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A big boy

Will is already a big boy. I've been in a lot of pain the last week. It hurts to walk. Im SO sore and having really low pelvic pain/pressure. At my ultrasound yesterday the doc figured out why...his head is way low in my pelvis. Low. I mean really low. I can't believe I have 2 more weeks of feeling like this.

Will is really big. Estimated weight yesterday was 8 pounds 12 ounces! Yikes! Thank goodness Im having a c section!

Raleigh is sick

He's had a cough since Friday. We took him to the doc on Saturday. She said his lungs were a little raspy and he had a sinus infection. Medicine time became a nightmare. He started covering up his mouth as soon as you mentioned it. He coughed his little head off all weekend. I never knew a 2 year old could have so much snot. We tried everything to relieve him. Monday night was horrible. He was up from 12:30 - 3:30. I almost took him to the ER several times b/c he had so much mucous he was getting sick off of it. I was feeling like hell too and having contractions. Fun fun!

We went back to the doc yesterday. Doc did blood work. Turns out he has a virus. He gave us some meds to use in the nebulizer for him. That was the biggest nightmare of all. He screamed his guts out the entire time with Mike basically sitting on him while I tried to put the mask in front of him.

He slept great last night. Hopefully he will be better soon.

I'm the one feeling puny now!

When will the S come in?

Mike has asked me this several times. Raleigh cannot correctly say words with an S in them. Its quite hilarious. We go to Hunday Cool where he has to hit in his heat. He draws a hircle. The nake makes the ssssss sound. He does not like to fweep in the bed. He DOES like to play with halt and pepper though. One of the funniest is when he wants a lollipop he'll say, "I need a hucker, mom!"

My friend who is a speech person assures me that this is perfectly normal. Until his S sound comes in, I'll continue to laugh!

Little Stinker!!

Ral wakes up a little before 6 and tells me he wants to sleep in the bed with me. I tell him ok and to come on. He says, "I comin' mom! Ok!" He proceeds to flop over the crib. As soon as he gets out he says, "I no want to go fweep in that bed. Have want follow me, mom." And out the door we go!

He knew that Id wake up and tell him to get in the bed with me. Then he pulls the fast one and admits that all he wants is out of the room!

I miss my daddy

I'm not sure if the pregnancy hormones are making this worse...or is losing my daddy supposed to hurt this bad? I miss him so much. I miss his short phone calls. I miss him checking on me. I miss coming home from church to find a message from him. I hate so much that he won't be here for Will's birth. I hate that I won't get any pictures of him and big Raleigh with their newest grandson. I hate that Raleigh will never get to see him again. I hate that none of my family will be able to be here for his birth and to help afterwards. I hate that I can't go home one more time to be in his house for a little while before its sold.

I still can't believe that this is real.

When will it not hurt so bad?

Preeclampsia

I have preeclampsia. My blood pressure has been up since Daddy died. My protein in my urine during a 24 hour lab was elevated. I am now home to rest and hopefully avoid being on bedrest or in the hospital. I will go into school on Monday to get some things in order, then I'm done! I go to the doctor on Mon and Wed. of next week. Hopefully the preeclampsia hasn't gotten any worse.

3 years ago today

My mama had her spinal stroke. Things have never been the same. How I wish she could be there with me when I have baby Will and help me when I come home. How I wish that she could come and visit and enjoy Raleigh. How I wish that Raleigh and Will could know her like I did.

God had a plan and a reason for all of this though. A song by Betty McDaniel contains the words, "Although my heart might break tonight...I will trust you. Although I ache to my soul..I will believe. You are still there God. More certain and unchanging than the stars. You are still there God. I will believe."

I choose to believe and trust.

My wonderful husband

When you get married you say "for better or worse." Mike and I had no idea what we had in store for us so quickly. We've been married 3 1/2 years now. About 6 months after our marriage my mom had a spinal stroke and was paralyzed from the chest down.

Mike was with me all the time. Going with me to Wilmington. Helping me move mama's stuff. Listening to me cry.

One of the moments I'll never forget was our first trip to the nursing home. We were having pizza with mama in the commons room and I had to go back to her room to get something for her. When I came down the hall I saw Mike feeding my mom her pizza.
I fell in love with my husband all over again.

Another reason I love Mike so much is he is a wonderful daddy. I had a horrible birth and Ral screamed for 3 months straight. Mike helped to keep me sane. Always calm. Always a bright outlook. Never negative.

Mike had been my rock since Daddy died. The night he told me had to be tough for him. He just hugged me, listened to me cry, and said it would be ok. The next day he got everything ready to go. He handeled so much while we were in Wilmington. I had several people come up to me and tell me how much my Daddy loved Mike. He thought he was a great husband and a terrific father. Daddy wished he was more like Mike. He apparently talked about him to others quite a bit. It made me feel so good to know that my daddy thought so much of my husband. After the funeral we went to Outback. My dad was a great Outback fan. He was the ultimate Outback host, so my mama treated my brother, sister, and cousin to Outback that night. Mike made a toast to my daddy..thanking him for all the many good things he did for us. The last thing he said was, "And thanks most of all for your youngest daughter."

There is no romance movie that could have written a better script. I married the most wonderful man on earth.

33 weeks pregnant

That's how far I'll be tomorrow. When I had Ral it was in July. I think the end of the school year was around 32 weeks. I've never had to work and be so dang pregnant!! Ive had some strange pains starting yesterday. Pretty much whenever I'm standing or walking around I'm having some pretty hard cramping going on, along with some low pressure.

Not good!

I called my doc. They called me back and told me to go home and rest. I may be going in tomorrow instead of Thursday. Starting next week I go 2x a week for NST's and weekly ultrasounds.

I can't believe I'm this far along alreay. I also can't believe how much I have left to do! The room is not nearly ready...not ready at all! There is stuff everywhere! I still need MIke to get up in the attic and get the rest of the baby gear down for me.

School is stressful. Very stressful. I got a new student today as well. At least I can definitely see the ending of school soon!

Christmas

Ral had a great Christmas! On Christmas Eve we went to Raleigh and Lois's and had supper. Afterwards we had a birthday party for Jesus where Ral blew out the candles. We tried to get him to pray. He said, "Dear Jesus, Let's eat cake!" He woke up Christmas morning and came and sat on the couch. I turned on the light and asked him if Santa Claus came. He looked and saw his Thomas track, got up in the window and said, "Thank you Santa Claus, thank you!"

How precious is that??!!

The Thomas track was the best present by far. He really enjoyed his other gifts though too. He LOVES to put stickers all over his body. He had a blast with the Spongebob stickers sent to him by a friend.

While Mike and I were opening our gifts to each other he chowed down on some Spongebob candy that Santa brought.

We went to "Me" and Pa's house for gifts with Mike's family later. Lois had all sorts of cakes on the table. We looked over at one point and Ral was in the chair eating off of 2 of the cakes..no fork of course! It was hilarious.

Ral had a great Christmas. The next morning it was snowing and he got up and said "Snow for Christmastime!" He also wanted to know where the presents were. I dont think he understands that its a one shot deal each year.

Eating some of "Me's" cake...without a fork of course! 

Personality! 

Raleigh with his Thomas train.  

Raleigh loves to put Spongbob stickers on his body! 

Daddy's obituary

Paul Douglas Bland Sr.

Paul Douglas Bland Sr., of Leland, a native of Wilmington, NC, passed away suddenly at his residence on Thursday, December 15, 2005.

He was born December 24, 1944, son of the late Alonzo Paul and Grace Watson Bland. Also preceding him in death are two brothers, Randy and Alan Bland, and a sister, Dawnna Dillon.

He is survived by his children, Paul Douglas Bland Jr. of MN, Sharon Elizabeth Bland of SC, and Laura Combs and husband Mike of TN; a grandson, Raleigh William, and one grandchild on the way to be named William Douglas; a brother Ross Bland and wife Jamie of New Bern; four nieces and four nephews; an ex-wife and friend, Mary Bland; an aunt, Virginia Clover of Wilmington, and an uncle, Walker Watson of Wilmington; and many other friends.

Doug retired from CSX Railroad with 39 years of service. He loved to travel, and was a loyal Washington Redskins fan, and had a big heart.

He was dearly loved and will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Andrews Mortuary, Market Street Chapel, by Evangelist Bill King. The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 1:00 p.m. Sunday until the service hour.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association.

Andrews Mortuary, Market Street.