Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts

3.03.2017

A Special Keepsake


I'm truly thankful for friends who've taken the time to love on a gal with a grieving and slowly mending heart. Through this storm, the prayers, sensitivity, and compassion of friends have challenged and convicted my heart to love others better.
Recently, a friend sent me a little keepsake to treasure. It's a simple reminder of our little one--Baby Hale 5 (Oct. 2016). I loved it so much that I purchased one for Baby Hale 3 (April 2011). I smile every time I look at them!
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4.22.2014

Easter through the Years


Easter Through the Years...

2008: AG's first Easter
2009: I couldn't find a picture of our family for 2009, but I did find a pic of Graham with AG and me with AG.
2010: Edy's first Easter and our last Easter in Arkansas
2011: I suffered a miscarriage the day before Easter and was sad, but we had a wonderful Easter celebration with our church family and I was filled with joy!  Amazingly, it remains one of my favorite Easters to date.
2012: We had been trying for over a year to conceive and still had six or more months before we would finally get the good news we had been hoping and praying for!
2013: One of our final family pics before Joy's arrival--she arrived five weeks later!
2014: Joy's first Easter!
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1.29.2014

2013 Top Ten

Recently, I was glancing over my blog stats for 2013 and decided to compile a top ten list of your favorite posts of the year.  Here goes...

TEN
Makeshift Office:  I turned a small portion of our master closet into an office nook for Graham.

NINE
 Kelsey + Josh:  a mini photo-shoot with my sister and bro-in-law

EIGHT
What's the Fuss all About:  voicing my frustrations with the "Mommy Wars" including my take on Babywise

SEVEN
To Each of My Girls:  a letter to each of my babies

SIX
 Maternity Photos:  photos from my maternity shoot with my friend and amazing photographer, Ashley

FIVE
$6 Chair Makeover: a Goodwill chair makeover

FOUR
She's Here:  our sweet little Joy Tatum's arrival

THREE
Her Nursery: pictures of Joy's room

TWO
Christmas Home Tour: 2013 Christmas Home Tour link-up

ONE
31 Days of Balance as a Homeschool Mom: a series in which I wrote a post a day for the month of October on finding balance as a homeschool mom

**********
I look forward to another year of blogging and connecting.  My SIXTH year! Thanks for reading, y'all!
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5.09.2013

Getting Close

We arrived at the hospital at 5AM on Monday.  Once there, I got suited up in my hospital gown, had labs drawn and the IV hooked up, talked to the doctors and nurses, and waited to get my lab results back. *Remember that I had a strange low-platelet condition which would determine whether or not I could recieve a spinal block with my c-section or if I would be put to sleep under general anesthetic.  At about 6:45 all of the grandparents and the girls showed up at the hospital to give me hugs and kisses before surgery. . .

 
 
 
 
 
 
{Last pic as a family of FOUR}

At about 7 AM the doctor  let me know that my platelet count was 109,000 (they must be over 100,000 to receive a spinal block).  Although it was a close call, I was so excited to get the spinal over being put to sleep and missing the first moments of little Joy's life.  YAY!

At about 7:15, the nurse wheeled me back to surgery.  I was extremely nervous and excited about how our lives were about to change forever.  It's a big moment!


Graham waited in the hall until the doctors were getting close to delivering the baby.  He came into the operating room just minutes before our Joy entered the picture.  I was SO glad to see his face.

Up next:  She's Here!
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One more day...

JOY is here!  She's finally here!  And I can't wait to tell all about her arrival, but first I need to catch things up a bit...
 
Saturday night, the girls and I got our toes glammed-up (pink and sparkly) in anticipation of our new GIRL!

 
one last belly pic (Sunday morning--less than 24 hours before delivery)
BTW, what do you think Joy weighed?  I guessed exactly right!

 
Every single Sunday, I text out a "Sunday Pic" to my family.  AG reminded me that this was the last Sunday pic without baby sister, Joy.


Sunday night, I headed to bed around 10:30, but didn't doze off for some time.  I believe the last time I looked at the clock it was 11:45.  My alarm was set for 3:20AM because we had to get up, get ready and be at the hospital in Tyler by 5AM!

Up next: JOY'S BIRTH DAY...and what a wonderful day it was!
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5.04.2013

2 days

2 days...


until she is a big sister for the second time...

until she is a big sister for the first time...

2 long days until baby Joy gets here.  We are packed and waiting.

Just 2 days...
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4.24.2013

Out of the Mouths of Babes...


Today I took the girls to the new playground in  Bullard.  We were the only ones there for some time, but a little family of three showed up just before we had to leave.  The little boy (approx. 4 years old) started playing with AG and that's when this convo went down:

Boy to me (completely confused): Why is your stomach so big?
AG to boy (quite snobbish): There's a baby in her tummy.
Boy: WHOA!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS? A real live baby?
AG (frustrated at this point): *sigh* Yes, her name is Joy Tatum.
Boy (emphatically): I don't EVER want that to happen to me!!!!!!
It was so hysterical and I promplty found his dad to fill him in on the conversation.  BTW, AG proceeded to set the little boy straight (and ease his nerves):  Boys can't have babies-- just girls, silly.
 
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4.21.2013

a little update

Last week, I had labs drawn to check my platelet count.  I've opted not to have these labs drawn at every office visit ONE: because they are expensive and TWO: because there's nothing I can really do to increase the levels anyway.  Since I'm getting closer to my due date, the doctor wanted to draw the labs to check my counts.  Remember, I've had lower than normal counts for some time.  This may result in being put under general anesthetic at the time of delivery.  You can read about my rare little condition HERE and HERE.  Anyway, my levels have increased to an almost normal level.  WOW!  The nurse said that it's rare for this to happen!   I am SO thankful.  Hopefully, they will stay at this level for a couple of weeks so my c-section can go ahead as planned.  I'm really excited about the news.

I'll leave you with this...

Edy's MDO teacher texted me this pic.  Apparently, she is mimicking someone she knows.  I'm not at all sure who, though!
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4.20.2013

Finishing Touches...maybe

Yes, I am still putting the finishing touches on Joy's room.  I do believe I said that it may never be finished.  That's just how I roll--things are always a'changin'!  I got a few more treasures from my favorite antique store and a few little gifts that have helped to complete the room.



Just being honest, shelves scare me--always have.  I have a fear of over-accessorizing and having a cluttered-mess as a result.  I don't want the things I'm trying to highlight to get lost in the midst of other stuff and lose their significance. Does anyone else have this problem? 

This shelf is quickly approaching the cluttered-look, but I need the baskets to store toys and I don't have another place in the room to showcase some of the little things that have been given to me.  It'll do...for now.

I'm in love with blue Mason jars.
Thanks, Kels!

I found this framed, painted ceramic tile at my go-to antique shop.  I mostly got it for the driftwood frame, but I love the almost gaudy painted roses, too.  I like the appeal and height it adds to an otherwise dull space above the bookshelf.

The frame is just what I had in mind.

Someone gave me the four-photo frame (I think it came from Wal-Mart).  I took out the glass and painted it cream and instead of using its stand, I hung it.  What do you think?  Do you think it needs photos/fabric/scrappy-paper?  I kinda like the 'less-is-more' look (again, I don't want to get too cluttered), but sometimes it's good to get another opinion.  Every time AG looks at it, she suggests photos that I should put in it.  Ha!  She doesn't get my abstract concept!

I added a few new plates to my little cluster.
Thanks, Kelsey, for the scalloped one with the flowers.  It's perfect.
I picked up the floral candle holder to complete the look.

Totally unrelated to decorating, but I got the glowworm filled with new batteries!  My girls loved it!

I picked up the floral cross-stitch for a whopping 7 bucks.  It's a nice homemade touch and I love its green matte.
 

This birdcage picture/keepsake holder is perfect for displaying some pictures of Joy's big sisters.

I got this little frame at one of my showers.  'Bundle of Joy' is perfectly fitting!

For a complete tour of Baby Joy Tatum's room, click HERE.
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4.17.2013

Another Shower


This year, I have had the privilege of working at a MDO program two days a week.  It has been such a blessing and answer to prayer because my pay check each month has covered all of my doctor visit costs after insurance pays their portion (which ain't much--but I'm thankful to have maternity coverage!) I'm so humbled by God's providence and provisions in working out the details of this job and pay before I even knew I would need it! 

Right now, we have three ladies on staff at MDO that are pregnant (including myself).  Yeah, the don't drink the water joke is never far from conversation. :)  Since we are all pretty close in our due dates (with Joy coming first) the staff gave all three of us a wonderful joint shower. 

 
 
 
 

It was a great shower and I am so thankful!
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4.06.2013

life-n-pics

It's been a while since I uploaded any phone pics to my computer and to the blog.  I figure...if you follow me on Instagram you'll see the ones I take the time to post.  So for this phone dump entry, I'll share some non-instagrams...

Ready for this?
Gonna have no shame for a minute...


Y'all know I like to keep it real.  Ummm...don't know what to think about this one.  I wore that pink shirt the day AG was born (2007).  I believe it covered my entire belly (even though I gained a bunch more weight with her than I did with Edy or Joy).  I didn't wear the shirt when I was pregnant with Edy, but I guess there is a possibility it shrunk somehow!! Right? :)  I'm just four weeks away from meeting my little (or not so little) baby girl.

Edy @ AG's dance class
Isn't she pretty?

I upgraded to an iPhone5 and got a new phone case to go with it.  Thanks, Etsy! 
BTW, my bro-in-law introduced me to the DROP BOX app.  I like it SO much better than using the photo stream because my pics are always waiting for me on my desktop instead of the other way around.  It's a good app for me.

The "sick bug" has visited our home.  Not only have I had a terrible cough, scratchy throat, and "the crud", Edy got some sort of stomach virus that has been pretty terrible.  When I finish this post, I'm off to my bed because I got little to no sleep last night as I stood with her over the potty.  Poor kid. It was a long and tough night.

Fortunately, she started to act herself around 3PM this afternoon.  I'm hoping tonight is better and no one else gets that awful bug.

I've kept the girls separated most of the day in an attempt to make Edy rest *didn't work*.  I sat on the front porch swing (and breathed in the delicious pollen that makes my cough go nuts) and watched AG twirl and sing to her little heart's content.  just priceless.
 
*Just realized a few of these were Instagrams I've posted already.  Oh well.

phone dump...
the end.
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