Jake needs your prayers...

As some of you know Jake had an episode today where he stopped breathing and had a seizure. We are very lucky to be just a few blocks away from the fire station (it's right outside of our neighborhood), so the ambulance was here within just a minute or two. They took him to North Cypress Hospital (5 minutes away) where they stabilized him. They did blood work (all which came back normal) and a CT scan of his head (also came back normal). Since it was an extended holiday weekend they did not admit him for further tests. Instead we are going to get him into Texas Children's to see a pediatric neurologist. We have an appt with our regular pedi on Tuesday and will keep everyone posted. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!

This was the short version...if anyone wants to know the long version just email me!

Update on Jen and Baby Tres

I am home from the hospital (still pregnant with Tres)! Some of yall know I've been hospitalized this week due to pre term labor. I started contracting every 10 minutes around 6am on Tuesday. I took my Brethine pills to help stop them, but they weren't stopping. I called my OB and went down to Clear Lake for observation to see what was going on. When I arrived they put me on the monitor and I was contracting every 3-5 minutes and in a lot of pain. They checked me and sure enough I was 1-2cm dilated, 80% effaced, and the baby down low at a -2 station. They immediately wheeled me into a room for admission and started my IV. They put me on Magnesium Sulfate IV (this is your heavy duty labor stopping medication) and gave me steroid shots to help develop Tres' lungs quickly in case he/she delivers early. The next couple of days are kind of a blur to me, because the way the Mag Sulfate made me feel (it knocks you out, makes you feel horrible and drowsy). My contractions never fully stopped, but they got them down to just 2-3 an hour. They finally decided to take me off the Mag and put me on another medication (something I could take at home). The new med (Procardia) worked much better on me and I hardly have any contractions at all now. My doc felt comfortable sending me home on Procardia and me being on complete bed rest. Yes, that's right. I can only get up to go to the restroom and shower until I am 36 weeks. Then I can come off of the med and bed rest! David has been wonderful setting everything up with the boys and making sure they are taken care of. He's set up their arrangements for when he has to go back to work next week and he's doing a great job with house work - what a wonderful man!

They did an ultrasound while I was there and the baby weighs about 5lbs - yes at 33 weeks!!! I don't know how, but I seem to be able to grow some big babies!

I want to thank my amazing mother in law, Marilyn, for watching the boys while I was in the hospital. It really helped us out and the boys are still talking about all the fun they had! :)

David's Birthday

We celebrated David's 32nd birthday today! I got him the new Blackberry Curve phone. He is loving it! His old phone was outdated and only worked when it wanted to, so this is a nice upgrade for him. During the day he took Austin to work with him (since he only works half days on Friday's). Austin LOVED hanging out with daddy, meeting all of his friends, and helping color code highway design plans. For dinner we went out to eat with David's family at Tokyohana's. It's a Japanese restaurant (one of our faves) where they cook the food in front of you as a show. Well, the boys didn't care too much for the flames! Austin did ok, but Jake SCREAMED the entire time. Note to self: Jake won't be a fire fighter when he grows up! ;)

Halloween 2008

The boys (or should I say Batman and Robin) had a fun-filled Halloween! During the day we went to our play group's Halloween party down in Clear Lake. The boys got to see their friend's all dressed up! Then after dinner we did the usual neighborhood trick or treating. It was sure different then our old neighborhood though (our old neighborhood in Friendswood didn't have many houses with kids). We weren't expecting a neighborhood full of kids and activities...it was a lot of fun! Batman stayed behind with me to hand out candy and Robin went trick or treating with David. All the boys on our street went in one group and the girls all went in another group. Even though Austin is one of the younger ones he had no problem keeping up! The bigger kids made sure he was up front at every door so he didn't get left out...what sweet kids! After a couple of hours trick or treating they all came back to the culdesac and played football. Austin and Jake played until they about passed out! lol Here are some pictures:

My halloween "costume" at the play group party - the shirt says "I'm so crafty, I make people":


Austin practicing his scare moves:


Batman:


Robin (he wanted to be Robin, because red is his favorite color):


The boys getting their hands on my candy:


Batman helping me pass out candy at the house:


The boys (and one of the girls) of our street:


Friday night football, Halloween style:

Baby Tres - 28 Weeks

I had my 28 week appt today. I have gained 18lbs! Belly is still measuring 3 weeks ahead - yep that's right! My OB put me on Brethine (Terbutaline) 5mg to take every 6 hours for the next 8 weeks (until I am 9 months, 36 weeks) since I am having continuous contractions around the clock. With my history and being an hour away from the hospital it was the best decision. I will say I hate this medication due to its side effects (racing heart and shortness of breath), but I know it will take away my contractions and keep Tres baking longer. Can't complain about that!! I start going every 2 weeks now and I am happy to be in the third trimester! We are getting close to meeting Tres!!!! :)



The nursery is slowly coming together! David has painted the walls and is cutting the chair rail and crown molding right now. We have the furniture in, but won't put it together just yet. I can't wait to show you all the finished product!!

David's Projects

David has some new projects at work:

1) Expanding 290 - Yep, that's right! Houstonians, 290 will be the next highway that will be expanded (we didn't move out here for nothing!). It will take at least 5 years to design and David will be working on the section from Beltway 8 to 610. You won't see any construction on it for a long time (5-10 years), so you don't have to worry about crazy construction traffic just yet. They have to finish I-10 first! :)

2) Blue Water Highway - After Hurricane Ike left its mark on some of the highways across the coastline, David will be busy designing this one back together. It's in Surfside Beach (Brazoria County) and here are a few pictures of what Ike did:











Amazing what water can do, huh?!

Twins?!

I would say that about half of the time we go out in public I get asked the question "are they twins?" Now, I know Jake is pretty big for his age...both in height and weight. But they are two years apart! It cracks me up and I usually get a kick out of it when I respond to them their age difference (as they respond back with a WHAT?!). People will still say how they could easily pass as fraternal twins. Even though I don't see it in person (since I still see Jake as a baby) every now and again I will take pictures and, for a minute or two, see how people can think they are twins. They pretty much are the same size (obviously not weight wise)!

27 Weeks

On the way to Michelle's house for dinner I made (yes that's the correct word! lol) David take a few pictures of me that actually included my face! :) I think he did a fantastic job, but of course I was barking orders left and right of what to get in the shot. Got to love being the wife! ;)

Black Eye

Well, Austin is fitting right in with being a boy. He received his first black eye today courtesy of his brother Jake! lol The two were running around chasing each other when Austin switched directions. So then of course, as life happens, they bump into each other - HARD. Both boys went down, but surprisingly enough they didn't cry (even though my heart is pounding and I'm the one emotional). Jake's forehead crashed with Austin's eye resulting in a huge whelp. I'm proud of both boys though shaking it off like nothing happened...we have some future sports players right here! :)

Such a ham!!

Need I say more?!?