Monday, March 30, 2009

ah man!

Well, today was pretty busy...
we got up and dressed for church, even left early for breakfast that the high school class prepared, YUMMY!!! then off to lunch and afternoon visit with family, which is always nice. Today we visited with Aunt Mary and Uncle Jay, they have new baby goats and one is inside because her legs are not strong yet so she can't nurse...they are all very cute! We got home a little after 4 and rested until time to feed Mikenna and get ready for church services then we had dinner together. We got home and I began cleaning a little while Mike brought chairs in for tomorrow night.
Tomorrow I will get up and CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN, Secret Sisters March Meeting is at our house tomorrow evening!!! When I am finished I will get our girl from her Papa's and I need to make my dish for our get together. Hopefully I will get to rest before all our sisters begin showing up:)
Tuesday Mom and I are taking Mikenna to San Antonio for her 2 month shots :( We may shop a little bit, she's ready for a Johnny/Jenny jump-up, if we have time. Then that evening we have Bible Study at Robert and Jackie's!!!
Wednesday I go back to work:( :( :( Mike's mom will keep our little precious, We have Bible class in the evening. I'm sure I will go to bed early to start another day.
` Thursday after work is Volley Ball, I haven't decided yet if I will go but Mike will.
Then it's FRIDAY!!! Mike and I will go to work while Mikenna has her Friday-Papa-day!!! Than that evening the youth (and anyone else who wants to) are coming over for pizza and a movie!!!! I haven't had youth over in WAAAAAAAY TO LOOOOOOONNNNG!
Saturday we have a birthday party to go to and then we start over again with Sunday and church! And in the afternoon we have another birthday party!!!
I think I will want to go to work just to slow down a bit!!! too bad Mikenna can't come too:)
Have a great week all!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

ooh! ooh! pick me! pick me!!!

ok, my turn for 25 random things about me...
(I've had to think about it a lot)
1. It has taken God 32 years to prepare me for this contentment...I LOVE my life...and couldn't be happier than I am with these blessings
2. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a mommy; the desire to be a wife came along about 5 years ago!
3. As a child, I wanted to be a 3rd grade teacher and a part-time mechanic...I adored my dad and always "helped" him change oil and work on our vehicles. I can change my oil if I needed to!
4. I like puppies but not dogs
5. I live for Tuesday night Bible Study
6. Memories live in odd places for me...I look at my kitchen canisters and smile because I remember shopping for them with Dana!!! ~and the fact that they were on sale was a most pleasant surprise!!!!
7. I miss my Granny terribly. I always miss her at Thanksgiving and Christmas when those wonderful smells should be coming from HER kitchen, but Mikenna makes me miss her so much more, Granny would enjoy her greatly!
8. My mom is my the strongest and most compassionate person I know
9. It is very difficult for me to not want to treat some people with the same judgment and ridicule that they have dealt me. Its easy to forgive but so hard to forget
10. I LOVE thunderstorms; it's when God gives me a peek at His power!
11. The most amzing noise right now comes from 11 pounds of goodness :D
12. I'm blown away by the way Mike cares for 'Kenna
13. I love movies and could watch most of them over and over and over
14. I am a speech therapist because I WAS in speech therapy
15. I remember the first time I tied my shoes, my brother taught me how (we were in the old superS with my granny
16. I absolutely love the food network
17. I loved my experience in Guatemala
18. Parents that don't do everything possible to give their best to their children make me angry
19. I am not very good at sports or games but enjoy playing them
20. I am not competitive, but mischievous... I revel in beating someone who is very competitive...Beating Jamie at Risk (forever ago)
21. The Frio River is one of my favorite places to go
22. a spontaneous road trip to no where special is special.
23. I don't like my chin but LOVE Mikenna's
24. Movies that show poeple being mean and abusive to children and difficult for me to watch.
25. The way Mikenna looks at her Dady is priceless!!!

Monday, March 23, 2009

busy busy busy

Mike took the day off on Friday and he had fun plans for us! We got up early and headed to GeorgeWest to visit his Grandpa and let him meet Mikenna! Grandpa Catcus is 94 years old and just LOVES babies; ours was no different! HE laughed and smiled and thoroughly enjoyed our little munchkin! That was a great visit!!

After that we headed to Corpus where we met up with Kara, Ajane and Jamie. We ate lunch at Crawdaddy's mmmmm:P Cajun seafood...well I had chicken!! Ajane tried an oyster for the first time...FUNNY but good for her, I won't eat that slimy thing!
After lunch we visited with Mike's brother and his family, We haven't seen them since the baby was born. We had a good visit!

After leaving Lee's we headed to the beach in Port A for a while. It was getting a bit cool when we go there, We decided not to get Mikenna in the water, but I put her suit on for pictures...She liked the sand but didn't like when the cold water splashed on her after a wave; oops sorry baby! We stayed there for a few hours and then had dinner and ice cream before we headed back home. It was late when we left and we were all so very sleepy! the passengers all slept and weren't very helpful to our drivers, sorry Mike and Kara!


We woke up late Saturday morning and lounged around watching movies then early afternoon my parents came to visit for a while and then we headed to Charlotte to visit Mike's parents. They weren't there, but Mikenna was hungry so we fed her inthe car, put her to sleep and headed back home. His parents came over when they got back from San Antonio for a nice little visit!
When Jamie got off of work he and I went to the store for dinner. He got meat, I got corn and dessert. We picked up Mike and Mikenna and met Kara and Ajane at my mom's to grill out have dinner together and watch a movie! Dinner was excellent! most of us fell asleep during the movie! Mikenna spent the night.

Sunday we had church, ate lunch with family, Mikenna, mom and I went to a baby shower and then we got home to rest a while before we headed to SA with family for March Birthday dinner! It was fun but we were tired and on the way home Mikenna let us know that she was TIRED of being in her carseat and being held...poor baby, she was bundled, fastened and contained for most of 3 days. We played on the floor with her for an hour when we got home. She stretched her body enough to be ready for her bottle and her bed! and she slept!!!

We had a GREAT weekend but I think we were too too busy!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

so much has happened...

Sunday morning i rose with memories from a year ago...
March 15, 2008 I woke up early (on a Saturday)met up with Joanna and Ashleigh and headed to San Antonio for hair and make-up. I hardly ever rise early on a Saturday, fixing up my hair is not something I generally worry over and how I often do I wear make-up... But this day was different; special! There was to be a wedding! White dress. New suit (3 actually) and 2 newly made pink dresses (hot pink, thank you)!!! And it was a BEAUTIFUL DAY; the previous week had brought us lots of rain that we were so thankful for as a community that needs rain but as a bride of an outside wedding, you thank the Lord for the rain on Friday and pray for a pause until Sunday.
What a wonderful day it turned out to be; I added a new last name to my identification and partner to my life. That day was the beginning of big changes...What a busy year it has been. As I type, I sit in my home tht we bought this summer, rocking in a new to me glider that was given to me this summer as I would need to rock a little something soon. And speaking of that little something, she's lying on the couch making those cute sleeping baby sounds!
So the last 53 weeks have brought many new things...
~a birthday--my favorite so far (31 was a GREAT year)
~a husband--who's fabulous
~a house
~a new district at work
~a baby
~and another birthday a week before...
~a first anniversary!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

posting this is easier than emailing it...

I have not yet occupied the resource of an address book in my email setup so I would have to remember all addresses and manually put them in order to send it to all the women I would like to, but most of them read the blog! Dana emailed a survey that I have done before but the answers have changed and I have chosen to complete it again...


1 . What time did you get up?
I woke up a couple of times during the night :) but began my day a little after 9am
2. Diamonds or pearls?
depends, I have a 2 pieces from Mike that have diamonds and a pearl necklace that was my Granny's I love all 3 for the sentimental value each one possesses
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Australia, with my mom
4. What is your favorite TV show?
Ace of Cakes or Challenge
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
if I eat breakfast its a Special K or Fiber1 bar (what's the point in having breakfast when its almost time for lunch)
6. What is your middle name?
Sue
7. What food do you dislike?
dinner at breakfast
8.What is your favorite CD?
an mp3 disk that Mike made a few years ago with over 160 Christian songs on it...including Something Beautiful by the Newsboys
9. What kind of car do you drive?
my cute Jeep Patriot
10. What is your favorite sandwich?
a grilled cheese
11. What characteristic do you despise?
it was recently dishonesty, but has changed to a fake-ness (which I guess is dishonesty)
12. Favorite item of clothing?
I have these dark brown pants that I'm in love with right now (same as Dana)
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Colorado in the summer, a cruise anywhaere
14. Favorite brand of clothing?
I'm loving my Duo maternity, Old Navy have soft comfy shirts, and jeans from Levi Strauss
15. Where would you retire to?
near a river
16. What was your most memorable birthday?
28 was great!!! 31 was even better, but 32 holds many firsts!!!
17.Favorite sport to watch?
anything my nephews play
18. Furthest place you are sending this?
I'm sure it will be read in Colorado
19. Person you expect to send it back first?
not sure, Lin may send it out email or post it. I can see Janina sending it out
20. When is your birthday?
March 9th
21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
becoming more of a morning person than a night person, but it is midnight and I'm blogging!
22. What is your shoe size?
7 1/2
23. Pets?
a wild, rotten cat that I LOVE!
24.Any new and exciting news you 'd like to share with us?
the only thing I can think of is gross...Mikenna just taught me that spit-up taste nasty. bleh!!!
25. What did you want to be when you were little?
a christian mommy, a 3rd grade teacher and part-time mechanic
26. How are you today?
tired, but wonderful
27. What is your favorite candy?
sixlets
28. What is your favorite flower?
Gerber Daisies but I pretty much love them all!
29. Is there a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
March 30 and every Tuesday
30. What is your full name?
Jennifer Sue Jones Maxwell
31. What are you listening to right now?
its an amazing sound...Mike and Mikenna are soundly sleeping, I hear their breathing
32. Last thing you ate?
Chili's's Choclate CHip Molten, mmmmmmmmmmm!
33. Do you wish on stars?
Not really but I pray
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
green in all its shades
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
my mom
37. Favorite soft drink?
Big Red, with A7W root bear as a close 2nd!
38. Favorite Restaurant Chain:
Olive Garden or Saltgrass
39. Real hair color?
brown
40. What was your favorite toy as a child?
not sure, probably my babydolls
41. Summer or winter?
summer for the activities and places, Spring for the weather, Winter for the holidays and family that is close and Autumn for the new beginnings (although its actually a signal of end for the plants)
42. Hugs or kisses?
both; I can get hugs from many more people but I do love a kiss
43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
DEFINITELY chocolate
44. Coffee or tea?
tea
45. Do you want your friends to email you back?
of course, I am interested in their answers!
46. When was the last time you cried?
this evening, but I can't remember what I was talking about that made me cry
48. What did you do last night?
Bible Study, we ordered our new books!!!
49. What are you afraid of?
not really afraid, but I'm dreading Mikenna learning that people in the world are cruel and mean and hurtful
50.Salty or sweet?
probably sweet unless it is togehter (peanuts mixed with candy corn)
51.How many keys on your key ring?
I'm not sure but Mike calls me "janitor" when he was to use them!!
52. How many years at your current job?
5
53. Favorite day of the week?
Tuesday, Sunday
54. How many towns have you lived in?
WOW! 8 - Midwest City, OK; West Monroe, Louisiana; Jourdanton,Pleasanton, Cuero, Teague, Abilene, Tehucana (ta-wa-can-knee)but 4 of them at differant times with different addresses
55. Do you make friends easily?
not really, I'm kinda shy
56. How many people will you send this to?
4 through email
57. How many will respond?
the possibilities are endless

can you smell that?

As I rocked Mikenna this morning I heard an old familiar sound, one I haven't heard in quite some time.
Is it? Can it Be? YES!!! It is RAIN!!! I love that smell!!!! and am so glad we have the opportunity to smell, see and feel the tain, even though it only lasted a moment!

While I'm thinking about smells, here are a few I love...
~Mike (especially after a shower and a spray of cologne)
~laundry
~My mom
~Granny's house durung the holidays (now a good memory)
~new carpet
~bacon that someone else is cooking
~baby shampoo
~Mike's pillow (I like tp slide to his side of the bed when he gets up and breath in his scent)
~and a new Favorite is Mikenna--Even when she is not fresh out of the bath or doesn't have lotion on! I LOVE the way her head smells!!!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

not planned

I have a blog in mind that I got on the internet to write...
I intended to post earlier today but was busy. We had a very enjoyable but VERY busy and very LATE weekend... My girl and I slept in this morning:) and I tried to nap this afternoon but each time I got Mikenna to sleep, she woke up shortly after I put her down (hopefully she will sleep well tonight).
the blog I intended to post will have to wait!!! I'm fading!

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

One month!

One month ago, we went into the hospital to get set up and receive a cream that would help with labor so we could induce the next day. We got into the room and hooked up to monitors a little after 4pm and the nurses were immediately on guard for our little one's heart beat was dropping. We delivered her a little before 9:00 that evening via a c-section and I had my first hello


that first week sure was stressful; we had lots to deal with at the hospital and then lots of visitors to greet us when we got home. There was also a few adjustments to be made by all at the house!! happy 1 week sweet heart!!!


We finished off the 1st week with Grandpaw & Mamaw heading home and leaving us to get started with just us 3. Whew! more adjustments, mom and dad got into the hang of things...sorta, I don't think we'll ever "get use to it" or "get it figured out"!!!
but we did begin a bit of a routine (at least for napping) :)


Week 3... started venturing out a little, besides going to church and doctor visits, Mikenna and I began going to work places to introduce her to our friends!!!


As week 4 started we began to try new things! (as mentioned in the previous post)
Tuesday I got on a little of a schedule, I washed laundry and folded and put it all away! and then today I was back to NOT being very organized, but some things did get done! Mamaw and Grandpaw are here to visit tonight on their way home from Corpus. I got cute pictures this morning!
one month old!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

a couple of firsts

Just a short list of a few fisrts from this weekend, not too many new things and not anything totally out of the ordinary but all new for us!
~Friday we took our first family walk! Our neighborhood has circles around and is 1 mile of nice shady road that makes for a good walk. Mikenna and I had taken a few short walks earlier in the week, but tis was my first full walk (1 mile) and the first time "Daddy" joined us! It was nice, but man I was tired when we returned home!! Hoping to walk again this evening when Mike gets home.
~Saturday was our first family outing... we went to San Antonio and traipsed around the mall a bit, met friends for a short visit and the ended up at Gruene to visit with my Aunt Beth and her Oscar and then had dinner with them. Very fun!!
~Sunday Mike and I "got in trouble" in our class (sad looks were given to us) when we walked in without Mikenna...She was in her class!!! Mikenna went to Cradle Roll class with her Mrs. Nell!!! It was hard to leave and I missed her during class, but I know that that is where she needs to be and you have to start somewhere!!!


~Monday we finally put a car seat base in Mike's truck and loaded our girl up...her first trip in Daddy's truck!!!
--Nothing spectacular, but just a few firsts!!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I so felt like I was at camp!

This past Saturday, Seth and Ashleigh had a get together at Rutland Ranch, his parents' place in Stockdale. We got there around 3:30 or so and hung out for a while. We played horseshoes, washers, the ladder game and walked down to the creek and around the pasture a little bit. Then we ate dinner; fajitas...YUMMY;p Later we sat around a fire eating smores and just visited; as the son descended and the night rose around us, we sang songs, listened to a scripture reading (Psalm 121 i think) and had a couple of prayers. Being out there in the cool night air, sitting around a fire and praising the Lord with friends as well as strangers was so awesome! It so much felt like camp!!! But I got to share it with people that I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO CAMP WITH (including my husband and my daughter) It was just so amazing and I am so thankful we got to be there!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

blue skies and...

MY SUNSHINE!!!


that's what we had today:) The weather has been cool and cloudy and kinda damp. Yesterday was pretty good and we were outside for a little bit but today was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!! and we were at the doctor's office all afternoon:( maybe God will give us another chance tomorrow to enjoy a nice sunshiny day!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

grandparents

Grandpa (daddy's step"dad")
Grandma (daddy's mom)
G~ma & Papa (mommy's mom and daddy-don) we need a new picture with them:)
Grandpaw & Mamaw (mommy's dad and stepmom)
Grandpa and Grandma (daddy's dad & stepmom)
Paw-paw

Well, Miss Mikenna has A LOT of grandparents and as of this past weekend, All of them have been able to meet her. Some of the pictures are from the hospital, they have been by to visit us since we've been home we just haven't taken pictures. :)
Paw Paw is my grandpaw, Mikenna has another great grandpaw, Grandpa Catcus, he lives in George West and she hasn't met him yet, I will post pictures when we see him!

Due to seasonal illnesses, distance and busy families non of our siblings have been able to see our sweetheart yet:( Updates will be posted with pictures when we get to see all her precious aunts and uncles!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

at last

I can remember being a young girl in church and thinking about my future. I would be sitting with my family or even my friends and watching families around me and want what I saw. Being as young as jr. high or even younger I remember dreaming of a time when I could sit in church next to my husband, with my child in my lap. And then later (college years) praying for the time when I would find the man God created for me so we could be in worship as a family.

Today I remembered those time, those dreams and that prayer; as I sat in church next to my husband with my baby in my arms! I thanked God for answering those prayers ~ a christian man, a baby ~ with tears of joy and gratitude streamed down my face.

God is SO GOOD! It is unbelievable how He answers our prayers and takes care of us in His perfect time and His perfect ways.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

what a week!









I can't believe its already been a week and at the same time its hard to believe its only been ONE week.
Well, we finally got to a room saturday night, as a family and oh how amazingly wonderful it was to have her ALL to ourselves. It was just our little family,on our own! We spent the night, just us, no wires, no nurses, no beeping and no one else but us! The nurse left for the first time and I held her in my arms and the tears just flowed! The Lord is so GOOD and we are so very blessed!
we had a good night and then waited for our release on Sunday!

We were discharged, loaded the car and headed home! There were bows on the mailbox and the door, waiting for us and announcing the arrival of our bundle of joy! It was SO SO SO good to be home! We had a good steady stream of visitors, it was nice to see people that were not in scrubs:) Dad and Janina came to stay with us for a few days (they were so helpful) and we enjoyed being around them. The first night home was good, she woke up every 31/2 hours to eat and went back to sleep and I did too.

Monday started off slowly and then we had a few visitors at lunch and then we had our 1st bath at home. We dressed up pretty and went to daddy's work. We had some in the evening. We even had the "church police" over that evening:) it was visitation and Andy and Robert came to see us...well, came to see Mikenna:)
We had a good day and kinda established our routine. Night 2 was as good as the first!

Tuesday was busy ALL DAY LONG! Mike went to work, it was hard to see him leave, I was getting use to him being around:) but I think it was more difficult on him to leave than it was on me. Mikenna had a doctor's appointment, so we all loaded up and headed to San Antonio. Then we stopped by Toys R Us and came home. The visits started we got back and lasted until Bible Study. Then we got to relax and headed to bed. Janina offered to get uo to feed in the night, since it was our last night to have them here to help out. It was nice to sllep through.

Mike went to work this morning, after he brought my little girl to me and we stayed in bed for a while. Dad and Janina left and 'kenna and I laid around all day! It was just us until lunch; my mom came and then "daddy" came home. We took a long nap!!! and then hung out in the afternoon! so nice. We went outside and got to meet some neighbors! Another good day. A very nice end to the 1st week! Now we need to get dressed, we're going to church.

I'll try to be better about blogging, we'll see!

Saturday, February 07, 2009

one more night



our little munchkin is doing well today and is so better! She is still not eating quite as much as she should be. We will stay one more night. BUT tonight we get to stay with her! She is still in ICU but they have family rooms that have all the hook=ups for monitoring and also oxygen just in case! AND it has a full size bed...so not only will i have my baby with me tonight I get to lay next to her daddy!!! that will be nice, I have missed him, even though he
s been right there! Today has definitely been a good day! and I think tomorrow will be so much better!!!!

Friday, February 06, 2009

and it keeps getting better!

Mikenna ate better today! if she keeps it up through the night and in the morning, the dr may release her tomorrow or Sunday. I will be released to morrow, but my dr. will keep me if Mikenna's dr keeps her, he said that insurance will let me stay 4 nights, so he will let that happen (he's great!) :) but hopefully we will all be able to go home tomorrow! She is a little jaundice but the nurse isn't concerned about that yet, they'll watch it over night too. She has had great nurses and that has been really reassuring to me. i'm glad we're in such a good place!!!!
so blessed to have friends and family that love and care for us so much! We couldn't do it without all the prayers, messages, calls and visits!



she's good at keeping us waiting!

...and not to mention cute and cuddly and full of so much sweetness!!
Mikenna has had her xray this morning, everything looks fantastic! She is not eating though as they would like for her to, so they are talking of keeping her there until she starts getting more at each feeding. I am so beyond ready to have her with us! We get to visit her in the NICU when we want (except between 6:15 and 8:00 each half day). I know she will be fine when I am able to feed her (milk's not in yet) but she needs to eat so she can join us! Thank you so your prayers and thoughts, please keep them up for her and for us as well!

this is my favorite from yesterday. we'll get family pix when she can come up here!

Thursday, February 05, 2009

a better day


Mikenna is still in ICU tonight :( but we were able to visit her so much today! I have been there at almost every feeding time to feed her. My milk has not come in yet so I only give her a little taste of what's to come...which does not make her happy, she likes it and wants more. She was not a very good eater last night and showed most of the day to keep that up. She did, however eat a REALLY good amount at 6!!! We were very proud. I will go in at midnight to feed her and then go back in the morning.
The x-ray today showed that there was still a tiny tear in the lung so she remained there to be monitored. The doctor thinks that the x-ray she will take in the morning will show that it has healed up and our baby girl will be able to join us!! Thank you for all the prayers that have gone up on our behalf, please continue them.
Love you bunches!

just a little stressfull...

we went into the hospital yesterday, about 3:30 to get set up and be given a topical cream to help speed the process of inducin on Thursday. When we got all situated in the room Mikenna's heart rate began to drop a little and continued to fluctuate. The Dr. decided not to do the cream, see how she does over night and then induce in the morning with a possibility of a c-section if the heart rate continues to drop. The on-call dr. came in around 7 and decided to go ahead with the surgery to stop more trauma that coul come with trying to deliver. It was not an emergency but they didn't want that to happen. Little Miss Mikenna was born at 8:55pm last night (2/4) She weighs 7lbs, 4.5oz and is 19 3/4 inches long. Just Beautiful! She had swallowed some maconium so she went to the transition nursery to be monitored and assisted with clearing her lungs. We went to see her about 1am when they moved me to my room. her lungs were clear but there was a little hole allowing air to escape (this happens in about 8% of infants but is not noticed b/c they are not checked for it- and turn out fine) as precaution they moved her to NICU to be monitored more closely, they think she will be able to jion us sometime this morning. While we were there, we both got to hold her for the first time, WOW!!!
Mike and I are both fine, just wating for more time with her!!!

Friday, January 30, 2009

incomprehendable

I am sure that we ALL have those AH-HA moments when we are blown away by how much we are loved by the ones that are around us and how much that commit to, participate in and take ownership of our lives and our accomplishments. I was recently reminded of how much a part of their lives our family actually is. And I am absolutely blown away!

I know that our Bible study group and our Bible class group love us and are proud of the accomplishments and successes that we have made in our lives. And I know that they are a HUGE part of our lives but I never think about how important we are to them (to y'all). As Mikenna's arrival gets closer the prayers on her behalf and our behalf have increased as well as the emotion behind those prayers. Amy and Jackie have really touched my heart in those conversations with our Father. This much awaited arrival is such a great blessing to Mike and I but hear a dear sister thank God for bringing her to "all of us" makes my heart so happy!

There are actions and decisions in my past that I regret and relationships that I never should have been in. But one bad decision 9 years ago brought about many really good consequences... It brought me here and to all of you! I am so thankful of that bad decision. And even more thankful of all the blessings God has presented to me since then!