Sunday, October 31, 1993 - Halloween

Continuing our story.....

I spent the night going through contractions that were getting harder and closer together as well as reliving the 2:00AM hour as we set the clocks back an hour that weekend. Some time early in the morning, we made our way back to the hospital (Woman's Hospital of Texas) and I had progressed some - enough for them to keep me in the hospital and agree to provide me with an epidural. None of this fast labor stuff... oh, no. Slow and steady like the turtle. I thought it was painful enough and wanted the relief that comes from that wonderful epidural. The anesthesiologist was my best friend. Loved him.

Dr. Leeds, my OB GYN, was not on call for the weekend. Never fear, Dr. Mark Jacobs did a great job and we had some wonderful labor and delivery nurses as well. Everything was going pretty much as it should!

Labor progressed with me happily enjoying the epidural for the most part. It was a Sunday afternoon. I remember the Cowboys were playing someone on that day (Eagles maybe?) during the time I was working to bring her into the world. 3 hours of pushing to be exact. She was just a stubborn little thing. Probably was just so smart even then, she knew it was better to stay comfy and cozy in my tummy then come out in the bright world!! Eventually, at 5:00 pm on the dot, she was born and entered the word crying! I was crying too. We were both a mess. This was a good thing!

Total time in labor = 26 hours (when you count the 2:00 time reset)

Rachel Austin Harlow born at 5:00 pm on October 31, 1993. She weighed 8 lbs even and was 20 inches long. Beautiful baby girl with dark brown hair. Loved by lots and lots of people. Beautiful Baby!



There are only a few truly amazing moments in life. This was one of them. She was here. She was healthy. Everything was good. Everyone was happy.

In the waiting room was a crowd waiting on her birth. They were getting a little rowdy in the waiting room sitting with anticipation! There was a really funny movie made by all the family in the waiting room at this time. I would really like to get it converted from VHS to digital. It was so characteristic of our family with all the funny thoughts & actions. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and great friends. God is good.

In attendance waiting with anticipation at the hospital at the time of her birth were my parents, Austin & Walter, Rob’s parent’s - Betty & Tommy, my sister Perry, and Rachel’s Godmothers - Susan & Shelley. Stacey wasn’t able to join us until the next day and she drove all night to get there! Within 20 minutes of her birth, everyone was crowded into our hospital room to meet little Miss Rachel. The nurses had cleaned her up a bit, wrapped her up and put a little pumpkin hat on her head to recognize the date of her birth on Halloween! My little pumpkin. She was passed around from person to person greeting everyone!

Here are some pictures! (click on it to see it in a larger format)


As I go through the pictures from this time, I truly wish I understood more and thought more ahead for scrapbooking. While I have a good many pictures and love them all, there are several more pictures I wish I had now. Reminds me why I am so diligent about taking pictures and trying ot capture the memories. Love them!

Stay tuned for more later.... she’s 16 now!!

October 30, 1993 - One Day Away

On this day 16 years ago, I was ...

• One day away from one of the greatest achievements of my life.
• One day away from God showing me one purpose for my life here on Earth.
• One day away from being a Mother.
• One day away from assuming the responsibility for raising another human being.
• One day away from meeting this wonderful little baby girl named Rachel.

Today, we are one day away from the 16th anniversary of this amazing event and my little baby girl Rachel has turned into an amazingly wonderful young lady.

*********************************

16 years ago on October 30, 2009 (Saturday that year), I was pregnant with my first child. I was still pregnant on October 30, even though she was really DUE on Friday, October 29th. I was big, fat, uncomfortable and praying this child would make her way into the world soon. It had not been an altogether great pregnancy. The baby was great and healthy. Her mommy’s system didn’t take too well to all those pregnancy hormones causing a lot of nausea and the resulting praying to the porcelain gods on a very consistent basis. :-)

The day started as any other normal day (except for being 9 months pregnant of course). It was a normal day. No inkling of labor starting. Nothing. Nada. Decided to go take a walk around the Galleria in hopes of jump starting the labor process. Walked... waddled... walked... waddled .... and walked some more ..... ate lunch. Came home and collapsed on the couch. Was tired from all that waddling around the Galleria. Somewhere around 4 pm, I started to feel something. Something that seemed like it got a little more regular. Hmmm... maybe this was the time?? It started to get a little bit uncomfortable too. It would be awhile later (and actually a few years later) when I really understood what labor pain really feels like. This was just baby stuff but heck, I didn’t know that. This was my first!! It was something to me.

I called my Mom & Dad who were at a conference of some kind. Called Perry & Stacey. Everyone was on baby standby just waiting for “the time” and “the call”. We had all sorts of plans and instructions of phone numbers to call to reach everyone. This was the first grandchild you know. A very special event. We have since celebrated the birth of every baby in the same way. Everyone has made it for each one!!

We went to the hospital not long after that to be told it was too early and that I wasn’t in real labor yet. So... home again we go. Mom & Dad & Perry had made it into town by that time and we all met back at our house. It turned out it was real labor - just early labor. More to the story tomorrow.....

For now, I’m enjoying the day before the big event!

Happy 6th Birthday Allie!!

TODAY is my littlest niece, Allie's, 6th birthday!

Isn't she just a sweet one!!


Sweet & Sassy Allie -

You are such a sweetheart, Miss Allie! Very smart and very happy. John, Rachel, Stephen and Aunt MA wish you the happiest of Birthday Wishes today on YOUR DAY!!


In other notes today........

We are on Countdown for Rachel's 16th Birthday tomorrow..

Friendswood is going to STATE!!

Friendswood Marching Band placed 1st yesterday at Area F UIL Marching Contest earning them a spot at this years 4A State Marching Contest in San Antonio on Tuesday, Nov. 3. YAY FRIENDSWOOD!! Friendswood received all 1st place votes and their scores were really, really high! They did very very well yesterday.

I'm chaperoning the trip to SA week after next. Long days/nights. We leave on Monday around noon and don't get back until the early morning hours of Weds. Fun stuff!! They have a really good chance at winning.

Laila came in this weekend as well, so John, Laila, Ariane and I went out for a great dinner last night. Laila and I tried to scrapbook today but we got a little bit of a late start and then had to detour to watch the Dallas Game. They won which made for a great evening around the Cox house tonight.

We have a birthday coming up next weekend... Miss Rachel will be turning 16!! Wowzer.... unbelievable!! I'm savoring the last 6 days of the non-driving age of 15. :-)

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday John!!!

Want to take this moment to wish my wonderful and fabulous husband a MOST HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!

I'm so glad and thankful you are in our lives!!

Have a GREAT DAY!! I Love you!!!

MA

Positive Thinking.....

Today as I was doing my normal blog roll reading, one of my scrapbooking favorites (Ali Edwards) had posted her weekend giveaways. Her sponsors have some of the cutest and most fun stuff. Love it. In order to be entered to win, you leave a comment on her blog and each time it's a little bit different. The topic to comment on today was to leave something positive about you right now.

I made my comment, but it got me to thinking so I'll share that and more about what I am positive about right now.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS

• I'm positive that my daughter is going to be turning 16 in two weeks (yikes).
• That positively makes me feel old.
• I'm positively ignoring that feeling because my mind doesn't think I'm older than 25.
• I'm positive my body doesn't agree with my mind.
• I'm positive that this weekend is going to be absolutely gorgeous outside for the first time in 5 months.
• I'm positive I'm going to have the top down on my Jeep this weekend with the wind in my hair as I travel to/from kid's sports and band marching events!!
• I'm positively thinking that UT (Texas) will beat OU today!! :-)
• I positively will put about 200 miles on my car this weekend between driving into Houston for a cross-country meet and up to Conroe for a band contest.
• I positively was proud of Stephen this morning for running 1.5 miles on a hilly course in 12:54! Best time ever!
• I'm positive that my husband bought me a coffee cup last weekend that said "51% Good Witch, 49% Bad Witch, Don't push it!!" ...... hmmm......
• So.. I'm positively going to dress as a Witch for Halloween. :-)

More Later!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Kansas City Adventure

John and I took a little trip this weekend. John's Birthday is coming up here soon on the 21st of October and for his birthday, he wanted to go to Kansas City and see the Dallas Cowboys play the Chiefs yesterday. So, we planned a little getaway all centered around the Cowboys!!

Neither John nor I have ever been to KC so this was an adventure of sorts!!

The first adventure (and I really wish now that I had a picture) began just getting on to the plane. We were on one of the Continental Express Jets. You know them... the 50 seat plane with one seat on the left and two seats on the right. Little plane. Well... we found out that John doesn't fit very well on an Express Jet. Not only could he not even stand up straight in the aisle, but his head barely fit when seated without touching the lights/air conditioning above you! Not to mention the fact that he barely fit in the seat by width or by length. I felt so very sorry for him and thank goodness, the trip was only 1.5 hours. He really couldn't move. Have to see the humor in there somewhere!!

Planning clothes for traveling is so hard sometimes when you are going from one temperature to another. We left Houston and the temps were around 70 degrees and we arrived into Kansas City to 38 degrees. I wore sandals and kind of a light sweater. I hate to be hot on planes and you just never know what it's going to be. I pulled a sweater out pretty quick once we got there!!



We checked into the Ameristar Casino Hotel which is on the north side of Kansas City. We think that Missouri allows gambling on the rivers... much like Louisiana does. However, we wondered if it must be technically within a certain mileage from the river because the hotel and the casino, while right on the banks of the river, were not on the river. There was a good distance between the two. All the staff refer to the casino as the boat however. Very strange because it isn't a boat. One difference is Missouri doesn't provide you drinks while you are gambling unlike Louisiana or Vegas.



We were quite hungry when we got there so we decided to go to a traditional KC BBQ restaurant that also just happens to be at the hotel! Arthur Bryant's KC Barbeque.



Whenever we asked the locals, they told us go either to Arthur Bryants or to Gates for KC BBQ. So... we did! It was good.


John had the Burnt Ends (I'm not sure what that is) and I had pulled pork. They smoke their meats over Oak and use a BBQ sauce that is more vinegary than the ones we use in Texas. I did enjoy mine though quite a bit but elected for the less vinegary sauce. They gave you a lot of food!! Couldn't even begin to eat it all.

We played a bit in the casino and relaxed the rest of the day. Watched the Longhorns/Colorado and the LSU/Florida games.

Sunday - Cowboy Football Day!! 36 degrees, overcast, light wind - Mary Austin was cold!!

I did manage to talk him into not leaving the hotel until 8 am instead of the 7 am timeframe he had originally hoped for. An hour is an hour in my book. We got into our Cowboys garb and made our way to the Chief Stadium. We still had to wait an hour before we could get into the parking lot and park.


Picture of me getting in the car - so very excited to be in the cold that early in the morning! :-)


This is Arrowhead Stadium. An older stadium for sure, but there isn't a bad seat in the place. When looking at this picture, we were in the right upper part of it - pretty much on the Goal Line. You could see the players and you could see the game without having to watch the TV's which in my mind was pretty good.


Here I am.. posing as a Freezing Person.... which I was. No fakers here. Just so you know what I had on at the game.... hot chilis long underwear, jeans, two cowboy shirts, cowboy jersey, Cowboy Jacket, Cowboy scarf, Cowboy hat, and Gloves. I was still chilly and could have used a few more layers.



Here's John - my handsome and happy husband....where's his jacket you might ask? well... being such a manly man, he didn't even feel the cold!! (Technically, I was wearing his jacket... his scarf... his warm hat. :-)


These were the really nice KC folks who were tailgating next to us in the parking lot. Take notice of how these guys (who are the regulars here) are dressed!!! Blankets... head scarves... major jackets/gloves. My husband... short sleeve shirt. They kept asking him if he was cold. They were very nice folks and shared some of their KC BBQ with us prior to the game.


Warming up with a cold beer! ha ha ha He's showing off his new Bob Lilly shirt. His other one, worn every game for 13 years, finally needed to be retired.


A view from our seats! Miles Austin made the game winning touchdown right in front of us!! YAY COWBOYS!!

As a note - the stadium was probably filled with 50% Dallas Cowboy fans. Lots of Blue were in the stands!!

Luckily - the Cowboys pulled out a win in OT so the rest of the day, the trip home on Monday and the rest of the week will be nice around our house!!

Have a great week!!

MA

Trying to get Motivated

So.. I've been a bad blogger of late. Have had to play the catch up game from my time spent on Jury Duty but really, have just been tired and not very motivated and not a lot to say!! Although.. I'm sure there were things to say.

This past weekend was fun with my parents visiting, sitting in the rain at band competition, traveling to the Woodlands to watch a cross country meet, and the Sunday recovery from the really busy day on Saturday! I have pictures too!! Ok.. I'll get them out here.

Good thing - today is Friday. We're going to see a lot of rain today and THANKFULLY, cooler temps as this week has been just like July here with the heat and humidity!! YUCK!! Can't wait for a little cooler, less wet air. Have to go through a bit of rumbling thunder and light show to get it, but it'll be here soon.

Friday Night Lights are sort of questionable around here this evening waiting on the storm. But, if possible, we'll be back out watching the incredible marching band (their show really is REALLY good!) and supporting our football team!!

Trying something new here:

TEN THINGS ABOUT TODAY:

1) I will work a lot today!

2) I will talk to my Mom on the phone.

3) My daughter will wear her pretty Homecoming Mum today at school and the game!

4) We will make our pilgrimage to the High School Football stadium this evening, barring any rain.

5) We will watch the Band march their great show (if no rain)

6) It will get much wetter and cooler today! (YAY)

7) Our 90+ degrees and 99% humidity will end today!! (YAY)

8) Stephen wrote an email to KSBJ to ask them to play his favorite song this morning - Wait & See by Brandon Heath

9) My husband is plotting to create the perfect plan for the Cowboy Game on Sunday.

10) I will think about scrapbooking.... but not actually get to do it today!


There you go!

Jury Duty Summons... turned into 4 days on a Jury Trial!!

So - I haven't been able to talk about it until now.....

I mentioned on Sunday that I was summoned for jury duty for the first time ever in my adult life. 42 years of age and I had never been summoned for this civic duty before now. I was asked to show up at the Galveston County Courthouse at 11:15 am. At that time, all the potential jurors are checked in and then we get to view a video about how important being a juror is to our judicial system. Interesting... ok, so I feel empowered!! :-)

From that point, we are assigned to a specific court. We then go to lunch and come back directly to that court. At that time, we are shuffled around and put in order 1 - 37 in our case. The first time they did this, I ended up as #8 on the panel and that really wasn't good. Would have a high likelihood to be on the jury. Darn it!! Then, for some reason (learned what it was later), they shuffled the deck again and I ended up #21 on the panel. Seemed to be a better place to be because they would have had to strike at least 9 people in front of me to end up on the jury. Obviously... it didn't turn out that way in the end.

The attorneys then go to work asking general questions and then more specific questions if they wish. I was asked two questions specific to my job and John's job. That was it.

The attorneys struck 10 people in front of me so I ended up being seated as Juror #11 on this civil trial. Go figure... first time ever called... get seated!! Amazing.

I won't go blow by blow through the whole thing, but the basic gist of the case was the Plaintiff and Defendant were involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident and the Plaintiff was suing the Defendant (actually insurance co - although we weren't allowed to know that until afterwards) for back/neck pain & suffering, medical bills, etc. They took until Weds afternoon to present the case and all the arguments by the lawyers and then close. The jury received the case to begin deliberation on it Weds at 3 pm. We were there Weds until 6 pm and again today from 8:45 am through 4:00 pm when we finished and had a verdict.

In the end, the Plaintiff didn't really make his case well. He was awarded a small sum of money but nothing like what several members of the jury wanted to award him. I was pretty much the cog in the wheel because the evidence was really not there nor was the plaintiff a very credible witness. I just couldn't get much beyond -0- for the most part. I felt pretty good in the end because after it was all said and done, the Judge came to talk with us. One of the jurors asked how he thought we did in our analysis and verdict, and he basically corroborated everything I had said about the case being weak, not enough evidence, no expert medical witnesses, and a plaintiff that is not very believable. YAY ME!! I really was on the right track!! I thought so and felt a lot better about being as difficult as I was.

Now it's back to the real world and my P.A.Y.I.N.G. J.O.B.!!!! I have tons of stuff to do after this unexpected 4 days off!!

Meme & Poppy are coming in tomorrow to run around with us in our busy weekend coming up. Football Game Friday, Marching Contest Saturday, and Cross-County Meet on Saturday.

See ya!!

MA