AWOL

Updated, see below original post

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Sorry I've been MIA from posting for a bit. Things have been nuts, and I actually have a couple things I really want to write about, and I just haven't had the time to do those posts justice.

And, now, I'm just feeling a little bit down-in-the-dumps about a couple things, and don't much feel like chatting. So....

I'll try to keep the pictures of The Boy coming, but I can't promise much more riveting blog fodder beyond that.

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Okay, lest you panic:

Everything is FINE! =) Everybody is happy and healthy -- though I do have something weird growing on my left eyelid - off to Dr. Fisher on Friday to check that out.

The "things" I want to write about aren't "big new" or "super serious," just a couple things I want to share my thoughts on - for the 10 of you who read this. Like, this radio show I heard the other day where the callers were confessing the secrets they were keeping from their hubbys...Yea, I have some thoughts on that one. And I'm coming up on my 100th post, which I guess is kind of a big deal in "blogger world," and I wanted it to be a little more meaningful than "OMG -- Seth pooped 4 times today!!!!" (which he did, yesterday, by the way).

And I'm not feeling so down-in-the-dumps any more this morning. I just had had a long day after a series of long days, and got a letter that rubbed me the wrong way, and a disappointing email on top of that when I got home, and....blah, blah, blah. So! No one worry -- all is well. =)

Wordless Wednesday

Hi Aunt Cathi =)

Just wanted to give you a little shout out. ;) Thanks for so faithfully checking in with us via the blog. Hope you and Uncle Mert are having a great day -- and thanks for the prayers for Daina. They worked!

It's TWINS for Daina and Jeff!

I got the news just minutes ago:

Twin A measured 7w0d and h/b of 140
Twin B measured 6w6d and h/b of 134

I originally told her I wanted one of each, but as soon as I got the news, I pictured 2 little boys. Hmm...I'm reserving my official vote for a while, but I'm thinking blue.

Daina and Jeff, we are SO happy for you guys!

Some new pics, just 'cause =)

Fifth time's a charm, right?

I didn't get her permission to post this, but since her blog is public, too, I stole this picture. I love it, and, D., I love you too, and can't wait for your good news on Tuesday!

Well, for you two of you who read this blog, I'm again asking for prayer for a friend of mine -- a young mommy who wants more than anything in the world to have a healthy pregnancy with a healthy baby on the other end of it.

Last March, I met a girl named Daina. And yes, we too (like Stacy and I) met on the Internet. But in the months that followed, we became more than just random Internet chatroom pals. For all you skeptics who wonder at the trueness of "internet friendships, I'll have you know we've actually met, had dinner, and are planning a girls' getaway weekend soon.) I have had the opportunity to stand by Daina through 4 of her 5 pregnancies (and it was the first of the five that brought us together in the first place). Tomorrow, she and her husband will go in for a "routine" 7-week ultrasound.

Please, please lift them up in prayer, that they will be calm, and that they will see two (yes, two -- I'm selfish, and they transferred two embryos, and I think Daina really wants twins, too) strong, flickering heartbeats. Also pray that Daina's first trimester symptoms begin to subside. As she put it, it's a little hard to stomach (no pun intended) to go through the first trimester five times and still be unsure of the outcome…

This girl is so very special and important to me -- I want this baby/these babies more than anything, and I covet your prayers for them.

People of the North, REJOICE!

From Sunday's Toledo Blade:

"Initial work has begun for metro Toledo’s first Sonic Drive-In, which its developers say is to be one of four.(*) The restaurant in front of the Meijer store along U.S. 20 in Rossford is scheduled to open in mid-September. The next store is to be in Oregon along Navarre Avenue."

* Um, feel free to build Store #3 at the corner of Douglas and Sylvania. Or in my backyard, for that matter.

Seriously, y'all. SONIC! I could have wept with joy when Jim told me the news yesterday. Oh, you can bet I'll be counting the days until I can get myself a Chicken Club Toaster, a Frito Pie, and a Strawberry LimeAde. Heaven!!!

And for all you Toledoans who haven't a clue why I'm rhapsodizing a drive in....just you wait. And in the meantime, click here to get a peek at all the wonderful glory that is Sonic.

Typical evening

So, we've taken to putting the grandparents on speakerphone when they call. Their pictures are also on my camera phone, so as we talk, Seth can hear their voice and see their picture on the phone display. Here we are talking to Nonna. He wasn't too sure at first (and once he was, I couldn't capture a smile while balancing both the phone and the camera), but you get the idea:

Here he is staring at the display.

And here he is crawling to get her. =)

And these are just random. How we spent the rest of the night, playing Peek-A-Boo and rolling around in the blankets.

Um, and am I the only one who think he's looking pretty Gregory in this one?

Happy, happy birthday, baby!

:::sigh:::

Guess who turns 7 months today? SEVEN. He's now closer to turning 1 than he is to being born. I know, I know. But permit a momma to be a little bit nostalgic. I can't believe how much more I love him every day.

I am a blessed woman, indeed.

Update from Kiev

Dad is doing well in Kiev, and I was able to talk to him tonight. He spent the day with Ele (a MySpace friend, of all things!) and walked (over 10 miles he said!) and talked. He has tomorrow to spend in the city, and then the second camp starts on Tuesday.

He said his tooth is holding its own, and the leg that he injured playing volleyball the first weekend he was there is healing. An ultrasound that he had performed last week showed that there was NOT a blood clot, and so we feel that he is out of danger on that front.

Thank you all for your continued prayers.

World, watch out! Here I come!

Step-by-step "How to Crawl," by Seth James:

So, I start off on my tummy. I used to hate it, but now, my tummy's a launching pad!

See? You get up on all fours, and bring your knee forward.

Are you paying attention? Here comes the hard part...


You push off REAL HARD and land on your nose.

And you do it again! Up on your tiptoes....

(I am SO buff!)

Bring up that knee...

Wait, lemme start over. Up on my tiptoes...

Aw, never mind. I'm tired.

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Some more adorable shots of Seth and Brady. I sure do love these boys!

Haven't they grown so much in the last couple months?!:

More stuff you probably don't need to know...

Another tagging. Thanks a lot, kekis.

1. Who was your first prom date? Private Christian high school = no prom
2. Do you still talk to your first love? No :::sigh:::
3. What was your first alcoholic drink? Never have had alcohol; never plan to
4. What was your first job? I worked for a caterer, doing a lot of event planning and office management
5. What was your first car? a 1997 Mustang; his name was Elvis
6. Who was the first person to text you today? I got a text yesterday -- does that count? If so, Dad.
7. Who is the first person you thought of this morning? Seth
8. Who was your first grade teacher? Mrs. Laney
9. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane? I flew a plane with my Dad in Texas when I was maybe 7? Sheesh....I think that was my first flight, I dunno!
10. Who was your first best friend, and are you still friends with him/her? Hmm....maybe Weston Tucker, and no. After his mom died and they moved, we lost touch, though I know he ended up being brilliant and was his HS valedictorian. I wonder where he is now?
11. What was your first sport played? I was in gymnastics when I was little, was a superstar runner in track and field in jr high, and then I was "the cheerleader"
12. Where was your first sleepover? Um....by "my" if you mean one I hosted, then at my house. =) If you mean "attended," maybe Ambre's?
13. Who was the first person you talked to today? Jim
14. Whose wedding were you in the first time? Jr Bridesmaid for Uncle Joe when I was 10; I've only been in one as an adult, and that was for MaryBeth last summer
15. What was the first thing you did this morning? Pumped...wait, no, prepped a bowl of Cheerios with sliced banana to eat while pumping.
16. What was the first concert you ever went to? Some orchestral thing at Blossom music center with my dad. It was cool, I remember that, but I'm pretty sure I fell asleep.
17. What was your first tattoo or piercing? Ears pierced when I was 9.
18. What was the first foreign country you went to? Canada to visit Lynne
19. What was your first run-in with the law? I got pulled over for speeding in Ottowa Hills in April '05. No ticket. =) I'll have to post that story some time. Until this very post, only Jim has known about this incident.
20. When was your first detention? I never got detention. Nah, nah, nah, nah boo boo. ;)
21. What was the first state you lived in? Ohio. And it's the only one I've ever lived in except for my college years in Florida
22. Who was the first person to break your heart? Probably Chris, but I won't hold it against him. It was kind of a mutual "breaking" that worked out for the best. The real big hurt, I'd have to say, goes to Mark. That one still hurts a lot more than I'd like it to.
23. Who was your first roommate? Heather, Rachel, and Wendie. Wendie is the only one I'm still in touch with
24. Where did you go on your first limo ride? Through a drive through carry our to get wine coolers after Uncle Joe's wedding. Ah, the memories of a 10 year old.

Now You're It. Go.

Stacy, Spencer, and Issac

Please pray for this young family today. They have a specialist appointment today, and we are praying for miraculous news....and the grace to accept it if that news doesn't come. Please click on Issac's picture to the right to be directed to Stacy's blog and to leave a word of encouragement for this amazing mommy.

How we've spent our holiday weekend so far:

So, the long weekend has gotten off to a leisurely start for the Gregorys.

In anticipation of the annual Wirick July 3rd party, we:

Took a bath

Worked our fuax hawk like a rock star...gotta be stylin' for the chics

Ate some veggies. Mmmm, celery!

Got into our jammies and rolled around on the floor with Gramma

(psst...check out my new teeth! I have three!!!)

Crawled around for a while....when is this show gonna start?

Got bundled up for the show....can you believe it's only in the 60's in JULY!?

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And, well, that's where Thursday ends.

Friday, Jim worked on the backyard, the new ever-ending project. I did some random chores around the house, and then we went out to dinner. Seth did SO well. He always does. And then we went for a drive in the Mustang, and came home for the next batch of festivites:

"What? There's fireworks going on?"

"Oh, so that's why I'm still awake!"

Happy Birthday, America!!!

And they're finally asleep....good night, all.

Please pray

Dad has found himself in Kiev with an abscessed tooth. He is in a lot of pain and unable to eat very much. When I talked to him this evening, all I could tell him to do was to be wise. Call me melodramatic, but all I could envision is some quack surgeon in a back alley with a rusty ice pick trying to dig out his tooth.... =( He will be calling Dr. Knierim during business hours tomorrow (obviously, not that he can do anything for a broken tooth all the way from Toledo...)

Anyways, please pray for miraculous healing overnight so that he isn't faced with a difficult decision.

Wordless almost-Wednesday