Down on the Farm

This past weekend, Travis and I went visit my aunt and uncle in Crawford, Texas. They have a beautiful place there with lots of cattle and donkeys. Travis and I love it there. It is so peaceful and a great place to just get away. We had a blast during our visit and quite the adventure. When we pulled up we were greeted with the "Welcome Peanut" sign! What a surprise! I sent them an email the day before announcing our pregnancy and referred to the baby as our little peanut.

After arriving, we visited for a bit before heading out to On the Border. My cousin Jess was also visiting so it was good for all of us to be together and catch up on everything! After dinner, we came home and watched the UFC fights. Now I must say, I'm not a fan of the fights but I did get into it while it was on tv. The next morning, we went eat at this little Mexican restaurant called Lolita's! So yummy! After returning from some errands, we arrive back at the ranch and low and behold, one of there cows is in labor!!! Not something I was expecting to watch! The cow was in such distress due to being in labor for so long, that we did not think the calf would make it out alive. My uncle had to walk the cow up the ranch into this squeeze machine because they were going to have to pull out the calf themselves! I knew this was something I couldn't miss seeing even if it was going to gross me out! So, there I was sitting back anxiously awaiting the birth of this calf while my uncle, his neighbor, and Travis (yep, he was involved!) pulled this calf with these tools out of the cow! After several minutes of trying to get the cow to cooperate, they were able to pull out the calf. I will admit, this was nothing pretty to see and I'm not sure how my weak stomach pulled it off but I was in complete awe of the whole situation! (After hearing that cow in so much pain, I looked at Travis and said I'm getting the drug when it's time for me to go in labor!) It's not everyday you see a calf being born! After some time passed and the momma cow had time to attempt to bond with her calf we went back down to the barn to check on them. The momma cow still wasn't going near her calf to clean him off and feed it. She was in such distress from the whole situation but who wouldn't be after going through all of that. Hopefully, she will come around soon and nurture her calf.

Here is a picture of our dog Cooper and my aunt and uncle's dog Pearlie. They finally passed out on Sunday afternoon after playing non-stop for two days! I think they met each other's match! Cooper is still recuperating from his playtime with Pearlie!

All in all, it was a great visit and we can't wait to go up there again! Who knows, we may see another calf being born!

Love,

Mary

We're PREGNANT!

It's true! Travis and I are pregnant! We were going to try and wait and tell everyone at Christmas when I would be 12 weeks but we were just too excited not too! We found out last week and had trouble keeping it a secret for that long! I am about 6 weeks along and feel great! The day I found out, I was in the doctor's office doing blood work so they could check my HCG level and my progesterone level. The results showed that my levels were high which is what we wanted to see. I went back for a second round of blood work so they could make sure my levels tripled from the previous results. Sure enough they multiplied by 5!!! We were so excited that the results came back positive! I go in for my first ultrasound on the 30th and from that point will go in every two weeks so the doctor can keep a close eye on me and the baby. We're so very thankful for that! Travis and I feel so good about this baby and the way I feel compared to the first one is so much better! The only thing I can complain about is that I'm tired which is normal.

I can only hope and pray that this baby, "our peanut," continues to grow and stay healthy so the day will come where Travis and I can hold it in our arms and tell it how much we love it.

Please continue to pray for me, Travis, and our peanut as we continue this exciting journey!

Love,

Mary

A Walk to Remember

On Sunday, Travis and I participated in the 'Walk to Remember' in honor of our little girl and all other unborn children. Neither one of us knew what to expect from the memorial or how we would feel. When it started, we each had to stand up and say why we were there. It was good to hear everyone else's stories and struggles and see that they too still struggle no matter how long ago it happened. After everyone told their story, we had a poem read to us and then it was time to take our walk around the lake. When we finished our walk, we were given a pink balloon to represent our little girl and were told to write a little message to our baby. We wrote our message and when everyone was ready we released them into the air. Travis and I sat there, for which felt like an eternity, watching our little pink balloon float high up into the sky until we could no longer see it. I started to cry watching it get higher and higher into the sky and I think at that moment it both hit us the symbolism of why we were sending that pink balloon up.

After we could no longer see the balloon, we headed back to truck, hand in hand, and more at peace than we have ever been since we started this journey. We both agreed that this was something that we needed to do to not only remember our little girl that we only had for a few short weeks but to give us the peace and closure to continue to move on and try again.

I'm going to leave you with a poem that was shared with us at the memorial...

Little Footprints

How very softly you tiptoed into my world.

Almost silently, only a moment you stayed.

But what an imprint your footsteps

have left upon my heart.

We love you Peanut and you will always be in our hearts!

Love Y'all!

Mary

This and That

I haven't written in a while and figured I would give a quick update of things that are going on. I am still loving my new job in Frisco. The staff is amazing and have made me feel so welcomed from day one. My kids are great! They are so funny at times. I have double the caseload from last year but it seems easier at the same time. I have to share a conversation that I had with one of my third graders last week. We were sitting at the table playing UNO and he says to me "Who do you think invented UNO?" I responded with "I'm not sure." After much thinking he says, "I bet it was a bunch of Mexicans!" After gaining my composure, I asked him "Why do you think that?" He says "Well, UNO means 1 in Spanish!" I think he expected me to know his logic behind that answer since I was the teacher. :) It was the cutest thing!

Travis is still working hard at his job. He is working for a company called Cyprexx that is based out of Tampa. He is an inspector for foreclosed homes. He loves it and loves the fact that it's always new and not a repetitive job. He does travel one or two days during the week but it beats the night shift everyday that he was working at his old job. He is so happy and doing an amazing job! I'm so proud of him!

This weekend, we are participating in the "Walk to Remember." It's a walk for parents of unborn children. It gives us a chance to remember them. It's one of the many memorials that are held throughout the year. I have lots of emotions going through of how this day will be and what Travis and I will be feeling. We are both so fortunate that the Medical Center of Plano takes time to honor these 'angels.' We think of our little girl often and I still have my moments of a complete breakdown but have relied on my faith to get me through those hard days. Please continue to pray for strength and that we may be able to have a little miracle of our own very soon.

Love to all!

Mary

Update

Just wanted to send a quick update on lab results from our baby. The doctor called us last week to let us know that there were no chromosome abnormalities with the baby. It was just a common miscarriage. We were so relieved to hear that everything was fine but just sad that it wouldn't take. Since they did a chromosome test, they were able to tell us the sex of the baby. We didn't think it would be possible to tell, but they told us it was a little girl. It became so much more real for Travis and I knowing that it was a girl but it gave us closure. Since the call, it has made moving on a little bit easier. Everyday is a better day for us!

On another note, I was watching the TODAY show yesterday, and one of their stories was the common cause of miscarriage. It was amazing to hear of other women's stories and how they overcame their miscarriage. You don't realize how common miscarriages are and how often they occur until you talk to someone about your own. There is a group of women that are opening their voices about miscarriages and how all women that experience the pain of losing a child still need their time to grieve. From a personal standpoint, I think it's even harder when you have seen the baby and the heartbeat and then lose your baby. You start developing a bond so early on and it's such a part of you.

We have started looking at the positives that this miscarriage brought to Travis and I and that's what makes us stronger. We know God has a better plan for us and that's who we have to put our faith in.

Thanks for all of you who pray for us. We love you!

Mary

Keeping the Faith

Where do I begin....As most of you know, Travis and I have gone through a rough couple of weeks. On Friday, August 7th, we were headed for our second check-up on our baby. It was the day we were waiting for...we were finally going to hear the heartbeat. We were so excited! A few days prior to the appointment, I told Travis that something didn't feel right with my body. I felt like I had lost our baby. He kept reassuring me I was just scared and everything was fine since I was still getting sick during the day. So, we get to the doctor's office and wait patiently for her to come in the room. It felt like a lifetime but was only 30 minutes. She pulls out the doppler so we can hear the heartbeat. She couldn't get anything which was common she said especially since my heart rate was beating so fast. We move into the ultrasound room. I was excited because we were going to see how big our little peanut grew. She puts the gel on my stomach and tries to get a reading...nothing! At that point, I turned to Travis and told him something was wrong. For some reason, I never looked at the screen. Finally, we try an internal ultrasound. I glanced quickly at the screen and our baby had grown so much since we first saw it. My doctor tries to get a heartbeat and again nothing! The heartbeat flatlined and our baby wasn't moving. It was measuring at 10 weeks. I broke down into tears and cried in Travis' arms. I felt so helpless and blamed myself. My doctor gave us some time and then came in and talked with us about what the next steps would be and reassured me that I did nothing wrong and that miscarriages were very common in first time pregnancies. I didn't care. All I knew was that we lost our baby that we already loved so much. Since I didn't pass it, we scheduled a D and C to remove the baby so that they could run tests to make sure there were no chromosomal abnormalities. 

That Sunday, my parents came up to be with Travis and I during this time and try to help us keep our minds busy. We were struggling with this so much. After receiving the news, I just cried for the next two days. There are no words to explain what it's like to lose your baby. On Tuesday morning, I go in for my surgery. Of course, I'm scared because this is my first surgery ever and they have to put me completely under and I hated the reason of why I was there. Travis and my parents were by my side until they rolled me away into the operating room. Fortunately, everything went really well and recovery wasn't too bad. My parents stayed with me until Wed. because Travis had to leave for Houston after they released me from the hospital. I was so glad that he was able to stay with me the entire time. I returned to work on Wednesday which I was glad about to keep my mind off of everything but I had the hardest time and broke down several times throughout the day.

On Thursday night, things took a turn for the worse. I started having severe pains in my stomach and was passing blood clots for 2 hours. The pain kept getting worse so I eventually ended up in the emergency room. Our friends Meagan and Matt brought me and Travis met us there once his plane landed. We were in the hospital until 2am! I ended up having mild anemia due to the amount of blood loss and my blood count was low. They considered admitting me in the hospital to do a blood tranfusion due to the amount of blood loss but because it was a result of the surgery they decided to let me go (thank goodness!). They put me on cytotec (?) to help reduce the bleeding but told me that it would cause severe cramping...great! So of course, at 5am I started screaming in pain. The pain finally went away after about 2 long hours. I made an appointment to meet with my OBGYN that afternoon to follow up with the results from the emergency room. She explained to Travis and I that the pain that I was experiencing was contractions. She took me off the cytotec and put me on an iron supplement to boost my blood count. After a quick exam, she said everything is healing as it should be which was a relief to Travis and I especially after what we had experienced less than 24 hours before. She is very confident that we will be able to get pregnant really soon and that this will be a healthy pregnancy. Of course, it's never a guarantee but that's what she feels based on what she has seen. It was such good news for Travis and I to hear this. We both know that we have to stay positive and know that God has a plan for us that's far better than what we think. It's just hard to see the big picture of that plan right now. 

There are no words to explain what we are going through and how you feel when you lose your baby. We were both attached to the baby and loved it so much. It will always be our first baby. For me, it's much harder because it was my body that was going through the changes. I felt such an empty feeling on Tuesday when I knew that our baby was no longer with me. Through the hospital, there is a program called Healing Matters that we are going to join. They have meetings each month for parents of unborn children and they do have a place of rest for our baby at the Plano Municipal Cemetary which is some closure for Travis and I. We know that there's a place that we can visit our little angel. Each May, they do a memorial for all of the unborn children that we will also participate in. We think it's a great way of remembering these babies that never had the chance to be welcomed into this world. 

Each day gets better and we know that we will get through this. I do have my moments where I will just break down into tears. We are staying positive and strong and putting our faith in God to get us through this. We know that we have an angel above that is looking down on us. 

To our family and friends... you are all amazing and Travis and I are so blessed to have each and every one of you in our lives. We couldn't have done this without you. Thank you for the cards, emails, phone calls, and most of all, your prayers. We know that with time, this pain that we feel will heal and that one day, we will welcome a wonderful and healthy baby into this world that we will love with all of heart. Thank you for all of your support. 

We love you!

Mary and Travis

Our 1 Year Anniversary

This past Sunday, Travis and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary at a bed and breakfast! I can't believe a year has gone by from when we said "I Do." I remember the day we got engaged and all of the planning began for a wedding in 6 months in Louisiana! We had so much fun putting all of the details together for the big day. My parents had to do most of the planning and details since we were away. They did an amazing job and it was a special time for my mom and I. Our wedding day finally came, and everything went better than we could have ever expected. When my dad walked me down the aisle, it was such an emotional moment for the both of us. I was so excited to see Travis standing at the alter so we can start our new life together as husband and wife. It was a day that I will always remember and will forever cherish. 

Thank you mom and dad for making this one of the most special days of our lives. 

Travis,  thank you for always loving me and being here for me. We have had some wonderful memories in our first year of marriage and I can't wait to continue our life with our new family and our new memories that we will make together. I love you with all of my heart!

At the Bed and Breakfast for our Anniversary

Our First Ultrasound

Today Travis and I went in for our first ultrasound of our little peanut. When we saw it appear on the screen, I was in such awe of our little miracle. The doctor went through routine photographs and then showed us it's heartbeat. I teared up watching it flicker on the screen and then to hear from the doctor that it was a healthy and strong heartbeat made it even better. It's heartbeat was beating at 136 beats per minute. I am currently 7 weeks and 2 days with my due date set for February 24th. We go again in 4 weeks and I can't wait to see how much it has grown since this first visit. It's so amazing to see this little tiny thing inside you be life that you created and are going to bring into this world. Travis and I have been waiting for this day to come. 

As far as being sick, I have been pretty lucky for the most part, so far! I have been very fatigued and queasy with a very little appetite. I even lost 7 pounds when I weighed in today! Nothing really sounds good to eat but I know I have to feed the baby so I try to put something in my stomach. I'll be glad when this passes! It's been nice to have the summer off to go through my first trimester. We are anxious for the next several months and to watch our little peanut grow. Here are a few pictures from our sonogram today! Enjoy!

Love Y'all,

Mary

I'm Pregnant!

It's true....Travis and I are expecting a new little bundle of joy in February and we couldn't be more excited. We returned to Dallas on Father's Day from a very relaxed, week long vacation in Florida with my parents. I knew I was a day late but was so scared to take a test because I didn't want to see "not pregnant" on there again. Travis convinced me to take one any way. So, he went to our neighbors house to get the mail and I ran to take one so I could be myself in case the results were not what we were hoping. When I saw "Pregnant" I started crying because I was thrilled beyond belief. I hurried up and called Travis to tell him to come home. He kept asking me if everything was ok. I simply said "Happy Father's Day!" Travis came running through the door with tears in his eyes. We just hugged and cried together because we couldn't wait for this day to come and then to happen on Father's Day made it more perfect for Travis. I think for the next hour or so while I called family, I carried the test around and kept looking at it because I couldn't believe we were going to have a baby. The first person I called was my dad. It was the best moment for me to tell him he was going to be a grandpa. I'm not sure who is more excited him or my mom. They are going to be amazing grandparents!

Travis is going to be such an amazing dad. I can't wait to see our little bundle arrive and how he interacts with our baby. We call it our little peanut and every day when he leaves for work and every morning when he comes home from work, he rubs my belly and says "I love you peanut." It's the sweetest thing! Of course, he's rooting for a boy and I would love to have a little girl but as long as it is a healthy baby then we will be happy with whatever God blesses us with. We are so excited about the next several months and are anxious to watch my belly grow. We go in for our first sonogram on July 10th and can't wait to see our peanut. Please pray for us as we go through this journey. Thank you for letting us share our wonderful news with you! We can't wait for everyone to meet Baby Terrell!

Love,
Mary

Good-Bye Brinker

Yesterday was my last day at Brinker Elementary. It was a day full of emotions. I was excited about my new career in Frisco but sad to leave my "family" of three years at Brinker. I came to Brinker in December of 2005 and was offered a job after I graduated in August. Saying good-bye to the kids was the hardest part. I have established special bonds with each of them and they have touched my heart in all different, but special ways. To my friends at Brinker....thank you for all of your support during this time. I cherish your friendship everyday and am so grateful that you are all a part of my life. I love you guys!

After the kids left yesterday, we had our staff party that afternoon. Barbara (our principal) got up and spoke about each teacher that was leaving Brinker. A book is dedicated in our name that goes into the Brinker library. Since I'm from Louisiana, it was only fitting that my book be "Zach's Alligator." The support and compliments that I received from the staff was amazing and it truly touched my heart.

I took some pictures with my kids when I said good-bye. This was one of the hardest things I had to do. I have written little blurbs about them and how I will always remember them. It's amazing how children can touch your heart forever. I will never forget them and the joy they have brought to me.

Gavin (2nd grade): You are the apple of my eyes. You amaze me everyday with what your knowledge. You have come such a long way since that very first day of kindergarten. I will miss seeing you in the hallways and you saying "Mterrel." It's amazing how you learned everyone's username in the school to their computer. I loved the fact that everytime you came into my room you went straight for the fireman that was on my shelf. You loved to play with him. I loved your hugs and your smile the most. You melted my heart. I will miss you so much and I am so proud of everything that you have accomplished!

Ana (kindergarten): Where do I begin? You have made such huge strides since your first day of kindergarten. I love that you are such a girly girl. I loved waiting to see you walk into the front doors every morning and you saying to me "Hey Terrell!" You brightened my day everyday. I never knew what you were going to say next which always kept me wondering. You could always bring a smile to my face even when I was having a not so good day. You loved asking Mrs. Brownlee everyday "Do I have speech today?" I will never forget the first time you came up to me and gave me a hug and said "I love you." That meant the world to me and I will never forget you and I will miss working with you next year.

Mikal (1st grade): You give the best hugs every morning. I love your smile and your willingness to never give up. I have loved watching you grow into an amazing student. You have so much to give and I know only the best is yet to come.

Matt (1st grade): You have made such huge progress this year. I remember how proud I was the first time you came in from carpool and stopped by room and told me Good morning and asked how I was doing. I was jumping for joy inside because you were generalizing your skills outside of speech. You amazed me everyday. I'll never forget the last day of school when you gave me my gift and said to me "I couldn't have done it without you. We are a team." I cried as you walked away because it was huge that you were able to express your feelings to me.

Annie (1st grade): You are so adorable and soft spoken. I remember when you came to Brinker you barely spoke a sentence and now you are talking up a storm. I am so proud of you. You are such a smart girl and you continue to strive everyday.

Penn (1st grade): You make me smile! I love your love for airplanes. You know everything there is to know about them. I love that you would come into speech and play air guitar and sing a song to me. It was always something different. The one that touched my heart the most was when you sang to me "I'm Yours." You are amazing and I will miss you so much!

Ian(5th grade-at the top): You are one of my favorites and I am so proud I was able to see you walk across the stage at our assembly as a graduate of 5th grade. You have made huge gains through the years. I love how you would get so excited to talk about dinosaurs and how you could name the different dinosaurs and tell me about them. Good luck at Renner next year! Your teachers will love you and you will do an amazing job! I will miss you!

Daniel (5th grade-at the top): WOW!!! I don't know where to begin! I remember the first day you walked in as a third grader and you weren't able to say anything but "Mama." In 3 years, you are now able to put complete sentences together. I am so proud of you! You never gave up and you always just pushed on so you would have a voice to be heard. I remember us sitting down together one day and you put your arm around my shoulders and said to me "You are my pumpkin." My heart completed melted. I told you that my dad called me his pumpkin and you giggled. You thought it was the neatest thing. In 4th grade, we started you on a communication device to help you form more clearer speech. The very first time you made a sentence and heard it said out loud back to you, you grinned from ear to ear. You knew that you would be able to communicate more with your peers. Mrs. Hughes and I started to cry because of how happy you were. You have come such a long way in these few short years and I am so proud that I have had the chance to know you and work with you! I will miss you next year! Good Luck at Renner! I know the teachers will love you as much as we love you at Brinker!

Now I begin my new journey in this path we call life...

Love to you all!
Mary

Staying Strong

This past week has been such a whirlwind for Travis and I. We went home for Mother's Day weekend to surprise my grandparents. It was so nice to be around our family. My Granddaddy and Mimi had their annual Mother's Day crawfish boil. They were so good. My Uncle Kenny cooked three sacks and I definitely had my share. Of course, the weekend came and went so fast and before we knew it we were back on the plane headed to Dallas.

Monday is when our life took an unexpected turn. I remember Travis calling me from work and asked if I was by myself in my office. My heart sunk because I didn't know what he was about to tell me. He told me that his company decided to have another layoff and they were just handing out letters to employers. I had faith that he wouldn't get a letter. He has worked so hard for the company. An hour later when I got home, he called me and told me he got a letter. I just broke down and kept repeating "What are we going to do?" You never think he could happen to you. He said he had until July to find something. I felt like everything at crumbled at that moment. He told me he would come home so we could just be together and figure out our next steps. When I got off the phone with him, I called the two most important people in my life....my mom and dad. I just cried to them and told them I was scared. I knew they would have the right words to say to me. I remember my dad telling me to just take a deep breath because I needed to stay strong for Travis. After talking with them, I finally calmed down and waited for Travis to get home. When Travis got home, we just stood there in each other's arms and said we would get through this together. It has been a tough week for the both of us. The thought of moving became an option but we didn't want to leave our house and our lives that we have made here. When you're going through this, you are filled with so many emotions and you're confused on what the best choice would be for the both us. Iam so proud of Travis for taking the initiative this past week and applying for jobs in Dallas area. We are just hoping for a call back soon. Please continue to pray for us as we travel down this bumpy path at this moment in our life. I know we will get through this with the help of our family and friends. We are so grateful for each and every one of you!

We love you!

Changes

Wow! It has been a while since I have written a new blog. Things have been kind of crazy lately. First of all, I have taken a new job with Frisco ISD for the new school year. It was such a tough decision. When I got the call that I was offered the job, I was so excited but so scared. I wanted to make the right decision and I was at a crossroads. Travis and I spent one weekend talking about the pros and cons for each job. By the end of the weekend, we had made the decision that I would move to Frisco. I cried many tears that weekend because I didn't want to leave my friends are my kiddos. It's amazing how some of my most challenging students were the ones that made the decision the hardest. In the three years, that I have been at Brinker, I have established some amazing bonds with my students and the thought of them being in someone else's hands scared me. They were my "little babies." Fortunately, my principal found someone to fill my position quickly and I had the opportunity to meet and work with her today for the first time. She observed me in therapy and we reviewed the paperwork/strategies that work with the students and teachers. I want it to be an easy transition for her since it is her first year. I remembered how I felt my first year....OVERWHELMED! I think the new SLP will do great. I will be working with more in the next few weeks. It will definitely be easier to turn my kids to someone else. I am scared about starting somewhere new and leaving my comfort zone at Brinker but I am excited about the new change. I know it is a great decision for Travis and I and for our futre family.

Secondly, Travis and I are in the process of putting flooring down in our house. WHAT A MESS! We are so excited! The past two weekends, we have been busy pulling up all of carpet and some of the tile. We had no idea how much of a mess pulling up tile would be. It took us forever to get everything free of dust. This past weekend, we finally finished getting our floors ready for when the flooring arrives and we painted our room which looks great! I am so excited to see the outcome! I will post pictures of our new floors as soon as their done and I promise to be better at blogging! :)

Love Y'all!
Mary

An Answered Prayer

As most of you know, last Thursday was a big day for Travis and I. His company was having a layoff that day and we had to wait for the outcome. It was such a nerve-racking week for the both of us...more so for him. We knew about a month ago that there would be a layoff but we didn't want to think it would happen. The day finally came and he was safe!!!! Travis told me when they got to work, his supervisor pulled several of them into his office and told them that they still had a job! WHAT A RELIEF!!! When hecalled to tell me the news, I couldn't stop screaming and I was beaming from ear to ear and completely speechless. It was such a relief for both of us and it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of our shoulders. He is such a hard worker and I am so proud of him and all that he has done for the company, I knew he didn't deserve to be laid off. We were pretty confident, but there was still that little bit that kept tugging at us to be prepared if it went the other way. We turned to our faith and knew we had to leave it in God's hands.

Thank you to all of our friends and family who supported and prayed for us during this difficult and stressful time. I especially want to thank all of my friends at work. You guys were such a huge support for me while I was dealing with my job which at times can be stressful. Thanks for keeping me upbeat and positive. To my mom, thank you so much for listening to me cry countless nights on the phone because I was so scared of what could happen. You and dad were such great supporters for the both us. We love you!

Pig Roast 2009

A couple of weeks ago, Travis and I and a couple friend of ours, Meagan and Matt, went down to Louisiana for the Pig Roast. We had such a great time. We drove down there on Thursday night and got in early Friday morning. The guys had to get up shortly after to for the Pig run. It is an all day affair. They go and get the pig and then on the way back, they stop at several bars and eat lunch. They make it back HOURS later! They go straight to the scout hut where the pig roast is being held and get ready for guys night. While they were doing that all day, my mom had made so many delicious dishes that I was craving to eat. Family came over and we ate and drank and then that night went out for some amazing seafood. The guys finally made it back home around 1:30am on Saturday. I'll put it this way....they weren't hurting! :)

On Saturday, it is family day at the Pig Roast. Of course, there is more delicious food and that's when they get the pig ready to eat. I'm not big on eating the pig as you will see in the pictures why. They have a lot of things for the kids to do and the adults visit, eat, and drink some more. It's a good time for everyone! Saturday night, is adult's only night. They get a band to play and there's more food and drinks going around...imagine that! My friend Ashley ended up surprising us at the pig roast. I had no idea she was coming. It was such a great surprise! By the end of the night, we were all exhausted. We finally got home around 3am on Sunday and then woke up for the 8 hour drive back to Dallas! Needless to say, it wasn't a fun trip home. Next year, we are definitley flying to the Pig Roast! Here are a few pictures from that weekend...

Do you see why I won't eat the pig??

Crawfish boil

Hey Y'all! Last weekend Travis and I went to a crawfish boil with some friends that I work with. We had a great time and the crawfish were SOOO good! We always have a great time when we hang out with this group of friends and it makes it ten times easier when all of our husbands get along! We are very fortunate to have such a great circle of friends!

For Travis and I not having family here, we realize how much our friends mean to us. We know we could call on them at anytime if we needed to. Our friends are what surround us here in Texas and each day we realize that this is where we need to be at this point in our lives.

The girls....Meagan, Sara, Jamie, Tracy, me, Carol, Ashala, and Alaina

We missed you Adriane and Marisa!

Carol, Tracy, and me

DuMonde XXX

This past weekend, Travis and I traveled down to Louisiana for Mardi Gras. One of the greatest things about Louisiana and my culture. My dad was a duke in DuMonde, which is the local Mardi Gras ball in LaPlace. He told my sister and I in December at Christmas time. I was so excited and couldn't wait for this weekend to come. I knew how much fun it was when I was a Maid in 2000. My dad had a wonderful maid which made it even better. We used to swim together at Riverlands and her dad was the Captain of the ball when I was a maid. This year the theme was The Roman Empire. My dad was Duke Leonidas. I thought I would never see my dad in a dress :) It was a great night. This was Travis' first Mardi Gras and what a way to experience it. He had so much fun and is already ready for next year's Mardi Gras!!!! After the ball ended, we went to my dad's good friend and also a duke, Mr. R.J. for a breakfast. I was so tired from traveling and not sleeping, that I had to leave early and get some rest because I knew Saturday was going to be another busy day.

On Saturday, we went to a parade in Reserve called Towapasa. WOW!!! It was fun and interesting! It's a parade where anything goes! That night, we went to Metairie so Travis can see more parades. It didn't take him long to figure out what you had to do when the floats past. He had himself a blast! You would never know it was his first Mardi Gras. That Sunday, was the LaPlace Parade that my dad and the rest of the court would ride in. We decided to stay so we can see him on the float. My dad was having so much fun! Once it was over, I began to dread the thought of having to say good-bye to my family. Even though we had an 8 hour drive ahead of us and it was after 2 in the afternoon, Travis knew I wanted to see my dad before I left so we decided to stay unti he arrived at my grandparent's house (they are on the parade route). Once my dad arrived, we visisted for a little while but then had to say good-bye knowing that we would be back in a month for Pig Roast. Travis and I had such a good weekend and it was more memories that we were able to share together. We are anxiously waiting Mardi Gras 2010!!!

My dad and his Maid, Meagan....Leonidas

Our Family

Dad and his girls

Mardi Gras Party

This past weekend, Travis and I had a Mardi Gras party with some girls from work and their husbands. We had so much fun! It's amazing how our husbands have bonded so quickly each time we hang out. I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of friends that surround us. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves and I even ordered a King Cake for everyone to taste. I couldn't wait to eat a piece myself. It's one of the best things about Mardi Gras other than your usual order of Popeye's Chicken for the parades.
I owe a big thank you to my mom who picked up all kind of Mardi Gras stuff so we can wear it for the party! It was a hit! Thanks mom! I can't wait till we have everyone over again for more good times!

The girls

Tracy and I

Travis and I

The girls ready for Mardi Gras

Travis and Brad sporting the Mardi Gras gear

Brrrrrrr....

When I moved to Texas 3 1/2 years ago, I never thought I would have to worry about snow and ice. Well....I was wrong!!! The school district that I work in decided to dismiss all students today at 12:30 due to freezing rain and potential ice. I must say, it was nice to come home a little early today. As I was driving through our neighborhood, I could already see icicles forming on some of the houses.

I decided to take a nap today and try to get warm. Little did I know that I wouldn't be able to sleep on my pillow! I guess Cooper was cold and decided he needed to get warm because he crawled right under the covers and put his head on my pillow. When I saw him in the bed, he just gave me a look that said "what did I do wrong?" I couldn't help but laugh. So, I just slept on Travis' side and we both took a nap. He is one spoiled dog! Here are some pictures of Cooper nestled up in our bed. Do you think he has it rough?!?!?!

Lazy Weekend

Reigha sharing her snacks with Cooper

Cooper was so worried we were going to leave without him

Trying to stay warm

What a great watch dog!

Hey Everybody! This weekend has been pretty lazy for us. Travis had to work nights on Friday and Saturday. It's never fun when he has to work but it pays off in the long run. At least we can spend some time during the day together. I try and stay up until he comes home but I always end up falling asleep.

Last weekend, we went down to his parents to see everyone. We had a blast. His parents took us to Rock Springs where they have 45 acres. I love it out there. It's so peaceful but not a lot to do. On our way home from Rock Springs, we took the scenic route through Leakey. I have never seen that part of the Hill Country and I fell in love it. It was absolutely beautiful. It was a great chance for Travis and I to spend some time with his mom and Tommy. While we were there, we stayed with his sister Brittany and her husband, Jerry. They were in the process of remodeling their bathroom which was looking really good. I can't wait to see the finished product! It was also a chance for us to spend time with our niece Reigha. She's growing up so fast and she's already walking! She's so much fun to watch and see her personality. Cooper was so good with her and she was very generous with her food which made Cooper very happy :)

Next weekend we are throwing a Mardi Gras Party which I'm really excited about. It's going to be good to show everyone a little bit about my culture. I am ordering a King Cake as well so everyone can taste how delicious they are!! I can't wait to have some myself!

This year, we have the chance to go down for Mardi Gras because my dad is a duke in DuMonde. I am so excited for him and I know he will have a blast! He has a great maid too. I know how much fun I had when I was in it. This will be Travis' first time to experience Mardi Gras and I couldn't think of a better way to experience it than by going to the ball and the parades that weekend. I'm excited that I get to go home again and see my family! It will be a great weekend!

I hope everyone is doing well wherever they are and enjoying 2009 so far! I'm anxious to see what this year brings us! Love y'all!

A New Year

Hey Y'all! It's been a while since I have written. Travis and I were fortunate to spend two weeks in Louisiana with my family. I was thrilled to be home for that long. We arrived late Friday night before Christmas. My mom and dad had their annual Christmas party on Saturday. It was so good to see people and visit with them that we haven't seen since our wedding.

On Christmas Eve, we continued our tradition of going look at Bonfires on the River. They had some really neat ones this year. The tractor was the coolest because you were able to get in it. Of course, they had one made for LSU!! We went to mass that evening and then celebrated Christmas Eve with my mom's side when she makes her gumbo!! We finally got to bed after midnight that night, and then woke up early to do gifts and get ready for both side's of the family to come over for Christmas dinner. It was so good being around our family.

New Year's Eve was a blast! My mom and dad's good friend, Mr. R.J. and his wife Jodi, throw a huge New Year's Eve party every year. They had a D.J. this year and of course I was up there singing and dancing my little heart out. It was another chance for Travis and I to see everyone and visit with them. Needless to say, we weren't moving too fast the next day. We even decided to stay an extra day because we didn't feel like packing. The day came for us to leave and of course I cried even though I knew I would see them in Feburary. We are all so close so it makes it so hard to leave. At least, I will see them a lot during the spring! Here are a few pictures of our fun trip to Louisiana.