It's the small things......

Not being able to walk can really change your perspective on things. I have a constant dialogue with God every day and I usually am so thankful when a taping of my kids show goes well, or if a Sunday morning worship service goes well technically. Now, I give God all the praise when I make it to my bed without too much pain and my book is open to the right page. That goes a long way with me these days.

As of last Thursday, the clot in my leg was still causing 100% blockage. The good news was that it hadn't spread, but there was zero blood flow to my leg- 2 weeks after the original diagnosis. I am pretty frustrated. I didn't think I would be able to run a marathon by now, but I thought that surely I would be able to get myself a cup of coffee. We just keep praying that the blood thinners will start working and that I will be able to ease back into normal life as soon as possible.

We had a wonderful Christmas. My family changed their entire plans and brought Christmas to me. My amazing sister packed up food, plates, gifts, clothes, and everything else in a moment's notice and came to my house. They left a note for Santa saying, "Dear Santa. We are at our Aunt LaLa's and Uncle Rob's in Montgomery. Please find us there." And he did. Santa is the best!! It was loud, crazy, messy, and absolutely perfect. I couldn't do anything but lay on the couch, but it was one of the best Christmases I have ever had, and it made me realize even more how important family is. The above picture was taken with my entire family on my Mom's side. We got together to celebrate with our beautiful Grandmom/Nana who is seated in the middle.

Blessed

I wanted to write a quick note and thank those of you who have been praying for me this week and to update everyone on what has been going on. A week ago tonight I started experiencing severe pain in my leg. Chalking it up to another pregnancy mystery I tried to sleep it off. Throughout the night my leg began to hurt worse and I was not able to sleep. By dawn, my leg was painfully swollen and was beginning to turn purple. Rob had left for church before it had gotten too bad, so my Mom drove me to the hospital. To make a long story short, it turns out that I had a deep vein thrombosis, which is another word for a blot clot deep down in a vein. The doctors immediately knew that this was not a good situation, but fortunately they spared me the knowledge of how severe it was. I spent 5 days in the hospital and was able to come home on Thursday where I am currently on bed rest until further notice. I am still in more pain than I have ever been in, but honestly, I feel so lucky to be here.

Rob and I did not find out until later that DVT can spread to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. We knew the doctors were very concerned and wouldn't let me move at all for 48 hours, but we didn't know how real the danger was until it had passed. In researching DVT, we discovered that more people die from a pulmonary embolism each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

I feel for certain that this blood clot would have manifested at some point in my life, and we are so thankful that it was just in my leg instead of in my lungs or in my brain. I will probably be on blood thinners for the rest of my life, but the chance of my ever having a clot again has decreased significantly. I can't help but feel that this clot coming at this time somehow saved me from something far worse later on.

I want to thank everyone so much for all of the calls, e-mails, flowers, and gifts. It has been absolutely overwhelming. One day in the hospital, after they brought more flowers in, I just started to cry. I felt so loved and cared for and I cannot tell you how much that has meant. Rob and I have been in disbelief at how amazing our support system has been and I have never felt more prayed over than I have this past week.

I do ask for continued prayers as I heal and try to begin walking again. I really don't have a time frame as to when that will be. Right now, I can hobble around in 10 minute increments before I am done, but we are hopeful that I will get stronger every day. Please pray for Rob as he tries to do everything that I cannot while still working and keeping the house running. He has been amazing every step of the way and I don't know what I would have done without him or my parents who have filled in when he was unable to be with me.

The most wonderful news of all is that little Bennett is perfectly fine. She is kicking more than ever and none of this has seemed to affect her in the least. Another prayer is that I will be 100% by the time she is born so I will be able to take her on walks and hold her as if nothing had ever happened.

Thank you again for being the hands and feet of Christ and showing us what true unselfish love looks like. We pray you have a Merry Christmas. We know that we will.

Why you won't be receiving a Christmas card from us

We tried. We really tried. We were all dressed up after a nice Christmas party and thought, "Hey, maybe we should try and do a Christmas card this year." So, after Rob spent an hour setting up his camera to make sure everything was right, I wasn't really in the mood anymore. Anyone who has been around my husband taking pictures knows what I am talking about. But, I trotted over to the Christmas tree, called the dogs over, and the following were the results. Hence, no Christmas cards this year unless we get really crazy and try again this weekend.

Meg, SIT!!

Seriously, SIT!

Never Mind.

Happy Thanksgiving

So, we began Thanksgiving with our annual tradition- sausage balls and a big 'ole parade. My thoughts this year: Xanadu? On Broadway? What producer in his right mind takes a massive flop on the big screen and thinks that somehow it will translate to gold on the Great White Way? I don't know, but those roller skates got my T-Day off to a trippy start. It was saved however by "Mary Poppins," "Young Frankenstein" and Al Roker. Have I mentioned that I love this man? I really think I have a secret crush on Al Roker. I guess it's not so secret anymore.

Then Rob and I went to my brother in laws house for Thanksgiving with his extended family, plus ours. It was a wonderful day and next year little Bennett will have to join Mommy and Daddy on the hayride. Maybe it won't be as cold.

The rest of the weekend was spent with my family celebrating my mom's birthday. We ate a lot, took long walks, watched movies, went and saw a play, and ate some more. It was a wonderful weekend and I am constantly amazed at how much I have to be thankful for. God has blessed me beyond measure, and I don't say that lightly, but am truly sincere in my gratitude for all He has blessed me with.

Happy Halloween

So, we aren't as cute as kids in bunny costumes, but what can you do? Here we are as royalty bowing down before our queen.

Reveal

So, Willow Creek, has come out and stated publicly that the way they do Church today is not working all that well and that they aren't making disciples as Jesus intended. Whether or not you agree or disagree with the questions they are posing, you should definitely check out their video. I am interested in seeing the reaction from Willow Creek's announcement. Regardless of the outcome, I think Hybles and the other pastors were very brave to publicly admit mistakes in the way they do church and that honesty and sincerity should be commended.

I'm a slacker..... I know.

Maybe it's the lack of sleep, maybe it's the writers strike that has captured all of my attention, maybe it's the fact that my friends are the best bloggers in the world, and I can't keep up... I don't know. However, I know that I have been sadly negligent in updating our blog and so tonight I am going to remedy that.

Thoughts on Pregnancy:

You know how everyone talks about being in a crowded room and feeling completely alone? That's sort of how pregnancy feels. Now don't get me wrong. If there is a woman within three feet of you who has ever in her lifetime

a. Been pregnant

b. Thought about getting pregnant

c. Known someone who was pregnant

then she will have an opinion. I guarantee it. And usually the result of these conversations is that I have not experienced any of the symptoms that she or her Aunt Gladys did and so now I am convinced my baby will be an alien. Or I am having symptoms that she and her Aunt Gladys never had so now I am even more convinced my baby will be an alien. So, that's why I am in a room surrounded by people and I am tired, grumpy, and probably in pain somewhere, but I don't dare mention it else I be swarmed by the ABC option above, or my Mom will make me go to the hospital. It's an interesting journey.

So, Rob doesn't like it when I yell at the dogs. He thinks it scares the baby. He promised her last night he would get her out of there soon and is working on a plan to spring her from her jail. He has no idea how narrowly a shoe flying through the air missed his head. I forgive him though because he writes funny songs about our baby and our dog. They make no sense and don't ever really have a melody, but they make me laugh, and that goes a long way these days.

Four more months until the baby. So far the name count has been narrowed down to Caroline, Bennett, Laney, and Hey You. I would ask your thoughts, but really, I am too confused as it is. This was just for those of you out there who are dying to monogram something. All shall be revealed soon enough.

It's a girl

Well, we thought we might actually bring the first boy to my parents after six girls, but alas, we are bringing baby girl number seven. Actually, we couldn't be more excited. I really don't think either one or us would have any idea of what to do with a boy.

We are both are resting after a fun filled week at Disney World. We hung out with Mickey, dined in France, got a thumbs up from either Chip or Dale, rode on Peter Pan's flight, slept with Dalmation number 86 of 101, and ate breakfast with Cinderella (the nieces were present of course. It would be kind of weird if he and I had gone by ourselves.) It was a wonderful week and we can't wait to go back.

The nursery is coming along and now we are waiting for Grandad and Mamaw to get here next week so Rob can enjoy some time with his family when he is not in a bed popping pain pills as he was during his last visit. Here he is helping our brother in law, Jason, reassemble the new/old crib. The due date is fast approaching and we couldn't be more excited.

My first blog

I've done it. I've caved into societal pressure and created another blog. Another person on the Internet posting their rambling thoughts, thoughts for the day, and family updates. There isn't too much to say right now, but in about 5 more months there will plenty, so I will try to be creative and think of witty things to write about until then. Cricket...... Cricket...... Hmmm...
Note to self. Find new hobby tomorrow.