THE GASTONS

Baby Layne Grace Gaston

2010-10-17T06:33:00.001-07:00

Layne Grace Gaston was born Thursday, Oct 14, 2010 at 12:57 pm. She weighed 4 lbs 1 oz and was 16 1/2 inches long.

Please visit Layne's Caring Bridge page for pictures and updates.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/laynegracegaston

10 Hours to Go

2010-10-14T00:19:00.000-07:00

It's 2:15 am and in less than 10 hours I'll meet my precious baby girl. I woke up so I could eat one last meal before surgery tomorrow. As I was eating, I realized that would be the last time that my baby girl would be nourished by my body. I'm so ready to see her but I can't help being overwhelmed with sadness right now. In less than 10 hours, she'll no longer be physically connected to me...instead, I'll be holding her in my arms. Fear of the unknown is settling in and I'm fighting all of those negative thoughts that come along with it. I pray that God will wipe all of the fear and negativity away and replace them with excitement, courage, strength, comfort and peace that passes ALL understanding.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

Today I had my last doctor's appointment and one last sonogram before Layne's arrival. She was still breach but had flipped over to the opposite side. This is something she's been doing for weeks now! As I thought about it, that's exactly what I do all night long when I'm sleeping...flip from right side to left side! Dr. Gebhart has been such a wonderful blessing through this journey. His compassion and strong faith in God have comforted me in so many ways and I am so thankful that God led me to him 9 months ago. After my doctor's appointment, I met a very special friend of mine for lunch. Julie and I met by email 2 days after we found out Layne's diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Julie's beautiful little girl, Magdalena, was born with T18 2 years ago and lived 167 days! Their story touched my heart and I felt an instant connection with Julie. I have enjoyed meeting with her once a week for coffee or lunch and just talking. God brought our paths together for a reason and I am so grateful. After lunch with Julie, I met my sister, Sydney, for some light shopping and then for manicures & pedicures. It was SO relaxing and much needed. I am so thankful she drove here early from Tupelo so we could spend some time together before the BIG day.

Well, it's now 3 am and I need to get some sleep to be rested for Layne's birthday :)
I will have someone post updates and pictures soon.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4 6-7

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

37 weeks and Counting

2010-10-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post this for a few days now but have just now gotten around to it. Last Monday, Oct. 4th, I turned 37 weeks. Layne is more active than ever now and loves to move & groove. I love to feel her little hiccups, which seem to last all night long. It amazes me how strong this little girl is with each passing day. She is amazing!!!

Thursday, I had my 37 week appointment and sonogram. We were checking to see what position Layne was in to determine if a C-section would be needed because last weeks sonogram showed that she was breech. Well...she is a stubborn little bug. She was still breech but had flipped over to the other side. And she LOVES her feet!! They are right up beside her head and she loves to hold them. She measured 4 lbs. 2 oz. but is more likely to be close to 4 lbs. Lori, my technician, informed me that the ventricle in her brain that was dilated last week, was no longer dilated. Also, there was less fluid in her left kidney than last week. Praise God!! When I was told about the excess fluid at my last appointment, my heart sank. For a while I had been researching and reading other T18 families blogs and was so hopeful that she would be with us a while. But when Dr. G started talking about hydronephrosis and how it could affect her, I felt like I had been hit by a freight train all over again. I felt like it was a reality check for me. However, I know that my God's plan is perfect and I don't want to question it. I know that He is carrying me through this dark and uncertain time and He won't abandon me.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29: 10-12

So because Layne is still in her comfortable position, we have been scheduled for a C-section on Thursday, Oct. 14 at noon. I'll go back for one last visit and sonogram on Wednesday, just to make sure she hasn't decided to change her position. Right now I am praying that Thursday will be a day of joy and peace. I don't want it to be a sad day...it should be a day of celebration because we will meet our precious little miracle. I pray that God will surround us with His overwhelming peace and will allow us to have the perfect amount of time with her.

Prayer requests:
Pray for the doctors, nurses and medical staff who will be working with us.
Pray for Layne's safe delivery.
Pray that she will feel no pain or suffer in any way and will know only love and peace.
Pray for God's guidance as we make any decisions concerning Layne.
Pray for Reid & Lily. That God will provide a blanket of protection over them and that they will have time to love on their little sister.
Pray for strength, courage and understanding for us and our families.
Pray that this sweet little girl will continue to impact lives and that God will be glorified through her life.

"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." Ecclesiastes 11:5

"God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called for His purpose." Romans 8:28

36 Weeks and Going Strong

2010-10-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

Well, first of all I want to thank each and everyone who has commented, sent emails, texts and cards to us since we found out the news about Layne. And most of all, thank you for your constant prayers!! They mean SO much to me. I can sense God's overpowering peace and comfort surround me each day and especially now that the time is drawing near for us to met our precious little miracle. Layne truly is our miracle baby. Most Trisomy 18 babies don't make it to their due date, but she is beating the odds each day.

I was 36 weeks on Sept. 27th and saw my doctor on the 30th. We had an ultrasound done first to check her weight and position. She was up to 3 lbs 13 oz but was still 6 weeks behind on her growth (which is common with T18 babies). We could still see the VSD (ventricular septal defect) in her heart and her left kidney is holding more fluid than it was 7 weeks ago. We also saw that she is breech...she is definitely stubborn like her mother :) So now we are faced with whether we will have her vaginally or by C-section. This is something that I had been battling with in my mind from the moment we found out the devastating news. I knew that T18 babies don't handle the stress of normal labor well, as so many are stillborn. My doctor didn't want to perform a C-section because he didn't want to put me through major surgery, Layne not make it and then I have all of the grief and stress to deal with on top of my recovery. So...I turned it over to God. I know His ultimate plan is perfect and that He will take care of the situation for me. I am at total peace knowing that. My doctor and I discussed the need for a C-section if we want to give her the best chance of being born alive. At my appointment next week, we will have another ultrasound done to check her position and then determine where to go from there. If we decide on a C-section, Oct. 18th will be Layne's birthday.

It's hard to believe that 7 weeks has gone by so quickly and now we are approaching Layne's arrival. I am SO happy to finally get to see and hold my beautiful daughter, but at the same time, I am sad and scared to death knowing that I may have to let her go. No mother should have to bear this burden. But I hold to my faith and knowledge that God loves me and Layne more than we know and that He will be glorified through her life, however short or long it may be.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5

"The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:17-19

Layne 28 weeks

Layne 30 weeks 4D

Holding her foot

Looks like she's thinking about something

Praise you in this Storm (live) You'll need to mute the playlist at the bottom. Updated post is after this video.

2010-08-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

I will praise you in this Storm (very long post)

2010-08-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

Hello to all!!
I've wanted to update my blog for a long time now, and I hate that it's being done under these circumstances. A lot has happened over the past 2 years. Many fun and exciting times and also some sad and difficult times. On February 16th, Hamp and I found out that we were expecting baby #3. This was definitely a surprise for us!! We had talked about having a third, but didn't know if we were "called" to have another. We were shocked, excited and scared all at the same time, but we knew that God was in total control and this was His plan for us. As the news sank in, we started preparing ourselves and the kids for our new addition. Reid and Lily were dead set on having a little brother.

On June 3rd, we found out we were having a little girl. My mind raced at the thought of having 2 little girls running around the house and how much fun it would be. I could see them playing dolls together, braiding each other's hair and being the BEST of friends. I could also see Reid taking care of her just like he does Lily. Although they were both wanting a little brother, they quickly accepted that they were going to have a little sister and were excited to hold and feed her.

The day we found out we were having a girl, my doctor informed me that there was a choroid plexus cyst on her brain. He quickly explained that they normally dissolve by 28 weeks and we would have another sonogram done at that appointment to recheck it. He felt like it would dissolve and that there was nothing to be concerned about, but he also said if it was still there, he would send me to a specialist for a second opinion. I began praying that God would remove the cyst and that she would be healthy with no birth defects or problems that couldn't be fixed. I felt certain that she was going to be perfectly healthy and reminded myself that God was in control.

Most people who know me, know that I always have a project going on in my home. I quickly began a mental list of things that had to be done around the house before our little girl's arrival. In March we started updating our bathroom and finally finished it mid July. Then I turned my attention to Lily's room. I wanted to make her room a "big girl" room and make it special for her. She had been in her toddler bed (transitional crib), which we needed for the baby, and was ready for a twin bed. I took Reid's bed and painted it white and put a bunk bed in his room. We painted to room a powder blue and had some awesome pink & white curtains made for her window. As the project started coming to an end, I began thinking about what I wanted to do in the nursery. By this point, I was a week away from my 28 week appointment. We still needed to move the treadmill out and into the dining room, but something told me to wait....wait until after my appointment to do anything. We had also been going back and forth on names for our sweet girl. I knew we would call her Layne, but I couldn't find a family name to use for her middle name. My mom ran across Rivers on my dad's side and I thought we'd use it because it had a nice flow to it. Something continued to tell me to WAIT!

Thursday, August 5th is a day that will stay in my mind forever. I went to my doctor's appointment by myself because Hamp had an early patient and I just knew that everything was going to be alright. Mom called on the way there and said that she and Daddy were going to come and be there for me, but it would be after my sonogram appointment. I really didn't think it was necessary, but looking back, I am so thankful they were there. During the sonogram, I was amazed at how much Layne had changed. The technician began scanning her head and I quickly saw her type "choroid plexus" over a dark mass. She asked me if they found something on the last sonogram and I told her about the cyst. She said that it was still there and that her growth had dropped drastically. She was only weighing 1 lb. 11 oz. which was 2-3 weeks behind what she should have been weighing. I didn't know what to expect but I knew something was definitely wrong. I immediately broke down and wished that Hamp were there with me.

Daddy was with me when my doctor came in with more unexpected news. He couldn't see the four chambers of her heart or her right kidney and her weight was a huge concern to him. He felt like we were dealing with a chromosome abnormality like Down's Syndrome. I went immediately to the specialists office for another sonogram to see if he could see the heart and kidneys better. He did see the 4 chambers but found a VSD, ventricular septal defect, which is a hole between the two ventricles. He said we would be sent to a fetal cardiologist to find out what type of surgery she would need when she was born. He also found the right kidney but said the left kidney wasn't emptying all the way and could probably be fixed after birth. The growth was a major concern for him as well. He recommended an amniocentesis to determine if the baby had a chromosome abnormality. We decided to do it right away so we would know what was wrong with our little girl. The amnio results would take 10 days to come back but a FISH test would let us know if there was a chromosome abnormality or not. We were scheduled to go back that Monday for the overall results.

That weekend was the longest weekend ever! I kept as busy as I could and wouldn't let myself do any research on the internet. I wanted to keep a positive attitude and depend on God to make things right. I prayed that He would heal her body and help her gain weight. I just knew that she was going to be alright.

Monday, August 9th, is another day that is etched in my memory. Hamp and I took Reid to his first day of Kindergarten that morning before our doctor's appointment. I was an emotional wreck to say the least! I didn't cry like I thought I would, I guess because I had so much on my mind. I watched him walk into his classroom like he had been there many times before, and as I turned to leave, the sweetest voice said "I love you, Mommy" and he rushed over to hug me goodbye. My little boy had grown up SO fast!! Hamp and I went to the specialist's office later that morning to get the FISH test results. We waited for 45 minutes, which seemed like forever. My mom and sister-in-law, Angie, were there which helped take my mind off of the visit. The nurse called us back and put us in the room where we had been before. Dr. Perry, the specialist, came in and with the first few words he spoke, I knew right away our lives were about to change. He let us know that the FISH results indicated that Layne had Trisomy 18, which is a fatal chromosome abnormality. Because I didn't do any research over the weekend, I had no idea what we were dealing with. He went on to tell us that because of her T18, no cardiologist would perform surgery on her because the outcome is inevitable. She has a 50/50 chance of being born alive and if she is, we don't know how long she'll live. The rest is a complete blur!!

Since that day, our world has been turned upside down. The unknowing is agony! My doctor is preparing us for her to be stillborn, because T18 babies don't do well with labor. There's also the chance that she may pass before my due date which is October 25. If this happens, they'll induce labor within 48 hours. I'm still holding onto the hope that God will allow us to spend even a few minutes with her alive, but if He doesn't, I'll rest knowing that she is in heaven with her Father. Despite all of the uncertainty, I find peace in knowing that this is God's plan for Layne, no matter how hard it is for us to understand. I just pray that her life, however short it may be, will touch lives and that God will be glorified.

Remember earlier when I said that something was telling me to wait on deciding her name? Well, we've decided to name our precious baby girl Layne Grace Gaston. Grace was my grandmother, my mom's mother, and because grace is "a blessing and gift from God", we felt that it describes her perfectly. Thank you to everyone who has been lifting us up in prayer..we can definitely feel them. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as we prepare for our baby girl's arrival.

Pictures with Santa

2008-12-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist pulling out our pictures with Santa from the past 3 years. It's amazing to see how much Reid & Lily have changed. Enjoy!!!

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Yesterday, we took the kids to see Santa at Northpark Mall. My sister-in-law, Joanna, was home from California and decided to go with us. As you can tell, Lily was NOT happy at all!! She was fine until I put her in Santa's lap & then that's all she wrote. I can vaguely remember a picture similar to this when I was little. Anyway, Reid did so good. He jumped right in his lap with no hesitation and when Santa asked him what he wanted he said "a dump truck & a motorcycle". Until yesterday, I hadn't heard the first thing about a dump truck & I have no idea where motorcycle came from. Santa also reminded Reid that his elf "Buddy" has been reporting to him nightly about Reid's behavior, good AND bad.

Where has the time gone???

2008-11-30T18:19:00.000-08:00

OK, so I have been the biggest blog slacker EVER!!! I can't believe 2 months has gone by since my last post, but there has been A LOT going on since then. Once the holidays start rolling around, it's hard to find time to sit for 5 minutes.

Well, at the end of October, my mom & I went to the Delta to have the kids' hand prints made at Red Leaf Pottery. First, we stopped in Indianola to eat at The Crown restaurant with one of my VERY best friends, Angela. It was FABULOUS!!! I can't believe in the 24 years that I lived in Leland I never ate there. Boy, was I missing out!!

After eating, we visited with some old friends before heading to Red Leaf for the hand prints. Peyton & Rebecca Potter, the owners, do such AMAZING work. They have anything & everything you can think of as far as pottery goes. I'm so excited to see how they turned out. My mom & I are making another trip to the Delta this Friday to pick them up & to meet friends at The Crown for lunch (I'm hooked).

The first weekend in November, we decided to take a little vacation at the last minute. Hamp was ready for some "time off" from work and I was too, of course. So we packed up the kids and headed to Orange Beach for a long weekend. We normally go in April & again around September, but so much had been going on and there was never a good time to go. It was a little chilly and it rained on Friday, but we had a ball shopping in Foley and we mainly stayed in the heated indoor pool the rest of the time.

And so another Thanksgiving has come & gone :( My sister & her family came in on Wednesday and stayed through Friday. Reid & Lily had a blast playing with Anna Grace & Walker. Anna Grace was such a BIG help with Lily...she's going to be a great babysitter when she's older!! Reid & Walker played 90 to nothing the whole time they were together. Thursday, my brother and sister-in-law, Breisch & Angie, came to my parents house so we could all be together for Thanksgiving. This year we decided to take the family picture BEFORE eating, that way we weren't full & tired.

We are so thankful for ALL that God has blessed us with!! HE is so good!!!

Fun at the Fair

2008-10-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we decided to go on a little family outing to the MS State Fair!! Angie went with us and was such an awesome help with the kids. The weather was nice, but turned pretty hot after we'd been there a while. First off, Hamp & Reid went down the HUGE slide. (I wasn't able to get a picture b/c I wasn't sure how to work our new camera.) Then it was off to Reid's FAVORITE ride...the trucks!!

Hamp & Reid waiting to riding the trucks

Lily wanted to go exploring. She is walking so well!!

After riding the trucks, Reid wanted to try out the motorcycles. He wasn't too sure of it at first, but once it got going, he really liked it.

Angie & Lily hanging out in the shade

After the motorcycles, we headed over to the small ferris wheel so I could ride with my little man.

Lily conked out while we were walking to the other end of the fair. How precious is she????

While Lily napped, we headed over to the TradeMart to see the antique cars and to cool off!! Angie & Reid posed for some pics infront of the antique firetruck. Reid was very upset that he couldn't ride in it.

Angie & Hamp wanted to ride this ride (don't remember the name) for some crazy reason. You know, the one that takes you up real high and then drops you without notice. I rode one similar to this when Hamp & I went to Six Flags over Georgia. I vowed to NEVER get on another one again.

Lily eating her favorite snack...Goldfish.

My precious family!!

Let's catch up!!

2008-10-05T10:53:00.001-07:00

Alright, alright!!! I'm the world's worst at keeping my blog up-to-date! So much has been going on since my last post, but now that I have a few minutes, let's catch up.

The Saturday after Lily's birthday, Sept. 13, Angie was home from her training in Chicago. She wanted some one-on-one time with Reid, so she took him to Build-A-Bear. He was SO excited, to say the least. He picked out a cute little puppy and wanted to make him into a fireman. He named him "Sam" and picked out the cutest fireman clothes, as well as play clothes. Afterwards, they went to Chik-fil-A for lunch and playtime. He had such a BLAST!! Thank you, Angie!! We love you!!

Angie, Reid & Sam

Sam the Firedog

RANDOM PICS OF THE KIDS

Silly Lily

Hamp teaching Reid how to "snap" the ball

Reid & Lily sliding

Reid's new fascination in the bathtub....Daddy's swim goggles.

Lily's 1st Birthday

2008-09-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the birthday girl!!

Her cake was so precious! It was 2 cupcakes decorated like a butterfly. Lily tore into it as soon as we put it in front of her. Here are before and after pics of Lily and the cake:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Here is Lily with her FAVORITE present....her first babydoll that Reid picked out for her. Notice the red areas on Lily's face from the food coloring in the icing!

Reid wishing Lily a happy birthday!

Will post pics after work

2008-09-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

I promise to post pics of Lily's birthday party after work today. I've already saved the posting but need to upload the pics from the cameras. Please check back this afternoon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY!!!

2008-09-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Sept. 7th:

Today my baby is 1 year old!! I absolutely can't believe it! It literally seems like yesterday when I had her and now a whole year has gone by :( I thank God every day for blessing us with her and entrusting her to our care. Happy Birthday my sweet angel. Mommy, Daddy & Reid love you VERY much.

Look who's getting ready to walk!!!

2008-08-26T18:32:00.001-07:00

I can't believe my baby will be walking soon!! I mean...it just seems like yesterday when she started crawling!!

A Day at the Park

2008-08-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Hamp took the day off...so we decided to take the kids to Winner's Circle Park for some family time. Reid always LOVES playing with the "digger" as he calls it.

He had so much fun running around and sliding, but he always went back to the "digger". Lily loved the swing and wasn't too sure about the sand. After putting a handful in her mouth, she realized it wasn't food.

Fun at Nana & PopPop's

2008-08-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my sister and her two children came to visit from Tupelo. We had such a good time and the kids had a ball. There is a culdesac across the street from my parents house that is sloped slightly and the kids LOVE to "go down the hill" as they call it. They ride whatever they can find to the top of the hill and then take off! Anna Grace, Walker & Reid would go time & time again but Lily, on the other hand, wasn't too sure about it all.

While I was adding the pictures, I found this old picture of Reid "going down the hill" when he was about 18 months old. I can't believe how much he's grown. It seems like just yesterday when he was that little.

Just a few more pics:

Sweet Sister-in-Laws

2008-08-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Joanna, Hamp's sister, is leaving for Los Angeles to pursue her career in acting. She is so beautiful and talented and we know she will do well. We are so proud of her for having the courage to move out there on her own, taking this HUGE leap of faith. Please lift her up in your prayers that God will guide her along her path and keep her safe as she's away from her family.

GOOD LUCK, JOANNA!!!
WE LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU TERRIBLY!!!

****************************************************
My other sister-in-law, Angie (who is married to my brother, Breisch), just started a new job today in pharmaceutical sales. She was destined to be a sales rep. She is such a social butterfly, so this job suits her to a T. For the next 2 weeks, she'll be at home studying, and after that, she'll head to Chicago for 4 weeks. Please be praying for her also, that God will give her the patience and focus she needs to prepare for the tests that are to come.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK, ANGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU!!

A day at Shiloh Splash Park

2008-08-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my niece was here from Tupelo staying with my mom. She's 7 and was such a BIG help with Reid and Lily. We took them to the new Shiloh Splash Park that had opened on Friday and they had a BLAST!!! It's geared toward ages 8 and under and had a variety of things for them to do. There was a little slide, water guns, sprayers that came out of the ground as well as big sprayers you could walk through. The best part, though, was the HUGE bucket that would fill up with water. Once it was full enough, it would tip over and splash water on the kids. However, Anna Grace & Reid wouldn't get close enough to get splashed. We all had a fun time and look forward to going back.

Our finished kitchen and 1/2 bath.

2008-08-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

For the past 2 months, I've been trying to get our kitchen finished. And on top of that, I started updating our 1/2 bath. I know you're probably thinking "She's lost her mind" and I think I did!!! Well, it all began when I told my precious friend, Angela, that I would host a trunk show for her. We set the date for July 25th, which meant that I had about 5 weeks to get the house looking decent. The kitchen came together pretty easy, but the bathroom was a different story. After many unforeseen problems, it came together beautifully. I must say "Thank You" to Shana and my dad for ALL of the help they gave me. Shana stained the vanity for me and also helped with the venetian plaster until 2 in the morning. My dad helped tremendously by putting the "throne" back in and getting the faucet running, as well as many other things.

Here’s the masterpiece, but pictures don't do it justice!!

The finished kitchen:

Not only did Shana help with the 1/2 bath, but she also made these frames and mirror. She and her husband, Jeff, are SOOO talented!! Thank you, Shana & Jeff!! I love you both dearly!

Her blog, Rustic Creations, is on my Cool Sites link. Check it out!!!

How long has it been???

2008-08-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it's been almost 2 months since my last post!!! I'm such a horrible blogger. I promise I'll try to do better. So much has gone on lately that it will take numerous posts to catch up.

Let's see.....

We finally broke down and purchased a swing set for the kids. It took us 2 days to put it together, but it was so worth it. Reid & Lily absolutely LOVE it!! Reid always wants to swing in Lily's swing but we keep telling him he's too big. His reply? "Mama, I not too big! I not too big! I wish he wasn't...I can't believe that this time last year he was small enough to swing in it. Lily would sleep in the swing if we'd let her. She's so content and happy out there. Here's a picture of the finished product:

Did you notice the "KING" of the swing set?

Lily is 10 1/2 months going on 16 and ready for her driver's license!!!

Not only is she riding on her car, but she's also getting ready to walk. She'll be 11 months on the 7th and I have a feeling she'll be walking before her birthday.

Happy Father's Day!!!

2008-06-18T20:48:00.001-07:00

How blessed I am to have such a wonderful, loving and God-fearing husband!! He is more than I could have ever hoped for and I thank God every day for blessing me with him.

This is my Daddy! He is the most AMAZING man I have ever known. I am what I am today because of him and I am so grateful!!! I love you, Daddy!

This is my brother, Breisch. Not only is he my brother, but one of my best friends. Even though he is younger than me, I am always learning from him. He turned *29* on Friday 13th and we celebrated by cooking out on Sunday. He makes a MEAN steak!!! Happy Birthday, Breisch...I love you!

Time to UPDATE!!!

2008-06-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

I know! I know! It's about time! I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. So much has been going on lately and now that I have a spare minute, I thought this was the perfect time to update the blog.

Let's see.....Lily is now crawling, pulling up & getting ready to cruise. She has even balanced a few seconds on her own before plopping down on the floor. I have a feeling she'll be walking before her first birthday!!! I don't think I'm ready for that yet :( She is saying "Mama" and sometimes "Dada". Oh!! And she has her first tooth!!! All of you dental hygienist out there can relate when I say that I check it every single day to make sure it looks J-U-S-T right. I know all you other hygienists have done it also.

Reid is ALL boy!! He LOVES playing baseball with Mommy & Daddy. Every day after school, the first thing he says when we get home is: "I wanna throw the baseball, Mommy/Daddy". What he wants is for us to throw the ball to him. He's actually REALLY good!! Maybe one day we'll be cheering him on as he plays in high school, college or maybe the BIG LEAGUES. I'm sure that's EVERY mother's dream.

I had to throw this picture in, also, to show GIGI (my sister-in-law) that Reid DOES like playing soccer. She and my brother gave him this soccer goal for his birthday and he LOVES it!!

I told Hamp that I was going to mention on the blog the cute little words & sayings that Reid has been using lately. Here are a few:

Picicle......translates to: Popsicle
Anybance..... " Ambulance
Lemolade..... " Lemonade
The Laddick... " The attic
Fruit bar.... " Granola bar
Daddy's juice... " Hamp's koolaid (pink lemonade with grape)
Mommy's juice... " My koolaid (orange)

Also, before we eat, we say our blessing and then he says his which goes like this:

"God is great
let us thank him for the food
By his heads, we're fed
Thank you God, to the bread. A-M-E-N"

My heart melts every time he says his little prayer!! Sweet innocence!!

Stallings-Gaston Family Trip to Orange Beach

2008-05-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

I've FINALLY found the energy to post about our trip to Orange Beach!! When we got home Sunday afternoon, we felt like we needed to take another vacation to recuperate. Then it was back to "The Grind" Monday for me...UUUGGGGHHH!!!!

So here's the break down:

We went to Orange Beach with my parents, Breisch and Angie (brother and sister-in-law for those who don't know who they are) last week. We left Wednesday after work and drove, in the rain, until midnight...we thought it would be easier to drive at night with 2 kids because they'd sleep most of the way. Once we got to the beach house, the kids were WIDE awake!! I think Lily finally went to sleep around 3am and was back up at 6am.

Thursday it rained so we went to Foley for lunch and shopping. We ate at Lambert's Cafe which was AWESOME. We all ate entirely too much but were able to walk it off at the Outlet Mall. Once Hamp & I got back to the beach house, we went to the beach and took pictures of the kids.

Friday it rained ALL day and I felt crummy because of sinus problems. Hamp just recently bought a Nintendo Wii and brought it with him (a very good thing since it rained 2 out of 4 days). Mom & Day went back to Foley, so I laid around and watched Hamp, Breisch and Angie play the Wii and napped here and there. It was so hilarious to watch them playing each other!! There was so much competition & trash talking (mainly from my husband) that we were hurting from laughing SO much.

Saturday was GORGEOUS and it was my Dad's birthday!! We headed to the beach at 10am and had a BLAST!! Needless to say, that afternoon we were regretting not wearing SPF 40 sunscreen! We all got sunburned except for Lily. That will teach us not to cram 3 days of "fun in the sun" into 1. That night, we met up with my best friend Shana and her family, who were in Orange Beach also, and took pictures on the beach. They turned out beautiful even though it turned cloudy at sunset.

Sunday, after washing sheets and towels and cleaning for 3 hours, we headed back home. It was the LONGEST 4 hours of my life. Reid fell asleep twice only for about 5 minutes before getting his second wind. Lily slept until we were just north of Foley then she played and cried until we got to Mendenhall. I was driving 80 the whole way trying to get home as fast as I could before I pulled all of my hair out....I guess it will be a few more years before traveling with kids will become easier!!!

Aside from the drive back, I had the BEST time!! I was so glad to be able to spend some quality time with Angie, since we don't see each other too often. She is so funny and down to earth and has a heart of gold! My brother is SO blessed to have such a wonderful wife and I am equally blessed to have her as my sister-in-law.

So, that was the short version of the 1st annual Stallings-Gaston family Orange Beach trip. Hopefully, the next one won't be too far away. Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Reid & Hamp

Sweet Lily

Mommy & Me

Reid playing in the sand

Brother & sister

Me & my man

Me & Angie

Angie, Breisch, Nana, Pop Pop, Me, Lily, Reid and Hamp

Our precious FAMILY

Me & Shana

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

This has been a wonderful weekend for me (it actually started on Thursday). I was able to spend Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with my mom, shopping and just hanging out.

Thursday we went to the Canton Flea Market and shopped ALL day. We were both so exhausted from all the dust, wind and walking, but it was SO worth it!!!

Friday night we cooked out at my parent's house with my brother and sister-in-law and gave my mom her Mother's Day gift: a new garden tote with 3 new tools, 2 pair of pruners, gloves, a kneeling pad and a gift card to Lakeland Garden Center. She LOVES working in her yard and was needing new tools and a place to keep them all together.

Saturday, Mom, Lily and I rode down Hwy. 49 to Old Mexico Imports and Deck the Yard in search for iron plant containers. They both have an EXCELLENT selection and I found the hanging container I was looking for. Mom even bought a couple of gorgeous ferns.

Today, I slept in while Hamp took care of both kids. They gave me the sweetest card and a gift card to Pier 1 that I've been wanting (I want to put 2 chairs from there in the kitchen in front of the window for a sitting area). We went to church and then ate Mexican afterwards. YUM! Tonight, we invited my mom and dad over for supper so we could treat them for a change. We always have a wonderful time with them and enjoy their company so much.

What better way to spend Mother's Day and weekend than with my mom and my children!!! I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day.

"She speakes with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her..." Proverbs 31:26 & 28

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

My new addition to the kitchen

2008-04-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

The wall behind my kitchen table is HUGE, to say the least!! I was so intimidated by it & didn't know where in the world I'd find something big enough to balance it out. Well, after MUCH deliberation, I finally found the perfect picture. I found it at Kirkland's on sale!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. It's just the right size and I love the scene and colors. It makes me feel like I'm in Tuscany. Now, if I could only start cooking it up like Giada De Laurentiis I'd really be in business!

Random pics from the past couple of weeks

2008-04-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

Reid & Daddy watching the Mississippi Braves

Lily and Aunt Nanna after she sang the National Anthem

My little "sweet pea"!!

Lily dressed and ready for church

Our little slugger!!

2008-04-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days, Reid has fallen in LOVE with baseball!! He loves for us to pitch to him and cheer when he hits the ball across the yard. We had a t-ball set until he decided to see if it would withstand his GATOR!! He plowed right over it and smashed it into 3 pieces. We thought about getting him another one but realized he'd more than likely destroy that one also. So now he's hitting the ball almost everytime we throw it to him. Looks like we'll be playing baseball before we know it!!

My BABY is 3!!!

2008-04-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Reid!!!

April 16, 2005

April 16, 2008

Well, I can't believe it!! My baby is 3 and growing leaps and bounds. His birthday was April 16 and we had his party the Saturday before at Winners Circle Park. We all had a blast watching the kids swing and play in the sand. Reid is BIG into racecars these days and I decided to give him a CARS party. My sweet friend Suzanne made the cake which was ADORABLE and soooo DELICIOUS!! Check out her blog on the right side of my page.

Here's a picture of all of the kids at the party. I can't believe we were able to round all of them up AFTER cake and presents & have them sit long enough for a picture.

Here are Lily and Anna Grace after all of the party fun. Poor Lily got SOOOO sunburned on her face. Shame on me for not thinking about sunscreen!! However, it was VERY windy that day and even chilly.

Reid's favorite toy at the park was the giant "dumper" as he called it!!

Daddy's Little Helper

2008-04-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Reid LOVES helping Daddy mow the yard. We found that if they wear masks while mowing, it keeps them from getting allergies and sinus problems they've always gotten in the past. I couldn't resist grabbing my camera and snapping some pics of them hard at work.

Look who's sitting all by herself!!!

2008-04-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

I took this picture at the end of March, after we got home from work. We were playing on the floor and I decided to see if she could balance for a longer period than she did the day before. I sat her up (she wasn't too sure about what I was doing to her!) and she stayed for about 15 seconds before toppling over. Now she's sitting all by herself!! She's just before crawling which I'm excited and sad about at the same time. I can't believe she's almost 8 months!!!

More pics of the kids

2008-03-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

Last night's bath and bedtime:

These pictures were taken back in February and I decided to throw them in because Reid LOVES his BEESH and Pop Pop's lawnmower. I love these pics of them together. I wish I had an updated picture of Reid with his GEEGEE (Angie)...he just adores her.

EASTER

2008-03-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Easter has come and gone so quickly. I keep thinking about how awesome it must have been for those women to find Jesus' tomb empty and to later see him resurrected after dying on the cross. Just think...Jesus was sent here to die an agonizing death on that cross so our sins would be forgiven. HE is the "bridge" between God (who is perfect) and us (sinners). Without his death and resurrection, we wouldn't be able to spend eternity with our Father in Heaven. That's what Easter is all about!!

Here are some cute pics from the weekend:

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!!!

Time to update...FINALLY!!!!!

2008-03-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Well, after a month of not blogging, I'm finally trying to get up-to-date. So much has gone on since my last post, so I'll try to get it all in.

We closed on our "old" house the end of February (Thank the Lord!) and are now settled into the "new" house.

We've been updating the kitchen, which desperately needed a face-lift, and are almost finished. We added new appliances, under and over-cabinet lighting (Thanks Daddy and Breisch!!) and granite on the counters. Our sweet friend Jeff spent a whole Saturday adding bead board and trim to the island. Thank you sooo much!! It looks amazing and completely different. Now it's starting to look like a "new" kitchen. All that's left to do is add pendant lights above the island, tile the back splash and add a new range hood. Oh, and at some point make new valances for the doors and windows. Here are a few before and after pics.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

As you can see, we have been VERY busy. I never thought I would be so exhausted after updating one room. I think the master bath will have to wait a while!!!

FINALLY!!!

2008-02-25T18:10:00.000-08:00

Well, after 2 1/2 weeks, I'm FINALLY up and posting again. Since my last post everything has been turned upside down and totally chaotic. We finally got moved into the new house as of the day of my last post and are slowly getting settled. I had forgotten how easy the packing was and how hard the unpacking would be. Well, it's not THAT hard but trying to find the right place to put certain things is time consuming. Reid and Lily are adjusting just fine and are enjoying the "new" house. Reid loves riding his "tractor" and/or "4-wheeler" around the backyard so much that it's the first thing he wants to do when he wakes up in the morning. The cutest thing though is that every night before bed he goes outside to kiss it night-night. He is so precious!

We have a contract on our old house and are closing on it this Friday... Yea!!! God is SO good! It seems that in those moments of doubt and despair HE ALWAYS shows us that HE is in control. As happy as I am in this new house, I am also sad to leave the house that we called "home" for 5 years. All of the memories came back to me as I moved the last few boxes yesterday. I remembered first moving in when Hamp & I had been married almost 1 year. We actually closed on that house on Valentine's Day 5 years ago. I'll never forget bringing both of my babies home from the hospital and that feeling of SECURITY that I felt in that house. I remember distinctly when we brought Lily home from the hospital...as we pulled into the driveway "Amazing Grace" by Chris Tomlin was playing on the radio and I broke into tears. That song was SO fitting for us and that very moment! I'll never forget it. I'm sad that I won't get to see Reid ride his tractor in circles in the cul-de-sac or watch Lily take her first steps in that house like Reid did, but at the same time I am happy to be in a bigger house with a bigger back yard for the kids to run around and play in. We have been SO blessed!!

Our old house

I'll post pics of the new house later this week.

It's Moving Day!!

2008-02-09T06:14:00.000-08:00

This will be my last post for a little while because we're moving today and won't have internet access for a few days. Let me give you a run down on what's happened over the past week.

Tuesday, Sylvia, our realtor, showed the house to a young single girl who LOVED it. We just knew this was the person God had sent to buy our house. On Thursday, Sylvia called and said that the mortgage guy told her he thought that the girl's father was trying to talk her out of it. We were sooo frustrated to say the least! Sylvia called the girl's mother who reassured us that her daughter was VERY interested and that she would be making an offer soon. She met with Sylvia yesterday and made the first offer. We countered and are waiting to hear back from her.

Thursday, Hamp and my dad were able to get the new stove and microwave installed. They look awesome! I was able to clean bathrooms and vacuum all the bedrooms. The kitchen is still a mess but I figured I can clean it this afternoon while unpacking.

Yesterday we had a scare because Reid had a temp. of 101.3...we thought for sure it was the FLU. We went to the doctor to verify that it wasn't but found out he had throat and sinus infections. After taking a nap, he woke up with a fever of 103.4 axillary. I gave him Motrin and rushed to pick up his medicine while my mom stayed with him and Lily. When I returned, Reid greeted me at the door with a huge smile. He was feeling so much better. That Motrin really works!! My parents offered to keep both kids last night so we could get more accomplished, which we did.

In the meantime, we've started breaking things down and loading them up. I thought this day would never come!! Our sweet friend Wes drove up from Ocean Springs yesterday to help out. We were able to get the van packed down last night before crashing at 11:00. Hamp has been up since 4:30 because the smoke alarm battery was dying and had started chirping. He is busy taking our bed frame apart while I hurriedly get this post done. There's so much to do today!!

Well, I better end this post quickly and get started breaking down another room. We're hoping to have everything moved by lunch. Once we have our internet hooked up, I'll post pics. Have a great weekend.

Where do the weekends go?

2008-02-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Sunday and I'm dreading going to work tomorrow. It has been a very busy weekend. Busy and productive!! Yesterday Hamp tested his carpentry skills by fixing the wood floors in the den. He had to cut a few boards for them to fit...see picture below. I painted from 10 to 8 only stopping when my mother-in-law came by with a friend to see the progress. In that amount of time, I was able to get a coat of primer and 1 coat of paint on the entire master bath. Needless to say that I CRASHED when I got home but didn't sleep well b/c my knees ached so much from squatting and climbing. Today, we were able to get a second coat of paint on the walls and then clean a little since we're moving this next weekend. And I haven't even started packing!!!

Reid is ready to "move into new house" as he calls it. We took his tractor to the other house Saturday so he could ride it in the back yard, now that it's fenced in. He had the best time riding through the mud until he would get stuck. Then he would come in a help me paint. He wanted to paint so badly but I don't think paint and an almost 3 year old go together very well unless there's a huge drop cloth and plastic all over the walls. So I gave him a clean brush and let him pretend that he was painting. I was able to get a few good pics of him working hard. Lily, being so laid back, also had fun playing and rolling on the floor and swinging in her swing. She is such a sweetheart...I could just eat her up!!

Reid just came in with self-drawn tattoos all over his stomach and feet. He is definitely our little "Denise the Menace". He is constantly getting into EVERYTHING and always asking question after question. We have to be very careful what we say around him because he picks up on things so quickly. It's amazing how his little mind absorbs everything like a sponge.

Pics in the snow

2008-01-29T18:44:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of Reid last Saturday when it snowed. He had a ball riding his "tractor" through the snow and watching it build up on the tires.

My two precious angels chillin' out on Mama and Daddy's bed.

We're still here

2008-01-28T19:13:00.001-08:00

Well, this weekend was very productive and interesting. Hamp and I changed 3 light fixtures and replaced a ceiling fan Saturday without getting electrocuted. We replaced the old lights in the hallway and the ceiling fan in the den. It looks awesome. It's amazing what a little updating can do. Thursday I plan on painting the master bath and start cleaning because we've decided to move next weekend. It is so hectic in the mornings trying to get the house straight and leave by 7 am, so we feel it would be best to go ahead and move to alleviate the craziness.

Saturday was also one of my very best friend's birthdays...
Happy Birthday Angela!!! I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you.

Sunday I received some spiritual "food for thought" that I've been needing. The message Chip preached was fantastic!!! He preached about spiritual warfare and the fact that it is constantly surrounding us. He painted a picture for us of a lion devouring it's prey. He said, "imagine that the lion is the devil and you are the prey." I don't know about you, but that hit home for me. It really opened my eyes and made me realize that unless we study and immerse ourselves in God's word, we are defenseless against all the evil that surrounds us. God's word is our sword and it will ALWAYS lead and protect us.

Another week gone!!!

2008-01-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but things have been so crazy in the Gaston household lately. This week has been a total blur! Sunday we had an open house and only a handful of people came. This week only one person has come to look at the house. A lady had planned to come Tuesday night for the 3rd time but she had to cancel because her daughter couldn't get off of work. It's so frustrating keeping the house spotless ALL the time and then no one comes to look at it. Don't get me wrong, I love having a CLEAN house but trying to pick up after a 2 1/2 year old all the time wears on you after a while. We only have the kitchen and master bath left to paint at the "new" house and we'll be done painting for a while. Today I changed out the hardware in the kitchen...it looks so much better!!! The only problem is that the new hardware is black and the old hinges are brass and they show. I stopped by Lowe's and got a couple of hinges to try only to find that neither would work. I'm guessing that since the old hinges are 20 years old it'll be very hard to find new ones that will fit the same. Shana called after I realized the new hinges wouldn't fit and suggested painting them the color of the cabinets. I think this will be the best thing to do, only I'm dreading it because there are almost 70 to paint. This weekend I'm going to teach myself how to change out light fixtures so keep checking my blog to see if I get electrocuted or not. I'll be posting pictures of the new house soon. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Pictures from the past year

2008-01-20T20:09:00.001-08:00

Back In the Saddle Again!

2008-01-17T16:29:00.001-08:00

Today was my first time back in my Spin class at the gym. It's been a year since I went because I had found out I was pregnant with Lily. It really kicked my tail and I'm dreading tomorrow morning. I have this picture in my head of what it will be like trying to get out of bed and it's not pretty. I remember in hygiene school, Shana, Suzanne and I joined the YMCA and started a Kickboxing class. The morning after the first class I literally had to crawl out of the bed. And don't even get me started on how hard it was to go to the bathroom. But as they say: "No pain, No gain".

Hamp and I finished putting a second coat of paint in Lily's room at the new house and boy is it PINK. I was trying to go for a subtle pink that you have to really look at to notice, but instead got bubblegum pink. I'm going to test my paint mixing ability and try adding white to it to tone it down. I'll post pics of before and after. All we lack painting is the master, half and hall baths and the kitchen. I wasn't kidding when I mentioned Hamp becoming a professional painter!!! I'm so ready to be done so we can get moved in.

On another note, Tuesday I picked Reid up at daycare and found a little "happy" sitting on top of his locker (or so I thought). It was a Walmart bag with Reid's clothes in it. Not only Reid's pants and underwear, but another little surprise was put in the bag instead of down the toilet. WHAT!!! ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME!!! I believe I was in a state of shock because I left it in the bag and put it in the van like an idiot. That was a very bad choice because I had to ride from Reid's daycare in Brandon to Grant's Ferry to pick up Lily all the while with that bag in the van. I thought I would have to leave the doors open over night to air it out!!! I plan on having a little talk with the director about that.

Well, I believe that's all of the excitement we've had over the past few days. Till next time....

I Finally Did It!!!!

2008-01-15T19:48:00.001-08:00

Well, after much procrastination, I've finally started a blog. Thank you Angie for helping me get started. And thank you Angela for pushing and encouraging me to do this. I have become addicted as everyone says you will. After stalking so many of my friends' blogs, I thought it would be nice for everyone to keep up with what's going on with us.

Things are VERY crazy in the Gaston household these days. Reid will be 3 in April and has become "bad as ever" crying and throwing fits all the time. He is in full-time daycare in Brandon and is learning so much. Lily, on the other hand, is 4 months and is our "laid back" baby (Thank You Lord!!!). She is such a happy baby and rarely fusses unless she's hungry, wet or sleepy. Lily stays at our friend Susan's house on the days I work and is home with me the other days. Since the beginning of the year, we've bought a new house (not new but 20 years old and needs updating) and are trying to sell our house. I didn't realize how hard it would be to keep a house clean for "showing" with kids...mainly Reid. A typical work day for me starts at 5 a.m. and is non-stop until I crash at 10 or 10:30. Hamp is staying busy at work in Byram and is also thinking about becoming a professional painter on the side. Ha! Ha! Ha! Not really, but he could be after painting 4 bedrooms and a hallway at the new house (and we're not done yet!). We are so thankful for our parents who have kept the kids when we need to work on the other house. We're planning on moving in by the middle of February so I'll keep everyone posted. I plan on posting pics soon.