Be Happy For This Moment. This Moment Is Your Life

After several tries of attempting to sit down and write about my life over the past month, I realized that there is nothing that is ever going to be enough to describe what it has been like... It's hard to put into words. I just want to share a few things:

Ryan and I are blown away by the unbelievable outpouring of love, prayers and concern we have received from our friends, family, extended family and even some people we have never met. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding us. Thank you for the prayers you have said for us and the thoughts of concern and love that you have sent our way. We FEEL it, we feel the love and are grateful...more than we can say.

We were with such special people on January 26, 2011. Thank you to our loving family members that were by our side every step of the way and  that took care of us for weeks following.  Our nurses were the most incredible caregivers... they were so compassionate and loving. I was in amazing hands with my doctor who took special care of me and who also cried with me. I could not have hand-picked more perfect women to care for Ryan and I during our hospital stay. We have already been back there to see them and look forward to the day when we can visit them again under happier circumstances. They truly made what could have been such a terrible experience, a special memory for us...they made such an impact.

Ryan and I have experienced an unbelievable loss and to think of how we physically and emotionally have made it to where we are today solidifies that there is someone so much greater in control. We both truly believe that and are not selfish for what we have lost, but find peace in knowing that something was not right with this pregnancy.  Our baby boy wasn't healthy enough to bring us the joy that we were hoping for and the joy that every baby deserves. 

Looking back at our stay in the hospital and the weeks of disbelief that followed that, I never would have thought that this would happen. However, I am accepting of everything and accept that it is all part of what makes me who I am. I am so thankful to have Ryan and I can't imagine my life with out him. He has been so much more than what is expected of a husband. He is everything to me and I could not have imagined more love, support, or friendship out of this man. He amazes me.

My pregnancy was such a blessing, a truly great experience and I am genuinely thankful for every minute of it. Ryan and I are looking ahead to the future and know that we will have a healthy baby when the time is right. When that day comes I can only imagine the amount of appreciation and love that we will feel.

Ryan and I have taken what has happened and put it in a special place in our hearts. We will forever be changed by what has touched us and will forever have another angel by our side.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14

Thank you again to everyone who has cared for us and reached out to us over the past several weeks.  We can't say it enough, we LOVE you!  

Soccer Anyone??

Happy Monday!  I woke up this morning feeling energized and motivated.  It was a nice, relaxing weekend...Ryan and I got to be productive around the house, hang out with good friends AND be lazy...what more could you ask for?  So I woke up at 6am and took Lucy out to potty.  She is doing so good, but we cannot seem to keep that little girl from wanting to jump and bounce all over the place which is really hard!!!!  We have to constantly hold her and I have decided she is now my little Jiggy  (for all of you Real Housewives of BH watchers).  Her scar is healing perfectly and we take her back to the hospital on Friday so she can have her stitches removed. 

As for me, I am going on week 25 and had a rude awakening at the clothing store yesterday with Paige when I didn't like a thing I tried on.  I like to shop, I like to buy and it's not fun when you feel like you would rather stay in your PJs all day than attempt looking stylish.  hahah!!!  However, after trying on several options and deciding to give up and leave the store, Paige picked out the perfect outfit for me and I was able to get my shopping fix!  She got a really cute dress too!!!  Then we went to TCBY to have a little treat :)

I really am growing and according to my weekly updates, my uterus was the size of a soccer ball last week.  This is hard for me to grasp, but I believe it!  My mom was able to snap a photo of me on Friday so being the kind person that I am, I will post it here for your viewing pleasure :)
My photographer has been taking a series of photos of me throughout my pregnancy so that we can have some sort of belly timeline in photos when it is all said and done.  My mom went with me this trip and tried out her photography skills.  Here goes:

Anyway, Ryan and I are scheduled to do photos together at the end of February/early March and I can't wait to see how they turn out.  I love pregnancy photos!  I think they are amazing.  I say that now, but we will see how I feel once I reach 31 weeks. 

I have decided to paint the nursery so I am trying to pick out the perfect shade of pale blue for the walls.   I went to the paint store on Saturday and bought 3 samples of baby blues. The painter is coming next week and the furniture is scheduled to be in by the end of next week.  I am so ready to get this ball rolling.  I hope to have pictures of the nursery soon!

Miracle on Studer Street

What a week it has been!  Literally, I think I have cried more this week than maybe ever...???  Easton has got to be wondering what is going on out here.  So here goes...most of you probably know by now that Ryan and I are IN LOVE with our doggie and that she had a big scare this week.  We got Lucy on June 1, 2008.  It was just 2 1/2 months after we got married and she was 6 weeks old.  Our world almost came crashing down on us this past week on Wednesday morning. 
We noticed that Lucy had a bit of a "limp" in her walk late Tuesday night and figured we could take her to the vet the next day.  So we all went to bed and the next morning we noticed that that limp turned into Lucy not being able to walk at all.  She could not even stand up on her back legs.  We took her to our vet right away and within a minute of her examining Lucy, she referred us to a specialist at the Emergency Animal Hospital for immediate surgery.  Thank goodness Ryan and I took her to the vet together that morning because I don't think either of us could have handled this on our own. 
We were instructed to leave the vet's office right away (skip check-out and hit the road).  She said that time is of the essence and she will call and let the hospital know we are coming. 
Once we arrived at the Hospital they were waiting on us and took Lucy back for examining (we still do not know what is going on at this point).  Finally they call us back to see the doctor and he tells us that she has ruptured a disc in her spine which has paralyzed her back legs.  I am balling crying at this point and Ryan is trying to hold it together.  The doctor tells us that she has no feeling in her back legs and may not ever be able to walk again.  He proceeds to tell us of all of the other risks involved with her situation and that there is a 50/50 chance that surgery will even make a difference. 
So we go from a happy, healthy, bouncing young puppy to this news and we feel like we have been hit by a train.  We of course said to do the surgery and we will hope for the best. Then we left our baby girl, walked back to the car and said a prayer and cried the whole way home.  It was a terrible day and all we could do while we were sulking at the house was think about things she would do like run in the kitchen every time she heard us getting ice from the fridge, or how she always likes us to play fetch with her toys and her fascination with giving kisses...we were disasters.  It's amazing how much you realize the littlest things that go on in your day-to-day life when you think about them not occurring anymore. 

Anyway, on to the brighter side…That night we got a call that surgery went well, but that they would have to see how the next few days progressed for her.  They were planning on keeping her through Monday and told us not to be discouraged if she shows no signs of progress the day after surgery...that it is very rare that these cases ever do. 
That is where our little Miracle comes in.  Thursday morning the doctor called to tell us that she stood up on her own and was wagging her tail.  This is HUGE!  I mean it, even the doctor was impressed.  He also told us that she ate all of her breakfast which was no surprise to us :)  but we new that she was coming back!!!  It just got better from this day forward.  They would call us twice a day (once in the morning and once at night to tell us about their "rounds" with Lucy) and they said that Thursday night she decided to walk.  I cried again at this point, but tears of joy!  I can't believe how strong she is!  The doctor told us that we just dodged a huge bullet...
Friday morning they said she was progressing so well that we could take her home, but that she still has a long way to go.  We were so excited to be able to bring her home. 
We picked her up at 5 o'clock on Friday and have been nursing our little patient ever since.  She is on pain medication and has a big incision on her back because they ended up removing several "bad" discs.  Turns out she has what they call degenerative disc disease...there was nothing she did to cause it or we could have done to prevent it from happening.  The good news is that she is home now and we can take care of her and make the lifestyle changes necessary to make things easier on her. 
So we went to PetCo and bought her a new crate which she needs to spend most of her time in for the next month (according to the doctors orders), we made a big pallet on the floor and had a slumber party with her Friday night and have been an overall lazy bunch all weekend!  Every morning we are able to see her doing better and better.  Ryan says she reminds him of Bambi when he is learning to walk...she wobbles a lot and then falls down on her butt...She is a little off balance right now, but tomorrow will be better than today.  We hope that she only continues to heal at this remarkable pace and feel so thankful that she is going to be okay! 
Here are some pictures of our little furry patient...

 Getting acquainted with her new little space

 A get well gift from her sister, June

It breaks my heart to put her in here

OUCH

Feeling better today on daddy's lap

After the good news on Thursday night, I was able to get out and get my first pre-natal massage to try to relieve some stress…thanks to my wonderful husband!  Saturday we spent the day at home with Lucy and did some winter organizing for baby.  That night Ryan and I went out and registered for some more baby essentials and had a yummy Mexican dinner.  We came home early and went to bed earlier than I think we ever have on a weekend LOL.  Today was well spent with my preggo bff Paige getting a mani and pedi and browsing Babies R Us.  We are two peas in a pod and it makes me laugh at how much things have changed...a year ago we would have had the perfect day sipping on margaritas on a patio somewhere! 

Now it's on to a new week and I'm looking forward to waking up each morning and seeing Lucy doing better and better!  Thank you to all of our friends and family who have thought of us this week and prayed for Lucy.  WE LOVE YOU!

Auld Lang Syne

Home again, home again jiggity jig...after a relaxing and fun weekend in the hill country with some of our favorite people, Ryan and I made it back home only to catch up on some lost zzzzs last night and get back to work this morning.  We love our "San Antonio" friends and don't get to see them enough!  So we spent the weekend with us 5 couples in a rented river house where we were able to catch up and ring in the New Year!   Our weekend consisted of eating delicious food, playing lots of board games, LRC (intense, very intense), washers, bean bags, bonfires, lots of adorable doggies and staying up too late.  Overall, perfect!   

The Girls!

Our Manly MEN with their girly dogs

2010 was my first year to play fantasy football and anyone who knows me knows that I am the last person you would expect to participate in anything remotely connected with football.  However, I started my own girls league and actually enjoyed football (as much as can be expected) this season!  So much that I even won 2nd place!!!  I'm glad that I did it and its on again for next year!  OH, and I can't forget to mention that Ryan won first place champion in one of his leagues!  Let's be glad that he won something because he was not a happy camper mid day yesterday when he thought he didn't stand a chance.  I was kind of hoping that he wouldn't win so that I could say that I did better than him at fantasy...LOL

I am still patiently waiting on a call from Doodles telling me that Easton's furniture has arrived.  They said 8-10 weeks was the lead time and we are going on 9 weeks now...any day...and I must say that I have been extremely patient.  But I want it NOW!  :) 

We went back to the doctor today for our 22 week checkup.  I'm glad that we saw the doctor AFTER our little escape to the hill country because she told me today NOT to travel at all...not anywhere outside of Houston that is.  She wants me to take it easy and basically not lift a finger, which I think is fine by me LOL.  That means that I am going to have to miss my scheduled sales meeting in Dallas next week and plan on a whole lot of nothing until they check me again at 28 weeks.  On the other hand, Easton is healthy and kickin' it (literally) he has been kicking me like crazy and it has been so much fun to watch and feel him.  He has a heart rate of 150 and is measuring 2 weeks ahead.  That's right, Dr. Peterson said that I am measuring at 24 weeks!  I go back one month from now and then start going every 2 weeks.  I just can't believe that he will be here in 4 months.  So much to look forward to!   

One last tribute to 2010!

New Year.New Blog.New Beginnings

I did it!  After several hours of trying to figure this thing out, I finally got the Armstrong blog up and running! Creating a blog is no joke and now that I spent so much time on it I am determined to keep up with it :)  I'm excited to share a glimpse of our world with anyone who wants to hear about it.  I really wanted to start this blog because I am now 21 1/2 weeks pregnant and I feel like I have not documented a thing.  I want to be able to look back and remember how I was feeling, looking (maybe not LOL) and what all I was thinking as this little guy gets ready for his debut...and then of course all of the fun that comes once he is here! 

Several people have been asking for a belly photo and I am seriously considering it...maybe coming soon so watch out.  As for a quick re-cap on the last 21 weeks...here goes...I don't really feel much different.  Week 7-12 I was a little nauseous around dinner time, but never got sick.  Breakfast was my favorite meal for every meal during this time so I found myself going crazy down the frozen food aisle at the grocery with waffles, sausage biscuits, breakfast sandwiches...you name it!   After week 12 to present, fast food has been my best friend (Chick-Fil-A, Wendy's and any burger will do...really anything will do as long as fries are involved!).  So you see what I mean when I say I really haven't changed too much in the nutrition department.  However, my body is a totally different story. I feel like I am growing every single day and the last time I checked I was up 15lbs.   That was at least 2 weeks ago and then I drained the battery in my scale.  So there is no telling where I am today, but I'm afraid I will find out soon.  :)
Sleeping has been a little complicated until 2 nights ago when my mom and I went shopping and bought a pregnancy pillow.  I LOVE IT and have been sleeping well ever since!!  I go for my next check up with my favorite new Dr. on Monday so we can see Easton's progress.  More to come on all of this soon.

So now that the holidays are over :(  I no longer get to shop for gifts, listen to all my Christmas music, eat uncontrollably and enjoy all of the Christmas decorations and festivities that I love.  It is time to clean it all up and get back to normal.  So here I am writing a blog....
I guess it's time begin to countdown the last few days of the year and try to remember what we have accomplished and where the time has gone.  2010 held a lot of exciting events for our family.  Clearly, you know that top of my list is the little baby boy in my belly...and I have to say we have some pretty excited soon-to-be grandparents also!  Ryan got a new job this year that he loves and it has been keeping him busy.  Both of our moms turned the big 5-0 this year (and are both fabulous)!  Ryan and I celebrated 2 years of marriage!  Lucy turned 2 :)  We got the chance to travel and vacation with our friends.  I became an "aunt" to several of my closest friends' newborn babies (Sloan, Jackson, Max and Carolina) and the list is continuing to grow (I love that we are all having babies so close together)!!!  And we attended at least 4 more beautiful weddings...

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing what 2011 has in store for us.  It should be an interesting, exciting and eventful year.  We can hardly wait to meet our little Easton, and at the same time we want to enjoy every minute of my pregnancy and our time together.  We are busy preparing for his arrival with doctor's appointments scheduled, nursery room getting started, registering and reading up on what to expect.  I am looking forward to sharing so stay tuned! 

In the meantime, here are a few photos to cap off the year!    Amy