One year ago

How is the world can it be a year since my Dad passed away? It seems not so long ago but when I think about it, he missed so much in the past year. I believe in Heaven, obviously, but what does he really see? I like to think he was there for the birth of his 6th grandchild, Sarah Jane, Harper's first birthday and first steps, Landon's first t-ball game, Jordyn cheering at the football games, Riley's third birthday party, Charlie's crazy conversations....You see where I'm going with this.

I miss him so much it hurts. Growing up, he missed out on a lot of stuff. We didn't know it then, but he suffered from PTSD which he masked with alcohol. My siblings are the ones who got the short end of the stick, though. See, with me being the youngest, I got to experience the real "Dad" since I was the only one left at home. While I was in high school, he finally realized that some things needed to change. He started to get more involved in our lives. He wouldn't miss my volleyball and basketball games for the world. It didn't matter how far he had to drive, he was there.

Years went on and Dad started having some health issues. It started with congestive heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis and things just kept piling up...diabetes, Parkinson's, and the PTSD was getting worse. When Mom and Dad came to Lubbock for Harper's birth, he was in pretty bad. Right after she was born, they ended up leaving because I couldn't handle seeing my dad so sick AND try to care for a newborn. A few days later, Dad was admitted and ended up in ICU. Around Thanksgiving of 2009, he had signed a complete DNR, and we were preparing to say our final goodbyes. But Dad wasn't ready to die! He even told the people driving him home from the ambulance this. :) He was sent home under hospice care shortly after Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad spent those next four months soaking in every moment. The night before he died, they even went on a date in Austin for dinner and a movie. The day he passed away, he just started having some difficulty breathing. His heart just couldn't keep up. He passed away with my mom by his side, holding his hand on the night of March 26, 2010.

So this past weekend, my friend Gerianne, Harper, and I drove to my mom's for some quality family time! We got to her house Thursday night, went to San Antonio (went to the zoo and visited my dad, went by my grandma's house), spent the night, made it to my nephew, Landon's t-ball game in Bastrop, drove back to La Grange, church on Sunday, spent the night in Austin Sunday night, then drove back to Lubbock on Monday. Wow, that made me tired just remembering all we did! It was a great weekend, but I think I need a vacation just to sleep and recover from my vacation!

First stop was the zoo! Jordyn got to leave school early on Friday to join us there. :)

I'm super smart and forgot Harper's stroller for the trip, so we had to rent one at the zoo.

We left some pretty flowers and a "Happy Birthday" balloon for my dad.

This may sound creepy to some, but I LOVE national cemeteries!

T-ball is seriously the most entertaining sport to watch.

He made 2 runs! I was so proud of him!

We made a stop at the 0utlets in R0und R0ck. So what if I bought Harper her 6th pair of C0nverse?!

Just riding on Buzz's spaceship. No big deal.

Harper loved Hul@ Hut just as much as I do.

It was a little ridiculous to see how much luggage we had for 2 adults and a toddler.

Thank you, God, for portable DVD players.

Buddy Holly Recreation Area

A couple of weekends ago, Michael and I drove over to the Buddy Holly Recreation Area to take some pictures of Harper. The weather was SO beautiful that day and couldn't pass it up. I know about one trick in Ph0t0sh0p, so I'm sure these pictures could love a lot better if I knew what I was doing!

I love this face!

I later realized she had splinters in her hands and legs from this bridge. Oops.

She can look so sweet and innocent in pictures.

After the park, we went over to our friends' house for a cookout! I am so fortunate to have such awesome co-workers to hang out with outside of work! Rachel, her husband Matt, and 2-year-old Lucy had us over with another family from work. Harper is definitely at the age where she would rather play with her friends than by herself (or just want my attention all the time!). They have a big backyard with plenty of stuff to get into play with. I have never really let Harper get dirty too much. It's mostly because I really don't want to deal with the clean up. Come to find out, this girl LOVES to get dirty. Good thing I only paid $2 for this dress at W@l-Mart.

Mmmm....snot with a little dirt stuck to it.

St Maddie's Day

My heart breaks for Kellie and her family. I can't imagine losing a child. I'm not really sure how I come across most of the blogs I read, but I just can't seem to stop thinking about sweet Maddie. Today, Maddie would have been 5 months old and in honor of her, Kellie asked for everyone to take their kids to the park and just love on them. So that is what we did. We first ate dinner at Texas Roadhouse in celebration of the 5th anniversary of our very first date then headed to Maxey park for some picture taking.

I am REALLY going to try to keep up with my blog! I just don't lead a very interesting life :)

Harper's Hospital Stay

Harper started vomiting on Saturday, the 6th. She was acting fine otherwise. She started running a fever and having diarrhea on Sunday, so I called my pediatric brother-in-law for advice. I really wasn't too concerned but wanted to get his advice nonetheless. She vomited A LOT Sunday night, and I was just about DONE with being puked on and doing laundry. On Monday morning, I went in to wake her up, and she could barely keep her eyes open. I picked her up to change her, and her diaper was completely dry. Not okay. This is when I REALLY started to worry. It had been at least 13 hours since she had had that diaper on. I called and left a message for the nurse at her doctor's office. I took her in at 10 that morning, and the doctor was very concerned just by looking at her. She was limp for the most part, and her soft spot was sunken in. He said he wanted me to take her straight to the pediatric floor of the hospital next door. While I waited for them to prepare the orders to take, I just sat and cried. I REALLY didn't think she was that sick.

Michael met us at the hospital where they started an IV of fluids and an antibiotic for double ear infections (which the doctor found when we went in that morning). She was so out of it, she didn't even cry when they cathed her and put the IV in. It was the saddest thing! For the next 6 hours or so, she didn't move much and slept most of the time. She continued to vomit and have extreme diarrhea well into the night and early the next morning. She went through MANY gown and bedding changes in the first 24 hours. After spending 48 hours in the hospital, we were ready to go home and get better!

She is doing a lot better at home but still having some problems keeping everything down. She usually just vomits in the morning and then won't for the rest of the day. She's acting normal and keeping mostly everything down, so I'm not really concerned. It's just frustrating. We go back to the doctor on Wednesday, so hopefully the stool cultures will show what was wrong.

Right after they started the IV. so sad!

Feeling a little better after toys from Child Life services

She was getting really bored just sitting in the bed, so she looked out the window and waved at the people down below for a while.

Feeling A LOT better by day 3

I can't thank you all enough for praying for her (and Michael and I) while we were in the hospital. It was so sad and scary and hope we won't have to do it again anytime soon!

Halloween 2010!

Halloween started with going to church. Don't they look so cute in their coordinating outfits? :)

Some of you may remember Halloween 2009. We were discharged from the hospital and came home with a baby giraffe!

Since we call her "Stinky," it was only fitting she be a skunk for Halloween.

I was worked at our company Safe Zone, so I dressed up as well.

Umm, I'm pretty sure this is the cutest skunk I have EVER seen.

Harper is officially ONE!

Harper turned ONE on October 28th. She had a fun-filled day with me at work :) We were planning on going to the corn maize that evening to celebrate, but she was SO tired and went to bed at 6:15! What?! WHO does that on their birthday?! Apparently, Harper Reese.

My friend Gerianne and I made this shirt for her to wear :) Isn't is SO cute?!

See, being at work with me isn't TOO bad :)

My friend Jill gave her this doll, and Harper wouldn't let it go. Too cute.

Harper's FIRST Birthday Party!

We celebrated Harper's birthday on October 23rd sock monkey style! We had SO much fun. I am so thankful for Harper's Papa, Mary, and Grammy for all being able to come. She is so blessed to have them in her life!

Messin' while everyone was stuffing their faces with hotdogs

Sweet baby!

Family picture

Yummy cupcakes