Happy Birthday Jesus!

Mr. Larry holding up his Christmas gift from Tracey and Emma!
Emma playing nurse like her mommy!

Tracey and Emma!

Opening gifts!

Us:)

Emma in her room with her princess tree!

Riley opening gifts at his Granna and Grandpa's!

Grayden rolling around on the floor!

Uncle Jonathan helping Riley open his Santa gifts!

Riley's stocking at his Granna and Grandpa's

Grayden's stocking at his Granna and Grandpa's!

Now that Christmas has come and gone let me share with you what our Christmas was like. The weekend before Christmas Jonathan and I headed up to Memphis with his parents to stay with Tracey and Emma. We spent all day Saturday together. That night we had dinner and opened gifts. Then Jonathan, Mr. Larry, me, and Tracey headed upstairs to start putting together Emma's Santa Claus gifts. Early Sunday morning Emma woke up to a new doll house, a Sleeping Beauty vanity, a Little Mermaid big wheel, and some dress up clothes. She loved everything that Santa brought her. Jonathan and I were so excited we were able to spend the weekend with both her and Tracey. I'm going to post some pictures of the weekend. You won't believe how much Emma has grown!

Now to Christmas morning. Jonathan and I woke really early and headed over to Tab and Meribeth's. They had the grandparent's and great grandparents over to watch the boys open their Santa gifts. Riley got a new tricycle, Mr. Potato head, Mega Blocks, Ants in my Pants game, and lots more. Santa brought Grayden some teething rings. He just got his first tooth too! He also got some smaller things. Everyone sat around while they played and we had a nice breakfast. After everyone was done eating it was time to head over to my parent's house to do our Christmas. We all sat around then opened gifts. Riley and Grayden went first and let me just say that their Granna and Grandpa spoil them beyond words! Riley got a Thomas the train tent, a tee ball set, basketball goal, football, several books, clothes, a doodle board, a Elmo camera, and I can't even remember the rest. Grayden got clothes, books, a musical fish tank, and lots and lots of more toys.

After opening all of our gifts and spending time with my family it was time to head up to Trussville. All of Jonathan's family was up there besides Tracey and Emma. We had lots of good food and fun sitting around catching up with all of his cousins. Then it was present time. Jonathan and I are so thankful for everything we received this year. We got way more than we deserve. After visiting with everyone a little while longer it was time to head back to Montgomery.

When we got back to Montgomery we went over to my parent's to meet up with my mom, Tab, Meribeth, and Riley to go look at Christmas lights. We do this every year. It is always so much fun.

That pretty much wraps up our Christmas. It was a great one, but I have to say I'm glad it's come and gone. Both Jonathan and I are looking forward to moving on to 2009 and everything it has in store for us.

Now it's time to get ready to head back to work in the morning:( I guess I can't complain to much because we have another short week! I will check in soon.

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas. Happy New Year if I'm not back on here before the new year!

Healing!

Sweet Grayden! He always looks so serious=)

Uncle Jonathan showing Riley around.

Riley got to do one of his favorite things that day. Color!

Family Photo!

Take 1 of the Santa photo. They have the "real" Santa picture.

The Blackwell's with Santa! Grayden loved it!

This isn't the best picture, but it's one with all four of us!

Riley playing ball before we went to see Ho Ho!

It feels good to be back blogging. My surgery went just as planned and I'm healing a little more everyday. I am still having a lot of draining from where Dr. Evans put in a drain at the end of my incision. That gets pretty annoying having to wipe my neck all day. I know YUCK! Other than that I get my stitches out next Monday the 22nd.

Well it looks like this week is going to be another busy one for us. Besides finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping. I am going to my Annual Secret Santa Party with my closest girlfriends Thursday evening. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to this. I can't wait to catch up with each and every one of them. It is WAY over due. I love them all so much.

Then Friday after work Jonathan and I are heading to Birmingham for the night to stay with his parents. On Saturday morning all 4 of us are heading to Memphis. We are going up do Christmas with Tracey and Emma. They aren't able to come down to Birmingham this year on Christmas so we celebrating with them a little early. We are both so excited about this too because it's been a while since we've seen them. It amazes me how much Emma grows each time we see her. I will try and take lots of pictures since I never have any new pictures to post of her.

We will be back late Sunday. We are going to miss our babies (Chloe and Hank). We are still trying to make plans for them. I think they will probably end up staying with their grandparents, my mom and dad. I always feel so guilty for leaving them. I know I'm crazy right, but they really do mean so much to us.

Ok I need to get in bed. I'm going to post a few picture's of Riley and Grayden's Santa Visit. Enjoy!

Today!

I forgot to post what time my surgery will be this morning. We have to be at the hospital at 6:00. That is an hour and a half away. YIKES! I'm a little nervous, but ready to get this over with. I will update everyone as soon as I feel a little better.

Thanks for all your prayers!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Tab, Meribeth, and Riley!

Uncle Jonathan and Riley!

Our Tree!

Another shot

Ok so this is the only thing I "collect". I love my Christopher Radko ornaments. I usually get them every year for Christmas and my Birthday.

Grayden getting his breathing treatment. He actually enjoys it!

That is what it's been like around here!

First let me update you on my appointment with the ENT that was on Thursday. The Dr. is still really confused on why my same lymph node keeps flaring up so I had two options wait until it flared up again or remove it. Of course no one ever wants to have surgery, but I don't want to have to keep dealing with this several times a year for several more years. I have decided to have it removed. One of the ways that I came to this decision is when people have 2 or 3 throat infections a year they almost always get their their tonsils removed. The doctor's don't always know why they get the infections, but by removing the tonsils it decreases their chances for infections by a lot. I'm hoping that removing this lymph node my infections will decrease too. I am having surgery this Wednesday at Jackson's Hospital. I will go Tuesday for my pre-op to see what time my surgery will be, but the surgery coordinator for Dr. Evans said it should be around 8:00 am. I will post the time of my surgery Tuesday evening after my appt.

Let's see what's next. Oh I know, I am officially off birth control!!!! I can't tell you how much of a relief this is. Technically Jonathan and I could do treatments this month, but I'm going to rest the rest of this month from surgery, Christmas, and everything else. We will start back at ART after the first of the year. Of course I will keep everyone posted on that.

This weekend Jonathan and I went with Tab, Meribeth, and Riley to get our Christmas tree. We took some pictures at Roger's Tree Farm and some of the final product. I'm going to post some pictures for y'all to see.

One more thing. I want to ask everyone to please pray for Grayden. He has such a hard time with his breathing from infections that just won't see to go away. He was put on breathing treatments twice a day. I really hope this give him some relief.

Good Report, BUT another ER trip!

Let me first start with the good news. I had my ultrasound yesterday and my cysts are gone!!! I am now off pelvic rest and have the go ahead to continue with treatments as soon I as start my new cycle. The best news is I only have 4 more days of birth control (forever, UNLESS we do IVF again).Now if we can just get my lymph node taken care of we will be set to go. I have a feeling the New Year is going to bring us great things!

Now about the ER trip. Riley was at the hospital visiting his great grandmother yesterday afternoon and fell and hit is head. He had to get 3 stitches. I was back there when they put them in. Let me just say it was heartbreaking to watch. His feelings were so hurt. It almost made me cry. He is doing just fine other than the fact he has double ear infections, an upper respiratory infection, and now 3 stitches. Please say a little prayer for Little Ri!

It's time for me to head back to work. I have my appt. with the ENT tomorrow so I will update everyone tomorrow night on how that goes.