I'm Still Alive!

WOW! No new post from me in 7 weeks???!!! Life is definetly a lot crazier and I rarely have any time to post anything anymore, but I somewhat have Gabriel on a sleeping schedule now, so that helps a little!

What a past few months it has been!

We welcomed our beautiful baby boy into the world on Nov. 30th-2 weeks early! Our crib came that day, so I was very happy it came in time!

Here's our angel baby!

He is such an overwhelming blessing to us and we love him so much!

3 days after he was born, we had a huge loss in our family when my sister lost her precious baby, Brie Hackett. She went in to the hospital b/c she was in labor, and there was no heartbeat. Brie's cord knotted up leaving her slowly loosing oxygen for a few weeks, resulting in her heart suddenly stopping. We of course were devasted!

It has been an extremely hard time for Sarah and her husband, PJ as they mourn the loss of their child so late in pregnancy. Sarah later told me that she felt God told her that Brie and Gabriel were friends in heaven and Brie wanted to make sure he was born and ok, before she died. It killed me when she said that, but I know that Brie will never know any pains of this world and is at total peace in heaven with Jesus.

We all cannot wait to be reunited with her in heaven! Here's Brie resting in her mother's womb. That is how I will always remember her...resting in peace!

B/c of this horrible situation, Christmas was a little bittersweet this year but still a lot of fun. Maddy was so much fun opening her presents. I love that she is older now and gets so excited about everything!!!

She got so much and was definetly spoiled from grandparents!! Christmas definetly becomes about the kids when you get older!

She learned to say "Jesus" this year and "Kissmas" which was so sweet to hear!!!

Our new years was also a blast, except on January 1st, we rushed Gabe to the hospital for a high fever. He was diagnosed with a severe respiratory infection that spread up his spinal cord and into his brain resutling in viral menenjitis. He spent 3 days in the special care unit at Children's hospital. It was a very scary and sad time, and we didn't know if he was going to be ok or not!

God gave us such comfort and healed him and he just improved and improved. We were so thankful his menenjitis was not bacterial which can cause brain damage and even death.

He will be just fine and has no long-term effects at all! He is our little fighter and I know God has huge plans for his life that Satan cannot stand!

We are all finally back to normal around here and have huge anticipations for the new year. We are hoping to get a house this fall, are keeping strong faith that Sarah and PJ will experience the miracle of another pregnancy this year, are adjusting, with joy, to a family of four, are in prayer for healing for Joe's sis, Naomi from Crones Disease.,and are praying for another baby for my dear friend who miscarried her baby over Christmas. We cannot wait to see what is in store for 2011!

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These Are A Few of My Favorite Things!

Christmas time is officially here!!! Yeah!!!

I was watching "Oprah's Favorite Things" show the other day, and it got me so excited about Christmas! Although, my favorite things don't all cost a million dollars like hers! Here are my favorite things about Christmas!

*My mom's homemade apple cider!

*All the beautiful lights and Christmas music

*Seeing Madeline get so excited about everything and say "Oh wow" everytime she sees the tree!

*Drinking egg-nogg latte's from Starbucks!

*The smell of "Mistletoe" candles from Yankee Candles

*Comfy sweaters and coats and cold weather!

*Watching "National Lampoons Christmas Vacataion" at the Alabama theater

*Being with family and close friends!

*The hustle and bustle of everyone shopping

*And meeting my baby boy for the first time this Christmas season(the 15th, Lord willing)

The list could go on and on, but I love basically everything about Chrismas!!

What do you like the most?

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If it Wasn't This, It Would be Something Else!

Ever seen that movie, "Elizabethtown"? It's one of my faves, about a son who comes to grips with his father's death. Although there is a very annoying Kirsten Dunst in it who attempts to have a Louisianian accent, I still love the movie!
One of the dad's favorite sayings while he was alive was,"If it wasn't this, it would be something else."
Sometimes life definetly feels like that!
Maddy burned her hand on my straightener about a week and a half ago! A HUGE blister formed, which of course popped before it's time, with a toddler who couldn't stop messing with it. I didn't really realize how bad it was until the blister popped. I took her to her pediatrician last Wed, to check it out b/c it wasn't getting better. He said she needed to go to the burn unit at Children's Hospital b/c it looked really bad to him.
So, we went, come to find out it was a second degree burn which caused some inmobility (sp?) with her thumb caused by scar tissue. The Dr. said with some massage exercises, complete mobility should return! Yeah..she was going to be ok!
We have to change her bandages once a day, which she does not like!!!
Thurs, she started getting sick and I noticed a lot of mucus in her eyes. Come to find out she somehow picked up pink-eye at the hospital, along with a bad cold! Aren't hospitals supposed to be where you go to get better??
So, now we are on eye-drops three times a day( which she also hates), plus she can't really go anywhere or be around people for 3-5 days. I am starting to get a little cabin fever..big time!! She's also on cold and fever meds, so hopefully that will clear up soon as well! I really feel so bad for her...she really is so pathetic when she is sick!
I have to admit, I am loving the cuddler she becomes when she's sick, but of course I HATE to see her like this!
So, between prescriptions, hospital visits and Dr's visits this week, I am super bummed that there is no extra money to finish up Gabriel's room! That was the goal this week! Oh well...I just have to be patient until next pay period I guess!!! It will probably be finished the week he is due, which I am fine with...as long as it's ready before he comes!!!
It is NOT easy to take care of such a sick little girl at 8 and a half months pregnant!! Thankfully, I have been doing well...just tired and continued back pain! So, it definelty feels like, "If it wasn't this, it would be something else" around here for sure!!!

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Trunk or Treat

Last night we took part in our second year of "Trunk or Treat" with our church!

It was a lot of fun and Maddy was so cute going to each car and collecting her candy! She LOVED the jungle gymn and kept running to go play in it! I think she went in and out about 4 times.

We really had so much fun! There was a chili cook-off and free hot dogs and drinks and a hilarious "Kid's Clubhouse" after all the trunking and treating was over!

Here's our FSU girl checking out her candy!!

And here's Maddy our first year going-she was a puppy-all 6 months of her!

In baby news..I am 34 weeks now! Flying! Although, at this point it's starting to drag on a little bit! My back is shot at this point...I think b/c he is so low, but hopefully that will make for a quick delivery!!

Nothing really new to report..just really getting ready for this little man to be here!

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Baby Stress

Finally, I am blogging again!
It seems I really run out of time lately with all we are doing to prepare for little Gabe in almost 7 weeks!! Eeek!!
So, it's 7:30, and everyone's asleep and I thought I should update a little bit!
I am almost 33 weeks now! Well, technically 32 and a half, but I like to round up if it's only a day or two! I have to confess, I am getting a little stressed out! We are still lacking on a lot to get ready for him! And he will be enjoying Maddy's pink pack-n-play his first few weeks of nighttime sleeps with Mommy and Daddy, but we will keep that a secret from him when he grows up!!
I am really hoping everything comes together in the next month or so here. I know it will...it's just trusting in God to take care of ALL our needs that I constantly struggle with!!
Plus, I am stressing about the delivery! I have nightmares about having to have another C-section! I know, a little dramatic...but I can't help what I dream!
My friend told me, "As long as your healthy and the baby is healthy, that is all that matters." That is all that matters...honestly! I just keep praying that God will give me peace over whatever happens!
Also, I am majorly bumming b/c I really don't know how long my parents will be able to come for the big arrival! My sister is due the same day, so that does cause some complications! My mom assured me that they would be here some time during the birth and the days after he is born, so that gave me a little peace about that too!!
So, theres my baby drama! I know, it could be way worse! I think I am just stressing b/c the time is quickly approaching and I like to have everything planned and everything prepared yesterday!! That's another thing God is working on me with!!

In unstressfull, good news, Gabriel is doing great! Our Dr's appointment went great and he looks perfect! I am going every 2 weeks now for the next 2 weeks, and then I go every week for 4 weeks, and then he is HERE!!
What a perfect little Christmas present he will be for us! I really can't wait to hold him, cuddle with him, nurse him and just stare at this precious miracle!! I just hope I have a car-seat to put him in is all!! Hahah!

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Two Little Pumpkins

Last weekend finished out our month of traveling! Thank goodness! We are now officially home for a weekend! We traveled to South Carolina last weekend for my sister,Sarah's,baby shower! Remember...we are due the exact same day!
My younger sister, Aly, and I hosted it! Let me just say, hosting a baby shower almost 8 months pregnant is not as easy as I thought! Thankfully, we helped eachother out and pulled off a great shower, if I do say so myself!

We had so much fun and Sarah got so much great stuff including diapers galore, which I have to confess, I'm a little jealous of!

Here's a picture of us girls feeling baby "Brie" moving!
It's really hitting me that we are about to have two little pumpkins in the family soon! 9 months of pregnancy feels like the baby is never going to come sometimes! This pregnancy is flying for me, but at times it does seem a little sereal!

I am now 31 weeks pregnant. The joke in the family is who is going to deliver first-Sarah or me! For Gabriel's sake, I hope Sarah, since she is way ahead of the game than I am. Her nursery is completly done and looks adorable!!! Ours is getting there, but with one income, it seems like things are slow coming! We have used a TON of stuff from Maddy, but a lot of it was jut a little too girly to make work for a boy. Plus the fact that she's still in a crib made buying another crib a must!

We are really hoping to go back to SC for Thanksgiving...the final trip before Gabriel is born, but we will see! I will be almost 38 weeks and that might be a little risky! I go to the Dr next week, and we'll get a final answer from him then on whether or not he thinks it's a good idea!

Really hope we can though! It's hard not having your family around especially when your expecting another little one! We somehow make it work though!!

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Our Nieces are Growing Up!

Last weekend we celebrated Joe's brother's daughter's 3rd birthday! Briana Davis is getting all grown up! I can't believe it! We had a blast in Mobile celebrating. but came home exhausted!! She is such a cute little girl who is so funny to watch play with Maddy! I hope they grow up to be good friends even though they are a year and a half apart!

Here's the Birthday girl last weekend!!

She got this elephant for her birthday, and I don't think I saw her without it for the rest of the day!!!

Yesterday, we celebrated my brother's daughter's birthday! Abigail Dickinson is 2 years old!! Wow! I so remember when she was this little! I think this is the one picture where she remotly resembles my brother!

We had so much fun with the girls and got some great shots! I guess if Briana and Abigail are growing up, that means our baby girl is too! Here she is looking way too old eating her lunch!

Here's a rare family picture of us! Maddy does not look happy! I think she was a little nervous on the swing!!

Here's the newest 2 year old in town....looking exactly like her mommy!!!

It's so neat to spend time with your siblings and siblings in-law, changing roles from just family to parents! I love spending time with them and seeing our children grow up together! I remember such fond memories of playing with my cousins growing up and I hope these girls will too! 2 more are coming soon, so that will be even more fun!

In other news, I am quickly approaching 30 weeks of pregnancy! Wed, I will be officially 30 weeks! To me, 30 weeks is like, "ok, this baby is really coming...and soon!" We are about to order our crib soon, and I can't wait!!
Gabriel is still really active but has a lot of "down time" lately! My Dr sais it's no big deal and that babies will go through active and non-active periods! Other than that, everything is great!!! Next weekend we go to SC for my sister's baby shower! Yeah! Things are really starting to get more real around here for sure!!

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