New App

This is my first attempt at blogging from my phone. I recently saw that the I phone had a blogging app so surely the EVO must have one. Well they did :)
Summer is quickly coming to a close and I am trying to soak up every minute of it with my little man. Today we went to an indoor play center and then stopped for some lunch at chick fil a.

Valentine Treats

I have really been slacking on my blog duties lately. A lot of crazy things have happened since October and I really haven't had much to blog about. Well, I take that back, I have had a lot to blog about I have just chosen not to put all of my problems on the world wide web, if you know what I mean :) Things are slowly getting back to normal after a few tumultous months and I really want to start back up on my blog updates. I am putting all of my faith in the Lord and I know that he will never give me more than I can handle.

On a lighter note, I wanted to share some of the cards that I made for Gavin's school friends for Valentine's Day. I found the idea online and made them on my lunch break at work last week. I really wish I could do so many more crafty things like this, but craftiness and creativity just don't flow inside me. My goal is to try a bit harder and craft a bit more. My next project is a crayon wreath that I plan on making for Gavin's teacher. Stay tuned for those pics. Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

Long time, no post

It has been over a month since I posted last. So much has happened in five short weeks. Some good and some not so good. I am not going to ponder on the not so good and am choosing to focus on the good. I am thankful for so much right now and I think it is important to be grateful for what you have.

I recently had a photo session with a wonderful photographer who I can honestly call a friend now. I wanted to have some pictures taken of Gavin for our Christmas card and I wanted to have a picture taken with my mom. I couldn't have been more happy with Beth's work.

We are taking Gavin to a train depot today so I will post more pics soon.

Gavin's Birth Story

I know I am around two years late in posting this, but I didn't become a blogger until Gavin was a few months old. I have become horrible at keeping up with his baby book so I really wanted to jot all of this down before I forget. And to be quite honest, I am having major "baby fever" and I wanted to take a walk down memory lane. Enjoy!

Gavin was due on July 5, 2008. I had a feeling that I was going to have a "big" baby. Gabriel was 10 pounds and I was 8 pounds. I had mentioned this to my doctor a few times, but she always told me that it didn't matter how big Gabriel or I was. She only did two sonograms in her office during my entire pregnancy so she really didn't have any idea how big Gavin was getting. All I can say is that I was "huge!" I don't have many pics of me pregnant but here are a few from Gavin's baby shower. My four best friends threw me an amazing celebration.





Here is a picture taken two weeks before Gavin was born. It was father's day and I was as big as a house. Please note that I was wearing the exact same shirt the day I checked into the hospital to have Gavin.



I had my doctor's appointments scheduled for Thursdays since my mom was off on those days and she went to almost every appointment with me. The sunday before my due date I started to develop a rash on my belly. I thought it was from the chlorine in the swimming pool since I went "wading" every chance I got. On Monday the rash seemed to get worse. I called the doctor and they told me I could use calamine lotion to help with the itching. By Wednesday I was absolutely miserable. I called the doctor and they had me come in that afternoon at 3:15. My cousin Marissa took me since my mom was still working and Gabe was finishing his last job of the day. At this time I honestly thought she was going to just send me home with some lotion since she said she wouldn't induce until after my due date. It was only July 2. Apparently my blood pressure was really high so she sent me straight to labor and delivery. I was only 2 cm dilated. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor and I had my third sonogram in the hospital. My doctor finally wanted to see how big our little guy was. I still thought I was going to be sent home so I told Gabe to go ahead and finish his job. At that time he was still working for a company, so I wanted him to work as much as he could before the baby came. My mom arrived shortly after I got settled in my room. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself. The sonogram showed that Gavin weighed 9 pounds 12 ounces. I nearly rolled off the bed when they told me. My doctor came in around 6:00 and told me that she didn't think I would be able to push out a baby who weighed almost 10 pounds. At this point I was so miserable from the rash, which was diagnosed as PUPP,that all I wanted to do was have a baby. She recommeded a c-section. At this point I couldn't get a hold of Gabe. Apparently his last job was bigger than expected and he was in the attic where his phone didn't have a signal. I was so worried about him because he wasn't answering that my blood pressure started to rise again. My doctor was going to perform a c-section at 8:30 like it or not. She was worried about preclampsia. We were finally able to get a hold of Gabriel and he was at the hospital literally minutes before they rolled me into the operating room. My whole family, with the exception of my dad were in the waiting room. My dad really wanted me to hold out until Thursday since that was when he was coming back into town. Everything went really fast after this point. I remember getting the spinal and laying down. Gabe was there before I knew it and Gavin was out. I don't remember him crying, but they brought him over so I could kiss him. Gavin was born at 9:03 pm on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.





I was taken to recovery where I couldn't see Gavin for four hours. They finally brought him to me at 1:30 am. I had lots of visitors and I wish I remembered more from those first few days, but I had a severe allergic reaction to the spinal so all I really remember is being in a lot of pain with a lot of itching.
Once I got home I felt so much better. Gavin was mine and we savored every minute of him. I can't believe it was over two years ago that I had him. He has made my life complete and I could not ask for more.




"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27

Together at Last!

As I mentioned before, I am blessed with two beautiful stepdaughters. Due to circumstances beyond our control Gavin had never met them until last weekend. Gabe and I were really excited and I couldn't wait to see Gavin with his "sisters". I took Friday off and we drove to Fort Worth. I was worried about how Gavin would do during the long car trip, but he did great. He even slept part of the way. We met the girls Friday night for dinner. Gavin seemed to take to them right away. The next morning Gabe went to his youngest daughters football game while Gavin slept in. He had stayed up pretty late the night before and I wanted him to be well rested for the rest of the day. Yep, you heard me right, Gabe's youngest plays flag football. I thought the fact that she is the only girl on the team is pretty cool. I am sure Gabe was a very proud father that morning.




Gabe and the girls came back to the hotel to pick us up after the game. The weekend before was his older daughter's birthday so she got to open her gifts before we headed to lunch. Gavin was so excited to see his sisters again. He sat on the couch with them and posed for some pics, which he never does. It was so nice to see the three of them together.





After the mini birthday party we then headed out for some lunch. I just love this picture. Gavin wanted to hold both of their hands.



After lunch we headed to Ripley's Believe it or Not in Grand Prairie. It was so much fun! Gavin did so well in the museum with his sisters. They had a wax sculpture of everyone and anyone. They also had a mirror maze and some lazer obstacle that Gabe LOVED. We all had a blast.












Gavin cried so much when we had to drop off the girls. He was instantly in love and I couldn't be happier. We are planning another trip for November and December. I can't to see what the future holds for our awesome family!

Back to the Grind

I am officially back to work. It has been a rough couple of weeks getting back into the swing of things, but I know I will get into a nice routine by September. Gavin has also went back to school. He is at a new MDO and did great his first week. Gabriel drops him off which makes things a lot easier for me. He cries for a little while but stops fairly quickly. I have really been slacking on my postings because things have been crazy over here. I don't have any pictures of Gavin going to school, but I promise I will make Gabe take some this week. However, I do have one of Gavin lounging in his new recliner courtesy of Grandma Sonya or Ma as Gavin likes to call her :)

Stepmom

I think the word stepmom has many different meanings. I also think the word has gotten a bad rap as well. What is the first thing you think of? The evil stepmom from Cinderella right? Luckily, Julia Roberts turned things around for stepmom's all around the world when she portrayed one in the movie. Here is the official definition: A stepfamily, also known as a blended family or reconstituted family, is a family in which one or both members of the couple have children from a previous relationship. The member of the couple to whom the child is not biologically related is the stepparent, specifically the stepmother or stepfather. The reality is that in this day and age blended families are extremely common. I have lots of experience with this since I come from a blended family. I have a stepmom, a stepdad, and stepsisters. Just like any other family we have had our ups and downs, but we stayed true to the "family" part of it and love eachother unconditionally.

Two and a half years ago I became a stepmom. Things were complicated and I will skip most of the details, but I finally got to meet my two beautiful stepdaughters this past weekend. I have never been so nervous. I compared knocking on their door to the feeling you have right before you get on a roller coaster. I was excited, nervous and terrified all at the same time. We had an awesome day and I am literally counting down the days until we see them again. Gavin has two amazing sisters and I am so excited for their bond to develop. He is one lucky little boy and I am one lucky "stepmom".

From this day forward I vow to be the stepmom that I know I can be. I know there are going to be ups and downs, but in the end I know we will get through it. I have faith that God has led me down this path and put these two beautiful girls in my life for a reason.

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
and great shall be the peace of your children.
—Isaiah 54:13