Summer Lovin

Summer lovin' had me a blast...

Summer lovin' happened so fast...

I met a girl crazy for me...

Met a boy cute as can be...

Summer days driftin' away, to uh-oh those summer nights.

Uh-well-uh-well-uh-well-uh...Tell me more...Did you get very far?

Tell me more, tell me more...Like does he have a car?

She swam by me she got a cramp...

He ran by me got my suit damp...

I saved her life she nearly drowned...

He showed off splashin' around...

Summer sun, somethin's begun...

But uh-oh those summer nights!!!

Since the day Luke came home Addy has been wanting "Brother" to swing with her...she finally got the chance with the long summer days bringing fun in the HOT, HOT sun. Luke has recently outgrown the doll stroller and we're running out of room in our cozy, little cottage for pushing him around in his wide-based walker so we've discovered that a laundry basket full of clean clothes and a willing little brother are loads of fun! The 4th of July was spent at Cane River with lots of family, friends, food & fun on the water topped off by Pop-Pop's famous fireworks display, a bonfire & smores. The camp just wouldn't be the camp without a calamity of some sort so the ATV made its way into the river and Jeff took an unexpected swim. A good time was had by all!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:29

Special Day

We baptized Luke with happy, happy hearts on Sunday!!! I cried tears of joy as Father Jose’ blessed his little ears, eyes and lips.

I remember the very day that we received news that Luke had meningitis. We went to 4:30 Mass at Cabrini…I remember exactly where we sat…I remember kneeling after communion and crying…I cried so hard and tried to hide the tears from Addy. I remember looking on the internet that night…looking for information on meningitis…neonatal meningitis…effects of meningitis…meningitis & hearing loss… cerebral palsy & meningitis. I wanted answers…I needed answers. I tapped into every search engine and link that was there but was not satisfied…finally I went to bed. As I lay in bed…I remember the comfort of Jeff’s strength beside me…I remember closing my eyes, feeling exhausted and defeated. I prayed so hard that God would help us. When I woke up the next morning I remember an incredible sense of peace…I had no more answers than when my head hit the pillow but I knew that my prayer was heard.

Father Jose’ our beloved priest has a tradition of holding babies up high over his head when he baptizes them. I have always loved the symbolism that it represents...Here is Your child, Lord ~ we offer this baby’s life to You. As I reflected on this before Luke’s Baptism I was conflicted because I know in my heart of hearts that God saw Luke long before this past Sunday. God knew Luke the day he was conceived…the Glorious Physician breathed life into him just as the ventilator pushed tiny, little puffs of air into his lungs that first night. Our merciful God guided Dr. Nijar and Dr. Castor and Dr. Watkins and all the staff of the NICU during Luke’s hospital stay. God gave our family and friends the right words to say to encourage us. Our faithful Lord placed his gentle and peaceful hands on us every single day of that difficult journey. I cannot lose sight of how much strength I felt during that struggle…in my helplessness I was carried.

Our ever present God was there celebrating with us Sunday morning as we presented Luke to our church family…but that was not the first time He saw him.

Spring 2009

March of Dimes March for Babies 2009

Our Family Stones

Jeff's size 12 foot is solidly planted on the next stepping stone of his insurance career. He was accepted into the State Farm Agency pool! Updates are given on-line once a week on agency openings throughout the nation. He has 2 years to decide on a location & interview for that specific agency. We pray, pray, pray something will become available in Louisiana in the next 2 years.

Our little gem stone Addy is full of surprises. Sometimes she says the most hilarious things! I should really keep a journal of all the wisdom she shares. She had her 1st dance recital a few weeks ago. We took a Mommy & Me class & it was great fun for both of us. She loves the movie Annie & knows all the songs on the soundtrack. While driving Luke all over the house in his walker she got him to giggle for the first time. I am hoping we can get her signed up for swimming lessons this summer.

In 10 days Luke will be 7 months old. He is over 12 pounds. People say he looks like my brother. Luke is off of all the prescription medication he left the hospital on and we consider this a huge milestone. He started taking rice cereal last weekend & is quickly learning that the spoon is his friend. He will sometimes sleep through the night...we're trying to figure out what the secret formula is. The temperature of the house? The way he is swaddled? The consistency of his cereal? The phase of the moon? Whatever it is I just know the morning after 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep feels like a 2 week vacation.

This new home health job has me feeling like a rolling stone traveling around 100 miles a day...I never dreamed driving could be so exhausting. I have a whole new appreciation for truckers. I was thrilled about my Garmin GPS for Mother's Day!

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortresss and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

confessions of a former daily-blogger turned working mommy

“look how lovely he is,”addy said as she kissed the top of Luke’s head & climbed out of the chair…the filling for chicken soft tacos sits on top of the stove. ..forgot to get the shredded lettuce at mac’s…mary poppins sings in the background in her lovely voice…”just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down!”… can’t see the top of the bar right now…traveling down a winding, country road between alexandria & avoyelles parish I passed a herd of buffalo…the chocolate bunny that parrain lovingly gave addy for easter is taller than luke… cannot for the life of me figure out why my camera will not take a focused picture…addy presses the "high" button on luke's swing when i'm not looking so he can "swing high to the sky!"...rented marley & me for date night last Thursday…luke sang to me on the swing while we waited outside this lovely afternoon for da-da to get home from work… sunni chewed up addy’s baseball bat and this caused only a slight tantrum in the background while luke serenaded me…jeff has an interview in baton rouge tomorrow…dinner friday night at tsunami to celebrate the end of tax season with my future sister-in-law will be wonderful…looking down to see if luke is finished eating & his sweet, baby grin literally stretches ear to ear

…luke IS lovely & we are to!

Weekend with Tauntie

We spent this past weekend in Jackson, MS helping Jeff's sister (Tauntie) with her landscape project. Addy absolutely adores Tauntie AND Tauntie's new baby, Boudreaux!

I love this picture because not only does it show the beautiful work that was done in the yard but it highlights Addy's project she had working inside the house. Notice the large window to the left...we were outside in the yard & she & Luke were inside napping...well Luke was napping while Addy was busy ripping the corners of the curtain off the rings and shoving pillows in the window.

BFF

Luke & Addy were laying on the floor together this morning as I was getting ready for work. I had my back to them getting something out of the drawer when I heard Addy say, "You like me? Let's be best friends." She had no idea I heard her & she went on carrying on the sweetest, little conversation with him.

Double Digits

10 10 10 TEN POUNDS 10 10 10

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

Luke's developmental follow-up visit at the NICU went well today & he has reached a milestone.....DOUBLE DIGITS in the weight category!!! We are beginning to wean him from the caffeine and his vitamin D is discontinued. He sometimes sleeps 5 straight hours at night. We still do kangaroo care and there is no sweeter smell than the top of his head. He will be 5 months old tomorrow...hard to believe! Those 2 months in the NICU were grueling and the days seemed to crawl along...the 3 months since he's been home have flown by.

Jeff has been very busy working on his business plan for the State Farm Agent application process. He'll go before a panel of interviewers at the end of April to present his business plan and hopefully enter the pool to qualify for an agency of his very own.

Addy-cakes is a growing girl and very busy...she is still very fond of her baby brother and loves covering him with kisses. We were headed out to my grandmother's house for lunch last Sunday and would you believe we passed a turtle crossing the road? Da-Da decided to turn around and go see if it was our friend Egg. When Da-Da picked him up a strange yellow substance dripped from the underside of his shell...we let him ride in the back of the truck the rest of the trip. Addy was convinced it was Egg but Da-Da said we would have to inspect him a little closer to be sure it wasn't Egg's mean brother who has claws and bites. Cousins Gabe and Rachel were at Grandma's and they were an excellent distraction for Addy so that yellow-substance-drippy-turtle could do what turtles do best and that's bury themselves in the grass and get lost.

Monday I started back to work at a brand new job. I am doing home health now with Synergy Home Care. I look forward to holidays and weekends off as well as day to day flexibility for whatever mommyhood throws my way. Boy oh boy do I miss staying in my jammies all day rocking Luke & watching Ellen...HELLO real world! I managed to throw away our tax refund check this week. In the 8 years we have been married we have never received a refund. This year we literally felt like we hit the jackpot...we were GETTING MONEY BACK!!!! Yep...and I accidentally threw the check in the trash can. Threw it away Monday...City trash pick-up was Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Pop-Pop

Luke Patrick with his namesake...his loving Pop-Pop!

We pray baby Luke grows up to be big & strong like you.

We love you.

"Fully Vascularized"

These words were music to my ears this morning during Luke's follow-up eye exam. His little eye development is right where it needs to be. God is sooo good!!

This is my last week home with Luke before I return to work. Yet another one of the countless blessings that we have received...I have been home with Luke for 12 weeks! This time with him was only possible through the very, very generous love offerings of our amazing family...and the Family Medical Leave Act. Thank you, thank you so much...I will forever be grateful for and cherish this special time we spent together...Just me and my boy !

And my God will meet all your needs

according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Baby Luke

You see life is tough…

Luke’s 4 month/well-baby check-up with the pediatrician went well. He is still just over 9 lbs which puts him at the 10th percentile for weight. He is at the 50th percentile for length/height and 25th percentile for head circumference. We are scheduled for a developmental follow-up visit with the NICU in 2 weeks and we are looking forward to seeing everyone and checking up on Luke's developmental milestones. He is smiling and cooing more everyday and sometimes I think he is really trying to tell me something...like here

"Baseball stinks! I would rather sing in a rock band."

Not So Girly-Girl

I’ve about decided to trade in Addy’s cutesy bows & dresses for rubber boots & overalls.
Nothing is sweeter than hearing my baby girl giggle. And no one brings out her giggle better than her Da-Da.







Handy Manny (AKA Addy) & Pop-Pop trying to salvage my bike cart that I managed to squish by accidentally running it over in my 2-ton SUV.


Meet “Egg” the turtle.

My brother found this darling, little turtle on the golf course Saturday afternoon & decided he would make a nice surprise for Addy. It was love at first sight!
Addy & Egg spent a lot of quality time together Sunday . They bonded in her clubhouse, slid down the slide, had lunch together and Addy even introduced him to Baby Luke…please don’t let there be a foreign and contagious turtle disease? Anyway as we sat in the driveway waiting for Da-Da to return from washing his truck we thought it would be a good idea to let Egg out of his Tupperware home so he could stretch his legs and explore a bit. Well, Egg’s turtle brain must have been saying…"FREEEEDOM…I’m outta here!!!” And free he was. Egg wasn’t your average turtle. He was of the speedy line of turtles and in 4 seconds flat he made his way clear across the yard and skillfully buried himself in the grass. Needless to say Addy was heartbroken. “MY TURTLE!” she sobbed “He’s gone!” We immediately got on our hands & knees and began digging around in the grass where we last saw him…no luck. About that time we saw Da-Da’s truck rounding the corner. My thoughts were…thank goodness Da-Da the hunter to the rescue. Addy ran over to his truck in tears to explain what had happened. Da-Da joined the missing turtle search as we all 3 returned to our hands and knees in full-dig-mode but even the keen hunter came up empty handed. The best explanation we could come up with was that Egg missed his family and was off trying to find them. We passed the canal behind our house on our walk this afternoon and Addy peered through the fence to see if she could see Egg. Hopefully at some point this summer we’ll cross paths and reunite with a turtle named “Egg”.