A vist from Dad, Greg & pups!

Dad, Greg, Bubba and Webster came in town Thursday and stayed until Saturday morning...it's amazing how much I have missed them.  Although we are only 4 1/2 hours from home, given I am about to pop with Allie, I was only able to stay in Marshall during mom's funeral for four days.  In a way, it was nice being able to get back to our house here in Baton Rouge, but I do feel it has set me back in the grieving process.

Dad mentioned he deals with mom being gone every day as she is everywhere in the house - her clothes hanging in their closet, purse sitting by the computer, all the bedding and decorations throughout the house, her reading glasses still sitting by the computer waiting for tomorrows NY Times crossword puzzle - she is everywhere. 

After hearing dad talk about this, I quickly realized that mom is everywhere in Allie's room - her sock monkey mom just had to make sure she had, the elaborate wardrobe mom created for her, the light pink Nap Nanny, her monogrammed "going home" from the hospital outfit and even the lovely Madella breast pump (LOL)...it's almost like I can interact with mom when I am in Allie's room.

I've mentioned this several times, but Allie's arrival is going to be "bittersweet" for Ben, dad, Greg and me but this little girl has no idea what's waiting for her outside the womb!  Although Grandma Kim is no longer here, I truly believe she is with Allie and me every day. 

We love and miss you mom.
Mary C

2 more weeks...not that I'm counting (LOL)

Tonight was bittersweet...we enjoyed dinner - and those "not" pregnant in the group sipped a couple bottles of red wine - with Ben & Dana Broussard and Danny & Elisha Aguirre.  My Ben, Dana's Ben and Danny have all worked together for almost four years now and sad for us/good for him, Danny is moving on to new adventures, taking the Aguirre's to Houston.  The six of us had dinner at Marcelo's Wine Bar and had the opportunity to chat for a couple hours...we are truly going to miss Danny and Elisha.  Football season without Elisha's "Teabag Tebow" just will not be the same!

Ben requested I update the blog today via Facebook so I made him take a 38-week picture.  I honestly cannot believe I am posting this...please keep in mind it's 11 pm and a pregnant chick should already be in bed.  Perhaps this is my last picture pregnant?  As of my doctor's appointment Monday I had gained a total of 26 pounds over the course of this pregnancy.

After Ben took my picture, I had to get one of him...he should have been in bed as well.  LOL - glad the vino treated him well and opened his mind to including a picture of him on the blog!  As of today, Ben swears he has gained a total of 26 pounds of sympathy weight over the course of my pregnancy!  Much exagerrated picture below... 

37-week appointment

I completely forgot about our 37-week doctor's appointment...I think I'm losing it!

We were scheduled to go to the doctor for our 36-week appointment the day mom passed away so we had to reschedule for this past Monday. 

We had our last sonogram and Allie is head-down and ready to make her appearance.  I actually lost a couple pounds but Allie is estimated to currently weigh 6.1 lbs., putting her in the 45th percentile for weight at 37 weeks.

It's getting close!

Updated Addition Pictures

With everything that has been going on, I haven't posted an update on the addition in awhile.  In an attempt to "move forward," I took pictures this evening and wanted to share. 

While in Marshall, the stucco and trim were finished and painted.

A lock on the door is always a good sign that things are getting close!

Closer look at stucco.  Hopefully the shutters will go on in the next week or so.

We had torrential rain the past two days so the yard is a mud bowl.  Poor dogs - "can't we please come outside for just a second, mom?  We will be good!"

View of porch area and outdoor kitchen. 

Mom's favorite flower this season was hydrangeas.  The first flower delivery we received at the house last week just happened to be pink hydrangeas from my dear friend, Jamie (Wilson) Payne.  How ironic? 

Mom would be proud they are still thriving...these have to be the biggest hydrangeas I've ever seen.

I'm back

After the worse 8 days of my entire life, I am now back and trudging through the emotions you face when losing someone so special and close to you.  It's amazing how your life can change so quickly.

As I prepare to have Allie any day now, I thought it was fitting to pay tribute to mom.  She is greatly missed by all who knew her.  The next 30 days are going to be bittersweet for dad, Greg, Ben and I but she would want nothing less than for us to make the most out of this situation.

I love you mom.
Carm

One of our first pictures together - July 9, 1982

Our last picture together - May 1, 2010

Difficult & Unexpected Times

I am sure the majority of you reading this have already heard that my mom passed away completely unexpected the morning of Wednesday, May 12th.

Yesterday was a completely normal day for us - Ben woke up, showered and left for work...I quickly did the same, ate breakfast, answered work emails and prepared for a conference call.  Just a typical day in the life of C Ross working from home.  :)

Yesterday was supposed to be an exciting day - we were scheduled to have our 36-week sonogram and doctor's appointment that afternoon, however our happiness soon turned to sorrow when Ben had to break the news to me that my mother had passed away 30 minutes earlier of a massive heartattack. 

How could this happen to me?  Why did this happen to me?  How could someone who was looking so forward to being a grandmother be taken away so quickly?  These are the questions I've constantly asked myself since hearing mom is no longer with us.

The number of emails, phone calls, voicemails, text messages and Facebook posts Ben and I have received are almost overwhelming, but I truly cannot thank everyone enough.  My family is suffering a tragic loss - our "glue" has been ripped away - but we know with time, we will make it through. 

Thanks again to everyone for your sweet thoughts and prayers.  On behalf of dad, Greg, Ben and I we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

With love,
Carmen

36 weeks - SERIOUSLY?

Oh-my-gosh, am I seriously 9 months pregnant?  This pregnancy has made me realize just how fast time flies - 9 months really?

According to my weekly Tuesday alert Allie is 6 lbs. and measures a little more than 20 inches long. 

Tomorrow is my first weekly doctor's appointment and I will have my last sonogram to determine weight and position then Dr. Boudreaux will check for any progress.  WOW oh WOW it's getting real!

Click below for an update on Allie's growth at 36 weeks:
Allie at 36 Weeks

Painted brick, outdoor kitchen, backdoor...YEAH!

Outdoor kitchen!  The brick is done, granite is next then the appliances will go in.  The cut-outs are for the stainless steel doors - largest cut-out is for double-doors and grill will go above it.  The granite island will be on the left-hand side.  I took this picture looking out from our back door.

Close-up of cut-outs

The brick is painted! 

...and we have a back door!  Screened-in porch is where backdoor is (no screen yet).  Outdoor kitchen is to the right...

Close-up of screened-in porch area...

Another view of outdoor kitchen from screened-in porch

Pier 1 pillow next to curtains I might use in addition...thoughts?

Long Overdue!

Today the roofers completely roofed the addition, the stucco man put the first coat on the front, hot and cold water as well as gas and electricity were pulled for the outdoor kitchen.  The old brick was delivered for the outdoor kitchen (construction will start on it tomorrow) and we received all the stainless steel appliances (grill, doors, ice bin, sink, etc.).  Things are moving along now...

Back of addition - you can see the red brick

(will be painted to match existing color of house) and first coat of stucco

This is the screened-in porch area.  This door takes you to the sitting area in the addition.

Stained concrete in addition (concrete on patio is a darker brown and will be done once subs are out)

Old brick wall that surrounds screened-in porch area. 

This is the same brick we are using for the outdoor kitchen.

This is under the porch area - there will be 2 ceiling fans and recessed lights. 

These two windows will have black shutters.

The outdoor kitchen will go between these two beams and the island, which should hold 5-6 barstools, will curve around the beam to the left. 

Random

Our 4th and final shower was this past Saturday in Marshall at the home of Eric & Jill McCathran.  I cannot begin to describe the amount of clothes Allie received...A Tisket A Tasket should love us! 

These are the only pictures I have as of now from the shower:

Pam, me & Mom

Hostesses:  Jill McCathran, Cheryl Adams, me, Lisa Kilpatrick, Jolynn Smith

(not pictured - Kathann Young)

I decided to "jazz up" Allie's letters by adding ribbons and bows...here is an updated picture: