Family Album

We got some family pictures done today...I love the one of the three boys. Won't be long before there's another Walker in the picture.

Eli on Easter

If It's Not One Thing...

Well, you'll be glad to know that my pregnancy-induced nausea is gone - YEA!!! Isn't that wonderful? It did, however, give way to a nasty cold which had me down for the past week. So, yesterday as I was finally coming out of the fog I was carrying Eli through the den and by some freak accident that I couldn't recreate if I tried, I got my pinky toe caught on our stone fireplace and snapped it sideways. Yes, now I've broken my toe. Crazy. I knew instantly it was bad. Something about the snap, crackle, and pop I heard clued me in that this pain wasn't going to go away any time soon. I went into the next room and put Eli down and tried to hope the accident away to no avail. I think it is always a bad sign when you can bend your toe out sideways. The doctor confirmed the break today with some xrays. Since it's just my littlest piggy, there's not really anything you can do for it. So, it's taped to it's little piggy neighbor and I'm supposed to stay off of it and keep it elevated for a few days. Hmmmm, wonder how Eli is going to do while I'm staying off my foot! And, like with the cold, since I'm preggo I cannot take any medications other than Tylenol for what ails me. Where's the hard stuff when you need it?
Now, as for that pesky mass the doctor has been tracking. I had my UAB appointment today (yes, it was a medical marathon day for me). The UAB doc agrees with my doc -- I have a benign tumor on my right ovary. Neither doctor feels it necessitates any procedures to biopsy it or remove it at this time. However, it must be removed -- but that can be done in September when I have new baby Walker. Apparently this is not that uncommon and absolutely nothing to be concerned about. All good.
Although I am just 14 weeks along, the doctor today told me she could find out the gender of new baby for me since she had such high tech equipment. I asked her not to peek and tell since Jason wasn't with me. So, it shall remain a mystery for a few more weeks. She did say the baby looked great - thick neck and bone in the nose which apparently are good signs of a healthy baby. Who knew.
That is it for now. As soon as I can find the charger for my camera battery, I'll start sending out some pictures for your viewing enjoyment. Hope you are all well and loving life!

Is Anybody Out There?

Yes, I am still alive (barely) and am so sorry I haven't been blogging lately. It's hard for me to blog from my horizontal position on the couch, barf bag close at hand! Last week I was sure I had reached the end of the sick and miserable 1st trimester of pregnancy road. But, alas, better days elude me.
I am 12 weeks now. Had a sonogram today and Jason and I got to see new baby Walker jumping around like crazy. We could see the hands and feet so clearly, even the lips! No news on gender yet...that won't happen for a few more weeks. I would attach a picture from the sonogram...but I'm sure you've all seen one at some point in your life and I assure you that my little blurry black and white baby doesn't look any different than all the others you've seen.
One hitch in our otherwise wonderful pregnancy is that the doctor found a solid, golf ball sized mass in my right ovary. He is not sure what it is (it is not a cyst). We've been watching it for a few weeks and fortunately it has not gotten any bigger. My doctor feels that we do not need to do any testing on it since it hasn't changed, but just to have someone back up his decision he is sending me to UAB for a second opinion. If they feel a biopsy is in order then we'll do that asap as the window of safely doing such a procedure closes in a few weeks. Otherwise, we'll wait and take a look at it in September.
As for the rest of my wonderful family, all is well. Jason is in the process of re-doing our back porch. I'll send out pictures of that project soon, you will be impressed. It is going to be so wonderful to have a nice place to enjoy the great outdoors this spring!
That's it for now. Don't give up on my blog just yet! I'll be back in the swing of things very soon, ranting and raving about all the things people say to pregnant women that DRIVE ME CRAZY...stay tuned.

My Valentine

I cannot say enough good things about my wonderful husband, especially this Valentine's Day! Jason does not seek the praises of man, but he's going to get them from me today. He has been such an amazing helper and support to me the past several weeks. I've been so sick with this pregnancy, I think I've spent the majority of every day on the couch in my Auburn sleep shirt that I got in college and Jason's house slippers. One night as I was going to bed I even realized that I had baby food matted into my dirty hair. The house stays messy and not many meals have been cooked. But Jason has been my constant source of encouragement. Plus, he's washed a lot of dishes, vacuumed, bought groceries, and changed many dirty diapers amongst many other helpful things. He has definitely lived up to his promise to love me in sickness and health! And, even more, he's done it all without murmuring or complaining. In fact, he does it all with his usual sweet, positive attitude and in spite of my misery he can still make me laugh.
So, to all of my single friends out there...hold out for God's best. So many people settle for good, but I implore you to wait for great. God promises that He will do "exceedingly abundantly more than we could ask or think", but we must be patient and trust Him to work in our lives. I had to wait 32 years for it, but my relationship with Jason definitely exceeds anything I ever imagined marriage could be.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Eli's Big News!

No, this is not a used shirt from a yard sale...Eli really is going to be a Big Brother! I am almost two months pregnant and will have a new baby in early September. Jason and I are just thrilled and feel so blessed. Well, right now I feel more sick and tired than blessed, but you know what I mean. We told the boys Thursday night and they were just thrilled. Hugh immediately wanted to know if we know if it's a boy or girl...I'm afraid he's going to get his hopes up again for a girl! Statistically speaking, it will be a boy, but who knows what God has in store for us. We will be thrilled with either.
To save you from counting it up on your fingers, Eli and the new baby will be 15 months apart, practically twins:) Eli turns 1 on May 30, then 3 months later new baby arrives. With this baby we will max out our car and bedrooms (6 ppl in a 3 bedroom house) so this one will be the last baby for us. But, four children is quite a wonderful blessing and we plan to enjoy every day we have of raising them and learning from them!
God is Good!

Paradise Found

Jason commented the other day that I have not posted much information about our Hawaii trip. True. I guess I just got caught up in life as soon as we got home I haven't made the time to do it. On last Wednesday night, the day after we got home, I fixed a big dinner for all of us in honor of Jason's birthday. That night, as Jason and I were lying in bed with Josey snuggled in between us with her head on my pillow and our three boys all sleeping soundly in their rooms I was overwhelmed with the sense of where paradise truly is. As wonderful as our trip was (and it WAS wonderful), nothing compares to the joy I receive from being with my family.
When I was about to graduate from UH and planned to move back to Montgomery, people would ask me, how can you leave Hawaii? But, God was leading me back home and of course now I know why. He had something far greater than the paradise of Hawaii awaiting me in Alabama!
So, sorry if I'm being corny, but my heart has been really full lately with the deep love and respect I have for my amazing husband as well as my gratitude to God for our three beautiful boys. God is good.