Only a Flesh Wound?

Clumsy me...I had a headache yesterday morning, was thinking about staying home from church...now I wish I had!

Got the headache to the point where I knew I could at least handle 1 meeting - so off we went.

During Sunday School, I walked outside to talk to my mom. Got dizzy on the sidewalk (headache had come back, I was thinking about going home). Lost my balance, started to fall and could not recover. I ended up landing on my FACE. Going down, I was thinking how bad it was going to be. When I hit, I was thinking to myself that I hadn't expected to pretty much take the fall with my face. Then, I wondered if there was anyone there to help me up...Just as quickly, I thought to myself how glad there weren't any witnesses!

I dragged myself from the sidewalk and limped to mom's car. She was asleep with the seat back, I knocked on the window and she looked up to a bloody, horror...She actually moved pretty quickly for just being startled. Grabbed a handkerchief and led me inside to the bathroom...we were stopped by Becky P. (a nurse, how convenient, huh?) and they tried to clean up the blood. I could tell by the looks on people's faces how bad it probably was...Let's just say, the mirror is not my friend right now! The pain is pretty intense - the swelling, hideous. I don't know how my lip is going to come back from this!

Needless to say, we gathered the kids together and went home...the kids were horrified. Emma tried to take me by the hand this morning to show her teacher...Humiliation galore! People look at me like I am a freak...I actually look like a domestic violence victim, but I have witnesses at church who saw me looking fine one minute, then not so good the next, so I think Clay is safe!

We called the doctor and he said that the baby is pretty well protected at this point - thank goodness I am not further along in the pregnancy. We have checked the heartbeat a few times and it is strong and seems fine.

The worst thing is, I have a really busy workload tonight and I have to go close 4 loans...hmmm...maybe I should go to Party City and buy a mask?

To complete my utter humiliation, I have inserted a picture for your viewing...only people with strong stomachs should look!

I've Got a Secret....

Can you guess what it is???


















Yes, folks...it is true! I am expecting our fifth child...a complete surprise (happy) to us...especially after so many years of trying to get pregnant and having it be so difficult. In November, I began craving General Tsos Chicken and knew I had to test! Yup...needless to say, we were in shock for a couple of weeks.

If you have wondered where I have been lately, this is why I have disappeared off the face of the earth. Sicker than a dog, I have been keeping myself alive with cereal and toast! It seems like this pregnancy has been rough, I think it is my body telling me that it is getting tired! Due to my long history of high risk and miscarriage, we have been keeping this new little one a secret for as long as possible.

My waistline has decided that it is now time to spill the beans! I need some elastic, instead of buttons, so that I can breathe again! I am now 13 weeks, 4 days and the baby looks very healthy...we are crossing our fingers and praying hard that all stays well until the middle of July - when I will have the c-section.

So - now you know! And, as G.I. Joe would say, "Knowing is half the battle!"

Alyssa and her babies...

Alyssa has gotten so darn cute, it's not even funny! She has taken to baby dolls. Especially likes the ones that cry when you push the tummy and the eyes must open and shut! Warms a mommy's heart to see a little girl so serious and nurturing when she is only 16 months old - I don't think that Emma has ever been so interested.

We will catch her carrying her babies around, a blanket wrapped around them, bottle in the other hand. Sometimes, the dolly has a very wet face from so many slobbery Alyssa kisses!

Other times, I will walk into her bedroom and she will be sitting on the bed, very intent on feeding her baby. She will get a little dish and spoon from her play kitchen and take turns feeding the doll, and then herself - a look of deep concentration on her face!

I have included a few pictures of the little mommy for your viewing pleasure...

Happy Birthday Jackson

7 years ago today, January 15, 2002, our first son was born. He was stillborn as a result of a blood clotting disorder that we were unaware that I had. We had been trying to have a child at that point for 6 long years. The devastation that we felt when we found out that he was gone was consuming. We didn't think that we would ever have children at that point. When we saw Jackson, it actually had the opposite effect that you would think. Instead of giving up on our dream of having a child, it spurred us onward. You see, whether born living or not, each child is a special miracle. We looked at him in wonder at the small person we had helped Heavenly Father create. It is amazing how your life can change in a few years.

I can't believe that another January 15th is here...it has now been 7 years since our sweet Jackson was born. Amazing that so much time has passed. I feel like a completely different person than I was back then.

Since Jackson was born still, many major events have occurred in our lives...

We adopted a son.
We had boy/girl twins.
We moved across country.
We have had many major medical events happen - some life threatening.
We had a surprise pregnancy after a m/c and now we have another daughter.

Jackson now has 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Amazing how much life can change in 7 years! People probably think that because we have our 4 living children, we don't think about Jackson ever. Not true at all. I often think about our little boy who didn't have a chance to live. Every January, until this date has passed, I become melancholy. I don't really realize that I am doing it, but it always happens. Then January 15th comes and I am able to breathe again.

Happy 7th Birthday in Heaven, Jackson...I wish you were here with us to celebrate tonight. We love you and look forward to seeing you again someday.

Jackson Bransford Turner b/d: January 15, 2002 at 3:20 a.m.

A Belated Christmas Report

Well, I am a bit late to post about Christmas, but better late than never, right?

I had to work a lot on Christmas Eve - got home at dinner time and we had pizza...then the kids opened their new pj's and got all cuddly. We read them a Christmas story and sent them to bed after singing a few Christmas songs.

It took them a while to fall asleep, so Santa was delayed until pretty late this year! Finally, it was safe to have the old guy come and put out the finery. Some things required more assembling than we expected, but it was finally done.

Christmas morning came and the kids, true to form, woke us before 7 am. They were very excited, and it was hard to hold them off while everybody went potty, got diaper changed, etc. They trooped into the living room and magic had arrived! The boys each got an Indiana Jones mountain playset - they both had been begging for this for months. Emma got a Baby Alive doll and Alyssa a Pat Pat Rocket (Little Einsteins). They played for a while, then wanted the goods that were wrapped under the tree!

More fun things - Zach got a gameboy and games and an MP3, and Emma and Reagan got Leapsters...among some other items - they were all thrilled - we did pretty well this year! Alyssa was more impressed with what everyone else got - but she eventually warmed up to her fridge farm, play food, and baby doll.

It was great - they plugged into those electronics for hours - not something we normally allow - but, hey - it's Christmas, right?

For lunch, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house and they brought their electronics with them - we had fun with the family and played Cranium...

All in all, a great day!