What has happened Cindy?

So, I was reminded last night by a dear friend that I have not written on my blog in a while! I am so sorry. I got facebook and OPPS only have time for one! I am really liking having facebook but am really wonderin how great it is for me! Something I am still praying over. Anyways, I am hoping to do better with this blog!

Presley and I are currently in Panama City Beach, Fl visiting Dallas. He is doin really good in his class. We are both really proud of him. The days here for us have been hot, hot, hot!! We have done a lot of beach, pool,beach,pool repeat!

We did find a really cool jumpy castle place yesterday. The place is full of nothing but jumpy castles and is only for children 12 and under. They even have a specific toddler zone. I LOVED it! We will probably go back this afternoon. I really think that having somewhere to go inside is important when it is so hot outside!

Well, I need pictures, I realize but have to get my iPhone cord to put some on this post. I will have to do a whole post of my new iPhone 4! Not sure how I lived without a smart phone for so long. Of course, much like the facebook, I have to watch the time i give my phone. It can get in the way of living if you don't watch out!! =)

Check in again soon!!

Lanolium...what?

Apparently my nephew Jonathan doesn't like the feeling of lanolium! Mom and Dad were in Decatur to go to Jonathan's baptism and she got this on video. It is also a great video of Brent,Crystal and Dylan. Although you can't you see any of them you can imagine what their nights at home must be like!! =)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Embeded Mirena IUD

I have some not so good news and good news. I went to see a doctor here in DC for the ever increasing pelvic pain that has nagged me for a year and a half. I decided to go to a doctor here because on top of my pelvic pain, we were having a hard time conceiving and I was having rectal pain that was getting more and more intense. When I got to the Dr I explained my whole last year with these issues. When she heard me mention that I had an IUD she asked where it was and I said the Dr did an ultrasound and said it "fell out" She, the Dr, then asked if he did an xray and I said, "No." but that I had asked for one. Her response was that you can't know for sure unless you do an X Ray. So, I did. Lo and behold. There is was. However, because of how it was laying they couldn't figure out exactly where it was but that it was just to the left of the mid line.

So, it was still near or in the uterine wall. After an all day search by gynecologist, sonographer and a Radiologist we finally found the exact location! It is embedded in the very outside wall of my uterus right up next to my rectum. It is so close to the outside it took them a while to figure out if it was outside the wall or still inside it. Apparently the cross part of the IUD is actually perforating the uterine wall and poking at my rectum. Yikes. They could see blood about the size of a quarter collecting in the "cul-de-sac" between my rectum and uterus. They are unsure of how much blood and adhesions are actually in there since it appears it was initially placed in my wall instead of my uterine cavity. It is crazy to think that all this time that is what has been wrong. But, because it has been in there almost 2 yrs they have no idea what to expect.

Since it is in the uterine wall they may have to cut me open instead of doing the surgey laparoscopically. My doctor is concerned that there will be lots of blood, adhesions and damage done to the uterus and my rectum. So,she asked the Gynecology Oncologist Surgeons to do the surgery because if there needs to be any rectal repair they will have license to do it all at once and will save me another surgery. The possibility of loosing the ability to have more children biologically with my body is very real. We are, of course, hoping for the absolute best outcome as we understand these scary things are what the doctors have to tell you to prepare you for the worse.

I guess the good part is I know now what is wrong and that I am not crazy. I have not been myself in 2 yrs. I have been tired, in pain, depressed, frustrated and I thought it was just me and that this was my new quality of life. But, apparently not only do I have the embedded IUD but I also have all the other negative side effects. Not to mention that for a year of this I had 2 contraceptives in me. My nuva-ring and the IUD. That is enough to make anyone crazy!! heehee. The doctor actually said to me, "How you are sitting in here pleasant and with a smile is beyond my comprehension. I know many other women who would be crawlin the wall by now!" That did make me feel good.

Thursday I go to meet with the surgeons. Hopefully we can get this surgery over and done with soon! Although we know this could be bad we are prepared for the worse and hoping for the best. I am just glad I serve the Comforter because He has already assured me that in the end it will all be OK!

Fun shots of Presley

After Presley's first haircut last Saturday we had planned to go into DC and meet some friends who we knew from Italy! We spent some time at the Botanic Gardens which was beautiful. They have a great little Kid's Garden area that all 3 girls loved. The girls watered the flowers, played in a little house and were even able to make their own frangrant lotions! Super cute!

Dallas and I didn't get any pics of us with the family but we did get some of Presley! Her Daddy was taken back by how cute she looked after her haircut that he couldn't stop taking pics!!

botanic gardens

Natural History Museum

We had such a great time at the Natural History Museum. This is actually a late post because we did this the Saturday after Presley's B-day but I wanted to go ahead and post it!

Dallas and I just wanted to a have a day that was all about her and us spending time together as a family! We were hoping to do the Zoo but it ended up raining all day! So,we opted for the museum.

Presley enjoyed the Ocean exhibit the most! We didn't do the butterfly exhibit because we used to do the butterfly exhibit in Gainesville all the time so we thought we would do something different. She also enjoyed the mammal area and the kid zone. She is really into magnifying glasses! She also enjoyed the African area with all the tribal songs...how I missed getting her doing tribal dances I have NO IDEA!!

national history museum

First Hair Cut

We had a first hair cut this weekend!!
Presley did so good!
All we did was trim it up and give it shape but
I was so proud. She kept saying "I get a hair cut!"
She also kept asking to give her feet a bath....
the lady next to us was getting a spa pedicure!
Maybe my little tomboy will end up having a girlie edge
to her after all!!

Had to have the lollipop!

Thanks Daddy for keeping my attention forward!

Look at those curls!
Later that day in DC! She was showin'off the haircut!!

Presley turns 2!!!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Presley
Happy Birthday to you!!!

Seriously? She is 2!!!!

When did that happen? I tell you this year has been one wild ride with more trips than I can count, more visitors to count and 2 moves. Presley has been a trooper through it all. I can't believe in a year how much she has grown and what a little lady she has become. I know that I am going to blink and somehow find myself at her high school graduation. Man! What a ride this parenting thing is!

Presley is now:

Singing full songs at the TOP of her lungs

Making up her own songs

Climbing Rock Walls

Talking up a storm

Mimicking EVERYONE

Dancing,Dancing,Dancing

Telling jokes...and she is FUNNY



She loves:

Her blanket (thanks Erin!)

Stickers

Balloons

Chocolate(help me)

Oranges

Bananas

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Dora(ok anything NickJR)

Waiting on her Daddy to come home at the end of the day(got to get this on video)



Putting Presley to bed tonight she looked up and and whispered in my ear "Mommy, I have Birthday cake?" and I answered, "Yes sweetie! Tomorrow on your birthday you will get to have birthday cake!" To which she replied, "Because I 2 morrow!" So proud of her upcoming event! This birthday is going to be so special. The fact that she knows what is happening and that a birthday means to celebrate her and her life is so amazing!!

I, in Cindy's truest form, have made a video highlighting her last year! She has changed tremendously and never stops....well...exactly...she never stops!! I just hope you can get a glimpse of her spirit from this video! What I wouldn't give for each of you to experience her and that spirit in person!

Happy Birthday my Presley! I love you more this birthday than I did the last!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Presley what do Gators say? "Chomp! Chomp!"

The Saturday after we got home from the California/Spokane Dallas surprised Presley and I with tickets to the Florida/Flordia International game. Presley hadn’t been to a football game since the year before. I knew it would be a great game for her to go to because there wouldn’t be a huge crowd. It was so neat to realize that the year before Presley was breastfeeding at the game and this time she was able to walk into the stadium and even ask us for “Pwetzul and Dink?” Amazing what a year does. We ended up getting great seats! She had a BLAST! She totally enjoyed the band and all the attention she got with her pigtails and blue gator shirt on. It was wonderful surprise and a great thing for our family to do together as a way to reconnect after nearly a month apart from one another.

On the road again...to Spokane!

I had been waiting 18 months for this trip. I able to go and spend some time with Kaci in an area of the country I hadn’t visited in 20 yrs. Kaci was hoping to move to DC around the October time frame. So, the plan was I would wait to make my trip out to Spokane when she made the move so I could save some money by not making two trips and I could help her with the move. Well, that didn’t happen, so we decided just to make the trip home with her and Katelynn after the Califonia trip.
Spokane was very nice! It was, however, very, very,very COLD!! It actually snowed on the Thursday we got there. The snow was beautiful! Presley didn’t know what to think. She had only seen snow once when she was about 8 months old, so to her it was all new. She kept saying, “Snow, Mommy, Snow!!” Like it was my first time seeing it too. Super sweet! So, we had to learn how to bundle up and brave the cold. Let’s just say that Presley was NOT a fan of that! It was really, really hard to get her in and out of a car seat bundled in a snow suit. Oh, yah. I hadn’t mentioned that. It is so cold in Spokane that you have to wear a snow suit. This is really cool when you are skiing. Not so cool when you have to wear it everywhere just to stay warm. To say the least, my Floridian baby didn’t really find comfort in that!
Kaci works at the Child Development Center at Fairchild AFB there in Spokane. I have kept Presley at home since she was born and thought it would be nice for Presley to go and play with other kids without me present. So, I left Presley in hourly care at Kaci’s CDC 2 days in a row to see how she would do in that type of an environment. She did great. She did cry for me but once she got to playing with the others she did just fine. The caregivers were so wonderful to take pictures of Presley playing! It was a great opportunity for both Presley and I. I was so grateful Kaci suggested it.
Katelynn and Presley had such a great time together. They played hard and even fought hard. Yes, they ended up fighting like sisters. Katelynn wanted to make sure that Presley knew that everything in her house was “HERS” and Presley wanted to make sure Katelynn knew she wasn’t afraid to take “her” things from her! So funny! One night Kaci and I built a fort for the girls to watch a movie and have a slumber party in. It was something I wanted to do with our girls since I had Presley. It reminded me of when Kaci and I were growing up!
Kaci and I even took an afternoon to get pedicures and facials. It was so relaxing. We both really needed it. Ok, her more than me but it was a nice treat. We had coffee and got to visit uninterrupted by little princesses. It was so wonderful to get to spend some quality time with Kaci. I have really missed her being close especially being a new mom. It was so nice to get to stay up after the girls had gone to bed and visit about anything and everything under the sun. It just wasn’t enough time. I miss her everyday and I wish everyday that we could be closer. But, for this season in our life we are not and there is a reason. I believe that with all my heart. I look forward to the day that I and my family do live closer to her and Katelynn!
Kaci and Katelynn-thank you so much for being such sweet hostesses. I love you both so much! I miss you and wanted to let you know how much fun both Presley and I had.
I had been waiting 18 months for this trip. I able to go and spend some time with Kaci in an area of the country I hadn’t visited in 20 yrs. Kaci was hoping to move to DC around the October time frame. So, the plan was I would wait to make my trip out to Spokane when she made the move so I could save some money by not making two trips and I could help her with the move. Well, that didn’t happen, so we decided just to make the trip home with her and Katelynn after the Califonia trip.
Spokane was very nice! It was, however, very, very,very COLD!! It actually snowed on the Thursday we got there. The snow was beautiful! Presley didn’t know what to think. She had only seen snow once when she was about 8 months old, so to her it was all new. She kept saying, “Snow, Mommy, Snow!!” Like it was my first time seeing it too. Super sweet! So, we had to learn how to bundle up and brave the cold. Let’s just say that Presley was NOT a fan of that! It was really, really hard to get her in and out of a car seat bundled in a snow suit. Oh, yah. I hadn’t mentioned that. It is so cold in Spokane that you have to wear a snow suit. This is really cool when you are skiing. Not so cool when you have to wear it everywhere just to stay warm. To say the least, my Floridian baby didn’t really find comfort in that!
Kaci works at the Child Development Center at Fairchild AFB there in Spokane. I have kept Presley at home since she was born and thought it would be nice for Presley to go and play with other kids without me present. So, I left Presley in hourly care at Kaci’s CDC 2 days in a row to see how she would do in that type of an environment. She did great. She did cry for me but once she got to playing with the others she did just fine. The caregivers were so wonderful to take pictures of Presley playing! It was a great opportunity for both Presley and I. I was so grateful Kaci suggested it.
Katelynn and Presley had such a great time together. They played hard and even fought hard. Yes, they ended up fighting like sisters. Katelynn wanted to make sure that Presley knew that everything in her house was “HERS” and Presley wanted to make sure Katelynn knew she wasn’t afraid to take “her” things from her! So funny! One night Kaci and I built a fort for the girls to watch a movie and have a slumber party in. It was something I wanted to do with our girls since I had Presley. It reminded me of when Kaci and I were growing up!
Kaci and I even took an afternoon to get pedicures and facials. It was so relaxing. We both really needed it. Ok, her more than me but it was a nice treat. We had coffee and got to visit uninterrupted by little princesses. It was so wonderful to get to spend some quality time with Kaci. I have really missed her being close especially being a new mom. It was so nice to get to stay up after the girls had gone to bed and visit about anything and everything under the sun. It just wasn’t enough time. I miss her everyday and I wish everyday that we could be closer. But, for this season in our life we are not and there is a reason. I believe that with all my heart. I look forward to the day that I and my family do live closer to her and Katelynn!
Kaci and Katelynn-thank you so much for being such sweet hostesses. I love you both so much! I miss you and wanted to let you know how much fun both Presley and I had.
I had been waiting 18 months for this trip. I able to go and spend some time with Kaci in an area of the country I hadn’t visited in 20 yrs. Kaci was hoping to move to DC around the October time frame. So, the plan was I would wait to make my trip out to Spokane when she made the move so I could save some money by not making two trips and I could help her with the move. Well, that didn’t happen, so we decided just to make the trip home with her and Katelynn after the Califonia trip.
Spokane was very nice! It was, however, very, very,very COLD!! It actually snowed on the Thursday we got there. The snow was beautiful! Presley didn’t know what to think. She had only seen snow once when she was about 8 months old, so to her it was all new. She kept saying, “Snow, Mommy, Snow!!” Like it was my first time seeing it too. Super sweet! So, we had to learn how to bundle up and brave the cold. Let’s just say that Presley was NOT a fan of that! It was really, really hard to get her in and out of a car seat bundled in a snow suit. Oh, yah. I hadn’t mentioned that. It is so cold in Spokane that you have to wear a snow suit. This is really cool when you are skiing. Not so cool when you have to wear it everywhere just to stay warm. To say the least, my Floridian baby didn’t really find comfort in that!
Kaci works at the Child Development Center at Fairchild AFB there in Spokane. I have kept Presley at home since she was born and thought it would be nice for Presley to go and play with other kids without me present. So, I left Presley in hourly care at Kaci’s CDC 2 days in a row to see how she would do in that type of an environment. She did great. She did cry for me but once she got to playing with the others she did just fine. The caregivers were so wonderful to take pictures of Presley playing! It was a great opportunity for both Presley and I. I was so grateful Kaci suggested it.
Katelynn and Presley had such a great time together. They played hard and even fought hard. Yes, they ended up fighting like sisters. Katelynn wanted to make sure that Presley knew that everything in her house was “HERS” and Presley wanted to make sure Katelynn knew she wasn’t afraid to take “her” things from her! So funny! One night Kaci and I built a fort for the girls to watch a movie and have a slumber party in. It was something I wanted to do with our girls since I had Presley. It reminded me of when Kaci and I were growing up!
Kaci and I even took an afternoon to get pedicures and facials. It was so relaxing. We both really needed it. Ok, her more than me but it was a nice treat. We had coffee and got to visit uninterrupted by little princesses. It was so wonderful to get to spend some quality time with Kaci. I have really missed her being close especially being a new mom. It was so nice to get to stay up after the girls had gone to bed and visit about anything and everything under the sun. It just wasn’t enough time. I miss her everyday and I wish everyday that we could be closer. But, for this season in our life we are not and there is a reason. I believe that with all my heart. I look forward to the day that I and my family do live closer to her and Katelynn!
Kaci and Katelynn-thank you so much for being such sweet hostesses. I love you both so much! I miss you and wanted to let you know how much fun both Presley and I had.

Spokane

Visiting the CaliCooks

After visiting with my parents in DC for a week Presley and I headed back to Gainesville to get ready for our next 2 trips. We were home for 3 days before we headed to California to meet the newest member of the Cook family and to visit Dylan, Brent and Crystal. Jonathan had been born 6 weeks earlier and we were anxious to get to see him.
It was so wonderful to get to see Dylan, Crystal and Brent again. It was also super wonderful to get to meet little Jonathan. He was so tiny and Dylan had gotten so big. Dylan is almost as tall as I am and he is only 8yrs old. He is either really tall or I am really short. I guess it could be both!! Brent and Crystal looked really great too. Crystal looked amazing. She had just had a baby 6 weeks prior to our visit and surgery 3 days before we came. At the beginning of her pregnancy with Jonathan her doctors found a tumor on her kidneys. They wanted to wait until Jonathan was born before they removed it. Once they removed the tumor they found out that it was definitely cancerous. As you can imagine it was very heartbreaking for the family. However, PRAISE GOD, they got it all in the surgery! I just couldn’t get over how calm and relaxed Brent was, how sweet Jonathan was, how helpful Dylan was and how great Crystal looked with all they had gone through in the last month and a half!
Presley had an absolute blast with her cousin Dylan. Every morning she would wake up saying “Dilden(Dylan) where awre eww(where are you)?” She loves him. Dylan played catch with her outside, taught her how to drum and play rock band, let her play with his wedgits and played chase with her around the house. He is the only super hero she knows! After we came home she would walk around calling for Dylan thinking he would miraculously appear.
We got to watch one of Dylan’s games while out visiting them. He is a fantastic football player! That game Dylan scored let her play with his wedgits and played chase with her around the house. He is the only super hero she knows! After we came home she would walk around calling for Dylan thinking he would miraculously appear.
We got to watch one of Dylan’s games while out visiting them. He is a fantastic football player! That game Dylan scored 3 touchdowns and made 4 tackles one of which was the winning play of the game. I couldn’t believe how easy it all seemed to come to him. He is a natural athlete. He also does pretty good at track! We were at a park that had a mile and a quarter track around it that he ran in 12 mins. CRAZY!! I can’t wait to see him excel in every sport he participates in.
Kaci and Katelynn drove down a couple days after we got to California so that all the Cook grandkids could all spend some time together. It had been 18 months since we had all been together. S o, eventhough Kaci had to drive 12hrs one way so we could all be together I would venture to say that she would say it was worth it. All 4 of the kids are the same age difference of the 4 Cook Kids. My mom took a picture of Brent, Kaci, Dusty and I at the exact same age that all 4 of the grandbabies were when we got together. We tried to reinact that picture by stair staking the kids. We haven’t been able to find the original picture my mom took but the one we were able to get came out GREAT!
Crystal and Brent took us to a few California wineries. It was so nice. The one we went to in Napa was awesome. I think it was called Vi Sattui. The buildings on the winery property were beautiful. All I could think about was weddings the whole time we were there! =) We got lunch from the deli and ate our lunch on the picnic tables on the lawn. Dylan couldn’t join us because he was in school but Katelynn and Presley really enjoyed running around and chasing all the birds on the lawn. Brent, Kaci and I did some wine tasting while Crystal, the girls and Jonathan enjoyed playing outside. The wine was really good. I enjoyed the company of the guys working the tasting bar. They were very nice! The whole trip was great.
One night Crystal had a great idea to take the kids to Build a Bear. What a great idea! Presley had never done the Build a Bear and had a great time. Of course the noise the stuffer machine made did freak her out a bit but the whole part of picking out the bear and all the clothes and accessories really thrilled her. I am sure it all was very expensive but Presley now clings to her Scout bear like it is her lifeline! That is going to be a memory and a security for her for a long time! Thanks Crystal for the idea!
It was so wonderful getting to see all of them. It really only made me home sick for family. Wishing we could be closer so that we and our kids could see eachother more. I know that I had a wonderful time and Presley did too. But, it was time for us to move on to the second part of this trip. We had decided that since Kaci was going to already be in California that I would drive back up to Spokane with her so we could see where her and Katelynn had been living for the past year and a half. So after a very short 5 days at Brents we headed to Kaci’s.
Brent and Crystal-thank you for letting us come and hang out. I know that it was a lot after all your company and after Crystal’s surgery and know that it was a sacrifice to have all of us in your space. I just wanted you to know that I loved all of my time there and that your niece Presley loves you both very much.

Cali Trip

DC Trip

After Dallas’ marathon Presley and I stayed behind to spend some extra time with my mom and dad in DC. We are due to move to DC in July and I wanted to get the opportunity to look around the area and look at some homes before the move. Dallas, however, had to be back in Gainesville for school, so I did most of the looking myself. I was happy with most of the homes we found. We still are trying to make the decision on whether or not we will buy or rent. It is a tough decision but I am confident we will make the right one!
It was wonderful to be in DC during the fall season. Wow!! The colors of the trees in the North East are immaculate!! The trees literally glow orange, yellow and red! The air was actually a crisp fall feel. Every town we went to were preparing for their annual fall festivals! It was wonderful. It was a definite welcomed break from the 90 degree weather in Florida.

My mom and dad really enjoyed having Presley for the week. It was wonderful to watch Presley with them. She loves her Mae and Popa! It is so wonderful that she trusts them instantly even though she only sees them a few times a year. She enjoyed crawling all over Popa like a jungle gym! She enjoyed jumping in raked up leaves with Mae and learning to climb trees! Mae also introduced her to caterpillars. There were so many fuzzy caterpillars in their driveway and Presley thought they all belonged to her. She would stand over them and talk to them like they had come over for tea. However, if you tried to get her to actually hold one she would flip out! The video of that is actually pretty funny!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

One night we went over to my mom’s good friend’s house for dinner. Jeff and Susie have been friends of the family since I was in the 7th grade. She pretty much watched me grow up. So, it was such a treat for me to get to take Presley to their house and let them spend some time with my daughter. We had a wonderful time. Presley became very good friends with their dog Scarlet. Scarlet is one of the prettiest dogs I have seen. She had a gorgeous reddish, auburn coat and a gorgeous face!! Presley kept going up to the Scarlet and kissing her on her nose. Scarlet was so wonderful with Presley too.
Presley and I were in DC over Halloween. I was a little sad that Dallas was going to miss getting to participate in Halloween with Presley, but it was fun for my mom and dad. Presley went as a little bee. She was adorable! She walked around that night going, “Buzz, Buzz, Buzz!” Such a cutie. We went over to my mom’s good friend, Pat’s house. Pat made hot dogs and appetizers for Presley and two other little kids before they went trick or treating. We did the trick or treating in Pat’s neighborhood. Presley only lasted about 45 min trick or treating. Once we were done we went back and let Presley eat her first piece of chocolate! She is definitely a woman! She loves the chocolate. It was a wonderful Halloween!
The trip was so fun! Presley had so much fun with Mae and Popa and all the fun fall activities we got to do while in DC. I wish that we could have stayed longer but we had to get home to prepare for our next 2 trips!

DCTrip