Happy Birthday Grammy!

Last thursday Crew and I traveled down to Katy to celebrate my mom (grammy's) birthday! My dad is still on assignment in Lousiana, John's at scholl, and Jeff was headed to Lubbock for the Tech vs. UT game...so we decided it was time for a roadtrip! We had fun celebrating at the new City Center in Town and Country- walking around listening to live music, browsing the farmer's market, and had a nice dinner on the porch at Brio. My mom's 2 good friend's, Ruth and Jill joined us too which made the celebration extra special! On friday we took Crew to the new "Angel Park" in Katy and of course, what trip is complete without a little shopping too!! We had so much fun!=)

Happy Birthday Mom/Grammy! We are blessed to have you in our lives. You are such a role model and inspiration on what a loving mother and wife truely is! Here's to many more years of celebrations...

Birthday Sign

Yummy "OhLaLa" cupcakes!

Crew did a little swimming too!=)

Helping grammy open presents!

A trip to the "Angel Park" in Katy

Slides are FUUUNNN!!!

Look at that smile!

Such a neat park!

1 Year Checkup!

Playing with my new bday present (shh..) and getting stuff ready for my big party!

Well, its official- Crew is not a baby anymore. We had his one year appointment yesterday and everything went GREAT!! I was thrilled to find a new dr here in Austin! The pediatrician we went to for the 9 month appt spent about 10 seconds with us, and I felt like I was back in 1920! I searched and searched, got recommendation after recommendation and finally find a pediatrician we LOVE!! The doctor spent about 45 minutes with us, just looking Crew over, answering questions, and being a great resource! For a first time parent- this is a dream come true! (And this is exactly how our pediatrician was on Frisco, I just never thought I would find someone this good here!) I did tear up (always do) as he got 3 more shots this time! But he was a trooper and made it through!

Ok so here are the Stats:

Weight- 23lb 2.5 oz (50%)

Length- 31 in (75% ) ** We are tall!!

Head- 47.8 in (80%)

He is not walking yet but cruising all around on furniture, and pushing toys all around the house. He is officially OFF of bottles (Yea!!) and drinking whole milk! And, he is definelty a boy- he eats more than me at meals! No baby food, just all table food now! He also says a few words "mama", "dada", "Bella", "Ball", "Dog." He claps, plays peek a boo, waves hi and bye, and gives hugs (my favorite)! He is ALWAYS happy, loves giggling and playing and is pretty much the perfect toddler (we are a little partial)!

I don't know where the year has gone! But we thank God everynight for a happy and healthy sweet baby boy. What a joy it has been watching him grow and change each and everyday!

Oh.. and tonight Brett installed our new front facing Britax carseat in the car. Wow, we are big!! And I think I shed a tear as I was packing up the infant carseat!

Carson Family Update

Sorry, it has been a crazy last few weeks. Thank you all for your prayers- the healing power of God's grace is just amazing! I just wanted to update and thank everyone for the sweet notes, flowers, texts, and cards. I got out of the hospital last saturday and have been feeling great! Lets just say you never realize what a blessing good health is until you are sick! I followed up with a dr here in Austin last week and got some good news too. My condition is very rare (none of my drs in Dallas had seen a patient with it before), but the dr here has dealt with several patients with auto-immune pancreatitus so I think I am in good hands! For now I am just taking my steroids, feeling better, and enjoying time with my wonderful husband and sweet Crew! We are continuing to work with the drs to try to make sure this does not happen again! Oh, and since I could not eat for almost 2 weeks I am so glad to be able to eat again! No more sugar, candy, or sweet though. Pretty much just trying to eat only fruits, veggies and whole grains to nurish my pancreas. That poor sweet tooth has to go away- only Ensure (ha I feel like an oldie) can help a little with my sugar cravings!=)

Also, I did get out of the hospital the day BEFORE my birthday. Lets just say it was a birthday I will always cherish- one of great health! We just drove back to Austin and went to eat a healthy dinner at a little restaurant here in SoCo! I was thrilled to be able to eat. No cake this year- maybe that means I get 2 next year?

We spent the weekend watching football, relaxing, grilling out, and looking at a few houses. I think we may have decided to build a house. We found a plan, lot, and builder we LOVE, and the neighborhood is right by Lake Travis. We will keep you updated on what we decide!

On a side note, I was originally in the hospital for 5 days (then came home for 3 days and was readmitted for another 10 days), and got out on Crew's bday. We did have a celebration in Dallas the day I got out, so I will post pics soon (I took a ton so still editing and getting them in order). We pushed Crew's party back until next weekend so we are super excited to finally be able to celebrate too! Watch for pics soon! I feel like I have been planning his party for MONTHS so I am finally ready to see everything put together! Will update more soon!

Thank you all for your endless prayers! Love you!

Happy Anniversary

Happy 4 Year Anniversary!!!

4 years ago today!

Our anniversary celebration (papa was taking this pic) but he was here too!

Our family 4 years later!

Yum- Wish I could have tried this!=)

My mother in law made this adorable sign!

Crew had fun!

Four years ago today I married my best friend, and it has been a dream living our happily ever after! We welcomed our sweet son into the world last year, and this been a crazy year of trying our hardest to be the best parents we can be! Brett has been my side through thick and thin, through sickness and health (rough hospital stays), through adventures we didn't think possible (selling our house in 2 weeks and moving to Austin), and just through daily life! I couldn't have made it without him!!!

I am still in the hopsital, but lets just talk one minute about the power of prayer! I can feel all the power radiating from my prayer warriors! I know I could never have gotten to where I am without all of you! The last week has been really really rough, but my dr started me on steroids yesterday. It was a miracle in action- I got those steriods (IV drip) and not 30 minutes later I was up walking around (Side note- I hadn't been up in about 4 days and couldn't even walk 1/2 this floor)!! I got the second dose of steroids in the middle of the night and my dr came in this morning- my pancreatic enzymes were 60!!!! (60 is normal- mine were 700 when I got here). WHAT?? My dr is in complete shock, saying I am the craziest case he has ever seen. This may mean a trip to Mayo Clinic is in the works sometime! But, for now I started clear liquids, broth, jello and popsicles this afternoon and feel great! Lets just say with no food in over 3 weeks its a big step!!! What a huge anniversary present!!!

Our parents (and Brett's sweet Aunt Sandy) came up to visit tonight and we went down to eat dinner. We walked into the kitched at the hospital with a beautiful bouquest of happy Anniversary Balloons, and adorable sign, black and white checked tablecloths, and a huge table filled with Brett's favorite (since I can't eat)- good ol Rudy's BBQ. They also went to Zoe's and got his other favorite- Greek Salad! We had a wonderful dinner followed by a cookie cake for dessert! What a wonderful anniversay present- the perfect suprise! And lets just say, our parents are the absolute greatest in the world! There is no way we could have made it through this whole situation without Grancie and Grammy and Papa! Thank you all for being such an inspiration and help in our life, we love you!!!

P.S.- Sorry the post is AFTER my pics- my comp wont let me cut and paste in blogger- any suggestions?

Pancreatitus and Prayer

Well you guessed it, I am STILL in the hospital. I got out 2 saturdays ago- just in time to celerbate Crew's 1st bday! (I will post pics soon!) I felt fine, so we headed back to Austin on Sunday morning. Monday I started getting shooting pain in my abdomen again and went a saw in dr in Austin. Ok, bad choice- this dr was telling me to stay at home and eat whatever I want and just rest. Anyone who has had pancreatitus knows this is a big NO NO. Brett and I just didn't feel comfortable with the dr or the care we were given, so wednesday we drove back to Dallas and I as admitted yet again. This has been the roughest go around yet. The dr thinks this is from the same pancreatitus episode as last week, I just wasn't completly over it! I pretty much complelty rely on constant pain meds to make it through. Thanks to everyone for your wonderful texts, message, flowers, notes, etc. I know that the Lord is healing me from the inside out and this just takes some time. Please pray for knowledge of the drs to figure out how to treat me and my crazy case, for the pain to decrease, and for me to be able to eat again.

God has taught me a major lesson through all this, I sure do take my health forgranted. There are people who wake up in constant pain everday just trying to push through it to smile, sit up, walk around, or even hug the ones they love. This is all just normal to me so I didn't think much about it until you can't do those things. I have not been able to see Crew in 2 days (since I have had a fever), and it just makes me want to hug and kiss him non-stop! I just take my time with him forgranted! And my sweet husband has been by my side constantly through this while episode. One nurse made a comment no how sincere his love was - "in sickness and in health"- wow, I truely am blessed! And our parents, Brett and I can rest peacefully at night knowing that Crew is in the loving arms of his Grammy and Grancie! My dad also left an assignment in Lousiana today to be here by my side and help with Crew. Jeff came in this weekend to help with Crew, and John stopped on his way to Lubbock to give me a get well hug!

Lord thank you for such wonderful family, friends, and blessings! Please continue to heal me from the inside out and continue to put my trust in your healing power. Pray also for those who suffer and are in constant pain. May they find relief in your healing touch!

Happy 1st Birthday Crew!

Well, it's here! Today our baby boy, Crew, turns 1!!! Wow, what a blessing this year has been!We can't even imagine our life before our little angel! It has been absolutely amazing watching our little Crew grow each and everyday. From watching him smile, coo, roll over, hold his own bottle, sit up, crawl, eat table food, clap, say "mama" and "dada", wave "hi" and "bye bye", pull up, walk along furniture and many other firsts! We thank God each and every day for allowing us to be his parents, and blessing us with such a precious miracle.

I am overcome with emotion today thinking about everything that was going on this day last year. Our sweet little boy was born 3 weeks early weighing 6 lbs 10 oz, and 19" long and was absolutely PERFECT!

Today was supposed to be a day of celebrating with family amd friends riding the train at Zilker Park in Austin. For now, that celebration will be pushed back. Hopefully I get out of the hospital today so I can give my sweetie a big birthday hug and we can have our own celebration.

Thank you Lord, for a year of blessings, smiles, laughter, good health for our little angel! Here's to many more birthdays! We love you Crew more than you will ever know!
Happy 1st Birthday!!!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Here's some pics of Crew's BIRTHday last year- August 21, 2009

On the way to the Hospital

Crew's little footprints!

Daddy putting on the first of many diapers

First family picture

Proud and happy grandparents!

Sleepy Angel

Uncle Jeff came

What a miracle!

Uncle John and Daddy swaddling you!

(I love the grandma's wacthing over their shoulders)

Eyes open for the first time

Time to go home!

What a blessing!

Beau's 1st Bday and Update

This past weekend we went to Midland to celebrate Beau's 1st birthday. Beau and Crew are exactly 1 week apart- so fun! We sure wished we still lived close to them so we could have playdates! The party was a dumptruck/construction theme and Jodi did a WONDERFUL job on all the decorations! The birthday boy got a blue car from his parents and it was for sure the HIT of the party! All the kids loved riding it and pushing it around! Thanks Steve and Jodi for inviting us to celebrate such a big milestone!

On a side note, on the way home on Sunday I started getting shooting pain in my abdomen again. I did't sleep much Sunday night and I called my dr in Frisco Monday morning. They squeezed me into their schedule and I got some bloodwork done. I was called Tuesday afternoon that yes, I have Pancreatitus AGAIN (for the 3rd time!). According to my dr I could be a case for Mayo clinic! I am now in the same hospital in Plano working with my same dr. It is such a blessing how the timing worked out. Since I am such a rare case, it would have been really hard to start over with a new dr in Austin who does not know anything about my past history.
I had my gallbladder out in March so what is causing this? I am on another medicine and it has a 1% chance of pancreatitus- well you guessed it, thats how I got it! I'm the 1% side effect! So I am here in the hospital- no food, water, anything by mouth- on IV's again. Let's just hope its not for 2-1/2 weeks this time! And, Crew's bday celebration was supposed to be on Saturday, so for now, it is postponed until I get out of the hospital!

Here are some party pics from the weekend!

Beautiful flowers and dumptruck tablecloths!

Sign for Candy Bar

Yum Yum!

Beau's adorable 1 year pics in dumptruck frames!

Chick Fil A Lemonade (the BEST), and iced tea

Yummy amaretto cupcakes and appetizers

Lets look at books!

Look how tall I am!?!

Looking out the window-

Crew, Beau, and Emma

Beau and all his gifts/toys!

And of course the HIT of the party- the blue car

Beau, let me help you with these new toys, ha!

Vroom Vroom... Let me show you how this works!

Birthday boy in his "cake eating attire"

Birthday Boy eating his yummy cupcake!

Crew even tried some cupcake too! Think he liked it? Ha!