October 18, 2008

Today continued with ShareUnion - which is essentially a bunch of moms (and a few dads) who have met online at ShareYourStory coming together and meeting in person. This was my 3rd ShareUnion. I NEVER thought I would be someone who would travel across the country to meet up with people I had only *met* online...but I did 3 years ago and didn't look back. This year was an amazing group of 50 people, representing 18 different states. Each one of our lives have been touched by prematurity, birth defects or infant loss. We support each other online and this is an opportunity to meet the people who have helped you see through your darkest places and celebrated with you on your highest days.

Here I am on a panel discussion - don't we look like a serious bunch :) It was a fun panel - thanks girls!

A great group of girls at the Remembrance ceremony!

---

I also wanted to give a big

Happy Birthday to Meena K!!Thank you so much for taking such good care of my bubby so I could go to Texas - love ya!!!

AND

I also have to wish my parents, also known as PopPop Joe and Meena C these days, a big

Happy 33rd Anniversary!! You are both an inspiration to us! We love you so much!! Cheers!

October 17, 2008

Today was filled with all kinds of good information on what we can do to help with the fight against prematurity. It is amazing to be in a room with 600 people from across the country who all share the same passion!

Today also began the offical National Launch of the Preemie Petition! Our group of moms was asked to sit in on the press conference to announce the launch and then got to sign the petition in front of the cameras! It was an honor! We are trying to get over 540,000 signatures (one for every baby born prematurely this year alone) on the petition to help fight prematurity - to read more about it and sign the petition (please, please, pretty please) Click Here!!

All of us after the press conference!

I figured 'when in Texas...'

Awww...my buddy Kate - I so wish she didn't live way up in the New England - she is awesome and I don't get to see her enough! She officially named the baby "bean" this week!!

October 16, 2008

After a great night at Jac's house we went to downtown Houston for the convention! First we stopped off at the WaterWall - it was pretty spectacular!

Then we got dressed up for our opening night dinner! Here's Jac and I hanging out before hand! She was a great roomie!!

After hours we tried to hit up some Houston hot spots...but unfortunately it was a Thursday night and we weren't too close to anything open :) We did get to walk around parts of downtown Houston finding this out - it was a good time. We eventually ended up back in our room and had a blast!!

October 15, 2008

Today I flew off to Houston, Texas! The official reason I am in Texas is for the National Volunteer Leadership Conference for the March of Dimes - but a few of us girlfriends met up a few days early for some girl time :) Jac lives down south so we got to meet her family and her hubby even cooked us a scrumptious dinner tonight!! This is her son "the Mickster" Braden considers him one of his closest friends, nevermind the fact that they've never met. Through the power of the internet (and their mommies) he knows that the Mickster and he love trucks and John Deere and he truly considers him a friend. Whenever he hears anything about Texas he says "my friend the Mickster lives in Texas". When hurricane Ike was all over the news, he'd look at me with a worried look and say "mommy, that's where my friend lives, is he ok" It really is sweet. And someday I promise that they will meet! And after meeting the Mickster in person I can honestly say that they would be the best of friends!!!

October 14, 2008

This picture doesn't really do it justice, I had my zoom lens on and was too lazy to get my other lens...but Ethan and Braden played in the garage for a couple of hours and piled up this HUGE pile of toys (or their garbage) they were so proud of it! The garage was so clean we could have almost parked a car in it :)

October 13, 2008

11 years ago we were just a bunch of college girls crammed into a tiny apartment - now we're all mommies and still great friends! (Lindsay and I swapped kids for the night :)

October 12, 2008

A day at the Pumpkin Patch with Ethan!

Ethan and Angie came up to hang out and meet baby Grace - the boys had a blast!!

October 11, 2008

We love happy hour at Sonic around here...YUMMY!!

October 10, 2008

We had pizza over at Jill and Brook's house tonight. The boys were goofballs and wanted to dress up as firefighters and water boys?!?! They had these outfits on all night!

October 09, 2008

Got another ultrasound today! It was pretty awesome! Everything looked great! The baby was so much more developed than we thought it would be. We saw arms, legs, fingers, toes, nose and brain - it was pretty freaking cool! This is the only good picture we got when they switched to the 4D view. The baby is turned sideways! I am 12 weeks 2 days!

October 08, 2008

The daily chores that go along with new sod :)

October 07, 2008

We haven't seen it get this low in a LONG time!! Whoo Hoo!

October 06, 2008

The burning bush out front is starting to change into the magnificent red it is known for!

October 05, 2008

Keegan walking around the kitchen!

October 04, 2008

The big

Nebraska vs. Missouri

game!

It started out with family - mine all dressed in RED, trying to act tough, but know we really didn't stand a chance - but we're not fair weather fans - we cheer them on through thick and thin :)

Keegan and Braden really enjoyed swinging outside - I don't think Braden ever actually kicked Keegan in the face, but he came pretty darn close, and Keegan thought it was a hoot!

Then a friendly game of Bags was played - everyone showing their team colors!

Keegan thought it was fun to push Braden around in his car...silly boys, it's still weird for me to see Keegan standing up on his own, he's not quite walking yet, he'll take a few steps here and there, but thinks he is a dog right now so prefers to crawl and woof :)

After the family fun we headed downtown to meet up with some dear friends of mine - Stacie and Bill! Stacie and I go back to high school and she is awesome (she did pretty good in the hubby department too!)


She's drinking RED beer and I'm drinking a yummy shirley temple!



Here's a sight you won't see too often...A Notre Dame fan (friend of Bill & Stacie's), Bill the Husker fan and Chris the Mizzou fan - all smiling and having a good time together :)

Before the game...and after - see I'm still smiling (barely) it was a sad game for the Huskers but Mizzou does deserve their #4 rating...now that this game is over with I can cheer for both teams and not have to worry :)

October 03, 2008

I don't think this has ever happened...usually if he falls asleep on the way to either set of Grandparents house, he usually just calls it a cat nap and jumps up and is ready to go as soon as we get there! Guess it has been a long week - b/c it was all we could do to get him in his jammies...he didn't budge the rest of the night - not that Meena C minded snuggling with him :)

October 02, 2008

Braden's new jammies - I just think they are too cute!

October 01, 2008

From past posts you know that Braden loves Gavin's John Deere hat (which he keeps leaving at our house...I swear I'll get it to you soon Jill!) so anyway...another neighbor noticed how much he loved it AND he happens to work at John Deere. He just happened to have this brand new hat at his house and gave it to Braden!! He could care less that it is 8 times too big, he LOVES it!!! Thanks Chris and Tara!!

September 30, 2008

PROGRESS!

September 29, 2008

Here's what arrived in the mail today!! A big styrofoam cooler full of syringes!! A 3 month supply to be exact! We found out that having these mailed directly to our house we would save over $500 - which is ridiculous, but we jumped on the chance!!

I've officially done one full month of shots as of tonight. It hasn't been too bad, you really just kind of get used to it! Thank you to all of you who are praying for us and sending good vibes and thoughts our way, we are feeling it!!

September 28, 2008

Here is our front yard - otherwise known as the dirt pit! Chris worked so hard all day today to get all the dead grass up and get some sod laid in this area! Our neighbor Steve came over to lend a helping hand and Josh and Braden did their part too! I don't know if Chris will be able to move tomorrow...we'll just have to wait and see!!

September 27, 2008

Tonight was Kahala and Andy's wedding. It was a great night and Gavin and Braden had a great time dancing the night away! Kahala was one of Braden's NICU nurses way back when and has become a good friend!

Enjoying the ice cream...a little too much!?!?!?

Couldn't get a smile out of him for nothing!!


Me and Jill

Congrats Kahala and Andy

We wish you both the best!!

September 26, 2008

This silly little 'walking' toy that I bought for $3 at a garage sale when Braden was one has gotten more miles out of it than probably any other toy. Somehow it always makes it out of the garage AND the kids still fight over it?!?!

September 25, 2008

Fun day of playing in the dirt at the park!