AMANDA TURNS 21 TODAY!

From this....

To this!
Happy 21st Birthday, Amanda. We love you lots!

GRACIE LEE

I hardly know how to begin this blog. January 19, 2009 is a day that will forever be etched in my memory. This is the day I gained and lost my granddaughter! My first inkling that anything was wrong came about 4pm that day. Emily called to tell me that she and Richard were on their way to St. Luke's Hospital for a BioPhysical Profile Ultrasound as she hadn't felt Gracie moving for a while. They had called the Midwife and gone in to her office where she was monitored for a while and found Gracie had a good hearbeat but no movement. They were sent out for lunch and told to return later, same thing, good heartbeat...no movement. I was at work when Emily called to tell me and I immediately researched this ultrasound on the internet as I had not heard of it before. I started getting a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I started reading what no movement could mean! Even with a good heartbeat! Of course I told my co-workers and we all agreed Emily would be having a c-section soon. I left work and went home and immediately started getting some things together for the Gracie that I had for her. I also got out some of Emily's old baby blankets and washed them as it was cold and I didn't know if Emily had any blankets yet. I was getting very antsy as Emily hadn't called yet to tell us the results of the ultrasound. I kept wanting to call her, Gene kept telling me to wait, that Emily would call as soon as she could. Gene warmed us up some leftovers for Dinner and while we were eating Emily called to say that she had been admitted overnight for monitoring and that the ultrasound could not be done until the next day as they had to call in a special team to do it. I didn't know whether to be relieved or more upset. I was upset the ultrasound wasn't done yet but relieved that a c-section was put off as I was hoping everything would turn out OK, that Gracie was just sleeping soundly. I talked with Emily for close to half an hour and she sounded upbeat so that made me feel better. Said Richard had gone home to care for the animals and bring them something to eat. While we were talking her phone shut off, so we texted and she gave me the phone number to her room. About that time Richard called from their house to say Emily had called him telling him our conversation had been cut off and that he would call me back with her room number once he got back to the hospital. Well, when Richard called back less than an hour later I assumed he was calling with the number to Emily's room, even though she had sent it to me by text. When I answered the phone, Richard was crying hysterically saying Emily had just been pushed down the hall for an emergency C-section as Gracie's heart rate had dropped and Emily's heart rate had gone up. I told Richard I was on my way and threw the phone at Gene. I flew up the stairs to grab a few things and as I headed down the stairs Ralph and Lydia were at the front door.
Within 20 minutes of Richard's phone call we were on our way to Jax.

GRACIE'S SONG

GRACIE'S SONG

"Hold You In My Arms Forever"


Never thought I’d see a day like this day.
Never thought your life could end so soon.
Looking down into your pretty little face,
My heart fills with joy and sadness,
And all that I can say.

I want to hold you in my arms forever.
I want to kiss away the tears you never cried.
I want to be the one to keep you safe and sheltered
‘Til the morning when we never say goodbye.

Sometimes life can be so full of heartache,
Our greatest joy is crushed beneath our feet.
But in the midst of pain too great to explain,
The Blessed Hope of life eternal
Thrills me when I say.

I want to hold you in my arms forever.
I want to kiss away the tears you never cried.
I want to be the one to keep you safe and sheltered
‘Til the morning when we never say goodbye.
________
By Tim D.
Inspired by line from Melissa C. - "I just wanted to pick her
up and hold her forever’
In Memory of Grace Lee M. - Lived and Died January 19, 2009
Parents - Emily and Richard M.
Grandparents - Gene and Melissa C.
Great Grandparents - Joseph and Barbara D.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENE!

This is the only baby picture I have of Gene! His mother thinks he is 1 year old here. He was number five of 7 children so don't think he got a whole lot of attention! I like to tease him about this picture and call him "poor little Gene!"


Joining the Navy! A long way from the Dairy farm he grew up on in Preston Hollow, NY!


Gene with his beloved Harley!


Lookin cool!



Doing what he loves best! Riding his Harley!
You've come a long way, baby! And the best is yet to come! You're gonna be a Grandpa in just a few short weeks!
Happy Birthday Honey! Have a wonderful day! I love you!

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD!

One of my "newer" favorite Christmas songs! Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMILY AND RICHARD!

Happy Birthday to Emily and Richard who share the same Birthday today! Is that too cool or what...husband and wife having the same birthday! Hope you have lots of fun today! Love you and miss you lots! Wish we could be with you today!

Catching up!

Well, this is a fine howdy-doody! For some strange reason, the pictures did not post in the order I wanted, and when I go to add my words, all I see is a bunch of words! Where oh where are the girls when I need them?!?!?!
Anyways, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Emily, Richard and Amanda were all home for 5 days. We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. As well as all of us, we also had Grandma and Grandpa, Ralph, Lydia and Madison. Emily had made Turkey Favors for each plate and they turned out so cute! Later in the evening, Gene started a fire in the Chiminea at Madison's request and we had the makings for Smores. It was a beautiful cool, almost cold, evening. So unusual for this time of year.
Friday morning, bright and early at 5am, Grandma, Lydia, Amanda and I headed out for our Black Friday shopping expedition. Emily, unfortunately had a horrible cold, so opted to stay home. We found some good buys and made good time, accomplishing a lot in our day. Gene and Richard went Harley riding for the day. Richard had a 24hr Harley rental so they made good use of their day getting lots of riding in. We did all meet up at Chili's for lunch. We made it home about 3pm and then the whole clan met up again that evening to eat up leftovers. Friday also happened to be our 27th wedding anniversary, so on Saturday we took the girls and Richard to the River House in North Palm Beach. Went shopping at Babies R Us after eating.
Emily, Richard and Amanda all left on Monday morning. I have had this week off for vacation time. I have enjoyed just being home and putting up the Christmas decorations. The week has flown by and soon it will be time to go back to work:(

Yes, Amanda, I admit I pirated some of your pictures. I dropped my camera and broke it today:(

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Yesterday, November 28th, was our 27th wedding anniversary.
We celebrated separately! I went Black Friday shopping with Mom, Lydia and Amanda. We left home at 5am and got back home around 3pm. Gene and Richard went Harley riding for the day. We did all meet up for lunch at Chili's! Today we are celebrating by going to the River House in North Palm Beach. We are taking Emily, Richard and Amanda. Gene and I love going to the River House so are looking forward to taking the girls as they have never been.
Happy Anniversary, Honey, I love you!

Well, not a whole lot going on around here. The dog is walked and sleeping beside me on the floor. Gene is entertaining himself by singing tunes sung to Christmas carols that are in this month's Readers Digest. They must be really funny as he is singing and laughing! Amanda came home this weekend and made cupcakes to take back to her suite mates in the dorm so thought I would post a picture of them. Had to work today (Veterans Day) but had a nice change of pace as I got to be the secretary instead of nurse today. Not a bad day at all! And now the cupcakes!
And as usual, the pictures posted above my text and I don't know how to move them. Also posted a picture of the Apple Maple Cake Amanda made another weekend she was home.

Can't Forget Our Jacksonville Weekend!

Amanda, Ella and I left home at 6:30 am Friday morning to head to Jax. We had planned on leaving Thursday evening after getting home from work and school, but rain and wind was in the forecast and I was tired and didn't want to drive in the rain at night. Of course, it didn't rain at all Thursday night but rained all day Friday. At least it was just a steady drizzle so I didn't mind driving in that. We only ran into one downpour that lasted 30 minutes or so. After a couple of short stops for Ella to get out and walk around we arrived at Emily and Richard's around 11am. The top pic is of the animals all getting reacquainted! They all love each other!

Emily had a 1:30 appt for her ultrasound, so shortly after arriving we all headed out for lunch at Chili's and then on to the ultrasound. Emily did a good job of driving us there!

Amanda is anxious to get there. She could hardly wait to find out if she is having a niece or a nephew!

In the ultrasound room, Richard is anxious to get started!

Amanda anxiously waiting to get started. She chose a comfortable seat on the leather couch facing the big screen on the wall!

Leaving Discovery Ultrasound. Everyone is so excited! It's a girl!! Just what everyone wanted!

OK, so just who is pregnant here? Amanda trying on the magic belly in Motherhood Maternity. Friday evening Richard had to work so the girls and I headed down to St. Augustine to the outlet malls where we shopped for a while until we got tired and then headed back to Jacksonville stopping for dinner at a Mexican restaurant that we all decided was not worth going to again!

Gene arriving on his Harley on Saturday morning.

Gene was starving when he arrived so we all went out to Olive Garden for lunch. I think Richard was tired of me trying to get a picture of him! And, he will probably kill me for this!

Gene tired and sleeping after the long drive up and a good lunch.

Finally caught Richard in a good pose in his favorite place. Playing games on the computer!

Saturday after lunch the girls and I went shopping in Jacksonville. There are so many places to shop there. This picture was taken at Babies R Us. It just opened and is huge! They have so much stuff! Of course I had to buy an outfit or two for our little grandaughter!

The guys met up with us on Saturday night for a while. Richard is relaxing in the recliner

After a delicious Roast Beef dinner on Sunday, Emily made this scrumptious Paula Deen Pound Cake. We sat around and talked for quite a while Sunday afternoon and then we all left around 4:30 pm. Gene left about half an hour ahead of us but we caught up with him eventually! Of course he says it's cause he sat and waited on us!

We had a great time and are looking forward to Emily and Richard coming down here for Thanksgiving.