Jeremy gave me the little reprieve from all the stress of Dr. visits with Brody and the unknown of Jeremy's job. The two of us flew to Utah to introduce Brody to more family.
Lennox started practicing for their new baby due this summer.
Plus he got to wear some of his warm weather clothes that he might not have had a chance to in Louisiana.
I got to take some walks and see the beautiful scenery and snow...and changes. There are going to be 50 houses built on this dairy farm land.
Cuddling in a blanket from Urma Yengitch.
Meeting Jeremy's family. Travis didn't wait long to snatch him up and take him inside away from everyone...he was kindof being a baby hog. Such a fun uncle.
Brody is a great cuddler so he and Morris got along quite well.
Grandma Pat got her fair share of time too.
Photo shoot with Alexis.
Grandma time.
Cousins.
These boys just loved holding Brody.
Especially Jace.
Will got a little restless.
So much time spent just being held by those who love him.
At the end of the trip Sara did my hair using some new tool. It was pretty nice because it held for two or three days.
Back in his little bassinet bed in Mandeville. We are trying all kinds of things to get him sleeping well, positioners, side lying, even the heating pad. He's kindof like Quincy where the sure bet is always cuddling with us in bed.
Another thing we learned right when we got back is that we will be moving to Houston for Jeremy's work. When we found out I felt a huge sense of relief for a few days...just to have a job we felt so blessed. BUT that means the stress of moving and saying goodbye to people and things...like our house and yard.
Jeremy and I went to one of his co-workers receptions in their backyard sans kids. It was SO picturesque. Everything white with a Hawaiian theme of flowers and food. Huge trees, a pond, and they were fortunate enough to have great weather.
Some things just have to go before the move. I painted this picture on a girls night out but it has had its glory day and it's time to part ways.
Getting some tummy time and working those leg muscles. He naps pretty well this way.
Plus the little monster bum is cute.
Cuddles with big sis. She asks to hold him at inconvenient times but since it usually only lasts 30 seconds I just go with it.
Then she wants to take my picture with him and generally I'm not even dressed for the day...oh well she gets some sweet ones.
"Take my picture mom!"
We got a new camera and I was testing it's speed so I asked the girls to run, hop, skip and jump through the kitchen while I tried it out. Makayla was very willing!
Ashlyn in her softball uniform.
Sweet dreams.
One last crawfish season for us. We got a nice send off with a church boil.
Quincy as usual couldn't get enough. Jeremy was peeling like a pro and Quincy just kept demanding, "more crawfish!"
Ellia is a getting a little braver.
Ashlyn on the other hand would rather play with her food.
Jeremy being a good church daddy.
A rare moment of peace and cooperation at church. I love how Quincy is holding Brody.
Since we found out we were moving, Karl and Juli made a quick trip. It was fun to tour the city one last time.
Our last trip to the city but our first riding the streetcar.
We also toured a new cemetary.
Ashlyn as usual finding flowers anywhere she can. She even made a great arrangement and Juli commented that she'd get along well with Rachel.
Another first...and last, Louisiana charbroiled oysters.
Juli and Karl.
Love this picture of them.
Can't miss a picture with the Bourbon street sign. We couldn't find a readable one on the stretch we walked though.
She dressed herself, and those are actually full length leggings she pushed up because of the heat.
An almost smile, I can't snap fast enough.
Caught sleeping.
A strawberry picking field trip for Ashlyn. She took great care in washing them.
Quincy wanting to be a part of Brody's photo shoot.
Ellia helping to calm Brody down for his pictures. We took his four month picture a day early. Last day without a feeding tube.
Off to the hospital.
His hospital gown was a little big.
Waiting for them to take him for surgery.
Recovery time! I thought it would be harder to hand him over to the surgeons, but I actually had a great feeling of peace, and just when I got a little teary eyed in the waiting room, Laurie and April showed up with a care package for us. They stayed and talked for awhile and it helped the time pass. We even laughed as Laurie handed a bag literally bursting with goodies. In fact it was sitting on the table between us (just below the sign that said no eating or drinking) when it broke all the way open and a can of coke rolled across the floor.
Post surgery cuddles.
Getting all snuggly in his own clothes.
I was actually excited about the food, this was such a good meal!
Sending pictures home to dad.
I forgot socks and the only ones they had were way too big so we had to do some rolling.
Our room for two nights.
The children's wing was decorated pretty cute and it was interesting to learn Britney Spears had been a donor.
Even with the tube we are going to try bottle feeding first in the hopes that he won't lose oral skills. He actually did really well bottle feeding first too!
Quincy was the only one of the kids who got to come see him. The big girls were in school and the room was just so small we thought it would be better.
Dr. Roybal left a sweet surprise for us.
We weren't sure if we would have to stay a second night but by the time everything got going it was late so we did. That just meant that I missed some softball games, but Jeremy was able to go help.
Typical softball down time in the field.
Back at home in bed.
It's getting warm enough to try out then neighborhood pool.
Ashlyn and Ellia were excited to wear matching swimsuits.
After a night sleeping in the treehouse Ashlyn came in with a swollen lip. It went down for a day and then came back...which after taking her to the Dr. I found out is typical with a bug bite, and sure enough the Dr. noticed a little red spot where she probably got bit by something.
I noted the plants in a pot I loved at Woodlake and recreated them for our backyard pots just in time to start the house selling process.
Quincy gave Brody her doll to cuddle with.
I had some dress ups waiting for a special occasion. With us moving I knew they would be too small by the time we got them unpacked so I got them out. The Dr. one was SOOOOO cute on Quincy, and none too big.
They made a runway out of blankets and had fun doing a catwalk show with all the different dress ups.
Ellia playing softball, her team was called the Red Hots.
Poor little man is losing his hair!
Morning bed head.
Softball practice.
I was a little worried about going to all the softball games and practices in the heat, but it was a really good distraction from all the things going on at home. Quincy even enjoyed it most of the time.
Brody's first shower.
Time for our weekend trip to Talledega. The trip was an on again off again plan, but we finally decided it would be nice to get away. Our first stop was Cici's pizza. I've heard about it for years but this was my first time trying it. It was kindof fun! Nothing like John's Incredible Pizza in Bakersfield though.
Tannehill Ironworks State Park.
We found "The Collins House."
Instead of reading all the information while I was there, I just took these pictures.
Another buffet for dinner. Jeremy was really looking for a downhome southern food place. This definitely gave us a lot of options.
Quincy entertaining herself with the leappad.
We made it!
Jeremy wanted to get there plenty early to enjoy the whole experience. There were a ton of sponsor booths with lot's of swag. It was SUPER hot and humid though.
Enjoying their new bags, even if they are a little big.
We were prepared with headphones this time but they seemed too tight for Brody so we just used the foam ones. Brody had a pretty rough weekend overall. Lot's of fussing and crying. When he gets like that it makes me so anxious...there were times I was trying to sit in the shade and not move and feed him through his tube and cool him off, and it was just overwhelming, BUT after all was said and done, I'm glad we got to experience it. The ending was also very exciting and included a pretty good crash.
This was a first. Guys riding in the back of a pickup sitting in lawn chairs.
Vulcan Statue in Birmingham. The largest cast iron statue in the world.
Brody pretty much cried the whole time, but I had a little chance to enjoy watching when it was Jeremy's turn to hold him. The girls did pretty good too despite the intense heat. It might have had to do with them not being able to talk to us over the noise.
By the end though Quincy was definitely ready to leave.
One of the tourist stops in Culver was a place called Steel City Pops. Gourmet pops made from all-natural and local ingredients. They had a guarantee that if you didn't like it you could trade for no cost so I tried to be brave. I got a lemon lavender one and it was terrible. I traded for a safer choice, one that was like an orange dreamsicle..
This time Ashlyn wanted to sleep on the floor, and she was so protective about her space.
