Our 4th Anniversary

Yesterday (August 23rd) was our fourth wedding anniversary! I can't believe we've already been married for four years. It seems like just yesterday that we were planning the wedding. I can remember thinking then that our wedding day would never come. And now, here it is four years later and all I can wish is that time would slow down! I mean just think, four years is the same amount of time as you spent in high school. Didn't that feel like a long time back then? Well, apparently time really does pass faster the older you get. What's even more unbelievable to me is that we started dating on September 19, 2001, so we will be together a total of six years in just a couple of days. Since my 30th birthday (yes, I said 30th!) is Tuesday, I will have Randy in my life for 1/5 of the time I have been on this earth. I've already spent 20% of my life with him! I know I did get really lucky to find someone that keeps me entertained and is so sweet to me, so I'm not at all complaining. I am just having such a hard time with how fast time is passing and how I don't even notice it flying by. I know I need to stop and smell the roses, but I'm just not really sure where to find the breaks!

More Cowbell Anyone????

KK, Kenzie, and Kagan Keltz

Babysitting!

I got to babysit three of my favorite little people today! Lesa and Kevin had some errands to run, so they let me have Kaitlyn (5), Kenzie (3), and Kagan (1) this afternoon/evening. It was so much fun! KK, being the oldest, is so good at being the big girl helper. They are such good kids that I didn't even feel overwhelmed that I had three kids under six here.

KK and Kenzie have some active imaginations. Those girls can dream up things to keep themselves entertained for hours. Today, KK was the mom and Kenzie was her 4 year old daughter that was having a birthday party. They went back and forth to the grocery store (upstairs) to get sack (basket) after sack of groceries (blocks, cards, checkers). We had the party and ate sandwiches (cards), chips (checkers), cake and cupcakes (blocks). Then they called for a bus to come pick them up and take them to the water park in Azle for the birthday party. It was so cute to watch their imaginations run wild. Remember when it was so easy to dream up things to do?

Locknane Family Reunion

Why is it that when families get together for a weekend we manage to eat more than we usually do in a typical week? We're stuffed! At least it was really good food that we're stuffed of. Randy's mom and her family are some of the best cooks, and particularly bakers, I know. And that's certainly a compliment because my family is pretty serious when it comes to making good food. We ate from Saturday morning until we left this afternoon. But it tasted so good that I can't even say I regret any of it! Then, they all sent us home with recipe packets for all of the dishes. As if eating that much once a year isn't enough, now we can sit at home and eat ourselves into oblivion without anyone else having to witness the process! It's a beautiful thing.

Randy's grandma lives in Clovis. She is just the spunkiest little lady you'll ever meet. I didn't race her, but I'm pretty sure that if I did she would win. Talk about somebody with energy and determination. I don't know many people that could keep up with her. We went to visit the old farm house that she grew up in just outside of Clovis. As soon as we pulled up to the gate she's hopping out of the car to open it before it even comes to a stop. At eighty some-odd years old (a lady never tells her age!) she still gets on the tractor and mows the weeds down. It's an impressive sight to see her in action with all of her grandkids.

We took some family pictures looking out over the breaks, which is Locknane language for where the flat land breaks off into valley and cliffs. Apparently Clovis sits on a plateau, and you wouldn't even realize it until you get to a part of their farm where all of a sudden there's a drop into beautiful scenery. Since I didn't bring my camera, I'll have to rely on Gina or Karen to send those pictures to me. As soon as I get them, I'll post them though!

Busy little bees!

I haven't posted in so long! It's been a mad dash around here with so many things going on for the summer. We usually don't have things to do on weeknights, but for some reason lately it seems like even those are rushed for activities. I guess I brought most of that on myself when I volunteered to be the Merchant Chair for Holiday Happening this year. What did I get myself into?! Talk about having a second full time job. But, it's fun and it's all for a good cause so you won't hear anymore complaining from me! Randy on the other hand still has some choice words about how much time it takes up. Luckily, he usually keeps those to his self. :)

Yes, Randy still has to wear the brace. He's tried to play golf in it, but I think he's still not comfortable enough to move it that much. For now, it looks like golf on the Wii is all he can handle. I think that he's going to go with Leslie's boyfriend, John, to a shooting range for their "boy excursions" instead of golfing for the next couple of weeks. We worked in the yard today and it hurt him to even bend over and pick something up. At least, so he says. So I got the job of digging up old and planting new flowers in the back yard this afternoon to myself. But, after the good care he took of me when I was so sick, I can't complain.

We've heard lots of good news in the last couple of weeks. One of the sweetest girls that I work with, Carisa, and her husband discovered that they are expecting after only one month of trying. Also, Randy's sister, Gina, found out that she and Trey are going to be parents! Then, Justin Franklin and his wife, Chandler, also announced that they would be giving baby Bode a little brother or sister. Can you imagine the baby showers to come? All of these couples are due in March of next year. There must be something in the water, so I think I'm going to drink from every faucet in town!

By the way, congratulations to Dane and Crystal! They were married on Saturday in a very sweet and intimate wedding. Thanks for letting us be part of your special day!

Now, on to a sadder note. One of my friends, Elizabeth Bednarz, ended her battle with cancer on Wednesday night. She fought a courageous fight, but in the end the cancer won. She found a spot that was suspicious in January, and didn't get in to see the doctor until February. They found out immediately that it was cancer and had spread throughout her body, including her brain. She chose to seek treatment and to fight as long as she could. However, the chemo could only do so much. Her funeral was Saturday. We met through Junior League because we were in the same provisional class, so I've only known her about 2 years. However, her bright smile and positive outlook, even at the very end, will always have a place in my heart. Although I work for a hospice provider, and I see people with terminal illness on a daily basis, this was very different. It's somehow even more painful to watch someone you know, someone that is only 5 years older, go through something this terrible. I can appreciate life so much more after witnessing my friend go through the last six months.

Randy Got The Boot!

Well, he got a boot. On his right foot, that is. It will probably only be a couple of weeks before he can take it off, so it's not too serious. This past Sunday while he was helping his friend Chance look for his golf ball Randy stepped in a hole. He says he was busy looking in the water and not where he was going. Obviously! Both Randy and Chance heard a popping sound when it happened. That popping was the sound of ligaments on the top of his foot tearing. Yeouch! He says it's pretty sore but feels better when the boot is on because it doesn't move. The doctor said that he should be okay in the boot, but he wanted to see Randy back on the 23rd to make sure it's healing right. If it's not looking as good as he thinks it should, he's going to put on the cast no matter how much Randy protests. I really hope it doesn't come to that since I'm having to drive him around while he's got the boot. He said he would figure out a way to drive with his left foot, but if you have ever seen him drive normally you understand why I don't think that's a good idea! I'll keep you posted!

Summer is here

I guess with all of the cool temperatures lately, I haven't really noticed that it's the middle of the summer. I know that the official summer season didn't really start until a couple of days ago, but the end of June is usually noticed because of the sweltering heat. Not this year! We haven't even had temperatures reach 100 or above yet. Not that I'm complaining, of course. It's just that only today did I realize that this time next week I will be going to my mom's house for the 4th of July. It doesn't seem like it's time for that yet! Maybe we can be lucky enough to continue the cool temps and the unusually high amount of rainfall for the rest of the summer. Let's hope so!

I wanted to also tell you all about another blog I've been reading lately. It's about a mom and dad, Kristy and Josh Schwade, and their precious little boy, Kaleb. I'm not sure how I came across this story, but it's one that has touched me deeply. Most of you have heard of Shaken Baby Syndrome and the horrible effects it has on children. The Schwade story has helped increase the awareness of the this abuse. It's a sad story, but hopefully, with prayer, will have a happy ending. Here is a excerpt from her website:

My Name is Kristy Schwade and my life at this point is not anywhere near normal. My Son, the light of my life is fighting for his very own life in ICU and has been since May 9, 2007. He is suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome by the hands of someone who is not in anyway related to him or us. I have 100% faith in God that my little boy will be the one that SURPRISES all of the doctors. He is strong and we have to be strong for him.

If you're interested in reading it, visit http://www.myspace.com/kristyreynolds.

Since my last post we've been to the lake a couple of times and are headed back this weekend. It's rained so much there that the grass is actually green! Yes, that's very odd for this time of year. However, the chiggers are out in full force. I never get bit, but I came home this past weekend with bits all over. We weren't even outside that much this time. There was a big storm that came through at the lake a couple of nights before and took out the dock, so we weren't able to go down there. Then, we didn't have an anchor in the boat, so we couldn't go out and park it in the lake. So, what did we do? We went into town and bought a Nintendo Wii. That's right! We drove all the way to the lake to sit inside most of the day and play a video game. I have to say, though, it was fun. If you don't know what a Wii is, let me explain. It's a video game that uses "remote technology". That means there are no cords. You just hold this remote in your hand and the sensor sends out signals to the system telling it what movement you make. If you've ever played, or seen anyone playing a video game, you know that you move around trying to get the controller to go in the direction you want it to. What's neat about the Wii is that moving around actually makes the game go in that direction! We've played golf, tennis, bowling, baseball, and boxing on it. Believe it or not, it's a real workout! You're actually making the moves, not just pushing buttons to tell the game where to go. So, if your golf swing isn't straight, the remote will relay that information and SLICE! I have to admit, it's a neat game. We had dinner with Mary Jane, Leslie, and Jon tonight. Everyone had their turn to play the game and it was fun!

Now we need a barn

So, now Randy has decided we need a barn. Not just any kind of barn, either. He thinks we need to find some land, maybe 10 acres or so, outside of town that we can build a big barn and have lots of open space around it. He got this idea from Elizabeth and Rusty's wedding last weekend. By the way, that was a beautiful wedding! More about that later. For now, back to the barn. So, it's not just four walls and a dirt floor he wants. We're talking a concrete slab, large barn doors on three sides, and a built in smoker. Then, here's the crazy part, he wants to make a room that's air conditioned and big enough for a pool table and shuffle board table by taking one of the long sides of the barn and enclosing it. Where did he get this crazy idea? Well, that takes us back to the wedding!

Liz lives in Direct, TX. And for those of you that don't know where that is, okay for nearly all of you, that is about 30 minutes outside of Paris, TX. It's a really pretty part of Texas because it's covered with greenery. True to Liz form, she found a really neat and unique wedding site and tailored the small details to make her wedding an unforgettable experience. The actual ceremony was held under a large oak tree and was really sweet. She found a great country singer named Wade White to play all of the music acoustic during the ceremony and reception. He sang, with a fiddle player and base guitarist accompanying, for hours. The reception was in, you guessed it, a large barn. Now this barn was made to have fun in! I have to admit, that room with the pool table I talked about was pretty cool. It also had a big screen TV and a DJ sound system built in. It was decorated with NASCAR and country music singer memorabilia that the owners had collected. Not my personal style, but well put together regardless. It was a great place to have a reception. As the night wore on we all danced, including Elizabeth. At one point she even borrowed someones belt to hold the train of her wedding dress up so she could jitterbug! And, we discovered there were some limber girls there when the limbo contest was underway. Overall, it was a really great night!

If you want to see the rest of the pictures of the wedding I have posted them on Snapfish. Look in the column to the right --> and scroll down until you see the link. If you haven't registered with Snapfish you will have to do that. It's really easy, just put in your email and select a password. Then it will ask you for the roomcode. This is the password to see the photo albums. Just enter: ourphotos.

The Limbo Winner

And just like that...

...the weight is gone! My doctor was right. It only took a couple of days to lose that fluid and get back to my normal size. I missed being able to move and bend like a normal person. Being off for two weeks without having any fun was not my idea of a vacation! I started back to work today and it was a very welcome change. Thank you so much to everyone that has checked up on us. And, thank you for all of the food and get well gifts. Randy and I both appreciate you all!

Hello From Home, Finally!!!

Years ago, on a trip to New Orleans, I remember buying a t-shirt that said, "What a long, strange trip it's been." I know that's a lyric from a Grateful Dead song, but at the time, it seemed like the perfect saying for those past few days. Since then, however, I seem to think back that shirt and how it continually applies to my life. This past week is really no exception.

In my last blog, I told you we were on track to have the egg retrieval on Wednesday, 5/23. The weekend before that, however, my doctor decided that my hormone labs were looking elevated and my ovaries seemed to be getting stimulated too quickly so we moved the retrieval to Tuesday, 5/22. The final step to "mature" the eggs was an injection to be taken exactly 36 hours before the retrieval. So, on Sunday night at exactly 9:15pm, I gave myself the shot and went back to watching the news before bed. Little did we know at the time, that injection would set off a week and a half long chain of events! After the news was over at 10:00, I got up to go to bed only to find that I couldn't take a step on my right side without a horrible shooting pain. Well, making that long story short, it was a very restless night and following day using a heating pad and some Tylenol to help alleviate the pain. My doctor assured us that the pain would subside as soon as the eggs were gone and the ovaries were able to relax. He was right! Although I was groggy and slept most of the day after the retrieval, everything was great with no pain on Tuesday. But, on Wednesday, the follicles that housed the eggs before they were retrieved started to fill up with fluid and continued to stimulate. Then, it got worse on Thursday. Keep in mind, that was the day I should have been up and around and possibly back at work. But, by Friday morning, I was retaining so much fluid in my abdomen that I looked like I was several months pregnant. We made an appointment and went into the doctors office because not only was my abdomen swollen and painful, but that fluid was making it hard for me to breathe and I was really nauseated. After taking my vitals and seeing my pulse was 131, my doctor admitted me immediately to the hospital. I wish I could say I started getting better when that happened, but Saturday was the worst day. Saturday morning he stuck a huge needle in my belly and drained 3 liters of fluid. That did alleviate pressure, but all of my labs were so low they almost had to put me in ICU. Between the nausea medicine and Valium, I really don't remember too much about that day. Luckily, Sunday was the turning point. I was more alert and my kidneys finally started processing some of the fluid. Unfortunately it wasn't enough. On Monday, they drained another 2+ liters with the big ugly needle and the world started to turn for me again. That second time to drain the fluid was worse than the first. After sticking me with the 18 gauge, which they used on Saturday that took 2 hours to drain, they decided they needed to use a 16 gauge needle so it would go faster. Not only did they stick my once with the bigger one, but had to do it a second time. Yes, it was VERY PAINFUL! But, like I said, it made a huge difference. I got my appetite back and my kidneys started kicking into overdrive. I lost about 5 pounds of water weight between that night and the next morning. On Tuesday, I was able to get out of bed for the first time since Friday and walk. They discharged me that afternoon with nearly 20 extra pounds of water weight than I had when I started this whole endeavor. Last night and today my kidneys have been working to get rid of nearly 5 pounds. So, only 15 more to go! My doctor said everything should be back to normal by Friday, but I have my doubts. That's alot of tinkling in the next two days! The good news is I am now at home and feeling fine. I get winded walking across the floor, but I think I will get my stamina back soon. Like I said, what a long, strange road it's been!

A Great Weekend!

I hope you all had a good Mother's Day weekend! It was great weather to get out and enjoy the sun. We sure made the most of it! On Saturday, Randy and I went to the lake and got there in time to get the boat out and bask in the afternoon sun. Neither of us rode the tube or skied though. I don't think Randy trusted me to pull him behind the boat. Humph! And, since I was being a real girl and didn't want to get my hair wet, we just spent the afternoon riding on the water. It was so relaxing. We got the boat put up and the grill ready just in time for Randy's parents, Don and Karen, to meet us at the lake house for dinner. Randy cooked some really good steaks and grilled corn on the cob. Then, after dinner, Don, Randy, and I played dominoes. I know Don would comment that I can't say it without smiling, but I won! I never win at dominoes! :) On Sunday we drove into Dallas and met Randy's sister and her husband, Gina and Trey, for lunch and then we all went to the Ranger's game. Since I've known Randy, we've been to quite a few baseball games, but I think this was probably the most exciting one. There were 8 home runs, pitchers throwing at players, ejections, and then the game winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. It couldn't have been better! Of course, going to a Sunday afternoon game in Dallas did mean that we didn't get home until about midnight, but since it was such a good game it was worth it. I may not be a mother, but I had a great Mother's Day!

Speaking of not being a mother...We are still on track to have the retrieval on May 23rd. I am currently giving myself 3 different injections each day. My doctor told me today that my ovaries are responding really well to the stimulation, so that sounds encouraging. Hopefully, everything will continue to go smoothly. But, as you know, I will keep you updated.

So Much To Say!

Wow, it's really been a long time since I've posted! Sorry about that! We have had a busy couple of weeks. First, Chandler and Justin had their baby. Bode Blair Franklin was born on 4/24 at 4:20. He weighed 5 pounds and was just the cutest little thing! Isn't that face sweet!

Randy found an auction last week that he was completely engrossed in. It was a huge estate sale here in town that you could view all of the items online. He found a long list of little treasures that he is determined to make a profit on. He's been the eBay king for the last weekend. To his credit, I thought he was crazy, but he really has made money on the junk. And, by junk, I mean things like a ceramic fruit basket, a 3 inch tall man with a tophat ceramic figurine, and not just one but TWO buddah statues He also got some old records of Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, and Simon and Garfunkel. Those have been selling pretty well too. It's so funny watching him get excited when the bidding starts as the auction is about to end!

So, we are still on target for the IVF on May 23rd. I started my injections on May 1st. I'll have daily injections until either we find out the procedure didn't work or I'm two months into the pregnancy. The injections I'm giving myself right now really are easy to handle. I give myself a shot in the stomach every morning with a very small needle. I really don't feel a thing! However, I can't say that will always be the case. At the end of this week I will have to add another type of shot that will be given once in the morning and once in the evening. Then, on day 21, Randy will have to start giving me the big shots. I'm a little scared of those needles! I can only hope it's not as bad as it looks, but after talking to some friends that have done this, I'm not really encouraged. Although, I do know it will all be worth it after we have a sweet little baby to hold in our arms!

Shots and Other Observations

This past Monday Cory and I went to Dr. Jabara's office for "shot instructions." Believe it or not Cory learned how to give herself a shot and I had to learn how to give a shot as well. Now I'm no expert, but I do know a few nurses and I don't think they teach shots during the first week of nursing school. Here we are learning it in an hour. To me this means one of two things: either we are super smart and way ahead of the learning curve, or paying what we pay to go get shots at the doctor's offices and clinics is a complete sham. As easy as the nurse made it seem, they should sell this stuff on the shelf at places like Wal-Mart for two bucks and we could save a ton of money. I admit there may be more to it but it hust seems that way to me. Let me know what you think.

The Dallas Trip Was Fun

Randy was in Dallas on Friday for bank business, and he got to drive to Athens and stay with his sister and brother-in-law that night. Gina and Trey have recently moved into a new house and are busy working to make it their own. Randy said it's a great house with a huge backyard and a front porch that overlooks the lake. I think he's a little jealous that they get to live that close to fishing! :) On Saturday, Randy and Trey went to the Busch races. Randy won a contest at work and he got two free tickets to the Bank of America luxury suite at Texas Motor Speedway. They also got VIP access to the pit area. No joke, they tried to take pictures of the cars as they zoomed by and we ended up with a bunch of pictures of empty track. Although this was the first race that either of them had ever watched, they still had a pretty good time!

Mary Jane and I had our Holdiay Happening retreat here in Lubbock on Friday and Saturday until 4pm. But, as soon as we wrapped up our meeting on Saturday, MJ and I were off to Dallas. Of course, I had to get us lost a time or two, both with help of bad directions from my sweet husband and on my own. We took a little detour through Azle. Sorry we didn't stop to see you Eddy and Sheri! You might not have wanted us to though, since we didn't get there until almost 9pm. On Sunday morning while Randy and Trey went to Bass Pro Shop and some Golf superstore, Gina, MJ, and I went to the Junior League of Dallas' Spring Market. It was fun even if we were disappointed in the show. It wasn't anywhere near as decorated or put together as our Holiday Happening is here in Lubbock. The vendor quality definately wasn't what we were expecting from a big show in Dallas. Of course, we talked about how there is so much shopping in the Dallas area anyway, maybe they don't think it's worth their time to go to a market hall. We did find a few that we thought were worth inviting to our show, but not as many as we had hoped for. Don't worry though, for those of you that will be attending Holiday Happening this year, we will have some great merchants to shop!

All in all, it was a fast and furious, but very fun trip!

How 'bout that?

So, although I've always thought I was pretty unique, it turns out I'm really not. :( There are 108,564 people in the U.S. with the first name Cory. And, statistically it's the 495th most popular first name. However, 94.44 percent of people with the first name Cory are male, so I guess that counts for some sort of uniqueness! If you were wondering (and since you're still reading this I have to assume you are!) there are 316,646 people in the U.S. with the last name James and statistically it's the 70th most popular last name. So, put it together and there are 114 other people in the US named Cory James. All of them boys, undoubtedly! This site is kind of neat. Try it yourself!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 114 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Chandler's Baby Shower

Today we had a baby shower at Chad and Beth's house for Justin and Chandler Franklin. Their soon to be new baby boy, Bode (pronounced Bodie) Blair Franklin, got lots of great gifts! It was lots of fun to see so many cute little things. Yes, I said CUTE! We played a clothes pin game that you couldn't say the word cute or you would lose your pin. I obviously didn't last too long in the game! Anyhow, I made Bode a Dallas Cowboys quilt since his room will be sports themed and the Cowboys are mom and dad's favorite team.

Here comes Randy Cottontale!

Ha! Randy made a bet with his branch that if they could get 20 approved credit cards this week, he would wear bunny ears and pass out easter eggs today. He thought that 20 was a safe number. After all, they got a total of 39 during the entire last quarter. As you can see, he lost the bet. At the close of business on Thursday they had 26 approvals. I guess the lesson here is to never underestimate the power of motivation! As you can see, they also fashioned a bunny tail that he had to pose for pictures with.

Recipe of the Day!

If you like bread pudding, this is a great recipe that also happens to be super easy! You can adjust the amount of bread up or down to make it more like cake or like a real pudding.

BREAD PUDDING
1 can Eagle Brand condensened milk
8 slices bread, torn into small pieces
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 cups whole milk

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until combined. If you like a more cake like bread pudding, you may save some of the bread to add and barely blend for texture after the rest of the mixture is blended. Pour into a greased corningware dish and bake at 325 for 1hr 45min or until the center has set. It's best served warm. Just before serving, make the maple sauce.

MAPLE SAUCE
1 cup pure Maple Syrup
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp butter
1/8 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue boiling, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. This mixture can boil quite high, so be sure to watch it carefully and reduce heat or stir as necessary.

I hope you all love this recipe as much as we did!!!

Are you getting ready for the summer???

I love this time of year! I know it's early, but when everything starts blooming and the weather gets warm for a few days in a row, I start doing some summer dreaming. We've already been to the lake this year, and this warm weather really makes us want to go back every weekend. The days aren't too hot yet and the evenings are really nice for sitting outside. Of course, in West Texas, this time of year is also severe weather season, so we are thankful for days like today when the weather is as perfect as it can be. I know we aren't the only ones getting ahead of ourselves and thinking about summer. I spent an hour on the phone with my mom earlier talking about the 4th of July! Hope everyone is making plans to be at her house for the fireworks, and the boat riding, and the jet skiing, and the fishing, and all the other fun stuff! After talking to Tim the other day, I know he's planning on being there. And, according to Lesa, KK has had her bags packed to go to Aunt Bet's for vacation since January. So, the rest of the Prather family needs to get in line and get ready to go!

New Dates

After our follow up visit with the doctor last week we have discovered we will have to push things back to at least May or possibly June. Everything looked okay during the surgery, but I just wasn't where he wanted me to be in terms of having the best chance of conceiving during the transfer if we had gone ahead with it this month. That was really hard to hear, but I'm glad he's looking out for our best chances and not just interested in making more money with subsequent tries if it doesn't work the first time.

During the whole process we have been told not to get our hopes up and not to start becoming emotionally attached to the idea of conceiving. We even had to do a psycological profile to determine our state of mind before our doctor would take me as a patient. I thought this was silly and I was just going to go through the motions and not counting on anything. If it happens, it happens. We know our paths have already been laid out, and we're just walking down them. My friends that have gone through this have been telling me to keep a close tab on where I was emotionally with the process because it would hit me all at once if I didn't. Well, I had been saying, and I truly believed, that I wasn't getting too heavily invested with it. However, when my doctor said that he didn't think we were going to be ready for the April transfer, it hit me. I cried. And I felt a huge disappointment. But, I've gotten over it and decided that it will be a miracle no matter when it happens. I'll tell you though, if I go a lifetime without hearing "If you quit trying so hard it will happen," it will be just fine with me!

Mr. Brock Gives Me Advice

You probably won't believe this but I often talk to Brock when no one is around. You know just to bounce ideas off of him and see what they sound like out loud. Like what to eat for dinner, business ideas, the differences between hard and wet food etc. Yesterday I had an idea and right after I said it, Brock looked at me then licked himself. I guess I need to find another idea.

I'm Awake!

So I had a little day surgery today. No big deal, mostly because of some really good drugs! Seriously, I usually hate anesthesia and pain medicine because it makes me feel woozy. But, I talked to them about that, and the anesthesiologist promised to give me "the good stuff". I think it worked! The last thing I remember before the surgery was talking to one of the doctors that was going to be assisting, and noticed the anesthesiologist giving me a shot in my IV. I asked if he was trying to keep me quiet, and then I thought that was the funniest thing I had ever heard! I remember they were lifting me from my gurney over to the OR table and I couldn't stop giggling. They asked me if I was having a good time...then ca put. I was out. But I woke up to Randy sitting right beside my bed smiling and asking me if I felt alright. Then I saw Mary Jane there, and couldn't even make myself talk. I just smiled like there wasn't a thing going on in the world. I woke up a little later and Randy asked me if I remembered talking about Leslie being there. I knew I had seen Mary Jane, but apparently her phone rang and it had Leslie's ring tone, "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper (Make your own judgements on that one! :) )and I thought I was talking to her too. I had some odd dreams, but nothing too write about. I slept the drunk feeling off all day today, so now I'm worried I'll be up all night...

So, the surgery was to make sure I didn't have any fibroids or polyps in my uterus, and to be sure it was tilted right. The doctor talked to Randy while I was in recovery and apparently, everything is in the right spot and I didn't have anything I wasn't supposed to. Whew! I guess that's a relief! I have a follow up appointment on the 15th, so I will find out where we go from here. Since we have decided to go ahead with IVF, we set a game plan at our last appointment. Of course it's subject to change, but we have tentatively scheduled the retrieval on April 17th and the embryo transfer to be 3 or 5 days after that. Hopefully, I will find out next week that that is still the case. I will let you know more then!

And, I haven't forgotten to update you on my cousins! Tim is doing well in California. I hear he's really glad to be home and trying to get back to normal. He will have surgery on his middle finger on March 28th. He will have to fly back to Bethesda in Washington to have it done. He has a new email, pratherta@yahoo.com, for those of you that didn't get HR's email. And on that note, Hello Havin's/Haven's Family!!! Glad to have you visiting! My other cousin, Kalvin, has been at home and doing very well. He has been accepted in a physical therapy program in Galveston. This is really great news and the next step in getting him where he needs to be as far as being his old self again. I don't know how anyone could look at these two examples and not know that the Lord really does work miracles through prayer.

I have seen all of the comments to Randy's post, and I have already let him know he will have to be a feature blogger more often! We do love hearing from you all! Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. Until next time...Good Night, and Good Bye Captain America!!!

Vacation 2007

I wanted to go to Vegas. Cory said she didn't want to be pregnant in Vegas because she wouldn't have a very good time. She's thinking Mexico...again. I suggested a cruise. Our friends said "NO!" to that. Here's how the thought process went:

If Cory is going to be pregnant, then we may have to rethink the whole vacation destination anyway. I don't know if Mexico would be any better than Vegas. That is why I thought a cruise might be good. We would just have to keep Leslie doped up on dramamine. I only say that because I don't think pregnant women are supposed to eat fish or shrimp or anything like that and also because of the WHAT IF factor when dining on anything in Mexico. I just thought that at least on a cruise you would know that the food would be safe and it would probably be fun. I know a place where we can get some really cheap cruises. Then again, I also thought of New York, or Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut or Boston or maybe even Disneyland. I really like Disneyland and think that everyone else should too, I mean, whats not to like. There are also alot of beaches in this country and I like beaches too. I also like water, so that works out pretty good with the whole beach idea. I also like mountains, which don't have beaches but do have water, only not saltwater, freshwater and it is usually cold. BRRRRRR! But it is really pretty and we drink cold water so it wouldn't be bad either. Maybe we could all go to Mount Rushmore I don't know how that thing happened but I bet it would be cool to find out. If we go there maybe we could go on into Canada, EH? I don't know why anyone would but they might. What do you think everyone would like? As you can see I have many ideas, how about that! I probably have more but then it would seem like I am just rambling on and nobody wants to read some crazy guys ramblings.

Right?

Good News!

Here's the latest from HR on Tim:
Tim had his hand surgery Monday and all went well. He will be discharged tomorrow and fly back to Califionia. He will be in his new apartment tomorrow night. He will start his rehab. in California and fly back to Bethesda for his hand surgery when it can be scheduled. Thanks for all the prayers. HR

If you don't have his address and phone number just let me know. I'll get it to you so you can talk to him when he's home. - Cory:)

A Few Updates

Here's the latest note from HR:
Tim will have surgery on his ring finger on Monday. No plans have been made to remove the middle finger yet. Tim thinks he will go back to California next week. The hospital in California at Balboa can monitor his condition as well as Bethesda. He will fly back to Bethesda when the amputation is scheduled. No other news. He is doing better that expected. Thanks HR

Tim has had a couple of surgeries already on the first and third finger of his left hand. The bone in his middle finger has been shattered, with the tendons and ligament completely gone. The doctors said that after 8-10 surgeries using cadaver bones they may be able to have the finger working again, but they couldn't guarantee it. They recommended that it be removed and Tim has decided to go ahead and do that. I'm sure that was a tough decision, but he's being very mature about the whole thing. Also, Tim did get to go to the funeral of the friend that was killed in the attack he was in. HR said that was good for him because he felt some closure by being there. Tim was wheeled to the front to be next to the family. As people filed past they hugged his neck. He was a stranger to them, but his presence meant so much. It was, understandably, very emotional for him. Please keep all of these families and their circumstances in your prayers tonight.

A Couple of Notes from Tim's Dad

2/16 - Tim had a rough day today but he made it through the shoulder surgery
ok. He was in lots of pain and the doc's were working on that. They
moved Tim to Rm 21 and phone 301-295-2955. Thanks for all the prayers.
Cathe and I are back at the hotel and real tired. Love ya all HR

2/18 - Tim did real good today. He was up and walking today. Still lots of
pain but he had good motivation to get moving. He wants to go to the
funeral Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery in Va. for the friend Ellis
that died when Tim was hit. He was standing next to Tim. I'm not sure
the doc's will let him go. Its a 2 hour drive from here. Another friend
came in from Germany tonight. His name is Emery and is in a medical
coma and went to ICU. His condition is real bad. Attached is a photo of
Tim up and walking. He didn't last too long but its a start. He went back
to bed after this and didn't get up again. Thanks for all the prayers.
I believe all Texas and New Mexico is still praying. 5 major surgeries
and he is up and walking. Only God can give him the strength do this.
Thank you. HR

H.R. Prather

First Picture of Tim

He's back in the US! For now he's at Bethesda and doing fairly well. He will undergo several surgeries in the next few days to repair his shoulder, hand and some other injuries to his backside. We all know that Tim is a real fighter, but everyone that has emailed me and said they are praying for him gets some credit for his condition looking so good. I will keep you updated as I hear more.

Another cousin of mine needs your prayers

Kalvin is doing very well, and I'm a firm believer that that everyone has helped him get so far by beliving he could do it. Now, my cousin Tim Prather, who has bravely served country in Iraq for two tours, needs some support from us. He was hurt by a suicide bomber on February 7th. He's currently in Germany in serious condition with shrapnel injuries to his legs and torso. I don't have much other news right now, but as I hear, I'll keep you updated.

One appointment down...many more to go

We had our first appointment with the infertility doctor this week! It was two hours of very frank talk with a strategic planning overtone. Randy had a glazed over look most of the time as I'm sure most guys would. That's alot of talk about female parts he probably hasn't heard named since health class in high school. He made it through the appointment though, and I will give him kudos for that!

I was really excited after the appointment. I have had my suspicions of why we haven't been pregnant yet, but we walked out of that office with some real answers. What a relief that was! We are lucky enough to have an insurance plan that will pay for infertility treatments, and our doctor is really working with us to get us the most chance of a pregnacy for very little out of pocket.

My doctor will run some tests and make sure everything is working right over the next few days, then we should have a plan for procedures to get started. I will let you know when to get excited!

Your prayers are working!

Kalvin has been moved out of ICU and into his own room! He will still have lots of recovery, but he has walked a few steps and can sit in a chair for short periods of time. We aren't sure how much therapy, or even what kinds of therapy, he will need yet, but this is a great indication!

My dad's family is the kind that likes to give plenty of support, and the more they can do in person the better. I am also this kind of a person, so it makes me feel really good to see them all come together. Basically, most of the family on my dad's side have been camped out at the hospital. Some of them day and night, just to make sure my Aunt Ruth doesn't have to wish for anything, including just an ear to talk to. I've always loved having a big family, and seeing how these brothers and sisters have come together, and even how many of us cousins are involved, I rememeber why I think a big family is the way to go. What a wonderful network yor family can be!

Kalvin is doing some better, but keep the prayers coming!

Kalvin got to sit up in a chair today, but he's not out of the woods yet. He's not being sedated anymore, so he's somewhat alert and awake. The nurses are trying very hard to get him comfortable, but I'm sure the pain must be outrageous. He's very restless and squirms around in his be alot. It may seem suprising, but this is all good news! The doctors are still concerned about swelling in his brain and his blood pressure, but overall he has been improving some every day! Thank you all so much for the support you have given. Each of your prayers have been noticed!

Please say a prayer...

My cousin, Kalvin Tucker, needs as many prayers as we can give him. Most of you know that the weather in this area has been cold and icy for the past couple of days. Kalvin was driving to a friends house to play a video game and somehow slid off the road. His truck went sideways and the driver side door hit a telephone pole. His head busted the drivers side window and actually hit the pole, per the paramedics, because there was blood and hair on it. Obviously, he was hurt pretty bad. His skull is cracked and his brain is swelling from the bruising. He's listed in critical condition and they say it will be up and down for the next few days. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery, but only time will tell. This is my dad's sister, Ruth's, middle child. I'm starting a prayer chain for Kalvin, and every prayer counts. I'll keep you posted on his progress as it comes.

See Mr. Brock in his Boots!

Randy's New Toy

Randy got a guitar for Christmas this year. You would think he was a ten year old with a new video game. He plays it every night from the time he gets home from work until the time we go to bed. On the weekends he plays it, literally, until he can't play anymore. His fingers are calloused and sore, but he keeps on keepin' on. It's really been kind of fun to listen to him play and get better over such a short period of time. He looks up music online and then makes adjustments so that it sounds like the real songs. How he knows the difference my tone deaf ears will never know. I'm really proud of him though. That guitar could be some of the most well spent Christmas gift money ever!

Happy 2007!

And just like that, 2006 is gone. Can you believe that it's been 7 years since we were preparing for Y2K and the massive power outages that was supposed to bring. It seems like just a little while ago we were partying like it was 1999!

Randy and I spent New Year's in Ruiodoso. It was pretty low key, but still a good time. The scenery was beautiful with fresh snow on the ground. Maybe a little too much snow, since we couldn't make it up the mountain the first day we were there. We left our car at the bottom and had Beth and Chad with their 4 wheel drive Jeep come get us. The road was steep and was packed with ice. It was pretty, but very slippery! Once again, I left my camera at home, so I have no pictures yet. I will get Beth to send me hers so you can see Randy and Beth "sledding" on the road in front of the cabin.

Well, 2006 was good to Randy and I, but I have a feeling that 2007 might be even better. We have our first appointment with the infertility doctor on Thursday. We're starting diets and looking forward to getting in shape this year. I know that sounds like a typical resolution that is made to be broken, but I think we will feel better just by exercising a little bit. Randy got a guitar for Christmas, so he's learning to play it. I'm listening to chords that are supposed to resemble a Cory Morrow song (I think!) as I type this. My job is fantastic, and I'm excited about continuing into the new year learning about it. Randy is getting a taste of what management is all about and is doing a wonderful job. Everything is great so far, and I will keep you posted on any changes!