Today we had a party for Valentine's Day! Abby planned it all (with a little help from mommy) and I think it was a big hit! We had cake (with candles by Abby's request) played a version of Bingo preschool style, bean bag toss and colored some valentine sheets and of course we had lots of sugar...which was hard to monitor with kids everywhere but I think everyone is on a huge sugar high and all the kids will bottom out around nap time hopefully:) After all the "planned" activities Abby wanted everyone to play dress-up so you can see in the picture everyone was all dolled up even the boys..oops! Just a few minutes ago Abby was asking me for more candy and I told her no way she had way too much already and she said, "Why don't mom's want their kids to have lots of sugar?" I told her the obvious answer but also told her she will appreciate it when she gets older and her teeth haven't fallen out!
I got to the hospital this morning and my dad was sitting up eating jello and all the color is back in his face....his swelling is down and they have told us they may be able to move up his tranfer out of ICU by 1pm. He is just doing wonderful but really needs to get more rest. We are trying not to go see him too much but we can't help it we want him to know we are here and he's not alone. I had to drag my mom back to the hotel last night because she wanted to stay "just in case" but we both decided sleep would be good for us all! I am heading back to Texas on a 2pm flight so I am hoping to still be here when he moves to his own room. I think this will be the last update unless things change dramatically...thanks for all the prayers we have felt the Lord's protection and love the whole time and I know it's because we all have been faithfully praying! Thanks!
well thanks Greg for the post and your picture is very creative:) It's 8:45pm and we have been able to go in from time to time and see him since they have taken out the breathing tube and it has been wonderful to see him with his eyes open and he's even been telling a few jokes...he's got a great dry sense on humor...I love it! Anyways I would love to have to correct Greg about me almost passing out but sadly I was a bit in shock seeing him looking pretty much dead...I decided it would be good for everyone for me to go on back to the room and nap a bit and not be taking away my dad's nurse to tend to me! I amgoing to staying here for awhile with my mom and she is doing pretty well I know she is worried but she is keeping strong for us..thank goodness! I know we will all sleep better tonight knowing he is being well taken care of!
I talked to Becky a few minutes ago and she had just been in to see her dad in post-op. The nurse briefed them before they went in to see him, but he was still out, and was hooked up to tubes and machines. Becky started to pass out, so the nurses had to tend to her. The impression I'm getting is that the surgery went okay, the valve was repaired but there may be some follow up procedures that need to be done. Of course, there will also be a long recovery time.
Becky will be back later to post corrections/updates to this report, and probably also to defend her fainting episode. I also thought it would be nice to add a picture, so I found this picture of a Mayo Clinic snow globe.
We just found out at 11:00am that he is already off the heart and lung machine and they have successfully repaired his heart valuve and in about 2 hours or so we will be able to go into ICU to see him. They are sowing him up now and and he is considered to be in satisfactory condition which is all they were hoping for. I think we are in the clear but let's pray that all the recovery and the little stuff that needs to happen goes well! He has a long raod ahead but they will know soon if the surgery worked...oh I hope it did!
Well there was bad weather in Chicago so I spent the whole day running the airport trying to make another flight to Rochester that wasn't cancelled and finally after missing my 12:10pm flight I made the 8:30pm flight into Rochester....man O'Hara is HUGE!..thank goodness after so long sitting around the airport you make friends so I had company (and help:) finding my way around! anyways I got in pretty late and my dad was already asleep....he had a bad night not able to sleep well and we had to be at the hospital this morning at 5:30 am...he is in pre-opt right now. Be praying for his anxiety, he is very restless and can't seem to relax (who could blame him?) I am unsure of when exactly he goes into surgery at this point but I think it is soon...I will be able to keep everyone posted because there is internet access all over the hospital! Yeah! *also if you could be praying for my mom she is also uneasy and scared for her husband..I can't imagine the worry....
I leave in the morning to go to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to be with my dad for his open heart surgery. I wanted to let all of you know and ask if you all could be praying on Feburary 7th (that is this Wednesday) that the doctor's would be very accurate and wise throughout the whole surgery and that my dad would have a speedy recovery! I plan to bring the laptop with me to blog about it as everything unfolds so please check in from time to time to see how things are going. Thanks so much!
I did it DAD!! Saturday morning the kids and I got up and made monkey bread...my dad made it for us when I was growing up and I love it! It was a hit with the kids and they had so much fun rolling the dough in the butter and then the sugar..who wouldn't huh?...Greg was helping someone move so Abby took the picture here sorry if you can't see very well but she was super proud and couldn't wait for me to blog about this! If anyone reading this has not had monkey bread before you must get the recipe from me...it's wonderful!
you know how sometimes you know that you have stretched yourself a bit too far?..well Friday I think I did just that! I agreed to watch some good friends of ours kids so they could get moved into their house and then Aunt Annie and her kids came over to help too. Well anyways I thought it would fun for the kids to make some homemade chocolate chip cookies so as you can see in the picture it was crazy! They all wanted to do the same things at the same time and I almost tosed the idea out the window! In the end all was well and the kids were happy with their spoon full of cookie dough...yes, yes I give my kids and I guess other peoples kids raw egg....so I guess no one reading this will let me watch their kids huh?....anyways I ate it my whole life and I am alive and kicking so I guess we'll take our chances huh? ...at least if we die we will die having had the sweet goodness of cookie dough:)
These past few days Reeser has had a hard time adjusting to life in Texas so I thought a little mommy time was needed! Reese was a bit confused why I was in his bed but I thought it was really comfortable and what could be better than mommy singing you to sleep?
well we just got home from the Rodeo and you are lucky I am blogging at all:) but I had some great pictures I just had to share...Abby got to ride a horse..we still are not sure how but I am convinced it was because of her hat and boots! Reese had a smile all night so I got some great ones of him too...they loved all the events at the Rodeo but of course the bull riding took the cake or takes the cake whatever it's late!!! I will have some more great pictures tomorrow but I must watch The Office before bed...you know I love my kids when I miss The Office for a night of stinky poo:) HeHe...yes sadly I am a huge fan of that show and I can honestly say I really have never been a fan of any show really but there is a first time for everything huh?...anyone else like that show?..... (come on you can admit it:)
The kids love reading with Greg before bed it's their favorite time of the day and I just love seeing it....there is nothing better than a Daddy loving on his kids and this Daddy is the best at it!
Well it is true I was caught sleeping on the job....I am just plum worn out so Mickey Mouse helped me out today...even this crazy normally energetic mama needs a nap from time to time...although I think my kids think I am forever awake tending to them.....man I would love if someone put me down to nap everyday at 2pm...our kids got it made and to think they fight napping...what in the world???
Today was fan day at the Ballpark in Arlington and the kids were so excited to go....they got to do some really fun stuff but they really loved running the bases and batting practice...I got some great pictures and will probably frame them all:)....this couldn't have been a better way to welcome us back to Texas...I also got myself a Rangers shirt I have never had a shrit and the kids and Greg are always decked out so I gave in and got one....though don't you worry Royals I still believe you will make it back to the World Series...I believe! Enjoy!...it's so fun to see these pictures because you can just see the excitment on their faces....it doesn't get any better than that!
I am thrilled to be in suburbia!...today we were a typical family....the kids rode their bikes on a sidewalk....can you believe it??? I am just loving that the kids can go outside and play in the backyard and that we have grass...not concrete! I will admit though I would never trade our experience in DC for anything and I believe our kids are better for living there BUT I really love that the kids are getting to do the things I got to do growing up...like playing with a hose in backyard....my kids will love that!!..... (on the back porch of our apartment in DC they got to throw cups of water at each other....man they are moving on up aren't they?)
I must say this moving stuff is wearing me out....I have a small disorder that doesn't let me sit down until everything is in place...thanks dad:) Anyways I have had a hard time just relaxing but we are trying tonight.....this is our first night to spend the night in the new house! Today we got our new couches, leather chair and ottoman and washer and dryer....it's weird buying "new stuff" we have always had hand-me-downs but it's nice that we had the opprotunity to save money while in DC and get some new things for the house. I am posting a few pictures of us getting the house ready....the first one is of Abby's room...we were a bit sacred when we first put the paint on the walls but it turned out really cute and Abby's says that it's the color of Little Mermaid's tail so all is well in the world:) The next picture is of Abby and I painting her room...she did great...no disaster's so all is well in Mommy's world! Next is a pic of our bedroom...with nothing on the walls yet:) but we love the color! The first thing Abby wanted to do when she saw her room was a tea party so that's what you see in the next picture...then the last one is of the "Welcome to Texas" party Aunt Annie had when the kids got in town last week....they had cupcake ice cream cones and played lots of games. Well I hope this does the job of catching all of you up....
Oh just a side note....Reese has been climbing out of the pack-in-play while at Maw Maw and Poppa's and we thought their was no way he could climb out of the crib that my dad made because it is so huge but just now I was proven wrong...Reese just walked into the living room as proud as can be....looks like we will be getting him in a big boy bed soon huh?
Ughhhhh...I am just getting a chance to sit down for two seconds and update you guys! We got in Sunday night around 1pm very tired but ready to hit the ground running the next morning....we have been unpacking, painting, shopping for new furniture (which we bought some tonight yeah!) and trying to find time to play with the kids! I think we have gotten the bulk of it unpacked and now we need to just put stuff where it goes. I plan to take pictures of the house and stuff as soon as I can...I have a few painting with the kids but will have to post them later....please bear with me as we get settled...I am a bit busy these days:) Check back soon for some pics of the house!
Well we got to Nashville yesturday around 2pm and went to stay with one of Greg's high school friends Jeff and his wife Jada. As I told you before we got tickets for the Grand Ole Opry for Saturday night...now I must admit I would have been fine just going to a movie or something but I needed to experience Nashville..(as Greg says)...so we went last night and it was good there were a few acts that I could have done without but all and all it was great seeing Greg in his element! I still have no idea how I ended up marrying a cowboy since I am a Yankee and all but hey God has a great sense of humor....and He got it right...I love my cowboy...boots and all:) We had a great visit here with Jeff and Jada...I hadn't met her yet and it was so nice getting to know them better...now we are on a mission getting them back to Texas...we'll see! We are about to get back on the road and stop tonight in Texarkana, AR...so pray that the Lord clears the weather and we don't get too tired...and I don't yack...Just kidding! I posted a picture of the four of us at dinner last night...they have two kids also so it was a treat going out as adults...and I was thrilled I didn't have to share my meal...man what was life like without kids???....not as fulfilling for sure!
This is Poppa doing Blogger duty today. Becky has asked that I post something that is awe-inspiring, full of wisdom, profound and inspirational. Not really - I think she just wants pictures of the kids.
Yesterday, Deb and I took Abigail and Reese with us as we flew back to Texas. We left Virginia at 8:15 am and arrived at our house around 3:00 pm and the kids did great. They are seasoned travelers and know pretty much what to do. At the airport, the security personnel pulled Reese's backpack out for inspection - right behind it was Abigails backpack and they ran it through the x-ray again. Finally, the x-ray operator asked if there was a harmonica in the bag. Sure enough they found one in both backpacks and thought it was cute (normally, I wouldn't say they thought it was "cute" - but since this is Becky's blog, that is what I would expect her to say so I will use it just this once.)
After naps, we picked up Grandma Reese and went to see cousins Charlie and Landry and Uncle Doug and Aunt Annie. They had a Welcome to Texas party for the kids with a "Howdy" poster greeting them in the hallway, special cupcakes that Charlie, Anglea and Landry made and fun games. The cousins were very glad to see each other.
Today, we started off at Abigails favorite breakfast restaurant (at least it was today) - Cracker Barrel. After that we just hung out at our house and played. If all goes well, I am posting a short clip of Reese singing a song to the tune of Take Me Out to The Ballgame - but his version is Take Me Out to Donald Duck, Take me out to Mickey Mouse, Take me out to Pluto, etc, etc, over and over. This particular clip is not his best work but it happens to be the only clip I have. Still pretty cute, oops, I mean humorously enjoyable.
I wanted to get Abby on video singing her made up song that also is to the tune of Take Me Out to The Ballgame. As we were driving to Baltimore yesterday morning, she made up phrases, rhymes, funny sounds non-stop for 10 - 15 minutes. It is really amazing that she can do that and extremely funny. If I can get her on video doing that, we'll try to post it later.
Ok, I just took a quick break from blogging to tuck Abigail into bed. She was being a cut-up and talking a mile a minute. Then, we were going over how many days before her mom and dad got here unless they had some bad weather along the way. Then I told her I was doing the blog and asked her if she wanted to say anything on the blog. She said to write that she "wanted her mom and dad to come here soon because she missed them and to stay warm and not dangerous and don't be sledding in the truck amen. Did you hear that? I said amen."
P.S. Since this last trip to Washington DC could possible be the last one for us for a long time, I spent a day trying to see a few last things. I went to the National Museum of the Marine Corps (south of DC about 35 miles) and it was really worth the trip. I saw the actual flag that flew over Iwo Jima among many very interesting displays . We went to Mt Vernon - where the following photo of Becky was taken. I also took a tour of the Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial and then revisited the Lincoln Memorial and probably one of the most photogenic sites in DC - the Jefferson Memorial. Washington DC has a been a great place to go visit our kids and we have had some really neat experiences there.
Today we had a party for Valentine's Day! Abby planned it all (with a little help from mommy) and I think it was a big hit! We had cake (with candles by Abby's request) played a version of Bingo preschool style, bean bag toss and colored some valentine sheets and of course we had lots of sugar...which was hard to monitor with kids everywhere but I think everyone is on a huge sugar high and all the kids will bottom out around nap time hopefully:) 
