Off to the library

Cib says, " nana, I love to love you!"

I'm on TV

Cib's 6 month stats

Today was Cib's 6 month check up and shots. He was such the ham - smiling and giggling a the doctor and nurses and then poor Bits - Four shots! Boo! He only cried for a second and then just wanted mommy. Sweet boy.

He weighs 23.8 pounds (95%) and is 31 inches long (95%) He is a growing boy! The doctor said he looks great and really healthy! He said he wouldnt be surprised to see him far surpass his daddy's height....yikes! I have to feed and cloth this boy at 18 years old?! Better start saving for groceries now. - wink.

As most of you know Cib's favorite things to do right now are eat (duh) - he is eating three meals a day and loving every bite, sitting up and playing with EVERYTHING and chewing on his arm. This last one is something we are working on...come one - he is just a baby! :)

All in all Cib is great!

My family is doing well too. My mom is home from rehab now and getting re-adjusted to life there. My dad is continuing to get stronger everyday. They are both looking forward to seeing what the 'new normal' of their life will look like.

My mom came to our home for the first yesterday, time since her accident. It meant the world to me to have her in our home. It was a very sweet time for all of us. I continue to ask for your prayers as we press on to health and happiness.

In other news - Due to upcoming insurance changes at Austin's job for 2010, we have decided to begin another round of IVF. This will be a shorter version (and hopefully less painful physically for me) than the last one. I will be undergoing a few short months of hormone therapy followed by placing a frozen embryo sometime in Mid May of this year. I have struggled with rather to once again share this journey, but again I hope this helps someone going through IVF no matter the outcome. We are looking forward to seeing what the Lord has for us and our future children. I would ask for your prayers for Austin, Cib and I as we begin this new journey in parenthood. We are excited and cautiously optimistic.

Keep you posted!

Old Smiles bring New Joy

Wow! My aunt sent these great pics from New Year's with my family. It absolutely warms my heart to see my parents both smiling and acting silly.

Happy New Years!

r
We had a great New Year's and an AMAZING dinner by Chef Dale. Dale, when you are rich and famous and the next top chef -- please remember us and save us a seat at your restaurant.

Cib is doing well although really irritable lately. I am fairly sure he is teething. Bless his heart he is waking up crying in the middle of night and just wanting to be held during the day.....not acting like him self at all. I hope this doesnt last too long?

Austin has been off of work (partly working remotely) for two weeks now. It has been great to have him here.

We saw my mom and family on New Year's day. My mom is making leaps and bounds progress at rehab. She can get herself from a complete lying down position in bed to setting up and then into her chair all by herself! This is huge! Mom, I am SO proud of you! You never seem to give up!

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support, as always. Keep those cards coming to mom - they REALLY brighten her spirits and reminds her she is not alone in this fight.

We have enjoyed the holidays but are now looking forward to returning to 'life' and hopefully losing our holiday and remaining baby weight.

Cib is sitting up on his own!!

Although still a little shaky at times, he has been sitting up for 15
min unassisted for two days now- go Cibbers go!!

Napping with nana

Happy new year nana and aunt cindy

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.

Party Canceled

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I would ask that you continue to pray for healing for my mom and family. My mom has been at Baylor Dallas with a bladder infection and is home today for Thanksgiving. Due to these complications we have decided to postpone her coming home party. My mom is so sad and came to this decision with much angst but I have assured her we would all want to wait until she is feeling better and can enjoy herself. Thank you all again for your support and understanding.

I hope each of you are truly blessed today with much to be thankful for. I know I personally am very thankful for a loving husband, our gorgeous angel boy - Cib, a host of incredible friends and family -specifically my mom and her miraculous presence here today, and Austin's job - when so many are without. Thank you Lord for so much that I am so undeserving of.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Mom Update

Sorry I have fallen down on the job of posting mom updates. I arrived out in Eustace yesterday in time for the funeral of my great uncle. (Not an ideal start to holiday fun, but great to see relatives I havent seen in 10 years)

Mom has been approved for a 90 day in patient rehab stint starting in Jan/Feb of next year. She doesnt reallly want to talk about it because it is so hard for her to imagine leaving her home again but knows it is what is necessary and good to get as strong as possible asap. Please pray for strength and bravery for my sweet mom.

Today was a bit of a exhausting one. We set out for a day of cooking with three generations (My grandmother, my mom, me, and Cib -- wait that is four generations!) It is my turn to learn the family recipe for making Thanksgiving Dressing. (aka Stuffing for you Northerners) We were also preparing dressing to donate to meals on wheels for 100 people...all in all a day of bonding and cooking.....Oh but it didnt quite turn out that way. My mom had a 'quick' doctors appt this morning that turned into a little adventure. She ended up having a very severe bladder infection and being dehydrated. So we set out for the ER in Athens TX for IV fluids and antibiotics. Once I got my mom's chair put together and got her into the ER we were shown to a space no larger than a closet...literally. My mom couldn't get into the 'room' into her chair. To boot, the person in the 'curtain area' next to ours was throwing her guts up and the one next to her was a woman screaming, "I don't want any f****** shots!"....oh my! I then had it out with the meanest nurse ever and took my mom back to the car and we headed for Baylor Dallas. On top of all of that Cib has his first cold :( All sniffles and coughs.

All in all everything worked out. My mom got the antibiotics and fluids she needed and is home feeling much better, my grandmother taught me to make dressing and Cib is asleep.

Wheww......HAPPY THANKSGIVING! :) I pray that my family can have a truly joyful Thanksgiving of celebration and memories. We are very blessed!

She has done it again!!

Merry Christmas Ya'll
www.meenajeanesphotography.com/cibs1stchristmas

Cutey-pa-toots

Finally a captured smile!

Playtime!

Cib at 4 months

Yesterday was the dreaded 4 month check up with Dr. Fernandez that includes shots :( My sweet boy had his little heart broken when he got all five of his shots! And Austin didnt seem thrilled to be getting a flu shot either.

Cib is actually a little lighter than I thought. He weighs 19 pounds and 3 ounces in the 98% for his age and measures 27 inches long also in the 98%. When we asked the doctor about Cib's weight he said, "well, I like to see my patients weigh 20 pounds.....at their 1 year check up!" I guess Cib is doing fine. :)

We are having to once again up his food intake, including starting solids. Rice cereal, apple sauce and some light veggies will be introduced to Cib's diet over the next couple weeks - fun!

Here are some of the fun moments we have captured over the last week or so: Austin's birthday, good times with Granny Nanny, putting up the Christmas tree (yes I know, it is early, but I can't help myself) and keeping warm on cold Dallas mornings.

Mommy & Cabral

Mommy out and about

Mommy & Cib go to nutcracker market in Houston

Back to normal?

Well I think we can all say we are ready for a little normalcy in our lives. However the last few days with my family have shown us that we will all need to find a new normal. I look forward, anxiously, to that.

My parents are almost finished installing hardwood floors in their home so mom can get around the house with more ease. Thank you Faith Construction for your generous gift of time! My mom and I had a fun day Friday. We went to Wal-Mart in Gun Barrel City-- Major Outing! Then to a local tea room for lunch. I managed to get both Cib and my mom in their respective chairs and into the restaurant, just in time for Cib to poop all in his seat, clothes...even his shoes. We all had a good laugh. Even my mom was a good sport...I put her wheel chair together wrong (first time) and the wheels wobbled every where we went. I am just thankful they didnt fall off!

I am so thankful my mom is home. But honestly my heart is incredibly heavy. There are many big challenges ahead of our family. A great sense personally of being torn. I want to be the best I can as a mother, wife and daughter...not to mention all the other roles I play. I dont want to let anyone down or miss one precious moment. Please pray for strength and clarity for me. I feel so selfish even asking, but some days the tasks are so enumerable that I can not even start. I just want to be a new mother. I want to soak up the son I have waited so long to meet. Thank you for your prayers for myself and my family.

I hope that very soon I can go back to the fun posts of a new mother.

Mom's home coming

Whew!! What an exhausting day. My mom has made it home. Today wasvery
emotional and exhausting for all. Please pray we all rest well tonight
(especially that my mom and cib will rest without interuption) because
tomorrow will be a long day with work men here early to install hard
wood floors at my parents house. More later- drained and exhausted.

Mom's Trip Home

My mom's trip home was good medicine for her soul! Here are some photos. She is looking very forward to Thursday when she will go home for good. My dad has poured a special side walk leading to my grandparents house next door. Welcome Home Mom!