Austin's 3 month pictures

I'll be updating the blog soon with the events from the last few months soon.  Until then, enjoy this video of little Austin giggling as his daddy makes silly noises.

Saying goodbye to Sassy

Ms. Sassafras VonWeenie

September 1, 2000-May 11, 2011

I Only Wanted You

They say memories are golden

well maybe that is true.

I never wanted memories,

I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,

a million times I cried.

If love alone could have saved you

you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,

In death I love you still.

In my heart you hold a place

no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway

and heartache make a lane,

I'd walk the path to heaven

and bring you back again.

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same.

But as God calls us one by one,

the chain will link again.

Author - Vicky Holder

We said goodbye to Sassy Wednesday, May 11th @ 9:30.  She was 4 months shy of her 11th birthday.  Sassy was my companion; a source of unconditional love and comfort during many hard times in my life.  When I went through trials, she was there with me to sit beside me and give me kisses.  She brought such joy and peace to my life when everything around me was chaos.  I do believe Heavenly Father sent her to me as a blessing.

Just days after Austin was born we finally realized something wasn't right with Sassy.  After a trip to the vet, we learned just how sick she really was.  I wasn't ready to let her go, I prayed so hard for her to be healed.  It just wasn't in Heavenly Father's plan for that to happen.  We did everything we could to help her feel better.  She fought hard for two months.  Some days she ran and played like she was a puppy.  I was so optimistic that she was getting better, but it wasn't so.

Monday she began to have seizures.  I knew the end was nearing, and that soon it couldn't be ignored.  Tuesday, we were back at the vet and trying once more to heal her.  She rallied Tuesday afternoon and we brought her home.  She seemed a little weak and didn't really want to do anything but sleep and be near me.  I wish now I'd slowed down just a little more and payed just a bit more attention to her.  Gave her one more kiss, one more pet, just one more....  I prayed harder that night than I have in a very long time.  I pleaded with the Lord to help me let her go & to help me understand his timing.  I prayed for her to go in her sleep if it was his will because I wasn't strong enough to let her go.  I wasn't strong enough to decide it was her time.  I wasn't strong enough to make that decision.  The next morning she had another seizure, and I knew it was time.  She was ready whether I was or not.  I knew I had to love her enough to not let her suffer.  I had to love her enough to let her go.  I prayed for strength and called Austin home from work.

I skyped with my sister and her boys so they could tell her goodbye.  It broke my heart to see them cry for her as they realized what death meant.  Tyler asked why Austin couldn't give her a blessing and heal her.  It hurt to see them struggling with the Lord's will just as much as I was struggling.  We wrapped her in a blanket and took the long ride to the office.  I held her in my arms as Austin & I said our final teary goodbyes to her.  It was over in just a few moments.  I knew she was gone.  

We brought Sassy home, took off her harness, and wrapped her in a white blanket before Austin buried her.  Schultzy sniffed her one last time.  We said a prayer for her and buried her little body.  As soon as the ground was placed back, it began to rain.  The rain washed away all her little footprints on the back porch.  

I know that to most people, a dog is a dog.  To me, Sassy wasn't just a dog.  I am brokenhearted with her loss, but am blessed to have had her in my life.  I heard someone say that God gives us animals to love so that man can understand how God loves us.  We are completely inferior to Him, just as our animals are to us, yet the love we both give is unconditional.  I'd like to think that is true.  It gives me great peace to know that because of the ultimate sacrifice of our Savior, Sassy too will be resurrected because of the blood of Christ.  I'm also thankful that the Lord loves us enough to have given such revelation to John.  He knew I was going to need to know that one day.

Newborn portraits

These are a few of Austin's newborn portraits.  

This is my first picture.  It was taken before I left the hospital.  I think Ozzie looks a lot like me.

Bubbie moves out

We recently discovered Ozzie (Bubbie) is milk/lactose intolerance and that he has reflux.  We were able to make changes to his formula and add a medication to get these conditions under control.  Once he was able to tolerate his food, he started growing like crazy & sleeping 5-7 hours a night.  We made the formula changes on a  Friday & by Wednesday, he had gained an entire pound!   This was triple what the doctor had wanted him to gain.  With his weight gain, he has also gained strength.  

We began to notice he was rocking the bassinet when he would move around, especially at night when he's fighting going to sleep.  Sadly, this means Ozzie has to move out of the bassinet and into his crib.   Friday night was the night we were going to move him into his own room.  However, we had to evacuate because of the wildfire burning near the house so that didn't happen.  So, tonight is the night.  After his bath and nightly bottle, Austin snuggled him up and got him sleepy before putting him to bed in his own room.  We checked the monitor to make sure it was working.  (I had Austin test it with me a few times just to make sure.)  I went in to check on him to make sure he was ok, this is what I found.

Looks like I was the only one nervous about Ozzie going to his own room.  He didn't even wake up from the flash of the camera. 

Our Baby Story...Austin's first 3 weeks

This photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Austin's birth

March 7, 2007

Austin and I checked into the hospital at 4:30 am and began the induction process about an hour later.  At 2:26 pm, little Austin arrived.  He didn't cry at all at first so I was a bit nervous, eventually he started to cry (but not much) and they placed him on my chest.  This was his first picture.


We stayed in the hospital until Wednesday night and I was glad.  I had no desire to move from the bed before that morning.  Staying that long was truly a blessing!  When we arrived home, Nene (aunt Edie) had hamburger steaks ready for dinner and took baby Austin so I could eat and rest.  It was just what the doctor ordered. 
This is our first family we took at home.  Hopefully in the near future I will look more like a momma and less like a pregnant woman. =)

Austin's first bath

First shot

Austin LOVES his noonie

The date has been set

Austin came with me to my weekly doctor appointment on Monday morning. On the way, we both joked that maybe the doctor would have pity on me and send us to the hospital that day. No such luck. It seems the more excited we get to meet little Austin, the more determined he becomes to stay put.

Dr. Lamar began the visit by listening to the baby's heartbeat while telling us the "RULES" of delivering a first baby. He proceeded to say that he NEVER induces a first time mom before 40-41 weeks. My heart sank when I heard those words. After months spent worrying about pre-term labor, I'm now 38 weeks & all I can think about is getting him OUT! The look on my face must have said it all, because he quickly followed up by saying, "but every rule can be broken." YES!

He explained that because I'd had so many contractions recently he really thought I'd still labor on my own, but if I didn't he wants to induce me on Monday, March 7th a week before my due date. So the appointment is set for 4:30 AM. Now I just need to finish my list of 101 things to do/buy before Austin arrives and pray that I don't get my spot bumped by an emergency.

We are over the moon with excitement about meeting our new little boy! My parents are set to arrive Friday for a quick trip to see the birth and my sister will arrive Sunday for her week long stay. We all have our fingers crossed that little Austin makes his grand entrance before 9 pm Monday night when my parents have to head back to Houston. (My Daddy has an important doctor appointment scheduled Tuesday morning for his upcoming surgery that can't be missed.) So with any luck, we will be posting pictures of our new arrival within the next week!!!