Michael Lee Newsome

I'm sorry I've been away from the computer most days.  I did want to share, Eric's dad, Mike, lost his 9 month battle with stage 4 lung cancer (that had spread to his adrenal gland, lymph nodes, brain and now spinal fluid) this past Wednesday 4/21.  It has been a sweet time of remembrance we've been sharing with Eric's mom, sister, brother and extended family the past few days.  His services will be at our church, Kingsland Baptist, Monday at 11 am, 4/26 with graveside following at Forest Park Westheimer.  We praise God for his life and for his eternal healing.   He was an amazing husband, father, father-in-law, family man, worker, business owner, friend, brother, son and grandfather!  I had the joy of having him in my life for over 10 years, and I couldn't have been more blessed.  He and I were so much alike in many ways.  He and Clara took me in as one of their own, just as his family took Clara in almost 33 years ago.  I love that man.  He was the one who got me into NASCAR, who taught my husband how to tinker with cars, who helped anytime we called him, who let us keep his tools for years without ever asking for them back (well maybe once or twice when he NEEDED THEM!) :), who raised my husband into the man he has become, who was in the Navy, who was commited entirely to his family, and the list could go on.  Eric and I are putting together a slide show, and though we don't have all the pictures compiled yet, I thought I'd share a few oldies but goodies here.  Eric and his famliy are doing well.  Processing things, grieving, and being surrounded by family, friends and food.  If you would continue to pray peace and comfort over them, especially as next week settles in, the family goes home, and the quiet surrounds them, I would appreciate it!

Mike and his cars

Mike and Clara at their 25th anniversary party (almost 8 years ago)

4 generations of Newsomes.  Meemee, Grandad, Daddy and Cara

Baby Eric and mom and dad

Our family in 2002:

A picture of them all I took on one of our visits home from Baylor:

Baby Mike:

An amazing Grandad

Randomness

I figure if I post a few of these random pictures I've taken each day, I might get caught up.  When Eric is away (UIL week, sectionals, 5th grade instrument selection, etc) this is what we eat for dinner:

Seriously.

Haha, I did cut up an apple and orange to go with it.  At first I thought I'd title my post, "Constipation, it's what's for dinner," but then I thought my mom would tell me it was gross, so I decided against it :). 

Remember about 5 months ago (maybe more) when I planted some random carrot seeds to see if they'd grow at the end of fall, then I forgot about them?  Wait, you don't remember because who posts weird things like that on their blog? Anyways, we were cleaning out our back yard this weekend, and look what we found:

Yeah, not touching (aka eating) those with a 10 foot pole, but it was pretty cool to actually pull something out of our 'garden' that completely didn't yield anything last year :).  And Cara thought it was really cool!

Who puts a crock pot meal in the crock pot at 5 pm, especially when you've already decided you're not 'cooking' dinner and are feeding your kids cheese and crackers.....that's right, ME! 

Eric doesn't get to come home all week for dinner (or lunch), so he needs meals to take to school for lunch and dinner besides PB & J.  So, I made this pulled BBQ chicken last night.  It smelled really good.  So good in fact that after the kids were in bed, before he got home, I wanted some, decided I didn't want to pull the bones off the chicken (that's his job, I have a weird chicken/beef issue), and ate a 50% off cadbury creme egg instead :). 

Cara started swim lessons on Monday.  She goes once a week for 8 weeks.  Don't get me started (and if you were one of the few friends/my husband that I unleashed my anger on that day, SORRY).  But you can't see this picture and stay mad:

For once, it wasn't her being bad, she just didn't get to practice many skills because each time the instructor would take her out, little miss Mia decided she needed to go under water and half drown so they'd have to hurry back.  I had a discussion with the owner lady (I guess that's who she is).  It won't be the same next week, or we're signing up elsewhere.  She apologized.  I'm fine.  Not bitter still.  Still not talking about a 3 year old's swim lesson.  Ok, maybe I am, I just don't spend that kind of money very often and I am going to get what I pay for dangit :).  Done with RANT! 

Another cute picture:

And yes, that's my 3 year old in a 6/6x swimsuit.  She's a giant :).

What do you do when you want to sweep up the carpet of pollen, but you don't want to actually sneeze for the next two days, why you put your kids to work, of course!

Just kidding, they were just playing in the driveway while Eric swept, and wanted to 'help.'  But they're cute!

We are a family that always eats organic and healthy.  Especially when Mommy is pregnant and feels like laying on the couch all day.  I don't ever serve my kids leftover chocolate chip muffins for breakfast.  Nope, NOT ME :)

Ok, if you know me well, you know I, as well as my kids, eat awful (awfully?) when I'm pregnant.  Sorry, I try to make up for it when I actually care and want to cook, but these days, whatever is easiest to grab is what goes in the mouth! 

Ok, I think that's enough randomness for today :)

Go visit Tot2Tot if you haven't lately.  We have thousands of items for sale on Saturday, we are SO excited for our first sale!!!

Easter

I'm going to try to do some catch up posts since I've been lacking in the post department lately.  Here's our Easter post.  We spent last Saturday at Eric's parent's house as lots of Mike (Eric's dad)'s family came up from Corpus to visit.  It was fun hanging out!  Everyone couldn't get over how big Micah had got, and just couldn't stop touching his soft cheeks!!  Sadly, I forgot my camera at home :(. 

That night my mom came and spent the night to go to Easter services with us at our church.  It worked out perfectly because Eric played trombone in all 3 services on Sunday, so it would have been a long morning without her!  We went to the 8:15 service, and sadly we only got pictures of me and the kids, because Eric had to rush back in and play 2nd service (we got out a little late!).  We were all 'matching' in greens, and the kids just looked adorable.  This is the dress Cara picked out; she picked it because of the twirl factor. I  loved it because of the 6 we let her try on, it was on clearance! :) 

Here's Micah playing in the garden at our church.

And here are the three of us:

Before church we opened our baskets.  We don't 'do' the Easter bunny.  Nothing wrong with it, we just say, "do you want to go see what we got you for Easter?"  She doesn't really even pay attention to bunnies, unless they're real and she can touch them!! 

They each got some books and a little candy (and you all know Micah's candy really was for Mommy & Daddy)!  Here's Micah with his stuff.  Excuse my large self on the side:

And this is just cute.  They both were running to me with their puppies they sleep with :)

After church, we came home and to fill the morning, we made Resurrection Rolls (marshmallows rolled in butter/sugar/cinnamon wrapped in crescent rolls).  We got the recipe in a little book from our church the week before.  They gave us some good ideas to do each day for our preschoolers to talk about Easter.  We didn't do every day, but Cara really enjoyed it.  It was like Advent all over again for her :).  She really liked that the marshmallows disappeared when we cooked them!  She really 'got' (as much as a 3.5 year old can) Easter this year.  Just this morning she and Aynslee were 'playing Jesus.'  I said, how do you do that?  Cara said, well, I was Jesus, and I died, but now I'm alive again!! :) 

After that we 'dyed' some eggs.  And by dyed, I mean we bought a pack, squirted some color in a baggie and let her roll it around!  She loved it and I loved the non-mess it created!

After Daddy got home and naps were had, we had an egg hunt.  We hid the 11 (well 12, but I rolled too hard and broke one egg) eggs we dyed over and over.   Cara loves looking for them!  And loved hiding them for Micah (and basically showing them to him and picking them up for him).  It was gorgeous outside, just wish it wasn't so full of pollen!

Micah actually got to get one alone!

Our little man loves two things, his belly button:
 

and following his sister around!

More posts to come!

It's A......

Sorry I kept you hanging!  I'm sorry, I keep thinking I'll post this with an ultrasound picture, however, the scanner is WAY over there and I'm snug as a bug here on the couch with the laptop!  Anyways, we are having another GIRL!!  We are very excited.  I've always wanted to dress my girls alike, and that when Micah was a boy that that just wasn't going to happen.  Cara is a big girl, already in 5T, so it probably won't happen for long, but I will stretch it out as long as I can :). 

Micah turned 17 months last week, and he is a ball of energy.  He is really using big words and he's figured out how to CLIMB.  To the top bunk, to the tall slide at our friends house.  Oh I can't wait for the day when I know he will climb up and not fall down. 

Tot 2 Tot is really taking off!  We've had lots of sellers register the past few days!!  We are SO excited about our frist sale coming up on April 17th.  There's still plenty of time to join us if you would like!!

Cara is loving that she's going to have a little sister.  She told my friend, when she asked her what she wanted, "a baby sister, I've never had one of those before." :).  And now Micah can say sister and sissy very well :)  I just can't wait to meet this little one (well, I can wait a little over 4 months!). 

I had a longer post, but something happened and it took off my pictures and the rest of my text :(.  Oh well, will have to come back for more now!

Boys and Pregnancy

Well, it's been a rough couple of weeks.  I always get on here, not knowing what to say.  Not wanting to be the first to say it.  As I'm sure you guessed from my last post, Ben lasted 6 too short days on this earth.  We are REJOICING knowing he is now whole, healed and complete in the Father's arms.  He was just too sweet, and fought so hard!  Bailey and Matt have been amazing through this.  I am so proud as a big sister.  Saddened that they had to go through this, but immensely pleased with the prayers surrounding them, and the peace they have felt, have prayed for each day throughout this entire journey. 

I realized a month or so ago, before the boys were ever born that I was already mourning.  I found out I was pregnant on 12/18.  I was so excited to share a pregnancy with my little sister!  What fun as sisters!  Then, just 10 short days later, we found out she was having twin boys (YAY!), but that she would never have the 'normal' pregnancy that we had prayed for.  That her amniotic fluid was extremely low, and extreme bed rest would be how she would live until the boys were born.  I got angry.  At God, at me (for having 2 healthy pregnancies/kids), at her doctors, I even took it out on her (I know, awful).  I was just so sad.  Mad.  Frustrated.  Upset.  I realized later I was basically going through the stages of grief.  Nothing awful had happened yet, but still, as a first time mom, I wouldn't have wished this on my baby sister!  I had prayed for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.  I had looked forward to throwing her a shower and answering her questions about all the overpriced baby gear she was sure to register for, as all first time parents are expected too!  Doing all the things to her that she did to me with my pregnancies (dragging her to IKEA at 9 months pregnant and making me walk around for 4 hours!!) :).  In June.  In Houston! hah.  And just sharing in the absolute joy of becoming a MOM! 

I was being extremeley selfish.  I pulled away from God.  I kept on praying, but I didn't want to know this was God's plan for her.  I knew in my heart that I needed Him more now.  I wanted to feel the revival that was going on at our church, and I did have glimpses.  Music has always spoke to me (spoken?).  So there was some amazing songs I really connected with.  But I didn't immerse myself in His Word as I should have.  I had my (His) moments, but it wasn't enough.  My accountability group for the past couple months has probably been sick of me saying, "Yeah, I got nothing.  A few quiet times here and there, definitely praying, but not really seeking."  I tried to be excited for them with each milestone they hit, but that first day, 12/28, when I got the news, I did some research.  I shouldn't have, and after about 30 minutes, I never again looked anything up.  I didn't want to know the statistics.  I didn't want to know that my sister and Matt may have to live a very hard road as parents.  I didn't want to even think about explaining things to Cara.  Again, you can tell, it was all about me. 

Things started to change before she had the boys.  I began reading my bible, even if only superficially, more.  I had great friends who poured into me, and she had great friends and family pouring into her!  But, when the day came that she was having contractions (2/26 the day before they were born), I got mad again.  This was not happening!!  She has done SO WELL for SO LONG and she still has 4 weeks until those babies will be born small, but healthy!  Things stopped and I relaxed.  We spent a great Saturday together, Eric and the kids and I, playing at the mall and enjoying one of our last free Saturdays together before Eric's work got crazy.  Then, I finally checked my phone.  The boys were here.  I rushed to get into my car and head to Clear Lake.  And as I did, the tears came.  They were uncontrollable, and I knew I was finally breaking.  That I knew this was going to be a hard road, whether I was prepared for it or not, and that again, this was not God's Plan B!  He had their days numbered before creation!  How could I not take comfort in that?  He picked Matt and Bailey for this exact purpose.  And I get to be their aunt!  However, the breakdown in the car on I-10 wasn't the best possible place.  If I've learned anything, it's to get on your knees before that happens, and let Him break you, He was trying to all along.  I called a dear friend and she talked me down.  I didn't want Bailey to know how worried I was.  I wanted to be the rock and support she needed.  I've had friends with NICU babies.  I knew it was a roller coaster.  Through the blog world, I've also grieved people's children I didn't even know personally.  Because once you're a parent, you know that losing a child would be one of the hardest thing you might ever have to endure. 

I got there and we had a great day.  I got to see the boys even before the grandparents (that's what you get for staying with your sister while the family went out to eat) :).  They were so tiny, but oh so adorable.  I fell in love the minute I saw them, and to get to be there the first time my little sister got to meet her baby boys was a moment I'll never in my lifetime forget. 

Benjamin Ray Walkup was born first at 2 pounds, 2 ounces and 13 inches long. 

And 1 minute later, Jack Harrison Walkup joined the family at 1 pound, 12 ounces, and 11.81 inches long.

I don't want to go through all the details, as Bailey and Matt have posted on their blog what they are comfortable with everyone knowing.  And as sad as it was, Eric and I cherish the fact that we got to be there and say goodbye to sweet Ben with Bailey and Matt and his loving grandparents!  It was Eric's first time to get to meet him, as he was always taking care of our kids.  What a sweet, yet sad, moment to be a part of.   

Matt went home that night and wrote the most beautiful song you've ever heard.  They had an amazing friend sing it at the graveside.  What a cherished memory from a daddy to his son.  FUMC Pasadena has been an amazing church family to all of the Walkups, and we are so excited they took such great care of everything, and included us with open arms. 

Jack has had his ups and downs, but is doing well at Women's.  I got to spend a day with Bailey picking out fabric for his nursery (though it still sits folded up on my table....must get a move on)!  She is healing well, and has been handling things the only way I would have expected her to: with grace and the peace of our Savior! 

Now, onto my nerd tendencies.  Before all of this, I LOVED being 'graded.'  I loved getting tests and homework back all throughout school.  Even if they weren't perfect As.  I loved knowing exactly how I measured up and what I needed to focus on more.  Even during my pregnancies, I looked forward to ultrasounds.  Even when my very first one with my very first pregnancy led me down the path of surgery to remove a tumor, everything was OK.  Cara was perfect, and so was Micah.  I never once feared finding anything out.  Even when I was in the hospital last month, I had a peace that it was not pregnancy related at all, the pain was much too high for that.  I've never been much of a worrier, and I have always been extremely aware of God's plan.  Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  I know this was intended for Jews that were exiled to Babylon, but it still gave me comfort, and still does.  

Now here I sit just 3 days away from the 'big' 18 week ultrasound.  The 'anatomy' ultrasound as my doctor has been calling it.  I have always thought of it as the GENDER ultrasound.  Because that's what I was focused on.  But now, I'm getting a little anxious.  I'm trying to not even think about it.  It's hard to be excited when almost 3 months to the day, this is the ultrasound that Bailey had that shifted our lives forever.  I felt this baby move for the first time 10 days ago, but I have only felt 'it' once since then.  I know that's nothing to be worried about, but everything is just a little raw.  So, if you will, please just pray for peace for me.  I know again whatever may happen, that this is God's plan A.  The anxiety is easy to not focus on, with three kids to chase around each day.  It only sets in a little at night.  So I'm trying to focus on God's word.  Thanks for reading this little book.  I will let you know how it all goes.  

And in the mean time, I have been shying away from all the 'deals' type posts because it's just seemed wrong.  I will post one this week, when I get back on this blog. 

Milestones?

There is so much more going on to post, but I just can't right now.  I did want to put some things on the blog for posterity (is that the right word, I can't even think straight) sake. 

Yesterday at 3 we got free rodeo tickets to Brad Paisley!!  That's not the milestone, but it was a wonderful blessing for Eric and I to go out alone, for the first time in months!!  We usually go to him every year, but this year 'decided' (by not buying any tickets) to just stay home and 'cut back.'  Well, when a friend posted she wasn't using her free tickets last night, we jumped on them.  Thank you Brenda D!! 

So, I was 16 weeks pregnant yesterday.  I was starting to feel weird about my pregnancy, like it's not real yet.  I've had 2 ultrasounds (thanks hospital stay) and have heard the heart beat, but I've lost weight, I don't feel like I 'look' pregnant yet (I bet Sterling disagrees, haha!) and I haven't felt the baby move.  I felt Cara very late, thanks to surgery, at 22 weeks.  I felt Micah at 15 weeks 6 days, so I just figured I'd feel this one move earlier than Micah.  Not the case.  I wasn't worrying, just very much looking forward to it.  Well, jamming out to some amazing electric guitar last night at the concert, baby #3 decided to make it's presence known!!  I was so excited!!  And it wasn't just my body shaking from all the noise, it was definitely the baby, and he/she did it again later that night on our way home too!!

Oh, I want to go on record saying I have NO idea what we're having!!  We find out in 2 weeks.  With both kids, I KNEW.  Like at least a month before the ultrasound.  This one, not so sure.  I really wanted a girl, then I really thought it was a boy, and now I'm torn again.  Just not sure.  Heart rate has been 158 and 150 lately, so kinda in between (Cara was always 155-170 and micah was always 135-150)????

Cara is such a little mommy.  She is so fun to be around, most of the time.  She likes to boss everyone around, which she gets from her dad ;).  She is very loving and quick to say she's sorry and forgive.  With all that's been going on with Bailey and the twins, she is so grown up for her age.  And beyond sweet.  She loves her cousins, and can't wait to meet baby Jack!!  (sorry for the poor quality webcam shots, I haven't downloaded pics in awhile).

Micah is all boy, into everything, and climbing now!  I found him on the 3rd rung headed to the top bunk the other day.  I just don't know what to do.  I don't want him to fall, but I also want him to be completely comfortable climbing up without falling by the time we move him to the bottom bunk this summer.  So, I stood behind him and let him crawl on up.  You'd have thought I'd given the boy a million dollars.  He was SO happy to be up there playing with sister!!  I just have to keep him SITTING down!!  Now sister has lost her spot where she can go play with her tiny things without him getting into them.  He's also very into the bathroom business.  Whenever Cara, Eric or I are on the potty (we are down to one bathroom as we started demo on our master bath a month or more ago and it's still sitting there unfinished), he wants to be with us saying peepee or poopoo.  And now, when he has a BM, he comes to me and says poopoo.  This morning he told me, I looked, and didn't see anything.  I said let's play with our cars, so we started playing, but he was having none of it.  So I thought I'd just change his diaper anyway.  Sure enough, there was a BM!!  Good boy! :)

Eric is gearing up for UIL in April and getting busy.  He is extremely happy spring break is next week!!!  I have gotten back into sewing, mostly things for Bailey, and I forgot how much I enjoy it, when my sewing table is cleaned off! :)  I also chopped my hair off yesterday.  I really like it, this isn't a great shot, but Cara wouldn't leave the webcam alone.  I have 'bangs' (sideswept) for the first time in 17 years!  And that's all the things I don't want to forget!

Please continue to pray for Matt, Bailey, and little fighter Jack!  Tomorrow will be a hard day as we celebrate Ben's short life and his homecoming with Jesus.  Here is a link to his obituary if you are interested in reading it. 

Sorry, this just keeps getting longer.  Romans 5 has been some scripture I've clung to over the last few weeks.  I hope you find comfort in it as I have:

Romans 5

Peace with God Through Faith

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.