In disbelief (a long one, just a warning)

I am in complete disbelief that Thanksgiving has already come and gone and that Christmas (yes, I still use the word)is only a little over three weeks away! I only have 3 gifts bought out of the many more I need to buy!!!

Thanksgiving was great for us this year. We spent it in Kingsport with John's family. We had lunch at his mom's house with all kinds of wonderful food and dinner at his cousins house with even more wonderful food. Blay ate his turkey (with barbeque sauce of course) early on Thursday so I could get him down for a nap before everyone arrived. Since he was still sickly, he really needed his nap.

He slept for a good while and then got to play with all his cousins...ages 7 months to 15 years old. He didn't want to leave to go to his other's cousins house. He had cousins at this house from age 27 months to 17 years old. His favorite one at this house was his cousing Blake who is Blay's age. They are actually about 2 weeks apart.

I didn't get to do much shopping on Friday. I decided against getting out with all the 'crazies' (no offense to you but I ran into several when I did get out) at 400 in the morning. Shopping could of started at midnight at Toys R Us but I decided against it.

John and I got out at 10 and I did get a couple good deals, like a present for my step mom and my cousin. My best deal was the $3.99 movie at Target. The two things I really wanted I had just missed at Target. I even missed one of them today at Walmart. What is it? A dual screen portable DVD player. I am running out of luck on them for some reason!

Saturday on the way home, John's dad and step mom wanted to take the grandkids to Black Bear Jamboree Christmas Spectacular in Gatlinburg. So on the way home, we stopped in there with them and enjoyed the show. I have already been there but not for the Christmas show. As usual, it was a great performance. And I was very surprised by Blay. I thought he would nap on the way there since the show was at 2 and we left at 1130 to go. I stopped once in Gatlinburg because he was hungry and he ate a little more at the Jamboree. What amazed me even more is that he was wonderful throughout the entire performance. The only time he cried or got fussy is when he would get in trouble for jumping or hitting his cousin. HE LOVED LOVED LOVED the Jamboree!

I am looking at taking him to see the Christmas Lights at Rock City soon. He loves the lights and trees, etc and I really think he'll enjoy it. We even partially put up his tree last night. I have to put lights on it tonight because I forgot about it last night. His face just lights up when he sees it in his room!

So precious!

Travel time

Yep, it's true. It's that time of year where everyone is traveling. Whether you are traveling or someone is traveling to you. The noise, lights, and don't forget the traffic. That is what I dread most about this time of year. Traffic is bad enough with 'crazy' drivers out but add out of town drivers and it's just chaos.

Pray for us as we travel today and during the week. Pray that Blay is patient and sleeps most of our traveling today. He wasn't feeling to good this morning so I hope he is in a better 'traveling' mood when we pick him up shortly.

John kept Blay last night while I went to a business dinner. We all ate at a restaraunt in town called Blue Water Grille! It was amazing. It had a nice atmosphere and the decorations to make it feel more like a 'seafood' restaraunt were classic and just right. And their food? Great. I had never had a salad with sugar coated pecans on it but I have now. It was delicious. You can check them out online at www.bluewaterchattanooga.com

I pray for traveling mercies for all you my friends and family not only this week but throughout the rest of the year.

Also, if you go shopping on Friday and find any great deals, let me know about it. I am very interested and I will share mine with you!

What a weekend!!!

Was it ever a very long and unfriendly weekend!

Friday night wasn't that bad. We got home and played some while I made some Chicken and Rice in the process. After we ate, John went to finish putting up some insulation and pipe wrapping while Blay and I played. I then remembered Dad down at his 'newest' house working and thought I'd see if he wanted some dinner and he did. So, Blay and I got him some Chicken & Rice together and took it to him. Blay loved seeing his Papaw!!! I think Dad was glad for the break away from the claw foot tub too!

Saturday, Blay got up but didn't eat as good as usual. John was gone hunting so it was just me and little man. I had my day planned out as to what we were going to do and was looking forward to spending the evening with Blay at the Family Fun Fest that evening after his nap. Well, during the morning, he was unusually tired and a little whiney so I put him down for his nap a little early after he ate a really good lunch.

After over four hours of sleeping, I went to get Blay out of bed. I wasn't going to wake him to get him ready for Fun Fest but did eventually have to wake him up at 515. He was so hot! I waited for his body temperature to aclamate since he was under the covers in long sleeves and pants. After John & I ate a good chili dinner, Blay still felt really hot. I finally got his temperature under his arm and was very alarmed. 104.4!!!!!

I immediately called the doctor's office and the nurse called me and told me not to 'panic' until it was over 105. To strip him down to diaper & t shirt and give him some meds for the fever. He was soo pitiful. He would just lay in either John or my arms eyes half open and not move. I had never seen him so helpless! I just wanted to cry and wish it was me doing that and not him.

Blay and I slept in our guest room that night. I wanted to keep a close eye on him. Needless to say, between his fever and his sleeping habits, I didn't sleep well. Sunday, he was still running a fever of 101 (much better) so we stayed home from church. John went to the store for me so we could have some food while I continued to try and nurse Blay.

I finally got him to take a shower and he had a big spurt of energy for a while after that. He still wasn't eating but was doing a lot of drinking so I wasn't too worried about it. I put him down for an early nap and he slept for a couple hours. Waking to yet another fever. We battled the fever on and off all day. The awful looking runny nose started to and a bad sounding cough.

Monday, I took Blay to the doctor after another bad night of restless sleep for both of us but his fever did finally break over night Sunday night. The doctor tested for strep and the flu and was shocked Blay didn't have either, especially since his throat was red and swollen. The diagnosis? Adnovirus...

Now, on this cold Tuesday morning, Blay woke up in a great mood and ate almost all his blueberry wheat waffles. I didn't have a battle with him at all this morning during breakfast, teeth brushing, medicine giving, day care going morning! He was so sweet when I dropped him off at school and wanted a hug and kiss from me. Oh how I am going to miss those days in a couple years!

Now, I am sick and snotty and treating myself with all kinds of goodies. Please continue to pray for Blay and myself that we will recover and stay healthy the rest of the year!

Love to all,

Show Us Your Life - Pets

This week's topic for Show Us Your Life is our pets. So please allow me to introduce you to the two furry members of the Duncan family.



Meet Kai. Kai is a full blooded black lab who is 8 years old. She will be 9 years old in January. The above picture was taken at Harrison Bay State Park where John would take her to work. Work? Yes, retrieve her bumpers and ducks from the water. These are things she learned in her dog training soon after John got her.

I met Kai a little over 7 years ago and she melted my heart because she is such a fun loving, excited, hyper, playful dog. She can also be protective of me. I remember when I was pregnant she guarded me like crazy. She would not eve like for our deceased cat T to be on my belly or any where near it! She is protective of Blay now too!

I was worried about how she would react to him when he came. At first, she was a little jealous. She tends to be that way if you don't give her the attention she thinks she deserves. But, she quickly warmed up to him and tries to play with him. The only problem is that she doesn't quite understand how strong she is when she tries playing with even me. Overall though, she is just a big baby girl who loves time and attention, not to mention her belly being scratched.

And then, there's Chloe.



John surprised Blay and myself at the end of July with this pretty girl! He did this because while we were gone out of town over the Fourth of July Holiday, T, our outdoor orange tabby cat disappeared. Her name was 'Lucy' but John didn't care for it so after a day or throwing out names, we decided on the name Chloe for her. She was 6 months old when John brough her home. John found her for us on Craigslist. After we got her, we had her declawed because John deemed her as our inside cat. Now, I think he regrets that decision!

She is a very friendly, fun-loving, and very playful kitten. She is also very good with Blay, although, she doesn't like it when he decides he wants to pull her tail as he's dragging her through the house. She does like to playfully scratch and bite but she has never intentionally just bit you. 'She's only a kitten' is a phrase I have to repeat a lot with her, especially to John. She tends to get on his nerves about once a day.

We've are/had to try to teach Blay to be nice to the kitty. We are trying to teach him not to pull her tail or hit him because she will just bite him right back because he's being mean to her. She sleeps with us at night and follows me around the house in the mornings. She's a momma's girl. Probably because I am the only one who actually loves on her daily and don't mind her being around. I think John now regrets his decision of an indoor only cat. I hope to keep her around for a while because she is a very sweet cat, when she wants to be. It's just the kitten phase they have to get out of right???

Another Tooth

That's right! Finally, after months of gnawing and a couple weeks of on and off again fussing, Blay finally had a 2 year molar break through!!! This may be the cause of his unusual fussiness yesterday morning and his turndown of blueberry pancakes. His favorite meal of all time!

We didn't do much last night because he was still fussy with the tooth coming in. It has barely broken through. Just enough to feel it on the outside of the gum line. Pray for his little mouth. He only wants me during this and in turn, I can not get anything done around the house until he goes to bed.

And, on top of that, Blay's heating unit on his side of the house was out. There is a switch or something on the unit downstairs that's off or on or something and it shouldn't be. We just put the oil heater in his room last night and he stayed nice and toasty.

I pray I can get more done tomorrow after work especially since it won't be happening today due to church tonight.

Here is a picture of Blay playing in the leaves with his daddy on Saturday. I wish he would of done this with me on Monday!



OH yeah, we have a big birthday for someone dear tomorrow! I have a little surprise for her, well, Blay does.

Some Pictures to share

Not much happened yesterday when we got home. John, Blay, and myself went outside in an attempt to get the rest of the leaves to the woods before the rain came today. John made a big pile for Blay and myself to start moving but we didn't get a lot moved. Blay was hungry and our neighbor doing target practice with his gun scared Blay. He's usually not scared but he was in an unusual mood last night.

This morning, I think he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I may have too but my feet hit the ground on the usual side today. I don't know why but I feel crabby. Maybe it's because I am back at work with yet another week of not much to do. The project I was working on was finished for me while I was gone. So now, I'm just doing a little of this and a little of that for others in the office.

OH how I wish I could do that while at home! Cleaning my house is my top priority right now. I have so much to do and very, very little time to do it in.

Anyways, below are some pictures of the cruise from last week. If you would like to see more, just let me know. I'll send you the link to them. Enjoy!



St. Thomas from our ship



Crystal blue waters of St. Maarten



Our vehicle for our self 'shore excursion' in St. Maarten



Lighthouse in Nassau, Bahamas

Quick Bit & Favorite Book

I made it home, safe and sound Saturday night at 915. Blay was soo excited to see me! I figured he'd want his Papaw or Yanna but he didn't. Just his momma! I was glad for that. He didn't want to leave my side for a second. If I was getting up to go somewhere Saturday night or yesterday, he would put his arms around my neck and say 'Go with you'.

Yesterday, I learned he could not only sing Happy Birthday but Ring Around the Rosies while holding my hands and going in circles and falling down!

This morning, on the way to school, I got him to sing both of those for his daddy and then we worked on Jesus Loves Me! He is getting so big. I think I missed a year of life in just 7 days!

Needless to say, he missed me so much, I think he thinks I am going to leave him again. I have been having to lay down with him until he goes to sleep when I didn't have to do that before I left. Even this morning he was looking for me until he heard my shoes on the floor and yelled "Mommy here"! Poor soul, I don't think I'll be going anywhere without him for a while.

More updates and pics on trip later!

Favorite Book? Well, up until now, it was the Notebook and Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. Then I started reading Love & Respect my Emerson Eggerichs! It is such a great book on making bad marriages good and good marriages great! And it is Christian based directly out of the Bible. I never knew how men, including my husband, would act or want to really be treated until this book! How it and God has opened my eyes! Here is a link to the book on Amazon if you would like to review or purchase it.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Respect-Desires-Desperately-Needs/dp/1591451876/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258463469&sr=8-1

Setting sail

That's right. I am riding to Port Canaveral at this very moment on the way to our cruise. The Carnival Glory. We will be making stops in Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Maartin. I will be gone for 7 days.

Prayer Requests: Our safety and health. John taking care of Blay. I think mainly patience while taking care of Blay.

So far, the weather has been great and we are literally crammed in a car with luggage seperating Nikki and myself in the backseat now that we have picked up Brooke from the airport. The good thing we don't have a long drive to Port Canaveral.
Here's a pic of our current riding situation.



I will try to write an update while we are gone but I am not sure if I can. Take care all and I'll talk to you soon!!!

One rough night

Poor little soul was not happy last night. After we picked Blay up from school, we went to WalMart to get just a couple things. Then we went on to Lowe's and while at Lowe's I got dinner at McD's for all of us because our little man was getting fussy because he was hungry. Needless to say, it didn't help much.

He ate a few french fries and a couple bites off his burger but nothing more. Once we got home, I let him go outside for what remainder of daylight there was left and he did nothing but fuss! I brough him in, made him a 'picnic' in the living room floor with his dinner, still, no eating.

I finally talked him into taking a bath. This was even a long, drawn out battle. After a few minutes in the bathtub, he was happy as could be and started playing some. He also started passing some gas. Here is a picture of him saying 'I pooted' while he was in the tub.



And yes, he is laughing and smiling because he thought it was just sooo darn funny!

After his bath, things went back down hill, mainly after we finally talked him into putting something on other than his socks. He wanted a strudel so we made him one but he still wouldn't eat. I think his molars were bothering him and he was sleepy but I still do not know.

He finally, about and hour and 15 minutes past bedtime, collapsed in my arms, on the couch, watching Cars. I had been standing up holding him all night because he would not let me sit down. I somehow did but I think it was because he was exhausted. John and I put him to bed and slept all night long and was in a great mood this morning. I am going to miss my little guy next week. Please pray for all of us as I will be without my two men for 7 days!!!!

Oh yeah, the doctor isn't going to do anything about my gallbladder at the moment. If it starts acting up again, I will be sent for a HIDA scan on my gallbladder to check its functionality.

Praying for Baby Mayo

Morgan Mayo http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/morganmayo


I want to receive Journal update notification e-mails.
I have debated all morning long to update Morgan's journal; however, I know that our only hope right now is prayer and the good Lord above. We need all of you right now more than ever, and I am asking for you to pray without ceasing. Last night, we were in Morgan's room sitting beside her as always. Yesterday, as the doctors put it Morgan was being a little firecracker. She was laughing at the sedation. Around three in the afternoon, they had decided to place her on her tummy to help redistribute some of the fluid on her lungs. She seemed to be doing really well with "tummy time." One minute everything was stable and within a second her heart rate went from 117 to 0. Her heart literally stopped beating. Morgan was in cardiac arrest. The nurse, Payton and I were all screaming for help. Morgan was quickly flipped on her back and CPR was started. I have been praying for a miracle, and I guess God was listening because it just so happened that the cardiac surgeon was in Morgan's pod and quickly raced in to put her on the heart lung bypass machine. Many times, the surgeons have to be called in from their homes. Praise God that Dr. Bichell was here. A total of 35 minutes passed before Morgan was officially hooked up to ECMO (the heart lung bypass machine); however, she was getting good chest compressions the entire time, and a head ultrasound this morning is not showing any brain damage. Morgan will probably stay on ECMO until a new heart comes. There is no way to tell how long she can last on this machine. They were able to restart her heart, and it is now beating on its own. However, the machine is doing all the work of her heart.

Last night was the most difficult thing I have ever experienced in my life. My heart goes out to anyone that has ever had a common experience. Miracles do happen, and I am praying for a miracle. The doctors have done everything possible, and we know that there is only one man that can save Morgan. Lord, we come to you with heavy hearts knowing that You and only You have the power to heal Morgan. We ask that You show the world that miracles do happen, and You are in control. The Lord is hearing all our prayers, and I have complete faith that He has something wonderful in store for all of us to witness. For those of you that do not know our Lord and Savior, know that He loves you no matter what you have done in your life. He and only He can heal all the pain and can forgive you. I guess in the back of my mind I think that Morgan is in some way helping to bring just one lamb into the flock. If you are that person, I ask that you give your life over to our Lord and Savior. I am praying for you whomever you are. Just know that you are needed in God's Army to help fight for my baby's life. This is not at all what I expected from this post, but I am speaking from my heart. God needs someone out there to hear this and know that they are not alone.

We love each and every one of you, and we are begging that you pray for Morgan as if she was your own. Be strong in your faith, and know that God is listening. Love and hugs.

Spoken too soon

I spoke too soon yesterday about Blay being a perfect angel for me while his daddy was gone. Being such a rarity for me, I should have kept my mouth closed. After I picked Blay up from school yesterday, he was being a little defiant with me. He didn't want to get in the car or cooperate with me once he got in the car.

He and I went to eat at Chick-Fi-La and he was really good there. He didn't eat his chicken but did eat all of his fries. After he ate, I let him play on their playground for a bit because we still had a bit of time to kill before going to WalMart and church.

Here are a couple pictures of him playing on the playground.





While he was playing, Granny Becky came in and he just had to show off for her. Once we left, we went to WalMart to get him some medicine, me some motion sickness tablets, and Blay's pancakes and syrup. I can not run out of those two things or I will be a bad mommy! Blay pitched a fit in the check out line because he didn't want to leave WalMart. I do not know what his obsession is with it other than that they have backhoes. We didn't even go look at them and he was pitching a fit. He wanted to stay at WalMart.

We went on to church and on home where he ate a few more of his fries but no chicken. Oh, almost forgot. After he ate most of his fries while at Chick-Fi-La, he proudly announced he no longer chicken but wanted a burger. He didn't like I couldn't get him one but simply explained to him the cows didn't like people to eat burgers in their restaraunt and they didn't have any for that reason. He quickly hushed about the burger.

Blay's cold is starting to get better and so is his coughing at night. He coughed only a couple times during the night last night.

Tonight and tomorrow night are going to be busy nights for us as I try to get things done to get ready for my cruise on Saturday. Please pray that I can get everything done! Also pray for our friends, the McCrory's. They had another set back in their attempt to get pregnant and are devestated. Please continue to pray that God will touch their hearts to comfort them and her body to help her carry.

And the results are in

The results of my ultrasound show I have some 'sludge' in my gallbladder. It is actually called biliary sludge. The funny thing is that the things that cause it I have not done or am currently in a state of. It can go away and/or cause more problems, including gallstones. I now have to await for my doctor to return to the office tomorrow so he can look over everything and decide what course of action, if any, I need to do. Yet another waiting game.

Blay was a perfect angel for me yesterday. He slept until 715 and ate his breakfast like a charm. No fighting over putting on his school clothes or brushing his teeth. I then dropped him off at school with ease. He was also a perfect angel for me when I picked him up.

We went outside when we got home since it gets dark earlier now. He played with Kai and in the dirt with his backhoes. He would spend all day there if I would let him. I finally talked him into going inside to eat dinner. He wanted pancakes and I told him no since he had them for breakfast, so we compromised. He got two waffles and an egg. He also ate some of the eggs off of my egg sandwich I made myself. Why were we eating like this? John was out of town and I didn't want to 'cook' for just the two of us. And, because eating the waffles made him happy.

I was truely amazed at how good he was for me yesterday, and even this morning when I had to do it all over again by myself. I did have to wake him up at 645 but he was already half awake because he had been coughing some.

Yes, the cold is still ever present in the little guy. Mine seems to be doing better. I only hope he will be as coooperative today after school as he was yesterday, at least until we get finished with dinner and off to church.

Me this time

In addition to Blay having a cold, I now have one. I woke up in the middle of the night with an awful sore throat. The only thing I could do was drink a small sip of water and suck on a cough drop, which I later swallowed on accident. I couldn't get anything big to drink or drink a lot because I was fasting for my ultrasound this am. I still have not heard anything from the doctor but the technician told me I should have the results today.

Blay woke up about 3 am coughing. In trying to get his cough medicine poured, the cat was also locked up in some room somewhere and I could not find her. After I got Blay to take his medicine and laid him back down, I went to check the play room for the cat. When shutting the door, I noticed something moving out by the house. I walked over to the corner of the room between the windows and saw two does grazing in the yard. They were illuminated by the moon light. I could of watched them for a while but I had to find the cat.

By this time, she had gotten John out of bed because she was meowing so much. I found her, in the foyer closet. One of the places I had aleady looked! She came out and ran straight to 'her' room. I think she went in there when I was hanging my coat up last night.

Anyways, not much to report. Just continued prayers for Blay and myself to get better!

Wrap Up

There wasn't much to write about on Thursday or Friday, just the usual daily rushing of work, church, and home life.

Friday night, John and I had a date night of sorts. We had a Sunday School function of a Progressive Dinner. It was use and 9 other couples. We had a fun and interesting time, especially at the house were we had our main course. Rather intersting to say the least. You can check out the pictures on my FB page.

Blay was picked up at school on Friday by his Yanna and two cousins, Ashton and Gabbie. He spent the night with them and had a good time. Unfortunately, his cold returned that night and is still hanging around. So, we are back on the Zyrtec and Benedryl routine with cough meds as needed. The crazy weather just needs to make up its mind!

Saturday morning, Blay came home and had a rough day. He took a good nap but the cold was making him ill and clingy. After his nap, we headed to Mamaw & Papaw's house to join the rest of the family for some Halloween fun! Blay was rather ill there as well but calmed down some after he ate a little and got adjusted to all the people and all the costumes.

Here are some picture of the kids in their costumes. I forgot to get a pic of Dad & Yo, who were dressed as vampires because they went to a costume wedding before dinner.



Blay as the Korean boy



Blay with Ashton & Gabbie

Blay was cute when trick or treating. He would go up to the homes and when I would say "What do you say?" he would say "Please" instead of "Trick or Treat". I don't guess that is too much of a bad thing. Because then he would precede to tell them "Thank You" after he got his candy or picked out his candy. After each house, he would say "I had fun Mommy". I am glad for that. Here are some pictures of him walking with his pumpkin of candy and checking out his candy.





On Sunday, Blay and I went to church and then went to dad's house to see the progress and so Blay could see his Papaw and Yanna. He also saw daddy and rode lift dad has at the house to help him paint the outside. Blay thought that it was just the coolest thing and wanted to stay in it. I held him the whole time in it because we were really high. I didn't want to risk my little dare devil falling while in the process of checking everything out.





As you can tell, he wasn't scared at all!

Well, we're off to start another week and so far, it hasn't been too great! Let's hope it just gets better! Also, in addition to praying for Blay and his cold, pray for my ultrasound tomorrow!