San Antonio

In my previous post, I mentioned going to San Antonio. While we were there, I went to my 10 year high school reunion, saw my new niece Lauren and had my first baby shower for Willis. The following are pictures from that weekend.

Hoot the Horse (Cody's Horse)

Big Sister Katelyn

Standoff between Uncle Giant and Cole

Cole and Katelyn on their way to school

At the Winston Churchill, Class of '98, High School Reunion

Jamie, Rich Rich Rich and David. Rich and David went around asking people if they remembered them. I think they had more fun at our reunion than Jamie and I did!

Lauren Lynn Tharp

Momma and Lauren

Big Brother Cole

The hostesess....Desaree, Melissa and Holly. Then there's Willis and I...can't miss us...we're huge!

All my friends that I miss so very much! Some of them drove so far just to see me for 2 hours! I have the best friends in the world!!

Updates

A lot has been going on these past couple of weeks. The biggest news in our family is the arrival of Ezekiel Cole Duncan (David's sister Jenny) on August 11th and Lauren Lynn Tharp (My sister Dana). Ezekiel is doing great and quickly went home with Josh and Jen. All was good with Lauren until the day after her birth. While Cody was holding her, he noticed her turning blue. So Dana swooped in and started rubbing her back to get her to start breathing again. It turns out that Lauren has a severe case of reflux that causes her to stop breathing periodically. Therefore, Lauren has spent the first week of her life in the NICU. Fortunately, the doctors put her on Prilosec and it seems to be working. Lauren hasn't stopped breathing in a couple of days so she got to go home today. Unfortunately, while in the NICU the doctors discovered that Lauren's bilirubin was extremely high. After a battery of brain scans, blood draws and other tests, the doctors are trying to rule out a something called CMV or the possibility that something is wrong with her Gallblader. The CMV thing is a virus that most people have probably been exposed to at some point in their life. However, when a newborn comes in contact with it, it can have severe effects such as hearing loss and low brain functioning. So we are praying that it's just something with her Gallbladder because the doctor says that will eventually fix itself. We won't know anything until next week.

I actually was in Texas this past weekend for my high school reunion and for a baby shower. I got to see Dana and her family and it made me really homesick. I sure do miss Texas! Most importantly I miss those munchkins, Cole and Katelyn. They are the cutest! I have pictures, but I am too lazy to upload them right now. I will do that very, very soon.

The last bit of news ocurred today. I went in for my 28 week check-up. All was fine until the doctor measured my belly. Apparently, I am measuring 32 weeks....that is 4 weeks larger than what I am supposed to be!!! Therefore, my due date is either wrong or I am having a monster child. The doctor looked shocked and immediately ordered me to get an ultrasound within the next week or two to see what's going on with Willis. This is crazy news to me because I just went to the doctor 3 weeks ago and I was measuring exactly where I'm supposed to be. So, I fear that I am having a ginormous child! David, of course, thinks this is excellent news! I, however, am fearing that the child is going to break me because I am so large and in charge. Again, I will post pictures just so you can see what I mean! The other bit of news from today is that David scheduled another knee surgery for September. His knee has been pretty swollen lately and has been giving him a lot of trouble. We're hoping that the procedure will be simple and that the surgeon will only need to clean up the site of his injury. So pray that nothing more is really wrong with his knee.

We have a lot to be thankful for these days. We're so excited to have new family members and soon will be adding one of our own (even though I'm afraid he's going to come out walking...yikes)! We're very thankful to be able to share our joys and concerns with you. Thanks for your loyal support!

Perplexed

I don't normally make plugs for other blogs, but I feel differently about it today. And I hope that the people mentioned in this post won't mind that I'm promoting their work.

Most days at work, I will listen to various sermons from churches I have attended in the past or churches that are in Texas. However, there is one church, The Village Church in Dallas, TX, that I have never attended but I learned about through my friend Holly. The pastor there is Matt Chandler. My friend Holly told me about him because she is friends with his wife Lauren. Anyway, his messages are always encouraging because he never claims to be something he's not. He's a regular Christian guy, just trying to love others and share about the love of Christ. The sermon this past week was especially encouraging to me because we all go through things we can't explain. There are moments in life where we question God and think that He will always make things better in our lives. The truth is, God never promised to give us the best life on this earth. Someday, if we believe that Jesus was the Son of God, that died for us so that we can spend eternity with Him, we WILL have the best life you could ever imagine. For the time being, though, we have to rely on our faith to sustain us so that we can look forward to the life that we will one day share with Christ in Heaven. This sermon encouraged me to look at the circumstances in my life a little differently and reminded me that this life is temporary. I hope that it will do the same for you.

Also, if you click on the links within this post, it will take you to blogs by Holly, Matt and Lauren. You won't be disappointed if you check them out!

Go to the following link and listen to the sermon called Perplexed.

http://www.thevillagechurch.net/resources/sermons.html

Lessons & Tips From the Crazy Pregnant Lady

1. Tums can become your best friend. My Dad always said, "Tastes like a mint, works like a miracle." And he is sooooooo right!

2. Don't attempt to measure your waist at 6 months. Even if you're curious....DON'T DO IT! It doesn't help anyone out. It just makes you feel even more bigger and crazier than you already are.

3. You will live in your husbands clothes....even when people tell you that you look like a clown. My personal favorite are David's basketball shorts.

4. You can never have too many snacks in one day. French fries? Sure! Snickers? Why not?! Want some more french fries? Of course you can have those! Ice cream? It's a must!

5. Throwing up really gets easier the more you do it. It's just another part of your regular routine. And if you do this frequently like I do, Zofran becomes your other best friend! And, if you're really lucky, your husband will even go get your Zofran pills for you in the middle of the night when you wake up nauseous.

6. Your belly button really does start to stick out. It's the strangest thing! This is when you realize that you can no longer see your feet.

7. Pregnant brain is a true disorder. I have spent many a moment staring blankly at David wondering what the heck it was that I was gonna say to him!

8. If your 5'2", your ribs and back are gonna kill you! You will hate them starting around 2 months of pregnancy.

9. Considering #8, your doctor will tell you the obvious things, "It only gets worse." I am quite aware of this Dr., you don't have to rub it in my face!

10. When you go in for the anatomy ultrasound, don't start drinking a quart of water 2 hrs. before like the doctor told you to. Chug right before your appointment. Otherwise, you will waddle into the doctor's office holding yourself like a 3 year old little girl. Painful.

11. Maternity clothes. Why do designers insist on making pregnant ladies wear polka dots and horizontal stripes? This doesn't help our situation!

12. On that same note...maternity swimwear. UGHHHHH!! Just wear a moo moo. You'll feel more comfortable and less matronly. Either that or it's just your one chance in life to let it all hang out and not feel bad about it!

13. Time goes by really fast. I think God does this on purpose so you won't have time to really freak out and to light a fire under your butt to get your act together!

14. Take pictures from the beginning. I still haven't done this and I am starting to regret it.

15. Be sure to thank the loved ones that have put up with you all these months. I've been a HUGE complainer and David has just let me complain. Thanks babe! I'm sure he'd like to come up with his own list. He'd probably call it something like,"How to Survive the Crazy Pregnant Lady."