A Trip Down Memory Lane......

Three years and one day ago began some of the hardest longest days of my life. I was working at an insurance company in Memphis. I was 8 and a half months pregnant with ME. I worked on my feet a lot. I was running mail around the building and I stopped mid step and thought I was going to die. I felt so bad. I never went into to labor with A-man, so I thought I just was having pregnancy pains. I called the dr. He said for me to come in and get checked out because I wasn't full term yet. My regular doctor checked me the week before and I was 2 cm and 50% thinned out. So I called Coach who was working the state basketball tournament and told him what was going on. He left to meet me at the dr. On my way, I got stuck in traffic. There was a terrible accident on the interstate. I sat in traffic for an hour! I was getting a little scared, but remained calm. Coach got stuck in traffic as well. I didn't want to be by myself so I called my dad. He was already in Memphis, so he left work to, you guessed it, get stuck in traffic as well. I got to the dr and he checked me and said I was 3 cm dilated and 70% thinned out. He sent me to the hospital to be observed. The nurse wheeled me over and I thought she was crazy. I remember thinking how much is this costing!!! My dad got there soon after I did. He stayed with for about 2 hours because Coach was still stuck in traffic. The dr came in and told me I was to stay in the bed until my appt the next day. Little did he know my BFF was having her baby. I was determined to go and see her and her precious baby boy. The dr said I could go to work the next day if I didn't have anymore contractions! I had some girls from work call me and ask if I was coming to work the next day. I said yes! They had planned a surprise baby shower! So they had to tell me. I was even more determined to go to work the next day. I totally should have stayed at home. When I finally got home, Coach went back to work and told me not to move. He put my mom in charge. A-man was at a friends house. After he left, I told my mom either she could take me to see my BFF or I was taking myself. I am a little hard headed! She finally gave in. I got to see Erin and Carson. She of course got on to me and told me to go home.

I went to work the next day. I had a great baby shower. I had a wonderful time and got a lot of cute things for ME. I still didn't feel well. I went to my appt at 4 that afternoon to see my regular dr. I was sure she would tell me I was fine and send me home. She checked me and I was 4 cm dilated and 80% thinned out. Her eyes got big and she told her nurse to go and call Coach. She told me she was sending me back to the hospital to be monitored. I freaked out! ME wasn't due for almost 6 weeks. By the time I got to the hospital, I was hurting terribly bad. Coach got there as did my parents. I didn't want Coach to call my parents until we knew what was going on. Of course he didn't listen to me.

By the time the nurse checked me again I was 5 cm dilated and hurting so bad. They called the on call dr so they could decide what to do. The dr tried to tell me I wasn't in labor because my contractions weren't picking up on the monitor. I told her she better do something fast. Then she told me that no one had ever died from being in too much pain! I grabbed Coach by the shirt and told him he better get her out of there before I killed her! She finally asked us if we were ready to have a baby. I told her we didn't have a bag, the car seat was at home, and so on. We called a friend of ours who had A-man and told her we where having ME. I sent my dad to get A-man a present from ME, which I had planned on doing that weekend. He came back with all kinds of presents for A-man. We also called some of our family and friends to tell them ME was on her way. By the time they wheeled my to the surgery room, most everyone had arrived. I got to talk to A-man before I went back to have ME. He was a little scared because he didn't know what was going on.

ME was born that night and weighed a little over 5 pounds. She was beautiful. I didn't get to hold her because they took her to check her out to make sure she was ok. The next morning at 6 am I told the nurse I wanted to get up and go see my baby girl. It was that afternoon when I got to hold her. She was precious. She had trouble eating and breathing so that night they took her to NICU. A-man couldn't understand why he couldn't go see her. She stayed in the hospital for 9 days. She weighed 4 and a half pounds when we brought her home. She grew quickly though.

Today we celebrated her 3rd birthday. She was a mess tonight. It was all about her. Her and A-man and Coach are my world. I know this was a long post, but I remember every detail so perfectly. She was my miracle baby. But that is a story for another day.

Craziness!!!!!!

OK! So it has been a while since I updated my blog..... A lot of things have gone on since my last update like Football, kids, Football, kids, did I mention Football and kids! A-man has completed 2 months of kindergarten and his first season of flag football. School has been a big adjustment for him. Surely we will get figured out before May! He really enjoyed flag football. He caught three forward passes from a great q-back. Catching a pass in flag football apparently doesn't happen often. We are so proud of him and his team.

ME is a wild child! Two nights ago, A-man and I were laying on my bed and ME was performing for us. She was singing her rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, ABCs, and The Wheels on the Bus. It was hilarious! She was singing at the top of her lungs. She has grown up so much it seems like. We are still potty training. I am not pushing her, but I will be glad when she can go on her own. Nanny took her to the movies last night and they went to see Footloose. Nanny said she danced the whole time. I think she loves to dance and sing. Sounds like dance lessons are in the near future.

Coach is still coaching football! Go Devils! The team has done well this season and clinched an 8th straight conference title. Playoffs start next week. I feel like a football widow, but I am so glad he is doing what he loves. Next I will be a baseball widow! Oh well.

I am constantly reminded of all of the wonderful people in my life. We have definitely had a lot put on our plates here lately. I am so thankful for those who have sent up prayers for my family. I am thankful for all of the people I am surrounded by! They make my life much brighter on my dark minutes.

I will be sure to update more often!

A-man's First Football Practice

So we began a new chapter in our lives today! A-Man started flag football today. He was so excited he actually woke up at 640 this morning on his own. He was an eager little man. We went to practice this afternoon. He started out on the o-line. He was doing ok, but I quickly realized we may need a little extra help. Low and behold who walks up? Coach and 7 Blue Devil football players. A-Man did a double take when he saw all of the boys standing there watching him. A couple of linemen demonstrated some technique and I think the little ones loved it. The next play A-Man blocked a little better. After practice A-Man's flag football coach said A-Man asked if he could tackle. I said oh lord! He has been hanging with the big boys too long. I just hope he remembers he can't tackle quite yet. I think A-man is going to do well. We shall see...... BTW our first game is Sept 17, so I will definitely have an update then about flag football!

Another First.....

Well this week A-Man started kindergarten! My baby boy has started big school as he calls it. He has been wonderful about going to school and wanting to learn. Coach and I dropped him off the first day and he sat at his table and played play-doh. He was the class helper on Tuesday, so he was on cloud nine! Tuesday night he also went to bed 6:45! A-Man was one tired puppy. He has not gotten his color changed this week so that is great! He told me he was going to be a good boy and not get his color changed at all this whole year. I am going to hold him to it. Wednesday he got dropped off curb side and walked to the crosswalk and went to the cafeteria all by himself! He is getting so big and becoming more and more independent.

ME has been a wild woman this week. Coach said she has been upset when he has dropped her off. She is getting used to him dropping her at school rather than me. Coach was told by a fellow coach that ME has been smooching on his son in the afternoons. Oh lord I am not ready for this by any means. Before I know it, she will be grown and getting married and having babies of her own.

Coach has the Blue/White game on Friday. It is the last scrimmage before our preseason benefit game against North Little Rock. Hopefully our field will be ready by next week. The Blue Devils got a new turf field. This school year is starting off great!

If you can't tell I love my family so much. They all have there own special place in my heart.

My Husband

My very first chemo treatment Coach wrote me a note and I found as I was waiting to begin my treatments. It told me all of the ways he loved me. I have kept in the place where he put it so I wouldn't lose it. It has been in the computer case he bought me the day before. It is kinda weird because I had forgotten it was in there. Well guess when I found it? The first day of my second round of chemo! I was in the same waiting room waiting for treatment to start. I of course started bawling, but Coach was parking the car or getting dinner. I was by myself and cried my eyes out. So I am getting to the point! I wanted to share some of the reasons why I love Coach!

To Coach:

I love the way you are so passionate about your career.

I love the way you take care of me when I don't feel good.

I love the way you can't ever find anything.

I love the way you say you have looked everywhere for something when it is right where I told you it was.

I love the way you take time to play with the kids even when I know you are tired.

I love the way you have taught our son to be a kind person and our daughter to be a sweet girl.

I love the way spray too much body spray on you and I have to hide the bottle!

I love the way you listen to the tv so loud, it hurts my head!!! Had to throw that in!

I love the way you stay calm in tense situations and calm me down.

I love the way you use your words to get your point across.

I love getting to watch you at your job. Not many spouses get to see their husbands hard work pay off.

I love the way you remind me to do things because you know I forget!

I love the way you never leave anything half done Mr. Perfectionist!

I love your enthusiasm when I am venting to you about what is going on in my life! LOL!

I love the way you care for me and others around you.

I love the way you put your family first and football/baseball a close second!!!!!!

I love your attempts to pick out clothes for M.E. You at least try!

I love the way you love me!

Love you always and forever!

I could ramble on with all of the reasons why I love Coach, but the number one reason why I love him is he is himself! I sometimes get irritated with him, but who doesn't get irritated with their spouse. But I quickly get over it! Our life isn't perfect by any means, but it is our life and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Family

Family is an important part of my life! I am an only child so of course I am spoiled and I am not afraid to admit it! Coach sure didn't know what he was getting himself into when we started dating. Of course he spoils me, although he won't admit it. For instance, my laptop broke and he asked what I wanted for Mother's day. I told him nothing. I was at the dr office waiting on my test results to come back and for the dr to see me. Coach went out to get us lunch from my favorite P.F. Changs. He was gone forever. Not only did he come back with my favorite lunch, he bought me a new laptop. He said he remembered me saying earlier in the morning mine crashed the night before. I was shocked and so excited. Usually when I get chemo, I get some sort of present. It is not a lot but it means so much to me. Everytime I see those presents, I remember how much he loves me and to keep fighting hard to battle the nasty C word.

My parents are the reason for the spoiling! Nanny and Poppa are great. Growing up I never went without, but I knew the difference from being spoiled and a spoiled brat. My parents taught me to behave, use manners, listen to my elders even if I didn't agree, etc. They were very strict on me and I lived a sheltered life. My college girlfriends (AR Gal, Tx Gal, and LA Gal) agree! They broke me in during college.


My college girlfriends are my family as well. We are sisters (soroity). I love them dearly and I know without a doubt I can always count on them and they can definitely count on me. I may be a day or two off on birthdays. AR Gal and I have children that are less then 24 hours apart! I was visiting her in the hospital meeting her precious baby boy while I was in labor. I didn't know I was in labor though! Weird I know. I thought I was just tired from work. Nope ME had a different plan for us. She wanted to hurry and meet us all!



Gaga and Pappy are Coach's parents. They are a big part of our life as well. A-Man named them Gaga and Pappy! It took him a while to come up something, but that is eventually what came out of his first. They raised two wonderful men! They are both gentlemen and very polite. I think that is one of the things that drew me to Coach. He was always so polite and well-mannered. I love that quality for sure. We are working on raising out own kids to be polite and well-mannered and boy is it tough.



My BIL (brother in law) is in the army. He recently got married to my SIL. They live in NC. My son adores his uncle. My BIL has been in A-Man's life since day one. He and Coach taught A-man to throw a baseball up and hit it with a bat before he could walk. I think he was about 11 months old. I went to Wal-Mart and when I came back they were so excited to show my A-Man's new trick. When BIL is around, nothing else exists with A-Man. ME is starting to follow suit. She is always wanting to know where BIL and SIL are. Both of the kids are on countdown until BIL and SIL come home, but we aren't exactly sure when that will be! Hopefully we will get to see them Thanksgiving or Christmas. I love them both dearly and wish them the best in their new life together.


I could go on and on about my family. I just mentioned my immediate family, but I have so many more family members to talk about. But I will get to those folks later. I do want to say I love you: Leroy, Basketball Chick, Musical Cousin, World Traveler, and Leroy's Mom! I know Leroy loves her blog name! Don't kill me!

Shopping?!

First of all who goes shopping during tax-free weekend and when there is construction on the interstate? Well you guessed it, I did and Coach (my hubby), A-man, and M.E.! It was C-R-A-Z-Y!!! M.E. wanted a rolling-packback, as she called it, for school. Last time I checked she was only 2 and not in school. LOL! A-man wanted to ride rides at the mall. It was a 45 minute wait and I said NO! I wasn't waiting 45-mins for him to jump on the trampoline for 4 mins. So needless to say we had two upset children. They calmed down after a few minutes thank the lord.

So getting back to my shopping: I did get A-man a new pair of tennis shoes for school and ME got two pairs of shoes. I wasn't excited about A-man's shoes because they weren't on sale, but he sure needed them. I was however excited about ME's shoes. I got her 2 $80 pair of shoes for $20 a pair. I saved $120! Of course, I never would have paid full price for them.

We took Coach's truck to Memphis! Remind me never to do that again. The passenger side window "falls" down when you hit a bump. It was so hot and it made me cranky! All of the cool air went right out the window.

So after my shopping experience today, I think I will stick to ordering things online!!!!