Birthday Getaway to Dallas

Last Thursday Drew and I took off work a little early to head to Dallas. For his birthday Drew requested a weekend away and Dallas was the most logical choice. He wanted to stay downtown and eat at the Reunion Tower in Dallas so that is what we did. We managed to hit up all our favorite places despite having a wreck on Saturday Morning.

Thursday night we drove straight in to eat at the Cheescake Factory, My Personal Fave! We took our cheesecake to go as we checked into the Adophus Hotel in Downtown Dallas. The hotel was "old elegance" and we enjoyed staying there. Saturday for lunch we met Patrick in a local grill and then he took us on a little tour of his offices in Downtown. So Proud of him!

I managed to talk Drew into doing a little retail therapy after that and we hit up H&M for their maternity section and awesome sweaters. After that it was a visit to Cabela's, Drew's first time! Definitely a Man's store!

We headed back to the hotel after that for this little momma to be to rest and Drew met up with Patrick for some shuffleboard. (Who knew that was the hot thing to do after work!) We then headed to meet Drew's Dad and Stepmom at Reunion Tower to eat at Wolfgang Puck's 560. The atmosphere was wonderful. The views were amazing and and food was delicious! A wonderful Birthday celebration for a wonderful man!

Saturday despite having our little accident we managed to still have fun. Drew had been dying to go to TopGolf with Patrick and so we did. It was acutally really fun. I sat back in a comfy chair with chips and queso and watched them hit balls for an hour or so. Nice Breeze took off the stress of the morning.

 

We headed to Drew's Dad's house to stay with them for a night and enjoyed another wonderful celebration dinner with cake and ice cream followed the next day by the Cowboys game and Pappadeaux! I think the birthday boy was quite happy!

Heartbeat that sounded like Heaven!

Today we got to hear Baby Neal's heartbeat for the first time.... Magic!!

Drew and I were in Dallas over the weekend taking some time away and celebrating his birthday. Saturday morning as we were leaving downtown Dallas we were involved in an accident. The other car hit our rear tire and we were both buckled in but very scary. Our car was left in Dallas since it was not driveable. I didn't suffer any hits to my abdomen and after talking with the EMT's we all mutually decided I was ok to wait and get home to see my Dr. in Amarillo.

Now I will be the first to admit I can be a hypocondriach but I started having severe cramping in my pelvic area coupled with some severe back pain I had been having for quite some time. After taking Tylenol and the pain not fully subsiding by the time we made it back to Amarillo on Monday I began to do the thing you NEVER do, especially while pregnant... Googling symptoms. As soon as I saw these symptoms on a list of possible signs of miscarriage Drew and I were out the door headed to the ER. I thought on our way there to call my Dr. even though it was after hours. She promptly called me back and said to wait and just come in to her first thing this morning. Last night waiting for that appointment was the longest and scariest  yet. I was praying fervently that our little one would be safe.

Once at the Dr. she began to use the doppler to find the heartbeat. After minutes of searching and only finding my own heartbeat the look of concern on the Dr.'s face caused tears to roll down my cheeks. I couldn't bear to look at Drew. Finally off to my right side and higher than normal there was our little one with a strong steady heartbeat! Relief and Praise were being shouted out in my head. Drew released a huge breath of air and the stress we had been holding onto.

It is such a surreal feeling to feel so lost and upset about the thought of losing something I have yet to actually touch. The thought of life without you little bug was overwhelming me as we are already making plans for our lives together once you come into this world. Our love for your is growing beyond what we could even imagine and you are only the size of a bell pepper. What a blessing you are to us already!

October 4th we will find out if you are a HE or a SHE although we are already guessing you are one over the other!!

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to the man who has completely turned my word upside down! I never thought a love so strong and so right would come along. He blesses me every single day with his humor, courage, love and protection. I couldn't have asked for a better man to spend the rest of my life with or to father my children! 

Happy Birthday Drew!! I love you madly and forever!!

#29 feels like it could be the best yet!!!!

Lately

I am headed out of town early today to celebrate my Hubs' birthday weekend in the Big D! Since getting our wedding pictures I have been trying to finish my wedding posts with them and will be posting more soon. In the meantime here are some pictures lately of life that I have posted on Instagram.

 

A Mind Betrayed

Last night I sat across the table from my Mom at a restaurant we have been visiting since I was in Elementary school probably longer I just can't remember that far back, Olive Garden.
Mom and I were on our own, a rarety, Drew was at school and Nana didn't feel like getting out.
I sat across from her looking at the woman she is, strong and able bodied,  beautiful inside and out, with a mind that will not cooperate. I sat watching her as she scanned the menu not quite able to pick out what it was she wanted. Her confusion coming from her lips and I thought about the countless dinners we have had at Olive Garden over the years, with our family both extended and immediate, with my friends, with Gary, with ex boyfriends, with Drew.  Memories made and moments celebrated at Olive Garden and I couldn't help but feel like it had somehow betrayed her last night by causing her confusion in what to order. I have gotten pretty good and knowing what Mom want's to eat at different restaurants. She has about three meals she rotates between at Olive Garden but without clear pictures to illustrate what it is she struggles with commiting to a entree. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked at how far she has fallen, how much her mind has betrayed her and how much she has left to give of herself to this world, to my child, to me. I hate Alzheimer's.... I hate what it has stolen from us, from her. It is a selfish disease that takes innocent people as victims and doesn't care about those left in the wake.

Wedding Week: Part Five

Rehearsal ran a little late... doesn't it always?!

We had invited all of our guests to meet us at a local diner for a "Celebration Dinner." We decided against a traditional Rehearsal dinner since the wedding was out of town and so many guests had traveled a long distance to celebrate with us. We wanted to spend all the time we could with each of them.

The restaurant was prepared for our group of 50 at 5:45. I dont think the people in attendance at rehearsal got there until 6:15. We arrived to a room already full of guests waiting for us. Special friends from all over who traveled to celebrate with us.

Sweet friends, Linda Talley, Renee and Evan Flores flew up from Houston. Linda and her husband Lynn were among my first visitors in the hospital after being born. Renee was a constant babysitter for the boys and I growing up in Alvin. I have so many precious memories of them from my past and it was absolutely amazing they were able to make the trip. Ryan, Patrick, Mom and I all loved getting to see them again!

Precious friends from Amarillo also drove up to celebrate with us and attend Friday nights dinner... Curly and Polly Sumrow held court in the corner with his contagious smile and laughter. Nancy and Steve Farren waited patiently to greet us and welcomed all guests to join them in their celebration of our marriage, no one is ever left out when Nancy is around! Lane's Mom and Dad, Mike and Leah made the trip. Mike is full of joy and Leah is so fun we were so honored they came. A friend of Mom's from high school who has become a precious friend to her  since she moved back, Barbara Wise and her husband Gary were there. Barbara had been so excited for the wedding and kept Mom on a recurring pedicure/manicure schedule to get her ready.

 

 

My second mom through highschool, Beverly and her husband Scott drove from Abilene to attend the wedding. I can remember many many nights crying on Beverly's shoulder about life, and many nights sitting on the couch watching movies with her and Whitney. Beverly has always been one to embrace life's struggles with a huge smile and laugh at it. Her being at the wedding meant so much to me!

 

I was blessed to have so many of my family members make the trip up, many of whom were waiting at the restaurant for those in the wedding party to arrive. Pat, Paula, Rebecca, Taylor, Stetson and baby Stella all drove in Wednesday to Amarillo and treked up to Santa Fe with us. My Aunt Cindy and Tenell flew in earlier in the day Friday and Uncle Mike came in late Friday night. Erich and Nicholas came in Friday as well as Uncle Steve.

Drew had the majority of his family in for the wedding as well. For our Friday night dinner his sister Carrie, her kids Blaine and Kennedy, Drew's step mom Susie, his Grandma, his brother Denton and his girlfriend Starla and their daughter Aspen were all at the rehearsal and came to our celebration dinner with us.

I remember looking around the restaurant at all of the people who mean so much to Drew and I. Our Family, our closest friends, people whose presence in our lives have shaped who we are. I was overcome with joy and filled with elation to be surrounded by so many wonderful people. I will probably never be in a room with all them at one time again but the feeling will last with me forever!