Life as we know it...

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T23:18:00.002-04:00

Rawr!

Pictures & Video

2010-10-24T08:36:00.005-04:00

Brian's new baby!

He's wanted a Corvette for a long time! He finally got one at the end of August!

One of Blake's favorite things at the playground.

Just like his Daddy!

Blake loves bath time!

Blake loves Daddy's iPhone!

Blake is a genius! He can count to ten (sort of)!

When I say a number, he says what comes next!

Smart like his mommy! :o)

I'm Baaaaaack!

2010-10-23T11:52:00.003-04:00

It's been a busy few months, but things have finally settled enough for me to be able to blog!

Mom is doing great! She's walking, driving, & pretty much back to normal. She still moves pretty slowly & with a limp, but is much improved! Still goes to physical therapy 3 times a week. The accident was 6 months ago yesterday!

Aunt Penny & Uncle Jerry are recovering nicely from their accident as well. Granny & Grandpa Les are doing well. Grandpa Les has good & not-so-good days, but is doing pretty well considering his age.

Blake continues to blossom! He's 21 months old now & is super smart! He can recognize numbers & count to 10 (when I say a number, he says what comes next). He also recogizes a few colors & letters of the alphabet. He can identify circle, square, triangle, cross, heart, star, hexagon, & pentagon. He loves books & carries one around to read often. I've lost track of how many words he can say & he says lots of 2 word phrases/sentences as well.
He's walking & running all over the place! He likes climbing up & down stairs, but knows he is only supposed to do it while holding someone's hand.
I'll post some pics & video soon!

Great News!

2010-08-17T23:28:00.002-04:00

Grandpa Les is home from the hospital! I don't have all the details, but he & Granny are very excited! I think the hospital recommended he go to rehab before coming home, but he didn't want to & Granny probably didn't either.
Please continue to pray for his good health & Granny's strength as she takes care of him.

Thanks for the prayers!

2010-08-15T23:04:00.003-04:00

Grandpa Les seems to be improving a little. He's been sitting up, eating, & watching TV-an improvement from his first couple of days in the hospital.

Aunt Penny & Uncle Jerry seem to be recovering well. Haven't talked to anyone from there in a few days, so I guess all is well.

Mom continues to make great progress too. She's using her wheelchair less & walker more. She's able to do more things around the house; cooking, laundry, empty/load dishwasher. Daddy is glad about that so he can have a break from housework for awhile. Mom continues to go to therapy 3 times a week. She's doing really well!

Thank you so much for all the prayers for our family over the last several months! They are working, so please continue! We really appreciate it!

The Hits just Keep Coming...

2010-08-08T22:33:00.002-04:00

More prayers are needed! Grandpa Les is now in the hospital with double pneumonia! He's 92, so his age increases the seriousness.
Poor Granny! She's had so much to deal with the last few months. Mom's accident in April, Jerry's accident last weekend & now this. Plus, Grandpa Les has been sickly the last few years, so she's been taking care of him for awhile. Please pray for her to have strength to get through this. I know she's worn out emotionally from all that's been going on.
I think Grandpa Les is in Anne Arundel Medical Center. Not sure how long he'll be there. If you'd like to send a card, it would probably be best to send it to their home address. I know Granny would appreciate some words of encouragement.

Frances & Lester Simmons
P.O. Box 385
Churchton, MD 20733

(If you attempt to call the hospital to inquire about Grandpa Les, ask for Thomas Simmons. That's his first name.)

Penny & Jerry continue to improve. I think Penny was able to get back up to the hospital to visit Jerry today. Jerry is doing better, but has to be a little more independent with his walker before he can go home. He really should go to rehab before going home, but I think he's already nixed that idea.
Thanks for all the prayers for our family! When it rains, it pours! They say things tend to happen in 3s, so hopefully we won't have anything else to deal with anytime soon.

Update on Penny & Jerry

2010-08-05T10:14:00.002-04:00

Aunt Penny was released from the hospital last night. Uncle Jerry has been moved from the cardiac unit to a regular room, but I don't know the room number. He's still in a lot of pain, so please continue to pray for that to subside. They were thinking he might get to go home today or tomorrow, but I'm not sure that will happen since he's still in so much pain.

I don't know a lot of details other than that. I'll check in with Joann soon to find out the latest!
Thanks for checking in!

Thanks for all the prayers!

2010-08-03T20:41:00.002-04:00

Aunt Penny & Uncle Jerry are getting a little better each day.

Aunt Penny is in Room 1210 at Roanoke Memorial, but may get to go home tomorrow. Uncle Jerry is still in the Cardiac Unit & should be able to go home Thursday or Friday.

Aunt Penny was given the okay today by her doctor to go up to visit Uncle Jerry in the cardiac unit. She was up there to visit twice & Uncle Jerry was sleeping both times. Maybe he'll wake up to talk to her tomorrow.

Will keep you updated as I hear more! Please continue to pray!!

More Prayers Needed...

2010-08-02T11:11:00.004-04:00

As you know, my parents were involved in a serious car accident just over 3 months ago. Well, this past weekend, my mom's brother & sister-in-law were involved in a serious motorcycle accident near their home in VA. From what I understand, someone backed out of their driveway & into them. They are in stable condition at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, but lots of prayers are still needed.

Uncle Jerry has broken ribs & a broken collar bone. He has a big laceration on his head that required a blood transfusion. Also, the impact of the crash caused him to have a heart attack, so they put a stint in to help with that.

Aunt Penny was thrown from the motorcycle & suffered a concussion, black eye, & road rash to the face. There's blood on the brain, which they say is typical of her injury; but she's having some memory problems which is cause for concern.
Thankfully, they were both wearing helmets (not full ones though, just half ones).

We're not sure how long they will be in the hospital, but probably through the end of the week. If you'd like to send a card, here's their home address. I'm sure their daughters will be by the house some this week & deliver any cards they receive.

Penny & Jerry Seidman
1736 Richland Hills Drive
Salem, VA 24153

My grandmother is understandably upset as both her children have been involved in serious accidents in the last few months. I'll update here as I hear more information, but please keep my family in your prayers!
Thanks!

Learning to Walk Again...

2010-07-28T19:56:00.000-04:00

YAY!!!!

2010-07-20T18:59:00.000-04:00

Great news!

Mom took her first steps today (with a walker, of course) since the accident on April 22!!

Great News!

2010-07-18T22:19:00.004-04:00

I know it's been awhile since I've updated on here! Sorry about that! Mom is doing really well!

Mom visited the orthopedic surgeon in Charleston this past Friday & got a great report! She is cleared to start putting weight on her feet! Yay! It's been almost 3 months since the accident & she is definitely ready!
A couple of months ago, my dad found one of those lift recliners that lifts you up into a standing position. After mom's appointment on Friday, she decided to try it. Daddy put the walker in front of her & she lifted into standing & stood there for a few seconds. She said it was very hard! Her knees have been aching ever since!

Even before this past doctor's appointment, Mom has been getting out a lot more lately. She's been to church several times, lunch at my in-laws' house, & even made a couple trips to Walmart. Daddy is her chauffeur & takes her everywhere. She's come over to our house for dinner a couple of times. She & Daddy are even going to babysit Blake for the first time since the accident this coming Friday.

Meanwhile, Blake has just started walking in the last few weeks. He's still pretty unsteady & has taken many tumbles. Unfortunately, this means we've had lots of bumps & bruises so far! This past weekend he fell & bit a pretty good chunk out of his tongue. It bled a lot & scared me to death! Then he fell at my in-laws' house & busted his lip! He looks like he's been in a fight. I guess I need to teach him to say, "If you think I look bad, you should see the other guy!" He's talking up a storm lately too. I need to put together a list of all the words he says! There are a lot!

Here are a few recent pictures! Thanks for continuing to check here on Mom's progress!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=171913&id=605989335&l=32a480d21e

Doctor Visit

2010-06-04T14:52:00.005-04:00

Mom had an appointment today with her orthopedic surgeon in Charleston.

They took x-rays & said her breaks were healing nicely. She goes back in 6 weeks. Still no weight bearing on her legs during that time. They removed the cast on her left foot from heel surgery & replaced it with a removable boot (same as what's been on her right foot all this time). She's glad about that because the cast was so heavy. She'll be able to remove both at night & it will make it easier when she showers (won't have to wrap her leg in plastic anymore).

She'll have one more week of in-home physical therapy. Then, she'll go to an outpatient place 2-3 times a week for therapy.

The last few days, she's been very discouraged & depressed. Her spirits were much better today. I hope she remains in a good mood. She loves to get visits, cards, or calls from people. They help cheer her up, so try to stay in touch with her if you can.

Granny is here until Wednesday to help out for a few more days. I know she's glad to have Granny here. And Granny has enjoyed being here to help Mom & visit with all of us!

I'll keep you posted! Thanks for checking in!

Not Much to Report...

2010-06-02T15:31:00.002-04:00

Not much to report with Mom these days. She's getting acclimated to being home & getting into a routine with the various nurses & therapists that come by to work with her. Daddy started back to work yesterday; just half days though. Granny is in town to help Mom out while he's at work. She's leaving Saturday to go back to Maryland. So, I'll probably be in charge of helping out more with Mom next week.

Mom has a doctor's appt in Charleston on Friday with the orthopedic surgeon that performed her hip/knee surgeries. We should know more about her progress, etc. after that.
That's all I know for now!

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. We took Blake to the beach for the first time. Click the link below to see some cute pictures!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=171750&id=605989335&l=fb61bfd50c

May 27 Update

2010-05-27T16:05:00.002-04:00

Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. I've been a busy little bee since Mom came home. Daddy is able to move around better, so he's been getting out to run errands. And I stay with Mom while he's out. She's grateful to be home so that people can come visit. She enjoys talking to everyone as it gets boring sitting around. She tires easily though, so don't take it personally if she dozes off during a visit.

Everyone has been so great! Meals have been delivered on a regular basis; much more than they can eat! (But that's okay because I get to bring home leftovers-less cooking for me! Yay!) Mom's also received plenty of cards & flowers! That really cheers her up too!

Therapists & nurses have been in and out all week making their initial visits. One nurse takes vital signs & blood twice a week. Physical therapists come twice a week. Not sure if there's anyone else. Hopefully, they get a set schedule in place starting next week. It will be nice to know when to expect them so Mom can be ready & we can let visitors know what times are good to come.

Granny (Mom's mom) is coming tomorrow & Mom is really looking forward to that! Granny lives in Maryland & has been so anxious to come down since Mom's accident. My cousin & her husband are bringing her. She's been helping my bedridden grandfather for a few years, so she's already trained & will be able to help Mom quite a bit. Daddy is planning to go back to work part-time on June 1, so it will be good that Granny is there to help. And, Blake & I will still be there a lot too.

Mom has a doctor's appointment on June 4 in Charleston. I think they will x-ray her hip, knees, & feet to see how things are healing.

I think that's all the news I have to report for now! Mom is able to check her email & Facebook, but I'm not sure how often. She usually has her cell phone or house phone close by though, so you can call her. Email me if you need her number, hwhite76@hotmail.com.

Thanks for continuing to check on her & keep those prayers coming!

A Few Pics...

2010-05-22T10:50:00.006-04:00

Here are some more pictures of the car from Daddy's camera. He & B were able to get closer & some better angles. Pretty scary!

Mom came home yesterday! Here's a pic of her visiting with Blake! She'll probably be mad that I posted this pic. She was worried about not having her hair fixed or make-up on. Who cares! We're just glad she's home!

Home Sweet Home

2010-05-21T22:55:00.002-04:00

Mom made it home without incident today. She spent some time in the wheelchair in the family room, reading mail & making phone calls. She got back in bed for a bit. Then, got back into the wheelchair once Blake, Brian, & I got there. She transfers back & forth really well.

She's able to check her email more often now, so feel free to drop her a line. ljwhite@sc.rr.com
She'll get back to you as soon as she can. She has her cell phone with her all the time, so you can call her too. She gets tired easily though & isn't always up for talking. If you leave her a message, she'll get back to you soon though.

I think she's ready to start having visitors, so stop by if you can. Please call first to make sure it's a good time.

Thanks so much for all the care & concern! We really appreciate it!

Home...

2010-05-20T18:20:00.002-04:00

Four weeks ago today (April 22), Mom left her house to go to a dinner with Daddy. Tomorrow (May 21) she returns for the first time since that night!

All the medical equipment arrived today. The dining room at my parents' house has been transformed into Mom's new room. She has a hospital bed, wheelchair, bedside potty chair, & CPM machine (machine that bends her knee). Insurance won't pay for an ambulance to bring her home from the rehab place, so Daddy is going to pick her up in the morning. The therapists will help her get loaded up & have taught her numerous exercises that she can do at home. She's supposed to receive therapy at home also, but I haven't heard the details on that yet.

Mom is so thrilled to be coming home! You can hear in her voice that she just sounds happier since she found out yesterday she was leaving. I will be taking Blake to see her tomorrow afternoon. She can't wait!

Thank you so much for all you've done so far! Already people are planning to bring dinner to Mom & Dad for the next several days. We are so blessed to have great friends like you!

Hooray!!!

2010-05-19T17:13:00.002-04:00

Mom is coming home on Friday!!!

Daddy raised Hell; calling everyone in the main office & it worked! They tried to convince him to let Mom stay, but he wasn't having it! Mom is so excited to be coming home soon!

So many of you have said you want to come visit Mom when she gets home & she wants to see all of you too! However, please give us a couple of days to get her settled before you come over.

Thanks so much for everything!

Wednesday's Update

2010-05-19T13:50:00.002-04:00

Still waiting to hear when Mom will be able to come home. A meeting is being held today with all therapists, etc. that work with Mom to discuss her goals & progress. We hope to have a definite answer after that meeting.

In the mean time, please pray for the family of Diane Lewis, my husband's aunt. She lost her battle with cancer last night. She leaves behind her husband-Norwood, children-Ginger Jacobs & Jody Lewis, granddaughter(s)-Skyler Jacobs& Lucy Lewis (to arrive in the next month or so), along with countless other friends & family. She will truly be missed! We love you, Aunt Diane!

Coming Home?

2010-05-17T22:48:00.002-04:00

I went to Mt. Pleasant to hang out with Mom today. I was hoping to get some answers about when she'd be able to leave. Unfortunately, I don't know any more than I did before. We're thinking that she might be able to come home later this week, but not sure. Wednesday will be 7 days that she's been there. BCBS pre-certified her for 7 days. Not sure if re-certifying her will be a big production or will just happen automatically. Daddy is going to be there with her tomorrow. He will interrogate everyone he sees about getting her released.

She did really well today with the little bit that I saw. She transferred from wheel chair to potty chair without help and from potty chair to bed without help. She hates it there. It's a really sad & depressing place to be, so hopefully she won't have to be there too much longer.

Rehab Update

2010-05-16T23:13:00.001-04:00

Going to Mt. Pleasant on Monday to visit Mom. Should find out more about when she's leaving there. It's looking like it will be Wednesday or Thursday.

Stay tuned...

She's Moved!

2010-05-13T22:00:00.002-04:00

Mom was finally moved to rehab this morning! It's actually just down the road from where we lived when we were there a couple of years ago. Here's her new address:

Sandpiper Rehab & Nursing
1049 Anna Knapp Blvd.
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
She's in Room 119.

We don't anticipate her being there very long; maybe only 7 days. If you want to send a card & want to make sure she doesn't miss it, just mail it to the house.

2505 Reta Street
Conway, SC 29526

She enjoys getting cards from you all. We've been taking cards to her that have come to the house. She keeps them with her to re-read when she's sitting around.
She continues to improve each day. She's the youngest person at the rehab place. She'll be racing around the hallways in no time!
She's not really excited about being there without Daddy. She got used to him waiting on her while she's been in the hospital. Now, she has to wait for a nurse to come help her when she needs something.
Physical therapy is going to keep her pretty busy during her days there. She has therapy pretty much all day. If you happen to be in the area, visiting hours are from 12-1pm & after 4pm. Call me if you want to visit & I can give you directions if you like, 803-447-0099.

Thanks again for everything! We appreciate you all so much! Mom can't wait to get back home to visit with you & get back to "normal".

No Kidding Around This Time!

2010-05-12T22:05:00.003-04:00

Mom is moving to rehab in the morning...finally!

She's going to Sandpiper Rehab & Nursing in Mt. Pleasant, SC. That's about an hour & a half away. We don't expect her to be there very long; 7-14 days. If you want to send a card, you should send it fast! I have the address, but will wait until I have her room number to post it. Will post it Thursday evening!

Thanks to all for checking here to keep up with Mom's progress! More soon!

No News is Good News...?

2010-05-11T22:22:00.002-04:00

I feel like I say this everyday, but I really believe it this time!

Mom should be moving to a rehab center in Mt. Pleasant tomorrow. I'll post the address once it's official.

Thanks for continuing to check here on Mom's status & for all the prayers!

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-09T23:19:00.003-04:00

We were hoping Mom would be out of MUSC for Mother's Day, but it didn't work out that way. I went up to Charleston on Friday to spend a couple of days with Mom & Dad. We celebrated our Mother's Day on Saturday. My brother went there to be with her today after he worked brunch.

Going to the bathroom has been a problem, but it seems that those issues have been resolved. Daddy has been trained on helping Mom with the bedpan & changing her sheets, etc. Today Daddy took her for a ride around the hospital once she got into the wheelchair. She even got to go outside for awhile. It was the first time she's been outside in over 2 weeks!

Mom wanted me to be home with Blake for Mother's Day, so I returned to Myrtle Beach last night. We went to church this morning, then lunch with my in-laws. Came home & took a nap while Blake napped. We went to Market Common after that. Walked around, fed the ducks, had some dinner at King Street Grille. Blake ate like such a big boy; using his fork & not throwing any food on the floor. We walked around a bit more, took some pictures by the fountain, then came home. All in all, a good day!

I know Mom is sad that she hasn't been able to see Blake since all this happened, but I plan on taking him to visit as soon as she's moved to rehab.

Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!

Friday Night Update

2010-05-07T22:25:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the delay in updating. There's not been a lot of new information to report.
I'm in Charleston with Mom & Dad this weekend. It now appears that Mom will be moving to a rehab center on Monday or Tuesday. We're thinking it will be HealthSouth in Charleston, but HealthSouth in Florence is a possibility as well. Who knows! I'm beyond trying to figure out how all this works. Daddy is staying in the room with Mom now. It's not especially comfortable for him, but he doesn't want to leave her. He won't come home until she gets sent to the rehab place.

That's all I know for now. Will post again once I know more. Thanks for all the cards, flowers, etc. that you've sent to the house & to the hospital. Mom enjoys them & frequently re-reads her cards. I spent some time reading emails I've received to her tonight & we didn't even get through half of them!
I'll post the address to the rehab place once I know it. We're told she'll only be there 7-10 days or so though.
Thanks for the continued concern! We appreciate all the thoughts & prayers!

Thursday Morning Update

2010-05-06T11:48:00.003-04:00

We were hoping that Mom would get transferred to a rehab facility in Garden City today, but they have denied her. Now, we're trying to find a place in Charleston that will take her. Having her closer to home would be better, but we've run out of options in the Myrtle Beach area. We're still hopeful that she will be able to leave MUSC no later than tomorrow.

Stay tuned....

Tuesday Update

2010-05-04T22:13:00.004-04:00

Mom had another good day. She got a new physical therapist & she likes this one much better. She felt that she did better with the new girl today. She'll continue to see this new therapist for the remainder of her time there.

Mom & Dad met with a caseworker from BCBS today. She gave them 3 options for rehab facilities. One in Pawley's Island, one in Garden City, & one in Florence. These are all ones we already knew about it. She will make the necessary phone calls tomorrow to see which one can take her. It will depend on availability & insurance. Daddy felt a lot better after speaking to the case worker. She will see things through to the end. We are still hopeful that Mom will get to leave this week on Thursday or Friday.

Daddy had an appointment in Loris yesterday. He was hoping the doctor would give him an idea about when he'd be able to drive, but the doctor was stuck in surgery. A nurse took out the stitches in hand. He'll have to see the doctor another time to get his ribs, etc. checked out. He's still sore, but it's not as bad as it was during the days immediately after the accident.

If you want to send a card to Mom or Dad, you can send it to her home address & we'll get it to her. I'll put the rehab address on here once I know it.

Linda or Al White
2505 Reta Street
Conway, SC 29526

Or you can email a note to me & I'll make sure s/he gets to read it. My email address is hwhite76@hotmail.com.

Thanks for continuing to check in our family. We appreciate all the concern!

Monday Update

2010-05-03T20:52:00.003-04:00

Mom continues to improve each day. She sits in the wheelchair for several hours each day. Getting into the wheelchair is still a struggle, but I think that's due to the fact the Mom & the PT don't see eye to eye. We hope to get a new therapist to work with Mom for the remainder of her time. She really liked the weekend therapist, but the girl that comes during the week isn't as good.

We're still hopeful that Mom will be leaving MUSC towards the end of the week. We were hoping she would be able to come to a rehab center in Myrtle Beach, but not sure if that will work out. She might have to go to a place in Florence (1 hour away). Mom & Dad are meeting with a BCBS case worker tomorrow at 5:30, so maybe we'll know more after that.

Thanks so much for keeping all of us in your prayers. We'll be needing them for several months to come!

Saturday Update

2010-05-01T15:25:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delay in updating! Mom is doing great! She has been working with the physical therapists each day. They did leg exercises with her & helped her get in the wheelchair. She sits in a wheelchair for several hours at at time. The doctors/nurses are amazed at how well she's doing!

It appears she is going to a rehab center in Myrtle Beach middle of next week. I'll post on here once I know exactly where & when.

Mom is so thankful for all the flowers & cards she has received. It's nice to know that so many are concerned & thinking about her.

I'm bringing Daddy home tomorrow so he can go to a follow-up appointment for his ribs, etc. on Monday.

Will update more when I can! Thanks again for all the thoughts & prayers!

Don't drink & drive!

2010-04-29T16:05:00.002-04:00

Heel Surgery

2010-04-29T15:50:00.001-04:00

Surgery on Mom's left heel is complete. Haven't heard from the doctor how it went, but we're assuming all went well. Mom is back up in the room & Daddy is up there with her. She was planning to try & take a nap.
Will post again later when I know more.

Mom's Address

2010-04-29T09:37:00.002-04:00

Here is Mom's address while she's at MUSC. From what we've been told, she may only be there another week & a half or so.

Linda White
MUSC Medical Center
169 Ashley Ave., Room 1077
Charleston, SC 29425

The Accident & After...

2010-04-28T21:45:00.005-04:00

Thursday, April 22, 2010
Mom & Dad (Linda & Al White) were hit head-on by a drunk driver at approximately 9:45pm. They were just seconds away from turning into the main entrance to their neighborhood, Chicora Subdivision, in Conway. They were taken to Loris Hospital (about 25 minutes away). Mom's injuries were more severe so she was airlifted to MUSC in Charleston, SC as a soon as a chopper was available. Daddy remained in Loris.

Daddy's injuries: 5 broken ribs (all on right side, under arm) & fractured sternum

Mom's injuries: dislocated & broken right hip, both knees broken, fractured left heel, & broken right ankle. There were also other fractures throughout the pelvis & legs, but those were the main ones.

Monday, April 26, 2010
Mom had surgery to repair broken hip & both knees. Daddy had been released from Loris Hospital over the weekend & was finally able to come to Charleston to be with Mom.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The physical therapists have already been working with Mom to keep her joints mobile. They got her out of bed today & into a wheelchair for about 45 minutes. Also, each leg has had several hours in a machine that bends her knee up & down a little.

Thursday, April 29, 2010
Mom is scheduled to have surgery to repair her left heel at 11am. Will update on that once it hear how it goes.

Daddy is still sore & has to move around pretty slowly. Use of his right arm is limited since all his broken ribs are on that side. Other than that, he is doing pretty well.

It appears that Mom should be able to leave MUSC at the end of next week. Then, she'll be in a rehab facility closer to home for about 2 weeks. She should be able to come home after that & receive physical therapy 3 times a week. We are told it will be at least 3 months before she can put any weight on her legs.

Will update more when I have more information!
Thanks for all the prayers & concern!

Repurposing of Blog

2010-04-28T21:15:00.003-04:00

I created this blog when I was pregnant with Blake so I could share all the wonderful things happening with our family. Now, I'm changing the purpose of this blog. I will still post pictures & information about Blake, but mostly these posts will be about Mom & Dad over the next few weeks/months.

So many people have inquired about my parents & their recent car accident. I'm unable to keep up with all the emails, texts, & phone calls. So, I'm going to post updates here every day or so on their progress. Please feel free to continue emailing, texting, & calling me; but understand that I may not be able to get back to you for a couple of days.

Thanks so much for understanding & for all the prayers & concern for our family. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends & family!
Stay tuned...

Exciting Times!

2010-03-04T23:27:00.009-05:00

So much has been happening with Blake recently! He'll be 14 months next week & he's really started to blossom the last couple of weeks! I've been hesitant to post about his milestones because he's behind a lot of peers. We go to baby story time once a week at Chapin Library, & it's been evident for quite some time that he was developmentally behind children that were even much younger than him. It was a little depressing to go each week & see other babies crawl, pull up, walk, etc. & know that Blake wasn't close to doing any of those things. You try not to compare or let things bother you, but it's really hard!

When December rolled around (11 months old) & he still hadn't pulled up yet, I decided it was time to take action. I found out about BabyNet through a friend. BabyNet is a free service through DHEC that helps children under age 3 that appear to be developing slowly. He qualified in a couple of areas & has been receiving services since January. He's currently being seen by 3 different people.

Lyndsay is an early interventionist & helps him a little in all areas. She's sort of like our case worker. Marissa is his speech therapist & has only seen him once so far. He's only a month or two behind according to her tests, so I'm not as concerned about him in that area. Katie is his physical therapist. She's only seen him one time, but we've seen more progress since that one visit than anything else. She first saw him on Monday, February 22. The next day, he crawled on all fours for the first time. He only went a couple of steps, but it was amazing! He's been "army crawling" for quite some time. He's also been getting up on all fours & rocking back & forth, so we knew crawling was coming soon. Also, he's just started pulling up in the last couple of days too! He doesn't pull to standing yet, but he gets up on his knees. He attempted to stand tonight for the first time, but fell down & wasn't interested in trying again. He also went from all fours to a seated position for the first time yesterday.

I'm so excited & so relieved by all the progress he's making! Everyone says not to worry. All kids develop differently, which I know is true. At some point, however, there's a real concern that he's not developing properly. I know there's nothing wrong with him & truly believe this all related to his mellow, laid-back personality.

In addition to his physical developments, he's making gains in other areas too! He can do the following:

Give five

Hold up 1 finger when asked how old he is

Point to the ceiling when asked where the fan or light is

Give a kiss on the cheek

Blow a kiss

Wave bye-bye

Put blocks into the train (there's a slot on top where you put the block & it shoots out a hole in the back to put the block into a trailer)

He eats a lot more table foods now too. Tomatoes seem to be his current favorite!

I'm sure there are other things I can't remember at the moment. I'll update this as I remember.

Words he can say...

MaMa

DaDa

No-no

Ball

Puppy

Uh oh

Night-night

There are a lot of other words where he says the beginning sounds. He also repeats a lot of what he hears. So, we have to watch what we say & watch on TV these days!

That's all I have to report for now! I'll keep you all updated! He's doing something new everyday!

Family Fun

2010-02-22T18:40:00.006-05:00

Blake got to hang out with Granna, Pappy, Aunt Wendy, Uncle John, & all his cousins this past weekend. Wade brought his John Deere Gator & took him for a spin!

Where'd my driver go?

I'll be driving in no time!

On the inside, looking out!

Blake likes to swing with Granna!

February Fun

2010-02-22T17:59:00.002-05:00

More pictures of the latest happenings...

Granna & Pappy came to visit on Valentine's Day!

And they brought me a bath toy!

Playing with the frog & duck puppets that LaLa gave me!

Graham crackers are delicious!

Snow!

2010-02-22T17:31:00.005-05:00

Valentine's weekend brought snow to Myrtle Beach! It was Blake's first snow, sort of! (We got a few flurries last year, but he was only a few weeks old so we didn't go outside.) The snow brought a lot of excitement to the Grand Strand. We rarely get snow & even more rarely get a few inches of accumulation. We took Blake outside, but he wasn't very interested. He didn't want to touch the snow. It was too cold for him! Here are some pics of the momentous occasion!

How often do you see snow on the beach?

A lot of it had already melted by the time I got down there to take pictures!

So Much to Report!

2010-01-20T11:36:00.002-05:00

January has been a whirlwind so far!

Blake started the New Year with a double ear infection & really bad sore throat. Poor little guy! After a couple of weeks of antibitotics, we went back to the doctor a couple of days before his birthday & it was a good thing we did! Blake still had a double ear infection, sore throat, AND bronchiolitis! After more antibiotics & a few days of breathing treatments, however, he was feeling better & back to normal!

Blake's birthday was January 13 & it was lots of fun! Aunt Wendy came to visit & brought a cupcake and a balloon. The balloon didn't last very long, but the cupcake was delicious!

We had more visitors that night. Uncle B made dinner & we were joined by LaLa & Grandpa White. Granna & Pappy came over too! There was more cake to eat & presents to open.

Click HERE to see more photos from Blake's birthday!

January 16 was Blake's 1st birthday party! It was a blast!. The theme was football & most of the guests wore their favorite team gear to the party. Blake got lots of great toys & some cool summer clothes! We're so thankful to everyone that came out to celebrate Blake's special day; especially those who traveled from far away to come! (Thanks Mike & Jane, Sarah & Jessica!)

Click HERE to see more birthday party photos!

In the last few weeks, Blake has been moving around a lot more. He still doesn't crawl in the conventional way, but he gets around pretty fast by army crawling everywhere. He's also learned to say "No, no, no" while shaking his head. He usually gives us a big grin when we tell him no, which makes it even harder to say no to him.

He learns something new everyday & we're so blessed to have him our lives! Now, we're looking forward to warmer weather so we can get outside more!

Blake's First Christmas

2009-12-30T08:35:00.000-05:00

Blake's first Christmas was lots of fun. He didn't really know what was going on, but he enjoyed all the paper & boxes. He got lots of great clothes & fun toys! The festivities started on Christmas Eve. We went to Ron & Tammy's (Ron works with Brian). They are so sweet & always have a little gift for Blake. Then, we had the Lewis Christmas at Aunt Diane's house. After that we went to Leonard & Diane's house to have Christmas with them & the Martin family. Christmas Day, we woke up & did our Christmas (the 3 of us). Then, we went to my parents' house for Christmas with them. Blake was exhausted after all the activities that week! I took millions of pictures, of course! Click the link below to see them all. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas & have a safe & Happy New Year!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=128351&id=605989335&l=b7b2bd8734

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T10:02:00.000-05:00

Christmas is almost here!
Here are a few pics of all the fun we've been having this December.

This cow was one of Brian's toys as a child. Blake loves it!

Blake helping out with the laundry

Blake is Santa's Helper in his Christmas pajamas

Blake's winter hat-the only one that fits him.

Blake meets Santa!

He did such a great job! Smiled & laughed the whole time!

Sizing each other up!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2009-12-06T22:01:00.000-05:00

Blake's first Christmas is almost here! He's not as into the tree as I thought he would be. He did play with the ornaments when I sat him down next to the tree. Most of the time he doesn't even pay attention to it though. I've been working on our Christmas cards & hope to send them out later this week! I haven't started any shopping yet, but I usually wait until the last minute anyway.

I'll be busy this week with Thirty-One stuff! This weekend is the cut-off to place orders to get them in time for Christmas! www.mythirtyone.com/hwlewis.

Hope everyone is doing well! I'll try to be better about putting pictures on here! I know we'll have lots coming up!

Blake's First Halloween & other stuff...

2009-11-01T10:44:00.000-05:00

We've been quite busy this month. Lots to report! Blake had his 9 month check up a couple of weeks ago. He's doing great! Weight is 25th percentile, Length is 90th percentile, & head is 95th percentile. I asked the doc about Blake's head & upon further review, he noticed that Blake's head had grown rapidly in the last several months. We had a CT scan done & discovered he has something called benign external hydrocephalus. It sounds a little scary, but is actually not. He has fluid on the outside of his brain, but it doesn't cause any problems or developmental delays. It will level out on its own in a couple of years. SO, Blake just has a big head...for now!

Blake has been sitting up for awhile now & hardly ever falls over anymore. He can eat his Puffs all by himself. He isn't crawling yet, but scoots all around on the floor. I think it's just a matter of time before he starts to crawl!

Fall brought lots of cute photo ops! We got pics of Blake with his first pumpkin, another visit with Granny, along with his first Halloween! You can click the link below to see pics of all the fun we've been having this month! Love to you all!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111322&id=605989335&l=19dfc483b4

Blake Swinging (Another Version)

2009-10-05T22:08:00.000-04:00

Due to popular demand, I'm uploading another video of Blake swinging. This one is more of a close-up of his face. Still lots of laughing! Enjoy!

A Day at the Park

2009-10-02T21:27:00.000-04:00

October is here & the weather has been great the last few days! Today was especially fun! Daddy got off work early, so we went to Market Common to walk around. We got something to eat at Gordon Biersch, wandered around in Barnes & Noble, then went to the park. Blake loves the swing, as you can see below. He wasn't too impressed with the slide. We plan to go the park to play as often as we can!

Love that belly laugh! I could listen to it all day!

Videos of Blake

2009-09-09T21:34:00.000-04:00

Blake is able to really enjoy his jumparoo a lot more than when we first got it! He loves jumping up & down. He stayed in there for two different 45 minute sessions!

He was so exhausted after Jumparoo time that he fell asleep before bath time. We decided to bathe him anyway, thinking that he would wake up when we undressed him. We were wrong!

If he sleeps well tonight, you can bet the Jumparoo will be used daily!
I'll keep you updated on that!

The Summer of Blake...

2009-08-28T20:10:00.000-04:00

We've been having such a blast with Blake this summer. He's 7.5 months old now & learns something new everyday! His top 2 front teeth are in & the teeth on either side of those will be in soon. Since he's got teeth on top & bottom now, he likes to click them together. He still laughs & smiles constantly! He's such a sweetie! We are so blessed. He still doesn't sleep through the night yet, but I'm hopeful he'll get the hang of it soon. Here are some recent pics.

Loves playing in the pool!

Found a new bath time toy!

Definitely not a vegetarian!

Enjoying the summer breeze while Pappy swings the hammock.

Sitting with cousin Wade in the hammock.
I think they needed some sunglasses.

The twins enjoyed the hammock too!

Playing in the sandbox with Granna.

The remote king!

Chillin' with Uncle B

Showing off the pearly whites!

Photo Shoot-6.5 months old

2009-08-06T22:28:00.000-04:00

We had some professional pictures taken this past weekend. Some of our little family & some of just Blake. They turned out really cute! Click the link to see most of the pics!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92217&id=605989335&l=6c9bb32f84

Have a great day!

The Cutest Baby in the World

2009-07-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Seriously, have you ever seen anything as cute as this?!

I didn't think so!

6 month update

2009-07-15T23:16:00.000-04:00

Blake turned 6 months old on Monday. He went for his checkup with Dr. Rabon on Tuesday. He weighs 16lbs, 10 oz & is 27 inches long. He did really well during the actual shots; only cried for a bit. He's been a little more fussy than usual this week though; due to gas & poop problems. Hopefully, that will get straightened out soon. Here are some recent pics...

Daddy & Blake wearing their favorite hats!

Just woke up from a nap! (I added the blanket to his head.)

Blake meets "Uncle" Mike!

July

2009-07-04T23:32:00.001-04:00

Granny came to town & met Blake for the first time!

He showed her how to make a fist.

4 generations...

Blake stayed overnight with my parents for the first time this past weekend so that we could celebrate our 6th anniversary. Blake is wearing some of Daddy's socks to keep his feet warm.

Getting ready to go for a dip in the pool at Granna's house.

Happy 4th from my Little Firecracker!

Blake with his cousins.
(From left: Reed, Logan, Wade, & Blake)

5 Months Old...

2009-06-18T23:31:00.001-04:00

Blake turned 5 months old on Saturday! Where has the time gone? To celebrate, we got him in the pool for the first time. I think he really liked it, but it was hard to tell. He was his usual mellow self!

Drying off with Daddy after pool time!

Playing with my puppy in the crib!

Mommy got a new haircut!

Mr. Photogenic

2009-06-11T23:55:00.000-04:00

Blake went to watch his Daddy's softball game for the first time this week.
He had his game face on!

They lost, even though Blake had his rally cap on!
Getting a hug from Cousin Wade!
Help!
Bath Time in the sink!

Playing in the Jumparoo for the first time!

More Blake...

2009-06-05T17:46:00.001-04:00

Blake is quickly following in his Daddy's footsteps.
Sitting in the recliner with the remote!

Last night was our first time eating green beans.
Before:

After:

A LOT messier than eating cereal! At one point, it was on his eyebrows!

Blake's Bedroom & Bathroom-Picture Heavy Post

2009-05-31T22:23:00.000-04:00

We finished up Blake's room today & it's really cute! Here are some pics of the finished product.

I made these curtain rods myself. The pictures don't really do them justice. They turned out really cute! 2 bats glued together with a baseball on either end.

I've got a thing for monkeys! Can you tell?

Blake hopes everyone had a great Memorial Day!

More Exciting News...

2009-05-27T21:56:00.001-04:00

Blake is 4.5 months old today. He developed a little cold (sneezing, coughing, runny nose), so I decided to take him to the doctor to get everything checked out. Last time he had all these symptoms he had an ear infection as well.
He had a great doctor visit. He weighed 15lbs, 4oz with his clothes/diaper on. He was very well-behaved, laughing & smiling during his exam. No ear infection & the congestion isn't in his lungs-only in his head. Then, she looked in his mouth & what did she see?!
A tooth poking through!
Hooray! It must have just gotten there because I just felt around in there a few days ago & didn't feel anything. It will be difficult to get a picture of this milestone, but don't think I won't try!

Rice Cereal

2009-05-17T23:07:00.001-04:00

Tonight was our first attempt feeding Blake cereal. Not very successful as far as him actually eating any, but it was fun to watch him try! Here are a few pics & a video of him trying to eat cereal.
I don't think he liked it. What do you think?

Whew! Thank goodness that's over!

Mother's Day & more...

2009-05-16T23:22:00.001-04:00

I celebrated my first Mother's Day last weekend & it was great!
Here are Blake & I in the front yard. It was bright out. That's why we're so squinty!

Monday, May 11 was B's birthday. We celebrated by going to dinner at P.F.Chang's.
It was delicious!

Blake turned 4 months old on Wednesday. I looked back at some old pics.
Here's Blake with a loaf of bread & at about 1 week old!

And here's Blake with a loaf of bread at 4 months old!

Blake also had a playdate with his friend, Ryan, this week. They weren't really that interested in each other. They just looking at us since we were taking a million pictures of them.

Blake is such a happy baby all the time.
I'm so blessed to have him & am thankful for him everyday!

Blake Rolled Over!

2009-05-08T20:02:00.000-04:00

Actually, it was more like the weight of his head caused him to tip over, but it's still exciting! He did it 3 or 4 times today! Yay!!
Brian was at work & didn't get to see it the first time. And by the time he got home, Blake was eating & couldn't do tummy time on a full stomach. We'll have more tummy time later though!

Laughter is the Best Medicine!

2009-05-05T22:48:00.000-04:00

Blake smiles & laughs all the time now! It's so sweet! Here's a short video of him laughing. Unfortunately, I had the camera turned the wrong way. So, you'll have to turn your head (or your computer) sideways. Also, Brian thinks I'm waiting to take a picture. He doesn't realize I'm videoing.
It's hard to believe that Blake was as tiny as his new cousins when he was born! He'll be 4 months old next week!

Double the Pleasure...

2009-05-05T22:40:00.000-04:00

Double the Fun...
The Martin Twins have arrived! Logan James & Reed William arrived at 10:40 & 10:43am, respectively, on May 5, 2009. Logan was 5lbs, 8oz & Reed was 6lbs, 9oz. Here are a few pics!

Logan (back) & Reed (front)

Logan

Reed

Looks like Wendy has her hands full!

Getting Settled...

2009-05-04T23:43:00.000-04:00

We moved in to our new place last week & are getting settled. Blake's room has been painted & we've unpacked most of his stuff. All that's left is to hang things on the walls, etc. Will try to post some pics soon!

Blake's Dedication Service

2009-04-26T23:26:00.000-04:00

Blake was dedicated yesterday at my home church, North Conway Baptist. It was a really sweet service. Blake was VERY well behaved! Everyone commented on how good he was! He received a New Testament bible & a certificate. During the prayer, he was smiling & laughing! Our families were there. It was a perfect day!

Poor Blake! He was so tired from all the excitement!

On the Move Again...

2009-04-25T17:30:00.000-04:00

A couple of days ago, we got the CO for our new apartment! Today we painted Blake's room & brought over the large furniture pieces from the storage unit. We'll move the rest over the next few days & should be all moved in by the end of the week! YAY!!! I'll try to post some pics of our new place (& Blake, of course!) soon.
P.S. Baby dedication for Blake at NCBC tomorrow. I'll have pics (& possibly video) of that too!

Update!

2009-04-20T05:14:00.000-04:00

It's 5:00AM & Blake just woke up. He hadn't rolled over, but was laying completely perpendicular to the way we put him down! One of his feet was even almost sticking out between the bars of his crib! We'll see if it happens again or if it was a fluke! It won't be long now!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2009-04-19T23:30:00.000-04:00

There's been lots going on the last couple of weeks. Blake & I have had lots of outings!

On April 5, we helped throw a baby shower for my sis-in-law, Wendy. Her twin boys are due to arrive on May 5! She got lots of great things to help prepare for their arrival!

My friend, Cherie, came to visit from Columbia during her spring break. She met Blake for the first time & treated me to a belated birthday lunch. Thanks, Cherie!

We've started trying on some of the hats we have for Blake. Most are still too big, but we did find one that fits.

I don't think he liked it, but only because he didn't know how cute he looked!

We had a great Easter with both our families!

Unfortunately, it appears that camera has seen its last days. The flash no longer works & all our pictures come out dark. I'm having to rely on others to email me pictures they take of us.
So, it looks like we'll be camera shopping soon.

On a happier note, we should be able to get the CO on our new place next week, so we could be moving next weekend! Keep your fingers crossed!

My Cup Runneth Over...

2009-04-03T00:33:00.000-04:00

Today (April 2) I celebrated my thirty (gulp!) third birthday!
Last night was dinner & cake with my parents, brother, Brian, & Blake. It was a traditional Griswold celebration with the blowing out of candles, then a re-enactment of the blowing out of candles because of "camera malfunction".
For my actual birthday, I spent the day with Blake. It was a typical day with feedings, burpings, diaper changes, & naps. But I swear he smiled at me more today than he ever has. It's as if he knew it was my birthday & was giving me little gifts all day long. My mom (LaLa) came over in the evening to watch Blake so that I could meet Brian for dinner & a movie. We had a delicious dinner at PF Chang's & then saw the movie, "Taken". It was a great night. After we left the movie, Brian presented me with a very sweet card. I also got a heart shaped necklace from him & matching earrings from Blake. I was so surprised & touched! I have a wonderful husband & family. Last year at this time, we didn't even know about Blake & how our life was soon going to change forever! Now, we can't imagine our lives without him! I am truly blessed!

Happy Easter

2009-03-29T18:45:00.001-04:00

Blake met the Easter Bunny this past week.
He wasn't really that impressed.

Brian said he was making this face because he was upset about the outfit I made him wear.
I thought his outfit was adorable!

My two favorite men! Both received these hats for Christmas. Blake's finally fits him (almost)!

Caution! Extreme Cuteness Ahead!

2009-03-17T22:19:00.000-04:00

Blake & Grandma (or LaLa as she will be called).

Blake & Gramps dressed alike in their sweater vests!

It wasn't planned, I promise!

Seriously, have you ever seen a cuter baby in your life?!

We're going to put that Gerber baby out of a job!

He's going to break some hearts, for sure!

Baby Aerobics

2009-03-16T18:12:00.000-04:00

Holy Breast Milk, Batman!

2009-03-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

Now, I know how a cow feels! Both pink tubs on the bottom shelf are full of milk. Plus, I've already sent 2 coolers full of frozen breast milk to my parents' house to keep in their freezer! And I've thawed some out to use too! We can barely fit any food in there!

This is getting ridiculous!

More Pictures

2009-03-09T21:29:00.000-04:00

More pictures of Blake...

Here's Blake with his cousin, Wade.

Sacked out!

My friend, Amy, knitted this outfit for Blake (hat, sweater, mitts, & socks). Isn't it cute?

Sharp dressed man! Dressed in his Sunday best!

Brian & I look dazed.

Me at 7 weeks old.

Can you see the resemblance between Blake & I?

Ready for the wintry weather!

Blake & Dr. White at my 6 week postpartum appointment. She was the one who delivered him.

I finally managed to capture him smiling! The picture is a little dark though.

Is that the cutest thing you've ever seen or what?

Sitting up like a big boy!

Picture Update

2009-02-13T22:22:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks!

Blake hates bath time...

...but he loves snuggling up in his towel afterwards.

Hi Gramps!

Blake has worn Daddy out!

No need for anyone to hold his bottle! Blake has great suction!

Nice to meet you!

Let's hold hands!

The ultimate sports fan!

Blake loves looking at lights; lamps, overhead lights-it doesn't matter.

Just chillin'!

Fist bumpin' with cousin Wade!

Give me five!

We are having so much fun with our little man! Everyday he does something amazing & cute! I'll keep the pictures coming!

4 weeks old

2009-02-10T14:31:00.001-05:00

The time has flown by! I can't believe that Blake is 4 weeks old already. So much has happened in the last 4 weeks! Brian was offered a new job, Blake was born, & we moved to Myrtle Beach! Blake & I are starting to get into a routine. Even though I'm still sleep deprived, I'm starting to cope with it a little better, I think.
I've not taken as many pictures over the last week & a half since we've moved here, but I'll try to post some later. The cable to upload the pictures is in the laptop bag & Brian has that at work. I'll try to upload pictures soon.
This past week Blake had his first dinner outing (Carolina Roadhouse-he slept through the whole thing) & his first trip to church. Everyone oohed & aahed over him (And why shouldn't they? He IS adorable)!
He's growing bigger each day. His face is starting to fill out & is getting rather chubby looking. His eyes are very blue at the moment. Neither of us have blue eyes, so Brian is wondering where those came from. My reading tells me that it could take up to 9 months for them to change to their permanent color. So, we'll see...
More updates later!

Moving Day!

2009-01-29T18:58:00.000-05:00

The day before Blake was born, Brian was offered a job in Myrtle Beach. We were obviously excited since this is where our family & friends are! So, during this exciting time of learning how to deal with a newborn, we've been trying to pack up our apartment. Tomorrow is moving day! My parents & brother, along with Brian's parents and some others are arriving tomorrow morning to load up the trucks & head to Myrtle Beach. We'll be moving into a temporary place in the Carolina Forest area while we wait for our new apartment to be ready (at the back gate of the AFB).
Wish us luck & I'll post again as soon as I can!

I Can't Stop Taking Pictures!

2009-01-25T20:57:00.000-05:00

I've always loved taking lots of pictures of friends & family! Now, I've got the perfect subject! He's so stinking cute & he can't get away from me when I get the camera out! Here are a few Kodak moments that were too good to resist!

After bath time

Like father, like son! "Watching" the USC basketball game together!

So tiny! He is larger than a loaf of bread though, but just barely!

1 week old

2009-01-21T17:20:00.000-05:00

Blake turned 1 week old yesterday & it's been a whirlwind already! He had his 1 week doctor's appt on Monday. We moved it up a little because we concerned by his yellowish tint. The doctor assured us that all was well. He had already grown a 1/4 inch to 19.75 inches long. Also, he gained an ounce from when he left the hospital (5lb, 14 oz at birth.5lb, 10 oz when he left the hospital). We go back next week to check his weight again. We're hoping he'll be back up to his birth weight or more by then.

He continues to get frequent hiccups, just like when he was in the womb!

Here's a picture of Blake at one week next to Ted for size comparison. I'm going to try to do this on a regular basis to show how he's growing.

Also, on another note...
More good news!

Brian's been offered a job in Myrtle Beach! We have to move in 10 days though, so it's going to be pretty hectic around here (as if it wasn't already). I'll post more when I can!

Introducing James Blake Lewis (picture heavy post)

2009-01-17T12:10:00.001-05:00

Blake (as he will be called) has arrived & he is perfect!
He came into this world Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 1:18pm. He weighed 5lbs, 14 oz & was 19.5 inches long. Here are the first of many pictures of our beautiful little man! The delivery was remarkably easy! I am so blessed!

Smiling already!

Such a cutie!

Our happy family!

We are getting used to life at home! Will try to post more pics soon! He's very photogenic!

Ted

2009-01-11T15:15:00.001-05:00

Many of you know that Ted has been with me for some time. I always said that I would give up Ted when I had a baby. However, with that day rapidly approaching, I think I've changed my mind. I found a picture from when I first received Ted, Christmas 1987. My brother happened to be in town, so we decided to try to recreate the memory.

Of course, we didn't have the 1980s furniture or wood wall paneling available, but you get the idea. B even tried to mimic his blank look from years ago. Ted is looking a little worse for wear, but I say we've all aged pretty well over the past 21 years!

Nursery Pics

2009-01-06T21:39:00.000-05:00

The nursery is pretty much done. Most all of the finishing touches in place. Here are some pictures of the room our little boy will call home!

The furniture is a bit big for the room & we won't always have this much stuff in here, but there isn't room to put it anywhere else at the moment. The stroller & bouncy seat will be relocated once he arrives.

The green bassinet will probably be in our room by our bed or in the living room most of the time.

I'm going to get the letters of his name painted barn red to hang above the crib. I plan to get those this week.

I absolutely LOVE these shelves! They are so cute & obviously perfect for this sports-themed room! Anyone who knows Brian knows that this little guy will have sports in his genes.

I'm still trying to figure out what to put on these shelves. I'll probably get Brian's baseball glove to go up there & a few other sports-related things.

These little blue booties were knitted for us by a lady that lives here at the property.

Memo board above the dresser is a Christmas present from my mom.

This little football rider is a gift from Brian's cousin, Delana. Does she know her cousin well or what?

I'm proud to say I built this cubby shelf myself. It's great for storage below the clothes in the closet. And the colors match the crib bedding.

Overall, I think the room turned out really cute! Can't wait for our little man to arrive & see how we've prepared for him!

Any Day Now!

2009-01-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

I had another ob appt today. I am officially 36 weeks & 6 days pregnant! The doctor told me this morning that I'm 3cm dilated & 50% effaced, so it could happen any time now!
The nursery is pretty much finished. I will try to post some pictures of that tonight!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T10:02:00.000-05:00

New Year's Eve found me 36 weeks pregnant! Here are a few pictures of my baby bump!

Brian & I had a very low-key New Year's. We went out to dinner, then came home to watch the various New Year's specials on TV. Brian wore a new outfit he got for Christmas. He's very proud of it & feels sure that he will start a new trend across the Lowcountry!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-17T14:37:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from The Lewis Family!

Love, Brian, Heather, & Baby Boy Lewis!

Non-Stress Test

2008-12-15T21:10:00.000-05:00

I had a nonstress last week to check the baby's movement, etc. I had noticed decreased fetal movement & wanted to be sure everything okay. They strapped a couple of monitors to my belly & monitored the baby's heartbeats and movements for awhile.

Not very attractive, I'm afraid! I got some video during the non-stress test. The best audio came from a video aimed at the machine. They said that everything looked & sounded great with Baby Boy Lewis.

Also, my gestational diabetes appears to be under control, but I'm craving carbs & chocolate more than ever! I'm meeting with a pediatrician this week & have another ob appt on Thursday. The nursery is pretty much done, except for some finishing touches. Now, I just have to get through Christmas. I'll have some nursery pics to post soon!

2009-The Year of the Stork

2008-12-15T20:51:00.000-05:00

The stork will be busy next year! Our bundle of joy is due in late January! As if that wasn't exciting enough, my sis-in-law is expecting twins in May! Congrats Wendy & John! And good luck to you!

Showers Galore!

2008-12-11T12:22:00.001-05:00

I am so blessed to have such great friends & family! Overall, I've had 4 baby showers & have received countless wonderful items. My first shower was given by my home church, North Conway Baptist, which I wrote about earlier. Then, Aunt Wendy & Granna gave us a shower over Thanksgiving weekend with the Hardwick & Lewis familes. Then, my work (Modulant) threw us a shower. Then, Brian's work (Hibben Ferry) gave us a shower this past weekend. I'm so thankful to everyone! Below is a link to my shutterfly page where you can see pics from each shower. There are also some pictures of the dresser & changing table assembly!
Enjoy!
http://heatherbrianandbabymakes3.shutterfly.com/

Pipe Down!

2008-11-30T19:40:00.000-05:00

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving Brian & I got quite a surprise (& it wasn't a good one)! The toilet supply line in the guest bathroom burst & we came home to find 2-3 inches of water throughout the front half of our apartment. Luckily, it doesn't look like we had any real damage, but it was a big hassle to clean up!

The furniture had to be moved all to one side of the room so that the water could be extracted from the carpet. Then, the furniture was all moved to the other side of the room. You can see my foot in the corner. I was supervising all the furniture moving.

Brian was a quick thinker & immediately took care of the dining room table & chairs before he took care of the big screen TV. Luckily, we don't seem to have any damage.

So, the water was sucked up & fans were placed around the apartment to help dry the carpet and padding. We left town Wednesday evening for Thanksgiving & returned Sunday to a 93 degree apartment. Someone was supposed to come turn the fans off or take them away on Friday, but that didn't happen. The fan motors caused it to heat up in the apartment, so it was quite warm. On the plus side, though, the carpet is REALLY dry.

Hopefully, a carpet cleaning is all that's left to remedy the problem!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was great! I had a free pass on checking my blood on Thursday, so I carbed out! Now, I'm trying to get back on track.

Also, my mother-in-law & sister-in-law threw me a great shower over the weekend. More details on that later!

Shower & Nursery Updates

2008-11-19T19:03:00.000-05:00

My hometown church threw me a shower a couple of weekends ago.

It was very nice & I got lots of great things!

Brian came at the end to help load up all our goodies!

The next weekend my in-laws came to help paint the nursery.

It turned out really cute.

These decals will go around the room in intervals once we get the rest of the furniture in there.

Brian's family is throwing me a shower Thanksgiving weekend. We're so blessed to have such great people around to help us prepare for our little one! I'll have more pictures to share soon!

Merry Christmas (in early November)!

2008-11-13T13:54:00.000-05:00

Christmas seems to come earlier & earlier every year! This past week I've hummed along to Christmas carols as I shopped in Wal-mart. Last weekend I went home to Conway where I encountered this evidence in the downtown area that Christmas has definitely come too early this year!

Here you can see that the Christmas wreaths have already been attached to the streetlights downtown right next to the scarecrows & Halloween decorations outside of Town Hall. Also, flags still line the street from Election Day!

What gives!

Carbs are No Longer My Friend...

2008-11-07T18:17:00.000-05:00

I found out this week that I have gestational diabetes. This means that I have to cut back on my carbs & check my blood sugar 4 times a day by pricking my finger. It's not too bad; just requires more planning at meal times.
On a happier note, we're heading home this weekend where my home church in Conway is giving me a baby shower. I'm really about it! I'll get to see lots of people I haven't seen in awhile & hopefully get some much needed baby things.

I'll have pictures from the shower to share next week. More updates soon!

Crib Assembly

2008-10-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

The nursery is slowly coming together! We worked a lot in there Saturday & took quite a bit to storage. Now, all that's left in there is the guest bed & computer desk (which my parents are getting next weekend) and a file cabinet (which will probably move to our room). Also, we put the crib together Saturday night & it looks great!

There were a couple of big gashes in the box when we picked it up, so we were a little concerned that the crib might be damaged, but it was packed in there really well so no problems!

I tried to take more pictures, but Brian wasn't cooperating. There was once time when he was actually standing on his head screwing something in! I tried to be sneaky & take a pic, but he caught me & moved! Here are a few pics of the process & the finished product!

Even though a hammer wasn't really required for the crib assembly, Brian wanted to pose with it anyway.

Isn't it pretty?!

Maybe we'll get the crib mattress & some of the other large furniture next weekend when my family is here with the truck! Hooray!

Back from NY

2008-10-21T14:02:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I went to upstate NY to visit my friend Jessica & help her celebrate her marriage! It was quite chilly there, but overall a great weekend. Here are a few pics from the reception I attended for Sarah & Jessica.

It was a really nice brunch reception & we had a great visit! Next time I see her will be in May when they come to Myrtle Beach for a vacation. They'll get to meet Baby Boy Lewis then who will be about 4 months old.

Belly shots! (not the kind you're thinking of though)

2008-10-14T12:19:00.000-04:00

It's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

My company had a fall luncheon last week & I decided to dress Halloween style. I'm shaped like a pumpkin, so why not dress like one? It also coincided with our 24th week, so Brian took a few pics.

I had a Halloween headband & Halloween toe socks to complete the ensemble, but decided to nix those for the pictures.

Here's another pic from a few days prior to the ones above.

6 months prego!

2008-10-11T11:20:00.000-04:00

We've passed the 6 month mark & all is well.
We had another ultrasound appointment this past week & have more pictures to share! This will probably be the last ultrasound we have.

In case anyone had any lingering doubts, let me put those to rest.

Baby Lewis is still a boy!

Heartbeat is nice & strong, 155 bpm.

It appears he takes after his daddy in the big feet department.
They look pretty big to me for as little as he still is.

I tried to upload a video of this same view, but it wouldn't cooperate.
At first, we thought Baby Boy Lewis was scratching his head.
But in the video, he was perfectly still, so maybe he was sleeping. It's funny because sometimes Brian sleeps like that, with his hand on his forehead.

Progress!

2008-10-02T12:58:00.000-04:00

We are 23 weeks along in our journey to meet Baby Boy Lewis & progress is being made..slowly, but surely. We've narrowed down a list of names, although still no clear winner yet. And the guest room is ever so slowly transforming into a nursery. We've sold a few things on craigslist & just need to pack up some items & take boxes over to the storage unit. Then, all that will remain is the guest bed, which will stay in place as long as possible before it moves to my parents' house to live.
Brian & I went to Babies R Us last night. We registered for a few items & bought a crib! And last weekend, Wendy helped me register for some things at Target. I've even come up with a tentative design plan for the nursery! Hooray!
Baby Boy Lewis has become more active in recent weeks. He moves around quite a bit now & can be felt by people other than me as well. Occasionally, I've had my hand on my belly & he kicks so hard that my hand visibly moves. It's so strange & exciting!
We have another (& probably our final) ultrasound next week, so I should have more pictures (& maybe a video) to share.
I think that's all the news to report for now! More info to come soon!

Baby Movements

2008-09-12T13:51:00.000-04:00

It was the tiniest of flutterings! If I hadn't been laying perfectly still & quiet, I wouldn't have noticed it. I was reading in bed the other night when I felt a slight twitter in my stomach! I felt him again last night as I lay on the couch. It was like a gas bubble popped in my stomach. Baby Boy Lewis is making himself known! Hooray!

Labor Day Weekend & Recent News!

2008-09-09T19:59:00.000-04:00

My in-laws came to town for Labor Day weekend. We packed a lot into the 2 days we had. We visited the Angel Oak Tree (twice), Patriots Point, Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter, & the market area downtown.
Alos, we found out yesterday that Baby Lewis will be Baby BOY Lewis! We're so excited! I've tried unsuccessfully to be able to insert a slideshow of pictures of Baby Lewis in here. In the mean time, you can see our photos here. Just click on the album name & you can view a slideshow from there! Enjoy!

The Sights & Sounds of My Uterus

2008-06-25T20:54:00.000-04:00

We had another ultrasound today & this time I was prepared with my video camera. You can see & hear the heartbeat! It's awesome!
In this one you can see the heartbeat. The voice you hear is our fertility doctor, Dr. Schnorr.

In this one you can hear the heartbeat, so turn up your volume & get your tissues ready!