Good-bye Eastland Dental

Here is my office staff, missing Jan our hygienist.

I had to go today to say good-bye to my office.
Colby and I took a trip over to Eastland to pick up my belongings and say good-bye to my girls and the administration team.
It was another bittersweet memory.
There were lots of laughs and a few tears (I avoided that as much as possible, emotions and pregnancy aren't good when you are close to being in labor!)
The past 2 years with these girls has been amazing. We have been through so much.
When I began there July 2006, the office was very different than it is today. Few employees and few patients were being seen. Me and my office manager Lorena had a goal, a vision of growth. Well that's just what we did. We took an un-organized, very unpredictable dental office and turned it into a professional, trust-worthy dental palace!! We made Eastland Dental an office patients enjoyed coming to, and trusted coming to. We had the complete support of the other team members- Cloda, Yessica, Raquel, and Anabel, as well as our administration staff. Jan is a new addition, our new hygienist who has the same vision as we all do; she will help keep the vision going and growing.
Each person at this job has played an important role in my life and each of them will be remembered in my future dental career!
Lorena- Thank you. Thanks for the support. Thanks for calling me out when it was time for me to stand-up to things I needed to. Thanks for being a great work partner as well as friend. I couldn't have made it through the ups and downs of the past 2 years without you. SO many memories, so many scared, funny, shocking moments!!! I could go on and on, but I won't because I feel the tears coming!!! You are an amazing woman with so many amazing talents!
Cloda- I have been impressed with your talents and dedication since your first day. Your abilities are incredible. You have an awesome talent connecting with patients and relating to everyone somehow or someway! Keep loving your family and the Lord the way you do! You have an amazing future ahead!
Anbel- I have loved watching you become braver and more confident everyday! Your laugh and your stories are incredible! You are truly a lovable person! Stick to your guns, and always stick up for what you believe in!!!
Raquel- You have become one of my closest friends. I have loved getting to experience so many life adventures together! I can't wait to see and hear all that lies ahead in your life. Eat Rico's for me OFTEN and Y&R will always make me remember you!!! I love ya girl!
And Yessica- WOW!!! How close we have become! Keep believing! I will miss IMing you about all the funny things going on, and especially about The Hills!!! Thank you for your positive outlook on everything! I truly appreciate how every situation that has occurred you can find something good in! And I know God has so much in store for you! I can't wait to hear all about it! And you better PROMISE to stop in and see me on your way down south!
Love you girls! And miss y'all so much, ALREADY!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Rest REALLY Does Help!

So it's crazy, but...
Rest REALLY Does Help!
So I have rested and relaxed for the past 2 days, and it's amazing the way things have improved!
My feet are almost normal again.
I have peed every 10 minutes, but crazily I already have lost those 6 lbs of water I had gained in 5 days.
And I checked my blood pressure today at Wal-Mart, and it's sooooo much lower!!!!
Can you believe it?
My doctor was right!
So I guess not working is really the better option at this point, so I give in!
I may be bored, but I now can believe that this is much better for me and Cade!

First Day Home

So Today was my First Day Home.
Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment, my normal weekly check-up.
It was a VERY emotional day for me.
So I gained 6 lbs in 5 days, my blood pressure was "sketchy" per Dr. Gardner and I was dilated 1 cm and she could feel his head.
So what does this all mean??
Well I had to quit working. I was ordered to rest and stay off my feet as much as possible. This is not "bed-rest" but just a way for my doctor to force me to quit pushing myself so hard. I love my job. I love my patients. And I love the girls I work with. So not going to work is very emotional for me. I am already bored and even more lonely now. Work was kinda my way to get away from an empty house, since Colby won't be home until Oct 3. Day-time TV sucks! I love Y&R- but that's only 1 hour of the day!
So the 6 lbs- explains why I am so swollen, see in my blog yesterday.
The blood pressure- most likely due to the sudden water weight gain.
And I'm sure you are asking why did this happen? No clue. Probably the most annoying part! They have no clue why this happens.
They are hoping the rest and keeping my feet up will help the swelling and possibly lower the BP.
And being dilated, don't get too excited. Being dilated means NOTHING! I could be this way for hours, days, or weeks!
But I will say, I did sleep 13 hrs last night and took a 3 hour nap today, and I am still tired, so maybe I am a little more exhausted than I realized!
The bright side of all of this is now I have time to get my hospital bag packed, pack Cade's bag, and mentally get rested in preparing to soon be a mom!
And like Dr. Garder said- water weight is the easiest and quickest weight to lose, so I'll hopefully have my HOT, SEXY body back before you know it!!! Yea right!!! HAHAHAHA

GROSS!

So that you all believe me!
I woke up to swollen everything! And this is how it looks after 3 hrs of working on my feet!
How gross can it be!
CANKLES AND VIENNA SAUSAGE TOES ARE HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!
DISGUSTING!!!!!

Best Pregnancy Email I Have Received!

PREGNANCY Q & A
Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.
Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.
Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.
Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?
Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.
Q: When is the best time to get an epidural ?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.
Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word 'alimony' means anything to you.
Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.
Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.
Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

'ESTROGEN ISSUES'
10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE 'ESTROGEN ISSUES'
1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You 're using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: 'How's my driving-call 1- 800-'.
6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice.
7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from 'outer space.'
9. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
10. The Tylenol bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday.

Sept 22- A Bitter/Sweet Day

As I sat in church today, a huge amount of emotion came pouring down on me as I sat there alone, feeling so lonely and numb inside, tears of sadness and joy flowing down my cheeks.
For some odd reason, I truly felt God nudging me saying and reminding me, "Tomorrow is a very special day Pennie" and he is right.
Tomorrow marks a day in mine and Colby's life that never will be forgotten.
First- One year ago- our precious Jetta Marie said her good-byes to us as God took her up into heaven. I can picture her sitting right at Jesus's feet. Loving him and licking his toes (her way of washing his feet and showing her grace). Jetta has such a sweet soul. Everyone who met her, loved her and could feel her peace. She was an amazing pup that Colby and I will always miss and keep in our hearts. We sure miss you girl!

Second- our sweet-loving CosmoPolitan was born one year ago. I will never forget the feelings I had when our breeder Susie told me the day she was born. It was such a bitter/sweet feeling, as if Jetta had sent Cosmo to us as she ascended into heaven. Cosmo has the sweetest and most loving spirit. I can just see Jetta putting her paw over Cosmo and telling her exactly how to be once she became a Langford. Happy Birthday Cosmo!


It's not completely understood by many on how I can tell God thank you for both of these events, but I do.
I know God took Jetta for a reason. And to be honest with you all, I believe I know the reason.
September 23, 2007- Colby and I attended church at New River for the first time. "Just by chance" (as some my say), the sermon was about being saved. After losing Jetta, I was truly at my wits end. I needed Christ more than ever. And as we drove out of that parking lot, I decided to have a moment of peace as I asked God to save me.
I wonder if Jetta was watching me, because I truly feel losing her was God's plan on changing my life, Colby's life, and our lives together as one.
So thank you God. Thank you! And God please give Jetta kisses and tell her I will see her again, one day very soon.

Below is a poem Warren (Lockie's husband) sent me when I lost my girl.


The Power of the Dog
by
Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passsion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Nursery So Far

Here is our Nursery So Far...
My hubby has been working away down there in McAllen!!!
He's done such a great job!
We will decorate everything else once I get there!
Since obviously this is the bare essentials!!!

35 Weeks and 6 days

Here I am at 35 weeks and 6 days.



I may be smiling in this pic but....
Inside I am really getting ready to have Mr. Cade.
Last night I realized I REALLY am pregnant! I know many of you are like "Hello?? You've been prego for 9 months!!!!"
Well I know but the true symptoms have began to appear!
I now have CANKLES!!!! This is where your ankles and calves appear to be one body part, no distinction, same size, same circuferance.
Not only do I have cankles, but I also have pitting edema. This is where I push in on my shins and the skin stays indented. It's gross!
And the waddle has began! I walk like a duck! I can literally feel my pelvic bone spreading! But I feel like I should start speaking duck- quack, quack!

Moreland Family Baby Shower Aug 23

So this is late!
But here are a few pics from the Moreland Family Baby Shower!
It was a BLAST!!!
We had it at a little hall outside of LaGrange, TX.
It was my first baby shower and I got so many awesome gifts!
God has truly blessed us!

Below are all of my hostesses and one of my lil' cousins (Mason) decided to jump in on the side! He's so funny and CUTE!
And you will recognize the two girls next to me from previous blog entries:
To my left: Lockie
To my right: Jen
And YES they BOTH just had babies!!! Can you believe how awesome they look!!!!!!
SO JEALOUS!!!!!


Me and my sister-in-law Mandy, ain't she so pretty!


Me and my hubby! I love him so much!!!

Enough Whining!!!

Well hang on, I first have to whine just for a sec....
Hurricane Ike, HATE it!!!
I had a joint baby shower with my best friend Aryn scheduled in Houston this weekend.
A lot of my friends and family that I haven't seen in a while were planning on coming.
But Mother Nature has taken over....
The shower has been canceled because of the stupid hurricane and I guess having a baby shower in 115mph winds isn't safe or something???

So I was reviewing my blog, and dang I am a whiner!!!
So I thought I'd give y'all some good news for a change!
Cade is healthy! YAY!!!!!!
I had my last sono today, and he is right on schedule!!
He weighs 5 lbs 11 oz right now and I have plenty of amniotic fluid.
So we are still on schedule for an Oct 9th due date!

Now I have to get rid of this horrible cold.
But as long as my baby is happy, I am happy too!!!!

The Insomnia Begins

Well its 2:45AM and I am AWAKE!!!!!!
Trust me, my husband can be my witness, that during this entire pregnancy I have slept like a rock. He likes to say that a tornado could tear down the house and his wife would just sleep right through it like a little princess.
But that has all changed now....

I can't sleep.
My mind is racing. Is this hurricane going to ruin my last baby shower? Is my family in Houston going to be ok? How's Colby? I wonder how our new house will look if I position this picture here? How are the dogs doing in the wash room right now? Is that Kalvin snoring down at my feet? Cats snore?
I can't get comfortable. Should I sleep on my right or left side? Do I want this pillow between my legs like I see in all the pregnancy articles? Do I want to attempt to sleep on my back? Cade, please move down....etc. etc.
I can't breathe because of this ridiculous cold I have. One nostril is open, then somehow or another it closes and the other opens. Then I think the miracle has happened because they are both open, but wait, 5 minutes later, they are both closed and now my ears are both clogged...
I sneeze every 5 minutes. And snot flies out of my nose, so then...
I blow my nose every 3 minutes. My nose is now bleeding because of how raw it has become from this cheap toilet paper I thought I'd try out.
I ache all over because of this weird fever I have. And no, Tylenol won't break the fever. So I am sweating, and 10 minutes later, I am freezing like I am in the Arctic.
My nausea is HORRIBLE!!!!!! I didn't have it the 1st trimester, so the pregnancy gods are making up for it every time I lay down.

And if I hear from any of you "Oh, Cade is just getting you prepared for how it will be when he gets here" I will literally SCREAM at you!!!!!
Aren't I pleasant!!!

Irritable Uterus??? Well I'm Irritated!

So I went to the hospital today!!!!
HATE it so much!!!!
At work today I started having terrible sharp vaginal pain and horrible Braxton Hicks Contractions, so they told me I needed to go to the hospital for monitoring.
They described my condition as "Irritable Uterus" which was brought on by dehydration and stress. (Not sure how the dehydration occurred but I DEFINITELY know how the stress occurred!!)
I didn't call anyone to tell y'all I was going to the hospital because I felt stupid! I really didn't want to go to the hospital because I felt so ridiculous and that I was jumping to conclusions.
But I am glad I went now! Dr. Gardner came to see me and confirmed, I am NOT dilated and Cade is ok.
Thank GOD!!!!

Below is some info I found on the web that explains what an Irritable Uterus is:

"An 'irritable uterus' means simply that your uterus contracts without causing any changes in your cervix, or labor.

There are many causes: dehydration (<8-10 glasses of water/day), infections (urinary or vaginal), twins or multiple gestations, and stress are main causative factors. The concern comes in, before 36-37 weeks that perhaps the contractions are labor, or perhaps preterm dilatation.

An irritable uterus has NOTHING to do with your labor: neither making it shorter nor longer, nor less effective. It is simply the uterus contracting in an erratic, irregular pattern. "

"Some women notice that their uterus contracts (although they may feel it as painless Braxton Hicks) when they are physically active. You may find it helpful to lie down when that happens. Anything that helps you relax really. You may find having a warm bath or massage is useful. Also, a hot or cold compress applied to the painful area may provide relief."

Tears, tears and MORE tears!!!

Well today I have cried my eyes out...
Now I know many of you are like "Pennie, it's HORMONES!!"
Ok- well maybe a little bit, but there's more to it in MY opinion!
Today Colby left for McAllen.
I am stuck here in Weatherford till October so I can have my baby boy with Dr. Gardner in Fort Worth.
I knew I was going to miss him, but dang, I NEVER imagined this much.
I feel like I am a single prego mom that has no MAN in her life, well except for Kalvin the cat, but you know how much that counts!
I could tell Colby was so excited to go start his new adventure with his job, but I could also see that fear all over him.
I know his mind is racing with tons of thoughts, but I truly feel he is terrified I will go into labor early and he will miss the birth of his first born child.
He will come home in 2 weeks to visit me, so the countdown is on!
12 days till I get to see my AWESOME hubby!!!!!
Cade, if you're gonna come early, PLEASE give daddy time to fly home!!! I really don't want to push a baby out all alone!!!!!

Couples Shower - Sept 6

What a blessed day we had!!!!
Tons of our family members and friends (approximately 40-WOW!!!) joined us at our home to shower Cade with gifts. And I mean tons of gifts!!!!
We love each and everyone of you!!!!!
Thanks to everyone for your love and support.
God is so good!!

Baby is Getting Ready!

So today I found out the Baby is Getting Ready....
At 29 weeks and 32 weeks Cade was breech, meaning his head was not down.
For all of you that are asking, hu???? Well I didn't know either!
So when a baby is born, they come out the "va-j-j" head first.
And Cade has been feet first until NOW!!!
So Dr. Gardner blessed with me with the news that his head is down! And he is getting ready to come out into the real world.
I had some HORRIBLE discomfort on Wednesday night. He was KILLING me. Pushing up on my stomach/diaphragm. I felt short of breath and VERY sick to my tummy. I couldn't get comfortable and I couldn't get him to budge!
But thank God for that short time of discomfort, because it is assumed that this was when the lil' Munchkin was possibly turning!
Isn't God amazing!!!!!!
So we are still on schedule for a 10-9-08 birth, unless he comes unexpectedly early!

Belly Pics!

So since so many of you (Amanda) say I have been a BAD blogger for not showing belly pics, here they are!!!!
You can see, I DO have a belly, and I am about ready to POP!
This is me technically at 33 weeks and 6 days, BUT I only have 5 weeks till I will be induced!
I hope I can hold on!!!!

Me and Bugslie

Me getting kisses from Cosmo

Kalvin acting like a PIMP

Proud Wife!

Look at my cute hubby being promoted!
He's so AWESOME!!!!!