More Pics of Parker!!!

Just wanted to post a couple more pictures of Parker. They all made it home from the hospital yesterday and were so happy to get home. Parker is doing great and, so far, he is the best baby! He sleeps and eats and barely fusses at all. Did Ashley and Pete really get this lucky? Ashley feels much better and is getting around pretty good. She has a little swelling in her feet but during her surgery and afterwards they pumped her so full of fluids I suppose it will take a while to get rid of all of it. She is not a complainer so I have to keep a close eye on her!! HA! Check out Parker's Razorback hat. (Sorry about that to all my LSU friends.) Pete is already trying to get him on the recruitment list. Luke and Rylee love him to death, however, Rylee still says, "He's a GIRL." She was so insistent that Mom was going to have a "pink baby" I guess she still hasn't accepted she has a new baby BROTHER.....

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

PARKER PHILLIP GEORGE DUNCAN arrived at 5:10 p.m. on November 26, 2007, weighing in at 7 lbs 1 oz and 20 inches long. What a beautiful boy!!!! (Of course, I’m not partial but he really is perfect.) The story of his arrival is quite long so I will try to make it short. Ashley never has been and never will be a “drama queen,” HOWEVER, she sure likes to stir up the pot when it comes to having her kids. She went to her normal doctor’s appointment at 3:30 p.m. on Monday and he said everything looked good and he would see her again on Friday so she and Pete decided they would go to the Macaroni Grill to eat. All of a sudden she had a really terrible pain that would not go away. She told Pete she had to go back to the doctor’s office. When they got there Pete went up to the Doctor’s office and made him come out to the car. They immediately sent her to the hospital where she AGAIN had an emergency C-Section because Parker’s heart rate had fallen drastically. The Dr. said when he opened her up she had over one liter of blood in her abdomen. He also said he had never seen anything like it before. After they got Parker out they went to work on Ashley trying to find where the blood was coming from. They determined that some previous scar tissue had torn away from her uterus and caused the bleeding. The Dr. said if they had not been in Memphis Parker would not have made it. Erin, Russ, and I were all driving in separate cars just trying to get to the hospital. They were not in their regular hospital and I didn’t even know where I was going – I was just GOING. I did find out where to go as soon as I crossed over the bridge in Memphis. Erin and I cried for most of our trip while we were driving and the phone calls were flying fast and furious just trying to find out what was going on. I was so relieved to see Ashley after she woke up! After midnight we finally got to hold Parker and see that all was well. There was a lot of praying going on and we know God was guiding Dr. Stern’s hands. Thank you God and Dr. Stern!!!!

More pictures later..............

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

Mother turned 89 on September 14 and we all celebrated together for her birthday this year. Only Keith could not come but he had to work so we excused him, however, this is his notice that we expect him to make it next year for her 90th!!!!! Lynda and Wayne brought Mom to Wynne since I had to drive up from New Orleans for the party. I appreciate them so much for doing that – thanks again Lynda and Wayne! Mike cooked her favorite (Boston Butt), Erin made potato salad, and Wayne made baked beans. Ashley made her a beautiful birthday cake (Red Velvet)! It was all delicious!!! She got lots of nice presents and Luke and Rylee helped her blow out her candles (a few times since the candles were the relighting ones – ha!). The weather was beautiful so we hung out on the deck and watched Luke and Rylee swim. Thankfully Mike had heated the pool since it was only in the 70’s that day! Luke brought his dirt bike and had lots of room to ride after he was through swimming. All in all it was a very nice day and I think Mom was worn out by the time she got back home that night. We now look forward to celebrating her 90th next year………..

First Day of School - Aug 2007

Luke and Rylee started school this week with Luke in the 2nd grade and Rylee starting Wee School at church. Luke’s first day was Tuesday and when everyone was ready to leave Ashley noticed that Rylee had her backpack on and was ready to go. She was so disappointed since her first day was not until Thursday. So, on Thursday she got ready again and had a great first day. The Wee School program is wonderful and they teach them so many things. Of course, with her being so smart (especially according to Grammy), she will do great. She has known her ABC’s for some time now and can count with the best of us so we will look forward to her coming home with new songs to sing and papers to show off. Luke still likes and excels in his classroom. He has decided not to play soccer this year and has narrowed his sports to basketball and baseball so far. Next year he will be able to play football. I hope they both have a great year…..

Audubon Aquarium 8/4/07

What a great weekend! Ashley, Pete, Luke, and Rylee came to New Orleans for the weekend for the sole purpose of going to the Audubon Aquarium. We had promised Luke for a year that we would go and it was so worth it. Luke touched a Stingray and also got to “pet” a shark. Afterwards we walked around Jackson Square and shopped a little while after eating lunch at Bubba Gumps Seafood Restaurant. I asked Luke last night what he thought was the best thing in the aquarium and naturally he said the sharks. Then I asked Rylee the same thing and she said “MY SHOES.” What a girly girl – thinking only about her new shoes!!!!!! I guess the sharks just didn’t compare with the same feeling as getting a new pair of shoes……

Luke & Rylee's Birthday Party 7/28/07

Luke and Rylee had a GREAT birthday (or should I say birthdays). They celebrated together with a swimming party at Pa’s house with lots of their friends and family. The kids all loved the pool and the big water slide. Afterwards, they both said they had a wonderful time and so much fun. They never did quite get the “blowing the candles out” thing figured out since they were sharing a cake and had to blow at the same time. Their blue underwater cake was made by none other than their beautiful Mom, Ashley.

Speaking of Ashley, she went for her 2nd ultrasound this past Friday. The ultrasound tech told them the baby was showing out by waving, and putting it’s foot in it’s mouth. Everything looked good and she and Pete didn’t get weak about their decision to not find out whether it is a girl or a boy. We will all have a big surprise this December and can’t wait! Luke got to see the ultrasound and was really impressed. He asked lots of questions and was excited to be involved. He wants to be in the room when the baby is born. We’ll see how that goes. Rylee won’t even talk about a new baby in the house.

Russ started his job at the prison on July 23 and was glad to finally get started. He will be going to Georgia sometime soon for three weeks of training. Everything has fallen into place for him since he came back from Iraq in April and then home for good in May. We are so happy to have him home!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Erin will start her last year of nursing school next month – YEA!!!

As for me, I have been in New Orleans for 11 months now and plan on being home no later than the end of October. This has been a long hard year for me and I will be so glad to get home to my family. It has never gotten any easier to be away from home……..

More Beach Pics 2007

Orange Beach June 23-30, 2007

There is never ever enough time! All year long our anticipation for our vacation grows and grows and then we leave for the beach and way too soon it is over and it seems like we just got there. We had an even greater vacation this year because we FINALLY had Russ along - something we had looked forward to for so long. Our days were filled with lounging in the sun (well, that's what the girls did) and eating lots of good food. While the girls did most of the lounging the guys played in the sand and the surf! Luke was even better this year on his skim board and Rylee was a tiny bit better about getting closer to the water. Pete and Russ played lots of paddle ball and their muscles grew by leaps and bounds but I'm not sure the body slams in the sand did them any good at all. I have to say they really put their heart into it (they are secretly hoping paddle ball will be added as a new Summer Olympics sport so they can compete)! Everyone enjoyed swimming in the pool. Also while there our activities included miniature golf, go-carts, deep sea fishing (Russ, Pete & Luke), and shopping (Ashley, Erin, Rylee & Me). Now we have to accept that it is over and start looking forward to next year where once again we will say "let's move down here" knowing all along that it wouldn't be a special place if we actually did live there. Until next year......

Of Sound Mind?????

Okay, what have I done? Well, I know I would like to preserve some memories (one of my really really long ago goals) and since more often than not my mind fails me I have taken up blogging!!! I want to be dedicated to this for my children and my grandchildren - if only to give them a laugh! With a new grandchild on the way (Dec 2007), and two already way too grown up, maybe this will help to document my thoughts and also the happenings of the "PEARRLS" in my life. Today is the beginning! Wish me luck.......