Daisypath Anniversary Years Ticker

Sunday, April 18, 2010

9 Months & So Much More!

I am WAY behind in my posts, and it hasn't even been a week since my last one. We just have been so busy lately so I have so much to talk about. Haha. Seriously though, we really have been busy so blogging has gotten pushed to the back burner. First thanks so much for the prayers. My papaw is doing much better. He is still having some pain, but he is HOME! Yay! Also, Adrienne and Ainsley are doing well... yes, Ainsley is here. I'll tell you more about that later in the post. So without further ado... ladies and gentlemen, take your seats because you will be reading for a while with this one! =)

Well, if you remember, Cole was 9 months old on April 10th. He is getting to be such a big boy. He changes more and more everyday. He is crawling and pulling up everywhere. There is no stopping him. We have even seen him let go a couple times so I feel like he will be attempting to walk soon. He loves to walk around if we hold his hands. Here are a couple of videos of him figuring out the stairs at the cabin.
He loves being outside and has even learned to tolerate the grass. He is so curious about everything. The other day he found a miniature pinecone and played with it for the longest time. We had to take it to show Daddy and then to show Duke. He loves riding in his wagon... especially if he has a little stick or a dandelion to play with. He also loves to watch the airplanes flying over our neighborhood all the time. He will just look up to the sky and point every time he hears one.
Here is he playing ball with Daddy in the backyard.

He is trying more and more table food now. So far he has eaten rice, lasagna noodles, green beans, potatoes, bread, crackers, popcorn, spam, and licks of an orange cream bar. I know the last few aren't the best, but hey... he ate them. Haha. It actually was so cute watching Murray and Cole share a bag of popcorn. Here is the video of him eating green beans and potatoes.
The orange cream bar was a little cold, but he would touch it to his lips and then lick them. You can see for yourself... =)

He still loves to look at books and to have us sing to him. He really just loves music of all kinds. He can't help but sway back and forth whenever he hears it. It's so funny. Here he is making some music of his own with Uncle Logan's guitar. He plays it a little unorthodox, but I figured Logan would be proud of the creative technique he went with. Special song for you Uncle LoLo... we miss you!!!

He has learned to clap his hands now and gets SO excited when we cheer for him. This was the first time he really did it. It was when Daddy caught a fish!

He also has figured out how to pat the bible. He does it better than he does in this video, but you get the point. Please ignore my early morning singing voice!

He has a tooth!!! It's one of his front bottom teeth, and the second tooth is about to pop through. So far he has been pretty good about not biting, but he did get me pretty good in church this morning. Ouch!

Even though he is seeming bigger all the time, there are some things he does that make him still my little baby. One of those is best captured in this picture... he loves sucking on those two fingers and using my hair as his blankey. He is so sweet!
I posted earlier about how Murray, Cole, and I were able to get away for a few days to my parents' lakehouse. We had the best time just relaxing, fishing, laying out, playing, and eating! My parents and Neesha were there with us one day so of course Cole got a little spoiling... like napping in the hammock with Nonny!
Murray and I worked so hard to catch this tiny turtle. We were so proud! Haha.
Cole is going to be a great musician. Here he is with Poppy playing a great tune. Haha.
Gotta love the stillness of the lake.

Of course, big fish are pretty awesome too!
We forgot Cole's hat so we rigged this hat out of a t-shirt sleeve and fishing line. Haha. Just proof that he can look cute in anything.
Murray was slaying them that weekend!
So happy to be at the lake!
So is Daddy! Haha.
Look at those cute little feet. I just love it when he crosses his legs like this. So sweet!
Our only downfall of the weekend... the wood was too wet to keep the fire going. It's ok though.
He loved exploring all the new spots at the cabin.
Even Neesh caught a fish... can't you tell how glad she was to hold it. ;)
My mom, the book worm, studying away.
Learning to fish with Poppy.
Neesh takes after her momma reading away down on the dock.
So fun to "get" Nonny!
Feeding the duck!
The power of the camera angle...
That's the same fish. Haha!
Murray had to go on a rescue mission for a pole that started to swim off in the lake. I accidentally laid the pole on the dock with the baited hook still in the water, and a fish swam off with it. He was able to get the pole AND the fish! Success!
Trying out that orange cream bar... I know, I know... he's not a year old, but hey... it was vacation!
Even Mommy caught one! What a fun family vacation!

So I mentioned earlier that Adrienne had her sweet little girl. She made it to 33 week and 4 days, and then her body said no more. She was preeclamptic for my nursing followers out there, and, for my non-nursing followers, basically she started retaining too much fluid, her blood pressure was getting too high, and she was having trouble breathing. So they did an emergency c-section and out came Ainsley Sue. Mom and baby all both doing great. Adrienne is supposed to go home today actually, and Ainsley is a little rockstar in the NICU. She has already gotten off her IV fluids and oxygen and moved into a crib. Hopefully she will be joining her mommy and daddy at home really soon! Mom, Kels, Cole, and I made the trip to Nashville to see Brantley, Adrienne, and Ainsley. *Let me just say here that my first road trip by myself with Cole was a success. He is such a good boy, and I am so glad he's mine!* Anyway, here are a few pictures from our visit.
Cole napping on Kelsey in Adrienne's room. We couldn't get a picture of him with Ainsley, but he was definitely there to meet her!
Sweet baby girl! I have seen a lot of little ones in my few years of being a NICU nurse, and I must say that she is the cutest ever!
Mommy talking to her little girl. =)

So this Sunday Murray helped serve at the Senior Ladies' Luncheon at church. He did such a great job! As always, I was so proud of him. Here he is singing to "I'm Singing in the Rain." He was a little embarrassed to say the least so he brought Cole along to divert the attention away from him. From all the comments I heard about what a cute, sweet baby, I'd say he accomplished his goal! Haha.
Also this weekend was Thunder over Louisville. For those of you who don't know what that means, it is one of the many events leading up to the Derby. They always have a big airshow down by the river and then the largest fireworks show in North America (seriously) that night. We made it to the airshow this year with Cole but opted out of staying late for the fireworks. Judging by the traffic afterwards they showed on the news, it was a VERY good decision! Haha. We had a really good time, and the weather couldn't have been better for the day.
Just a pic of all the people down there, and this doesn't even give you an idea of how many people were actually there. It was crazy!
One of the big army planes that flew over. Cole loved watching them!
Pointing out the plane.
Cole & Mommy... and a fingerprint on the camera lens right in the middle of our faces. Boo!
Cole LOVES his daddy! He has always been so excited to see him, but he is seriously attached now that Murray kept him so much the last couple weeks while I had orientation. Daddy is just so much fun!
My handsome boys!
Checking out the helicopter.
Told you Cole liked looking at the planes and pointing!
Love my Hubby!!!
This one was for Logan and my dad... one of the many bikes we passed walking back to our car, but the coolest one for sure!



Tuesday, April 13, 2010

update...

So good news... my grandpa was able to come off the ventilator today! He seems to be doing much better and may even be able to move to a stepdown unit by tomorrow night if things continue to improve. I can't thank you enough for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers! God is amazing and turned a really scary situation into a much better one in 24 hours.

Adrienne is still hanging in there. To say her situation is overwhelming would be an understatement. She is trying to stay positive, but she has been really uncomfortable and has had some difficulty breathing (they think because of Ainsley's position). Please say a special prayer for her comfort and peace of mind today.

Promise I'm gonna do some Cole posts soon... if only blogger would let me load pictures and videos faster!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Praises & Petitions

This week has already been a week of ups and downs... do you want the good news or the bad news first? Haha. I'll start with the good.

Cole turned 9 months old on Saturday. I will post a longer post about all he is doing now soon, but we did go to the doctor today for his check-up. He is 16lbs 13oz and 27.25in. For all those who tell me, he just looks so little... well, he is. Haha. He is in the 25th percentile for height and the 5 percentile for weight. BUT... what he lacks in size, he makes up for in brains- he is so smart that his head is in the 95th percentile to hold all those brains! =) Anyway, the doctor felt like he is doing great, and probably just not gaining weight as quickly because he is so busy and active. Let me just say as one tired momma at the end of each day that the doctor is definitely right!

Also for good news, Murray took a vacation day last Friday, and we got to go for a long weekend at the cabin at Pickwick Lake. We had Thursday night and Friday for just our family and then my parents and Neesha joined us on Saturday. We couldn't have asked for better weather or a more relaxing weekend. Even Cole knew we were supposed to relax... Friday he took a 2 1/2 hr nap! All-time record for him I think. Anyway, definitely have some pictures to post from our weekend, but that will be in another post as well.

So, for the bad news. First, my papaw had surgery this morning on his neck. He has been having pain for years, and this surgery was supposed to help relieve some of that pain. Unfortunately there were some complications (not quite sure what all happened because by the time the news got to me it had been passed through several people). I do know that he lost a lot of blood, his neck was too swollen to close the incision, he was unable to come off the ventilator and breathe on his own, and is (last I heard) still too unstable to even move him to an ICU room. Obviously I am asking for some major prayers on this one!

Also, while you're praying... some of you know my friend Adrienne. For those of you who don't know her, she is basically like my 3rd sister, and we just threw her a baby shower a couple weekends ago. She called me Saturday and had been admitted to the hospital. The doctors have told her that her water had broken and that she had been slowly leaking amniotic fluid. She is 33wks and 2days pregnant so obviously she wasn't planning on this quite yet. She is on bedrest in the hospital and hoping to keep her little girl in for a while longer. Also, Ainsley is breech right now so she will be having a c-section most likely. The main things right now are that she doesn't develop an infection, that Ainsley's lungs can mature, and that she can make it at least till Saturday (34 weeks). I know that Adrienne and Brantley would really appreciate your prayers that everything goes as well as possible.

So... that's my news. Like I said, ups and downs. Thanks for praying and check back for updates and Cole's 9 month post.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Easter!

We had a great time Easter weekend! We couldn't have asked for better weather for Cole's first Easter. We ate Easter lunch with our friends (KY family) Liz, Walker, & Davis on Sunday and then came home for our "egg hunt!"

Here he is Easter morning excited about the day!
Our family photo... Cole was more into eating the egg than smiling.
Our sweet little bunny!
Look at that tail!
The boys peeling the tree... who knows? =)
My boys! Love them!
Yay for Mommy & Cole pictures!
Our egg hunt was pretty tough...
I found one mom, I found one!
And another...
The bunny found his Easter basket and ice cream truck... the Easter Bunny got a little carried away. Haha.
Not digging wearing the ears.
He liked them on Daddy though!
He LOVES this truck! He wants to be pushed around the house on it all the time.
Mom... you're crazy!
Checking out his Robinhood movie. Pretty sure Daddy is more excited about this movie than Cole, but that's ok. =)

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post these pictures... I have started orientation for my new PRN NICU job! Orientation is pretty boring, but I am excited about the job. I have some new videos to add too, but the blog is being annoying and not letting me load them so they will have to wait till later. Have a great rest of the week!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Pictures!

We have had a busy week! Tuesday was spent mostly trying to regroup from our weekend home. Wednesday we went to Cole's best buddy's 1st birthday party. Today we finally got to go to the zoo with DADDY! Here are some pictures and videos for you to enjoy.

We had a great time at Davis' birthday! He was so cute and loved being center of attention! He only pretended to be somewhat shy when we all sang Happy Birthday to him. What a cutie!

Cole was excited about being invited to the party!
And he really liked Davis' new singing, rocking horse.

We have been waiting and waiting for a pretty day when Murray got off early enough, and today was the day! I don't know what was more fun... watching Cole enjoy the animals or watching his daddy enjoy him! They have such a sweet and funny friendship already.
Got on my new animal outfit and matching UT hat, & I'm ready to roll!
Checking out the baby giraffe.
He was so serious about these eagles. I think he knew they were eyeing him for a quick snack. =)
He really liked the elephants.
Here we are this summer...
And here we are last summer... quite a difference- huh?

Cool shades boys!
Kicking Daddy in the swing!
And it couldn't be more funny!
He loves to walk everywhere and thinks he is so big!
So happy to have Daddy to play with him!
Wheeeeee!
Mommy played some too... she wasn't completely just a photographer. =)
Hungry???
3 monkeys!
"Look what I've got Momma!"

Here is a video of Cole with his favorite toy of the week. He crawled up to grab it off his rocking horse a few days ago, and he gives it a hug and kiss every time I give it to him now. In case you were wondering, he is quite amazing and can even speak "sheep."


Also here are a few funny pictures of Cole trying to figure out the baby gate I put up. He kept getting into Duke's food and water bowls so I had to block Cole off without keeping Duke from them.
If you can't go over it...
If you can't slide under it...
Find your momma to help!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and a very Happy Easter!