Good morning all. I hope this finds you all doing well. Hopefully planning some family time today. That's what Easter Sunday is about to me, time spent with family.

So yesterday, once Tancy got up, I didn't do too much. I got a shower, she got a bath. We tried to watch some of our DVR shows, but neither of us were that interested. I made us some lunch (taco salad without the salad, haha) and we just caught up on each other's day/night. She had a splitting headache, so we also tried to get that to go away. Coffee, medicine, etc. She left for work with the headache, I felt bad for her.

After she left for work I swept the floor. I had been having some sciatic issues most of the evening at that point, burning pain up my back instead of down my leg. She had me ice it... I don't know if that helped or not to be honest, but I did it. So once I was done with the ice I swept the floor. I needed to get a few things done before everyone gets here today and thats a big one that is hard to do while Tancy is sleeping. I got it done and knew as soon as I put the dust pan up that I was done for. I had been having some cramping, lower back pain and pressure... so I decided it would be best to take myself to bed. I got myself a snack or two (I'd had a late lunch with Tancy but wasn't feeling hungry for dinner), popcorn and fruit, and headed to the back. It was about 8:00 when I got into bed. I took a tylox just to try to get some relief from the burning pain in my back (didn't figure it would change much of the rest I had going on).

I got a note pad out and wrote down some questions I have for the doctor on Monday. Up to this point I really haven't asked alot of questions. 40 weeks is such a long row to hoe that I just took it one visit at a time and did my research online or in books... or just waited till closer to the end to ask. Well, its getting close enough to the end that I am starting to ask questions now. I also want to make sure to talk to her about the sciatic issues growing increasingly worse... not because I think there's anything to be done about it, just good for them to know about any issues I am having. I want to talk to her about what I had going on yesterday, nearly 5 hours of the lower back pain, cramps and pressure... any one of them singularly isn't a big deal, but all three together I just want to be sure that's normal stuff at this stage. Then there are the questions about labor and delivery that I have. I think I only have 5 or 6 things total to talk to her about, so that isn't alot really. I try to work in a hand full of questions (if I have them) at each visit instead of taking in a note book full. LOL. I don't really have that many questions in general though and try not to over think it all.

So I made my notes and ate my popcorn. I also had 4 clementines! I love oranges, always have, and while I've been pregnant I can't eat just one. After all that I settled in to try to sleep, it was about 9:30 at that point. I looked for something on TV for a while, found a channel and got completely situated in bed. I was asleep by 10:00. I woke up at 11:15, 1:30, 4:45 and then at 6:30 just before Tancy got home. I did my usual, sent the puppies out to her when she hit the door, made my potty run and crawled back into bed. I wasn't sure, once she got in bed, if I would be able to go back to sleep or not. I had already slept 8.5 hours (a good hour and a half longer than I usually do) and that was good, hard, sound sleep. But guess what?! I did!! I slept till 8:45 and decided I should quit while I was ahead. It's been quite a while since I slept nearly 11 hours and I enjoyed every minute of it. This morning is also the first morning in a while I didn't wake up pissed for being awakened before I was ready. Yay!

I also woke to my little one moving away. She must be rested too because it's an hour later and she's still moving around in there. Now that'll surely make you smile first thing in the morning, feeling your baby moving around inside your belly, letting you know she's awake and strong. Even if it keeps you from sleeping, it still brings a smile and makes your heart full. She's excited that its Easter I think. Haha! Her Nana Sue made her her very first Easter basket. It is in her room, put away, until she's big enough to carry it to hunt easter eggs.

This morning my sciatic is still burning away there in my hip. Thankfully its less intense than it was yesterday and it isn't traveling, just specific to one spot, burning a hole in the back of my hip. I can live with that. I'll put some ice on it in just a bit. Then I'll get a nice hot shower and see if that helps me out. Mandy is doing most, if not all, of the cooking today, so I don't have to be on my feet and that is a great thing. I do, however, need to pick up a bit before everyone gets here. I have the baskets from the shower (with shells and nets) on the coffee table till I can figure out what I want to do with them. I have the gigantic bag of clothes that Lil Jenn & Slo Jen sent us on the love seat waiting for me to go through them. I also have food on the counter in the kitchen that needs to find a home in the pantry. I will probably work in small steps. Do one or two things and sit down a bit. Then do something else and take a break. That way I don't over do it. Given yesterdays discomfort I just don't want to find myself back there. I don't like taking medicine at all while I am pregnant and I definitely don't want to have to take tylox more than once in a great while.

Tomorrow a friend of ours is suppose to come by some time between the time Tancy gets up and the time we have to head out to the doctor. It'll be good to see her for a bit. It seems like there was something else I wanted/needed to do tomorrow, but it escapes me now. Hopefully we will hear back from the lawyer about applying for my social security card based on the information we received from our friends. If so, I'll go by there and pick up my paperwork so I can take care of that this week. I am anxious to hear from her about it. At some point I also need to take the car in to get the oil changed, but I doubt that will happen on Monday.

I am trying to decide about going ahead and getting a few things on our registry that I don't think we will get as gifts. Breast pump items. The membranes and breast shields. I wouldn't think those would be items that people would buy off the registry. I mean, doesn't everyone either go for the "Aawwww" factor or the "Wow! That's gonna be really useful"? I know I buy for either of those myself. Usually though I just buy a nice wicker basket and fill it with bath stuff, diaper rash stuff, mylicon, tylenol and then a glow worm and toys of some sort... it's practical and the basket can be used for dirty clothes or toys or whatever. Maybe once Lillie is born my baby shower gift giving style will change... I'll truly know what is really needed and useful. So, I'd like to go get those items that I don't think anyone will buy... but I'm not sure if I should. If I do, I can put together all my breast pump stuff and be done with that, one more thing marked off the list ready to go.

Yesterday I went into the registry and took some items off the list. We had gotten some items at the shower in Louisiana that were on the registry, but for whatever reason didn't come off the registry (maybe they were bought some place else, doesn't matter). Since we don't need more of those items, I just took them off. After the shower here in May I'll go back through and look at what we still need and what we just would have liked to have had and go get what we still need (and maybe some of what we wanted depending on how much we're already spending, haha). Lil Jenn was telling me they got alot of stuff for the baby on the way at Once Upon A Child, which my sister and sister-in-law had told us about. But Lil Jenn said they didn't pay more than $3.00 for anything (I am assuming clothes wise). So, if you see an item on the registry that you want to get, go check at your local Once Upon A Child and see if they have one like it at a much lesser cost. We aren't concerned about whether something is brand new or not. If it's still in good, useable condition, thats really all that matters.

I am gonna take a minute to call some folks out. Mom, Aunt Jan, Daniele haven't seen you in a while... what's up?! Haven't seen you blog, haven't seen you post pics, haven't even seen you read my blog. Come on ladies, you are slacking! I'd normally add Casie to that, but she's had so much family stuff going on lately, I'll cut her some slack. Aunt Jan, you'll be the first to fuss at me for not blogging.... where you at?!

Alright kids. I hope you enjoy your day tremendously. Looks like it is going to be gorgeous here. I am so thankful for that. I've had enough rain for a while personally. But, if I remember the weather report properly, its suppose to rain tomorrow and Tuesday. Ugh! Anyway, have a great Easter.

Love to all!

P.S. How come so many people read my blog (I actually get alot of hits) and no one leaves comments? What's up with that??

Good morning all. I hope that everyone is having a great holiday weekend. My peeps in Louisiana are probably getting ready for some crawfish boils and good time with family. I am not sure what our Ohio peeps are up to, an Easter egg hunt and some ham maybe? Here, its just another day. We will have dinner with Mandy and her crew tomorrow, but outside of that, there aren't any plans. Whatever you are doing, I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday I got the laundry and dishes done. Tancy read up about the two breast pumps that we have. I also got the dishes done, cooked dinner for her before she left for work and sterilized some of the breast pump parts. I don't know if Tancy is starting to feel like she needs to prepare or what, but we even had a talk about how to get in touch with her at work if she should be there when its time to go to the hospital. It was cute and sweet and comforting that she thinks about what she needs to be getting in order (like FMLA paperwork).

I got a call from some friends of ours who are expecting their second child any minute. They invited me to dinner with them and two other friends of ours. The couple who is expecting #2 also had some clothes for Lillie that I could get while I was there. I don't need an excuse to go visit them and I really wanted to see preggo before she popped. So I left out from home right around 5:00 to see everyone. The weather here was terrible and I was just a little nervous about how bad it might get. But, lucky for me, it got a little lighter the closer to them I got.

I got there just before 5:30 and we put the clothes in the car while there was a break in the weather and before it got dark. We visited for a bit and before long our other friends arrived. We all talked and laughed and enjoyed their little girl for a while, playing with her, talking to her, she's an adorable little sprite. Then we ordered dinner and two of the girls were nice enough to go get the food for everyone. The three of us remaining visited and did the "wife" thing. I think, at this point in my life, just hanging out at the house and visiting like this is my favorite way to spend time with friends. You really get caught up and connected, it just feels good to me and reminds me of family get togethers when I was a kid.

Soon the food was back and we all ate. It was yummy. The little one had her own table and chair and ate with us. She's so stinkin' cute. Someone, who shall remain nameless, tried to push "chicken on a stick" to everyone... it was funny. I personally ate like I was starving. I felt like I was. Not sure why. When dinner was over we moved back to the living room and continued our catching up, occasionally talking about whatever was on TV or work or kids. We talked about birth plans, or the lack thereof, we talked about breast feeding and all things baby. We even talked about guns and marijuana. It was a very interesting range in conversation.

I was going to go out to Mandy & Steve's and spend some time, but I didn't hear back from Mandy, so I figured they probably had date night or something. Or they might have just vegged at the house. No telling to be honest. I need to check in today and see how the weather was there last night and what they are up to. I got an invite to join some friends this afternoon at a campground we frequent... I don't know if I will or not, that would put me home alot later tonight than last night from a longer distance, kinda makes me apprehensive. But you never can tell what I might do!

I ended up being out later than I intended, time snuck up on me. I think it was 10:45 by the time we cleared out of there. I drove home, the rain had thankfully stopped, feeling somewhere between ready to be home and settle in for the night and a bit apprehensive about coming home so late by myself (remember, it was the first night of nights... takes me some time to adjust). I got home right around 11:15. I came in, let the pups out, let them back in and headed to bed. I wasn't concerned about being home alone, or having been gone for so long, or coming home to an empty house. I was, however, wide awake. I folded the clothes that I had washed earlier in the day and put them away. I also put away the clothes that I had unpacked from our Louisiana trip earlier that day. So all that was done. After that I made the bed. Lauren had washed the sheets and remade the bed, but the sheet wasn't tucked at all and it was all sliding off the foot of the bed. So I needed to fix that before I could get in bed. Once that was done I took my medicine (with chocolate milk) and grabbed a snack (sometimes late at night I feel so hungry, I don't like to eat so late, but sometimes there's no avoiding it) and then climbed into bed.

I posted an update to Facebook and before long heard from a friend of mine in Louisiana. We sent each other messages back and forth till nearly 2:00 AM. I finally felt like I could go to sleep, told her I was out and snuggled up with the covers up to my neck. I was out in no time. I woke at 3:00 when the TV was doing its usual update... I hate that. I was sleeping so soundly. Fortunately after a quick trip to the potty I was able to go back to sleep without any trouble. I woke up again around 5:00 for another potty trip and right back to bed. I think it was around 6:30 when Tancy came in. I sent the puppies out to her (they carry on so when she comes in, I am not sure how to stop that) so that she could let them out to potty. Then I went to the potty myself and back to bed. Before long she was in bed with me, we talked for a minute or two and were both back to sleep pretty immediately.

At 9:30 the puppies started carrying on again... I was not at all happy about that. They had already been out to potty, so that wasn't their issue, but they were probably ready for their breakfast. Still, I don't appreciate our two dogs waking me up when I've had so much trouble just getting to sleep. Oh well, just my morning grumpies talking. Soon enough I'll have a screaming baby waking me at all hours of the night and that'll just be that. I think that's why it bugs me with the puppies... it's like "Can't you just let me sleep while I can?!" Cause going back to sleep when Tancy comes in and sleeping till I wake up is quickly coming to a halt.

Anyway, I got up, let the pups out. Apparently Hemmi didn't potty this morning early. Funny thing, he wasn't the one fussing in the bedroom. I made coffee and then let the pups back in and fed them. I fixed my cup of coffee and settled in to write this blog. It feels so good to go back through the events of a day/night, good or bad, it's just a great way to remind me of the things I am so thankful for or to help me let go of things that hurt. Very therapeutic.

I have no idea what I might get into today. The floor needs to be swept, I might try to tackle that... I am intimidated by that, it usually does me in. But I hate to ask Tancy to do it before she goes to work. She didn't sleep yesterday at all, then worked all night. I will let her sleep as late as possible today. Tomorrow, around 1:00 the fam will be here to start cooking and just hang out.

Oh, I almost forgot to share.... Last night, our friends expecting their second child shared some interesting information with me. I've already sent an email to our lawyer to share it with her and move forward. Apparently, according to preggo, she never got her new birth certificate (the hang up with Louisiana). She took her legal paperwork and her original (certified) birth certificate to the social security office and filed for a new social security card. Once she had that, she took her legal documentation and her new social security card (with her changed last name) to the DMV and got a new drivers license. She never requested a new birth certificate, she still doesn't have one, and she didn't need one to get a new social security card. Now, I don't know if this process wouldn't be the same for me (like maybe behind the scenes they contacted her state of birth and had to have their approval or something) because Louisiana practices different legal process, or if it will work... but if our lawyer agrees, we are certainly going to give it a shot. As far as NC is concerned, I am legally a Dean... but social security isn't NC, so I am just not sure what to expect. I will keep you posted, but I am presently hopeful that we could have solved our problem. We shall see.

Alright kidders, I am going to sign off of here and see what trouble I can get into. I hope that you all have a great day today. I think it is suppose to be gorgeous here, Mom says its gorgeous there too. I am very glad to hear that... I am sick to death of the rain!

I am sending lots of love to Casie and her family. Her grandmother-in-law is still not doing well last I heard, no change. Her husband is still not feeling well either. So I am sending them well wishes today.
To my dear Aunt Jan-E-Poo, I hope she's having a GREAT time in Missouri with her Mama. Post some pics or something for us!

Ok, love to all!

Good morning all. It is currently 8:30, I have been up since 7:30 and trust me I wasn't happy about it.

Yesterday I got quite a bit done. Today there's more yet to do. I got all our groceries repackaged for freezing and the freezers organized. The little freezer above the fridge is anything but meat. The big freezer is primarily meat and large items. I also cut up 6 bell peppers (red, orange and yellow) and put them in ziplocs and froze them for future use. I feel pretty good about the prep work I got done. I still want to get some bags of frozen veggies. Probably the steam fresh because they can be cooked in their own packaging in about 5 minutes. What could be easier?!

I managed to get some pyrex containers so we can freeze food and then cook it in the same container when we are ready for it. Gosh those things are expensive. I need a couple of bigger pyrex containers, but they only had those bundled with the smaller ones (which I don't need/want). I got another box of the rubbermaid containers, I like those, they have a good seal on them so they will be great for the freezer too (though obviously not the oven).

I found two containers that will seal air tight that I am going to put all the bottle and breast pump stuff in once its all sterilized. That way it can sit out or be put away and I wont have to worry if it needs sterilized again before use. I am thinking I will probably clear out a spot in one of the cabinets to keep it for now, but once Lillie is here and its being used alot it'll probably just sit on the counter for a while.

Today (or rather this evening after Tancy leaves for work) I want to get the laundry done and general picking up around the house. I need to finish unpacking our clothes from our trip (I have primarily focused on Lillie's things up to this point). Dishes need to be done. I am hoping I can get Tancy to make a trip to the dump before she goes to work this evening... I've got a pile of stuff in the kitchen that needs to be taken out (plus all the meat packages that need to go too).

I just can't tell you how proud I am to have gotten all the Thank You cards done. It is a relief. I am fairly certain though that I am going to need more thank you cards for the shower here... If I only send out as many for NC as I did for LA I don't have enough. I don't know what to expect really.... about 56% of those invited were there and/or participated in the shower in some way. Yes I know that's obsessive to know that and don't misunderstand, it isn't that I am keeping track of who did and didn't come, I am just trying to make sure I have enough Thank You cards. Mom was telling me that sometimes people wait till after the baby is born to send a gift... so how do I prepare for that?! I guess I am just trying to prepare for things that just aren't possible to prepare for.

Ok, that just took 30 minutes... I decided to change the format of the addresses in my excel spreadsheets so that the next round of Thank You cards I can just print address labels for everyone. Yay me. Wish I had done that for the first round, but ya live and learn!

BRB. The phone calls.
Ok, that was Angie. Nice conversation.

So Tancy is up now and I should probably get off of here and spend some time with her. Tonight is going to be rough... she was up before 10:00, not a good start to a well rested first night. Ugh.

Hope everyone is having a great Friday.

Love to all!

So I caught ya'll all up on my blog from the last week this morning. I paid some more bills and balanced the checkbook again. I decided to go get some groceries and a few other miscellaneous items. Tancy was watching the guys build the shed and getting more and more anxious about putting all her stuff out there.

I got dressed and headed out. I went to the Sam's Club in Hickory... it's nicer than the one in Gastonia. I got a ton of meat, ground meat, pork loin, chicken breasts, tilapia fillets, breakfast sausage, brats, lunch meat... I don't know what all else. I also got some bellpeppers to cut and freeze.

Well, Tanc just got back with my freezer bags that I needed to finish up... so I'd better get back to it.

Oh, her shed is up... but she's having to dig out part of a hill to get the mower in the door. We knew it would need some work, turns out it is much more than she expected. She's not been well with that. So, let me get back to work so once I finish getting everything in the freezer I can get started on dinner.

I hope you are all having a great day!

Love to all!

For the last week I have dreamed every night that Lillie is on her way.
Not exactly like driving to the hospital, its a pretty vague dream. But
it's more than just knowing she will be here soon... its more like
she's coming now. I wake up worried about what we still have to get or
do. I am so caught up in the dream that I could get up and pack my
hospital bag right then!

So my question is, is this something that pretty much everyone
experiences? I know that vivid dreams are common and strange dreams are
common as well. But this is the same dream every night. I am sure it
changes some... like last night was the first time I dreamed about not
having my bag packed... but its the same basic theme. Lillie is being
born and I am completely unprepared.

What kind of dreams did you have while you were pregnant?

Wednesday morning I was up around 7:00. I didn't want to be, but I was... and soon Lillie was kicking away, so much so I was sure Tancy could feel the bed shaking. My entire belly would move and wriggle and shake. It's funny and weird all at the same time. It makes me smile and even though it isn't always comfortable, I don't want her to stop. I know she's strong and doing well when she's kicking the crap out of me! Haha.

I got up, made coffee, fed the dogs... my usual morning routine. We didn't have creamer, so once Tancy got up and could see clearly she left out for some. Finally I could have my coffee and feel human again... my head felt like it was full of cob webs. She brought back donughts, I had one, shouldn't have though. She went outside to cut the grass, I had a good talk with Mom. I miss them so much already. I had sent out my morning email and heard back from everyone. I think Marlie slept well. Casie and Chuck did too. Chuck still wasn't feeling great, but Casie was there to take good care of him and I had no doubt he'd be better soon.

Once Tancy got back in from mowing the grass I was done with some of my immediately pressing chores and we unloaded the car. I woke Lauren up to look at all of Lillie's things and started putting things in the washer while Tancy put the cubby to the wall with the "L" brackets I have talked so much about! I had a FULL load (large load, not small) of Lillie's clothes on and was going through everything again deciding where to put it all and how to organize everything. Once all that was done the clothes were dry and I folded them and put them away (oohhing and aaahhhing over everything again as I showed it to Lauren). I put the 6 - 12 month clothes in a big ziploc bag to keep the clean till Lillie can wear them and did the same for the 12 - 24 month clothes that we had. I put arranged her dresser like I want it (for now... subject to change I am sure) and put her books and other items in the cubby that was now secured. We really got some nice things and having them all in her room really changes everything. I can't wait for her to be here.

Tancy and Lauren headed outside to get the site ready for the shed and I started working on the Thank You cards. Wow. That's alot of work. I have never been good at generic Thank You's. I personalize each and every card... so it took me a good long while. I had only just finished addressing them all and making sure I had everyone when Tancy and Lauren came back in. They left out to go get some lunch and I kept working on the cards. I was less than half through writing them when they got back with lunch. I don't know how long they took me, I had about 26 to write, but they are all done now. In the mail box waiting on the mail carrier to take them away. Glad to have it done. It seems easier to write them sooner, when everything is still fresh and the thankful and loving feelings are still right there at the surface than to wait and just be over it. I want everyone to know how much we appreciate not only the gifts but just having them there. Truly, what means the most is that they were a part of our day, to celebrate our little Lillie. I believe that she is very much loved and that makes me so very happy!

Once the Thank You cards were done I paid some bills and balanced the check book. It was good to get that done. Our neighbor is suppose to start work on our back yard soon and I needed to make sure the funds were still there. LOL. By the time I was finished with all of that I felt pretty crappy and just spent in general. We'd gotten an email from Casie that Chuck had a doctors appointment to see what was going on, we were glad to hear that. But also that his grandmother isn't doing too well. Her blood pressure is way down and they are concerned that they wont be able to get it to come back up. My heart goes out to them... please keep them and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

We went into Lillie's room to look around, its coming together nicely. I still have a few things to take care of, but all in all I am pleased. Tancy even re-hung the mirror to make sure it was good and secure. She also put the "L" on the wall that Casie, Chuck and Marlie gave Lillie. It looks good. I am so happy and excited.

Tancy thawed out some shrimp and corn soup and we had that for dinner and watched some of our DVR shows. We'd gotten a bath early and just tried to hang out and relax some. We ended up watching TV till 11:30 I think and finally drug our sorry asses to bed. I took a Tylox (new thing, pain in my left hip, inside... feels like a ligament or something being torn... makes it very difficult to walk) hoping to ease some of the body pain I was having and to just sleep. I doubt I would have had any trouble sleeping, but my body was hurting. I woke up a couple of times to pee... wow, it gets harder and harder to roll my pudgy self out of bed!

I woke up at 7:43 (the shed people were going to be here at 7:45) and got Tancy up. I made coffee, she fed the pups and moved her truck. I guess they were here around 8:15. She met them outside and they were tickled that they could: drive right up to where they were building it, that the blocks were already in place, that there was an electrical outlet within reach. So the guy told her that it would go alot faster. Before long he was at the door again, the guy that did the site inspection had directed us to get too many blocks, he wanted to make sure it was alright with us that he take that down. Tancy told him absolutely. So we should be able to take those back.... provided that Tancy doesn't find something else she needs them for.

I need to get some groceries today and cook something. I am in need of something home cooked. Not sure what it will be, but I can tell you pretty certainly that it wont be fried! Haha. Tancy goes back on nights tomorrow night. We are having Easter dinner here at the house on Sunday. Ty, Val, Lauren & Mandy will come over... that way Tancy gets to see everyone and have time to eat before she has to leave for work.

Monday I go back to the OB. I think I've got something else on the schedule for that day too. Tuesday (I'll be 31 weeks) we get the dogs groomed and I go to the chiropractor. Wednesday looks open and Thursday Tancy is back on days for 4. I believe, if I am not mistaken, the next week kicks off our classes at the hospital. Next week marks the pace change in our schedule... it'll speed up and stay pretty busy through May. Wow. Gonna go fast!

So I think that catches ya'll up on just about everything. There are parts of it I could go on and on about... but I don't have the energy for that right now. LOL. I talked on the phone to Tancy's Mom this morning about what we got at the shower and what we still need. Jessi, Zach and Nana are coming down for the shower. I think Missy is coming as well and possibly even one of Ms. Sue's (Nana) friends too. They'll have a caravan before its all said and done. It'll be nice to have as much of her family here for the shower as can make it. I know how much the yall mean to her, and to me as well. We are looking forward to having everyone here. As much fun as it is to visit family and friends, there's something really wonderful about having them here at our home (even if we don't have room to house everyone... you know what I mean). It allows us to truly share our life with them in a way that we can't share it by going to them. And of course there are our truly wonderful friends here whom we are so fortunate to have and we enjoy sharing our family with our friends. It should be a great time!

Alright kids, I need to move around a bit. I don't know how much longer the shed people will be here, then we have some things to get done with that and a few things I want to get done today (like groceries). I hope you all have a great day. Please remember to keep Casie's in-laws in your thoughts and prayers. We are sending out our love to everyone and many thanks for everything (love, gifts, support, friendship).

Love to all!

Monday morning we were up fairly early again. I don't think any of us
slept past 7:00 any morning that we were there. I wake up early any way
and if I open my eyes and think that one of them might be up, I am up!
I was the first up and went to get Mom (they had been staying in the
camper and let Tancy and I have their bed for my big fat pregnant
comfort, very sweet of them). We came back over and started coffee,
Casie and Marlie were up before long to join us and Tancy wasn't far
behind. We had some errands to run. I had anticipated meeting up with a lawyer there to fill out some paperwork to finalize my name change. It was, shocker, going to be another full day.

Poor Pops had to work, but we talked to him before heading out on our errands and found out he was going to try to leave early! Yay!

I had gotten the call from my doctors office that my glucose test had come back good. Not only was I not diabetic, my blood sugar was below the norm at each check! They said my numbers were really good and I was ecstatic!! We headed out for Baton Rouge to Whole Foods for some shampoo for Casie. Going there made us wish we had one here, Tancy really likes the selection of grains and just different foods, not to mention the dried food section. From there we had lunch at Macaroni Grill. I was feeling a little yuck and didn't eat much lunch... could be we'd had so much food during our stay I was just tired of eating. LOL. It was a great day.

Then I got the call, at Macaroni Grill, that shifted the day for me. The lawyer wanted $470 in court cost and $250 for his fees to file ONE paper... ONE piece of paper that contains ONE signature for a legal name change. The process is super simple. I sign an affidavit suing the DA for a legal name change. It goes to the court, they do a back ground check, make sure I am not doing it for criminal reasons and it is done. $720 for that, are you serious?! It cost less for a more complicated process in NC. I was devastated. There was no way we were going to invest a total of more than $1000 for my name to change. I called my lawyer and talked to her. She's going to start looking again for other ways around it (we thought it was going to be simple, which it is.. and cheap, which it isn't). Now, don't get me wrong, we could throw that money at it, but what about all the couples in our position who can't afford to pay that? We both feel like paying that money would be like donating it to DOMA and we just can't do that. So we will dig in our heels and look for the long fight instead of the quick fix. There has to be other options for us. But it stung and I felt as if I'd been slapped in the face. It's an insult honestly. Some of you will "get" that, some of you wont. Either way this is it simply put, if we were allowed to get married, my name would change, legally for the cost of a marriage license and a justice of the peace. No more than $100. But since we aren't allowed to be legally married it would cost us (were we willing to pay it) over $1000 to accomplish ONLY a legal name change and still not have the same legal rights as a married couple. Tell me that isn't bullshit!!

So let me get off that soap box for now because I really want to finish telling you all about our trip. We stopped off to get some fresh strawberries and then at Wal-Mart. From there we went to see Maw-Maw. It would be our last visit with her before we left for home. She was, of course, happy to see us and to hold Marlie a bit. Marlie beat on one of her old pots with one of her old wooden spoons... much the same as we did when we were kids. We had coffee and visited. Before we left we invited her over to Mom and Dad's for some strawberries. That would give us a little more time with her. We headed home to get all our plunder unloaded and just stop for a minute.

Chuck had not been feeling well that day, suspected kidney stones, and Casie had been trying to do all she could for him from Louisiana. The doctor had not thought it important to see him right then, but called him in an antibiotic. We were all worried about him and what was going on. Pops was already home and bummin' around the house.Casie started picking up their stuff and before long Maw-Maw was pulling in the driveway. Tancy and I had started cleaning and cutting the strawberries, Maw-Maw helped Tancy with that while I otherwise occupied myself. Once the strawberries were done, I started cooking dinner. I pan fried tilapia and Tancy grilled some squash. Maw-Maw stayed to eat dinner with us and then we had strawberries. We all made short order of the clean up, that's one of the things I love about family dinners, we all help out picking up and its done before you know it. Maw-Maw left before too long, she doesn't like to be on the road once it gets dark.

After Maw-Maw left we all just sunk into our resting places, couch, loveseat, recliner... we wanted more time. We were exhausted and full. We had experienced almost every emotion over the course of the time we'd been there. We'd laughed and cried, we'd been unbelievably happy and even mad. We were ready for things to return to normal, but we weren't ready to not be with each other either. Those are some pretty difficult things to feel, especially when you feel them simultaneously. We could have stayed another week, and as much as that would be nice in some ways, it would have been difficult in other ways. We all have our own homes and families and ways of doing things... we are all so different and even high strung... after being together for a while we tend to rub each other wrong a bit. It's bound to happen I suppose, but its a hard thing to feel when you want so desperately to soak up every minute, to enjoy every moment together, to feel as close as you can feel for as long as you can. It's almost torturous, those last hours... the battle between wanting to stay and needing to return to your own routine. I think the evening was good. We all went to bed early, begrudgingly, it would be an early morning and a long day.

At 3:45 there was a knock at the bedroom window, Mom and Dad were up and it was time to get up and get moving. I nudged Tancy and got up to meet them in the kitchen. I was still half asleep and already very emotional. I felt raw more than anything... I wasn't to the point of tears yet... hard to explain that. I just wanted to hold on to that moment for as long as I could. Pops met me in the kitchen and gave me a big bear hug. He was already feeling all the things I was feeling, only he'd been up longer and I think they were harder for him still. Mom was making coffee and hugged me when Pops let go. It was great to have just that moment, me and them. I needed more, but that wasn't going to happen, so I took it all in. Casie was up soon, already dressed and ready. I roused Tancy again and put on my travel clothes. I didn't want to take too long, I wanted every second with them before they left for work and we left for our homes. I can still feel very emotional as I relive it in my mind now. Pops was worried about us getting everything in the car. I think Tancy and Casie got most everything loaded without any problem. Squeezed in a few more things and we were good to go. Mom and Dad left for work, too soon, tearful and already missing us. I can only speak for me, but I certainly felt the same way. I just wasn't ready to not have time with them. When they left we hit it hard to get everything wrapped up and hit the road. No sense in dragging it out at that point. I left them a few little notes to be found once they got home and we were on the road by 4:30.

Poor Marlie (and once again poor Casie) cried for the first hour and a half of the trip. Casie was in the back with her and I know she just wanted her Momma to pick her up. Obviously that isn't legal or we would have gladly done it. We stopped somewhere in AL and switched, I drove, Tancy got in the back with Marlie and Casie got up front with me. This seemed to help Marlie, she slept for the next leg of the trip. We stopped just across the FL line, Marlie pooped and it was more than we could take. We stopped at a rest stop and all took potty breaks and Casie got Marlie changed. We hit the road again. The last bit of the trip was full of Marlie not wanting to be in her seat and fussing. I felt so bad for her, there was nothing to be done, but she must have been miserable. I know if I had to sit in one position the whole trip how badly my body would hurt. Poor baby. Last leg of the trip Casie drove, Tancy was up front with her and I sat in the back with Marlie. I did my best to entertain her... there were moments that she was content, even happy... but mostly she wanted out of that damn seat! We made it to Casie and Chucks house around 11:45 I guess. We had lunch and then around 1:45 Tancy and I took a nap. It was good to lay down and just close our eyes. We had been up since waaaaay to early and were tired just from that, not to mention the drive. Thankfully we missed any bad traffic and the drive itself was pretty easy.

I got up just before 4:00 and Tancy wasn't too far behind me. We sat up for a bit and visited... but before long at all we were on our way. Tancy and Chuck had already unloaded all of their stuff and reloaded our stuff, so we were sittin' on go. By 4:30 we were on the road. We had initially talked about staying the night at Casie and Chucks... but you all know, once those wheels start turning toward home, it's hard to stop them. Casie had a rough couple of days, Marlie had a rough couple of nights, Chuck had a miserable couple of days and we just figured it was best for them to not have us under foot. Plus Tancy needed to start making the turn over back to nights, so we could travel at night, miss all the traffic in Atlanta again and be home before daylight. Works out for everyone.The trip wasn't bad, I think I cried for the first hour and half or so... the bundled up stuff inside finally let go and I squalled. I don't know how to explain it. I think its all the contradiction of feelings... ready to leave, want to stay. Need your own home, routine, but want so badly to have more time with those you love. It truly sucks to feel all those things and its hard to reconcile those feelings. I was a pretty rough first leg. It seems like traveling at night or even early morning is so much easier than mid day. Maybe its just me. My only complaint is that we somehow lost my ice packs and I wasn't able to ice my back... I am still paying for that.

We hit our driveway at 11:11. I was so happy to be home and spent all at the same time. Lauren had cleaned the house & the floors for us... it was great to come back to a clean house. I hate coming home to a dirty house, especially if I left it clean... I cannot tell you how aggravated it makes me... probably because I am so emotionally spent already and that's just an added stress that I can't take. We talked to Lauren for a bit and then I got a shower. Tancy got directly in bed. I just felt so funky I needed to wash the top layer off at least. I got in bed all squeeky clean and it wasn't long before I was out like a light.

To be continued...

So Saturday was going to be a busy day. It was the day of the shower. I know I posted a short blog already, but I'll do my best to give you more detail here. We were all up relatively early that morning. Casie and Chuck headed over to Maw-Maw's to start getting things going, they were meeting Daniele. Pops went that way before too long to help out as well. I am sure things were all a buzz over at Maw-Maw's house. At Mom and Dad's it was fairly quiet. We played with Marlie and had coffee. We just visited and hung out. Mom had to go get the fruit and veggie tray and then took them over to Maw-Maws and then headed back home. By that time I decided to take a shower... I stayed in my pajamas till after lunch! There was no need to hurry to get ready, we didn't have to be there till around 2:00 (in the Devall family means 1:30 at the latest). I think we were all ready by 1:00 and at Maw-Maws for 1:30. There were people already there and others arriving fast. Everyone had done a great job with all the decorations. There were big mylar fish ballons (nemo's, dolphins, etc.) there were little chocolate fish suckers, there were blow up fish toys in a net inside over Maw-Maw's fire place, there were hand painted ceramic fish and turtles placed here and there, there were the underwater bath toys strategically placed as well. Not to mention the cake which was water colored with star fish and underwater creatures as decorations.

Casie and Daniele had gotten some white onesies and decorated one each. They also had some on the table with markers for others to decorate. I loved that idea. It got a little carried away with OSU bashing... but it was all in good fun. Uncle Pete grilled up hamburgers and hot dogs. There were chips and dip and fruit and veggies and all the fixins. They did a fantastic job of organizing and decorating. It looked great and my heart was full with the love they had put into it. Casie had also made a baby book for Lillie with letters from family members and pictures of everyone. There was a song that Tancy's Nan used to sing to her in there as well. It was incredibly sweet, very well done and just wonderful. People showed up that I hadn't seen in years. Some people from school and one of my co-workers from Shaw. I had anticipated a few other people that I used to work with or had gone to school with, but no show... oh well. We were so happy to have the people there who were there and felt so loved... how could anyone complain about that?! Everyone ate and enjoyed the burgers and dogs. It's my understanding that Uncle Pete did a great job. I ate two tomatoe sandwiches (I love a good tomatoe sandwich)!

We opened presents not long after eating. It was overwhelming. I don't know what I expected... I've never really had a shower before... it's always strange to me to have something like that for me and that people come and bring gifts. It was very nice of everyone (the Thank You notes are already in the mail) and we got some really nice things. Lots of clothes, teethers, toys, bath toys, bath tub, socks, woobie, shoes, handprint kit, diaper/bath gift set, OSU stuff, LSU stuff, money, sterlizer, "sign dog", positioner, bank, diaper bag, plates, bowls, spoons, books, blankets, diapers, activity gym, gift cards, cross necklace, horsey, wash tub (that we played in as kids), breast pads, breast cream, desitin, and lotion. I think that is a good overview of everything (listed items on my "gift list" for my Thank You notes). All the awww's and ooohh's and how cute's... it truly has to be something chemical or soemthing that a bunch of grown women get together and coo and carry on about all the baby stuff... even us and we aren't prone to that. It was emotional, but in a good way, in a heart full of love kinda way. Casie also had created a page, for the baby book, for everyone to sign at the shower. So she encouraged everyone to write something on it. We had cake and headed back outside to visit more with the men folk. LOL. (We don't do traditional showers exactly, we just get the whole famn-damily together and make a party of it.) We all hung out and visited for a while and before too long everyone was picking up the tables and chairs and cleaning up. I wasn't allowed to do anything... that was strange for me even more than any of the rest of it. Not that I was complaining exactly, just strange not to be helping with the work to be done.

We headed home and Uncle Paul came over for a bit to visit some more. I enjoyed that. Then they all left and we plundered through all the gifts, condensing where we could, organizing the clothes together so I could just throw a whole bag of stuff into the washer instead of having to go through it again. Pulling out cards for safe keeping and gushing, once again, over everything. I already was planning what would go where and what I would need to do once we got it all home. It was exciting and made it feel even more real that we are in fact having a baby and she will indeed be here soon. It also is an outward expression of how much my family loves us and our baby... not just because of the gifts, but because they showed up to celebrate with us more than anything. I could go on an on about how appreciative we are, but hopefully I did a good enough job of that in my Thank You cards. Ya'll let me know when you get them. I think we ate left over hot dogs for dinner, I honestly don't remember. It was another early night. I was exhausted and Sunday would be another full day more than likely.

Sunday we got up and had breakfast. Chuck had felt terrible on Saturday and said that he was feeling some better that morning. Casie and Marlie didn't sleep much at all. I know this because poor Marlie (and poor Casie) would scream her head off every few hours. I got up to see if I could help Casie in any way. I knew I probably couldn't, but I wanted to offer anyway. I didn't offer again because I didn't want to bother her... I can only imagine (though I'll know soon enough) how upsetting having a screaming child must be, especially when you can't seem to help her feel better for very long. It had been such a full day on Saturday and I knew Casie was exhausted. Marlie was too. I felt bad for both of them to be honest. So we were all a bit sluggish and quiet right off the bat. We were going to get crawfish for lunch so Mom, Dad, Tancy and me headed out. Hoping that with the house quiet Marlie could sleep some and Casie could either rest or just have the break for a bit. Chuck didn't seem up to snuff either. We were all hopeful that they could rest some while we were gone and the house was quiet. Chuck was heading home later and it was just going to be a full day.

We got back from getting crawfish and running around and everyone seemed a bit better. Casie was going through pictures when we got back and Marlie was happy to see her Nana J and Popa. They had good times together on the chuck wagon and out in the yard. We headed out to the shop to eat some crawfish. Man, they were so good! Chuck came out before too long, Casie was a bit behind, finishing up what she was doing. What we didn't eat we peeled to either eat later or freeze. They peeled easy and had a good flavor. Hit the spot for sure! We also made short order of the clean up. Before long at all Chuck was loading up (he was taking our shower gifts with him and we were bringing Casie and Marlie home on our way) and heading out. Seemed weird for him to be leaving. We all rested and relaxed for a bit and then got showers to get ready for dinner.

Casie, Tancy and I were meeting up with the girls (Daniele, Mickey, Kelly, Mallory and Morgan) for dinner at Chilli's to spend some time. Casie left Marlie with Mom and Dad, they were absolutely beside themselves with joy over that! We got there a bit early, but weren't the first to get there. We had a great time! We laughed and cut up and just enjoyed being together. I can't remember when it was just us girls (the cousins) together like that. It was wonderful and I hope we can try to do that when we are home. That needs to be a priority for me. I have a few people that I always try to see before leaving Louisiana, I can add several more people if we all get together at once like that. We all enjoyed ourselves so much that we met back up at Mom and Dad's house to continue our visit for a while. Marlie was already in bed asleep, Mom and Dad said she was wonderful and they had a great time playing with her. Mom and Dad stayed up for a bit to visit with all of us and then headed to bed themselves. I know how funny my cousins are, but you forget when there's been so much time between visits, I laughed so hard I cried at some points. We were entertained by Mallory (Kelly's daughter) and each other. We did the whole "do you remember"?! Which is always fun. We talked about present things and childhood things. I guess it was 9:00 when everyone headed home. They all had work the next day. We sat up a while and talked about how good it was to spend that time and that we should really do it more often and then Tancy and I headed to bed.

To be continued...

Good morning all. It's Thursday morning at about 8:00. We just got up, ready for the shed people to get here to build our shed... another (big) piece of the puzzle we have been working on. I can't wait! I hope that everyone is doing well this morning. It's close to the weekend (what is probably a long weekend for nearly everyone) and everyone is getting ready for family functions and/or easter egg hunts.

Well, I guess I should get into the meat of it. I have alot to catch you all up on and it's gonna take a while to get through it. I might have to break this up actually, now that I think about how much there is to post....

Wednesday was a long day. We got up and headed in to the doctor for the ultrasound. Ms. Lillie looks great, as most of you have already seen her ultrasound pics (posted on Wednesday before we left). Tancy came home and tried to get some sleep while I got things done and together for our trip. We were leaving that evening but it was a surprise. Casie was in on it, but that was it. I was terribly excited about being home a day early without Mom and Dad expecting it. I had been so lonesome for home and my family that I just couldn't wait to leave. By the time Tancy got up I had almost everything done... just had to gather our clothes and we were ready. I let her sleep till she got up, which I believe was about 4:00. We were on the road around 4:30 or 5:00. We just took our time, stopping every 2 hours, or even 1.5 hours at some points. I had been directed to stop frequently and drink lots of water. Between just being pregnant and the increased risk of blood clots and the trouble I have had with my sciatic I should be stopping every hour to 2 hours max. We did good. In addition to that, I had been given a tip to alternate ice and heat while traveling and that if I could keep my back (hip) constantly stimulated (heat, ice, massage) it would help aot with discomfort. So I did that like a good girl. Thankfully my sweet Mother-In-Law had gotten me a massage seat that works off a cigarette lighter. I had no excuse not to do as I had been told (did I just say that?!). We made it through Atlanta without a hiccup. I hate driving through Atlanta, it's the worst part of the trip, it makes me a nervous wreck. So coming through later made all the difference in the world. We stopped in Greenville, AL for the night around 11:00. We were both tired and though we were both awake enough to press forward it was important that we didn't do that.

Thursday morning we woke to some terrible weather. I went downstairs and got us some breakfast and brought it back up to the room. We ate and drank our coffee and before long were on the road again. I was beside myself I was so excited to get home. The way I figured it, we would be to the house before they got in from work and could truly surprise them by being there when they drove up. I felt like a mischevious kid, it was great. We got into town early enough that we went by the Bass Pro and got Tancy some new shoes and then headed to Mom and Dads house. We got to the house about 30 minutes before they got in from work. I had been giving them locations from yesterday (allowing my Pops to think that we were not only lazy for sleeping so late before hitting the road but that we had lost our minds for hitting Atlanta right at rush hour), they had no idea. Dad got home first, he did a double take when he hit the driveway and was all grins when he got out of his truck. Mom pulled right up to us and  I don't think she could believe her eyes either. There were lots of hugs and I can't believe yous! It was great, we'd pulled it off. We went to get dinner before too long and pick up some milk from the grocery store, then back home and just hung out. There were lots of smiles, thats for sure! I think they were just as pleased that I was there as I was to have pulled the surprise off. Casie, Chuck and Marlie were coming in that night, but it would be late. Unfortunately they had to work all day before they could leave. That would have been the only way getting there early could have been any better... having Casie, Chuck and Marlie there too. I tried, desperately, to stay up and wait for them to get in... but at 10:30 I just couldn't do it any longer and gave it up to go to bed. I think they arrived around 11:30... I never heard a peep. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Friday morning Mom and Casie had hair appointments and some errands to run. They took Marlie with them. So Pops, Tancy, Chuck and I headed out to Jerry Lee's for some boudin, hog head cheese and cracklins. Yum! We also had to stop by the grocery store for a few things. Then we headed back home. We had our goodies for lunch, sooo good! I miss food from home. We hung out a bit and then Pops and I headed to Maw-Maw's to see her for a bit. It was good to visit with her. We wouldn't have time for a long visit with her like I normally try to fit in, so I knew that I needed to make a couple of shorter visits. Pops and I headed back home. Tancy's knee had been bothering her so she'd stayed at the house. Chuck didn't seem to be feeling well, he'd stayed home as well. They were layed on the couch and love seat when we returned. Before it was all said and done Pops and Chuck headed out to meet Daniele to get tables and chairs for the shower and Tancy and I waited on Mom and Casie to get back home. I was missing them, they'd been gone all day. Around 2:00 - 2:30, not long after Pops and Chuck left, they drove up. I was happy. We had dinner reservations at a local seafood restaraunt that we all LOVE for 5:00. Daniele was going to pick up Maw-Maw and meet us at the house and then we were all heading out. Pops and Chuck returned before too long. So we all visited a bit and who ever needed to get ready got ready and before long Maw-Maw and Daniele were driving up. We loaded up in two vehicles and headed out. We got to the restaraunt a bit early but that's how we always do things! We ordered food, appetizers, drinks, etc. Oh, it was soo good. Marlie was also a great source of entertainment for her Nana J. They played alot through dinner. But before long Marlie was really ready for something different and it took more to entertain her. Can't blame her really, all that yummy food on the table and she couldn't have any of it, I'd have been pissed! So, we all ate to the point of misery, got to go boxes for what we couldn't shovel in and headed home. We visited a while before Maw-Maw and Daniele headed home. Then little by little we started to change into our pajamas and settle in. It was an early night, I was still tired. I guess it was around 9:00 when we all headed to our respective beds. Sleep came quickly for me.

To be continued...

One word - FABULOUS!

The girls did a great job with the baby shower. There was a net with blow up fishies and a diaper cake (that my sister made... I've urged her to make them and sell them, too cute), there were hand painted fishies to put in Lillie's room and bath toys too! We got lots off good stuff, alot of clothes, bath toys, the tummy time play mat, bath tub... what all I can't remember. The food was really good and Larisa's cake was perfect.

We had a great time, I got to see some old friends and visit with family. The weather was perfect. It was just a good day all around.

Susan took pictures and I'll post them once I get them... just not sure when that will be.

I keep getting questions about the NC shower, I don't have any details other than the date (May 30th)... so if you have questions, get up with Mandy. She and Lil Jen are in charge of the arrangements.

We have everything we NEED at this point, outside of the stroller/car seat combo, which I believe has been taken care of already. But if you haven't gotten whatever you intended to for the shower, don't dispair, there are still lots of items on the registry. Haha!

Alright, I am off here to spend some time with Mom, Casie and Tancy. If we are lucky, today we will sign the papers for the legal name change in Louisiana. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Love to all!