very special. As I watched them become closer I knew that I had married the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

Jason and I found a new home and we moved our things in March 2008. Once again we had created a home together and things were looking up. Not only did Lakelyn have a happy home to thrive in, but we were expecting a son in September. Throughout my entire pregnancy Jason was very attentive to my needs. I am a hand full most of the time and his patience was tested on a regular basis. He managed to survive the hormones and become a father again on August 31 :) He has always loved my girls like his own and this has not changed with the arrival of Bear.

Our first anniversary was not a big deal because we were trying to get reacquainted. Birthdays and other holidays have always been hard because we were away from each other could not celebrate. This year was different. Jason had planned something special for us.

It had been over a year since we had really had Mommy / Daddy time. It was long overdue. Jason arranged a sitter and the reservations to the restaurant. I had no idea what was in store for me, but I knew I was thrilled for it to be happening! After I changed clothes about 6 times we finally left the house. We arrived at the Aquarium for dinner. YAY! One of my favorite places!

As we sat at our table the waiter was teaching us about the different fish and a diver came down into the tank. I looked at him and he was holding a sign that said "Happy Anniversary Jamie..." I teared up and then I was presented with the most beautiful necklace. I cried tears of joy because after all we had been through we had made it another year and I knew there would be many more. We feasted on shrimp cocktail, brushetta, crab dip and calamari. We sat and talked which is something we have not been able to do without a baby crying or a little girl yelling "mommy" or "daddy" I truly felt like I had fell in love all over again. that night. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. I am so smitten.

I look forward to raising our children together and continuing to become closer as we grow older. Jason is the only man for me. He provides for our family and he has the most loving and understanding heart I have ever known. I am so lucky to have him in my life and to be his wife.

I look forward to many more Anniversaries and memories with my loving husband!

He Speaks

2008-12-11T21:08:00.007-06:00

I had to add this video, too. We swear Bear can say "Hey".... :)

We think he's a genius.......But then again we are a little bias :)

Neglect

2008-12-11T20:52:00.002-06:00

I have been neglecting our blog so I wanted to atleast post a few new pics of the kids.

I am never in any pictures because I am always the photographer.

Guess that is the way it goes....

Snow in Texas

2008-12-10T21:08:00.005-06:00

This may never happen again while we live here so I had to run in and let everyone know.....

IT'S SNOWING IN TEXAS!

Too bad Lake and Bear are sleeping but Jason and I ran out to enjoy a few snowflakes on our tongue!

Happy Holidays!

This Is My Family......

2008-12-01T14:56:00.004-06:00

I have come to realize that every family has a bit of dysfunction. Whether it be seen by all or seen by few.....it's there.

This Thanksgiving we went to the Neches River Bottoms with my mom and Step-dad whom I adore.....He has to be the most patient man on Earth. He tolerates my mom and me at the same time and that is quite a chore. Not to take anything away from my charming and patient husband, but Terry gets most of the credit on these trips to the river......Jason pretty much sticks close to Terry and learns by watching :)

Lunch was to begin at noon but at 1:45 the dressing was still not there. While waiting for Terry's mom, we got a little worried so a few took off to look for her. Grandpa came in his own car so he was a little upset too. Not because she was not there, but because he wanted to eat. So we settled him by making him a plate. While the search party was out "searching", Jason had a flat tire on his truck.....Bless Him......

Little Mrs. Lamon finally made it but the dressing was not cooked when it arrived. I looked at my mom and she had that look in her eye. After a few drinks of Crown and Seven, I think she got over it........

After we finally ate, Jason and I slipped off upstairs with Bear and drifted into a Turkey Coma. When we woke, everyone was gone. We watched some of the ballgame and then went right back to bed. Overall we had a great trip. It is always fun to see everyone and to have stories to remember afterward.

We will be in Bama for 10 days during Christmas. Another holiday. Another Story.........

Most Talkative

2008-11-13T19:42:00.011-06:00

When Lakelyn started school, I knew there would be days that she got in trouble. It is her first year of big school and there are rules that have to be followed. Well, I almost had a heart attack when she got her first "squishy" face on the 3rd day of school. I thought that maybe it would take her a bit to get warmed up. But then I remembered that I was dealing with my daughter who looks nothing like me but acts JUST like me. Too Much Talking......

So after the first "squishy" face, I had a little talk with her and tried to make her understand that she had to follow the rules that were given to her. As I am doing this, Jason is trying to keep a straight face because I was voted Most Talkative in Middle and High School. However, I did not think that a 5 year old should have that much to say.

So we carried on for about one and a half weeks and low and behold another one of those squished up faces for talking. Dang It! What to do?!?! So this time the punishment was no computer games ( Webkinz, Disney or Dress Up Dolls are her favorites) for the night. She was completely OK with this because in her room there is cable, toys, books, etc. so she really could have cared less.

Next, Hurricane Ike ended school for about 2 weeks so Lakelyn felt like she had completed Kindergarten and was off to the First Grade. Trying to explain that she had to go back to Kindergarten was tough but she finally understood........

I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt when the next face came in for talking about 2 days after school reopened. School had been out so really it was like starting over. Two days after this face arrived in her folder, I was waiting in the dreadful car rider line and I saw Lakelyn crying on the sidewalk. I knew immediately that she had done something.......Oh Yeah, TALKING!

I decided to get a little tougher this time. She had been warned, talked to and given the benefit of the doubt too many times. After the tears were dried up, I made Lakelyn go without computer, Jason had a "Come To Jesus Meeting" with her and she had to go to time out for about 10 minutes.......This was obviously not harsh enough. So yes, she gets more faces for too much talking.

After several more squishy faces, early bedtimes, no computer and finally a spanking I thought we had the problem under control. We had several weeks with nothing but green smileys. Lakelyn was rewarded and praised constantly for her good behavior. We had a meeting with her teacher at the end of the first nine weeks and she said she was doing great. her report card was just wonderful! All sights set on green..........Until today.

I leave the office and get to the baby sitter's house. When I see Lakelyn she looks at me and wants to "tell me a secret." Squishy Face, Too Much Talking. When Jason got home he asked how her day went and the tears started pouring. The punishment tonight was no T.V. , No Pretty ( her favorite baby doll ) in bed tonight, no computer and early bedtime. You would have thought we were killing her........ The tears lasted for about 15 minutes then she realized we were not going to budge so just accepted her punishment and all is quiet in our house now.

I guess my point to this entire blurb of talking madness is that now I really see that Lakelyn truly does have a lot of me in her........Looks like she inherited the talkative gene :)

Soccer and Football

2008-11-10T11:14:00.008-06:00

Soccer season is almost over. Two more games and we will have successfully completed our first organized sport with Lake. This past Saturday for the first time EVER, we were at the field first. I was so excited that we had arrived not only on

time but first!

I had to take a picture to remember this remarkable accomplishment for our family.........

I even got my chair on the center field line! YAY!

Lake played a great game. She seems to be the star of the team. Some of the kids are younger than her and quite frankly they stay in outer space most of the game........ But our Lake truly is a great team player with the other kids that actually know there is a game going on! Not one goal made it past her this week!

After the soccer game, it was time to head home for the big event.It is a good thing we have never been very quiet around the kids while they were sleeping because this weekend was one of the loudest at our home. Bama and LSU played. No other explaination needed.

Our neighbors are big LSU fans so we invited them over for a day of food and football. The game was VERY exciting and close! If you know my husband, you know how dedicated he is to Alabama Football. Geez, we even named our son Bear.....

A few times I had to take Bear because I was afraid he was going to be deaf. Jason wanted his "Good Luck Charm" close but I also want him to be able to hear in the future...... I'm sure that Bear will be yelling with Daddy in the next few years.

Jason was near heart failure by the time the game went into OT.

LUCKILY, Bama pulled through and we accomplished another victory. Eventhough Angie and Kike are LSU fans, I think they were rooting for Bama a little just to calm Jason down!

Everyone still had on their victory smiles last night. Hopefully we will be all smiles next week!

White Hair

2008-11-06T19:17:00.002-06:00

Ok, so we all know that the political race has been pretty exhausting. So many variables to weigh out and decide who was best fit to run our nation. It is finally over and the next 4 years are in the hands of our new President. History was written. Done.

Sooooo........Lakelyn came home from school on election day with a paper that had a picture of McCain and Obama. She said they had an election in her class.

Jason pulls her into his lap and asks "Well, who did you vote for baby?" Lakelyn points to McCain.

Jason then asks "Well, why did you vote for him Sweetheart?" The greatest most innocent response followed.......

"Because he has white hair Daddy"

Pure Innocence.

A Hot Dog, Cowgirl and Candy Corn Witch

2008-11-02T09:30:00.005-06:00

I love Halloween! We decorate with spiderwebs, pumpkins, and gravestones. I have always loved handing out candy and getting to see how all of the kids dress up.

This year we had a Hot Dog.......

A Cowgirl.........

And a Candy Corn Witch.........

Bear did not participate in the trip through the neighborhood. He really was not cooperating, so he stayed at home with Jason. He did not want his costume on so we did not get any pictures of him and Lake together. Oh Well! Maybe next year...........

After Lake and I went Trick-Or-Treating, we all sat out in the yard and handed out candy. Then we headed to our neighbor's house where we cooked and just enjoyed hanging out. Bear stayed in his Snugli Baby Sling and slept the whole time! Thank the Lord for that thing :)

We visited for a LONG time so we were pretty tired the next morning.

Now we are on the final countdown to Christmas..........It will be here before we know it!

TAG

2008-10-28T17:03:00.002-05:00

OK. So I was tagged by my friend "Busy Momma" and told I needed to post the 6th pic in the 6th file on my computer. Here it is.......

A pic of little Bear on his birthday. All wrapped up like a burrito looking kinda squishy. So now I am supposed to tag others to do this.

I only have 2 other blogs listed so.... Rosenmonkeys and Crazy, Hectic it is up to you now.........

And to update on our day, Lake had an allergic reaction last night to somehting and woke up this morning with the hives. She looked terrible but felt great besides the itching. After Jason saved the day and met me at the doctor for moral support we had her prescriptions filled and ate at CiCi's Pizza. She LOVES that place and it is perfect for a family on a budget! :)

XOXO

Babysitters, Bus Rides, and Work

2008-10-27T10:03:00.005-05:00

This past week was a busy one! I started back to work in the office a few days a week. Lake started riding the bus to the sitter's house and Bear also stayed with her. Lakelyn LOVES the bus. Honestly, I was not ready to let her ride the bus.

She is still a baby......Well, a five year old baby.

Anyway, Jason convinced me that it would be good for her so off to the bus she went. I must admit, not having to sit in the car rider line is pretty nice. Bear stayed while I went to the office. It was hard to leave him but once I was gone I realized that it would be good for both of us. Work was good. It was nice to get out of my PJs and wear scrubs again.

Lakelyn has been doing GREAT at soccer. She loves being outside playing witht he other kids. She scored three goals Saturday at her game. Jason did a fabulous job coaching too!

I finally got in gear and even made it to church this week. I have really missed being there on Sundays. Sometimes the time slips up on us and we skip but I am going to make an effort not to let that happen too much!

This week is busy again. Soccer, work, Red Ribbon Week at Lake's school, the book fair, and of course Halloween. We are looking forward to Friday!

Hopefully Bama will continue to win this weekend too.

It makes things very peaceful in our home..... :)

My Angel

2008-10-20T09:37:00.008-05:00

Yesterday was the day that my Timber got baptized. I can not express how full my heart and soul has been since she began this journey. My mama made sure I got to see the entire thing through pics and video. This also included many joyful tears as I watched........

She looked absolutely beautiful when she arrived at church.

This is a decision that Timberly has made on her own. I believe she is one of the Lord's Elite :)

Not only did I get to see all of the beautiful pictures but my "Saved" blog was also read aloud during the service. I was so glad that I was included on this glorious day. I had no idea it would be read, and neither did my mama. It had been shared with the preacher and he decided to include it. How exciting!

Timberly was so ready for this day. My mom said before she entered the water she exclaimed with that little sparkle in her eye, "I'm an Angel!" And that she is........

Timberly has touched all of us in so many ways throughout the years. She has taught me so many things about myself and about life. Especially over the past 4 1/2 years. I thank God everyday that she has my mom and dad to guide her through life and they are doing a great job! I had many questions for her after the big event. I wanted to know what it felt like to be in the water. I asked if she was nervous before hand and of course she said, "No Mommy." She is so brave and true. Lakelyn was very interested in exactly what she had done at church. She asked me many questions and I did not know some of the answers. I am sure when we get to Alabama in December Timberly can let her sister know all about her baptism.

Way To Go T-Bear!

Winners.....

2008-10-18T18:16:00.005-05:00

Finally today Lakelyn and her team won a game! Not only did they win, but Lake scored six goals!!!! We were so proud. She was very excited!

Then I got word from my mom that Timberly won her soccer game, too!

Plus, Alabama added another win to their record. Even though Ole Miss played hard, we still defeated. A win is a win!

This day has been full of nothing but winners in our book today!

Yap, Yap, Yap

2008-10-16T12:21:00.002-05:00

We have lived in our house since March of this year. We live on a quiet little street with neat yards. Everyone uses the street as part of their driveway but I can deal with that issue. We have to do it sometimes too. There is the occasional stray dog roaming around. But all in all it is a peaceful place. Well, a few weeks ago it all ended.

While I have been on maternity leave I have enjoyed the stillness of our neighborhood until "Paco" the Chihuahua arrived on the scene. (I don't know for sure if his name is Paco but it seemed pretty fitting to me.) Across the street from our house this little dog that is tied to a tree in the front has destroyed the peace in the air and the sanity in my body. EVERYTIME we walk outside he barks. If the wind blows a leaf, he barks. If the occasional stray walk by, he continues to bark. If the owners are inside not paying him attention, he's REALLY loud. This goes on DAY and NIGHT! Especially if the neighbors are gone. I understand he may be skittish or need attention. I have even tried to go over and whisper in my best Mexican accent. "It's OK Paco. Stop Barking."

I am obviously no dog whisperer.........

So after numerous days and nights of barking I began to break. I could not get the barking out of my head. I would hear the dog over the dryer, Bear crying, the TV, Lakelyn calling my name (she's loud), and any other daily living sound. I started to open the door when he would bark and stare at him. It did not work. Ignoring did not work.........I would tell him to be quiet in a very stern voice. I did not care if the owners were home or not. I wanted them to hear me so they could fix the problem. Surely they heard him yapping all of the time. I began to wonder if they even cared. Finally I had enough. I told Jason two nights ago that I was going to type a note and tape it to their door. And I did just that. The note read like this:

Dear Neighbor,
PLEASE do us all a favor and find an alternate place to keep your dog while you are gone.
The CONSTANT BARKING IS VERY DISTURBING!!!!!!!
(In more than one way!)

Thanks for being considerate of our sanity!

Of course the font was very large and in bold letters. I did not sign my name or leave my number because all of that was irrelevant. The main problem had been addressed. I figured a note was the best way to keep me from saying something ugly and the best way to avoid a "neighborly" dispute. I ran across the street, avoided my ankles being bit by the grace of God and taped the note to the door. I peeked out every now and then to make sure the tape was holding and to see if someone had come home and found the note.

I went to the car rider line, picked up Lake and returned home to find that the note was gone. No cars were in the driveway. Did they get the note? I'm not real sure. The only thing I do know is that there is no dog tied to the tree today. So either they got the note or I just got lucky.

Either way it's a peaceful hood again............

I think he likes it......

2008-10-11T15:36:00.005-05:00

We got a package in the mail today from my mom. Timberly had enclosed a visor for Bear she bought for him. She even personalized it.

I think he likes it........

Saved

2008-10-10T17:13:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday I received the most wonderful phone call. I heard a little voice say " Hey Mommy!" It was my Timber. Before I could even ask her what she was doing she proceeded to tell me she got saved at church that morning. I took a deep breath and my heart filled up with so much pride it almost exploded. She told me all about how she got to go in front of the church and then got to see the water and robes after the service. I was so happy. Timberly is such a wholesome and sweet girl. I am so proud she is my daughter. Her faith makes mine grow even stronger. She is growing up so fast and I can only hope she continues to make good choices and follow the the right path. So far, so good.........

Thanks Mom and Dad!

B-U-S-Y

2008-10-08T09:01:00.005-05:00

Busy, Busy, Busy! That is our family. Since the storm we have been going non-stop! Jason's parents came for a visit this past week. They were so excited to see Bear for the first time. Lake LOVES Grandmom and Pop, too. Both of the kids got tons of presents. Lake said it was like Christmas in our house. Jason and his dad fixed our covered patio and Angie and I got to do some shopping. I took her to this fabulous little restaurant for lunch called La Madeline. It is my favorite lunch spot! On Sunday before they headed back to Bama, we all went bowling then had steaks at Salt Grass. Another one of our favorite TX restaurants. I got to catch up on some much needed sleep while Grandmom played with Lake and Bear during the visit. That was the best gift EVER!

Visiting is not the only thing we have been doing. Lakelyn is now an official soccer player.

She is really doing a great job. We have practice once a week with games on Saturday. The first practice was too cute! Jason and Lake got out there and kicked the ball with each other. Our coach had just signed on that day so parents helped out a lot that night. Jason is such a great dad! He is going to continue to help the coach when needed. I told him to get on the internet and read the rules of soccer. You can find anything on the internet.

We had our first game this past Saturday. Our games are not at the practice location so we TRIED to Google the directions to the game field. A little tip.....DO NOT TRUST GOOGLE DIRECTIONS! We were so far away from where we were supposed to be playing. I finally called the coach and we made our way to the field. Good thing we left early........ We lost the game but
Lake had soooooo much fun! That is what was most important. She played the entire game! She never complained and hustled the entire time. We were so proud!

One last thing. Timberly was 9 this past Saturday. I can not believe that my first little baby is nine years old! Time goes by so fast............

Official Evacuees

2008-09-29T12:23:00.003-05:00

Well, it's official. I was an evacuee for a period of time. I never dreamed that I would have that title under my belt, but I do. Hurricane Ike came through the Houston / Galveston area about 2 weeks ago and destroyed or damaged much in its path. We live about 20 miles from the island and about 20 miles from downtown Houston. So, we were in the path of destruction. Before landfall I really did not understand the severity of a hurricane. I had always heard of evacuations but never really understood what that meant. To put it into one statement, it means....Grab what you can and do it quickly.

As Jason watched the weather very closely about 2 days before landfall, I was oblivious to the future. I had a newborn I was smitten with. I was holding, rocking, and loving on Bear. I had no idea what was in store for our family. As the sun set and the hours ticked by, I went to sleep only to wake to Jason telling me I needed to start packing at 1:15 a.m. on Thursday morning. I knew it was a possibility of us leaving but never knew it would become a reality because the last 2 storms that were supposed to come our way never made it. We did not even get raindrops........

I rubbed my eyes and realized that Jason was serious. I fed Bear and began to pack. Lake was sleeping so we decided to pack her things last to avoid waking her too early. Packing for all of us took about 4 hours. Jason was a little concerned because he wanted to beat the traffic and I kept bringing bags to the door. He thought we would never leave. Our area was going to be evacuated at 7 a.m. Jason had a heads up and he wanted to leave before the chaos began..........The gas stations were packed at 6 o'clock. I was amazed.

Finally we had our vehicles loaded and fueled and we headed for Jasper, Texas. My step-dad, Terry, was anticipating our arrival. Luckily he had a generator and we could be there with power including air conditioner. Thank the Lord!

The next day or so was kind of like a family visit. However, that ended. I began to think about all of our things. Everything we had worked so hard to get could possibly be destroyed. Jason helped me understand that our family could not be replaced but material things could. After I had my breakdown I began to pray and then calmed down because he was right. I had no control over what was going to happen. I had to be strong. As the storm hit land, I had never heard or seen the wind blow so hard in my life. I was chilling to hear it howl over the roof and through the trees. It was like a movie.

Luckily, there was minimal limbs down at Terry's house. Jason headed out to check the damage at our home. This is what he found.........

Our fence in the back had been hit with limbs and the roof over our patio had been blown off. Whew! No flood damage! When he made it back to Terry's after hours of traffic and gas stations with no gas I felt relieved to know that we were so fortunate. The loss of others was devastating and Galveston Island will never be the same. Areas about 2 miles from our home were destroyed. My prayers had been answered and I was OK with our damage. It could be repaired.

It took about a week for our power to be restored. In the mean time my mother came into town and got to meet Bear. We hung out at Terry's house. We grilled out, watched TV, and just enjoyed each other's company. We returned home on Sunday September21. Our food had spoiled so we spent the afternoon cleaning out the old and bringing in the new. We had two refrigerators. One in the garage and one in the house. The fridge in the kitchen was zapped by a power surge but at least we had one in the garage. That was a life saver. Our insurance even paid us for food spoilage. Isn't insurance grand?!?!

Jason ended his "Maternity Leave" this past week and returned to work. It was great to be able to have him with us during our first evacuation. He has been VERY busy with all of the hurricane damage and will be for a long time. As I watch the news and see damage for myself just a few miles away I truly understand that our family is blessed. We are lucky to have each other and our home. Our hearts and prayers go out to those that were less fortunate during Hurricane Ike.

Week One Is Already Over?

2008-09-08T08:08:00.012-05:00

Whew! Time flies when you have a new baby!

I can not believe it has already been one week since Bear arrived. I seems like I got out of the hospital yesterday! After the game this week Jason looked at me and said "Well, one week ago your water was breaking..." I can't believe it has gone by so fast! Since I have been feeling like a champ, we have been pretty busy. My parents came into town for their first visit to Texas. Timberly was soooo excited to hold her baby brother. She and Lakelyn had him in the bedroom like a babydoll. They had all of the dolls and Bear on the bed playing house. It was the cutest thing....

We went out to dinner and let the girls ride some rides at the Boardwalk close to our house. My mom and I took the kids to have their pictures made. They all cooperated during the shoot. I think I was the only one that was nervous about the pics but they turned out GREAT! Bear was very alert and the girls looked beautiful. I can't wait for them to come in.... We also went to T-Bone Tom's on Saturday and they had a band that night. The girls spent most of their time down front dancing to the music. We ate outside and the weather turned out perfect. Bear was great! He slept most of the time. He really is an excellent baby! We are very blessed! He looks just like his daddy!

Everyone was asking about him and wanting to know how old he was. When I would tell them he was only days old I got some strange looks. The way we look at things is that I did not die, I had a baby. We like to get out and about. We do not and did not want to be confined to the house.

So we're not going to be. Period.

I thought it may be hard to get back into the swing of taking care of newborn but it really is like riding a bicycle. You never forget. My instincts kicked right back in and we just adjusted our lives. Jason has really been great with him too! He even changes dirty diapers! Lake loves holding Bear by herself on the couch with no help. It makes her feel special. Like she is babysitting.......

The next few weeks will be busy. Jason's parents are coming into town and my mom will also be here to visit. Everyone wants to get in some time with our newest addition. Jason and I are excited to see everyone here at our home.

We always do the traveling so it is nice to have everyone come to us this time!

U of A Good Luck Charm.......

2008-09-02T18:42:00.008-05:00

Our little Bear has arrived. Below is the story through Jason's eyes....Enjoy!

BEAR EVAN SCREWS was born Sunday Morning 31 August 2008 at 5:09 AM.

He weighed 7 lbs. and was 19.5 inches long.

Jamie and I would like to thank everyone for their support and congratulations

The Story: (As told by Daddy)

Well, there was about 4 minutes left in the Alabama/Clemson game and Alabama had just stopped Clemson on a 4th and 11 at the end of the 4th Quarter to pretty much seal up the game. Alabama had dominated the whole game so Daddy was very happy.

5 minutes earlier, Mommy had laid down because she didn't feel well but Daddy had heard that story a million times over the past 9 months.

So, not long after that, Daddy sees little Lakelyn running into the living room where Daddy is having a solo celebration and says "Mama needs you to come here".

Well Daddy had heard this before but this time it was different. I went into the bedroom and noticed Jamie was in the bathroom. I knew immediately what I was about to hear next:

"Jason, I think my water just broke!"

So, here we go getting ready to go to the hospital and the rest is history.

So now we all know that even though Bear was born in Texas, he is still a BAMA Boy. He "ironically" waited until Alabama had the game in hand and waited long enough for Daddy to watch the awesome game before he decided it was time to come out.

Thank you Bear!!!

Everyone has a special story to go along with their children's birth and this is mine and Jamie's. Thank you for letting us share it with you and thanks again for all of your support!

Jason, Jamie, Lakelyn & Bear
Roll Tide!!!!!

I think he about summed it all up...........

First Day of School......

2008-08-25T16:12:00.006-05:00

I felt like Marlin off of Finding Nemo this morning. Overprotective and Scared. "It's the first day of school" are the first words I heard when I woke up this morning. I wanted to grab onto Lakelyn and tell her she did not have to go but I refrained and acted just as excited as she did. Jason knew I was having a hard time because I started crying last night before we went to bed. We got all dressed in our "uniform," which I also had a hard time with at first. I did not understand why a 5 year old had to wear a planned outfit to kindergarten. Polo shirt and skirt or pants in the color of black, khaki, grey or blue jean. Eventually I got over the dress code. I really had no choice. It was the rule.....I don't think we did so bad though

Anyway, after we ate breakfast we all loaded up and headed to school. We arrived at the school along with the other one million parents and I began to feel hot. Not because it was 90 degrees outside but because I was nervous. My baby was starting school! We made our way to the classroom and I could just feel the excitement radiating off of Lake's little hand. She was soooo ready to be in big school and I was soooo ready to breakdown..........

We walked into the classroom greeted by the sweetest teacher ever! She seemed so full of enthusiasm and ready for a great year. You know, like she was born to teach. Lakelyn found her name at the table, her spot on the rug and that was it. She was in big school. Kindergarten. I looked at Jason with a sad look and he knew it was time to go. We walked out of the front doors and I managed to hold it together.

I looked at the clock a gazillion times waiting for time to get in the car rider line. I arrived about 35 minutes before school was out. Obviously there were other parents more anxious than me because I was behind about 50 cars. I waited patiently for my baby who had become an official big girl today. When she got into the car all she said was "Mommy, I love school!" At that moment I was the proudest parent ever.

Of course, I teared up behind my sunglasses......

Lucky.....

2008-08-18T15:28:00.013-05:00

Sometimes my husband just amazes me........

We are sitting at the house this weekend and nothing was really happening. Jason was surfing any Alabama Football website ever invented and I was nesting for the gazillionth time......Dusting, vacuuming, mopping the floors, packing diaper bags, etc. All of those things that I have done preparing for the birth that seems like is never going to take place.

Anyway.........I decided to take a break and have some ice water and watch Lifetime Movies for a bit. All of a sudden, Jason has a burst of energy and announces he is going to paint my bathroom.

Huh?

I was shocked. For those of you that don't know, I have been wanting my bathroom painted for a while now. We have painted many rooms since we moved into our home in March and Jason is an excellent painter. We have had so much going on I just thought I was going to have to wait until all other home improvements were done. Well, I got a great suprise!
He got out the Charcoal Grey paint mixed by the one and only David Goggins (my daddy) and began painting away. In no time it was finished! B-E-A-U-tiful!

Maybe Jason was doing a little nesting of his own.......

Here's a pic of the finished product

AND......Not only does he paint, but he builds birdhouses

Creates new sidewalks ( still in progress)

Makes the best kabobs EVER...........

And most importantly, he is a great daddy and wonderful husband!

I feel like the luckiest girl alive!

False Alarm

2008-08-12T11:21:00.014-05:00

The time is just not now. For the past few days I have been contracting. Nothing new. But yesterday I noticed more contractions so I decided to keep track of them on paper. I did not want to get my hopes up but I wanted to make sure I was not just wishfully convincing myself I was in labor. I had listened to the doctor and knew exactly when to call this time. He wants me to call when they are 5 minutes apart.....I knew I could do this..... I will not be sent home this time........
I started writing. Every 3.5 - 4 minutes my pencil was scribbling the time on a yellow sticky note.......I started to get scared and excited. I thought this was going to be the day I met my son....
My contractions did get harder and more frequent. Jason had mentally prepared himself to become a daddy within the next day or so. We arrived at the hospital, safely. I had my camouflage pillow in one hand and Jason was holding the other. We ran into a PreNatal Tour Group on the way to the elevator. I wanted to do a cart wheel for them because I was so excited and ready for this to be over but I just smiled and waved instead. They were all cheering and telling us congratulations....
I got to the unit and hopped onto the monitor. Contraction time........2 minutes apart. Steady.
We thought this meant baby. We called Jason's parents and mine in Alabama. We wanted them to know it could be soon. Well.........not soon enough.
After several hours of 1-2 minute contractions lasting 80-90 seconds each, the nurse decided to check me again.
NO CHANGE IN MY CERVIX.
WHAT?!?!!!????
I was mortified!
I was hurting all of this time for nothing!?!?
After the nurse spoke to my doctor, it got even worse. She entered the room with a syringe. I knew what was coming next. OUCH! She filled my muscle with that magic medicine that STOPS CONTRACTIONS! My doctor said it would just be best to stop them, monitor over night again and for me to come to the office on Wednesday. Bummer.

Oh Happy Day........

2008-08-06T15:05:00.002-05:00

A little update on our delivery status.
As we drove to the doctor today I was a little anxious about the visit. Bedrest has been for the birds and I am so tired of waddling.
Jason and I arrived at the office and got the first bit of good news. I only gained 1 (that's right....) ONE POUND!!!! Yay Me!
Next we went into the exam. Now this is probably one of the most uncomfortable things for me. But, it must be done. Still sitting at 2 cm and my cervix is the same too. BUT, the doctor gave us the second bit of good news........
I can have him at any time now. Bear is measuring a little ahead of his date and my OB says whenever he wants to show his face we'll be ready. No more meds to stop contractions and I can get up and move around a little! Nothing major but atleast I can cook and clean some now.
Jason is very excited! I am very excited! WE ARE EXCITED! This is what we have been waiting on for 9 months. Our perfect little boy!
Now all we have to do is just sit and wait. No more worrying about stopping labor. No more caution with walking or sitting!
I wonder if he is going to be late??????????? I told Jason that would be just our luck.........

Ready and Waiting....

2008-07-31T19:47:00.004-05:00

It has been about a week now since our labor scare. I have been on bedrest and it is super boring but I refuse to complain too much. Since we were rushed into thinking our little man was on his way to making his debut super early, we decided it would be a good idea to get his room finished. Just in case.......

We have the crib, dresser, pack and play, stroller, etc, etc, etc all ready for a baby. And of course his little Alabama moblie that plays the tune "Yea Alabama"

I am pretty sure this is Jason's favorite part of the room besides the "Spirit of the Bear" pic on the wall.

So for now, we are just waiting.......

Call The Coast Guard.........

2008-07-25T11:07:00.007-05:00

Ok, so after my whiny post the other night about pregnancy I decided to treat myself to a brownie (or two). I went to bed missing Jason because he was out of town in Dallas working and I had a slight tummy ache......Throughout the night my stomach kept hurting and when I woke up, it still hurt. I went to work like usual because I thought if something was wrong that was the best place to be (I work in a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor's office.) I got put on the monitor and low and behold, my contractions were 3 minutes apart....Yes, 1 -2 -3 minutes apart.
So, to keep from crying all I could do was laugh. Thank goodness my boss was there and he has a great sense of humor and he was able to lighten the mood as well as Debi.......

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said...Go Straight To The Hospital.
Called Jason first, no answer.

Thanks to Debi Fantastic, I got dropped off right at the front door of the hospital. As I waddled up to antepartum, my mind was racing. What am I going to do if I have a baby in the next few days? His crib is not even at our house! Jason is out of town! Keep in mind Lakelyn was born at 32 weeks. There was still so much to do. I checked in and was admitted into an "observation unit." I knew this meant they just wanted to see if I really was contracting or just whining. Contracting was the verdict.
As the whirlwind of monitoring, oxygen masks flying, and turning from side to side every 30 seconds was continuing, I tried to call Jason. I was unaware at this time that my husband was on a boat in the middle of a lake 4.5 hours away with no phone. I began to panic when I was told I had to stay. Which meant, No Going Home!!!!!!!!! Yikes!

Call The Coast Guard! I'm in Labor!!!!! These were my first thoughts as I changed rooms, got new nurses and settled into my not-so-comfy bed. With the help of wonderful friends, I did not have to call the Coast Guard. They did. Notification was made and within moments of Jason getting the message I heard his voice. What a relief! He made it to the hospital and by then the chaos had ended. I had been given several shots to stop the contractions. Steroids to beef up Bear's lungs and an ultrasound to check his weight. Luckily the medicine worked and the contractions almost completely stopped. I thank the Lord for all of the prayers that were answered. ( This is exactly how Lakelyn arrived early. The medicine just made her mad.....)

So, I'm home now. ON COMPLETE BED REST!!!!!!!!! YUCK!!!!!!!!
No cooking, No cleaning, No sitting for long periods (I'm typing fast) Only up to take showers and move from the bed to the couch. I have medicine to stop the contractions if they start back up regularly. I can sit for small amounts of time which will allow me to be able to work some from home......(Thanks Dr. R!) It is different when you want to lay down and when you HAVE to lay down.
Thank goodness I have an awesome husband! He is ready to take it all on full speed ahead!

So my promise is not not whine anymore about the ailments of pregnancy. I want him to cook a little longer before he makes his debut. No more complaining because I have figured out the hard way that you just might get what you ask for...........Like it or not!

Just Once.......

2008-07-23T19:49:00.008-05:00

There are so many wonderful things about having a life growing inside of you. It is an unexplainable feeling. Just knowing that my son will soon be in my arms is almost enough to make me not 'blog all about it' tonight. However, I just gotta say this. No one EVER shares the ailments that come along with being pregnant. You never hear anyone say how miserable you will be at the end of your pregnancy. You never hear anyone say that the frustration of constant reflux or urination will one day make you cry. I am in no way, shape, form or fashion taking this miracle for granted, but what I am saying is that men have no idea what we go through during pregnancy. My husband has dealt very well with my hormonal outbursts and cries. I just wonder if he along with every other father would think differently if they just once had to carry a baby for 40 weeks.

Yes, I am whining a little.

Yes, I am ready to have Bear.

I just once would like to see a man gain 40 pounds, pee every time they cough, laugh, sneeze or cry, ride the hormonal rollercoaster and do it all with a smile after they vacuum, dust, iron and do the dishes. Not to mention the stretch marks and cellulite. Or the fact that just a simple shower will wear you out!

Don't get me wrong, I love feeling my son move inside of me. In fact, that is always what I miss the most after I deliver. I am so very thankful that Jason and I have created a son together. I do not, however, like the indigestion, sleepless nights, prego waddle, or the tinkle factory that I am now the president of........... I think it is so easy for a man to become a father. But just once I want him to experience all of the "greatness" that comes along with pregnancy............Can I get an AMEN?

Diapers and Wipes!

2008-07-21T10:52:00.007-05:00

Last night at my wonderful friend Debi's home, our church family hosted a diaper and wipes shower for Bear. Everyone came together after church and we ate BBQ (which has been one of my cravings throughout this pregnancy) and sides. It was delicious!!! We got so many diapers and wipes!

I even had a few surprise guests! My boss, his sweet wife and their kids came. Also my hairstylist! (I'm glad I fixed my hair!) We had such a great time visiting with everyone. Jason got to meet several new folks. They were all very interested in the Coast Guard and his job.

Once we got home Jason was so excited to look at all of the diapers. He has so many questions that I just love answering. It is so adorable to see him go through Bear's things. I can't wait to deliver!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheeseburgers....Mmmmm

2008-07-17T13:59:00.009-05:00

Well, I had an appointment with the doctor yesterday and I got the best news yet. I have only gained 2 pounds in 2 weeks. This is great considering I have been in and gained 12 pounds in 4 weeks before. This slight gain could have been because I have been dying from a summer cold for about a week and have not taken as much of an interest in food as usual. So today I am feeling much better and my sweet husband told me he would take me to lunch. As I began to think about where I wanted to go, I suddenly had the taste of a HUGE, GREASY, cheeseburger from Fuddruckers take over my tastebuds. Therefore, Fuddruckers or Bust! When we ordered our food I was so excited I could hardly wait to get that burger in my mouth. This may sound crazy to some folks, but to a pregnant woman it is like waiting on Heaven's gates to open........Finally, I got my burger with Bleu Cheese and Cheddar, mayo and lettuce.

Mmmmmm, perfection. I think Jason was so into watching me eat that he did not even finish his food. (We ordered the same thing just with different toppings) After I finished EVERY bite of my burger, I felt complete. Kinda warm and fuzzy inside.........The only downfall to this tasty treat is that I have to go back to the doctor in 2 weeks and face The Scale..........but the taste was worth every pound!!!!!

A New Beginning

2008-07-14T08:09:00.004-05:00

Ok, so my beautiful and best friend Misti has encouraged me to create a blog and my boss' wife has the greatest blog. Full of cute pics, music, etc. So, I decided to take the time to begin sharing our life with you all since we are so far away. A quick rundown of us (in case you forgot) is that we were married in December of 2006 and moved straight to the great state of Texas. We live about 30 minutes from the beach!!! Jason is the greatest dad to the girls and we are expecting our first baby together very soon. Finally, a son! I am due September 9th but hopefully will deliver a little earlier than that!

We are both ready to meet our little man! Jason has been working on the room and getting everything in order for his arrival. Lakelyn is excited and Timberly is glad she will be having a brother this time. Our family will soon be complete!