Some exciting news!

I knew it had been awhile since I've been on here, and I have a ton of things to share. Some will have to wait, though. However, we have some Really Big News around our house. The sparkly princess has had a great time telling everyone she meets that SHE'S GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!!!

The short version:

I'm due Nov. 11 (right after Cadence's birthday), and they will be almost exactly 6 years apart. I had my first appointment last Wednesday, and we saw a heartbeat (119 bpm), everything looked great, and my doctor said I can officially stop worrying and enjoy it (HA!) Cadence knows, and so far everyone (minus one grandparent) has been thrilled!

The long version:

I'm almost 7 weeks, and I've been to my first appointment and seen a heartbeat. After 4 that ended with no heartbeat before 6 weeks, seeing that little flutter on the screen was unbelievable. Mike wanted to go ahead and tell Cadence (I know, some of you think I'm crazy ;) ), and since the due date is about a week and a half after her birthday, I agreed. We told her last Friday night when she got home, and have let her tell everyone else. I was a little worried about how she'd take it, until my mom told me she spent the week after TX saying things like, "We need a baby like Emery." and "I wish I had a little baby like Emery." and "I really wish my mommy would have a baby like Emery." But, of course, when you see how cute Emery is, how could you blame her?!?!

She has told everyone that we've seen - from the lady at McAlister's when I stopped in to get something to drink, to the people at the dentist office, to the lady that checked us out at Wal-Mart. Everyone at work knows (Cadence made sure of it!) and all of the teachers in the preschool as well. She actually ran down the hall where my office is going "My mommy has a baby in her tummy!!!!" Thankfully, everyone there is excited as well!

She's also come up with names. To start with, it was going to be Marigold if it was a girl, and Brutus if it was a boy. Today she agreed that Brutus might not be the best name for a baby, and has offered up Justin and Bernard as other options. I'm pushing for Bernard since it's my grandfather's name (the one that was recently diagnosed with cancer), and I SWEAR I haven't mentioned that name to her. I think it's a character in one of her Barbie movies as well. She's also decided she likes Isabella (or Bella for short), probably because of Phineas and Ferb. I love the name Isabella, but Twilight has completely turned me off of using (I'm sorry to those of you that love it!) So, the name hunt continues, at least for her.

I'm feeling ok, most of the time. I haven't physically gotten sick yet, which is an improvement since I was SO miserable with Cadence. I also still have my rings on, which is another improvement. The crazy dreams have returned, and bland foods - like peanut butter crackers - make me feel sick, while spicy things - crawfish, anyone?? - are perfectly fine. It makes no sense to me, either. I got back on April 8 for my next appointment, and I should be about 9 weeks at the time.

I'm so excited, and can't believe it's actually happened again. We're basically starting over (we kept nothing but a crib), and it's going to be quite a change going from having one almost totally independent to having a newborn again. But I think we're ready!

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Things I'm thankful for:

1) Tiny little heartbeats

2) Very excited big sisters

3) A family that is thrilled for us as well

4) Our life now - we're in a much better place than 6 years ago when Cadence was born

5) A job where everyone is excited and I'm not (too) worried about being let go because of this

Heading home tomorrow

We've been in Texas since Friday, and I've had a wonderful time. I love seeing my family that lives here, and Cadence has LOVED playing with her cousins. We (meaning me, Cadence, my sister, and her boyfriend) arrived about 10pm Friday night, and then had a Pump it Up party on Saturday for Chase. Cadence had a blast, and I think even Cecily and Benjy were worn out by the time we got home. Today, Chase had a friend's birthday party to go to - again, at Pump It Up - and the kid's mom was nice enough to let Cadence come, too. So, after two days of it, she's now zonked out upstairs. Tomorrow, we'll get up and make the 7 hour trip home, and I can't wait to see my husband. I miss him! Cadence will be at my mom's all week, and I'm looking forward to that, too. It should be a nice, quiet week!

We did have a breakthru this week. This is the first trip Cadence has taken without JoJo. We left her at my office on accident when we left Friday, and she insisted that we didn't have to go back and get her. I think I was more upset than she was. She'll be riding home with my sister tomorrow night, but my mom is bringing my Grandfather up on Tuesday for treatments, so JoJo will be sent back with her. I can't believe she's been so big about it. It's sad. JoJo has been a constant companion since she was about 18 months old. Why does she have to grow up?

Wish us luck on our trip tomorrow, and I'll post party pictures when I'm home!

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Things I'm thankful for:

1) Family

2) Cousins for Cadence to play with

3) My sister and her boyfriend to keep me company on the trip home

4) My mom. For taking Wee One for almost a full week!

5) A quiet house

A bad update

My grandfather had his first treatment yesterday, and it’s not as promising as I was hoping. I was told that he was stage 4 and it’s progressive, and it looks worse than it did a few weeks ago when he was in the hospital. With chemo, they are giving him 6 months to a year. However, he’s not eating, and they said if he doesn’t, then they can’t do chemo. Without chemo, it’s even less.

I spent a lot of the night last night crying, and I think I’m still in shock. As sad as it is, I’m almost to the point that I just hope he makes it to Christmas. I feel awful that we weren’t there this past year, and I know if he makes it to then, this Christmas will be very bittersweet. I stil can’t believe I’m even thinking things like this. It’s so crazy.

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Things I’m thankful for:
1) The wonderful memories I have
2) My family
3) Doctors and medicine - even if they aren’t doing what I wish they could
4) The hope that he could still last longer than they say
5) The knowledge that it’s not in my hands - and His hands are big enough to hold me if things are hard.

Movies, prayers and flowers

I’m so excited, because tonight Mike, my two sisters, one sister’s boyfriend, and I get to go see Alice in Wonderland in 3D!! Cadence was a little disappointed that she’s not getting to go as well, but I’m worried that it’s going to be a little too scary for her. My mom is coming up with them to watch her for us, and I promised her that I would take her to see it this weekend if Mike and I didn’t think it would scare her too much. I love Tim Burton, and LOVE Johnny Depp, so I’m ready to see if this lives up to my expectations.

We also have plans to go see How To Train Your Dragon in a few weeks. Mike promised Cadence he would take her to see it (I think he’s more excited than she is!) and she agreed that I could go with them. Mike wants to see Clash of the Titans in 3D as well, so March might end up being a movie watching month!

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My grandfather starts treatments next week. He’ll go for three weeks, then have some time off. After this first round of treatments, they’ll reevaluate him, and (hopefully) give us more info after that. Please keep praying for him, and that the treatments go well. I’ll post whenever I know something else.

Also, I have a cousin that’s trying to get a divorce at the moment. She has two small children, and I have a feeling that her soon-to-be-ex isn’t going to keep this civil - even in front of the kids. She’s staying with family at the moment, and making a super long drive every day, just to stay away from him. She even told me yesterday that she’s having to take precautions to keep him from trying to take the car, and she refuses to go to the house by herself if he’s there. Please keep her and the kids in your prayers as well. I’m worried about her, but scared that he’s going to convince her to come back like he’s done in the past.

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And to end on a happy note, we saw daffodils today!! It’s beautiful outside right now - 61 and sunny - and I can’t wait for Spring to officially be here. Plus, we have daffodils that are about to bloom at the house, and I know Cadence will flip when it finally happens! Come on babies, bloom!


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Things I’m thankful for:
1) Mike
2) My health
3) A night out!
4) Family that loves to babysit
5) Daffodils

Run From The Sun 5K

Months and months ago, when I was still getting up and running every morning, I was “invited” to participate in the Run From The Sun 5K (which means, one of the people sponsoring it told me about it as an incentive to keep me running. ;) ) It’s for a wonderful cause, and it’s an afternoon run (which is great since I’m definitely not a morning person.) If you are in my area, please consider helping out.  Anyway, I stopped running around September, and kept telling myself that I would start up again and would still participate in that run. Well, it’s 5 weeks away. And I’m still not running.

I went online and downloaded the form today, and I WILL be there. I might do even worse than I did back in September, but I WILL run this race! I will probably be dead after the next 5 weeks, but as of now, training has began! There’s another 5K at the church a month after, and I hope to participate in it as well. Wish me luck, and pray I don’t die!

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Things I'm thankful for:
1) That I have the ability to work out and run
2) Living in an area where I have a variety of things to do
3) Medical research
4) Goals to push me to be healthier
5) My iPhone and Nike+ software

Book 1/25: "The Stand", Stephen King

On one of the boards I visit, they started a book reading challenge for the year. I posted that I was going to try and read 25 books this year. In years past, it would have been way more than that, but because of the craziness of life, and the fact that I can’t re-read any books, I decided to play it safe!

I finished Book 1 last night - Stephen King’s The Stand. Wow. First reaction after finishing it, “It’s just so LONG! (about 1150 pages.)” Second reaction, “Some of it was just SO predictable!” Third reaction, “It was actually pretty good! Kinda like Frank Peretti, but with lots of sex.”

Mike says that the reason I feel like I do about the predictability is because when it came out, it was the only thing like it at the time. Now, however, it has been an influence for so many other writers, and I’ve probably read a ton of books that are a lot like it (and yes, I have.) I told Mike that it was the situations that were predictable, not the specifics. But I still think the book could be almost half as long, and still be a great book.

Overall, even though it wasn’t happy, peppy, all glitter and rainbows, it was a good book. I’m glad he got it for me for Christmas, and I’m glad I didn’t let the length get to me. I would recommend it, but just be warned that it may take awhile and seem to drag in parts. Because of that, I give it 3 books.



Next on the list, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess


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Things I’m thankful for:
1) Books, good or bad, that cause you to get lost
2) Books that have a story that makes you think long after you’ve put the book down
3) Time to read
4) The opportunity to find another book to get lost in
5) Cadence just starting to realize how great reading can be