IT'S A GIRL!!!
Everyone is happy and healthy so far for which we are very thankful! Hard to believe we're halfway there already. Can't wait to meet this little girl and see what kind of unique little person God has created in her.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Snow!
I'm thinking we may have a hard time convincing Noah that it doesn't really snow in Texas. For the 2nd year in a row we've gotten enough snow to play in. It didn't last long, but there was enough to get out and have some fun. I got the day off and thankfully Mike didn't have to travel far to go to work. And of course the hot chocolate is even better after coming in from playing out in the cold snow!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Some updates
There have been quite a few things going on with our family over the last couple of months, especially with my side of the family.
From previous posts you've learned that my Grandmother (Dad's mom) had been in a nursing home the last several months. At 96, her health finally caught up with her age, I guess, and she started deteriorating some. She was in and out of the hospital a few times and then finally moved into the nursing home. We weren't sure if that was going to be a temporary or permanent move for her. The intention was to see if she could get some strength back and take care of herself again. She actually did really well. So well in fact, that she was dismissed from the nursing home and moved in with my parents at the end of January. But, right at the same time she started really struggling and having issues with Congestive Heart Failure. On Friday January 28, less than 2 weeks before her 97th birthday, Grandmother moved on to be with Jesus.
Lots happened during that last week or so. In and out of the hospital again and finally released home to my parents on hospice care. She died about 24 hours after going home on hospice. I'm so thankful that we could see at that point that the end was near and were able to go home and be with my family for those last couple days. I had no idea how meaningful it would be for me to be there with my parents and my Grandmother in her last hours. It's an aspect of nursing care that I have no experience with, yet what little I knew made such a difference for supporting my parents. I'm so thankful that God made it possible for me to be there. We all had a lucid moment with my Grandmother before she passed--even though she'd been sleeping or hallucinating most of the last couple days, she woke and was able to tell each grandchild and her Noah that she loved them. What a blessing.
We had a wonderful celebration of her life...and that's just what it was. A celebration--she had a wonderful like and we were all so blessed to have had her with us for so many years. I could go on and on about all we learned from her, but it all comes down to faith and family--those were the most important things to her and she made sure everyone knew that.
My parents also faced some other tough decisions in the last couple months. After almost 40 years in business, they made the decision to close Bo's BBQ in December. Lots of reasons but basically it was time. Their last day was December 24. Looking back on it now, there's no way they would have been able to run their business and also provide the care my Grandmother needed in January. Perhaps that was God's way of preparing them for what would happen next. They would definitely say that even despite tough circumstances God had certainly continued to prove himself faithful in their lives. Dad is currently playing a lot of golf and they are trying to figure out what's next now.
I also made a job change. I left the Children's Wellness Center at the end of November. The clinic had undergone some changes in the previous year and the environment there changed a lot. Many of my good friends and co-workers had also moved on or were in the process of looking. After praying about it for a few weeks it was obvious that it was my time to move on too. I decided the easiest transition would be into a larger teaching role at the UT School of Nursing where I'd already been teaching some clinical groups. I agreed to take 2 clinical groups in the spring and also share in some lecture courses as well-all in pediatrics. That means I had to get reaquainted with the hospital setting which was quite a change for me--I'd been in primary care for 6 years. I've spent some extra time over the last few months getting ready for that. I'm excited as the new semester starts and a little intimidated too. But I think the challenge will be good and it was definitely time for a change.
That sums up all the big stuff that's changed in our lives. Of course we're anxiously awaiting the next big change which will come in July. We'll find out in March whether we're going pink or blue this time. So far everything has gone well with this pregnancy. I had some pretty intense nausea and just overall feeling of "yuck!" for about 3-4 weeks early on. Thankfully this coincided with Christmas break...and since I'd quit my other job I really had a break and could spend extra time on the couch when that's what I needed to do. I feel like the morning sickness passed pretty quickly this time though--even though when it was here, it was bad at least it was short. I'm back to normal now. We'll keep praying things go well and appreciate all your prayers for our family too!
From previous posts you've learned that my Grandmother (Dad's mom) had been in a nursing home the last several months. At 96, her health finally caught up with her age, I guess, and she started deteriorating some. She was in and out of the hospital a few times and then finally moved into the nursing home. We weren't sure if that was going to be a temporary or permanent move for her. The intention was to see if she could get some strength back and take care of herself again. She actually did really well. So well in fact, that she was dismissed from the nursing home and moved in with my parents at the end of January. But, right at the same time she started really struggling and having issues with Congestive Heart Failure. On Friday January 28, less than 2 weeks before her 97th birthday, Grandmother moved on to be with Jesus.
Lots happened during that last week or so. In and out of the hospital again and finally released home to my parents on hospice care. She died about 24 hours after going home on hospice. I'm so thankful that we could see at that point that the end was near and were able to go home and be with my family for those last couple days. I had no idea how meaningful it would be for me to be there with my parents and my Grandmother in her last hours. It's an aspect of nursing care that I have no experience with, yet what little I knew made such a difference for supporting my parents. I'm so thankful that God made it possible for me to be there. We all had a lucid moment with my Grandmother before she passed--even though she'd been sleeping or hallucinating most of the last couple days, she woke and was able to tell each grandchild and her Noah that she loved them. What a blessing.
We had a wonderful celebration of her life...and that's just what it was. A celebration--she had a wonderful like and we were all so blessed to have had her with us for so many years. I could go on and on about all we learned from her, but it all comes down to faith and family--those were the most important things to her and she made sure everyone knew that.
My parents also faced some other tough decisions in the last couple months. After almost 40 years in business, they made the decision to close Bo's BBQ in December. Lots of reasons but basically it was time. Their last day was December 24. Looking back on it now, there's no way they would have been able to run their business and also provide the care my Grandmother needed in January. Perhaps that was God's way of preparing them for what would happen next. They would definitely say that even despite tough circumstances God had certainly continued to prove himself faithful in their lives. Dad is currently playing a lot of golf and they are trying to figure out what's next now.
I also made a job change. I left the Children's Wellness Center at the end of November. The clinic had undergone some changes in the previous year and the environment there changed a lot. Many of my good friends and co-workers had also moved on or were in the process of looking. After praying about it for a few weeks it was obvious that it was my time to move on too. I decided the easiest transition would be into a larger teaching role at the UT School of Nursing where I'd already been teaching some clinical groups. I agreed to take 2 clinical groups in the spring and also share in some lecture courses as well-all in pediatrics. That means I had to get reaquainted with the hospital setting which was quite a change for me--I'd been in primary care for 6 years. I've spent some extra time over the last few months getting ready for that. I'm excited as the new semester starts and a little intimidated too. But I think the challenge will be good and it was definitely time for a change.
That sums up all the big stuff that's changed in our lives. Of course we're anxiously awaiting the next big change which will come in July. We'll find out in March whether we're going pink or blue this time. So far everything has gone well with this pregnancy. I had some pretty intense nausea and just overall feeling of "yuck!" for about 3-4 weeks early on. Thankfully this coincided with Christmas break...and since I'd quit my other job I really had a break and could spend extra time on the couch when that's what I needed to do. I feel like the morning sickness passed pretty quickly this time though--even though when it was here, it was bad at least it was short. I'm back to normal now. We'll keep praying things go well and appreciate all your prayers for our family too!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Noah has some news...
Noah is going to be a big brother!
Baby White #2 is on the way and due July 27, 2011. We are very excited to expand our family. Please pray for a happy, healthy pregancy and baby!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Trip to the North
We spent the days after Christmas and the first days of the New Year in Milwaukee and Chicago. First we went to Milwaukee to visit the Stephensons and meet our Godson Isaac. JB and Laura welcomed Isaac in October and it was so great to meet him in person! It's always nice to get to spend some extra time with our good friends. If only we lived a little closer! While in the area we also visited Mike's cousin Jennifer and husband John and Noah got to meet and play with some of his cousins-Thomas and Teresa.
After a few days in Milwaukee, we drove to Chicago to visit the rest of the family. We got to see everyone there--Aunt Donna and Uncle Frank, Mike's grandparents, and cousin Paul and his family--wife Nancy and cousins Emily and baby Matthew. Noah and Emily are only about 2 months apart in age and had a blast playing together. Noah actually cried when we had to tell them goodbye--he didn't understand why Emily couldn't ride home on the airplane with us.
We had a great trip visiting everyone. We were of course concerned with what kind of weather we might encounter up there but while it was really cold, it didn't snow while we were there so we didn't have any issues driving. There was enough snow on the ground that Mike and JB took Noah out to play in it some in Milwaukee and that was really all we needed.
I'm glad to say Noah traveled like a pro! Between the portable DVD player and new movies from Christmas and other video games and new toys he had tons to keep him busy! A lady on one of the flights commented to Mike that Noah must be a seasoned traveler. Nope--just zoned out with a movie. On our way up we had a long layover right in the middle of naptime. Noah eventually fell asleep on Mike's lap but we had to wake him to board--that was the only time he really acted up. And I quickly bribed him into behaving with some M&M's. Desperate times call for desperate measures...
Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures. We got some while we were traveling. And then a few more playing at an indoor play house with cousin Emily. Even if we don't have all the pictures to prove it, it was a great trip and we're so glad we got to see our friends and family that live so far away!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas
We hosted the Whites and spent Christmas at our house this year. We really enjoyed having everyone here with us. Since Christmas fell on a Saturday this year, it was also easier to spend more time with everyone this way since Mike had to be at church on Sunday (he actually preached the sermon that day too!). The only disappointment was Mike's brother's family was passing a bug around from person to person so it seemed at some point over the few days we were together someone was always missing. Unfortunately that ended up being Dayna and Jared on Christmas Day. Thankfully it stayed between the 5 of them and the rest of us were spared!
Christmas morning: Stockings and presents from Mommy and Daddy
Yes, we actually got him a drum
Daddy and Aunt Nessa trying to set up the new train set
More presents with the cousins
Noah's first (Nerf) gun. Compliments of Mike's Dad
Movie time! Aren't they cute?!
White family tradition--Gingerbread house decorating
Friday, December 10, 2010
Christmas in Angleton
We celebrated Christmas with the Tiltons the first week of December. We went out to G.G.'s nursing home and took over the activity room to have our gift opening extravaganza. Noah got lots of cool stuff that he was super excited about (as you can see from his expressions) but I think the favorite by far was the set of Toy Story figures he got from G.G. He also got the movie Toy Story 3 which was a big hit too. Can you tell he really likes Toy Story these days (this was his first movie theater movie a little while back. Excellent choice at the dollar theater!).
I'm so glad we all got to gather as a family and have everyone there to spend the weekend together!
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