Boo-Ribbit-Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween Everyone! 

Alex's classmates. Aren't they cute at their Halloween party?  

Happy Birthday Bridget

Happy birthday to my friend Bridget who lives in Ada, Oklahoma. Hope you have a wonderful day. I mailed your gift yesterday, so it won't be there (UPS) until Thursday. Sorry.   

This is from Bridget's wedding. 

Love, Lacey 

Alex - The Future Veterinarian

Alex is not allowed to go the the Vet Hospital anymore. Somehow tonight he found a thermometer and I caught him trying to take Libby's temperature.  In the bum.  I laughed so hard.  He was doing it right too.. Boy, that kid is observant.. Lord help me??  :) 

Joey Down To Rest

We picked him  up this morning from the vet. She said, "are you here for an appt?" "No, we are here to pick up our cat." "Is the cat in the hospital or in boarding?" "He's already dead." "Oh, sorry. (to another worker) Will  you get their cat out of the freezer?".......  I think at that moment I almost fainted. Somehow, I didn't.  I also don't think I was breathing, just crying under my sunglasses signing paperwork. 

When we got to Teh. Chris started on the hole, added water for soaking, we went to church and returned later to finish with much softer dirt to work with.  Alex helped put dirt in the hole, Chris did most of the work and I just stood there. We then put two rocks on the mound. I suppose one for him and one for me. 

My house is so empty. There are four of us here, but it's empty. I think this week will be especially hard with Chris having to go to Iowa. Thank goodness I have somewhere to be every day and he'll be home early on Friday. 

Joseph Douglas Criger Newkirk - Sept. 1992 - Oct. 17, 2008

I went to the wedding rehearsal for tomorrow's wedding. Chris went to this crazy BBQ stand down the street and said to the old black church ladies, "my pregnant wife said she wanted ribs when she came home." They said, "NO SHEEE DIDN'T!!!"   :)  There were ribs waiting. I went to pee and Joey came into the hall where he could see me and was panting and in obvious pain. I think he was waiting for me.  I yelled for Chris and we got in the car and went to the hospital. On the way, we had decided that he did not deserve to be in pain any longer. 

The doctor put him in an oxygen tank, ran some blood work and wanted to do an ultrasound on his belly. They had not done an ultrasound before and thought it was just the kidney disease and arthritis. The results showed a large mass in his stomach which was cancer and he was bleeding internally into  his belly. We decided that was it, they brought him in quickly, said that he was already in cardiac arrest, I held him, the Dr. gave him the shot while I talked to him and cried and he was gone. He checked his pulse and nothing.

Alex said, "nigh nigh kee kee"  

I can barely contain myself from sorrow.

My only peace is that he waited for me to come home and I was there with him when he went. I was the only person he truly loved in this world. He only tolerated every one else. and they all knew it. Cats are funny that way. 

I know that everyone says, it was time, he lived a long life, etc. It doesn't help. A huge part of me is gone. that's all there is to it. it's going to take a long time to get over this. 

To anyone who knew Joey and either loved him or didn't, thanks for reading this.  I sorry he if he was ever cranky with you.  If it makes you feel better, he was cranky with me sometimes too. :) 

His body is waiting for us at the hospital. We will get it on Sunday morning, take him to Tehachapi, bury him on my parents property with all his past pet siblings and I'll buy a rock with his name on it like Spots and it will be in our yard next to Spot. 

So....With all the love and sorrow I have, I will greatly miss my first love. 

Prayer Requests & Joey Updates

First, Prayer Requests: 

My Mom's cousins wife, Stacey Stanton, is having surgery tomorrow.  She was having stomach problems for about a month, went to the Dr. for some scans and tests and it turns out she has cancer. There is a large grapefruit sized tumor in her uterus and a small tumor in her colon. They are giving her a complete hysterectomy along with removing a portion of her colon. The surgery should last a few hours tomorrow starting around 3 pm.  Thanks for any prayers that may be offered.  I know that prayer works.  

So, on to prayer updates for Joey. He is home now and on meds for a bladder infection. I suppose that's the good news. Other than that he doesn't have Cancer or Leukemia.  But his diagnosis is kidney disease and arthritis.  There are no meds that he can take due to his kidney failure. They have given him anywhere from 2-6 or so months.  

It's a hard thing to think about or act on. I don't feel that it's TIME, but will be watching closely for the signs. I love him and don't want him to suffer. So, we'll make the most of these next few months and cherish the last 17 years. 

Joey

Please pray for Joey. He's in the hospital with unknown problems.  We took him in this morning and he will stay there while we are out of town. They are going to give him fluids for the 1st 24 hours and then go from there. Our estimate was about $800, so we'll just see.. He is after all 17 years old.  He hasn't been eating or drinking much for about a week and has not been himself. 

I suppose you could pray for me as well.. He is and has been my life.  :( 

Lesley & Jeremy's Wedding Album

Hello all Carina and Lesley friends.  I don't usually intermingle work with pleasure, but just wanted to let everyone know that Lesley's album is up on the website. Here's a link. 

http://www.laceysphotography.com/albums/lesley-jeremy

So, that's it. For some reason (Chris will have to fix) it's not happy in Safari, but looked fine in Firefox.. Not sure, I need my geek to come home and work his magic.  

Carina Update

As Jen said, Carina is doing good this morning and Jen will get to see her soon. Thanks for the prayers.  But keep them coming. I'm going to call her myself in a while and let her know we are all thinking of her. 

Prayers Needed!

So, today is Carina's big surgery. She doesn't have to be there until 4pm.  So in reality, we (Jen) won't really know anything til about after midnight. It's about a 5-6 hour surgery. So she said she would call in the morning to let us know how Carina is doing after recovery. It's a long time to wait to get word, but I'll post something as soon as I know something.  For now, all we can do is pray that God will be there in the OR to guide their hands and give them peace and strength  to do their jobs correctly. 

Ultrasound Results

Well the results of the ultrasound weren't as good as I had hoped. "She" wouldn't get into position so that we could see anything. She was sitting with her legs open, but sitting on the placenta like she was sitting on a mound of dirt.  So there was nothing to see, just her big head and cute leg bone. 

I did however show the Dr. the ultrasound photos from Baby Sightings and he said that from what he could see it did in fact look like a girl.. So, I  guess that's all I'm going to get for now. A little disappointing, but I still feel like it's a girl and I now have 2 yeses. So that will just have to do. 

My friends are coming over on Friday to help me move my office to the garage to prepare for the baby's new room. We're starting early cause it's just going to take forever.  And with all the holidays and things coming up, we're getting a jump start. Ugh!!

So, Sorry Susie, but glad you didn't waste your time. You would have been late anyhow. 

But on a better note. The results on that scary blood test came back and everything is normal. No signs of Spineabiffita (sp?).. So, thanks to God and everyone who prayed. 

Baby Girl?

It's nice to feel a baby kicking in my tummy again. I'm designing an album and I'm not sure if it's the way I'm sitting, the music or the fact that she's getting bigger, or I guess all 3, but it is nice. My flutters are turning into bump bumps.  Much sooner than Alex.  Is this a sign that she's bigger or crazier?  Hum??? But Alex always loved the music. 

I have another ultrasound today to check the sex of the baby. My Dr. isn't completely convinced at Baby Sighting's findings and wants to check for himself. Fine by  me.. A second opinion is always welcomed. I'll post the results later today. 

Back to work. Actually in a very creative mood today. Thank God..  

Our Phone

I think our phone is fixed.. Chris called last night and they came over today. Said there was water damage which makes complete sense.  The sprinklers hit that box every night. Not good.  Anyway, they fixed it and it's now working..   Yeah! 

33 years ago today!

Well, I started out this morning by pulling GRAY hair!!!  Ugh..  I also at some point have to go to the DMV to renew my license that I never got a notice  about.  Double Ugh!  But here's me when I was cute and little. I don't have anything younger at the moment. My scanner is broken. But, yeah, close enough.  

My plan tonight is to go to dinner with some friends and family and then more importantly eat chocolate pie. I could really care if anyone is there for that part. I really could eat the whole thing by myself and be completely happy. Sorry friends and family. I still love you, but you know how it is when your pregnant and hungry..  

Anyway, thanks to Aiden calling me today. That was fun..  Thanks to everyone else who also called.