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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Celebrating Carter's 7th Birthday!

Friday was Carter's actual BIRTHday!  I had told him that when he got home from school his present would be awaiting for him!!  Chris and I got him a new bike and he loved it!!!!! He rode all afternoon until it was time for very first experience at Coon hunting!!!

*** And I forgot to take a picture!!!! :/****URGH

 About a month ago we watched Where the Red Fern Grows. I think all kids should have to watch the movie and read the book. I can remember reading the book when I was in 7th grade, and I still cry everytime I watch the movie. Anyway enough about me......Carter has wanted to go coon hunting like Billy.  And even more he wants his own coon dogs!!  There is some guys that Chris works with who has coon dogs and go hunting almost every weekend and they invited Chris and Carter to tag along with them.  I had no desire to go but I so wished I could have been there to seen the look in Carter's eye. Chris said he loved every minute of it and when the dogs, Hannah Montana and Misty (the dog owners have daughters thus the dog's names!!), treed their first coon, Carter was so excited!!! He called me around 10:30 and said that they had a very successful night!!!

*** sorry no pictures*** I know I am sad too!!! :(

They got home around 12:30 and Carter was still awake, and for those who know Carter that is way late for him!!!! He was so excited telling me about his night. After he got out of the bath we laid in bed and gave me a full detailed report of the night, and slowly his eyes got heavier and heavier until he was asleep in no time!!!

On Saturday was his party for all his friends, and it was held at the local Skating Rink and boy was it hot!!! He had so many friends to attend his party and we are so thankful to have so many friends in our lives and that Carter has so many little friends as well!! He received many presents and money. THANK YOU ALL!!!!!

getting his skates on!

Carter and Cousin Collin

Birthday Boy


Carter and Cousin Kendall

And finally on Sunday, Chris, Carter and one of Chris's buddies went to see the new 3D Pirates of the Caribbean movie. He loved it as well. He was all tales when he came home, telling me all about the flying objects and what was "going to get him"!!!

Cousins, Lindsey and Kendall, Maddie and Carter


Aunt Susan

Kendall and Maddie

Lindsey and Carter

I feel like Carter has had a big birthday and I can't hardly believe that he is 7 years old!!!! Time flies when you are having fun!!!!!

Yummy Cake

Baby Sis cooling off in front of fan!
Cousin Riley
Maddie Dale is thinking she has got the hang of it!!

Singing Happy Birthday


Daddy and Maddie

Even Nana rolled out some skating!

Buddies, Cole, Rudy and Hayden

Carter, Rudy and Hayden

3 of the best friends a girl could ask for!!!

Cousins, Carter, Cole and Riley

Friday, May 20, 2011

May 20, 2004 1:45 am

"Kelly what do you want to name him? We have to name him before they take him to Vanderbilt." Those were the first words I heard after the baby was born from Chris.  We had talked about different names but had not decided on anything yet, figuring we had plenty of time. One of the names we discussed was Jacob Lee, actually that is written on my ultrasound video. Lee is Chris's middle name and that was the only name we knew for sure.  Another name we had mentioned was Carter, and it was funny how it came to be. So ya see, all of Chris's family is Democrats and mine is Repbublicans and I had told him if the baby was a girl, prior to finding out the gender, I liked the name Reagan, he said what Ronald Reagan, and I said fine then Jimmy Carter, and we talked about Carter but nothing was set in stone.  So apparently I told him to name the baby whatever he wanted, I feel like he knew better, so when I half way came coherent I learned that our baby was named Carter Lee.  I was able to see Carter before he was rushed to Vanderbilt, but vaguely remember it.  I remember he was in a little "box" and there was some nurses standing around him ready to wisk him off to the Guardian Angel, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Ambulance.

Chris and his daddy went home to get changed and head to Nashville so they could be with Carter and my parents and sister stayed with me. I don't remember much until the next morning.  I do remember the first thing when I woke up was to call my high school principal to tell him that I wouldn't be in to teach that day and probably the next either!!! I had a morphine pump and it was some good stuff!!! Mr. Huffman re-assured me to not worry and chuckled at my crazy talk!! Momma filled him in on all the particulars of what was going on. Chris called often while at Vandy to keep us in the know of what all was going on.


Carter was given a dose of serfacton, the lubricant to cover the lungs and help them inflate and deflate on their own without being sticky.  He was also placed on a ventilator, however he pulled it out of his nose once he arrived at the hospital and the neonatalogist decided to see if would be okay without it and he was!!! He was on oxygen, feeding tube in his nose, and had an IV his is tiny foot. He was learning to suck a passy, and being fed 3ccs of milk every 3 hours.  On day 2 he was put under the lights for  his jaundice and had to wear little purple "sunglasses" to protect his eyes.

When I finally was at myself, I was surrounded by family and friends and Momma went over the list of people who had been by or called while I was still asleep. Apparently Chris called everyone under the moon about 5:00 in the morning to tell them the news of Carter being born and him transferred to the NICU in Nashville and all the details. I love hearing Kim's story of her phone call, it went something like this, but not exact I'm sure: Chris- Kim, Kelly has had the baby, she is in BG and the baby is in Nashville.  Kim- DO what, it isn't time for the baby to get here yet!! Chris- I know, you need to get to the hospital now!! I am on my way to Nashville and Kelly is still in BG!!! Kim- okay I am on my way!!!  Now what on earth his reasoning for demanding Kim to get to the hospital pronto was beyond me!!!! Anyway I was glad to see her!!

Chris bought a disposable camera while there and took pictures for me.  He came back to see me the following day and to tell me how things were going and brought the pictures for me to see.  My dad then went down with Chris to visit with Carter.  I was discharged from the hospital 2 days later, and boy was that the longest 2 days of my life and the longest car ride to Nashville ever!!! My sister drove, who was 30 weeks pregnant as well, and my mom rode shotgun and I was in the back in major pain from all the bumps on the interstate. I remember saying to Susan, I think she missed a couple of potholes!!! We got lost going to the hospital (before GPS) Chris had already called 3-4 times wondering where we were. Finally I made it!!! And I could not wait to get to see my baby boy and for the 3 of us all to be together! He was so tiny, 3lbs 10oz and 16 inches long. As my daddy referred to him, he didn't weigh as much as a sack of sugar!!


First time holding him!

We were very fortunate to be able to stay in the Ronald McDonald House for the next 10 days.  My mom stayed with us for the next 2 days.  We were in Nashville for a total of 10 days.  Carter was known as the little big man. He did so well!! In which I was/am so very blessed. We had lots of vistors and phone calls. After our stay at Nashville, Carter was transferred to the to the NICU at the Medical Center in Bowling Green, where he was born.  We will be there for the next 3 weeks.  I traveled to BG everyday for 3 weeks straight.  Chris had to go back to work after we come home from Nashville, so he came everynight to see us.  Finally on June 29, Carter was discharged from the hospital and our family was all together and we were going home!!!

Carter may have had a slow start in his life, but you sure can't tell it by looking at him now!!!! He is a very healthy 7 year old, rambunctious, outgoing little boy, who I love more than anything!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARTER LEE!!!!! And oh what a day it was on your BIRTHday!!!!

10 weeks old, first Doctor's visit


12 weeks old, first professional pictures made by Susan Rea

First Christmas, and the photo on the card!





The day you became a big brother!

1st day of preschool



the end of the first day of preschool, you were wore out!!! fell asleep sitting up!!








1st day of Kindergarten




spring 2011 now you are a big boy!

MORE PICTURES TO COME!!!!!!!
WE ARE OFF TO CELEBRATE~!!!!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

May 19, 2004 at 9:30pm

I was sitting in my recliner getting ready to bed down (where I had been sleeping for quite sometime) when I got this "funny feeling". I just so happen to look at the clock and it was 9:30. I really didn't think much about it. Then at 9:33 I got another "funny feeling" and another at 9:36, and on and on. Finally around 10:00 I told Chris about what I was experiencing. He asked if I thought I was going into labor or was false labor pains, since I was only 31 weeks along. I said no it can't be labor pains, maybe some braxton hix. So I called a friend and asked her what her braxton hix felt like, as I remembered her telling me she had them with her son.  After getting off the phone, my pains got a little harder.  Chris went to bed and told me to get him up if I needed him.  They continued to get more intense. So I phoned my doctor who was in Bowling Green and I described the pains that I was having and the doctor on call advised me to come on in since I lived so far away.  I was so dreading waking Chris up, since this was on a Wednesday and he was suppose to work the next day, but I did. By this point the contractions were pretty intense.  He suggested I call my momma and have her ride with us. I did,  and she met us outside at her house and we headed to BG in my Monte Carlo SS. By the time we passed the Glasgow exit I was almost in the floor board of the car. I remember my Momma "pecking" Chris on the head telling him to speed up, and his reply was "I am running 105!!!!"

We arrived at the Medical Center in Bowling Green in 21 minutes!!!! Finally after finding the entrance to the ER (we had planned to tour the hospital and figure out all the parking prior to, didn't think we would need to know this soon) I was wheeled to L&D.  The nurses checked my weight and I had gained nearly 12lbs in 2 days, I was very swollen.  I was soon hooked up to machines, an IV started and the questions begun.

By this point I remember getting nervous and I could tell Chris and Momma was too.  Dr Lyons came in and checked me and I was dilated to 5 already. She told me there would be a baby delivered tonight. I FREAKED!!!! I was like there can't be, I am not ready, he isn't ready, I don't have the first bottle or diaper at my house yet!!!  We looked like a couple of hoodlums, I had on a 1986 "Mac Attack District Basketball Championship" t-shirt, (that I loved) and it had to be cut off since they had already done my IV. Chris had on a pair of old shorts, shirt on inside out and 2 different flip flops and no wallet!!! That is all we had to our name!!!  NO money, no driver's license, nothing!!!!!

So Chris and Momma get on their phones and started making some phone calls to notify my daddy, my sister, Chris's daddy that I was about to have the baby.  Chris was about to get suited up to go back into the delivery room with me, and the baby's heart rate started to drop, it was down in the 40s. Dr Lyons rushed in, as she had heard the machine starting to beep and said "prep her for a C-Section stat."  Once again I freaked, because Chris would not be allowed to go in with me because they had to put me asleep.  I can remember Chris kissing me on my forehead as they wheeled me out to the OR. A little nurse, she couldn't have weighed more than 90lbs,  jumped on the bed with me and was starting my catheter, while being rolled into the operating roon. After this point everything starts to be a blur, however I remember seeing Dr Lyons standing in the OR all suited up in her blue scrubs with a scalpel in her hand already, she told the Anesthesiologist "Tell me when"...................

May 20, 2004 1:45 to be continued

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Mother's Day

What is Mother's Day? Mother's Day is a day to celebrate your Mom, for all she has done for you.  I have one amazing Mom. She has been there for me when times were rough and when they were great!! She has always strived to give me whatever I needed and for the most part, what I wanted! She is an even better Nana to my kids!  Carter and Maddie love going to Nana and Grandaddy's house.  Nana picks Carter up from school everyday for me and then takes him home with her. So my kids are very fortunate to have their grandparents in their lives on almost a daily basis.





Thank you Momma for all you have done for me, for all you are doing for me and all that you WILL do for me!!!! I know I don't say it enough but I soooo appreciate everything you do!!! So I am saying it now...THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to the moon and back!!!!!!!



And as for my Mother's Day, I had a WONDERFUL one!!!! Chris, the kids and I cruised in the 1930 Model A!! It was beautiful weather and I love to ride around in that particular car.  It has so many memories in it and I love the fact that my kids are being able to grow up in the car that their grandfather and daddy grew up in. The car itself is a memory and a legacy to Chris's grandfather, Rollin.



Have a Great Week!!
~KJ~

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Catching Up!!

Man it has been a while since I last blogged!!! It seems like everything is going on all at once, but then again nothing that important either. All this rain has prevented us from doing much of anything outdoors and boy my yard shows it too!!! If we let it grow a couple more weeks, we could probably get about 50 square bales of hay!!!! Hopefully it will be dry enough to mow this afternoon.

This past weekend, was great. Saturday was so nice outside and Chris and I particpated in an event that is very special to us, the Allie's Gang March of Dimes motorcyle ride. One of my very best friends Jessica is Allie's mom and she responsible for this motorcycle ride every year as a fund raiser for the March of Dimes and Ronald McDonald House. Jessica is very active member in MoD and the Ronald McDonald house.  Jessica knows all to well about these two organizations.


Jessica and I at Hodgenville, our destination on the bike ride!!!

Carter was born 9 weeks early at 31 weeks only weighing 3lbs. In 16 days he will be 7 years old, more on him and his BIRTHday later.  But he is the reason that the March of Dimes is so special to me and the Ronald McDonald House.  Every fall there is a MofD walk to raise money for the cause and I have walked the last 3 years and wouldn't miss it for nothing.

While sitting behind Chris on the Harley, I thought how thankful we are to have 2 very special kids who are healthy, happy and growing. That is one thing I love about riding the Harley, it is a wonderful place to clear your mind and think about anything and everything or to not think about anything, not having a care in the world. I am hoping to ride much more this summer. Chris has tried to teach to ride before and I am scared to death. I do well to ride Carter's little 50 dirtbike!!! There is to much to remember to clutch, brake, and change gears all at the same time while handling a motorcycle on........ 2 wheels!!!! Now I can clutch, change gears, drive, talk on phone and change the radio in a car, but a bike is way too much for me!!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and maybe I will get back in the swing of things soon!!! I know I will have a great post next week!!!!!!!!!!!!