Great Weekend

Richard and I had a great weekend in Dallas. The initial reason we traveled to the Big D was to attend the wedding of my college roommate's sister, Amy Blackwelder (now LaValle). It was absolutely GORGEOUS! The wedding was in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church off of Abrams, and the reception was at the Crescent Hotel...fabulous! We had a cocktail hour while we waited for the bridal party to take pictures and then we all made our way into the beautiful reception room for a sit down dinner of a scrumtious salad (with spinach, arugula, avocado, feta cheese, bellpepper and lots of other yummy tidbits), dinner baguettes, a main course of lamb chop, steak, and a delicious either veal or pork (we never figured it out) sausage, to-die-for steamed veggies (fresh green beans, carrots, and mashed potatoes), and wedding cake for dessert! The band was probably the best part of the reception...apparently a local swing, 40's-style group that were fabulous!

Another highlight of the trip was getting to see my parents and visit with them. The bride's father and my dad were roommates and in the corps at A&M together, so we all get together once a year for a reunion. This was the second time this year we've gotten to see everyone and we had a great time! We also got to see some extended family; my dad's brother and his family and his sister and her family all live in Highland Park, so we were able to visit with all of them and stayed the night at no cost (yay, gotta love that)!

Also, we made a rather large purchase on something I've been waiting for for a long time! This Christmas I asked for nothing but gift certificates to World Market and cash! So, Rich and I took my loot (along with the help and company of Mom) and bought my BUFFET and HUTCH! I'm so excited! Now, it isn't the one I had originally planned on getting. I actually liked this one best, but didn't like the color, so I was going to get a glass cabinet instead. It's not the color itself, just that it doesn't really go with the other things in our house (although our kitchen appliances are black and stainless). Well, we started thinking and decided we could easily distress it a little more and then either repaint it or do some sort of finish on it. I was a bit more reassured because Mom, the artist was there and it wasn't just Richard trying to convince me "we can do this." We had all of my gift certificates (thank you, fam) and cash as well as a 40% off coupon my sister-in-law, Amy told me about! So, we got a great deal and bought this:



I absolutely love it and can't wait for Rich to get home so we can start working on it! Oh, and that's the only sad part of the whole weekend...we drove to Dallas in separate vehicles because he went on to Austin for a whole week! Listen to this crazy scheduling...he will get back Friday evening late, late. Then, he will be home for a week but I will leave Tuesday for Austin for a technology conference and won't be back until Friday. Then, Monday, Richard turns around and goes back to Austin for more training! So, besides weekends, we will be in exact opposite places for 3 weeks! I'm trying to see if I can find a one-way ticket from Austin to Amarillo so I can stay with him that second weekend and then fly home. We'll see if that works out or not!

I just thank the good Lord for Maggie and Marlee because they are keeping me company while their Daddy is gone! Thank you Jesus, for baby shnauzers!

My New Name

NO, I didn't marry a new husband, nor did I get rid of my current one and revert to my maiden name. I was perusing some blogs tonight and found this fun little game to play. Because it has been a while since I have posted something new, I thought I would surprise my eager blogging friends (ahem...Corrie) and post this! Very B-movie, but still entertaining!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Viscountess Charla the Mystical of Hope End Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Oh, and BTW, I expect any further mail, email or otherwise, to be addressed to me using my new title...or I'll have your head!

What in the world...?

I was perusing FoxNews this morning and stumbled upon this story. I do NOT understand where things fell apart for this child, but someone has done him an injustice somewhere along the line. To be a nine-year-old with a wrap sheet longer than most 25 year-olds is scary!Everyday I am more and more anxious about someday bringing a child into this world. Here's the story...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,244239,00.html

More Baby Pics!

Dawn just sent me this link to pictures of Kade (and Drew). They are precious! Enjoy! My personal favorites are the one with Kade and his legs curled up underneath him and the one where Drew is kissing him on the forehead! We are supposed to go see the whole gang this weekend, but I'm not sure the weather is going to cooperate with us! We'll see! Here's the link:


http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbMWjJw3YuGH2

Attention Adriana Trigiani Fans!!!!

Please make your way to Adriana Trigiani's website (there's also a link on the left side of my blog called A Great Read). There's a new controversy brewing over the Big Stone Gap movie. It is interesting to read about and I had a good time sending an email to those involved about my feelings towards it. Check it out!

Welcome to the World...

...Beautiful Boy!

Introducing Kade Devoy Jenkins.

Here are his stats:
Born: January 2, 2007 in Lubbock, Texas
Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz. (and he was 3 weeks early)
Hair color: Dirty blonde with blonde highlights.
Eye color: Yet to be determined.
Hands and feet: Look like his uncle Sich's (Rich's in Drew-speak)
Loved: BY ALL!

We are so happy about the new addition to the Jenkins family! We had to postpone our trip to see the little guy until next weekend because of our illnesses, but we are really looking forward to meeting him! Thank you all again for your prayers! Everyone made it home from the hospital today and are doing well...tired, but WELL!

Update...

We just spoke with Ronnie and Dawn and the baby is doing really well. He is finally latching on and suckling, so they are hoping to be out of the hospital by 12:00 tomorrow afternoon. I do need to correct something I posted about him earlier...I thought they were spelling his name
C-A-D-E, but they have spelled it K-A-D-E. Oops...that's what I get for publishing before double-checking.

I am doing okay. Today I had the highest fever so far...103 and I was terribly miserable. It finally broke and I feel like I'm going through menopause, or so I imagine. I had the fan turned up so high, even Rich was cold...yes, the man I so lovingly refer to as "the oven" had to grab a blanket, while I'm fanning myself and wiping sweat from my body! Crazy how these things run. All is normal with the illness, though, so no worries.

Another update...

If you're wondering how I have the energy to come and update every once in a while, here's my secret. I wait until my fever breaks again and then run in here to do it really quickly before it starts again. Same thing with eating...only during non-fever moments!

I decided not to go to work this morning...good idea! I checked my temp about 30 minutes ago as I felt that feverish feeling had come back...sure enough 101.6...YIKES! In the middle of the feverish state my mom and dad call me and she makes me promise to call the doctor and make sure that is supposed to still be happening even after I have started meds. My response was, "I've only taken 2 pills, Mom, calm down," but I promised to call, so I will do that later. Right now, I'm going to enjoy my non-fever time by eating a Lean Cuisine, going outside to grab the mail, and playing with the schnauzer girls (I've watched enough t.v. to make me SICK)!

Thanks for all the sweet comments by the way! They are MUCH appreciated and keep me looking forward to checking the computer every few hours!

Oh, Audrey...First, the time on my blogger is not accurate...its about 2 hours off. I woke up that early, however, to call in sick to work. So, I thought while I was up and my fever was broken, I would get on the computer. AND...thanks for the movie suggestions. I think I will call Rich and have him pick something up on his way home from work (yes, one of us actually "clocked in" today)! NOW...the only thing I need is for one of you to come to Childress and clean my house...any takers?

Updates

Dawn and Cade are doing MUCH better! Thank you for all of your prayers! Dawn's not showing signs of much infection and was happy and sounded great when I talked to her last night. Cade is breathing on his own and doing well. His lungs were fully developed, just not as strong as a full-term baby's would be so he needed some help. Also, he swallowed some amniotic fluid during the birthing process and had to expel that, as well. The only thing they are waiting on to be discharged is Cade to begin suckling on his own. Dawn is pumping and he hasn't quite mastered the art of latching onto the bottle/her, but as soon as he can, they will be able to go home. Probably late today, early Saturday. I know she will be ready...she's been there now for going on 10 days now!

I went to the doctor yesterday and after urine tests, a Catscan, and a physical exam...oh and lots of waiting in between, it turns out I have a severe kidney infection in my left kidney. Turns out the bladder infection I had, spread to my kidneys. If you've ever had a kidney infection, you know one of the worst parts is the high, high fevers. So, I'm on antibiotics (Cephelexin) and Tylenol and trying to make the best of it. I decided not to go to school today, just to be safe, and to stay home and rest as much as I can. Rich is feeling a bit better, but still fighting the head cold and chest congestion crud. All in all, we are alive and ready to be well!

Thanks for all of your encouraging comments!

In Need of Prayer

In my previous post, I mentioned my sister-in-law and our new nephew, Cade. They are both in need of your prayers tonight! I have witnessed the power of this blogging network and prayer, so I thought I would use this to help Dawn and Cade.

Dawn had a c-section and is in severe pain in her recuperation. With her last c-section, they gave her some medication she was highly allergic to...it made her face swell and she itched really badly all over. Somehow, the communication system broke down in this area and she was given the same stuff again. She is just miserable right now. She is also mentally drained and very worried about Cade. The baby's lungs tested to be further developed than they actually were, but when they took him they realized he must not have been as far along as they thought. So he was moved into the NICU today so he can get help with his breathing. He's having to labor for breaths right now. Both Dawn and Cade are not in life-threatening circumstances at the moment, but both can surely use prayers for healing and comfort.

Specifically, pray that:

• Dawn allows God to take control of the situation and is reminded of his mercy and love and that HE is her healer!
• Pray that she gets rest and is able to go home before Saturday and heals with no complications.
• Also, pray that baby Cade's little lungs get the nourishment they need and that he is soon out of the NICU, breathing on his own.
• Pray for Ronnie, Dawn's husband, that he will have strength for Dawn and that he will also be able to rest in the hospital with her.
• Pray for the nurses and doctors who are working with Dawn and Cade. Pray that they will be able to communicate with one another what is best for both of them and that the Lord will guide their decisions as they make them.

Thank you! I will update more as I hear it!

Update on Us

It has been entirely TOO long since I last posted, I know! So, I thought I would combine all information I would like to update you on, and post it in one fell swoop.

Life with the Jenkins the last few weeks has been QUITE eventful! On Friday, December 22nd, we got a call from my sister-in-law who was 8-9 months pregnant. She was being admitted to the hospital in Lubbock with preclamsia and needed Rich and me to come keep Drew while Ronnie stayed with her. We were eager and glad to help, so we got our stuff together and hurriedly headed to Levelland. We were having Christmas at Ronnie and Dawn's anyway, so going one day extra wasn't a big deal, especially to spend time with our favorite nephew (well, he was at the time...read on to see what I mean). So, we get to Levelland, and settle into our duty as Uncle Sich and Lala. This is when all the craziness starts...Dawn's urine tests came back abnormally high for protein, so the doctor gave the sad news that she would have to stay in the hospital until the baby came, which was now going to probably be January 5th. She was able to come home a few hours on Christmas Eve, but when she got back to the hospital the baby was in distress and so was Dawn. Anyway, we ended up staying in Levelland for five exciting and exhausting days, but we LOVED every second of it! We kept Drew at the house while Ronnie stayed with Dawn in the hospital. The doctor kept going back and forth on her delivery date because she had to have an amniocintesis to determine whether the baby's lungs were ready or not. The first one determined he was NOT ready, so more waiting! Meanwhile, we have Christmas dinner at Ronnie and Dawn's without Dawn...we missed her so much! However, we took some presents to her and some food along with some Christmas decorations from her house to help her feel more at home and in the holiday mood!

So, we left Wednesday the 27th to go to my parents and then had "Christmas" with them on the 28th...a nice lunch with my Grandma, opening presents and drinking Mimosas.

We were invited to go up to Concan for New Year's Eve with some of our Uvalde friends and had a great time. We decided not to stay the night, however because we planned on leaving the 1st since I had to work on the 2nd. Well, I woke up on New Year's day to a horrible stomach ache....I ate lunch, but then went to bed before we left. All of our things were already packed, but I couldn't stand the thought of getting in the car feeling sick to my stomach. So, after contemplation and sending some emails, we decided it wise to stay the night at mom and dad's and then head out early in the a.m.

On our way home, my stomach killed me. We stopped 5 or 6 times and I seriosly thought I might have to pull over and just sit on the side of the road until it subsided. Oh, and by this time Rich is sick with a terrible cold, as well. We make it home about 1:00 and I go straight to bed. Well, during the afternoon I start feeling better and I am so relieved...I called and cancelled my doctor's appointment. I should have gone.

2:00 a.m. this morning I wake up with terrible pains in my stomach, AGAIN! I tried everything...hot bath, meds, making myself sick...nothing worked. SO, I didn't sleep again until 4:30 this morning and when the alarm went off at 6:30, I woke up and got dressed and dragged myself to work...torturous! Thank the good Lord for Tylenol, because it has seriously saved my life!

We are back home and glad to be here, but my break went by so quickly! the story is not over, however.

Yesterday, Dawn called and said her last amnio came back as well as the baby's lung test and all was WELL! So, she was wheeled into the OR yesterday afternoon and we now have a new NEPHEW! This is why I said Drew WAS our favorite...I can't say that anymore because we have more than one! The baby was named Cade Devoy (Ronnie's middle name) Jenkins and weighed around 8.5 pounds. I haven't talked to anyone to get more info, but I'm sure I will be posting pics soon! We are headed there Friday to see the new addition (if we are well enough)!