Relief

WOW!!!

I can hardly put into words what all we have been through within the past few weeks. I wanted to spend this time thanking everyone for their thoughts and prayers for this baby. This baby already has a wonderful story to share. So many of our family and friends have brought this baby before the creator of life and for that we are eternally grateful.

I can finally breathe. As I was waiting in the parking lot of the doctor's office, I reflected back on all of the thoughts and prayers that were being offered up. Those prayers carried us through this hardship. Thank you all so much for carrying us through with your love, thoughts and prayers.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!

Waiting Anxiously for Monday

Unfortunately, we are not going to get our results back from the amnio until sometime Monday afternoon. The doctor's office had to get the contents off a day later than we expected. Of course, we are devasted. These past 3 days have been filled with nervousness, fear, anxiety and hopefulness. Please continue to remember this baby in your prayers through the weekend.

Heavy Heart

The past few days and weeks have been challenging. Many of you know (check out Jason's blog if you don't) what we are going through. For the past two weeks I have not really "gone" there. Yesterday made it all too real. Right now I am so nervous and anxious to hear our news on Friday. The kids distract my thoughts during the day, but its during the quiet times that I find it the most dificult. I know that many of you are praying for this baby and I ask you to please continue lifting up those prayers. I am so thankful for the relationships that we have in Christ. May God hear our prayers!

Our 1st Trip To The Dentist

Abby Kate and Joshua had their first trip to the dentist this past week. They both really enjoyed their "happy" visit to see Dr. Kimbrough.

Abby Kate went on Wednesday while Dad and Joshua met for lunch at McDonalds (The highlight of their time together was that Joshua got to ride back to Dad's work in his big truck). Ms. Amber counted 20 teeth in Abby Kate's mouth and gave her a pink toothbrush. Before she left she was allowed to pick from a basket of toys and after much deliberation decided on a pink Barbie paddleball set. When Dr. Kimbrough came in to check on Abby Kate she hid and was very shy. After we left, Abby Kate and I had lunch together at McAlister's Deli where Abby Kate ate all of her toasted cheese, cheetos and teddy grahams. We had a great time together!








Joshua visited the dentist office on Thursday morning. Joshua and I left the house together in the van and Abby Kate rode to work with Daddy in his truck. Joshua was very excited about going to the dentist office. When we pulled up to Dr. Kimbrough's office, he told me that he wanted a RED toothbrush. He was so excited to be at "our dentist's office, mommy". He flirted with all of the ladies in the office while we waited for our turn. Ms. Scarlet counted 20 teeth and gave Joshua a red toothbrush. Joshua brushed the dinosaur's big teeth and picked out a red race car from the toy basket. Dr. Kimbrough came in and Joshua talked with him about his red toothbrush and race car. Joshua and I left the dentist's office and headed up to church to pick up Abby Kate. Joshua really enjoyed his time at the dentist.

Abby Kate's Prayer Before Bed

Dear God,
Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Bubba, Baby, Andy, Nannie and PawPaw, Our House, My Bed, And Toys, And My Stroller, My Baby Dolls, And Chapstick, Lipstick, Comb
AMEN

I Placed An Ad

Full breed Cocker Spaniel, 6 yrs., male, buff, good family dog, Free to a good home.

Jason and I have been thinking about getting rid of Andy for some time now. We absolutely LOVE our Andy and don't want to see him go. With the upcoming addition of another Bybee baby and two year old twins, we have decided that we have enough mouths to feed. I feel so torn about giving Andy away. I called a few shelters and found out that they were either full or could not guarantee an adoption. I cannot bring myself to do that to our dog. This past week I called the local newspaper and decided to place an ad. Today I received two phone calls about the dog. Jason just spoke with one lady and she is coming over tomorrow night. She sounded really nice and wants an inside dog to stay with her aunt. This sounds perfect for Andy and hopefully it will work out. It makes me SO sad to think about not having Andy anymore. Realistically, we cannot give him the same amount of attention that we once could before we had the kids. I'm sure there will be tears, but I will be happy knowing that he is going to a great home and will receive the kind of care, attention and love that only a dog like him deserves.

Am I The Only One...

Have you recently noticed how rude people are? I am not talking about your every day person that you pass, but the people that work in the restaurant business or in the stores that you frequent. Here lately I have been treated very rudely by serveral employees at restaurants or grocery stores.

One night awhile back Jason and I took the kids to Backyard Burgers and after everyone was seated at the table, I proceeded to the cashier to place my order. I stood there staring at the girl behind the counter as she stared back blankly. I was patiently waiting for her to welcome me to her restaurant and ask to take my order. Neither thing happened and I placed my order and waited for our food. RUDE

The other night I was on my way home and decided to pull into Wendy's for a frosty. I placed my order at the drive thru and when I pulled up to the window a hand was thrust out of the window and a frosty placed in my hand. No "how are you, here you go, thank you very much"! RUDE

Someone at the grocery store asks you how you are and you kindly reply, "Fine and how are you?". NOTHING but silence! RUDE

Whatever happened to people being freindly and employees valuing their customers?

MOM and JASON

Abby Kate has changed our names from Momma and Daddy to MOM and JASON!

The Bugs

Well the past few days have been anything but pleasant! I have not been able to check my email or blog because my computer has been acting up. I really do not know what is wrong with it. We have had it looked at several times and it still freezes up within 2 seconds of opening an application. This is the very reason why I can not stand computers!

On Friday, Jason and I were able to go out for a few hours while some friends watched Joshua and Abby Kate for us. We enjoyed our time away and lunch together. That afternoon, I made the first of MANY trips to the bathroom. At first I thought that I had a stomach bug, but by Sunday it was not going away. I ended up calling my OB this morning and they had me come in around 2. My doc took one look at me and told me that I was dehydrated and ordered 2 Liters of fluids. I left his office around 5:30 and was actually hungry for the first time in 4 days. I have lost 4 pounds from this "bug" or what they are now thinking is my Crohn's Disease. I have to call my GI and see if he can figure out why I am still having this problem. Anyways, that's the latest.

Baby update - Thursday's appointment - heartbeat was 167; Today's appointment - heartbeat was 159. We have an active one in there!

Pictures

15 weeks, 4 days
















How the belly grows!
















Apparently Abby Kate does not like her new bed. She fell asleep on the floor in her room earlier today.

My New Year

Resolution - A firm decision to do or not to do something.

At the end of 2005, I decided to make my New Year's Resolutions for 2006. I decided to...

1. Lose 40 pounds.

2. To cut out all coke products.

3. Walk one mile every day.

4. Watch my portions by eating off of a salad plate.

5. Snack on non-fat foods.

I must confess, I was very pleased with my commitment to my goals. By April, I had lost 20 pounds. I made it to week 30 before I quit walking. (I am still proud of the 202 miles that I walked in 2006). I have still not had a coke and don't plan on having one anytime soon. The only goal that I did not really keep was snacking on non-fat foods. I love chocolate and having it around the house did not help. I had fun with my Resolutions for 2006.

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Today on our way home from Nashville, I got to thinking about this new year. I had not decided to make any resolutions for 2007, but I thought of a couple.

My 2007 New Year's Resolutions

1. To go out on 2 dates a month with my husband.

2. To camp (in a tent) for one night with my family.

I am sure that these sound silly, but here's what I was thinking when I made them.

On Saturday, Jason and I had the privelege of going out while my parents kept Joshua and Abby Kate. We left their house around noon and headed out to Opry Mills. We ate lunch at Chili's Too, shopped for clothes and exchanged a few things, saw the movie "Pursuit of Happyness", went to Books-A-Million and finished up the evening sharing a steak at Logans. We had so much fun! Thank you so much mommy and daddy!

I really don't know why I want to camp with the whole family. We passed by the exit for the Davy Crockett Campgrounds and I thought it would be fun. Who knows when this will happen. I debated on if we should do this before baby or after. I don't think that either will be better, but I think that I will try to go before the baby. Hopefully we will have a warm day sometime in March and it will be a lot of fun. HA HA! I just want to see if I can do it.

What are your New Year's Resolutions?

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Here's a picture of our family at Christmas. I hope that you all had a great one. We really enjoyed our time together. I think that the picture speaks for itself.


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We converted Abby Kate's crib to a toddler bed tonight. Its been a little rough, but there's no turning back now.

Next week, potty training!