Aunt Uni

Yesterday my great aunt Eunice passed away. She was 83 years old. Eunice was a very interesting person who loved to travel. She was a nurse in the military which made it kind of special that she passed away on Memorial Day. She loved Hawaii and no doubt is wearing a moo moo at her welcome luau in heaven! I am so thankful that I was able visit with her a couple weeks ago. I had planned to go today and tomorrow to sit with her and never dreamed that she would already be gone.

My mom and dad moved Eunice to Searcy from Huntsville, AL just a short while ago. She is a widow and never had children. I think my fondest memory from this time will be the memory of my parents, without hesitation, offering to take care of aunt Eunice as long as she remained on this earth. They've spent many hours preparing for her arrival to Arkansas, doing paperwork, sitting at her bedside, feeding her, painting her nails, lotioning her hands, applying chapstick to her lips and praying with her. They are an amazing example of love and compassion.

Although saddened that we didn't have more time with her, we are all thankful that aunt Eunice went quickly and without pain. I know that she is celebrating in a healthy body (she had an interest in belly dancing!) and is enjoying a reunion with her siblings, parents and even little Olivia, her great, great niece!

Call an older relative sometime soon. You never know if it's the only call they will get that day!

Diagnosis Day

May 21, 2007. Greg and I were sitting in the ultrasound room. We were talking to one another about our guesses on the gender of our baby. We were giddy. Impatient. Excited.

As the ultrasound began, we instantly saw beautiful long legs kicking.

"Soccer legs" we told each other and laughed.

We saw the beating heart. All the chambers looked great. We saw arms moving. We saw a baby sucking on it's thumb. Greg and I continued to talk excitedly and were in awe at the glimpse of 'baby #3'. After a little while she told us that we were having a girl!

"Bailey will be so excited!" we said.

As the ultrasound continued, I noticed that the lady kept going over the area of my tummy where the head was. To the point where it was almost getting uncomfortable because she needed more gel. I started feeling like something was wrong although she kept a pleasant face and friendly tone.

I could see the sweet profile. The lips, nose, mouth , eyes...what was she looking for? She kept doing the thing where they get the round measurement of the head. Over and over and over.

"Are you trying to see something on her head?" I asked her finally.

"Yes" she replied.

I'm not sure what all happened next because my heart started to panic. I think she continued to look and then told us that she was going to let Dr. Garner look at the ultrasound and then he would talk to us. We were then put back into an exam room.

When we were alone I told Greg "Somethings not right. Why didn't they print off pictures and give them to us? Something is wrong with her head." We just sat there. Waiting.

My mind was racing. Only a week before I had read a blog of someone (who is now a friend) who had just been given terrible news that their baby had a fatal birth defect called anencephaly. I remembered thinking that there was no way that this was also happening to me. Anencephaly was too rare. It's basically unheard of. I'm only thinking that because I had just read that blog. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO US!

Dr. Garner knocked on the door and then came in. He told us that they saw something on the ultrasound that might change the way we proceeded with the pregnancy.

I blurted out, "Is it anencephaly?"

He looked at me like I was crazy for knowing that term.

"Yes. That's what we think it is."

I was instantly devastated. Greg had no idea what this was, but I knew that this was a death sentence for our baby girl. I told him that there is no way our baby would live if this is what they thought she had.

Again, everything became a blur. We were in shock. We were set up for a level 2 ultrasound with a specialist and we left the office. I remember falling apart in the hallway outside the office. I had tried so hard to not cry as we walked through the waiting room holding all the expectant moms.

When we got to the parking lot I realized that we were just walking like zombies. I had no idea where I had parked. I couldn't even think of where to look. Greg helped me get to his car and he drove us home. I don't remember where Beckham was. Bailey was at school.

I knew that my parents and my friends were waiting to hear from us. Eager to find out the gender of our baby. How do you make the call to tell people that you were carrying a baby who would die? The only call I could make was to my parents. Through my tears I was able to tell them of the diagnosis. All I know after that is that I stayed on the couch the rest of the day crying in a way that makes your stomach hurt, your head pound and your eyes sting.

May 21, 2007 was the day that our lives changed forever.

I never dreamed that a year later I would still have only 2 earthly children.
I never dreamed that we would experience such sorrow and heartache.
I most assuredly never dreamed we would be moving to Florida in 2 weeks!

But through it all God was with us. Every second of every excruciating day after we found out we would never bring our baby home.

I never dreamed that a year later I would still be able to have hope.
I never dreamed that my faith in God would have grown like it has.

Our life's plans may change, but our God never does.

My Other Man Turns Three!

Happy Birthday

Beckham Paul Hurst King

(aka Tookie)

On May 17, 2005 the world became a better place!

My Son Grows Up

author: unknown

Life is fleeting, years rush past...

and little boys grow up so fast!

Let me take time out to be thankful mine is still here with me.

And though I'm busy through the day, let me take time out to play...

Let me take time out to smile, to sit with him for just a while...

Let me take time out for walks,

for swings and sports and quiet talks,

for sharing giggles, tickles, and hugs,

for patching knees and catching bugs...

for running races, climbing trees, for helping with his A - B - C's...

For hatching plots and planning schemes,

for listening to his thoughts and dreams.

Let me tuck him in at night,

hear his prayers, turn off the light.

And when my busy day is done, let me thank God I have a son.

Mother's Day Weekend

Friday:

We accepted an offer on our house here in Arkansas. Mixed emotions. I finally arrived at this: if we have to sell our house and move, at least it only took 1 week and 1 day! God is blessing us once again! We close on June 16th. (We close on our Florida house May 30th and YES, I will FINALLY be going to see the great unknown! Mom and Dad are graciously keeping the kids so that I can inspect our new homestead and maybe even get to spend some quality time with Greg!)

Greg came home after being gone for 2 straight weeks. After 3 months of him only being home on weekends, we were so excited to have him home, even if it was only for 48 hours!

Olivia's grave marker was placed at the cemetery. I am glad that Greg was home and we were able to go see it for the first time together. Emotional, but ok.

Bailey is sooo glad to have Daddy home! We all are!

These are her actual hand prints in their actual size. My favorite part. They are raised to I can feel those sweet little hands.

Yes, he's a handfull!

Umm...I think they are taking it ok.

Sunset on our way home. Isn't our God amazing?

Saturday:

Woke up surprised to have someone in my bed! I guess I've gotten too used to sleeping alone! :)

Went to celebrate Greg's mom at his brother's house. Brian (Greg's bro) had to dodge the tornados while out on the deck grilling under an umbrella. The burgers were great and Brian's clothes eventually dried. We had a great time visiting.

The girls had to do their usual performance involving dressing up and spraying on lots and lots of perfume.
Sunday:

Church, met up with my parents there. Beckham had to leave Bible class to go sit in time out for delivering an elbow to his buddy Hannah's face and calling her stupid. Happy Mother's Day to meeeeeeeee...

Spent a wonderful 5 hours having a picnic (complete with a big 'ole bucket of KFC) and hiking at Pinnacle with my parents and my brother and sister-in-law. A lovely, relaxing day!

Before my parents left, we all drove out to see Olivia's marker together. My mom brought flowers. We left a few for Livvy and then took the rest home to enjoy. A very special day.

This is a statue at the cemetery that I just love!

For My Mom

(FYI, I didn't write this...not sure who did)

"When You Thought I Wasn't Looking"

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

Mom,

Thank you for being the mom that many people only dream of having. You are always an amazing example of bravery, gumption, joy, faithfulness, empathy, strength, and loyalty. This past year has not been what we expected in many, many ways but we have SURVIVED and will move forward stronger than ever before. Happy Mother's Day!

With all my love...

Just in case you needed to waste time...

You are a Labrador Retriever!

Your family is what makes you tick, and you never "flea" from an opportunity to hang out with the whole gang. A family picnic complete with hot dogs, deviled eggs and a refreshing swim in the lake is hard for you to stray from. Your sparky temperament and dogged intelligence mean you are not only a blast to hang out with, but great to work with as well. Your close pals appreciate your patience and forgiveness, knowing you'd rather let sleeping dogs lie than dwell on the mishaps of the past. Your dashing good looks may one day lead to a modelling career, if only you can tame the unfortunate clumsiness that sometimes causes you to go flailing from the catwalk.

UMMMMMMM......OKAYYYYYYYYYY!!????!!!!!

Which dog are you? Click on this for a link to the quiz: http://www.dogster.com/quizzes/what_dog_breed_are_you/

(UPDATE: I have to add that Bailey also took this quiz and was a lab as well. She did not like that she was the same as me, so she promptly retook the quiz and "changed" her answers to make sure that she got something different. What a drama queen! Can you see why we aren't even considering homeschooling?)