We're HOME!

Dad was released from the hospital this morning about 11:30.  He is home and resting.  He couldn't have picked a colder day this spring.  Ha!  We are so grateful again for all of your prayers and well-wishes.  We are praying for a speedy recovery.

Update on Dad

I stayed in the hospital with Daddy last night and he seemed to get more sleep.  The nurses come in at least every 4 hours to give him pain medicine (praise God for that!), take his vital signs, etc. but it keeps him from sleeping for very long at once.  The best news of today is that he is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital today!  Mom is about to make her way up here to relieve me, and we'll know more information when the doctor makes his rounds this morning.  I'll update again as soon as we know.  After an 80 degree day yesterday, it will be a shock to take Dad home in a blizzard today!!!  Please keep praying.  Dad is feeling better, and as long as we keep those pain pills on a 4 hour schedule he can function pretty well.  We even did most of a crossword puzzle yesterday (if you know my Dad you know he doesn't miss his daily crossword!).  That was encouraging to me to see him answering those clues.  I had to read it to him since he didn't have his glasses, but we had fun.  I think he is going to have a pretty much constant headache for quite a while.  Pray for his comfort and a very speedy recovery.  We love you all and are so grateful to be surrounded by our family and friends. 

My Daddy

Some of you may have heard that my dad had emergency brain surgery yesterday.  We are all just as shocked as you are by this!  He had been having constant headaches for almost 3 weeks and saw his family doctor yesterday morning thinking it was still a sinus infection.  The doctor did an X-ray and a CT scan and sent him home.  I got home from the grocery store to find him asleep on the couch and phones ringing off the hook trying to get in touch with him.  I woke him up and told him to call Dr. Reynold's office back and he got the news that he had a "brain bleed" but that was all we knew.  Mom came home to drive him to the ER for more tests.  Lots of blood-work, a chest x-ray and an MRI later, Dad was immediately taken to surgery.  I barely had time to make it to the hospital to see him before they took him back!  We were shocked that this invasive surgery would only take about an hour, and were relieved when Dr. George came out with the good news that he was doing great.  They kept him in SICU overnight and he is now resting in his own room.  His head is hurting worse than ever and he is exhausted, but he is really doing great.  He doesn't need visitors right now... just prayers.  We have been blessed to be surrounded by such amazing family and friends.  Mom and I are blown away by everyone's support.  I'll try to keep things updated, but internet access may be early morning/late night.

New Orleans Finale

Our last day in New Orleans was spent at the zoo.  It was fabulous!  I'm sad we didn't have more time to spend there.  I didn't upload all 5000 pictures of animals Carter took... but there were some cute ones of the boys with costumed characters.  We split up the drive on the way home into 2 days... New Orleans to Houston, and then Houston to Lubbock.  Carter's parents were in Houston for a wedding so we caravanned home.  We found a beautiful field of bluebonnets and stopped to take pictures!  We are glad to be home and ready to get back into our routine... whatever that is.  Ha!

Final Entry

We just got home from our journey!  It was a long trip, and I'll post the last pictures sometime tomorrow.  :)

New Orleans Part 4

Are you tired of our travel saga yet?  We're getting ready to wrap up our trip.  Tonight was our last night in NOLA.  We have had so much fun this week!  I'm so grateful Carter and the boys were able to come to this conference with me.  I had sessions most of today, but had a 4 hour break in the middle of the day.  We went to the "Insectarium" which was great!  I was a little worried about Harrison (scared to death of bugs) but he really had a great time.  He wouldn't hold the hissing cockroach... but then again, neither would I.  :)  It still kills me, though, that when you ask Palmer what his favorite thing from this week was... he says "Playing Wii in the hotel."  We ate dinner tonight at Cafe Du Monde.  There are some funny pictures of powdered sugar covered faces!  Harrison (my little cleaner) was more concerned with cleaning the powdered sugar off of the table to get his hands messy.  Ha!

 

New Orleans Part 3

Today we visited the Aquarium of the Americas... a great start to the day!  I had afternoon sessions, but then we saw an IMAX movie about the Wild Ocean.  Here are today's pictures...

1. A very candid (aka. blurry) shot of the boys holding hands while walking down the street

2. Faces on the ceiling of the House of Blues (awesome food, great music!)

3. The boys wearing their 3-D glasses before the IMAX movie started

4. Looking at a white crocodile

5. Shark Bait!!!

Hope you're enjoying these daily updates... I realize it is very unlike me. :)

New Orleans Part 2

What a fun day in New Orleans!  While mommy was in her meeting (ALL DAY!) the boys and I got the chance to walk around downtown New Orleans and soak up some of the local sights.  We walked the Riverwalk, had our picture taken with an alligator and had some really good food!  Tomorrow we are going to the zoo and we are so excited!

New Orleans Part 1

We finally arrived in New Orleans... 1000 + mile drive, folks.  The boys did GREAT in the car... and we broke up the drive into 3 days.  It will be 2 days on the way back.  We found a "quaint" pizza place (aka. hole in the wall!) and had a delicious dinner on St. Patrick's day.  The rest of the pictures are car pics... pretty much all we've done so far.

We did get to see some friends in East Bernard... including the boys' first babysitters who couldn't believe how big they are!  More to come later this week...

It's Official!

We are becoming IOWA HAWKEYES!!!

Carter was offered the most prestigious doctoral fellowship offered by the Iowa School of Music!  We will be moving to Iowa City for the fall.  I'm sure more news will be coming soon... when we find a house, pre-school... etc.  Stay tuned!  Happy spring break to everyone!!

Columbus Trip

Carter and I had a great time in Columbus!  Here are a few pictures from our trip.

-- The university sign... we were in the car so it isn't very close up!

-- Me standing on "The Oval" which is the center of campus

-- A beautiful building which is a replica of the first building on campus

-- A cool building I admired all day with the turret... it is the geology building

-- A shot of the stadium from across campus

-- Another beautiful building (sorry for all the architecture pictures!!!)

We are exhausted, but turning around today to start making our way to New Orleans with the boys for my national science teacher's convention.  This will be the first time Carter has gone to one of MY conferences... I go to his almost every year.  He gets to feel a little of what I feel when I have the boys by myself at his conferences this time!  We are taking our time on the road... we don't have to be there until Tuesday night.  We plan to stop along the way and see some friends as long as a fun stop at the Blue Bell factory for some ice cream!!  Hope you all have a wonderful spring break...

Haircuts: Before and After

We were LONG over due for haircuts... here are before and after shots to prove it!!!  I've never had their hair cut this short before... but I think they look pretty cute!