Mother's Day and Lisa's Birthday 2012

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living." - Amanda Bradley


I had a great time celebrating both my first Mother's Day and my 31st birthday recently, thanks in large part to my sweet hubby who always makes everything so special!

For my first Mother's Day (as a mommy-to-be) he got me the most BEAUTIFUL pink roses, a sweet card, and a book that I had been wanting.  The card was so nice - he told me how happy he is that I will be Stubby Bun's mother (that was a few days before we found out the gender, so we were still calling the baby by our nickname at that point).  

 That evening, we went to dinner with my parents, grandmother, uncle, and his fiance.  We had a great time!  I'm so thankful for the influence of my own mom, my mother-in-law, and my grandmother in my life as I prepare to be a mommy!!!

 

The next weekend was my 31st birthday, made extra special this year by the fact that I'm pregnant.  David and I went out Saturday night for a very romantic dinner at Bravo as a "couples celebration" (it was WONDERFUL!  We treasure these romantic date nights that we have before the baby comes!) and then the next night we did a family celebration on my grandmother's patio.    

 David knows how much I LOVE cookie cake, so he had this one made for me that says "Happy Birthday to #1 Mom to Be!" in baby blue writing.  I LOVED it!!!  I got some wonderful gifts - a maternity bathing suit from David (I needed one for the beach next month), a new maternity dress from my parents, a Babies R Us gift card from David's parents, and a Costco Membership from my grandmother!!!

 A picture with my daddy, since 31 years ago he was holding me at the hospital.

 I had so much fun with these celebrations this year!!!  Can't wait for Joseph to share them with us next year!!!

Our Most Exciting Blog Post Ever - WE'RE PREGNANT!!!

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone This is by far the most exciting blog post I have ever written because we are PREGNANT!!! We have known since I was just under 4 weeks along, but of course had been waiting until the "high risk" first trimester period was over before we told the world. Many of you know that we have been wanting this baby for a very long time, so we were absolutely overcome with excitement!!! We found out Monday, February 27th around dinnertime. Funny story - since we had been trying to get pregnant for a good while, we had been taking pregnancy tests every month right around the appropriate time. Month after month - negative. AND, as some of you know, taking pregnancy tests every month gets expensive! David and I had been discussing getting a dog since it was taking us a while to get pregnant (we had said we wanted a dog once we had kids anyway, so we were starting to think we'd go ahead and take that step). On February 27th, I called David on my way home from work. It was around the right time of the month, so our conversation went something like this: Me: "Should I stop and get a pregnancy test." David: "I don't know, do you even FEEL pregnant?" Me(with some negativity): "No, I never do, probably because I never am." David: "Well, just don't get one, let's not waste our money. We'll know in a few days anyway." Me: "Yeah, you're right. But I'm stopping at Harris Teeter to get some stuff to make dinner, so I may pick one up anyway." So I stopped by Harris Teeter and did my shopping, not thinking there was a chance in the world I'd be pregnant, since I never seemed to be so AND it was the same month that I had my laparoscopic surgery to remove endometriosis (more on that, and our journey to parenthood, in another post). In fact, we were both SO convinced that I wasn't pregnant that I got home, threw the test to the side (instead of immediately taking it like most months), cooked dinner, and had a long discussion with David about what dog we should get. Finally, I said, "I guess I'll go take this test." David followed me, and we were speechless and in shock when this time not one but TWO lines showed up! Of course, it was overwhelming, but we just couldn't quite believe it. So while I finished up dinner, I sent David to CVS to get some more tests, including a digital one which actually pops up with the words "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant." He was back in what seemed like 30 seconds (think he was excited?) and when I took that one, it said "PREGNANT" almost right away! We were totally overjoyed and couldn't believe it finally happened!

I took a total of 3 tests that night, all of which confirmed our good news!

We told both sets of parents (who were beyond excited) that night, and my Dad took a picture of David and I with our "evidence." :)

We had a follow up appointment that Thursday from my surgery with my OB/GYN. He was even shocked that we got pregnant so quickly after my surgery, and he confirmed the pregnancy with a blood test. He told us to come back a couple of weeks later for an ultrasound when I would be 6 weeks along. We couldn't wait for that day to get here to see our little one and confirm that there was a heartbeat (I was so worried something would happen to it). When that day got here, the started the ultrasound and, although the baby looked like a sunflower seed, we saw the heartbeat right away! Praise God! About a week and a half later, when I was about 7 1/2 weeks, I was at work when I had some very scary symptoms that made me worry that I was about to miscarry. I ran out of my office in Winston-Salem, jumped in the car, called David then my OB/GYN, and cried all the way to the doctor's office in Greensboro. David met me there, and I proceeded to sob like a crazy woman in the waiting room. I cried so much I was scaring other patients (I was too upset to tell the nurses my name - David had to tell them) and they moved us to a private waiting room). It's all sort of funny looking back, since all ended up being fine. Turned out to be JUST a scare - another ultrasound (this time the baby looked more like a lima bean) and blood work proved that baby (and it's heartbeat) were just fine! So thankful! I've really felt pretty decent this pregnancy. I never threw up, but from weeks 6-10 I was SO nauseous that I hardly ate, and lost 6 pounds (doctor said that was fine). I was tired all the time, too, and went to bed at 8pm every night! I was also extremely emotional and moody - poor David, he put up (very patiently) with a lot from me for several weeks! But now in my 2nd trimester, I'm feeling overall much better. Finally, we had our 12 week ultrasound and saw that our beautiful baby now LOOKED like a baby - with arms and legs, and was jumping around like crazy! What an amazing experience! Each time our little one (nicknamed "Stubby Bun") by the way jumped, I think our hearts leapt with joy twice as high! As part of this appointment, they did a first trimester screening to look for possible genetic abnormalities or disorders. We did not have to have it done but chose to, as I've always said if I was going to have a special needs child, I'd want to start preparing for those needs in pregnancy. The GOOD news is our test results for some VERY lethal and dangerous disorders such as Trisomy 13 and 18, came back at 1 in 10,000 chance. Our Down's Syndrome screening, however, came back in the high risk category, giving this baby a 1 in 32 chance of having Down's (or a 3% chance). Normal pregnancies in women my age have a 0.17% chance. So we are clinging to the prayer that our baby is in the 97% chance of being totally healthy. We are probably having an amniocentesis in the next couple of weeks to find out for sure, ONLY so that we could be prepared for our baby's needs if it WAS in the 3% Down's chance. I'm really not worried at all - we have a good chance of everything being fine, and if our baby DID have Down's then it has a lifespan of 55-60 years with proper medical intervention, which is good enough for me! So while it was a bit of a surprised, this 3% risk really doesn't have us very worried - we are thrilled with how the Lord has made our Stubby Bun, whether they face special challenges or not! The high risk reading in this pregnancy also does NOT mean that we would be at high risk in future pregnancies. The cool thing about the amnio is, not only does it rule out genetic disorders, but it is an early way to find out the gender! So instead of waiting until our June 7th ultrasound, in about a week and a half we'll know if we're having a boy or girl! :) Really, we are just so unbelievably thankful for this sweet little one growing inside me! I'll be sharing much more about the pregnancy through blogging, and will also do a post at some point soon about our 18 month journey to parenthood. Praise the Lord for His timing and this precious gift!!!!

Recent Happenings

Try to be happy in this present moment, and put not off being so to a time to come — as though that time should be of another make from this which has already come and is ours.
- Thomas Fuller

I realize it's been a while since I've posted what we've been up to recently. Not a lot, just random things, but still, I thought this blog needed an update.

Once recent Saturday, David spent the afternoon cleaning out our gutters. I think I got the more fun part of the job - standing on the ground and taking cool pictures...





Groundhog Day came, for which I made Groundhog Day Cupcakes. They were really a pain to make, but they turned out cute so I didn't care...



David and my Dad played golf together one Saturday morning, while I hung out with my Mom and Grandmother. When the men got back to my parents house, David apparently hadn't had enough golf so he continued to practice his skills in my parents backyard. He's a great golfer!



My coworkers and I gave an adoption shower for our coworker and friend, Lauren. She and her husband are adopting their two children (a girl and a boy) from Ethiopia. I made the decorations (with much help from my mother) as well as a traditional Ethiopian snack, and everyone else pitched in with the other food. It was SUCH a fun thing to celebrate the fact that she will be bringing her precious babies home soon!

















Valentine's Day also came, and my sweet hubby sent me a beautiful bouquet of red roses, a bear, and candy! We also went out for a nice dinner that evening and had a great time...



Last but not least, we FINALLY had a snow!!! I was starting to think we were going to have a totally snowless winter! It was only about an inch, but it was enough to make me happy!







So anyway, I realize this wasn't the most exciting post in the world, but at least my blog readers know I haven't totally fallen off the face of the earth! :)

Why I Don't Take My Wedding Ring Off - EVER

"Baby I never knew so much love could fit in a little band of gold, but I'm telling you Darling, I feel it in my heart, got it in my soul..." -The Platters

Some of you know this, but I have NEVER had my wedding band off my finger since October 24th, 2009 (our wedding day). And I just WILL NOT take it off. In fact, I had some minor surgery yesterday and of course they tell you to remove all jewelry. I REFUSED to take off my wedding band. Everything else (engagement ring, UNC class ring, etc) I left at home, but I was NOT going to take off my wedding band. The nurses acted really annoyed by my refusal, and insisted I sign a waiver showing that I know the risks of having metal on my body during surgery (and thus will not hold anyone other than myself responsible). The risks include the fact that your fingers may swell and thus they would have to cut the ring off, that the ring may carry bacteria into the sterile ER, and that any metal on your body during abdominal surgery (which is what I was having) could ignite from sparks from the cauterization machine and thus cause burns. When we got engaged and were picking out wedding bands, I INTENTIONALLY picked a simple white gold band with no diamonds JUST so I'd never have to take it off to get the diamond prongs checked. So I know a lot of you are wondering - why am I so militant about not taking it off? Why would I risk (albeit a small risk) getting burned during surgery just to keep a simple little gold band on my hand? Virtually every married woman I know takes theirs off from time to time for various reasons, and I CERTAINLY don't think that is bad on their behalf. It's just a personal decision for me. I guess I got it from my mother - she didn't take hers off for 35 years, until it had to be cut off because an allergic reaction causes extreme swelling of her hands.

Let me explain further - I don't take my wedding band off because it's a part of me. Really. That is my symbol of my undying love and commitment to David. And especially during times when he can't stand right next to me, such as in an operating room, I at least want the physical symbol of our covenant to be on me. I mean, my nose is a part of me, and I'm sure it would be much easier for an anesthesiologist to put a feeding tube down your throat if there wasn't a nose sticking out from your face. BUT, have you ever heard of anyone taking their nose off before surgery? Okay, maybe that's a silly example, but the point is my wedding ring, as my symbol of my commitment to David, is every bit as important to be as any part of my body. I realize that taking it off would not make me "less married," and I realize that if I ever needed to take it off for a medical procedure OR if I ever wanted to take it off because of washing dishes, gardening, or some other messy task, David would totally understand. But, as a personal decision about how I like the world to see my commitment to my marriage, taking it off just would not work for me.

So, to make a long story short, to some degree I am just very sentimental. But on the other hand, I can't seem to make myself take off the symbol of the most important earthly relationship I have.

Despite the nurses fussing yesterday, eventually they agreed to let me keep my ring on and put some surgical tape over it for extra security. And as the anesthesiologist put me under, I had the assurance of knowing my ring from my best friend and the love of my life was securely on my finger. :)

Saying Goodbye to Golly

"Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality." ~Emily Dickinson

This January, we had the difficult task of saying goodbye to my grandfather, "Golly." A lot of you probably wonder where that name came from. When I was a little girl, he would say "Good Golly!" in response to things, and I just picked up the latter half of that phrase as his name! Once I had it in my little head that that is what he was to be called, there was no changing me! So he has been "Golly" to the whole family since the early 1980s. :)

Golly hadn't been feeling well since late summer/early fall, but no doctor was able to determine why. He lost weight, lost his appetite, and lost his energy. We could tell he didn't feel his best through the Christmas season, but still came to celebrate with the family anyway.

On Wednesday, January 4th, a full-body scan revealed that he had a severe and very fast moving form of cancer all throughout his midsection - lungs, liver, pancreas, etc. The doctors concurred that he would not be able to withstand treatment at the age of 90, nor would it do much good. My grandfather wholeheartedly agreed.

He ended up a few days after the diagnosis in the hospital and was going downhill very fast. After he was stabilized, he was moved to Beacon Place, Greensboro's hospice facility. We knew he didn't have long, and everyone wanted to make sure he got the best care possible in his remaining days.

The staff at Beacon Place was wonderful. Everyone took such good care of him! David and I visited him every evening during his 2 1/2 week battle except for one night when he was just too tired for visitors. He continued to grow thinner and weaker, but luckily was not in very much pain.

Last Saturday evening (January 21st) at 8:54 pm he peacefully passed away. My grandmother (his partner of 66 years!), parents, and uncle were at his side when he passed. David and I had seen him a couple of hours before. We are thankful that we were all able to show him how much we loved him at the end!

I have posted the text of his obituary here...

Greensboro, NC: Mr. Charles Bernard Spivey, 90, of Greensboro, NC died January 21, 2012 at Beacon Place, Greensboro, NC. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mr. Spivey was a veteran or the US Army in World War II serving in North African, Italian, German, and French campaigns. Following his military discharge, he returned to Burlington Industries executive offices in Greensboro where he was a member of the Corporate Controller’s staff until his retirement after 43 years. He was a charter member of Starmount Presbyterian Church and a former Rotarian.

Bernard enjoyed collecting and restoring antiques, woodworking, repairing anything that was broken, working in his yard, and being a good neighbor as he helped those living around him. He and his wife enjoyed traveling in the United States and Western Europe, often returning to places where he served during the war.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Charles A. Spivey and Mrs. Pearl Swaney Spivey, of Randleman, NC, and a grandson, Jonathan Lee Andrews of Greensboro.

Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Florence Coontz Spivey of the home, daughter and son-in-law Beverly and Ed Andrews, of Greensboro, son Chuck Spivey, of Simpsonville, SC, and a granddaughter and her husband, Lisa and David Stubblefield, of Greensboro.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Beacon Place, 2502 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405 or to Starmount Presbyterian Church, 3501 West Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27403.

Online condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com.

Forbes & Dick North Elm Street Chapel is serving the family

Like my other grandfather and both of David's, Golly served our country in WWII. I am so proud of this legacy for our family! I will once again post the reading from "The Greatest Generation" that was read back in 2004 at my other grandfather's funeral, and that I also posted on the blog when David's grandpa passed in November 2010:

In the spring of 1984, I went to the northwest of France, to Normandy, to prepare an NBC documentary on the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, the massive and daring Allied invasion of Europe that marked the beginning of the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. There, I underwent a life-changing experience. As I walked the beaches with the American veterans who had returned for this anniversary, men in their sixties and seventies, and listened to their stories, I was deeply moved and profoundly grateful for all they had done. Ten years later, I returned to Normandy for the fiftieth anniversary of the invasion, and by then I had come to understand what this generation of Americans meant to history. It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced.

At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world, they were fighting in the most primitive conditions possible across the bloodied landscape of France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the coral islands of the Pacific. They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world.

-Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation

Thank you, Golly, for being a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and solider. We love you and will miss you so much!

David's Birthday and New Year's

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!” ~ Amanda Bradley

The celebrations don't end with Christmas for us! The day after Christmas is my sweet hubby's birthday! This always makes things so much fun, especially this year when he turned the big 3-0!!! :) David and I had a couple's celebration for dinner at Macaroni Grill, and then went over to my grandparents house so we could all eat his cake...





Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!

A few days later, New Years rolled around. On New Year's Eve, David and I ate a delicious dinner at Green Valley Grill, our favorite restaurant, in the O. Henry Hotel...



We spent a quiet evening watching the ball drop on TV. We didn't want to be out too late, because the next day we were headed to Chapel Hill for the UNC Basketball Game!

We had such a fun little Chapel Hill trip! Got there early to do some shopping at our favorite store, A Southern Season...



Then we cheered on the Heels for the afternoon - a great way to start 2012!



I love this time of year!

Christmas 2011

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." - Luke 2:10-12

Christmas 2011 was a wonderful time! We are so grateful that we got to be with my grandfather for his last Christmas (see later post). It was a wonderful time of togetherness, fun, and food!

On Christmas Eve, my mother and I basted the turkey with rosemary butter and cooked it. Here you can see it transform from raw bird, to raw bird in bag, to cooked bird. :)







Later that evening, the family all went over to my parents house for Christmas Eve dinner of heavy appetizers and sandwiches. Here we all are in this picture - David, myself, my parents, my grandparents, my uncle, and his fiance Susan (who we were thrilled to meet for the first time!).



Here is my parents Christmas tree - so pretty -



When David and I got back home that evening, of course we left out cookies and milk for Santa...



And the next morning, they were gone, along with a note from Santa saying how much he enjoyed them!



On Christmas morning, David and I got up to have our "nuclear Christmas" before everyone else came over. We opened some of our presents too and from each other, as well as all the wonderful presents from David's parents. Here you can see David in the UNC Santa hat that I gave him, and me showing off the beautiful pearl bracelet that my in-laws gave me! Note the early-morning lack of makeup for me - yuck! lol





During our nuclear Christmas, David also read aloud the Christmas story from the Bible...



Then came the rest of the family over for the rest of the present opening - just look at all the presents under that tree!



I helped hand out presents...



One very cool gift - Susan gave Chuck (my uncle) a mailbox with their new last name on it - he loved it!



My grandfather and the advent wreath during Christmas morning breakfast - we are so glad that we have these memories of him!



Because we were having 13 people over to our house for Christmas lunch, we had to set up not just our dining room table but two tables in our living room as well...





I didn't get many photos during Christmas lunch because we were all so busy eating! lol. But here is one picture of my sweet hubby at the table...



After Christmas lunch, the rest of the family went home except for our cousins. We exchanged presents with them and played several rousing rounds of Catch Phrase! :)





We are so thankful for a wonderful Christmas!