A few more days on the Ranch......

Just when you think you have your life figured out, the plans change! My bags were packed last night but I didn't leave on the jet plane this morning. Instead Jody's contractions had gotten very regular and close together and they were trying to decide whether or not to head to the hospital when Darin and I should have been leaving for the airport! So I rebooked my flight and will stay here for a few more days. After a few more hours of sleep the contractions slowed down again, another false alarm. But in the meantime, I am still here and this was the view from the front porch today as I worked(answered emails and called into several meetings....the internet really is amazing!)
This picture below captures Caily's relationship with Darin so well.....she is always listening and watching for him to walk into the house or ride by on a horse. Today while we were out on the porch watching her color with her sidewalk chalk, Darin happened to walk by. I just loved her outstretched arms, waiting for him to come close enough so she could jump into his arms.

Once there she wants to 'hold it' which means that she wants to hold the horse's lead rope....

As much as I was looking forward to getting home today and seeing Dave, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am here for such a time as this. And in the meantime, I get to make more wonderful memories with my Caily girl.

Caily and the Puppies

It was a beautiful, warm, sunny Sunday here in Texas and since Jody has to limit her activity, us girls stayed home while Darin headed to church. I was excited to get some more outside pictures after a few rainy days . Caily was dressed in her Sunday best...
Out of the 9 puppies that Sky had when I was last in Texas, all but 2 were sold. Nibs and Toodles are still for sale.

Jody isn't allowed to carry Caily, so we look for places where Caily can climb into her lap and still get her cuddle time...the back step was a perfect place for that this morning...and Nibs wanted to get into the act too.
Toodles is the more adventuresome of the two remaining puppies, and most often, Nibs sticks close to Sky.

Caily loves the 'puppies' as she calls them(to be distinguished from 'Skyzers', and 'Pup'(their neighbors large dog)...

Jody and Darin have an old couch on the front porch so it is a perfect place for Jody to stretch out while Caily plays. Sky and Nibs thought it was a great place to take a nap too.
I caught this picture of Caily 'loving' on Nibs...
Toodles and Nibs watching the world go by.
Nibs is very patient with Caily.....good thing!

Caily loves the camera which is perfect for a Grandma who loves to scrapbook...

What is there not to love about this special little gal...

Unexpected Blessings

Sometimes in the midst of unexpected challenges God gives us unexpected blessings ...those things we did not plan for but are evidences of His handprint on our lives. On Tuesday I flew out of Vancouver on the most glorious spring day and I was even able to change seats (because the plane was only half full) and get an exit row window seat to enjoy the amazing skyline of Vancouver and the North Shore mountains.....


Anyone that has ever spent much time around me knows that I love mountains! and I never tire of their majesty.

You see, because of Jody's preterm labor Dave and I had decided that I would try to combine our points and book a flight down to Texas to help out for a week or so while she was on limited activity. Little did we know when I booked a week ago that she would actually have spent part of the week in the hospital and just this past Monday was given the okay by her doctor to go back to the ranch....
So I now have the unexpected blessing of spending some unplanned for time with my grandaughter.....who as you can see, loves to color!
So much fun to be had....showing me one of her 'colors'.

This morning as Jody lay on the couch she called....Mom, do you have your camera? Caily is posing....
And here she was, sitting on the box with the teddy bear, looking for all the world like she was waiting for a photo shoot to start...
She loves riding her Fire Engine up and down the hallway....
And while I wanted a cute picture of her sitting at her little table, she had other ideas...
See wanted to make sure that I had both fingers and toes on the picture! Caily has been into showing everyone her toes these days, so when I wanted a picture of her and her 'sibling' together, she just had to show me her toes again....I liked this picture of her and the 'tummy'....

Here she is folks.....Jody at 35 weeks 4 days...almost 36 weeks. Can 37 weeks be far behind? We hope not.....

Another view of Jody and the 'bump'....this truly has been an expected blessing to be able to be here and see her this far along in her pregnancy. And in one month or so, Dave and I will both be back to meet Baby Miles.

A Sure Sign of Spring

The weather has finally warmed up and we are all loving it! The boys enjoyed a walk with Papa and Mimi when they were over on the weekend and Dave captured the 'double-decker' stroller. Quite the neat way for them both to travel.


Aidan was very taken by the 'ducks' and has wanted to go back to the park everytime he is at our house now. I love the vibrant colors of the male mallard in the spring!
And finally, my daffodils, lovingly planted on a cold and windy October afternoon, have opened up to embrace the sunshine! They are so cheery and I love opening the blinds in the morning and seeing them right there in the front flowerbed under my living room windows.
These big 'King Alfred' daffodils were supposed to be the last ones that opened but I guess the spring was just too cold. I am sure the rest of the bulbs won't be far behind with the beautiful weather we have had this week.

Update on Jody and Baby Miles

Thank you to all of you that have been praying and for those that commented. It's so encouraging when going thru difficult times to know that others are praying. It's been quite the rollercoaster of emotions for the last 48 hours and Texas has never seemed so far away.

When Jody was admitted to the hospital Monday night, the goal was to stop the contractions since she was only 34 weeks along. However after 24 hours there and several attempts using different medications, the contractions were still going strong. When an ultrasound on Tuesday revealed that the baby was breach, the doctor transferred her by ambulance to a hospital in San Antonio where the baby would have to be transferred to in order to be in the NICU anyway. That way if she needed to have a C-section she would at least be in the same hospital.

This morning the doctors there told her that she would most likely be having a C-section sometime soon.....but by noon they decided on one last try using medication thru her IV to stop the contractions. Praise the Lord the medication took effect and the contractions finally stopped this afternoon(they had been very strong and kept up their intensity since Monday evening) Tonight she is resting while they try the same medication in pill form with the hope that she could be discharged to allow the baby to grow a bit more before birth.

Thanks for all your prayers and please keep praying....the goal is to make it to 37 weeks with the hope that the baby might turn on his/her own. And tonight...well we are resting a bit easier and are very thankful that God is still in control! and for tonight, Baby Miles is still safe and sound and growing inside!

Please pray for Jody and Baby Miles

Tonight I am wishing that Texas wasn't quite so far away. As some of you already know if you have been following Jody's blog, she was 34 weeks today but had been having daily contractions:

I am having quite a few contractions daily and I am not on bed rest, but my doctor told me less active and less lifting. So, Darin and I are trying to figure out how this will work, I am thankful that it is now and not four weeks ago, like it was with Caily. Your prayers would be appreciated that baby would stay in and that I would be able to rest with all that needs to be done around here.

Tonight she called us from the hospital in Fredricksburg. The contractions weren't stopping so they have now put her on an IV to try to stop them. For now she hasn't dilated any more which is good but we will see what the night brings. I know that some of you are up reading this long after we go to bed so thought I would ask you all to pray. The doctor assured her the baby would be fine, but they would have preferred to him/her put on a bit more meat. We will see what the night brings...

Loving Sundays

In the midst of busy weeks, Sundays are a family day most often spent with Jamie, Megan and the boys over lunch after church and an afternoon of fun before and after naptimes. Today Dave, Jamie, Megs and Aidan headed down to the park while I stayed at home and listened for Jaxon who was napping. This picture that Dave took captured the fun of the moment! Too bad Aidan wasn't cooperating and looking at the camera.


Another Sunday a couple of weeks ago was also captured by Dave.....rare pictures of me with the grandsons!

Aidan and I having fun with stacking barrels and some dice(who knew you could have so much fun with sooooo little)

Dave took this picture and I love it! More laughter in the walls of our house were being made.

Jaxon and Aidan are interacting more and more....I can almost hear them when I look at this picture.

And here he is.....our littlest man almost on the move on his own! Don't you just love that smile? I sure do!