Merry Christmas

Cib's First Christmas was everything I hoped it would be and more! He is at a magical age where he is very aware of his surroundings and just lights up at the sight of me, which selfishly melts my heart. He was of course showered with gifts and love. I personally had a wonderful Christmas, but can honestly say that my best gift comes every day when I dress, bath and coo at my precious little miracle. A year ago I had just lost the twins and spent my days praying for the Lord to watch over a little baby I loved so much and yet had never met. Today I count him as on one of my richest and most undeserved blessings. He is a miracle and I am SO thankful for him.

7th Annual Christmas Date

Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail

We had a small Christmas gathering in our home last week. It brought us such joy to have our home filled with joy and laughter.

December Update

I wanted to give everyone some updates. My mom is back in rehab at East Texas Medical Tyler and is doing well. My dad is resting and getting better every day. Please continue prayers for my families health and that my mom will have unearthly strength, joy and understanding during this time.

Here is my mom's new address at rehab. I know she would appreciate words of encouragement.

Renee Templeton Room 305
c/o ETMC Rehabilitation Center
701 Olympic Plaza Circle
Tyler, Texas 75701

SO many of you have been angels to me during this time. Heather, Natasha, Nancy and my sweet husband - Thank you! Your investment of time and prayer for me is felt and is truly getting me through each day.

The Lord has blessed us with some sweet moments of friends and laughter despite the whirlwind of recent activity. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Cib has a new big boy toy! Did I mention it constantly plays music?!?!

Look mom! My feet!

Finally cold enough for baby uggs!!

Happy 5 month birthday Cibbers!

Cib tried yogurt this morning for the first time. You can guess how he
felt about it.

Small joys

Well my dad has just been discharged and is headed home to rest.
Please continue prayers for my family and my dads recovery.

It's snowing!!

Thank you lord for this small joy!

Another room change

We have finally settled in room 546 and daddy is resting peacefully.
Thank u for all ur prayers. Hopefully with radical food and diet
change this will our last heart scare.

In other family news my mom has been approved to move forward with her
return to inpatient therapy asap. Please begin to pray for her
transition back into rehab. This will most likely mean she will b in
over Christmas. She would be allowed a day pass home that day. Please
pray for all logistics and strength for my mom. And that dad will use
this time for rest and healing.

Sorry room 526

We are headed to room 545 building e

Stints in

They found a third blockage and placed three stints.

Update

Just talked to doctor. My dad has had two blockages. Two stints will
be placed in the left ventricles of his heart. This will hapen here in
a few minutes. He will stay here tonight. More later.

He went back at noon

Update

My daddy got a bed around midnight last night. I went home to grab a
few hours sleep and get a much needed hug from my sweet baby.

The procedure is scheduled for 1130 today. Please pray that this is
just stress related chest pain, the doc says that is best case
scenario. They will enter through his leg and run a catheder up to his
heart and flush it with dye. This will allow them to check for new
blockage and status on previous stint flow.

My grandparents are on their way with mom in tow. Today begins my
brothers finals at SFA. Please pray for him. He has had a rough set of
odds for his first semester. It began with my moms accident and is
ending with this. I am proud of him either way for his diligence to c
it through and not give up when so many would.

Update

We finally talked to the doctor. My dad is scheduled for a cath
tomorrow at 1130 am. All beds are full here so we will be sleeping in
the er.

Update

We are waiting to talk to cardiologist. Because of my dads heart
history they are taking him to the cath lab as soon as there is
availability. This will b tonight or tomorrow.

This will mean bed rest for at least 7 days. With my mom this will
make things complicated. Please pray for logistics. More updates
later. Btw- we r at medical city Dallas

He needs a new heart cath

EKG normal

They have drawn blood to check enzymes. My dad is very stressed and
scared. Will keep updating.

EKG in progress

Urgent Prayer Request

I cant even believe this is happening...My dad who has had two previous heart attacks is currently on his way to Dallas with what could be a possible third. PLEASE pray for my sweet daddy. He is so exhausted and scared. My mom is at home with my grandmother and thankfully Nancy, my mother in law, was already coming for a visit to spend time with Cib. I will update the blog as I find out more info.

A good day

Well the last few days have been SO much better! The Lord has really been blessing me with the 'small things'. Little moments with Cib that are forever etched in my mind, time with a good girlfriend, a few good work outs, and today so far...I have worked out, folded three loads of laundry, finally unpacked our suitcases from Thanksgiving (Yes, I know), Made Organic Baby Food for Bits, showered, done the dishes and all before 9 a.m.! Thank you Jesus for multipling my time!! And you thank you guys for saying a few extra prayers for me!

Cib rolled over for the first time today!! Twice!! YEA!

Count your blessings instead of sheep.

After months of hard work...ta-da!

I know most of u moms out there can appreciate how much some babies
hate tummy time and how it breaks your heart to watch them struggle at
such an early hour. However, once u see them push all the way up and
smile-- it's all worth it. This is the first of what I am sure will be
many lessons- that some times being a mom means encouraging your
children to do the uncomfortable to achieve a great accomplishment.

Story time with daddy & harry

Blah Blah Blah

I have been sitting here staring at this blank screen thinking, no body wants to hear what is going on because I don't have anything positive to report. But...ugh....it is more for me than you that I write today. I need some outlet to say WHAT THE HECK!!! Things seem so unfair right now! My mom's legs were taken from her and it is unfair! There - I have said it! This sucks! It breaks my heart to watch/listen to her daily in more constant pain then I can humanly imagine enduring. She is depressed and rightfully so. I think she, like me, in some dark corner of her mind thought this will pass. She has been SO strong and diligent. Now, she is tired, she feels broken, betrayed by her own body, and all together empty. I want so badly to rewind time. Please Lord, let me rewind to that day. Let me help her be some where else, doing something else. But I can't. (And yes I know that the Lord does have a plan and that this will be better) I also know I am human and I grieve like a human.

Thanksgiving was supposed to be a hallmark day of family, smiles, rejoicing...blah blah blah. It turned out to be nothing like that. My mom was in so much pain and so sad that she couldn't be doing all things we has traditionally done for years. I was stretched thin from preparing most of the Thanksgiving meal, watching a sick baby, trying to stay up-beat, and ended up with food poisoning and throwing up from about 24 hours. My dad's back is killing him. He is sleeping (or trying to) in a recliner chair in the living room. He looks tired and spent. My brother seems to think that right now is a good time to plan a wedding for himself and his bride to be of 19! And my sweet husband couldn't hardly be pried from an all day college football-athon. Whew!

I recount all of this to you for my own therapy and to beg of you for more prayers. My family feels broken. I pray pray pray that the Lord will take my mother's pain and restore her joy. I pray that my daddy will find relief and rest. I pray that my brother will be wise in major decisions. I pray that my sweet baby's ear infection and cold will go away soon. I pray that my husband can read my mind and know exactly when I need to hear that this too will pass. I see this list of wants and think, what more can I ask for? The Lord has given me a beautiful baby and a best friend I am lucky to call my husband. He has spared my parent's lives on multiple occasions. We have a home, friends who love us and for now Austin has a job. Do you see my dilemma? I want to cry out WHY?! but followed by a hardy THANK YOU!

Soooo I guess my real prayer is that the Lord will blind me and my family to a current list of Oh Crap's and magnify my list of Praise God's.