These two are my favorites.
In this one, the lady was trying to get him to pose differently but instead he laid his head down and it was just long enough for her to snap the picture.
Whew!
Waiting on a new pitcher to warm up.
In the spirit with colored hair.
He saw me through the beads trying to take his picture.
Our first game started at 5 and it was hot! Here is Colton on deck. 
We beat the Whitehouse Rangers 12-3, so we had a double header and played at 7:00 and beat the Bosqueville Sidewinders 4-2. That was a close game, too close. But the boys fought hard. We play tonight at 6:00 and if we win this game we play again at 8:00.
Today we went to the History of Transportation Museum and read all about trains. It actually was pretty interesting.
We got a tour of the inside of a Santa Fe caboose. 
We also got to meet Buster, the train cat. I wish I could have taken him home. He is a sweety. 
After we got here Sunday, the local pool opened up for all the teams to come swim. Colton had a blast. All of the adults not swimming, on the other hand, were sweating. Whoever said dry heat is better than when the humidity is high was wrong. 108 is still hot.
$50 for a 30 minute session. I have actually had something similar to this done before. Except it was at the lake. You can get a whole body treatment just wading around in the lake. I had perch nibbling on me. The only difference b/t perch and tiny carp, perch have teeth.
How many of you would do this if given the opportunity? ;)
I recently came across this story while browsing some blogs and wanted to share it. I do not know who the author is though.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see. "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean?' Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at the worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
(Previous Post on my struggle with loss)
Today is the day I was induced, 5 years ago. We had to be at Baylor by 9:00 AM. Trevor and I were led to the room and the nurse asked "How are you doing today?" Uh, terrible! Actually, I said I could be doing better. Then I turned to Trevor and couldn't hold it in anymore. Not sure if she knew exactly what was going on or not. I wasn't upset with her, just the whole situation. Dr. Ehmer started the gel to get me dilated and then I got an epidural. The gel eventually made me very sick to my stomach for some reason and since I wasn't able to eat, I had dry heaves really bad that later made it difficult to breath once the pain meds wore off. Dr. E blamed it on possibly bruising or straining my diaphragm during all of that. They gave me phenergan but I asked for only a little so I wouldn't be completely out of it. He told me that I would feel some pressure as the baby passed through and to call him when it happened. The day seemed to drag on and late in the evening I felt the pressure but I didn't tell the nurse right away. I just wasn't ready to let go. Dr. E came in to check me and so I finally told him. The nurse was so kind. She cleaned him up and put him on a blanket then handed him to me. She and Dr. E left for a while so Trevor and I could be alone, just the 3 of us. He was very tiny, but he was mine, only for a little while. I didn't cry while holding him. I just wanted to absorb as much as I could. I lifted his hand on my index finger, being so small, it was about the size of a Barbie doll's hand. The nurse came back in and took some pictures for us to keep. There is one of him inside of the baby hat and one on the blanket. At first I wasn't even sure I wanted to see him, but now I am soo glad I did. Just as the nurse was wheeling me up to my room, I looked back one more time. I left him there, on the cold, sterile tray. Dr. E thought it would be best to have him tested to see if there were any problems. I got to my room and there was a card on the door with a picture of a curled up leaf with a tear in it. It was a notice for anybody to see that meant there was a loss. In the middle of the night I sat up quickly to see my baby in the bassinet and realized he wasn't there. I did that exact same thing with Bri and Colton when I delivered them. Natural reaction maybe? I don't know. I also did it with Rance. Next door to me was a woman who also lost her baby. I believe she was about 28 weeks. I could hear her crying and my heart just broke for her. I wanted to go and say something, or even just to let her know she wasn't alone, but I never did. I chose to pray for her instead. I regret not doing anything now. The chaplain gave me a box that was hand painted from a family that lost 2 boys. It included a stuffed lamb holding a cross, and a small baby ring. They make these to minister to others in remembrance. After we got home, my Mom, who had been with Bri and Colton, went and bought each of us balloon. Later that evening we drove to the marina and let them go. I think it helped Bri with closure. The hospital sent home a packet with information on grieving. With it, there was a form to order announcements, but not just any announcements. They were for grieving parents. I read through some examples and ordered a few to send out. This is how it read:
I had a hard time dealing with his death, crying myself to sleep night after night, not wanting to do anything. A week afterward, we went to the store. I had to get some crackers/cookies which is on the same aisle as the baby stuff. There were babies everywhere. I got really depressed and went home. I needed to do some laundry and grabbed the clothes to put them in the washer. When I did, there was the outfit I wore to the hospital. I just couldn't take it anymore and had a break down in the middle of the kitchen. Dr. E called often to check on me and I told him I had good days and bad days. He said I had post-traumatic stress disorder and prescribed Zoloft. Yea, funny pills. I was hesitant to take them but tried it. One little pill goes along way. My first pill I took whole and couldn't see straight for a whole day (took the night before). I had to break it in quarters and work my way up to whole again. Did that for about a month and had to wean myself off slowly. During that time, I heard from a few women at church who also lost a baby. Lots of people asked what they could do to help and I just said please pray. I did a lot of praying myself. Asking God to help me through this. I think that without faith, I would have eventually been tied up somewhere. Knowing that someday I will see all of my babies again brings me comfort. But I am not a patient person. After 3 more miscarriages, one being unrelated to my blood clotting disorder (a partial molar pregnancy), I was able to have another baby, another boy. My Rancey. I prayed, a lot, before, during and after. The twice daily shots in my stomach with heparin were definitley worth all the bruises and soreness. He was born in December 2006 and is such a sweetheart.
Thank you Lord for all of my children, here with me and the ones with You in Heaven. There are so many other women out there that I want to pray for tonight. Ones with little ones in heaven, ones not sure if their little ones will survive long after birth, and ones who are struggling daily to survive. Please give them all strength, and comfort them as you have comforted me. I pray specifically to heal these babies so there mommies and daddies can raise them to be God fearing adults. I want to also pray for a dear friend to give her peace of mind.
The team gets to cut Heather's ponytail off! About 6 inches! Yes, we won again, but it was a nail biter. 7-6 against Kemp. She was confident the team would win so she made an appointment with the hairdresser a day ahead to straighten it up.
You let the team shave your head!
Each player had a turn, including Coach Tim. The local radio station interviewed a few boys and Trevor and a lady from one of the area newspapers took his and Colton's picture. Yee haw! Do I sound redneck or what?! LOL Sorry bout that.
Remembering this exact day, 5 years ago. Contemplating on what or if I should write. I don't want this to make anyone feel sad but for me to just talk. This particular day, week, in 2003 was the beginning of a "season" in my life and my family's life that changed us forever. On Monday, July 14th, I went in for a regular checkup at 18 weeks with my OB, Dr. Ehmer. This was the first trip Bri was able to go to b/c she had been in school. It was supposed to be a special day for her to hear the baby. I got up on the table and Dr. Ehmer used the doppler to check the heart rate. He couldn't find it. He then sent me into another room for a sonogram, the whole time saying that sometimes when the baby is this small, they can hide behind things and it's hard to use the doppler. I was a little unsure but accepted what he said. I can remember lying there looking at the screen and immediately knew w/o him saying a word. No little blinking light. No movement. Everything was still. I looked at Trevor then at Bri and reached for her hand and we started to cry. She grabbed me and put her head in my shoulder, sobbing. I told her over and over it would be OK, but it was me who was leaning on her. My sweet little 8 year old. My mind was all over the place as I stared at the ceiling. How was I going to break this to my family and friends? The baby measured 15 weeks. My previous appointment was at 14 weeks and at that time everything looked good. So for 3 weeks, I carried the little, lifeless body. Dr. Ehmer asked if he could call my parents and my pastor. I said no to my parents and reluctantly said yes to him calling Bro. Robert. He wrapped us all in his arms and prayed for us, trying to hold back his own tears. We then left through the private door, the same one I had been through 2 times before Colton. Then it was upstairs for blood work. He insisted that testing be done even though I told him it didn't matter. I was trying to keep it together while the lady drew tube after tube after tube of blood. After the longest hour and a half drive home, I didn't want to talk to anyone. All I could do was lay on the bed and cry. I had to wait 2 more days before being induced. Dr. Ehmer thought this would be best instead of a D&C. I am glad he made that decision for me. I prayed over the next 2 days that it was all a mistake, but then reality set in. I had to prepare for the delivery of my dead baby. So I prayed again, for God to give me strength to do this.
Spur of the moment drive to watch the Rangers lose, and the only tickets left at the box office were at the top. Not a totally bad view, minus everyones head who sat in front of us.
Rance's first Ranger game. Pics are a little blurry on my phone.
One day he will be embarrassed by this, until then, kisses away.
Bri entertaining Rance b/t pitches. The guy next to her got a huge order of garlic fries! She said he was killing her with his breath. There was a little boy next to me, about 3 or 4, who wanted to tell me all about the Rangers. All I could understand him to say was "Rangers" and "hey Lady." His Dad finally switched places with him. I didn't mind, he was cute. I just wish I coud have gotten his picture. On the way home, we stopped at Lenny's, I mean Denny's, for supper/breakfast. The wait was long but the food was good.
This was the only Grand Slam I saw last night!
Last one to shower and last one in bed, around 2 AM. Sorry for missing class Marci.
You could change the dressing to lite, omit the pepperoni, 
Then on Saturday, we headed over to Stalkcutter Ranch for more good food and visiting with some new friends and seeing some old friends. Remember these two?
Georgia and Jerry!
Bri helping peel some of the gorgeous foil paper off. She got to demo the white laminate counter top and cabinet. Also great therapy. 
I finally got around to screwing in the drywall pieces. The pipe connection Trevor used was wider than the 2x4 so the drywall wouldn't fit flush on the studs. I had to route out a big groove on the back side of the drywall to make it fit. What should have taken about an hour start to finish ended up being more like 3 hours. 
And the joint compound finishes the patch work. Next step, wiring it for a computer desk.
Seeing wildlife in our front yard. I never get tired of the deer.
And we can see this on almost any given summer night.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. Psalms 113:3
