Cheerio Confessions

My laptop won't connect to the internet. So we will have to put off the finishing of my doozy of a post part deux - don't worry you haven't missed it, I'm still writing it. So yes, it's likely to be just as long, if not longer than my previous doozy of a post. Now on to the update...


My dr's appointment @ 9:00am? Check.
Fasted for cholesterol test? Oops. That's a negative.
Topamax increased? Check.
Allergy meds prescribed? Check.
Other meds prescribed? Check.
I even lost a pound!
Home by 10:00am.

Appointment w/Dr. R @ 11:00am? Check.
Changed the dose of his Zyprexa.
Waiting to hear from Psychology unit at local Children's Hospital about scheduling testing.
Learned that Zyprexa will have to be stopped a minimum ONE WEEK before testing. (Oy.)
Gavin behaved wonderfully so we rewarded him w/lunch of his choice. He wanted orange chicken and lo mein. He ate it all in a single sitting.
Home by 12:15pm.

Came home. Rob was feeling sick so he slept for the rest of the day. I wolfed down my Steak Escape. (I *heart* Steak Escape!) And took my sister, who was kind enough to baby-sit the fuss-pots (a.k.a. Elliott Richard and Emmett John) all morning, to a "Special Person's Tea" w/my niece.

Came home, again. Emmett John napped for a little bit. Elliott Richard spiked a fever, again. Gave him his Motrin and called Dr. H's office, again. (I swear they should name a room after us at this point.) Made an appointment to see the CNP at 4:30pm. I don't care for her but it was either her or the one doctor I prefer to avoid, especially when it comes to Elliott Richard.

Made it the office at 4:30pm w/Elliott Richard, Emmett John and Trisha in tow? Check.
Elliott Richard freaking out over shots? Check.
Explain to him no shots today? Check.
Elliott Richard still freaking out? Double check.
CNP calls us back.
Aunt Trisha to the rescue, asks CNP if there will be shots. That's a negative - no shots today.
Elliott Richard calms down.
Emmett John seems fascinated by being on the "other side".
CNP checks out Elliott Richard.
Bronchitis. (Of course.)
Opinion of CNP changed? Double check.
Homeward bound at 5:00pm w/prescription for Zithromax.
Pickup chicken nugget happy meal as reward on the way home.

Now it's 8:13pm. I have no internet on my laptop. The ice in my Polar Pop is melting. My buffalo wings are getting cold. Elliott Richard is looking for ANY excuse to not sleep. I just wanted to vegg, do some blog writing, South Park watching and Polar Pop drinking. Alas it was not meant to be.

Ah well, on the bright side Rob is the only one left to get sick. On the crappy side, when he gets sick with what we've been passing around he usually ends up hospitalized. Are we having fun yet?

And does anyone else find it odd (funny haha odd or crazy interesting odd) that Emmett John was the only one hospitalized for this so far and he's also the only one who recovered without antibiotics?

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Literally.

Saturday, January 24th at 4:00pm we all gathered together to celebrate the life of my beautiful, special little man. In hindsight, perhaps this was not the best idea.

So despite my best efforts to prepare and be ready long before the day of the party arrived, Saturday was a crazy day. I had tried to get the cleaning done and the shopping done long before the party. Yeah, that didn't happen. So of course while we are all running around like chickens with our heads cut off, Rob bent down and picked up an empty duffel bag. He didn't move in a funky way. It wasn't heavy. But that's all it took and his back was G-O-N-E...gone!

There I was with a house to clean, shopping to do, children to care for, and a party to set-up and my partner in crime was down for the count. (Oy!) I admit it, I was freaking out. Luckily, I had already called Mom G. and begged her to come and help. I was waiting for her to call me so I could pick her up. Even with Rob's Mom coming, I was still freaking out and feeling the day spinning wildly out of control. Enter "Super Sister"! (duh tu da da) I called my big sister, Trisha, near tears because I had no idea how I was going to get everything done. True to form, Trisha saved the day. She was everything a big sister should be, in my opinion.

Mom G. called me at about 10am to say that she was ready. Mr. Emmett John and I went to pick her up. Then while we were out I did my running around. We hit the Dollar Store for cups, silverware, napkins, table cloth and some other odds and ends that weren't really on my list but I bought them anyway. :D (lol) Then we hit Giant Eagle so I could pickup the ice cream and pop. I completely forgot the chips and candy that I had also intended to pick up. Eh well. We swung through McDonald's for 2 ice teas and then headed home.

All of that build up, now for the party. ;)

The party was scheduled to start at 4pm. Trisha arrived at 12noon, shortly after Mom G. and I returned from our running around. And by running around, I mean Mom G. was kind enough to hang out in the car with a sleeping Emmett John. We ate lunch and then tackled the house. Mom G. took on the dishes, which then morphed into her cleaning the kitchen. Trisha and I tackled the laundry that needed folding and the bathroom. She was also kind enough to get Elliott Richard dressed, which is no easy feat. He made her offer every single shirt he owns. Only to choose the shirt she offered him first in the end. (lol) Between Mom G., Trisha and myself we managed to knock out the cleaning, shopping and general party-prep by 3pm! :) (Woo who!)

People started to arrive around 4pm, right on time. (I love punctuality.) All told, the guest list was pretty long. :) We had:

Grammy (Great Grandma C.)
Great-Aunt Sharon
Aunt Trisha
Grandma G.
Pa-Pa G.
Grandma W.
Grandpa W.
Uncle Brian
Uncle Jon
Aunt Teri
Aunt Kate
Uncle Tim
Jenna (Uncle Tim's girlfriend)
Aunt Jenny
Matt (Aunt Jenny's boyfriend)
Michelle ("Mo-Mo", our neighbor)

The party itself was a huge success! We had pop and cake and ice cream. I had baked some cupcakes. My parents picked up a 1/4 sheet cake from Giant Eagle. We talked, laughed and mingled. Gavin bounced off the walls until it was time for cake and ice cream. We sang "Happy Birthday" to him and he blew out his candles. Then Elliott Richard got ready to blow out his candle (my method for keeping him from blowing out Gavin's candles) but he refused to blow it out without us singing "Happy Birthday" to him. (lol) While we mingled and ate cake, Gavin continued to bounce off the walls. (Perhaps this should have been a clue as to what lie ahead.) Before long my Grammy and Aunt Sharon said they needed to get going, plus Gavin was getting more and more hyper as time went on so we opted to move right along to the presents.

Let me just say this, he made out like a bandit! And boy can my boy open gifts! Michelle commented on the fact that she's never seen a kid open gifts that fast before. (lol)

He was thrilled beyond words with his new Kinex Ferris wheel. After he had torn the wrapping off all the gifts, he grabbed the box and made a bee-line for his room. Throughout the night Brian went upstairs and helped Gavin put it all together and get it sorted out. Thank God for Brian! Rob and I are horrible with complicated sets like that. While I'm confident that Gavin would have eventually had the whole thing built, it happened just that much faster with Brian's help. :)

People slowly trickled out after Gavin opened his gifts. In the end, it was Rob, me, Trisha, Jenn, and Matt. Elliott Richard went to bed between 8 and 9pm. We let Gavin stay up until 10-ish since it was his birthday party and all. At around 9:30pm the adults decided we were starving and we ordered Pizza Hut. (My first Pizza Hut pizza in about 6 months! That's another post that's coming.) It was a really awesome way to end the evening. Sitting around and eating pizza with some of my favorite people in the world. Overall, it was a good day.

That was then. Sunday was a whole different story.

At the time when I planned the party, I wanted to celebrate Gavin. I wanted to make his birthday big and bright and special. I wanted him to be able to look around and see just how much we all love him. In that respect, I accomplished my goal. What I failed to take into account were the side effects. I failed to think past Saturday into Sunday and the next week. That was my fault.

We spent Sunday and the week following trying to...adjust. Sunday night we couldn't get Gavin to give up on his Ferris wheel and go to bed. The insanity that ensued over the next week...I can't really find words to describe it. It wasn't any single behavior. It was more a general feeling running through the household, controlled by Gavin. Much like the under-tow of the ocean is controlled by the moon and God. It's nothing that can be seen by an outsider. However, it is certainly something that can be felt by the swimmers in the ocean.

Because of this feeling, this current, Rob and I have made the decision that this year's birthday party was quite honestly the party to end all parties, at least as far as Gavin is concerned. That's not to say that we won't celebrate his birthday every year, because we most certainly will. Nor will we prohibit others from celebrating. It will just have to be celebrated in little, tiny bursts either over the course of a week or possibly in a single day (scheduled in a fashion similar to doctor's appointments). Either way we won't attempt to overwhelm him with that many people again. Even when it comes to Elliott Richard and Emmett John's birthdays, we will likely make arrangements with my parents to leave early and take Gavin with them. That way we are not forced into avoiding birthday parties for them as well.

So the party itself was a smashing success, in my opinion. The aftermath, fallout and next 7 days...yeah, not so much. You live. You learn, I suppose.

That's right. My big sister ROCKS!

As you may remember, Dr. H has given the okay for me to try some milk products to see how Mr. Emmett John reacts. Yesterday while in the grocery store I decided to buy a sugar cookie with some serious icing thinking that surely it had milk in it somewhere. Wrong. Well, I ate the cookie anyway but I must admit I was a wee bit irritated. I was irritated because a) I love these cookies and could have been eating them for the past 6 months and b) I was all worked up to eat milk again and it was a no go.

So last night I was talking to my sister before she came over to hang out. (There's a shock, I know. lol) Anyway, we were chatting and I told her about my cookie snafu. Then when she calls me on her way over and tells me that she is stopping by Wendy's and picking up 3 Frosty Floats. So I was all excited. Then she shows up with double stuffed Oreos, peanut M&Ms, 2 containers of cheese cubes, Ben & Jerry's Phish food ice cream and Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Chocolate ice cream. All of that yummy junk food just so that I could have milk products for the first time in nearly 6 months. :) In the end I went with the Frosty Float and the Oreos but that's because there isn't any milk in the Oreos.

But how awesome is my sister? To bring all of those goodies that she knows I love. I'm a lucky girl, this I know.

I love you Trish! :p

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I voted for the March of Dimes for obvious reasons. ;) But you can vote for any one of the nearly 50 charities available. Just remember, you can only vote once! But you can feel free to pass on the site to as many people as you'd like. :)

Life is a crazy thing.

I sat in the waiting area at the outpatient lab in the hospital with Emmett John this morning. Waiting to register him soi could drop something off (that's another post). While we sat there and waited, I noticed a few things that touched me in one way or another.

I watched strangers help a 92 year old woman they didn't know simply because she needed help.

Then I watched an obviously physically and emotionally exhausted father struggle with his 3 or 4 year old son. I chuckled when he told his son he was "more persistent than diarrhea". (lol) Then I found myself praying when his phone rang and he told the person on the other end that it was highly likely he has liver cancer.

I can't really explain it but witnessing these two events touched me. I know I'm often over-loaded between home, kids, PTA and other stuff but really, I can't imagine. I can't imagine wanting my independence so strongly and yet having to rely on people I've never met and likely never see again. Or going to the doctor with my son believing that I'm going for a standard med check to make sure I'm on the correct dose, only to learn that it's likely I have liver cancer.

They were both so positive, too. She was so appreciative of the help she received. He was so stressed it was etched in the lines of his face, yet he played with his son and joked around with me when Emmett John began screaming.

I only hope that I can handle things as well as they were, should I ever find myself in a similar situation.

**I started this blog on Wednesday October 1st. That's why it says "today" but applies to events from yesterday. lol***

Emmett John was born at exactly 12:30am this morning after about 10 hours of "Official" labor. Lizze pushed 12 times. Emmett was born and given right to the NICU staff for once over.. I am so pleased to announce that he is perfect. No problems at all. We were terrified as the time grew closer because of what happened with Elliott Richard.

Lizze did an amazing job and I am so grateful for all her hard work and personal sacrifice in order to bring him into this world. She is absolutely amazing and I am so proud of her. The hospital staff are second to none. I will post more later.

Thank you for yours thoughts and prayers though out this process. While we will still need your continued prayers because of the turmoil our lives are in we made it over a huge hurdle. Thank you so much for thoughts and prayers....

Love,

Rob

I just wanted to take a minute and welcome those of you that are new here. Lizze and I were so excited to here from you guys today... Your kind words, thoughts and prayers are much appreciated.

We love to hear from all of you. Again, welcome. We hope to hear from you again.....

There is no way we could ever repay all the kindness you amazing people have shown us since we made this blog public. Please know we keep each and everyone of you in our thoughts and prayers. Thank You...

This weekend is finally over. We had some good times and we had some bad times.
Gavin came home this weekend and it seemed like we went from 1 colossal meltdown to the next. It seemed like they would never end.

We also had some good time. Gavin made Lizze a really nice Mother's Day card and took a lot of time to make it. See the post a few down and Gavin sang her a mothers day song. We are very tired and going to take it easy today. Gavin advances to Yellow belt this week and we are very proud of him....

Lizze is working on getting more cards posted and building up her store. Hopefully this will take off and give us a little breathing room.

Other then that Lizze said it was a good Mother's Day which means we did something right and that's all that matters.

Thanks again for all our thought and prayers. We are keeping all of you in ours...

Lizze, I wanted to take a minute while you were sleeping to says a few things. I have found over the past few years its sometimes better to write to you instead of telling you face to face. You get very uncomfortable with compliments especially spoken ones. So here it goes.

I am proud to know you, and proud to be your husband. You are the most selfless person I have ever known. You are a role model for me and our children. I am a better person for having known you. No matter how much pain you live through each and every day I never hear you complain. I am amazed how you so willingly you have given up your life and freedom in order to keep Tiny safe and sound. You are my best friend and my hero. You are everything that matters in my life. You are the glue that holds us all together. Please allow us to take care of you today. Just relax and enjoy this very special day, you deserve it, so very much.

Lizze, I know you miss your Granny, especially today. If she were here she would tell you how proud she is of you. Before she died she made me promise her that I would take care of you. She was an amazing woman. I know she is proud of the woman you are and mother you have become. I hope you can find comfort in that. I love you very much and would be completely lost without you. I look forward to growing old with you. Thank you for everything you do for me and our kids... I hope you enjoy today you certainly deserve it!!!!!!

Your Loving Husband





PS: Elliott wrote this for you:
ghjmn n nnnhjjmhkj,k,jkmmjnnbvbbcvcvghbhnj,hjmjmjjhjhjhm r- hhyhmklu,.ljj,bhbvfcfcfrtgftyu.kp[p[popo9oiujhbhggfc gdfhfgjgklhjljhkghhfdgrfhtyikyulutujrthrwatrw3rqakrfkrrrkl,ll;yloooooooool

I love my job. I love being a stay-at-home mom, which then affords me the time I need for my other job as the President of the PTA at Gavin's school. It kills me that I can't be at the school everyday doing the simple things like checking my mailbox. (I have a mailbox, how cool is that?! lol) I love working with the staff. I love talking to them. Hearing what they need help with. What sort of things the PTA can do to make their jobs easier. I love the staff at his school. I've said it before and I'll say it again, they are all angels. No one else could do what they do with the style, flair and love that they do it.

It's funny though. Maybe it's because in high school, I wasn't the most popular or the prettiest or the most outgoing (I know, who would have thought! lol) and so I don't see myself as any of those things. I never had a lot of friends. Just one best friend and few acquaintances. Maybe a boyfriend. So when I think of the staff at Gavin's school, I think of them as my friends. All of them. The principal/director, Laura, the teachers, Sensei, each and every one of them have become my friends in my heart and mind. But I just kind of figured that they humored me. (Granted, I can be a humorous girl (haha) but that's not what I meant.) I guess I always figured they talked to me, they laughed with me and then when I was gone they either forgot I was there or were like "thank God, I thought she'd never leave". These are my issues not theirs. I know that. But for better or worse, it's how I feel. I would appear that I am wrong.

I email with a few of the staff every once in a while. It's nice. To "talk" to them outside of school. To hear about their lives. To honestly get to know them as people beyond my child's educators. Well, yesterday I was reminded and shown just how wrong I truly am.

Rob went to school to pick Gavin up and help his teachers with some techno-issue. When he returned home he had a surprise for me. :)

This picture was made and signed by Gavin and his classmates. The flowers are tracings of their hands that they cut out and rolled to make flowers. (How stinking adorable is that?!)

Between my flowers and the collage I was crying like a baby. It was all so sweet.

I feel truly blessed to have so many wonderful, caring people involved in our lives. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

So quite a few of my postings are behind schedule because I've been doing battle with my digital camera and my laptop. As I've mentioned before, they are not currently on speaking terms. I don't know why. And despite my best efforts to get them to kiss and make up, they refuse. I may have found a solution, thanks to Nikky. I received a care package in the mail the other day...

Inside I found: a digital camera, Reese's Peanut Butter cups, a Snickers (both for Rob), Silly Putty, Gummy Bugs (both for the boys), Dove Dark chocolate (for me), batteries (for the camera), an adorable onesie and two cards.


Rob was nice enough to share one of his Reese's Peanut Butter cups with me (Yum!) and thoroughly enjoyed his candy. We haven't given the boys the Silly Putty yet because Gavin has to be watched like a hawk with it (he tends to get it permanently stuck on the oddest things). And Elliott Richard has never had it before and we haven't been able to introduce him and watch him with it since he and I have been sick. They loved their Gummy Bugs though! :)






Here's a close-up of the onesie because you can't really read it in the picture above and I felt you should be able to. (lol)


I am simply amazed by the generosity of others. I haven't had a chance to play with it much because I need to get a memory card for it. But I've played with it a little bit. (I can take a picture and see it but as soon as I take another one, it disappears.) I can't wait to use it all the time. No more camera v laptop battles for me! :)

Did you know that you can ship a gift basket? Well, you can! On Tuesday Rob and I returned home from my weekly Dr. D appointment there was a box on the porch. I was confused at first because the return address label said it was from a basket company but surely you can't ship baskets. Ha! I was wrong! :) Of course, it was much more beautifully put together before I pulled everything out. And of course it didn't occur to me in my excitement to take the picture first. (lol) Inside I found biscotti, a little green photo album, a scented candle (which Rob promptly scooped up and lit), a loofah, and scented bath oils and things. It's all incredibly relaxing. And I just love it!

Thank you so much, Slade's Mommy! :)

So over the weekend I received a pleasant surprise in the mail from my dear friend, Slade. I was so surprised and touched at her kindness. Rob was as well. This is Tiny's first official baby related baby gift. Rob and I haven't even had a chance to purchase anything specifically for Tiny. lol Her gift was so generous! She sent a green t-shirt for Gavin, which is his favorite color. He was so siked! She also sent the cutest set of pajamas for Elliott Richard that say "I like to collect bugs!", which are so fitting for our "Tiny Twitterbug". She also included two cards. One for me and one for Rob. (Poor Rob is so neglected these days.) He was so touched that she had remembered him, too. :) It was so cute when Elliott Richard became confused over the diapers. He couldn't figure out how we had diapers that weren't for him. lol And the penguin tubby-toy was intended for Tiny (Slade wrote "Tiny" on the package to clear up any confusion. lol), however, Elliott Richard felt it was his duty as the big brother to test it out. He approves. :) lol

Slade, thank you so very much! You truly are so a kind, generous and wonderful soul. I am lucky to have found you as a friend. *hugs*

(On a side and kind of funny note, I just ate one of the delicious Dove Dark Chocolates she sent me. For those of you who don't know, on the inside of each foil wrapper is a saying. The saying on my last chocolate said, "You're allowed to do nothing." lol If only they knew.)

My Mommy is one of 6, kind of like my hubby. She had 4 sisters and 1 brother. I love each of my aunts. Each of them has a special place in my heart for a different reason. (I'm going to have to go find pictures of my Aunties to post with this blog.)

My Auntie Paula is the oldest of the six. She is the sweetest, most down-to-Earth woman I've ever known. She works as a Court Services Officer. At least that's what I call her role based on my television legal lingo. :) She works for a judge here in town as his secretary and a little bit of everything else. Her special place in my heart is filled with memories of her scratching my back, arms and face until I would fall asleep. (When I'm really stressed I'll go to her and she'll still do this for me.) She took Gavin and I and allowed us to "hide" when we moved home after I left Nick. When I was married to and living with Nick, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She handled it with such style and grace. I hope I am able to handle my life in such a way. She's caring, compassionate and so generous. She is an amazing woman and I feel honored every day to know her and have her as my Auntie.

Next in line is my Aunt Carol. Ever since I was a little girl, Aunt Carol has felt more like a friend than an Aunt. She's funny and gives amazing hugs! When I was a kid she lived "far away" (I was convinced that she lived like 3 hours away. In reality, she lived maybe an hour away. lol) so I didn't get to spend the night at her house as much as I would have liked. They lived in the country at the time and had gobs of land, which I thought was very cool. I remember once she got my cousin Sam and I gifts from Odd Lots. I was so impressed with Odd Lots I couldn't wait to shop there when I grew up. (lol) Sadly we still don't live "close" to one another. She's still about 45 minutes away so I don't get to see her as often as I would like. However, she does work in the hospital where I go to delivery my kids. Which usually means she gets to see them first. ;) lol She even got to see Elliott in the NICU. (I think. Those 10 days are kind of hazy.) She is super sweet and funny and affectionate and I just love her to bits!

My Mommy is the next in line. :) Since I'm writing about everyone else it only feels right to include Mommy. Let's see...my Mommy a wonderful mother. Although sometimes I don't think she believes this. She is such a peaceful and beautiful soul. All that I am that is hippy, I got from her, a fact she's proud of. My love for reading and books, I got from her influence. She always nutured my love of books, although at times she seemed confused by the fact that her tween/teenager would rather have books than anything else. (lol) She is an amazing grandmother to my children. She has a very special bond with Gavin. In part because she helped me to raise him until Gavin and I moved into an apartment with Rob. They also have a special bond because she was my birthing coach. She helped me to bring him into the world. And that is a gift I am forever grateful for. (I'm tearing up just thinking about it.) She is such a generous soul. She loves to bake (and is by far the best baker I've personally ever known) and she does so for birthdays for friends and family all the time. In all honesty, I don't know that I would be the woman I am today without my Mommy.

Half way there! :)

Fourth in line is my Auntie Sharon. The lady who started this whole blog/post in the first place. (lol) My Aunt Sharon and I tend to be a lot alike. We are both free spirits and very outspoken about our beliefs, opinions etc. We've had pretty similar life experiences as well. There has been a time (more than one) when we clashed horns and had a battle of the wills. (We're both incredibly stubborn.) Sometimes she just drives me insane but I still love her. I have a special place in my heart for her because we are so much alike. She has certainly be dealt an interesting hand in life but she just rolls with the punches. Some how she always seems to come out on top, at least to me. (lol) She also always seems to find a way to be generous and make others feel special.

This elephant paperweight is a gift from her. When I was little I loved elephants, I don't know why. She remembered that wanted me to have this paperweight. It's of what I like to think are a Mommy and baby elephant. Elliott loves it because of the bubbles in the glass portion, which is why it's up high in the window. This way I can enjoy it and he can't break it. (lol)

Fifth in the list of siblings is my Uncle Mark. This blog is all about the Aunts though so I guess I'll take about my Aunt Terri here. She is my Uncle Mark's wife. Honestly, I don't know her very well. She very sweet and kind. I know that growing up she was really close to my cousin Maddy. But I just never really got the chance to get to know her.

Last (but certainly not least) is my Aunt Susie. Susie is the youngest of the six. She is also a mother of seven. (Brave woman!) I honestly don't know how she does it all. Six of her seven children are still in high school through grade school. My Aunt Susie just amazes me (yes, they all amaze me in different ways) with everything she manages. All of the different balls she keeps up in the air. I have nothing but the utmost love and respect for her, as a woman and as a mother. She's just phenominal!

And those are my wonderful, amazing aunts. This started out as a blog about the beautiful, thoughtful gift my Auntie Sharon gave me and somehow it's morphed into this. :)

That's right folks, poo on the nay-sayers! (as Beth and Julie put it) I am going to post pictures of my care packages! :)



In this lovely package from April, I received a handmade blue and gray blanket for Tiny and two magazines for me. :) I just love this blanket! It is super, duper soft and snuggly. I can't wait to use it for Tiny.

And before the rumors start, blue is my favorite color. April and I have known each other for years and she knows this. Sorry folks, no hints at Tiny's sex here. ;)

If you like April's craftiness, she has a whole Etsy store full of crafty things she and her friend have made. Go take a gander! :)

I have been posting pictures of each and every gift and care/sanity package I have been blessed enough to receive. However, upon consideration I am coming across in manner I had not wished to. Anyone who knows me, knows it was never my intention to come across as seeking gifts. I am simply very grateful and I live my life as an open book. I was merely trying to express my gratitude.

I am posting this so that you know, I am very grateful and in the process of making thank you cards for each and every one of you.

I've seen some people leave truly ugly comments on other blogs because gifts were shared with everyone. And I don't want anyone to feel that I'm asking for more. I'm grateful for everything I've received. :)

So please know, that I am very grateful and I feel very blessed to have each and every one of you involved in our lives.

Thanks! :)

***Side note: this blog/post has been changed from it's original form. Originally I asked for opinions as to whether or not it is tacky for me to post pictures of my care packages/gifts. The only comment this post received was in response to that blog. Not the one you find above. I have closed comments to this post because I am not looking to start a war here. :) That is all.***

I have this blog I've been working over in my head and I was trying to type this morning. About how overwhelmed I am. How I feel as if I'm failing in everything I do. How it just isn't enough.

Then, in that special way she seems to have, I receive mail from April. I'm sitting here crying because she wrote me a beautiful letter (it's okay that you typed it - I love it just the same!), two magazines and a beautiful handmade blanket. (Pictures are coming!)

April, thank you! Thank you for somehow knowing just what to say and do. Thank you for being you.

I'm just so touched by the support I'm receiving from everyone. The care packages, the cheesecakes, the handmade gifts...it's all so wonderful. I can't wait to tell Tiny how much love and support we received during this difficult pregnancy. I'm so excited that Gavin and Elliott Richard are able to see the unconditional love and support of friends. So few people are able to witness these things these days. And the fact that my sons get to see it on a regular basis...it's one of the best lessons they'll ever learn. Thank you for helping me to make that lesson available to them. Thank you for each and every thing you've done for us. Your prayers. Your positive thoughts. Your emails and comments. I cherish each and every one of them.

From the bottom of my heart, to each and every one of you, thank you.