Sea World

We started our Spring Break this year by driving to San Antonio Sunday afternoon, checking into a hotel (the boys' first time to spend the night in one), and having dinner with some good friends who now live there.

Our plan was to go to Sea World on Monday.  I was excited and a little stressed about taking the boys--worried mostly about Kace not getting a nap and how he would handle it.  We had nothing to worry about......

 Good Morning Sea World!

 Daddy and Kace off to go stand in the stroller line while Riley and I stood in another!

 Pushing Bubba out of "my strolla!"

 Saw some friendly faces we knew (that we weren't expecting to see)!

 The Azul show was Cirque de Soleil at Sea World.  Our favorite.

 Thanks for the only family photo, Susan!

 I love these indoor aquarium images.

 Wish the little one could've been still enough.

 So cool because Riley is researching sharks at school right now.  He was fascinated.

 We munched on gallons of lemonade, water and popcorn.  And lived to tell about it!

 Elmo & Cookie!!!  They weren't the only interesting characters we saw at Sea World either.....Can you say adults wearing swimwear with no cover-ups all day?    Seriously?  At one point, Russ said, "Babe....I'm glad you're going home with me and I'm going home with you, and these are our boys."  Yes, we're LUCKY!! :-)

 Shark encounter...

 The penguins were SO fast!  I think this was the only decent photo.

 Happiness is cruising in the stroller with my brother and giggling so hard and loud that people are turning around to smile at us!

 Shamu!

 Sea lions were funny!

 Oh, that walrus was a cutie.

 SO. TIRED.

 Riley was too small for the big rides, but we had fun on this one!!

 Goodnight all, we had a wonderful day!

We were planning to stop and get a quick bite after we left.  We barely made it out of the parking lot before the little one was sound asleep.  Big brother was soon to follow.  They slept soundly while Daddy drove us home.  What a wonderful day!

Opening Ceremonies

Not very action packed and mostly crowd control for the coaches and dads, but a great opportunity for the boys to feel like rockstar baseball players on the Round Rock Express Field (and mommy's to take some fun pictures).  A fun, gorgeous day with friends and family.

 Baseball buds.

 First in line....

 Spike

 Our friend, Coach John Carter spoke about baseball in his life and made me cry!  

 Our Congressman, John Carter was there!

Another Season Begins.....Baseball Season

The big one is playing his 4th season of T-ball this year and we couldn't have been more proud of his first game this season.  He's been on really strong teams and learned some great ball from the players and coaches we've been surrounded by.  This year was new team, new people, and Riley kicked off the season with a fantastic game.  2 doubles, 4 outs, and spent his time on first base and the pitchers mound.

It's amazing to think of how far he has actually come since we started.

Faithful Fans=G & Grandmom

 More fans!

 Their first game and first win!  He's excited, can you tell?

Coach Daddy

Me & My Little Giant

Valentines

 Riley working hard finding the right Valentines for his friends in his class.  He even added a little hand-drawn heart to each one.  Sweet.

 We had fun making these little treats....and eating them.....and sharing them!

 Breakfast for my Valentines!

 I stayed home with a sick little Kace-man this day.  It was a good day to stay home and snuggle with my littlest Valentine.

 Kiss your brother!

 My little Valentines.  

Topped off the evening at home with a heart shaped pizza.  Delish!!

New Camera

I have a new camera!  I have taken a jillion pictures since I got it in my hands 5 days ago.  Here are some favorites:

40 Sucks?

Well, many wonderful ladies I know have joined the 40 club.  I admire them all for many reasons and think that turning 40 is a good thing.  I think it's an amazing time in life and I'm knockin' on 40's door.  My best friend since 7th grade turned 40 this month and I saw this cute idea on Pinterest.

I'm not crazy about the black balloons, Over the Hill, "this is awful" mentality of a new decade.  So.....I made it better by adding 40 memories/moments to make her smile.  To make it special, fun, and not "black."  I was proud of myself and the idea AND the way it turned out!!

Happy 40th Tina Mofina!  Here's to 40 more....and then some.  I love you!!

Kaceism #1

It's been a long time. So much to say, so I'm not about to backtrack. That would be overwhelming, right? Kace is amazing me daily with the things he repeats, mimics, and tries to say. Some things perfectly and some things just a hair off. And I love it. He's at that age where he's saying some things wrong, but it's so cute that we want them to stay that way.

 When Riley was younger, he said "lasterday" instead of yesterday. I love it, still say it on occasion, and miss it terribly!

 Here's one of Kace's.

This Moment

Tonight Kace has us all to himself and Riley has Nunny and Buzz all to himself.  Kace hasn't stopped talking and jabbering since his Bubba left!! 
New words this week:  up, owl, money (?not sure if it's Mommy and Nunny mixed together?), hi, Mike, jp (pj's--and I love it!)

Words he's been saying:  bye bye, night night, Chachi (for Aunt Robbye), milk (sounds like meow), strawberry (sounds like HEB), water (sounds like double), Mommy, Daddy, Mimi, G, Nunny, Buzz, Bubba, bite, shoe, jeans, shirt, num num, snack, apple, and I'm sure there are more....

His vocabulary grows daily.
He loves music, loves to dance.
He loves his Bubba.
He loves snacks.
He loves to wake up early.
He loves to climb on furniture.

Here's a moment of him shakin' it tonight.  So precious!!

Hospital-iversary

Two years ago today I was 22 weeks pregnant, went to work, and went in for a doctor appointment.   My OB-GYN told me that I had a greater chance of losing this baby than keeping it.  The look on my doctors face told me that I should be frightened because you see, he doesn't ever look concerned or worried.  And he did. 

I had no amniotic fluid.

My favorite nurse, Judy, stayed late to check  me into the hospital.  She escorted me and my mom (who rushed to the hospital) upstairs to my room.  I was so glad she did.  She was a calm presence for mom and I.  That walk to the hospital room was a frightening blur.  Russ arrived shortly after.

My doctor thought I'd check in for the weekend, get some IV fluids and a steroid shot.  (And be on my way...?)  That was until the neonatologist showed up and informed us that I'd stay until the baby came.  My due date was January 30th.  YOU do the math.

It was horrifying, it was NOT on my calendar, it was NOT my choice.  This was in God's hands.  We were in God's hands and I've never been more certain.  I was scared, but looking back I don't have any bad memories.

We added to our family tree there.  Dr. A, Dr. D, Stephy, Melinda, Joanne, Lily, Cookie, Julia and Brian, Kate and Joey.....

I've never felt so loved in all of my life as I did those days.  Mom came every day.  My Bunco girls surprised me with Bunco in my room one month.  My teammates surprised me by sending Amy to give me a blowout on my birthday!  Riley and I shared books on the internet in my hospital bed....and watched The Bee Movie (thanks to the cafeteria's fruit plate and some microwave popcorn).  Friends and family sent flowers, food, books, crosswords, emails, calls, you name it, I had it.....pajamas, shower gel, lotion, everything a girl in a hospital bed could dream for, I had.  Except freedom.  Russ spent many nights with me when our moms could be home with Riley.  Tina and I had a couple of spent the nights.  All for me and I loved and appreciated every effort, whether big or small.  It still overwhelms me.

People ask how I made it.  Wasn't I stir crazy?  Wasn't that hard?  What did you DO?  Well I made it....I didn't have a choice.  Not making it wasn't an option, was it? 

Every day I obsessively checked Kace's development and wondered what our lives would be like if he was born each day.  I worried, but I felt so safe.  I knew we would be okay.  God would keep us safe and provide us with what we needed.

On December 21, Kace was born.  Induced 6 weeks early because of my continued lack of fluid and his size.  Dr. A was hoping for a 5 pounder.  Kace was 5 pounds, 5 ounces.  I was SO proud.  December 23 I was discharged from the hospital.  Just in time for Christmas Eve.  I'd spent my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Russ's birthday in my hospital bed.  I'm so glad I was able to escape before Christmas.  Kace spent 10 days in NICU and was released on January 3.  We spent just a few days shy of 3 months in the hospital and when I say "we", I mean "we!"  Family, friends, and me.

What a journey.  What a blessing.  What a gift.  What a story. 

When I look at him I'm reminded of how much I have to be thankful for.  The big things and the little things.

Two years later, Kace is a happy, healthy dreamy boy.  Every day he amazes me.  Every day I'm thankful that we have him in our lives.  Our home wouldn't be complete without the sunshine he brings.

I wish I had a picture from this day 2 years ago.  I was too scared.  Here my and my little one are tonight before bedtime, on our hospital-iversary.