CafeMom Tickers

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Update on Brian & My Weekend

I have had a VERY fun and exciting weekend, despite all of the stress and sadness I've been in the past week! Some of my amazing friends hosted a Couples (Co-Ed) Baby Shower for Brandon and I. It was so so so much fun and it was wonderful to get all of my friends together again! We had a blast playing games and mingling. Not to mention all of the wonderful things that everyone got our son. We loved it all and appreciate it more than you all know. Garrett will be so happy to have such great friends around us! Thank you to all who helped with the shower to make it so amazing and thank you for everyone who came!! Love you!!

Since I've been in Shreveport the whole weekend and busy, I haven't been able to get on here and give the latest on Brian! So here is the latest - They found out that Brian's fever was being caused due to an allergic reaction from a small pox and anthrax shot that Brian had gotten a couple weeks ago. They have taken care of that and his swelling has gone down some more since they found that out! His vitals are good, blood pressure is good, heart rate is good, he is stable, but still in ICU. The doctor said his pupils are looking good. They said a couple days ago, that if Brian kept improving, they'd try to start taking him out of the coma in two days, but since all of this has come up..they want to give him a few extra days. They don't want him trying to wake up from a coma and also fighting a fever. Not to mention, we don't want them to wake him up too early and him be in too much pain and start stressing out and make this all start over again!! I didn't take that as bad news, I just want whats best for my buddy and glad they aren't just rushing into it!!! They said they would post-pone slowly bringing him out of the coma to this coming Friday. Brian's parents met with a neurologist today and he says that all they can do now is wait and basically it is all up to Brian. Friday, if not earlier, they will determine if there is any brain damage. Brian's Mom, Mrs. Sharon, told Kim that his swelling has started to go down and that his lips are back to their normal color! He still has swelling and is still fighting the fever, but the doctor said that is normal. All of his vital signs are still looking good and his brain waves are still working also! Praise God!

It will be a week tomorrow since this has all started and it has been an emotional roller coaster for me - as well as his family! Continue with the amazing prayers! Brian is a strong person and I believe he'll keep fighting!!! I'll post any new updates that I get.. we're still playing the waiting game!!!

Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving with your families!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Update on Brian - finally GOOD NEWS!

I got a text from Brian's fiance about two hours ago that said that Brian had a fever and they had ice packs all over him to try to get it down. They called her back a couple hours later with good news - Brian's fever is down and he only had mild swelling on his body, but that was expected with the fluids that are being pumped through him. The doctor said his kidneys are taking care of his swelling!! The pressure on his brain has came down some, but not nearly enough yet!! The best news of all though, the doctor said that if Brian keeps improving the way he is now, they will probably be able to take him out of the coma in two days or so!!!!! Praise Jesus! We finally got some good news. Don't for one second think that we can stop praying yet!!! We need to continue to pray!!! We're not all the way out of the woods yet. My prayer will NEVER stop for Brian!!! With your continued prayer, Brian will pull through!!!! He's a strong fighter!! We love and miss you so much, Brian! COME HOME!!!!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

UPDATE - BRIAN DOUGLAS ADAMS

I just got a text from Brian's fiance, Ashley, saying that Brian is in surgery right now for his third procedure to help relieve pressure off of his brain! Please PRAY NOW!!! Continue to pray. Check back here for updates later on how the procedure went. I pray to God that this goes well and works and Brian is going to pull through this!!! THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS!!!!

UPDATE

The surgery for Brian this morning did not relieve as much pressure as the doctors had hoped for, but we still have hope! They said Brian's brain is still active so that's amazing news! We know Brian is fighting so he can get home to his son to meet and hold him. His parents made it to Germany just fine and are with Brian now. Please continue to pray for Brian and his family and friends.. When you sit down with your family, please include him in your Thanksgiving Prayer!!! Hope you all have a blessed day.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Brian Douglas Adams

One of my best friends, Brian, went into the Army in March 2007. I was VERY upset to learn that he was leaving out for training the DAY BEFORE MY WEDDING! He tried to have it changed, but..it's clear that a lot of people just don't have good hearts a lot of the time.

Brian and I have always went to school together and have always been great friends!! We were even boyfriend-girlfriend in the 6th grade where our "dates" consisted of him sharing his Shock Tarts with me and swallowing Gobstoppers and making them come back up for me. HAHA. Such a charmer! We continued to be the best of friends throughout middle school, high school, and on afterwards. It's something we'll always be! I have so many fond memories of Brian coming over to our house and him, Jimmy, my brother Jeffrey, and I would just sit around talking and remembering funny things... I was just "one of the guys". I could go on for days and nights about all of the memories we've had.

After training for the Army, Brian got orders to Germany for two years. We were all devastated to learn that he wouldn't get to come home often, but were so very proud of him! We'd all keep in touch through MySpace and everything. No doubt about it! Well, when he got to Germany, he met this sweet girl named Ashley! She was also in the Army and has been an Army Fire Fighter for six years and has been on TWO tours to Iraq!! They started dating and shared the great news with all of us that they were expecting a baby!!! Brian Adams... a Daddy?! It was so crazy, but we knew he'd make a great Daddy. I was so happy to find out a couple months later that Brandon and I were also expecting our little baby shortly behind Brian's baby...so they could grow up together and be the best of friends just like Brian and I are! Then Ashley and I found out that we were BOTH going to have BOYS and that made us even more ecstatic!!! Brian was going to be able to come home from Germany for 10 days while his son was being born and for some reason... he wasn't able to because as I said... I guess some people just don't have good hearts these days? Ashley was admitted to the hospital this past Friday to be induced. They kept Brian up to date on the status and everything for his sweet little mans pending arrival. Shortly after 10 pm, Levi Douglas Adams was born at 8 pounds and was 21 1/2 inches long! It was an amazing time for everyone, but hard at the same time with Brian not being able to be there. Brian was having a hard time dealing with it and was very sad and upset. To make matters worse, he was scheduled to leave for Iraq on the 1st of December. So for him to have a hard time with this, is to be totally expected! How would YOU feel to not be there for your childs birth and then leave less than 10 days later for Iraq to go to war?? Not even meeting your child until he's a few months old!!! I totally understand where he was upset and everything.

I got a very upsetting phone call this evening from his fiance, Ashley, who was completely upset and crying to where I could barely understand her. She broke the news to me that Brian was in the hospital in Germany and things aren't looking good. She said that Brian had been throwing up and his head had been hurting since Sunday, but they just thought maybe he had a virus. Well, he went to work on Monday and was still throwing up and not feeling good so he went home. He started having seizures and his roommates called 911. They took him to the hospital on base and ended up sending him to an outside hospital for a CT scan. His lungs started to get fluid in them. The CT scan showed a blood clot on his brain and he had to be immediately taken in for surgery. They had to remove part of Brian's skull to let some of the pressure off and put a tube in and put him in a drug induced coma. They knew that if Brian woke up, he'd be in too much pain to deal with...not to mention, he'd probably freak out a little bit (or a LOT knowing my Brian) not knowing what in the world just happened to him and thats the last thing they would need. So he's still in a coma and awaiting further testing and stuff.

I just got a phone call from his sister, Ashley, and she said that things aren't looking very good. They just called Brian's parents and said they need to do a procedure to suction things out and there is a 50/50 chance that this could fail and Brian could possibly die from it. I'm in total shock at this point and don't know what to do with myself. I don't want to go through losing another friend, especially as good of a friend as Brian. I've had enough of tragic news in the past few weeks to last me for YEARS. I don't want to think about losing another friend!!! I'm praying like crazy now, praying that God will take Brian into his hands and help him recover well and quickly. This wouldn't seem fair for Brian to never get to meet his son, so Lord please be with him! Please be with all of Brian's family and friends as we all take this step-by-step. Please be with his parents as they book a flight to get to their sons side as soon as possible and let their flight be easy on them!

RIGHT BEFORE I got the news, I was going through old pictures and scanned this picture of me and Brian at Graduation Celebration in 2003 when we graduated high school. My mind and soul must have known something was about to be told to me that I didn't want to hear...




And here is a picture of his SPITTING IMAGE son, Levi Douglas Adams, who Brian BETTER COME HOME TO!


"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid nor dismayed for the Lord is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9


UPDATE

Brian had to undergo another procedure this morning because removing a part of his skull didn't relieve enough pressure off of his brain. So the procedure they did, relieved a little bit more pressure, but he still has no brain function. I am very thankful that Brian survived the 50/50 chance of living through the procedure, but we are not out of the woods yet, so PLEASE continue to pray!! They are waiting on an American Doctor and Translator to get to Germany to see what needs to be done next. I will keep updating this blog for everyone with the latest news!! PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

My Weekend

I had a pretty good Friday! I went into Haughton and spent the day with Tiffany and Emily and Denny and my Momma! I was at the point where I was about to breakdown any second if I had to be alone for one more day!! So I went in and spent time with them just talking and catching up and doing a little shopping! We all went to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings on Friday Night and it was pretty good. Saturday, Momma, Tiffany, and I went shopping for things for my upcoming Baby Shower!! I'm so excited to celebrate this special time with my friends and family.

I'm starting to get to the point in my pregnancy where I'm having a lot of pain. And I can't really sleep for long periods or get comfortable. I am just sleeping when I feel like I need to, regardless of the time of day or how close it is to night time...simply because I can't lay down and sleep for hours anymore. In the end, it will be so worth it because I'm going to be blessed with a little boy from heaven!!! We're so ready to meet him!

I was extremely restless last night and in a lot of pain this morning, so I unfortunately missed church. I prayed to God for some relaxation and forgiveness for missing church and I know He understands my pain! I still sat at the house and read in my wonderful Bible! I have the New International Version and it's a Women's Devotional Bible, as well. I LOVE it! I can understand the scripture and everything way better!!! As I was reading this morning, I found a verse that kind of relates to me during this time and wanted to share!

Genesis 3:16 - To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

I hope you all have a wonderful week and a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!!!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Patience

Yesterday, I was talking to my friend Amber and we were discussing how we want to become not only better wives to our husbands, but better Christians as well. I was explaining to her how I've grown Spiritually since the deaths of Lauren Hymer in 2006 and especially Jill Attebery just two and a half weeks ago. I've been so inspired by these two and their families beyond belief!

I was telling Amber the story that I heard on Jill's funeral service video..Shortly before Jill's death, her husband, Pastor Scott, asked her "Jill, how do you put up with all of my stubbornness and impatience?" and she didn't say anything like "Oh honey, you aren't stubborn or impatient!". She just looked at him and smiled and said "Patience."

When I heard that story, I got VERY emotional and it made me look at how sometimes I come across the same way as Scott..stubborn and impatient!! I tend to let myself get angry and I take it out on my husband when I should really just be patient! I'm trying to better myself in this department, but catch myself falling back into the angry state again. For instance, Brandon has been working the past three nights in a row and he got home this morning at 6 am and he wanted me to wake him up at 10:00 am so that he could sleep tonight because he starts working days tomorrow. Well, me trying to be a sweet wife, I give him an extra 30 minutes to sleep and don't go in there until 10:30, but he doesn't want to get up. I went back in there every 30 minutes or so once or twice and finally at about noon, I said "I'm not coming in here again!!!!". He finally got up at about 1:30 and started getting ready to go hunting! So my impatience and anger kicks in because he works so much, I barely get to see him... and when he has the day off, he wants to hunt!!! I understand it's a man thing and they love to do it and I am so happy he has a hobby. However, I feel like I am left out of everything and start to feel very lonely and depressed because I am CONSTANTLY home alone... whether he's working or in the woods. I explained to him that he really shouldn't kill anymore deer because he's already killed three. We got two back from the processing plant yesterday and it was $215!!! We still have one more to pay for and our freezer is just about stocked! We don't need anymore! So I thought for SURE he'd spend his one day off with me. When he's not in the woods, all he wants to do is watch TV.. and all I ever have to do is watch TV! So I get upset with that. I try so hard to tell myself to be patient and to just understand, but catch myself showing anger each time. I'm really praying to God for a lot more patience!

With that being said, I was telling Amber that she really needed to get the book Diamonds in the Dust by Joni Eareckson Tada. It's a daily devotional book and only takes up maybe 5-10 minutes of your day and it's SO worth it!! I think I've gotten Amber talked into buying it. For today, one of the devotions is really sticking out to me. I'm going to share it with you. It's from the October 23 devotion:

"Surely, O God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household. You have bound me - and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me. All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me." - Job 16:7-8,12

You've heard of the patience of Job? To me that never made sense, because the book of Job is one long list of complaints. Not one to take suffering meekly, Job cried out in protest against God. Even his friends were shocked at his impudent anger. Goodness, most of us would bite our nails in fearful trembling if we ever talked to God that way.
God, however, does not get offended. He doesn't get insulted or intimidated. In fact, in a supreme touch of irony, in the end God orders Job's pious comforters to seek repentance from the man himself, Job, the very source of so many heated complaints.
I love that about God. Where it concerned Job, the guy was only human. And, yes, his patience was gloriously played out in that he refused to curse God and die. But it was the Lord who demonstrated the very best of what it means to be patient. God, as it says elsewhere in Scripture, refused to break the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick. God even defended Job!
The patience of Job? I would think it should be the patience of God. The God of Job- your God- defends the hurting, uplifts the oppressed, and listens to the complaints of the suffering. He may not respond to your questions with neat, pat answers, but He will always, always answer your questions with His own patience.

Prayer: O, patient and long-suffering God, thank You for being so tolerant with me, with all Your children who tend to complain. Patiently lead us through our trials until praise is on our lips.

AMEN! Wasn't that amazing?!? I love this book!!! It always tends to lift me up and I find the prayer I need daily!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

33 Week Prenatal Appointment!

I just got back from seeing the doctor today! It was, once again, a very quick visit! I dread the drive to El Dorado and back when it's such a short visit...especially just when I go to see how much fatter I'm getting! HAHA. But at the same time, I love to go because I get to hear how well my pregnancy is going and get to see the doctor smile and say "His heartbeat sounds amazing!!!". And I know that since I'm going so often..it's getting closer and closer to time for Garrett to come into this world!!! In two weeks, I've gained 3 pounds. Which puts me at a whopping 150 pounds total and means I've gained 16 pounds total so far! He said my urine tests and blood pressure and everything look amazing!

I talked to Dr. Ratcliff today about possibly enducing around 38 weeks or so because Brandon and I had a LIST of reasons we wanted to have Garrett in December. One of the main reasons we wanted to be enduced was because we live an hour and fifteen minutes from the hospital and I've been having anxiety about not making it there... also with it being Winter time, you never know road conditions... and because Brandon works up there too. If I was to go into labor at my house and him be at work...I'd panic to the max! HAA. Another reason that was a big concern for me is the fact that we have people coming..and they are all from somewhere other than El Dorado! I explained to him that we even have people coming up from South Louisiana for it. Lastly, for insurance and tax purposes!!! Wouldn't it be sad to miss being able to claim Garrett on our taxes when he was just only a couple days shy of being born in December?!! Not to mention the deductibles on our insurance!!!! I've been pregnant for more than half of this year, so I think we deserve the right to have these feelings!! HAHA.. So, Dr. Ratcliff said that he doesn't normally consider enducing until a woman is "past due", BUT..Said he understands my concerns about family and stuff being from out of town and everything. He said that as we get closer to time and he starts checking my cervix and stuff, if it's started to "ripen" and it seems like enducing would work fine...then we'll go for it! So please pray that I start to "ripen" mid-December!!!! I certainly do NOT want to put risk on myself or Garrett, so I reassured him I wouldn't want to do it unless it was completely safe. He said that when some people want to be enduced, their cervix hasn't started thinning or anything so the drugs they give to enduce labor would probably fail and cause more complications...so the only way we'll enduce is if everything is looking good and starting to ripe!!!

Our next appointment is December 3rd and that's only FOUR WEEKS until my due date! Wow!!! I can't believe how close we are getting! Keep us in your prayers!!!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

"It's not about us, It's not about me. It's about Jesus" - Jill Attebery

The past couple of weeks have really made me open up my eyes and really see life from a different view. When we were living in El Dorado, Arkansas, I started going to Bible Study on Wednesday Nights with Jana at Wyatt Baptist Church. Jana and I were inspired to go by Lori, who we worked with at Dr. Smart's office. Lori is a woman of faith and I've really grown spiritually since knowing her. In June 2006, Lori's daughter Lauren, was tragically killed in a car accident the day before Father's Day and the day before Lori and Donny's Wedding Anniversary. Lauren had just turned 21 two weeks earlier and was Lori and Donny's only daughter! She was on her way to El Dorado from Conway to fix dinner for her parents for their Anniversary and Father's Day. This struck everyone very hard, obviously. I honestly didn't ever know how Lori made it through the days, but God gave her the strength and still gives her the strength every single day!! I am so inspired by Lori!!!

A couple of weeks ago, tragedy struck Wyatt Baptist Church yet again. The Pastor - Scott Attebery, his wife Jill, and their 2 1/2 month old son Bryce, was involved in a car accident on the way back home from a family reunion. Unfortunately, Jill did not make it. She had terrible trauma to her head and brain. She, however, did help save several other lives by having her organs donated! Isn't that so amazing? The first few days after I got the news, I was VERY upset and couldn't understand why God would do such a thing to such a woman of Faith and a woman who just had a newborn baby after she and her husband tried for such a LONG TIME for! I got very upset and cried very often and couldn't take my mind off of it. During the Bible Studys, Jill was always there and speaking about everything she learned in the lessons and her pages would be FILLED with notes she had taken during the videos and during her homework assignments. Jana and I were both so intimidated to sit by her because we couldn't COMPARE to everything Jill had written in her books and we were ashamed we couldn't ever come up with as many things as she did. She never failed to speak to me or anyone else. She was so kind hearted!!! I still can't believe that she is gone now, but I know she's in better hands and is up there praising with our Lord!

Jill and Lauren's death was very tragic and has consumed all of my thoughts lately. It has caused me to want to become a better wife and mother, but most of all it has caused me to want to become a better Christian.

I wanted to share the SlideShow from Jill's Memorial Service that was uploaded by a member of a church. The Attebery and Jarvis family remains in my prayers!!! Jill will never be forgotten!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

32 Week Ultrasound

Since our insurance is HORRIBLE and only pays for ONE ultrasound during the pregnancy unless it's a medical necessity.. My wonderful Momma, being an x-ray tech, had a friend that said we could come in and he would do an ultrasound for us! We were SO stoked to get to see our little man. He said everything is looking wonderful. His heart rate was 160 beats per minute! And he's ALREADY 4 pounds 6 ounces. I think we may have a little chunk coming! HAHA. We are so ready to meet him!! Here are the pictures from this ultrasound!

Sweet Feet!


Confirming that he is INDEED a little boy!


His little heart!


Profile view of his face!


Him facing us!


Looking at his little nose and chin and what appears to be BIG LIPS!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Church Baby Shower

Some of our amazing church ladies hosted a baby shower for us today and it was AMAZING! We had a wonderful turnout and had the best time. Garrett got a LOT of good things and it just makes us so much more excited to become parents and ready to meet our little guy. Our wonderful hostesses all went in to get Garrett the Pack'n'Play that we wanted and we are so very thankful for that!

After the shower was over, I was super excited to get home and start putting his room together and decorating! I had the BEST time nesting! I was in his room for hours on end just getting things the way that I want them to be!!! It's so precious. I will try to upload some pictures of his room for everyone to see!

We are so blessed to have such an amazing church family and wonderful family and friends! We will have a Couples Shower in Shreveport on the 29th also that is hosted by a few of my girlfriends and we can't wait for that!! It's going to be a blast! Love you all!

Here are a few pictures from the shower!





Here are some pictures of his room after I got it all put together! Some things still needs its place and all, but we have one more shower to go and we'll get it COMPLETE!



Wednesday, November 5, 2008

31 Week Prenatal Visit!

We had an amazing visit today at the doctors office! We were told that my blood work came back "just perfect"! No diabetes! My blood sugar was 121. My hemoglobin levels were in the perfect range. My blood pressure is wonderful...and that is seems like I'm going to sail on through this pregnancy with no problems at all!! I've gained two pounds in the past two weeks, which is exactly what I should have!! That makes a total of 14 pounds in pregnancy so far and he said that is the best he's seen in a long time and to just "keep up the good work"...which consists of a bunch of junk food and sweets for me! HAHA. I'm so shocked that everything has went so well and that I haven't gotten HUGE because of the things I eat, but I am NOT complaining!!We also went to the Women's Center to pre-register and get all set up to have this sweet little boy. It made me all giddy inside to be in the building where in a few short weeks, we will be meeting our son! I was also a bit nervous, I must admit! I just pray that everything will keep on going smoothly! I know that God will take care of us! We will go back to the doctor on the 19th! I will post again after that appointment!