Let's get caught up!

*WARNING* This post is probably going to be ALL OVER the place and will include A LOT of pictures. It's necessary to get you caught up on our lives. Where did I leave you last? Oh, we had just found out that my brother in law and sister in law (Hubs' sister and her husband) are having a BABY BOY!!! They have decided that his name is going to be SUTTON KYLE. My SIL has always loved the name Sutton and Kyle is after a friend of my brother in laws that was killed in a car accident while they were in college. I love the name and can't wait to meet him. If you remember from the last post they were coming down to visit and we did LOTS of shopping. I think Sutton went home with at least 15 new outfits. It was so much fun. While they were here we had planned a special birthday surprise for our oldest, Madeline, who turned 6 on the 24th. Madeline LOVES (is really an understatement) High School Musical. I saw back in October that the play was coming to the Civic theatre in Ft. Worth. I knew she would LOVE it. It just so happened that the play was in March, right around her birthday, so I decided to get tickets for Madeline, Hubs, and I to go. We'd make it a surprise day for just her. I took her to get her hair all cute and put up, then Hubs and I treated her to lunch, and then on to the surprise. She had NO IDEA what we were doing until we got there. She was beyond thrilled to the point her stomach was hurting because she was so nervous. She loved the show and sang to EVERY song and danced around in her seat. It was a FABULOUS day! Here's how the day went:

Just getting started with her hair.

A little twist here, a little tuck here.

Almost done. Just a few more bobby pins to hold it in place.

The finished product. (It looked a lot cuter in person) On the way, she still has no idea where we are going. At lunch with Daddy. And Mommy.. On the marble steps inside the building. Reading the program, waiting for the play to begin. The backdrop. Now that was fun...Before leaving the theatre. I think she's ready to see it again....SOON!! I have to say, I'm very proud of Hubs because as you can imagine going to the theatre isn't a man's favorite place to go much less watching HSM. He was a great sport and we had a great time spending the day together, just us and Madeline. Macy got to hang out with her Aunt and Uncle while we were gone. I think she gave them a GOOD TASTE of parenthood, as only Macy could. She's my spitfire. Speaking of spitfire, a few days before our company was coming to spend the weekend with us Macy was coloring a picture with markers when she decided to color her forehead with BLUE marker(sorry no pictures). I had to give her the speech about how we only color on paper, yada, yada, yada. So imagine my surprise we she comes into me THE DAY our company is to arrive while I am vacuuming to tell me that she colored on the couch. Inside I'm thinking yea right. I walk into the living room and this is what I see...........

Yes, that is BROWN marker all over the cushions.

I immediately start FUMING. You know like on the cartoons when the steam comes out of their ears and their head boils over. Yes, that was me at this point. I took a VERY DEEP BREATH and went looking for the child who was already in her bedroom, in her bed because she knew SHE WAS IN BIG TROUBLE She got a spanking and had to stay in her room for a while. Thankfully our cushions zip off so I was able to throw it in the washing machine and it did all come off. Lucky for her, huh? See why she's my spitfire? Moving on, after my SIL and BIL left we headed to Oklahoma for Spring Break. We spent the first part of the week at my parents. My dad was gone fishing with his buddies so it was my mom, the girls, and I. We got to spend lots of time outside playing. While we were there my mom purchased Madeline a new BIGGER GIRL bike for her birthday. This one had NO training wheels and she had never rode without them. I was ready to spend an ENTIRE day trying to teach her how to ride this new bike. I was ready for the challenge. CHALLENGE...NO!! The girl took off on her FIRST attempt. I couldn't believe it. She did great as long as she didn't have to turn. HA!! However, she quickly got the hang of it and before we knew it she was riding circles around us, stopping and starting on her own, and having a blast.

Madeline with her new bike. Helmet and knee pads are a MUST!! Right Aunt Katie? Crash!!! (My parents dog, Willie, making sure she was alright. Can you see Macy in the background doing what she does best.) I got a video of her learning. Look how good she is doing.

Here's what little sister was doing while Madeline was learning to ride her bike. Playing in the dirt.

While we were in Oklahoma I got to see me precious niece and nephew Garrett. Look how chubby she's getting.

Madeline and Garrett smothering her.

She's definitely a lap baby. She loves to be held and loved on. Which we have no problem doing.

We spent the latter part of the week with my in laws and got to see LOTS of my handsome nephew, SIL, and BIL (Hubs' brother and wife). I can't get over how much my nephew changes and grows each time we see him. He is starting to talk more and more and is turning into a little man. He's not a baby anymore. The girls LOVE him so much and love playing with him. Madeline is kinda like his little mother and Macy, well, she's just his boss. See for yourself.....

Dragging him where SHE wants him to go.

Now over here, Austen.

Don't you want to play over here, Austen?

The three Stooges...

Just Austen (20 months)

Fishing in Gramme and Granddad's backyard pond. They can spend HOURS doing this.

She looks so cute and innocent here. Wonder what she's going to be up to next?


While we were there we celebrated Madeline's birthday with a little cake. Madeline helped her Gramme make it not knowing that it was her own birthday cake she was making.
Here she is blowing out the candles.

I have so much more to say and show you but my hands and neck are tired. I think I'll continue this tomorrow with all of Madeline's 6th birthday celebrations. Now you know what we've been up to.

How is it even possible?

How can something go from this.............................................

to this............................................................

so quickly?


It seems like just yesterday I was checking into the hospital at 5:30 am on March 24, 2003 to be induced. I was so excited and anxious to meet my baby girl. She was the one I had dreamed of naming, Madeline Paige ever since I was a little girl. I'll never forget the moment I meet her for the first time. She laid there on my chest as we just stared at each other. It was love at first sight. Now, here we are SIX years later and I am more in love with that little girl than I was the day we first met. She has brought me more smiles, more laughs, more joy, and more happiness than I ever could have imagined. I thank God every chance I get for both my girls.

I have much more to blog about but I'm very tired tonight so it will have to wait until another day.

I just wanted to say...........................................

Happy 6th Birthday, Madeline Paige.

I LOVE YOU!!!

Mommy

Busy Days

My life is flying by right now because we have had a lot going on. After spending a few days in Oklahoma while dad was in the hospital and then his homecoming Macy and I headed back to Texas. My mother in law joined us the next day and we had a great time with Gramme being here. It seems like we went non-stop for 3 days. Tuesday night, Madeline had Open House at school and we were SO IMPRESSED with her work. To see where she started at the beginning of the year and to see where she is now...WOW!! I can't believe my little girl can READ and WRITE on her own. Gone are my days of making up what signs say to trick her. She can read them now...HA!! While Gramme was here she got to see Madeline at gymnastics and cheer class. Macy impressed her with her swimming skills. She left yesterday afternoon to head to Tulsa to be with my sister in law and brother in law today when they found out FOR SURE what they were having. Remember I told you that her doctor does the 3D ultrasounds at every visit so at her last appointment he thought they were having a Girl but would know for sure at the next appointment. That appointment was today and they found out that they are having a.........




Beautiful...............










Baby......................
















BOY!!!


That's right. We get to shop now. YAY!! However, since we thought it may be a girl there were a few things bought. I guess they will have to be held for the next girl. Thankfully, all the things that I had bought were for a BOY!! My sister in law and brother in law are coming to spend the weekend with us so that means sis and I will be doing some shopping. One of my favorite things to do.

This weekend Hubs and I are taking Madeline for one of her birthday surprises. On Saturday, she will get up and go to Sweet and Sassy to get her hair done cute and her nails painted. We are taking her to lunch where she so chooses and then we are taking her to the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL play in Ft. Worth. She has NO IDEA and will be SO EXCITED. HSM is her favorite right now. I will be sure to take LOTS of pictures. I can't wait to see her excitement. Her birthday is in a few weeks and she will be 6. Time sure flies.

Here are some new pics of my precious niece....She's getting too big, too fast.

So sweet.

Don't you love those dimples and double chins.

Prayer Works...

First, I wanted to thank everyone for all the prayers sent up on behalf of my dad. It's great to have a "blog community" to ask for prayer. He had his colonoscopy done this morning a lot earlier than scheduled (6:00 am) and it showed nothing major. PRAISE GOD! It can all be fixed with medicine and time. Just wanted to give you all an update and thank you again.
Have a great weekend. We will be heading back to Texas tomorrow because I want to be at church on Sunday morning. It is the last time our pastor will be preaching before moving to Kentucky. We will miss Bro. Bill.

Asking for more prayers

Yesterday morning, my dad woke up at 2:00 am with SEVERE stomach pains in his lower abdomen (under his belly button) and was bleeding (sorry dad, TMI). As the morning progressed his pain became more intense to the point he was in tears and feeling light headed. Now, if you know my dad, he has a VERY HIGH pain tolerance. He must have been hurting. Finally, my mom took him to the ER where they administered some morphine for the pain and did some blood work. After several hours, they decided to admit him for the night in order to better observe him. If he continued to have the bleeding they would keep him and prep him for a colonoscopy to take place on Friday. He did continue to have the bleeding.
They drew his labs again this morning at 4:00 am and it showed that he has lost about a pint of blood. Another concern has been his blood pressure. If you have read any of my precious posts you know he has EXTREME high blood pressure and is currently being treated for it. Today as they checked it at 9:00 am it was at 160/94, at 12:00 it was 90/70, and at 3:30 it was 175/85. That is not normal. My mom is in the process of trying to get in touch with his cardiologist to let him know the state my dad is in. Poor dad HATES hospitals and so he has not been sleeping, therefore he is very tired. However, my mom said he finally slept for a couple of hours this afternoon. He will begin is "prep" for the colonoscopy and if you've ever had one done you know how much fun that is. Please keep him in your prayers that the prep goes well, that there's no more blood loss, and that the colonoscopy shows something and that it's an easy fix, and if not, that the doctors have the wisdom to find the problem. His colonscopy is scheduled for 11:00.
I'll let you all know when I hear anything more but in the meantime I'm asking for all prayers for him.