I'm Back!

Hi everybody! Ray and I made it safely back from Florida Thursday. He's a recap on our week!

We left last Thursday, what a nice new airport!! It was pretty easy to get around, Ray was so good, he slept part of the ways there, he probably would have slept longer but I got so agitated and kept moving around, I guess I was just uncomfortable. We had a isle seat, but the guy next to me (that smelled very much like alcohol) needed to get up to use the restroom as soon as Ray fell asleep. But other than that it was a good flight! My sister was waiting for us and we headed to my mom and dads.

Mommy and Ray getting ready to go through security

Our airplane

Ray in the seat (before we got a neighbor) My mom had had alot of work done that day, Biopsy, Radiation, Blood work and other things. She was soooooo out of it! She needs help getting up, because her back still hurts and they don't want her back to fracture anymore. The Dr.'s expanded the field of Radiation in her back, she will have a total of 15 Radiation treatments, they may do more. She will start Chemo after the Radiation is done. There main concern right now is getting her pain under control. The 1st part of the week she was ok, she stayed on the couch and played her sudoku game , but then Monday night something happened and she went down hill, Tuesday and Wednesday she spent in bed. She is extremely tired. (that's an understatement) Thursday (the day we left) she felt very good! She said if she continues to feel like that she'll be ok!

Grandma and RayGrandpa and Ray

Aunt Amy, Kaden, Sherryl with RayMommy and Ray in Grandma and Grandpa's hot tub on really the only "warm" day we had, it was 65

It was so hard to see my mom like that! She is on so many medications, that half the time she is out of it, one day she almost fell backwards, but my dad caught her. I just cant wait till she is up and around again and can function somewhat normal. My dad takes such good care of her. He is always helping her up or getting her meds or a glass of water or food!

We had a good time, we didn't do anything. But that's ok, we will do all those things when my mom gets better! I just wish the weather would have been better, I know it was colder here, but low to mid 50's for highs and mid to low 30's at night? That's too cold for Florida!

The good Lord was looking out for us when he got us home when we did, Ray is now very sick, I'm getting a cold and on a very sad note, Alvin's Grandma Fennell passed away on Friday 1-23-08. She was a good lady that had been struggling with Alzheimer's for awhile. Her showing is today and her Funeral is tomorrow. Alvin spent alot of time with her when he was younger, she took him and Chuck to New York, he has lots of very fond memories of his Grandma and he is so sad she is gone!

I was suppose to start back to work tomorrow but now it will be Wednesday, I am ready to get back to work! It seems like I have been gone forever!

No major news today!

My mom went to her Oncologist today, the same man that treated her Breast Cancer, that they really like alot. He scheduled her for a bunch of test, one of many is tomorrow, I think they have been calling it a "Pet scan"? It will tell them if she has anymore cancer in her body. My mom is pretty nervous about that! I keep telling her she will be fine, but I'm sure if I were in her shoe's I'd be nervous too! She was in alot of pain today, but she took her pain meds and when I talked to her she was feeling better! Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers, there are working!!!

I leave for Florida on Thursday and I will update my blog but I may have to wait until I get home to post pictures on it.

Here are a couple of pictures we have taken in the last couple of days,

I really like this one I just wish it were more centered

Daddy and Ray at Office DepotLooking at the snow!

Good News!

My mom went to the Radiation Therapist today, and things look good. She does have cancer, but they said it is very treatable! YEAH!!! The Dr she saw today has a patient that was diagnosed with the same thing and that's been 12 years ago! She will have to have radiation and chemotherapy, but whatever it takes she will do! She see's her Oncologist tomorrow to work out a game plan and to find out some other things. She said she will loose her hair again, but luckily she kept all her do-rags and wig!
When I called today everyones spirits were so much higher, we know that there is hope and we will take any hope we can get! Please continue to pray for her, she said today that "all there prayers are working"!
Ray and I fly out on Thursday to go see them. We will be gone for a week, I'm not sure what Alvin will do without his son, but we will be home before we know it. My mom and dad really need to see Ray! Thanks again to Alvin's family for the trip, it really couldn't have come at a better time!
On a different note Ray's Dr. called today and said he wasn't allergic to anything they tested him for but that he was on the "high" end of normal. (what ever that means) So she said to continue doing what we have been.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers, they are working!!!

Sad News!

I found out Friday night that my mom has cancer! We don't know much yet, we will know more today. For those of you that don't know my mom had Breast Cancer about 6 years ago. But this cancer is different. It is in the bones of her spine. Her back has been bother her very bad for a little over a month now, and after seeing the Dr and medicine it hasn't gotten any better. So my very dear sister-in-law Sheryl made her an appointment for an MRI and that's what it showed. I am so thankful to Sheryl for this. She has been a blessing to our family and she cares very deeply for my mom and dad!
I am so scared. I was scared the last time but this time is very different. If there is any hope in this, it is that this was caused by her Breast Cancer. Hopefully it didn't just start on its own. That will be worse. What she has is called Metastatic Bone Disease. I am so sad! I am not ready to go down this road, and them being so far away doesn't help. My mom sounds OK but I know that she is worried about herself and her family, but right now she needs to concentrate on getting better. I want her to get better but I am sad for everything she has to go through. I'm scared for my Dad, he is already heart broken and if something major happens, I don't know what he'll do! I'm sad for my sister Amy that has to see everything daily, but at the same time I'm glad my parents aren't alone.
I will try and post what we find out. So Please say a prayer for my mom and for my family, we could use them!

We got it!!!

Today Charlene and I took Ray to the Hospital Lab to have his blood drawn. We had success! As we waited for them to call Ray back a girl came out and said "she's good, she didn't hurt me" that made me feel better. They called him back, and yes I went too, I told Charlene that I would stay unless they had to do it again. They had him sitting in Charlene's lap in the chair and I held his hand. I explained to them that they had tryed on Monday 3 times and nothing! Well they got it, 1st time, that lady is good! Ray screamed but did fine! I did fine as well, no tears for me! We will hopefully get the results the 1st of next week so I will let you know.

Why is being a parent so hard sometimes?

Today Ray had his 9 month (almost 10 month) check today! I asked Alvin's mom to go because I wanted to ask alot of questions about feeding him and because she is his care giver I thought it would be good if she heard everything, also I wasn't sure if I would need help with my hand. I went in feeling very good knowing Ray wasn't suppose to get any shots. That all changed when he had to get blood drawn!

I'm sure most of you have read about his rash, well Alvin noticed it is coming back. But this time it is just little red dots all over his back and chest, he doesn't have the big red splotches. Luckily he had his Dr. appointment today and she suggested getting blood to test for allergies. She said it was up to me but it could rule out alot. So I said "OK". We were able to go down to the lab right then. I told myself at the lab "its only one stick and it will be over" I guess I jinks it.

They called Ray back, there were 2 women waiting for us, I asked "how do you do it"? they said "in the arm"! I laid Ray down on the table I held his one arm and Charlene held his legs while the ladies tryed to get it. No luck, they told me to pick him up and they would try the other arm. At this point I'm in tears. Being a mom that I hate I said "please just get it this time". I say that because I have to deal with mom's at my job and I hate it when I get a mom that try's to tell me how to do my job, so "I'm sorry" to the ladies that took care of him. No luck again. So I asked "what now"? they said they could try again or I would have to come back and try again. They suggested to try one more time because I was there and Ray was already upset and to just get it over with. I asked them if I should leave, they said that I could and that they will take good care of him and that Grandma was doing OK so she could stay with him. Well that's what I did, I left that place like a sobbing baby (I think I was crying as hard as Ray)! That was sooooooo hard. I left the lab completely, I wanted to make sure I didn't hear him at all! I watched until I saw the door open and they came out. Guess what, Still no luck!!! So now after all that I still have to take him back (or to the hospital) They said to make sure he is well hydrated when we go back. I will be taking Charlene with me again and I probably will not go back! (I said probably, I may go back)

I know that some moms are just "wonder moms" and can watch that stuff but as for me, I cant and I cant imagine if something really bad happens to him, I don't know that I will be able to handle it! Charlene thinks that I will probably tuffin up one day, but I don't know! I hope so.

Everything else was good at his check up. He weighs 19lbs 2oz. He's just a little guy they said. I can start cutting his bottles back but because he's so little she would still like him to get 20 to 24 oz of Formula a day.

Here's a few pictures we took New Years Eve and the last weekend,

Ray and Daddy

Ray woke up at midnight, no help from all the noise makers I'm sure, but I was glad he woke up to give him a New Year's kiss
Mommy was tired too cause of all the medicine she was on cause of her surgery

Playing peek-a-boo with his very messy face

Stay away bubble's! That's what it looks like but he enjoyed them!Here's a few that I think are cute, I really like the last one! Hope everyone is doing good and I'll see you soon!

Happy New Year!

I'm going to try and look back at this year, it's been quite a busy year so here I go:

January

Not much went on this month just continuing to cook our Baby! We started our Labor and Delivery classes!

February

The beginning of the month Alvin and I went on our "Baby Moon" we went to Cincinnati Ohio and stayed in a Hampton Inn (very nice) and went shopping at a few local malls around there, we just went on our last "just the 2 of us" trips! We had a great time!

I had my 1st of 2 baby showers on the 16Th, My sister-in-law Dawn and mother-in-law gave it to me, They did more than I expected, it was so nice. My family was able to fly/drive in for it, which made it even better! We also had our "breastfeeding class"

Then on the 21st I was put on bed rest, due to protein in my urine. Me happy and on bed rest!

On the 23rd I had my work Baby shower, Abby from my work gave it to me, She did a great job, it was at my house so with me on bed rest it worked out great!

March

What can I say about March, Alvin's birthday was on the 6Th, I felt bad cause I couldn't do anything for him, I had to give him a Valentines Day card cause I couldn't get to the store to buy him a birthday card! I had my BABY! I was admitted to the hospital on the 11Th for an induction then at 11:18 on the 12Th. Our 7lb 2oz baby boy came into this world.The rest of March was full of visitors and lack of sleep!

April

I went back into the Hospital for a weekend due to an infection caused by my c-section, that was then followed by 15 days of IV antibiotics, that was awful! Ray is growing fast!May

This month was Rays 1st smile! OH MY GOSH! How wonderful is that! Also Alvin & I left Ray for the 1st time over night! That was so hard. This was the month that I went back to work!

June

Ray started sitting up in the Bumbo seat and really started to get into TV. We had our 1st trip as a family, it was the weekend of 6-27 we went to Gatlinberg TN to surprised my Mom & Dad. This was also the weekend Ray turned from his tummy to his back for the 1st time.
July


Happy 4Th of July and my Birthday month. We watched fireworks over at Steve & Dawn's house. We took Ray to the park for the 1st time. Ray got his 1st tooth this month.


August


We went to the State Fair this month, Ray started eating solid foods. Grandma & Grandpa Seeks came into town.
September


Ray is 6 months this month, he started to sit up by himself this month. We had to get dressed up to go to a wedding.

October

This was a busy month, Ray crawled and pulled himself up in the same day. We went on our 1st camping trip with Ray and Alvin's family, then we went again a week later just the 3 of us. Then we had Halloween. My family came to town and we went to the pumpkin patch.

November

We went and saw Santa at the Christmas gift and Hobby show, Started Swim lessons, Ray walked behind a "walker" toy, and of course had Thanksgiving!

December

Ray started dancing, and clapping, we had Ray's 1st Christmas, I had 2 surgery's and New Years Eve.

I'm sure I have forgotten somethings, it's been a crazy year, but one I will never forget! I hope everyone had a great year!