Life Is Good

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Vacation--leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure.

I choose the latter. We vacationed this weekend. It wasn't full of a lot of what I'd call "rest", but it sure was full of a lot of pleasure. We left late in the afternoon Friday, traveled South, and arrived in Carrollton Texas around 8:00 p.m. Ryan did great in the car up until the last hour of the trip and by that time he was definitely ready to be loosed from his bondage. He didn't sleep one wink the entire time...going or coming. He DID NOT get that from me. As a kid I usually made it about 30 minutes before my dozing began, and even today if I'm not driving I tend to sleep in the car.

Our weekend was full of all kinds of fun, leisurely things. Here is our vacation in pictures...

We dreamed about casting a line into that fish pond...
(I think it would have been a good way to "test drive" all the fishing equipment being sold in the store.)

We rode wild beasts...

We explored uncharted lands...

We ran up and down the rolling hills...

We ate chips...

and ice cream...

We visited Great Grandma...

We looked at the world differently...

We did some sliding...

and some rock climbing...

and even a little swinging...

We traveled many miles across cracked* bridges...

We had some good 'ole family swim time...

We explored the forest...

We trampled on "stickery" grass...
(yes that's why his tongue is sticking out, he didn't like the feel of the grass on his feet)

We batted innocent eyes at the most gullible...or at least those holding the most goodies...

We did actually do a little resting...

And when it was almost time to go we tried to fill some mighty big shoes...

We had a great time!!!!

*Story will come later

1 comment:

twin power mommy ♥ said...: What a cute picture story.

Also, i love the new blog background. Looks great!!; May 27, 2009 at 11:58 PM

Post a Comment

Brandy Danielle

Brandy is our firstborn, our precious angel baby girl. Her entry into this world wasn't without excitement. At 26 weeks I started preterm labor with contractions 5 minutes apart. With 10 weeks of strict bedrest, most of which were in the hospital, she made it to 36 weeks.
Brandy was diagnosed with "possible/probable" heart defect around 28-30 weeks gestation. After her birth she was whisked away to the NICU for monitoring and after a few days her defect was formally diagnosed and labeled...atrial septal defect and a cleft mitral valve.
Brandy, upon indications of failure to thrive and pulmonary hypertension, underwent her first of 2 open-heart surgeries at 4 months of age. A week after her surgery on the day of her anticipated discharge home Brandy coded for 13 minutes...a stoke.
From that point on Brandy's life was full of doctor's visits, endless crying, pain and suffering. She underwent another heart surgery, fundoplication and g-tube surgery, treatment for infantile spasms, and a mountain of tests and procedures. Her brain damage was extensive.
Upon counseling of our wonderful, most amazing heart surgeon, Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig, and many hours of prayer, we finally called in hospice and called off all of the extensive medical interventions and surgery needs that would prolong her suffering while possibly prolonging her life. Brandy, our precious baby girl...our angel...passed out of our arms and into the arms of her Saviour, Jesus at the tender age of 17 months.

Ryan Andrew

Ryan, our micro-preemie miracle, is a ball of life. After nearly a year of trying to conceive imagine our delight when we finally knew he was on the way. My pregnancy with Ryan was uneventful at first. It seemed perfect and with all of the precautions for preterm labor being taken and monitored we entered this pregnancy with cautious anticipation covered over by a whole love of naive excitement.
At 20 weeks we discovered our "Baby Peanut" was going to be a little boy. We began to make plans and began dreaming about the day we would meet our son.
Almost 2 weeks later everything changed in our lives. It wa a whirlwind of fear and emtions as I began to bleed, was sent for monitoring in L&D and eventually had an appointment with my OB only to find out that it was serious. I had incompetent cervix with hourglassing membranes. The doctor admitted me to the hospital immediately and an emergency cerclage was placed. The statistics were grim, but the hope was to keep our son inside for at least 10 more weeks. We only made it 10 more days.
Early in the evening of February 11, 2007 our son, Ryan, came into this world in emergency fashion at only 23 weeks 5 days gestation. He weighed 1 pound 8 ounces and was 12 ½ inches long. He was so tiny. All I could think of was “oh my goodness is he really that tiny? And is there any way he could actually make it?” I tried to hold on to hope, but in all honesty I had never met anyone with a baby born that early and that small that ever made it.
Ryan did make it! It was a long, hard road, but in the end he spent 90 days in the NICU. He was on a ventilator for 2 months. Finally on one fine glorious day in May we bundled up our 4 pound 4 ounce baby boy and went home...May 11, 2007.
Ryan is now a spunky, lively, strong-willed little boy. His laughter is contagious and his spirit is compelling. He is our miracle. There are no words strong enough to share our delight and joy that God has blessed us with this little boy.

Evan Alexander