The Duncan's

April 29, 2011

2011-06-13T11:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!

Addison Grace & Elle McKinley

Getting ready to meet our girls!

Heading to the NICU

The girls made their arrival at 11:02 & 11:03 pm on April 29, 2011. That morning at 4 a.m. while watching the Royal Wedding on tv, I had absolutely no idea that it would be the day we've been waiting so long for. Apparently neither did my doctor! More on that later. The day before, Miss Elle decided to turn breach (after 3 months head down!) & I had been having moderte tail bone pain ever since. Later that evening right before shift change, I asked my nurse to put me on the monitor because the tail bone pain was a little different than it had been throughout the day. When she did, we quickly saw that I was contracting very frequently. I had dilated to 6 cm & didn't feel a single contraction, just slight tail bone pain! My night shift nurse continued to monitor me & about 8 pm she told me to go ahead & tell Cody to come, that this was true labor. The Lord had this planned out perfectly, as it was a Friday night & he was home with Luke. No worries about him making it in time or being on the job when the girls made their arrival as I had worried so much about! He brought Luke to Fort Worth where his parents were playing tennis & could meet him. He was able to make it in plenty of time before they brought me into surgery. Yes, after three months planning & hoping for a vaginal birth of the twins, with Elle flipped breach now, it was too risky. I was prepped for a C-section.

The nurse taking care of me in Antipartum seemed more excited & nervous than I was. She was one of my very favorites & I was so at ease knowing she was there making decisions. Sadly, my doctor was not on-call that night & the on-call doctor was called in. They all knew how much I wanted my doctor there, so they went ahead & paged her. She called in & reported that she was at a social function & was unable to get there in time (she later told me that she cried at her table that she wasn't able to be there & the other doctors there with her gave her a hard time!) I'll say it again, she is fabulous! I loved the on-call doctor & was completely at peace with her delivering the girls. The surgery was very quick & the girls both arrived pink & screaming, calming our nerves. Their Apgar scores were 9/9, perfect! The nurses & doctors (2 teams, total of about 12 people) cheered as they swaddled the girls & put them in my face to kiss & snuggle before sending them to the NICU. Since they were still considerably premature, we knew they would spend some time in the NICU before coming home.

After recoving a bit, they wheeled my entire bed up the NICU for me to see & hold the girls. It was about 2 a.m. at this point so my memories of those moments are a blur. Addison was laying on her tummy to help with her breathing (she was "squeaking" a little & breathing fast) and Elle was doing just fine. I was allowed to hold her that night. The following four days I spent every waking moment with the girls in the NICU. I was forced to stay an extra day because I hadn't controlled my pain well enough to go home since I was in the NICU so often & forgetting to take my meds on time. I hated the thought of leaving without them so that was fine with me. I had one day at home just Luke & I before we were able to bring Elle home. It all worked out just perfectly.

Thank you again to everyone for the prayers throughout this journey. I can't imagine going through it without the support of loved ones & the guidance of our Savior. We are truly blessed & will never forget it or take it for granted. What a story these precious girls have to tell.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 9:9-11

Easter Sunday makes 34 Weeks!

2011-04-24T09:32:00.000-05:00

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

What a huge milestone on one of the most special days of the year. I'm so thankful to have made it this far. Not much longer! (let's hope!)

Here are a few photos from this Friday when Luke came to visit. I'm so sad to be missing an Easter with my baby, but trying to stay positive & not dwell on it too much. Hopefully this will be the only one I ever miss with him.

33 Weeks!

2011-04-17T19:30:00.000-05:00

After 10 long weeks of being here & meeting short term goals one by one, we've finally made it to my long term goal of 33 weeks! I'm a little unsure why I chose 33 weeks as the goal initially, but after reading over my journal entries the first week here, I realized it yesterday. What a blessing!

I read that it was going to get harder & harder to gain weight toward the end of a multiple pregnancy, however I guess this rule doesn't apply when you get absolutely no exercise & live for the next meal. I've gained 5 lbs a week for the past 3 weeks in a row! I'm happy about it though, because I know this means the girls are growing as well. I'm sure I'll have no trouble losing the weight after chasing 3 kiddos around very soon! I'll have another sonogram Tuesday to assess growth/weights! Everything has been good the past week, so as of now it's a waiting game. Dr Bradford will take me off Procardia next week & we will see if I start contracting. She won't induce unless the sonogram shows too little amniotic fluid, which would mean that the placenta can't provide enough blood/nutrients for the babies. This sometimes happens toward the end of a multiple pregnancy with one placenta. We shall see!

We are officially moved back into our old house as of this afternoon! Our precious friends gathered their life group to clean our house, paint the nursery & move us in this week. It was such a huge blessing to us during this difficult time, especially now that Cody can't lift anything! We will soon be home with our babies though & I'm so ready!

Here are some pictures of Luke's first Easter egg hunt here at the hospital this weekend. Gigi had the great idea & it was a great memory, even if Luke was a little confused in the process. He was too funny, walking right over the eggs paying more attention to the cars driving past & waving to the people passing by! He knows how to make us smile.

Harris Hospital Beauty Shop

2011-04-15T20:11:00.000-05:00

My wonderful friends April, Lindsi & baby Jack Chandler came to spend the day with me here in the hospital. Not only did they come to have girl talk & lots of laughs, but they happily agreed to highlight my desperate hair! It has been over 4 months since I've had my hair done, plus taking prenatal vitamins had increased the speed of the growth. Boy did it need some attention!

We somehow lost the needle that pulls the hair through the cap halfway through the process, so they both finished the job with earring backs & bobby pins! Whey were troupers, very determined to get it done, trading off holding & rocking Jack Chandler throughout the afternoon. Here is April pulling hair through the cap. Notice the GIGANTIC belly (like you can miss it!)

Then, Lindsi blow dried my hair while laying in bed. Didn't know this was a possible feat, but she got it done!

Here is an "after" picture. Too bad I didn't get a "before" picture, although it was not necessarily something I would be proud to post! After worrying my hair was going to turn out pink, yellow & green, it surprised us when it came out looking quite good! My nurse came in tonight & said I looked like a "California blond" now, but I'll take that as a compliment over the 4 inches of dark brown roots I had hours before! Thanks sweet friends for a fun day full of laughter. I sure did need it! Love you both so much!

32 Weeks & counting

2011-04-13T22:44:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd be posting belly pictures, but I have to say I've never been so proud to show it off! We've almost hit our initial LONG term goal of 33 weeks! And boy are these babies growing!

Well, as most of you know by now, Cody attempted to steal the show this week! It was quite the night to say the least..

Sunday evening I began feeling tinges of pain in my lower back, so the nurse put me on the monitor to check for contractions. Within the hour, I was feeling pressure & contractions in my lower abdomen & back, however they were about 4 minutes apart & somewhat inconsistent. I told Cody to keep his phone on when he went to bed, but didn't really feel like it was the real deal. An hour or so later, the contractions were 2 minutes apart & the nurse recommended that I call Cody & have him come. When I called him, he was on the phone with his boss already, however for different reasons. He was calling in because he thought he had a hernia & was in a lot of pain. He immediately headed to the hospital.

When he arrived to the hospital room, he was doubled over in pain, stating he was not going to be able to even walk to the OR if I had the babies. He needed to be seen by a doctor. I can't say I was the most empathetic at that moment, secretly wishing he would "suck it up" & stay for the birth no matter what.. We were also both very concerned because his insurance is a few days from being started with his new company. My tech came in & took him in a wheelchair to the ER, where they immediately triaged him & got him in for a CT scan. He called to let me know they were calling a surgeon to take out his appendix immediately. Guess I should've been a little more empathetic..

The doctor gave me some pain medication to hopefully relax me & slow the contractions to hopefully hold of labor until Cody was able to be there. It didn't work right away, but a few hours later they calmed down & became more irregular. The chief of surgery came in at 6 am to let me know that Cody's surgery went well & he would be recovering for the next few hours, but would go home that morning. Sure enough, he was wheeled back into my room about 8 am & slept on the couch in my room until his mom came to get him.

I have to say the next day was quite stressful & I was doubting for the first time in many weeks. Primarily about money & the frustration of being just days away from the insurance kicking in... (I can't lie, I'm also SO tired of being here flat on my back.) However, after talking with many here at the hospital & praying for peace about it, I truly do have a peace. Cody told me the following day that he was the happiest he's ever been in his life. This was puzzling to me, but I am so grateful to have a husband who is strong when I am weak. He repeated all of the positives that have put us where we are today. God has given us two babies that were not supposed to be here 9 weeks ago. HE has provided financially for us in these months when we didn't know how we'd survive. HE's given Cody a job where he feels secure & content. HE's taken care of our child when we didn't know who was going to care for him while I was here. Surely our God can provide for this. This is small stuff in the big picture. Pretty soon we will return home with three healthy children to a nice home with all of our needs provided for. I hate that my nature is to worry. Especially when God's provisions are SO evident.

You Know You're on Bedrest When...

2011-03-31T23:01:00.004-05:00

The nurses act as if you've won a contest due to being here the longest of the current patients

Having a sonogram is the highlight of the week (just to see the outside of the hospital doorway)

People/nurses come in & say "wow you look nice with makeup on!" (umm, thanks?)

You have to flip the pillows/mattress topper often because you're wearing a groove in them

You know who is entering the room by the way they knock (or don't)

You know every nurse, custodian, & hostess by name along with many of their personal histories

The most exciting daily event is marking another day off the calendar

It no longer bothers you to have to pee every hour (just to be able to get out of bed)

You've become very picky about detergent b/c it's all you smell (preferably lavender Downy)

Your eyebrows cannot be plucked again or there won't be anything left of them

I just had to post something upbeat & off from the usual updates since there's not much else going on around here! It's been a lovely, boring two weeks & for that I am grateful! We will get an update on weights on Saturday & I'll post once we know. Just a week & a half until 32 weeks! I was able to see my girlfriend's twin boys in the NICU today (now 33 wks) & it made me even more excited to see our girls. They were so tiny! I still can't believe there are two in there! Goodnight friends!

29 Weeks!

2011-03-21T14:31:00.007-05:00

We made it past our first big milestone & are a week away from the big 3-0 weeks! It's been a quiet week thankfully, with little updates around here. The babies have hit a growth spurt for sure, now filling up my tummy with their little legs & bottoms sticking out all over. I do love being pregnant & feeling the closeness with my babies. I'm trying to really cherish this time knowing it's most likely the last time I will feel it. Yes, we have decided our family is perfect & complete with three! I'm getting anxious to meet these little girls, however know that each day in the womb continues to be a huge step in their growth & development & will miss having them safe inside of me.

Thursday I had a sonogram to assess growth & the girls weighed 2.10 lbs & 2.14 lbs! My MFM was surprised, stating that whatever I'm eating is working, because they are weighing in at a week ahead of average. Their weights at birth really impact their risk of problems after birth. Praise the Lord for big babies!!

Cody stayed the weekend with me after a long 80+ hour work week & we enjoyed just spending time together, napping most of our time across the room from one another. Just to have him here is so comforting. He is truly my best friend & I'm so thankful for every moment we have together. We were able to spend quite a bit of time with Luke this weekend too & boy is he changing quick. He's so sweet & just comes up to give me kisses & stroke my face out of no where when playing. It melts my heart. I'm longing for the day when I can rock him again & play with him in his room. Sunday, my doctor gave me "wheelchair privileges" where I'm allowed to go out in a wheelchair for up to an hour a couple times a week! Cody took me on a ride around the hospitals & it was wonderful to say the least! Let me say, we truly take the little things for granted. Fresh air & sunshine was all I needed to improve my spirits & prepare me emotionally for another week. It was pretty hard after the boys left last night, but I just remind myself this is only for a season, & we will all be together soon.

My precious doctor came back from vacation today & let me know she called to check on us every day on her trip, along with praying for us daily. I can't explain what that means to have a doctor that truly cares. Whose job is more than a job, it's a calling. I don't know that she'll ever really know what she means to me & my family.

That's it for last week! Hopefully the next post will be equally as boring! Here's my verse for the day & daily reading. It made me smile!

"I am the Lord, the God of every person on the earth. Nothing is impossible for me." Jer 32:27

We need to hear that God is still in control.

We need to hear that it's not over until he says so.

We need to hear that life's mishaps & tragedies are not a reason to bail out.

They are simply a reason to sit tight.

Week 27 in Review

2011-03-12T19:03:00.004-06:00

A little late.. 26 week photo

I've been recovering this week from a semi-tramatic weekend, thus the very late post with lots of updates..

Last Saturday I was having a normal afternoon when I had the most frightening experience I've ever had with my health. I looked up from crocheting with double vision, unable to "uncross my eyes" it seemed. I sat up telling my nurse, who had just finished getting the babies onto the monitor, that I had had a sudden change in vision. Within the next second I felt my blood pressure & pulse rise radidly, pulsating throughout my body like a drum. Grabbing my throbbing head, I loudly announced that she needed to get a doctor, NOW, I thought I was having a stroke. She calmly & quickly took my blood pressure as nurses ran down the hall to my room. As soon as they got me turned onto my side & an oxygen mask on me, the symptoms subsided. The nurses stated that indeed, my BP was extremely high & pulse was racing, but it quickly went back to normal. My vision also returned. Having education in & treating stroke patients, I knew this episode had something to do with my blood pressure & that what had just experienced was not something to ignore. The doctor ordered an EKG of my heart & they did multiple neurologic exams, all coming out normal. We still don't know the cause of what happened.. but everyone is watching my BP & pulse very very closely while on the Procardia medicine.

Before the nurse left the room, I felt a tinge of pain down low that I had never felt before. She reported that I was also having contractions show up on the monitor. She decided to check my cervix to be on the safe side, reporting that I was now dilated to 5 cm & could feel Addison's head. They pulled the wires from the wall & monitor & whisked me to L&D.

Once in L&D, I was put on Magnesium Sulfate to stop the contractions & also help prevent neurologic deficits in the babies. This is a great drug but comes with horrific side effects including a burning sensation throughout the body, intense sweats, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, etc etc. After the events upstairs, I wasn't a bit afraid though, just wanted to prevent labor at all costs.. When the doctor arrived & checked my cervix herself, she stated I was only 3 1/2-4 cm, not the 5 I was told upstairs! With the contractions coming close together, I was still at a high risk of delivering soon. They would keep me on the monitor all night & hope that the mag worked it's magic. The doctor thankfully gave me some pain medication in my IV that knocked me out completely within seconds, giving me a wonderful nights' rest even on mag!

The next morning my contractions subsided & the doctor decided I was safe to return to antipartum. I never thought I'd be happy to return to this place! What a blessing, once again! The rest of the week I've been recovering from the mag, which completely wiped me out. My eyes have been impacted the most, feeling slow & tired most of the time, but that's ok with me as long as we're still here! They also restarted Procardia to keep the contractions at bay. Let's hope it continues to work! Here's my wonderful L&D nurse who even wrote a verse on my board as a constant reminder:)

Thursday I had a sonogram to recheck fluid levels & development. The girls looked great! Fluid levels have slowly begun improving more & more each week. One surprise was the Addison had her hand above her head, which is currently right against my opened cervix. Yes, her hand was sticking THROUGH my cervix! The MFM (maternal fetal medicine specialist) stated that he wanted her to move it before delivery, but wasn't too concerned that this would be a problem at this point & also said he was very pleased with their development looks. Praise the Lord! Tomorrow will be 28 WEEKS!!! I've been quite emotional the past few days, feeling incredibly thankful that God has brought us this far. I never imagined we'd be seeing 28 weeks with a 95% survival rate when we arrived at week 23. Well here we are, & I feel like shouting it from the rooftop!

26.3 Weeks

2011-03-02T19:22:00.002-06:00

What a rollercoaster! Goodness, I'm ready to get off this ride.

Yesterday I went in for a sonogram to assess the babies ambilical cords due to some "decelerations" on the monitor showing that Elle's cord is being compressed more often than normal. It has been happening for very short time increments, but the doctors have increased amount of times we monitor the babies each day just to make sure she isn't having decels for any longer time amounts that they aren't seeing. I am so thankful they are thorough! I've also been having increased uterine "activity" so they wanted to make sure this wasn't doing anything to my cervix.

Elle's fluid level was normal-Yay!! and Addison's was the same as last week-still low amount, but good news that it's not decreasing! After assessing the girls, he saw that my cervix looked more open than previously. When he asked if I was very sure that I wasn't having any spotting or anything, I knew he was worried about something. He did a digital examination of my cervix, finding that I am now dilated to 3+ cms. Of course my nerves quickly kicked in & I lost it for the first time in over a week. He ordered the nurse to start an IV, begin Betamethasone booster shots for the girls' lung development & start me on a medication Procardia to hopefully stop the contractions (that I am not even feeling, but are opening my cervix). Once they start this medication you usually don't come off of it until the birth. The nurses worked quickly & within 15 minutes I'd have all the medications & IV fluids started. The monitors showed no change throughout the day, however today my uterine activity & contractions have subsided & Elle hasn't had quite as many decels as she did yesterday. Praise God!

The doctor did prepare me for what labor is most likely going to look like since she said I'm one of those that likes to be in the know! (the doctor's HAVE to be exhausted by my constant questions & needs for explanations of everything) But this helps me so I'm not ashamed! Dr. B said it will most likely be "fast & furious" no matter which way the babies come. They are both still head-down which is wonderful, but if they have to get them out because of decreased heart tones/distress, it will be an emergency c-section. She said it will all happen very quickly & that Cody probably won't even be able to make it in time. This breaks my heart, but at the same time, last week we thought he'd be thousands of miles away right now & God has provided a way for him to work here & can be here within 45 mins or so. At this point, I truly just want the best for my babies & know this isn't going to be a typical birth experience anyway, so I'll take whatever comes gracefully. I told the specialist that I'm determined to be here until at the very least 28 weeks, but am praying for 33! He smiled and said he is hopeful for tomorrow. Oh well, he can be the professional & prepare for the worst, but I'm expecting much more! Another quote from Dr. B today was "when you came in you weren't in the game, now the game is on." She's my cheerleader & I feel so very blessed to have her. She said her family prays for us every night & that she is bringing her little girl to meet me tomorrow. Now there are not many doctor's like that in these busy times!

Have to end with a verse I'm learning to take to heart these days: Be still & know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10.
Be still.. I believe this is the first time in my life I'm obeying

25.3

2011-02-23T07:23:00.002-06:00

We finally got some good news yesterday! Of course that's all relative to the situation, however I'll take what I can get.

We went in for a sono to check the amniotic fluid levels of the babies & monitor development due to last week's probable diagnosis of Twin to Twin Transfusion. I had decided not to look at the doctor's face or the monitor during the sonogram today because I've realized he is too hard to read when he's assessing things & makes me nervous every time. He's so good & I have absolute trust in him, however his bedside is nothing to rave about!

He assessed baby A (Addison's) ambilical cord blood flow from the placenta & stated that is was "perfect" (this is the baby presumed to be getting less blood flow resulting in less amniotic fluid). He also reported that her bladder was full & functioning well (it was expected that she start showing signs of dehydration with less blood flow by now). That was my first sigh of relief. Then he checked her fluid level, which was slightly less than last week.

Baby B (Elle) had a normal amount of amniotic fluid today, which last week showed to be slightly high. Usually Dr. T is quick & efficient, however today he studied the monitor & did more assessments than usual. He then explained his findings & said he had good news. The babies are no longer presenting like they have Twin to Twin Transfusion! Instead, he is going to test me for a leak in baby A's amniotic sac. The test for a leak came out negative, which they said was a very good thing. Sometimes a small tear in the sack can result in a slow leak & can eventually repair iteself, which is what we are hopeful has been the case. We will have another sonogram on Thursday to recheck things, however in the meantime there are no changes in treatment. Bestrest for the rest of the pregnancy. And that's just fine with me

We can't thank our family & friends (and those we haven't even met) for the continued prayers on our babies' behalf. I know God is working good through this trial. Someday these girls will have such a beautiful story to tell.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully & wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know this full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139

Week 25!

2011-02-19T22:55:00.002-06:00

We have officially have made it to another milestone-25 weeks! I never imagined we'd be excited to have our babies make it to a seemingly small gestation. But I have faith that this is not going to be the last milestone either. Next is 26 weeks, and their survival statistics go way up to 90% up from this week's 70%. I can't believe we came in with a "less than 15% chance of survival" & now we are already to 70%!

This week has been a whirlwind to say the least, with seemingly more bad news day after day. On Monday we finished the injections for the babies' lungs (I'll get another injection next week). On Tuesday, we had a sonogram to see if the medicine they'd been giving me was strengthening my cervix & check dilation. Unfortunately we didn't get the news we were hoping. My cervix is now thinned out completely with 1 cm dilation. I was scared to death.

The doctor has stopped the medicine since it was not working and it is now just a waiting game. Thankfully I have not been having contracctions & no leaking fluids, so that is what they will be keeping a close eye on. If contractions begin, there are medications they will begin to try and stop labor at that point.

We did find out during the sonogram that our baby girls are identical, both sharing the same placenta. The doctor was "very sure" of this (this was the first time we've heard this for certainty) & proceeded to show some concern over one baby having slightly less fluid than the other. I wrote this off as something small since he did not elaborate at that time. I was much more concerned about my cervix & was scared these babies would fall out of me at any moment. The doctor assured me this would not happen and that I am doing the best thing I can at this moment by just staying horizontal. I left the room pretty hysterical.

The next morning the perionatologist came in & wanted to further discuss the sonogram findings. He first told me to promise him "not get on the internet." (He's quickly learned that I want to know as much info as possible & obviously have too much time on my hands) I agreed & he proceeded to tell me that he strongly suspects that our babies have what is called Twin to Twin Transfusion. Evidently he had known this the day prior but decided I was unable to digest all this bad news at once. For this I am thankful! This was the first time that bad news didn't hit me like a ton of bricks. For some reason I have researched & konwn about this diagnosis from the time we learned we were having twins & I'd all the time instinctively felt we were having identical babies. (Twin to Twin Transfusion only occurs in 5-17% of identical twins) We also know a couple that had the same diagnosis given to their girls & they thrived, overcoming all odds. Although this can be a devastating diagnosis, fortunately our babies have just now begun showing signs of it at 24 weeks & have been very close in size up to this point. The day we came in they measured 1.1 & 1.4 lbs. They should have grown approximately 4 oz this week! The doctor will be closely monitoring their growth twice weekly by sonography to make sure they are safe developing inside the womb.

Friday we had a follow up sonogram & everything was the same as Tuesday-No changes! This was the first time I didn't leave his office shaking violently. Praise the Lord!

Today we had a scare as I was on the contraction monitor, simultaneously monitoring the babies heart rates. As I watched, the flat line began jumping up & back down again, showing contractions every minute of so. The nurses quickly came in & brought the doctor who ordered a digital examination of my cervix to check for dilation. Again, I about lost it. I need to make it a few more weeks at Least! Great news~No dilation! There are various reasons for this to happen evidently-not staying hydrated enough, babies growing, stretching of uterus. After drinking a LOT of water, laying down a while & trying to relax, everything settled down. Tonight everything has looked fabulous! Our girls have also had hiccups all day today on & off for the first time. It was glorious! I just know they are growing stronger each day & are going to be our miracle babies. They already are

Hope for a Miracle

2011-02-13T23:04:00.006-06:00

As most of you know by now, we are beginning a potentially long stay in the hospital due to preterm labor. Healthy babies, unfortunately living in my incompetent cervix.. Here's the story so far in a nutshell for those of you that are interested in the details of our situation.

Thursday Feb 10: Routine check up, no dilation & everything looked great. I was originally scheduled for a sono this day, however with rescheduling due to last week's snow storm, there was a mix up & no sono was scheduled. Dr B said she wanted one ASAP, but may have to wait until next visit due to their busy schedule. Fortunately, they happened to have an opening right away & got me in. Miracle #1. That was when the first shock was quickly identified. The sono tech stated that he was very sorry but my cervix was extremely thinned & I was having "funneling". My cervix had thinned from 4 cm down to 1.19 cm. Essentially, our baby girls were "falling out" of my cervix because my body could not hold them. Trembling, they walked me back to lay down & wait for my doctor to come in & talk about options. After performing a FFN test (ID's preterm labor within the next 2 weeks) she immediately sent me to Harris Methodist FW for further observation by a Perionatologist. She assured me I would have the best specialist she knows meeting me there & that the two of them will not let us lose these babies today. HOPE
After arriving at the hospital, our results were back from the FFn test-Negative! That's negative for the protein that would tell that I was going into labor in the next 2 weeks. More HOPE. The next sono with the specialist gave us more grave news quickly after this. Following the sono, he sat me up, turned the monitor toward me, & pointed to a new devastating number that my mind could not comprehend- .52 cm "That is the length of your cervix" he said.
After having a spell of almost passing out on the table, he began telling me our options, along with the most current research with situations similiar to mine. We decided on the following treatment plan for the time being, & that is where we are today:
#1 Bedrest for 1 month in hospital (re-evaluate if I remain pregnant that long)
#2 Motrin for 3 days to decrease current uterus irritability
#3 Progesterone suppositories to (hopefully) improve cervix strength
#4 Betamethasone injections (to improve babies' lung development if we make it to 24 wks)

Today, Sunday, we made our first milestone of 24 weeks! That means we received our first beta injections for the babies' lung development. If blessed to wake up pregnant another day, I'll have the last injections tomorrow. So far, so good. And I am confident to be in the very best hands here. Not to mention the flood of texts, emails, calls, & FB messages from those praying fervently for our baby girls. We are eternally grateful & ask that you please continue lifting up these babies. Ok, that's about the extent of the details over the past 4 days. Feeling hopeful & trusting our Savior loves these little girls more than we can even imagine loving them. Either way this journey goes, he is paving a road for His glory. That's about all I do know at this point. But maybe that's enough.

Luke Isaac Duncan

2009-09-17T13:49:00.017-05:00

On August 28th, we welcomed Luke Isaac to the world at 1:06 pm. He weighed in at 7 lb. 7 oz, was 19 in long and is absolutely perfect! I realize this post is very late, but I'm sure you all have seen lots of pictures by now and have heard the birth story. Please forgive me for being a little preoccupied:) Luke came quickly and surprisingly easy which was an ENORMOUS blessing. You can read the full birth story on Luke's very own website at LukeIsaacDuncan@shutterfly.com

along with many, many pictures. We are definitely making good use of the new camera! I'm going to be updating the website more than the blog for a while because I'm spending every spare second with sweet Luke while I'm home.

Luke will turn 3 weeks old tomorrow and I feel like I just blinked and time has flown by. I know, I know, it's only been a few weeks, but he's already growing and changing and it's a little bittersweet. I've loved the past nine months and the labor was such an incredible experience, I sometimes find myself wishing I could do it all over again. Of course I wouldn't trade having him here with me for the world though. He is perfect in every way. He has slept very well, eats great, is quiet most of the day (we've only heard his real cry during bathtime) and is the most relaxed baby I've ever seen. He sleeps with his hands over his head and his fists open just like his daddy did. Now that is a relaxed baby! He smiles and almost laughs out loud at times, raises his head and moves it side to side, and stares into our eyes when we talk to him. He absolutely loves his daddy's voice, his eyes widening when he begins talking to him. I think it's all the talking to him while in the womb that Cody did and his deep voice that makes him take notice. Of course he loves his momma too and quiets as soon as I pick him up and rock him. That's something I've always looked forward to with all my babysitting days. A child responds differently to their own parents than anyone else and it's something that changes you in every way. I couldn't ask for more. I sit and stare at him every day, amazed at what the Lord has made. I'm so thankful he has given us Luke to raise and love. Here are a few pictures of our bundle of joy:)

Going Home!!
Snuggling with daddy
Daddy's pretty proud
Working on our feeding~ lots & lots of feeding
Looks like his daddy for sure:)

Just a few more weeks to go!

2009-08-25T20:57:00.009-05:00

Well, we are finally in the home stretch... I've never been so anxious for anything in my entire life. It's been hard to sleep and getting more and more tiring to work full days, but I'm determined to make it to the very end.

Week 34---->

I went to the doctor today for the first of my weekly visits and got some surprising news. I'm 1 cm dialated and 100% effaced!! That means that my cervix has thinned out as much as it needs to in order for the baby to be born. Dr Bradford actually felt his head! I also learned a new word "pelvic station" today from our labor DVD:) My doctor was very impressed when I asked what level the pelvic station was at and told me that he's at a -2. That means that he's dropped into the pelvis and is ready to go. She smiled as she told me to get my bags and car seat ready! This can all mean that we are very close or I could actually carry him to our due date... it mainly just predicts that labor will progress nicely since it has already started. What a blessing!

In July, we were given a shower by my sweet friends from graduate school in Dallas. It was so wonderful to have them all together again in one place! Even our friend Amy flew in from Cali to surprise me for the shower. What dear, dear friends they all are. Luke now has a beautiful high chair, lots of clothes, diapers, and boppy:) This past weekend our friend Misty hosted another beautiful baby shower for Luke & I. It was so wonderful to see so many wonderful friends and family all in one place to celebrate our baby boy. We have been so spoiled by so many and Luke is very blessed to have so many that love him already! Thank you to everyone that has helped us with diapers, clothing, toys, and so much more. You are all so dear to us!

Week 36 1/2 (yes, I'm counting the halves!)

Week 30

2009-07-12T21:02:00.010-05:00

This week baby Luke is the size of a "head of cabbage". What a visual huh? I could understand the fruit/vegetable comparisons early on, but now why can't they just leave it at stating the weight/length? He is approx. 15.7 inches & 3 lbs this week. It's a peaceful feeling to know that babies are born healthy at 3 lbs all the time. I'm worrying much less these days thankfully. The nursery is currently a work in progress. Cody painted and I finally picked out a crib, but we will have to wait for it to be delivered... We did get his bedding in and I love love love it! It even has his name monogrammed on the comforter. Monogramming is my new favorite thing! I'm getting anxious to get it all finished now. Here are a few pictures of the bedding, chandalier, crib & room in progress..

I just had to post a picture of Sophie tonight as I just went out to let her back inside & this is what I found. She's such a mess. Poor thing always has something stuck to her hair! I guess she's used to it because she wasn't even trying to get the leaf off! She's hating this heat about as bad as I am, not wanting to spend more than 5 minutes at a time outside. She's definitely a "princess" around here, or so she thinks! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Beginning of the End-Entering the 3rd Trimester

2009-06-30T21:30:00.005-05:00

Whoa!! Looking at this pic makes me feel HUGE. But I know I've been terrible about taking pictures of myself through this, so I decided to show the world this week! This was taken at 27 weeks (last week). One thing I've learned is NOT to look at the scale during this time! It's frightening at this point:) And yes, I officially can clean out the interior of my belly button now because it's inside out!

I had another doctor's appointment yesterday & it was good to get some decisions made. We decided on a pediatrician practice & the hospital I'll deliver at. My doctor delivers at 2 hospitals in Fort Worth & I chose Harris downtown. My doctor said the staff, nurses, etc are top-notch and that's all I needed to hear. I am so thankful to have such an amazing doctor who helps me out with these big decisions!

I was supposed to have a sonogram to assess baby Luke's size, but Dr. Bradford measured me from the outside & said he is measuring perfect right now so she postponed it to 34 weeks. I'm sure by then I'll be anxious to see him again! Cody & I say every day now that we wish he was here already. Not that we aren't loving this time together, but it's hard not to get anxious about his arrival. I have to confess that I've already secured his carseat in my car & I'm getting anxious to have his bedroom in order so that I can rock in the rocking chair:) Maybe this is what people call the "nesting" instinct, but whatever it is, I'm ready for this baby! Only 12 more weeks left~yay!! I hope everyone has a fabulous 4th!

My first week with the "old folks"

2009-06-20T11:37:00.005-05:00

I started my first week at Holland Lake nursing facility this week. The first day was the hardest but I'm starting to get the hang of it & like it a little more each day. I was on my own as of day 2 since our director and SLP that was supposed to "train" me went on vacation! Oh well, I think you sometimes need to be pushed into uncomfortable situations to learn the fastest because it's all falling together. I love hearing the stories from these sweet people & seeing them smile (some of them) when I come in the room. We had 3 from the Baptist church choir all in rehab yesterday & they began singing "In the Garden" while doing their exercises, very beautifully may I add! They are all about 85-90, so it was so precious it made me tear up. I get the funniest reactions every day as I walk through the dining room. The patients (loudly) tell their dining buddies that "that little girl over there it gonna have a baby!" as if the rest of the dining room can't hear them. Well, maybe they can't... They all want to touch my stomach & tell me their own stories of their children. Luke's been a good topic starter with just about any of them! I already had one patient pass away and that is something I don't think I'll ever get used to. He was admitted after a very bad stroke, but I was still caught off guard when he wasn't there the next morning. I just pray that God will use me here & make their lives a little bit sweeter. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from them too and continue to have many stories to share.

On a different note, I think we may have a little soccer player on our hands. This little 2 lb baby is kicking constantly, almost 24 hours a day now! At bedtime, in the morning, at work, he doesn't stop! I love love love it though because it's a constant reminder that he's there and healthy. I had one scare about a month ago when I hadn't felt him move in about 24 hours. Luckily my friend Hanna was able to give me some advice on what to do and it worked. Just a big glass of juice and laying down for a few minutes (praying the whole time) and within minutes there he was. Cody & I were tapping my tummy last night & he was kicking back at us over & over! I can't wait to see his sweet face and kiss him all over!

PICTURES!!

2009-06-14T21:38:00.013-05:00

So I just figured out something that has changed my life. I have not been able to find my connector for my digital camera since our move (hint- the recent poor-quality phone pics). But tonight, I realized I can plug my memory card STRAIGHT into our computer!! I know, I know, it's big news. Now I can go back & post pics from the past month:) Here goes...

These are pictures from our 20-week doctor's appointment on May 4th when we found out we are having a BOY!

Our First Wedding Anniversary- May 26, 2009

I can't believe it's already been a whole year that we've been married. Whoever said the first year of marriage is the hardest must not have dated 5 years beforehand! It's been a blast & I look forward to many many more anniversaries to come. My sweet husband sent roses to work on our anniversary & we went to a wonderful dinner at our favorite date place, the Melting Pot. The staff there even sent roses to our table & printed a picture of us for a keepsake of the night. It couldn't have been better.

Baby Shower #1 and #2

I have been incredibly blessed to work with many wonderful women who have taken me under their wing this year. Our special ed teacher & my SLP supervisor arranged a double baby shower on our last day of school. The school gave us our running stroller/car seat duo, baby Bijorne carrier, clothes, diapers, etc etc. We had so much fun hanging all of Luke's clothes in his closet & putting together the stroller that night. The following day I was "showered" with gifts again by our speech pathologists from the district at a sweet tea room in Granbury. I can't tell you what a blessing these women are to me! Here are a few pictures of the events.

Gabby & I Showing off our bellies. She's exactly 1 month ahead of me

My Wonderful supervisor & friend Dawn who put together the showers

Our running stroller & car seat!! I've been tempted to take Sophie for a ride but am resisting... only 2 1/2 more months!

It's a Boy!!

2009-05-30T22:04:00.006-05:00

Ok ok, I know I am the world's WORST blogger ever, so after many requests, here are some updates!

As everyone knows by now, we found out on May 4th that we are having a baby BOY!! His name will be Luke (the middle name will be our only surprise:). It's so wonderful to finally be able to call him by name & call him a "him"! Strangely, it has strengthened the bond I feel with him too, and has made us so excited to get everything ready for his arrival. It has been so sweet to hear Cody proudly announce that we are having a boy & call him "his son". I know already it is going to change him in so many ways. I began feeling the little pulls and stretches of his tiny body moving about week 19. I am beginning my 24th week of pregnancy, and those little stretching feelings have become full-fledged kicks and punches. It is the most incredible feeling in the world. I smile every time, feeling like it's my little secret during my busy days. Cody has been able to feel him for the past 3 weeks and gets so excited too. Luke is definitely getting bigger, because it's getting harder & harder to breathe normally & my stomach feels overly full really fast. Everything is progressing well though, & other than some sciatic nerve problems, I'm feeling wonderful. I just hope the next 3 months will be just as pleasant:) One can only hope. Summer has already begun & today I felt like I realized for the first time how hot it really gets here in Texas. I'll post pictures of my expanding tummy soon.

My job at the school is ending this week on Wednesday. It's bitter sweet, since I'm leaving many new friends behind but starting a new & exciting job too. I'll begin my job at the nursing home on June 15th after a week of vacation between jobs. We are hoping to get serious about decorating Luke's room on my week off. Daddy will hang the new chandelier and paint the room since I am unable to. I've picked out his precious bedding at Restoration Hardware Baby & can't wait to get it ordered soon. This week I will have 2 showers hosted by my school and the SLP's in the district. I have been incredibly blessed to have such wonderful support at work this year.

Here are a few sonogram pics from our visit in May.

He looked to be waving at us in this one!

Another profile shot

Here is the between-the-legs shot!

Week 19

2009-04-27T17:58:00.007-05:00

A picture at week 19 since hopefully next week's post will be a sono!! Yes, I know I need a new camera, but my Iphone camera is going to have to work for now! It's on my list! I had to break down and buy maternity jeans and capris this weekend. They are actually super cute & extremely comfortable! I was dreading buying maternity stuff for some reason, but I may be wearing these after pregnancy they're so great!

This is TAKS testing week, and I will be taking our Life Skills class (severely disabled children) on a field trip the next 3 days. I'm a little nervous to be driving them all the way to Fort Worth, but I'm excited to have the opportunity. Everyone at school is telling me I'm brave and/or crazy and to brace myself for the most exhausting days I've ever experienced. I'm not scared though! It'll be a new experience for us all. I'll post pictures afterwards. Only 4 more weeks of school! Happy Monday everyone!

Easter... A little late

2009-04-23T20:51:00.002-05:00

We spent Easter weekend with Cody's family & my mom out in the country. It was nice to spend a weekend relaxing. We went to church with Cody's grandmother and she was excited to have the whole family there with her. I realized Easter egg hunts and the Easter bunny will soon be a part of our lives and we're super excited. Cody's cousin Kendall is also expecting a baby, so next year will be especially fun! We didn't take many pictures, but had to have one of the two of us on our last Easter as just the two of us! I guess the next few months will be the last of those days... It's kinda bitter sweet I guess. We're loving our time together more than ever, but also counting the days until baby Duncan is here!

Finally, some pictures...

2009-04-04T09:46:00.011-05:00

Well I finally decided to have Cody take a profile picture to prove that my tummy is, in fact, growing. I have dreaded having a picture taken in this view, so I hope all of you appreciate this:) I'm actually excited that it's growing because that makes it even more real that a baby is in there. I'm also attaching some recent pictures of Cody taking his first helicopter flight at the school he is applying to soon. He actually flew the helicopter the first day! We still haven't figured out if he will be applying for the Fall semester or if he will wait until the Spring. Hopefully we will know more soon because he is very excited to get started!

More than a peanut!

2009-04-02T18:55:00.003-05:00

I went in to see the doctor today because I was having some cramping the past few days & was a little overly concerned about it. Of course the nurse said cramping is normal, but I know my body & this felt a little different. She was more-than-willing to evaluate me & run some tests just for my peace of mind. Thankfully it was an unusually quiet day at the doctor's office because they ended up doing a full evaluation so that I don't have to come back next week for my scheduled checkup. As I waited, the sonographer teased me a little, saying I am far enough along for him to tell me the baby's sex. Since Cody wasn't there I decided not to, but it sure was tempting! He did agree to give me a "quick peek" at our baby that I haven't seen in 8 weeks. I was overwhelmed to see a real baby's profile this time, and not a blob or peanut shaped form! It is absolutely the most precious picture I've seen & can't imagine how I'll feel when we see him/her face-to-face. The sonographer also did a quick peek between the legs to confirm the sex (to himself!) but I didn't see it long enough to know what we were looking at. Cody couldn't believe I didn't go ahead & find out. He wants to know as bad as I do. Everything else is going well. We are enjoying life & spending lots of time together while it's just the two of us. I'll post pics soon of my baby bump, just haven't taken any current ones yet!

Sweet Profile :)

Week 12

2009-03-15T14:40:00.002-05:00

Hello All!

I'm excited that we are finally in our 12th week of pregnancy! That means that we are officially out of the most "risky" time period in pregnancy (and lucky for me, out of the nausea part too!) Cody & I went to see Dr. Bradford on Monday & it was a neat bonding experience for us. I was a little alarmed to find out I've lost weight so far in the pregnancy, but the Dr. wasn't worried. I guess I'll just need to be starting to gain from now on. I actually had to by maternity pants this past week for my expanding tummy, so I guess my body is just redistributing my weight around. Who knows! We were so excited to hear our baby's heart beat for the first time. She let us hear my heart beat first for comparison & then went down to find the baby's. It was very fast (she said well over 150 bpm). Of course I read into that probably more than I should've & began researching what sex matched up with a faster heart beat online. I know that it really has no correlation but it's fun to predict! I think I'm the only one with no "feeling" about the sex of the baby! I am just praying it's healthy, of course & can't wait to find out so we can start planning! We will find out in 7 more weeks...

It's spring break for me this week & I've never been so excited to do nothing & maybe getting some organizing done around the house:) Of course being on a beach in Mexico would be a little more wonderful (Anna & Kyle!) but I'll take any break I can get! Have a fabulous week everyone!

Our little blessing

2009-02-27T18:59:00.004-06:00

Hello all! After a long, 4 month hiatus from blogging, I thought it's probably a good time for some updates!

We spent the Christmas break on a long & wonderful carribean cruise with one whole side of my family. Yes there were 19 of us present on this vacation... for a week! Many families couldn't handle this type of situation, but luckily for all of us, there was no drama & lots of room to roam:) It was such a blessing though, as it was a gift from my Memaw to us all. It was wonderful timing too, as the first half of my school year came to a close & I NEEDED a break. Cody was hired on with his new job right beforehand & was allowed to start when we returned. The itinerary was amazing too. We cruised from Florida to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Saint Thomas, VI; & a private island in the Bahamas. We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful ship & the incredible beaches at every stop. I'll be posting pictures soon!

And the REAL news...
Not long after returning, January 11 to be exact, Cody & I were excited to learn we are expecting our first baby! We had decided that with such an amazing first 8 months of marriage full of incredible journeys around the world, it was the perfect timing to start our family. I tried to contain the excitement as long as possible, but have to admit I've let the cat out of the bag more times than I'd initially planned:) I am now safely in my 11th week of pregnancy & life is slowly becoming more pleasant with each passing day. I had a hard 4-5 weeks there with daily/almost hourly sickness and constant exhaustion. Many have clued into our little secret just by reading my Facebook messages saying I'm going to bed at 5:30 or 6 most nights! This week was much better (with the exception of having a cold), and I'm hoping it continues to ease up. Work is much more pleasant when I feel like being there! I know it's all temporary & just thinking about the life growing inside of me makes it all more than worth it.

Our baby is now in the "fetal" stage of development and is looking much more like a baby! That's good, because as you can see, the baby looked like a blob just weeks ago! My mom was able to go with me to the first appointment (Cody wasn't able to get off work), which was a really neat experience. I had prepared myself (& mom) that there was always a chance they couldn't find a baby. I know that sounds negative, however I've seen & heard a lot in my profession & wanted to prepare my heart for whatever we faced. Anyway, I think mom was more surprised than I was when the sonographer immediately showed us the baby pulsating there on the screen. That one minute sonogram changed my life. Everything I had prayed for was right there for me to see & the doctor said everything looks perfect so far! I'll post the sonograms as I get them. Hopefully we will know the sex of the baby on the next one in about 8-10 weeks.

My doctor is Amazing, which was incredibly important to me. I learned that she almost Always delivers her own patient's babies & is super-conservative about things such as risks, meds & foods I shouldn't eat. I feel at peace knowing our care is in her hands. Cody is hoping to get off of work for the next appointment in the coming week, as we will get to hear the heart beat for the first time. He is super-excited to be a daddy soon, he's even begun kissing my stomach every morning before leaving for work:) I already know he will be an incredible father.

Well, other than those tiny updates/changes occurring in our lives, I guess everything else is normal... We are loving the house & slowly making it our own. Of course we have a list of things that we would like to do around here, but with the economy in the shape it is, we are resisting the urge to spend for now! I'll have plenty of time for that in the coming months, especially when I'm IN doors during the long, hot summer I have coming:) I promise not to leave this one hanging for another 4 months!

All Settled

2008-11-02T19:55:00.003-06:00

We finally moved into our house 3 weeks ago and have slowly settled in. I was painting walls within hours of closing on the house. I am always anxious to make a place feel like home, and couldn't wait to paint! Thankfully Cody has wonderful friends close that helped him move us. Cody did say that's the last time we'll move ourselves so it must have been rough! We have enjoyed making it our own, making small repairs along the way. It's nice to have a place of our own that we can do whatever we want to!

Last weekend I was offered a job I couldn't refuse. I was asked to babysit Nolan Ryan's grandbaby "Nolan" at his home in Fort Worth. Nolan's daughter Wendy was in town and needed a sitter for a few hours so she asked another friend of mine for her recommendation for a sitter. The whole family was very nice and down to earth. I couldn't get up the courage to ask for an autograph (which I'm still hearing about at home) but it was such a neat experience meeting him that I didn't much care.

We loved giving out candy to the trick or treaters this weekend for the first time ever. Cody laughed every time our door bell rang because he said my face lit up:) We went to a Halloween party after that at our friends house just down the street. It's been wonderful having friends so close and always having friends and family stop by. I'll post pictures as soon as I find my camera!

Life as Usual

2008-10-04T21:37:00.002-05:00

I just realized it's been 6 weeks since I last blogged... I guess the excitement of blogging has already taken a back seat to life as usual:) I can't believe how time flies. We get home late on week nights and practically live for the weekends. I guess that's pretty normal though.

I don't know who came up with the saying that "the first year of marriage is the hardest" because thankfully for us this is farthest from the truth. I guess that's one of the only benefits of dating so long beforehand. We've been total homebodies the past few months which is really nice for a change, but I think our friends are starting to wonder where we are... With the holidays approaching, I'm sure this will all change very soon.

We are crossing our fingers to close on our house this coming week. We're getting tired of living out of boxes! I'll keep everyone updated...

Love you all

Week 1 down & a new house!

2008-08-29T20:57:00.011-05:00

I survived my first week at Mambrino School & have to say I am very excited for a relaxing weekend full of sleep! Thankfully this will be a 3-day weekend! I actually didn't see any kiddos this week, however just figuring out my schedule & when I would see each of my speech kids was a full-time job. Teachers just don't want to give up 30 minutes of their day for their kids to come to speech, which made my life pretty difficult trying to please everyone! They were all wonderful to me though & made me feel very welcome. I know that this year is going to be so great & I look forward to all I'm going to learn from my incredible supervisor (I have to be supervised my 1st year as an SLP).

Tonight we FINALLY found out that our offer was accepted on the house!! We are so excited to finally have a place of our own. It has been a waiting game, as this was a foreclosure and the bank was not in any hurry evidently. I think it was good for us to learn patience though & trust that the Lord knows what's best for us. I have to say it was probably perfect timing though since I was just starting my first job.

Cody is working for a plumbing supply company in Fort Worth part-time this semester. They've offered him a position in sales when he graduates in December & they're giving him the opportunity to learn the business to decide if the job is something he'll really enjoy. He did so well in school this summer that his school was paid for his last semester which was such a blessing! I'm so very proud of him.

These are photos of my therapy room.

My first "real" job!

2008-08-22T18:38:00.002-05:00

Well I've finally finished my first unofficial week of school at Mambrino School. It was "teacher work week" so I had many hours of listening to speakers and a lot of stuff that didn't apply to me as a therapist what so ever... but I did finish my fabulous new room! I'm blessed as a speech therapist in a school to have a HUGE classroom to do therapy in & it's all mine!! Most therapists are stuck in a tiny closet or share rooms with other teachers or administrators, so I'm incredibly happy! Mom came up 2 days and worked magic to make the room feel cozy and precious. We went with a beach/sea theme & used many things left over from the wedding, so it's bright & all coordinating! Now all I need are my kiddos! (I will have 45 of them from pre-k to 5th grade!) I met a few of them last night at "meet the teacher"night & it got me all excited:) I'm ready to finally do what I've been training for throughout the past 6 years! I'm blessed to have an amazing supervisor for my CF year that's been in the field for years & it still on fire for speech path. I know I'm going to learn so much this year & can't wait. Kids will be starting Monday so say a little prayer that I don't mess any of them up:)

Honeymoon!!

2008-08-16T11:52:00.002-05:00

I'm finally getting around to posting on our honeymoon trip to Cyprus, Greece & Egypt. I knew our honeymoon was going to be wonderful, but I never could've imagined it would be a surprise trip to the Mediterranean! It is almost impossible to explain what an incredible trip we had. We spent our first night at an amazing beach-side hotel in Cyprus. We boarded a 5 day cruise to the Greek Islands the next day from a port in Cyprus. Our ship docked at Kos and then Rhodes, with plenty of time to explore the islands and soak up the culture. We rode bicycles along the beaches, shopped, and explored the sights. I had no idea how much culture & history we would learn from this trip. We treked on so many biblical grounds and historical sights were around every turn. It has been neat to come home & read about Paul's journeys to many of the areas we experienced first-hand. After returning from the Greek Island cruise, we boarded another 3 day cruise to Egypt. In Egypt we saw the mummy museum (including King Tut & his tomb!), the famous great pyramids, the Sphinx, and finishing the long day with a cruise down the Nile River. Cody & I even decided to crawl into one of the pyramids (an optional excursion) which was such a small entrance that we had to practically crawl down the long hallways. Talk about claustrophobia! After returning from the Egyptian cruise, we stayed another 3 days at a beachside resort in Cyprus. By this time we were exhausted, so we really lounged for the entire stay. It was a trip we will never forget! We now really have the Europe bug and can't wait to return! Here are a few of my favorite photos...

House Hunting

2008-08-16T11:38:00.003-05:00

Well, we've made the big decision to buy a home of our own. With us both beginning new jobs, we felt it was finally time to stop paying someone else rent! I think we've looked at every home in Granbury during this process, spending many of our weekend hours driving around the city. We made an offer on a house a few weeks ago, then got scared & pulled our offer out before it was reviewed by the owner! It's such a big purchase & we got scared! We've now decided to look into purchasing in Weatherford (about 30 min from Granbury) because the market is better & we can get more house for the money. It will be about a 40 min drive for me to my school, and about the same for Cody. We made an offer on a home near the square in Weatherford two days ago & are still waiting to hear back! It is a precious 4/2 with white siding and a cottage feel. The inside has been completely remodeled so it's move-in ready too! It also has a huge backyard for Soph to enjoy (she's had a tiny dog run for the past 8 months so she's super-excited!). It's a foreclosure and that is why the process is a little longer than we'd expected, but we are praying it will become ours very soon!

2008-07-13T15:02:00.001-05:00

Our Wedding Day

2008-07-13T14:20:00.007-05:00

Here is a slideshow of our wedding day events. We were incredibly blessed to have perfect weather on our wedding day. The ceremony was set up on the beach early in that morning while the girls all went for massages and the guys went out on a deep sea fishing trip (thanks to my generous parents!) Bill was our "minister" for the ceremony & did a fantastic job. The wind actually stopped as I walked down the beach with my dad. This was my only worry & I truly believe it was an act of God. Everyone from the beach & pool area gathered around (even pulling up chairs around the beach) to watch the ceremony. They even gave a standing ovation as we were announced! We then had a cocktail hour in the air conditioning before heading back to the beach for the coolest fireshow ever! It was a complete rock band with firedancers and a drum line. Dancing in the sand to the drum line is a memory I'll never forget. We finished the night with a reception at the Brazilian steak house, complete with a Mariachi band. Thanks to everyone that was able to attend and those who sent well-wishes! It was truly the best day of our lives!

Pre-Wedding Fun

2008-07-13T12:43:00.002-05:00

We were joined by 40 of our family members & dear friends for our wedding festivities in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Our immediate family spent a week in Playa before the big day, to organize wedding details and spend a little R&R before the real excitement began. You'll notice a little mis-hap on our journey to Mexico (cake #1), but luckily it was the only one the entire week:) I have to say it was the lowest-stress wedding I could've imagined and turned out to exceed every expectation. (And anyone that knows me knows that my expectations were high!) The Lord had his hand in every detail. We hope you enjoy the pictures!

Summer Time

2008-07-13T12:31:00.002-05:00

Well guys, it's been a few months since the wedding and we've finally settled down into real-life again so I think it's time to begin a little blog spot to share in our new family's events. I have been wanting to share wedding & honeymoon photos with all of our family & friends & I think this is the perfect way. We are going to keep it updated with blogs & photos from our life events here in Granbury so if you're wondering what we're up to, stop in and check it out! And if you're ever making a stop in Granbury, you always have a place to stay!