The past several weeks-Recap

Ok, let's see....

We moved into our new home right after Thanksgiving.

I still have boxes to go through and seperate for a yard sale. Just this past weekend, I was able to clear enough room to get my computer desk set up, thus this post is possible. I'm still figuring out the storage/organizing for my new spaces, and with my two boys in constant tow, it's always fun to find time to finish anything/everything on my list of to-do's.

The week that we planned to be in the house and get settled, my husband and both boys came down with colds, resulting in moving, but not too much settling being accomplished. Then came holidays and all the preperations that go into gift-giving, out-of-town trips and meal planning.


Since we always travel to San Antonio for Christmas, this year being no different, I had to make sure everything was wrapped and packed and ready to be transported. This year was especially fun because I also planned/organized/cooked for the Christmas Day dinner. Fun to do when you're 250 miles away!!! :) Not that I'm complaining because we had a wonderful time, and it was actually a relatively peaceful day considering I was sick with coughing, sore throat, headaches and all-around miserable!!


Yep, that's right!!! The Friday we were set to leave on our trip, I woke up with the dreaded cold my family and friends had been fighting for weeks. To top things off, Brandon also came down with it and added an ear infection to the above list of symptoms!! We left the day after Christmas and drove him directly to the doctor to be checked out. Within a few says, Ryan also got sick, and not to be out-done by Brandon, came down with an ear infection too!!! So, with two little ones sick and on antibiotics, I didn't do much beside keeping everyone fed and the clothes washed. Notice I said washed, not folded, ironed and organized! :)

Anyway, after lots of sickness, not having a washer or a dryer hooked up for several weeks, and a multitude of other distractions, I'm hoping for some stay-at-home, do-regular-things, not-have-to-juggle-a-million-things time!!!!

I'd like to work on curtains for my house. I think I'm going to take the plunge and attempt to make some by hand. I haven't made anything on my own, so it will be a new endeavor for me. I'm looking forward to it. I'll try to take pictures if it all comes out!

Ok, that'll have to do for now. I need to get my boys settled and ready for bed. Goodnight, blogging friends!

Just a quick update...

I won't be able to post much the next several days because I'll be attacking the piles of boxes at my new house!

I also have two sick boys, a sick husband, and little energy due to more middle-of-the-night calls from Brandon. He's absolutely miserable with a runny nose and general cold symptoms. Do you know how hard it is to nurse when you can't breathe through your nose??? Poor little guy! I wish there was something I could do to make him better faster or at least alleviate his symptoms, but there's nothing that I can buy at the store to help him since "they" pulled all the baby meds off the shelves the last few months. I suppose the doctor could prescribe something, but I'm really trying to avoid that for now. But if he's not better by this time next week, we're for sure going in...maybe before that if we get desperate. Any tips on how I can help him to breathe better or something I can give him to help him feel better and dry up his nose? Anything would be appreciated!

Well, I'm off to turn off the chicken cooking on my stove and try to get a shower while I can. (Yes, it's VERY late to be taking a shower, but a lack of hot water combined with my fussy boys has kept me from an early shower today.)

Hopefully, if all goes well, the next time I'm able to really blog, I'll be doing so from my new house!!! YAY!!!!

Just for Nichole

Ok, so to keep Mrs. Jordan happy, I feel I must post something new.

Here it is!

Not too much to report these days, just super busy being mommy to my two boys. Brandon had his two month check up last Monday. He's doing well, but of course, that also meant that he had to get shots. Ryan's been fighting a cold and an eye infection. Needless to say, last week was taken up with caring for two little guys who didn't feel good! I'm so glad they're doing better now.

Oh, I just found out that my friend Alarice is pregnant with her first baby!!! I'm so excited for her. She and her DH have been wanting a little one of their own for a long time. If all goes well, they'll get their bundle of joy in April of next year!

Well, Brandon's napping, so I better take advantage of the quiet and get something done around here!

Nichole, you better comment after all that drama about me needing to update! :) Love ya!

The Lord is good!

June 6, 2001-- This was the day that I lost our first child. As a Christian, I put no faith in and have no superstitions concerning dates, but when that nurse told me over the phone that June 6 was the date of Brandon's surgery, I have to admit that it affected me. I knew that God would be in control whether his procedure was the 6th, the 16th, or the 26th, but still that added something to my fears for my son.

I also dealt with the memories of losing Abigail, especially the memory of giving my daughter to my dad and watching him walk out the door with her body, knowing that I would never hold her again. I knew that when I had to hand Brandon over to that nurse, it was going to be the hardest thing I've done in my life up to now!

I wanted to share some of these things here with my friends that read my blog. You all know by now that Brandon did well and came through everything with a clean bill of health, but I wanted you all to know how the Lord helped me and my family, as well as how gracious He was to Brandon.

My dear friend Nichole and my parents were with Steven and I through last week. I don't think we could have made it through the waiting and the long days without their support and helping hands. They were there to see us through each moment, each update and each consult. My dad's prayer in the waiting room after we gave Brandon over to the nurse meant so very much to me! I know that the Lord heard him as well as all those who were praying for us last Wednesday.

Steven and I were waiting for the doctor to talk to us when they wheeled Brandon out of the operating room. I heard his cry before I saw them bring him through those doors. What a precious sound it was in that moment! He was definitely letting those nurses know how unhappy he was about not having eaten in several hours!

The doctor sat down with us to let us know that she was very pleased with the outcome of the procedure. Her words were, "There was a big pop, so I'm certain we got a good result." I'm wasn't sure I wanted to think about that too much, but I'm glad that the balloon they inflated inside his valve did what it was suppose to do. Brandon's valve will never be perfect, but it can be made "good enough." That is what happened. He will have to be monitored regularly for the rest of his life, but the Lord willing, this procedure did its job, and he will not have to have a cardiac catherization again.

The little guy was such a trooper!!! He really did so well being poked and prodded and held down and kept away from mommy. I can tell that he's not quite back to normal yet as far as eating and sleeping, but physically he's doing wonderfully! I think he's more alert now as well. He's staying awake more during the day and looking around and responding to our voices in ways that he wasn't just a few days ago. We had several rough days after coming home, but I'm hoping that we're getting back to some semblance of normal now! I could really tell that he was wanting to be close to me those first few days home. He cried a lot more and pretty much wasn't happy unless he was cuddled in my arms. Believe me, I was happy to give him what he wanted!

The Lord has been so merciful the past few weeks. It hasn't been easy, but I know that He was with us through it all and will continue to walk with us through whatever the future holds for our family.

We are facing so many decisions right now as a family. I believe that the outcome of Brandon's surgery was a token of God's love for us and His continued watch-care over us in the midst of what is a time of trial not only for our immediate family, but extended family as well. Steven's mom is not doing well physically. She's in the hospital again with unexplained symptoms that are baffling the doctors who have examined her. My brother is about to be deployed for the second time to Iraq, and my brother-in-law has been there since last August and doesn't expect to be home until at least October.

So, I ask that you all continue to keep us in your prayers, but the Lord is gracious and hears the prayers of His children.

Psalm 13:6- I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.

YAY!!!!

My sweet, sweet hubby took me shopping this past weekend to buy me a new digital camera. He ended up getting me a REALLY nice one that has so many features, it'll take me forever to figure it all out! But hopefully, now that I'm back up to date with technology, I'll be able to share a lot more photos of our family, especially with Brandon's birth only two weeks away now. I will be trying to get some good pictures of him and Ryan and the rest of the gang (grandparents, aunts, friends, etc) as I am able. So, keep checking in. I might surprise you and actually start posting on some regular schedule (well, doubtfull with the whole having a newborn baby thing, but the thought was nice!)
Later, Blogworld!

A Snowy Spring

This was the scene out my front door Easter weekend!!!

They both had a blast in the falling snow, building a snow mountain!

Something new...

Well, as a certain someone said, my blog needs some sprucing up. Since I'm too tired to try to figure out how to make Blogger work for me to get a new background, etc, I thought I'd share some pictures of Ryan. Not too original, but at least it's not preggie related, in case anyone's getting tired of all the preggie posting. :)

FUN AT THE PARK

Blessings

It's that time of year. The season is changing. The air is fresh and clean. There seems no end to the possibilities before us. February is almost past, and March is fast approaching. Already this year is speeding by!

I have been busy the past few weeks since my parents returned to the mission field. When my dad leaves, I handle anything that comes up on this end of all his business/financial "stuff." Normally, this hardly changes anything for me. Well, not so this time around!!! It's been a learning experience for me to juggle everything that's needed my attention. It's been fun though...fun to stay so busy, fun to be able to help my dad so much!

I've also been helping my hubby by running interference with the mortgage company and the real estate agents! YEP!!! We finally found a house that will work for us. I'm so excited! It's been nearly nine months since we sold our house, and I've been impatiently, patiently waiting for what the Lord would provide.

It still may be some time before we move because Brandon is due a month and a half after the closing date. I'm just not sure I'll be up to all that moving requires at that point! But we still have a comfortable place to live until we're absolutely ready to leave. I'm just so happy that I'll actually have a home to call my own again.

I've been struck lately by how very blessed I am!

The Lord has given me a wonderful husband who cares for me and our children. He provides for us and works so hard to give us what we need and so much more. He loves me so completely and is a wonderful father to our sons!

I have a beautiful little boy who is so precious to me and a constant reminder of God's grace in my life. He's not always easy to deal with, but the love I have for him is indescribable! His little declarations of love--"Mommy, I love you."--are so worth every time of trial and frustration! His hugs and kisses are constant blessings showered upon me.

And I have another baby on the way! This little boy inside of me is growing and moving and changing so much every day. It's amazing to see the changes in my body as Brandon develops. The Lord has so far blessed us with a healthy pregnancy. I've had my share of pregnancy woes, but really, I'm doing very well. I'm so thankful for the doctors that I have to take care of me and the husband I have to help and comfort me when the going gets rough. I've lost count of the back, leg and foot massages he's showered on me to relieve my aches and pains.

The Lord is just so good to me...and I am so undeserving! I find myself getting caught up in all the "what if's" and the "could be's" when I'm surrounded everyday by tokens of my Father's care and provision for me. How I want to learn to be a constantly thankful person! Thankful for all my physical blessings, my family and my home. Thankful for the life that the Lord has given me...physical and spiritual.

Well, blogworld, I have to sign off for now.

By the way, for all of you out there who noticed our lack of a middle name, we have finally settled! :) This new baby boy will be named after his Grandpa Horner. The Lord willing, Brandon Patrick Walker will join our family sometime the first weeks of May.

Thank you all for your friendship and your prayers and your love for my family and for me! Blessings!!!

Realizations

We can say without any doubt that we are definitely having a boy.

I told Steven that I thought the baby was offended that mommy was still holding out some hope for a girl! He showed us nothing but that he was a BOY at this last sonogram-- definitely NOT a shy little boy! :o]

I realized some things the other night when I couldn't sleep (a regular occurence these days, it seems.)

First, my parents are leaving again in about two weeks. Time has flown by since they returned this time around! It's been good to have them home and I'll miss them like always.

Second, my best friend is marrying my cousin in less less than eight weeks. I'm supposed to be a bridesmaid...YIKESSSS!!!!! I have lots to do to get ready. My dress has to be made, shower plans have to be laid, gifts must be bought, etc, etc! Fun times indeed!!!

And last, but not least, the most important and shocking midnight realization--

THIS BABY WILL BE HERE IN LESS THAN 16 WEEKS!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

I hadn't really thought about that until this week. There's so much to do still and so much else going on around me! I was a little overwhelmed for a while, but I know everything will get done that needs to get done.

My parents will be coming home the weekend before I'm supposed to be induced. Pray for them. They'll get back on a Friday morning, drive here to Coleman that day, and try to get enough rest to see them through the birth and all the subsequent excitement and activity that will follow. My mom is committed to helping me those first couple weeks, and she will really need her rest to keep up with Ryan full time while I recover!

So much going on these days!!! It's fun to think about, but I know that I need to kick it into gear if I'm going to be remotely ready to have this baby come into our lives and into our home!