Happy birthday, Harry Potter

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Cake pop fail

This is what I was going for, courtesy of the fabulous, Bakerella. 

This is what I ended up with.

Attempting batch #2 tomorrow.  Hoping my candy coating behaves. 

Beautiful

That was how my doctor described my uterus after my surgery on Monday.  Yay!  I guess there is no better way for your uterus to look?!? Lol.  I even have pictures!  But I will spare you those (not that I can really even make out what it’s supposed to be.)

Please know how much I really appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers on Monday.  This was my fifth surgery this year but the first time I ever remember laying on the operating room table.  For some reason I was there for awhile before they put me to sleep and I was really struggling.  I wasn’t scared that he would come back with bad news, (I mean, how much more bad news can we get, right?) but lying on an operating room table for even a few minutes is pretty scary.  I just kept listing in my head of all the people praying for us and knew everything was going to be okay.  Thinking of all of you really helped me, so THANK YOU!

Now, hopefully we will have some good news to report in the near future!  Just curious, how many of you have had their uterus described as “beautiful?”

Another day…another surgery

Hysteroscopy 2.0 scheduled for 8am today.  (Click here for info on the first hysteroscopy.)  Many thanks to my mom for waking up EXTRA early to be with me today.  Prayers appreciated- specifically that my uterus is healing properly and my heart and mind calm themselves. 

Happy 3rd Blog-iversary!

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3 years ago I started this little blog with this post.  I’ve spent a good while today re-reading old posts and it just reinforces my decision to start blogging in the first place.  There is so much over the past three years that I have completely forgotten about and I’m so glad I have this blog to look back on.  I think we will really reap the benefits in the future once we have kids and can look back at their childhood.  And when they are old enough our kids will be able to read everything too!

Here’s to several more blogging years to come!

On my nightstand: Hannah’s Hope

This was the first of two books I was able to read while on vacation in Florida.  I had seen it on Amazon before, but once my friend Amanda did a review on it, I decided to buy.  I’m glad I waited to read it because it would have been really hard to get through earlier this year. 

Jennifer takes us through her 10-year battle with infertility (wow…talk about perspective!) and teaches us how to seek God’s heart through it all.  She dives deep into the story of Hannah and her wish to have a child during a time where injections, temperature charts and ART did not exist.  Thinking about Hannah and the hopelessness she must have felt during that time really opened up my eyes (and heart) to others who are fighting this same battle.  I mean, I have endless amounts of science at my fingertips (if I open my wallet deep enough) and STILL feel like I’m never getting off this rollercoaster. 

At the end of each chapter Jennifer lists several Bible verses to pray over (many cover my mirror now) and has a special section for “Burden Bearers.”  This is specifically written for friends, family members, etc who are walking this road and gives insights to how you can specifically pray and support. 

There is so much in here that just simply relates to life, grief, your relationship with Jesus and emotional support of those around you.  If you are longing to have a child, or know someone who’s heart beats with a mother’s love, please consider taking a few nights to read Hannah’s Hope.

Mama Kay

While we were in Florida I got a call I had been dreading for over a year.  Our beloved Tri Delta house mom, Mama Kay, passed away at the age of 74. 

Mama Kay and her husband, Daddy Bert, moved to College Station in 1994 to serve as Tri Delta “house parents.”  Basically their job was the live in the Tri Delta sorority house and supervise, advise, feed and love all of us.  They were the BEST!  We were the only sorority at A&M that had both a house mom AND dad, so we were very spoiled.  They loved us like none other and put our needs before theirs.

Mama Kay ran a tight ship, and was not afraid to speak her mind about ANYTHING! She laughed with us, cried with us, and most importantly, made the best MAMA QUESO around!  She walked the floor during rush, made sure we all ate dinner together and was a wonderful parental figure for us while we all lived away from home. 

During my time at A&M Mama Kay was the first house mother to ever be inducted to Tri Delta.  This was a HUGE honor and one she definitely deserved.  I cherish the memory of her being announced at her first chapter meeting- meetings she was not allowed to attend until she was officially a “member.”

I don’t know how I would have made it through those 4 years at A&M with Mama Kay.  I lived in the Tri Delta house the year my dad had his heart surgery.  It was a major operation and Mama Kay loved on me so much during the time when all I wanted to do was go home and be with my dad.  She was such a comfort to me during that time and I will forever be grateful to her.  She again opened her arms to me when Big Daddy passed away in 2005.  That was the first real, deep loss I had encountered and the love of my adopted “grandmother” was just what I needed.  I love, love, love Mama Kay for her endless hugs and warm heart.

Mama Kay- while I am on this Earth I will NEVER forget the time I got to spend with you.  My life is definitely better for knowing you and spending time with you.  Please look over Daddy Bert from your house in Heaven until he gets to join you.  Know that you have changed HUNDREDS of girls lives in your short time here on Earth.  I love you, Mama Kay.

Destin, FL

We just got back from a WONDERFUL week in Destin with the McDaniel clan.  THANK YOU Mom and Dad McDaniel for the trip! Best.In-laws.Ever.

The weather was perfect while we were there, but even better was that Matt was able to take off work and enjoy the trip with us.  Matty hasn’t had a summer vacation since our trip to Rosemary Beach in 2008, so it was definitely due.  Since he works outside everyday he was eager to spend some time in the AC and just relax.  He enjoyed watching Big Bang Theory and Modern Family most of the week.  

The BEST part of the trip was this little one!

Mason is such a little ham and the sweetest little cutie pie.  He did so well on the plane, both there and back, and LOVED all the attention while we were there.  Steph has some good pictures of his time on the beach over on her blog. 

Besides beach and pool time, we took a day-trip to Pensacola to the Naval Aviation Museum.  Matt was in H-E-A-V-E-N! He could name every plane, when it was built, and what war/battle it was flown in.  If only we could take this knowledge of his and make some money from it!

We were there during 4th of July which was such a treat because there were several wonderful fireworks shows on the beach. We were able to enjoy everything from the balcony at our room and Sammy’s cousins room. 

It was so nice to spend the week with the whole fam and just relax.  Can we do it again next month?  

Before and after

Cooper did his LEAST favorite thing yesterday….HAIRCUT!  It had reached a ridiculous point in length, and as much as I hate upsetting him, it just had to be done.  I’m sorry Coopie!

Before the dreaded trip

After…very happy to be going home

And just because he’s my favorite…here is a pic of Cooper’s favorite sleeping spot.  As soon as Matt’s feet hit the floor to get out of bed in the morning Cooper takes his place in the bed.  We do our best sleeping between 6 and 9am and Cooper is the best snuggler.  This picture was taken at 11:30am.  Cooper had NOT gotten out of bed, even to go to the bathroom or eat breakfast.  I MADE him get up and go outside at 11:30 because I was leaving to go meet a friend for lunch.

 

I hope my kids get Cooper’s sleeping gene.