March for Babies!

It's that time again! Please consider donating to such a worthy cause!



We are so blessed to have two healthy boys! Garrett and Jace both spent extended time in the NICU at Odessa Regional Hospital and for that reason, The March of Dimes has a special place in my heart! Won't you consider making March of Dimes one of your favorite charities?

I would love to have you join me on my walk in April, but if you are unable to walk with me, please consider making a contribution to the March for Babies! Parents, families, and friends of NICU babies are forever grateful for your generosity!

FRUSTRATION!

UGHHHHH! YESTERDAY WAS SOOOOOO NOT OUR BEST DAY IN THE WATKINS' HOUSE!
Of course, Garrett was "too tired" to get up for school! So, after some serious prodding and a little threatening with no cartoons before bed, he finally got up. Then, he did NOT want to wear the clothes that I had picked out for him! UGHHH! So, I sent him to his room to pick new clothes while I made and packed his lunch. I went to check to make sure he was not choosing something inappropriate for school and when I went into the bathroom between the boys' rooms, I found an entire bottle of baby powder ALL over the bathroom. It was up the walls and in the drawers of the cabinets. He pulled all the rugs from the bathroom over by the sink to cover up the MESS in the floor! There is a white haze on everything! He had done the deed a few days before, I had just not been in to find it until this morning! After questioning him about it, I had to turn and walk out because, even though it is a disaster zone, it was toooooo funny! We finally get clothes on, lunch packed, backpack loaded, and Jace ready to go and head out to Jacob's truck (mine is in the shop). When I get in and get the boys buckled, I realize Jacob's inspection sticker is expired. By this point, I am NOT a happy camper, to say the least! So, I have to call him and get a little bit ugly! (It didnt expire in December... it has been out since OCTOBER!) We get to school, pull up, and Garrett is getting out and can't find his back pack. Well, that is because it is still hanging on the chair where he left it! I am really ready to blow my top, but I make him get out and go in and tell him he will just have to live with no back pack today... tough love, you know!?!? As, I am driving home, stewing about all that has gone wrong this morning, I realize I can't make him go with no backpack because his lunch box is in it! GRRR! So, I come back home, grab the back pack, drive back to school, and have to take it in to the office in my most beautiful attire. I am in sweat pants, tshirt, house shoes, no make up, and a scary ponytail! I am worn out and just want to go back to bed, but a mother's work is never done! Jace needed a breathing treatment and his breakfast and then it was time to get ready for work! Let's just hope the rest of this week is less chaotic or I may just have to be a shut in! :)

oldies...but goodies!

I have so enjoyed looking at everyone's "roll back" pictures on facebook this week! So, I was inspired to post these pictures.

This is me at 6 months with my sweet mom!

...and this is me with my Garrett at 6 months.

and here is Jace at 6 months and Garrett at 5 1/2!

This is my 4th birthday! loving sparkly jewelry already!

Age 5... with my favorite cabbage patch kids, Inga and Maxine!

Age 10

and high school! Go Big Red!

I would LOVE to see your old pictures, too! It is too fun to have a look back!

Thankful

We have so much to be thankful for this year!
Garrett is six and is the sweetest, most adoring, big brother ever! Our baby Jace turned one year old two weeks ago! Jacob and I had the 15th anniversary of our first date on November 11! (WOW!) We have the BEST family and are so thankful to be near them all! And lastly, we have the most precious group of friends that make our lives complete! So, thank you all for blessing us! Our lives are so much richer by knowing each of you! Happy Thanksgiving and may you all have a blessed holiday season!

ONE! -- A year in review!

OH.MY.GOODNESS! Where has this year gone? I cannot believe that is has been a year since our tiny white headed monkey came struggling into this world! What a wild ride this year has been and how blessed we are to have come out on the winning side! So, here we go on a trip down memory lane!

On November 10, 2008 at 8:57p.m, Jace Jacob made his grand and nerve wracking entrance!

5lbs, 14 oz, 18 inches

We were able to quickly kiss his head, but he was immediately taken away to check breathing issues...
Sometime around midnight, the nurses called to inform us that he would was not transitioning well and was being moved to NICU.

Sick Sick Baby

Having ridden the NICU train before with Garrett, this was devastating news! After a couple of weeks, he began improving and talk of going home was being whispered. However, on Thanksgiving Day, we were given the blow that he had spiked a fever and that could only indicate infection. So, after a lumbar puncture, we learned that he had meningitis. UGHHHH! 21 more days of antibiotic! Finally, after 38 grueling days, numerous antibiotics, several blood transfusions, countless IV sticks, and a surgery to insert a broviac, on December 18, we were able to bring our doll baby home... Just in time for Christmas!

Long nights in NICU

Getting ready to make our escape home! ;)
December 18, 2008

Garrett's first meeting with his baby brother

January 15, 2009, a day I will never forget. Jace and I were headed to the pharmacy, but stopped for a quick run through Ross. After checking out, I got Jace's carseat situated and realized he was not breathing and was turning blue. What seemed like minutes went by as I struggled to get him out of his carseat, began to administer CPR, but was still unable to make him breathe... 911 is called by employee, and I continue to work feverishly to get him breathing... Finally, after 3 rounds of breaths and compressions, he drew in a breath and began to cry! AMEN! Ambulance was called off and we went straight to the pediatrician, who in turn admitted us to the hospital for further testing. 8 days a gazillion IV sticks, and lab work out the wazoo later, the consensus was that he aspirated on reflux, which caused the not breathing episode. He came home on an apnea monitor and had it until he was 9 months old.

January 2009

February 2009
5 generations ~ David, Delories, Toda, Jacob, Garrett, and Jace

March, 2009
Mad Mad Mad

April 2009
Baseball Boys

May, 2009
Blue eyes Boy!

June 2009 with Aunt Lee

July 2009, Sleeping in the Jumperoo

August 2009

September 2009
Sleeping Boys


October, 2009
First Haircut!


Happy Happy Birthday, Jaceroo!

MMMMM!!! Cake!

What a MESS!

Look at that water! YUCK!

Happy Birthday, Little Monkey! We sure to love you!

HOOK 'EM HORNS?!?!

HAHA! We had such a fantastic weekend! We traveled to Austin for the third time in 33 days!! Friday night, Jacob and his best pal, Matt, went to the AC/DC concert and had a blast. The little boys and I did a bit of shopping and eating and came back to the hotel to hang out! Saturday, we were up super early to do some tailgating with the Rutherfords and friends! It was too much fun! The game was unbelievably hot, so sweet Shelley took Jace and I upstairs to the air-conditioned suite area! It's nice to have friends with perks! :) And speaking of perks... Matt, Jake's best pal, works for the Longhorns and treated our Garrett to some serious perks! After the game, he took him into the locker room where he got to meet Colt McCoy and get his jersey signed! He was so tickled! He also got to meet Earl Thomas and we all got to see him shake hands with Jordan Shipley! I'm sure these ball players get tired of shaking hands and signing autographs for little ones, but they were so kind and made our little fan a BIG time fan! (Not sure how I really feel about all the burnt orange ;) that has invaded our house, though!) We all went out on the field after the game and Garrett and Jacob got to run and play on the turf! It was an awesome experience and we are so grateful to the kindness shown by the players and the generosity of our "Longhorn Matt"! Thanks for a GREAT time!

Bill Rutherford and Garrett before the game!

Jacob and the boys on the field!

Sweet baby Jace checking out the turf!

Hmmmm....

Garrett and his buddy, Carson, racing!

Matt and Garrett with the horns

Garrett sitting at Colt's locker!

Shelley, Matt, Garrett, and Carson

Jacob and Garrett running on the field!

THE PAINTED POPPY BLOG

THE PAINTED POPPY BLOG IS UP AND RUNNING! HAVE A LOOK AND GET INSPIRED TO DO SOME HOLIDAY PAINTING! STAY TUNED... MORE PICS AND IDEAS COMING SOON!

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