Fall into new

We are enjoying the fall weather at home. The only thing not so enjoyable is that Scott and White has not figured out the air conditioning situation yet. So everyday I am a frozen ice cube who escapes outside to defrost.

We are enjoying Friday Night Lights at Tiger field, football games in the yard, and friends.

 

We had planned a much needed trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. The trip will have to wait though because Chris has just accepted a new job at Walmart Distribution. He will start on the 18th of this month. We are very happy for him but this will be a big transition for our family. So instead of going to Florida for thanksgiving we are having Florida come to us. Or at least Grandma. We are so excited for her to get here. We hope more family is able to join her.

Update!

I thought it would be a good time to update. Bryson has been in school for a little over 3 weeks. He is doing great. WHAT a DIFFERENCE a district makes. I am so thankful to Lakewood and Belton. EVERYTHING is different. They have program, things for kids to join, spirit shirt day, bleacher creature, honor choir, room moms, and parties. WOW. A little part of me is sad it had to be so miserable so long. But I am just thankful we have this opportunity.

So far here are some of Bryson's new fun activities:
1. He is a Bleacher Creature- he runs out on the field ahead of the varsity football team at every home game.
2. He tried out and made the Honor Choir- This is a group of kids from each elementary that will practice and then perform at the High School.
3. He is going to be in a 5th grade production.
4. He had a fabulous first progress report.

I could go on and on. I can not say enough how awesome school is going and how much this has changed out lives.

Troupe is a mess. He is growing and frankly getting a little two grown for momma and daddy. He is pretty attached to me lately. He is sleeping in his big boy bed and trying to get potty trained but it is hard. He loves to sing and has picked up a new obsession with the guitar. He is also really getting the hang of football and baseball. We have a lot to look forward to with this one. I can't wait.

Chris and I are doing great. Chris is playing softball again this fall and we are having fun going to games. I am starting to really get a feel what being the only girl in a house of very active boys is going to mean in my life. I love that they are so different. I can tell you after sitting through a million baseball games I am excited for Bryson to take after mom a little this fall and lets do some choir stuff. I know Papa is smiling in heaven. How proud would he be to see the next generation grow up singing. I can't wait.

Quick update

This week didn't go as planned. Chris came down very sick a weekago and bas basically been in bed since. Yesterday we made our 3rd trip to the Doctor. We went to the ER because we wanted answers adn treatment now. After tests we found out poor Chris has pneumonia. He received 2 bags of IV fluids and 2 bags of antibiotic fluids. Thankfully he is starting to finally recover. This makes me very thankful for our families health. This week has pretty much been me and the boys. I have missed my helping husband terribly. Last night we got to spend a few minutes alone in the lving room talking and I was so happy to have him back.

We are heading to San Antonio tomorrow. We are very excited. I pray that Chris continues to improve and is able to share some time with us.

The Beginning of the End (of elementary school that is)

New School

Today marks the beginning of the last year of Elementary school for Bryson. As we drove to his new school today for the start of his 5th grade year I felt a little teary. Then I thought, this is silly, it is just 5th grade. I think I am just nervous for Bryson to go off and start a new school. This has been a long time coming. We have talked and talked about it but I know he was a little nervous this morning. I want him to have a good day and a fun day but I know what the first day in a new school is like. It is hard. I just wish I could check in on him. Wouldn’t it be great if they had cameras in the classroom and you could spy online? I would be on that all day.

You will notice he is going to Lakewood. Previously everything had been about Pirtle. Well Thursday I got a call from someone at Pirtle saying sorry but we are over crowded and you will need to take your son to Lakewood. I was not happy and knew Bryson would be upset. Not that there is anything wrong with Lakewood. It is great. Julie went there. But we were all set and ready to buy the Tshirts for Pirtle. Bryson took the news as well as could be expected. He cried for about 30 minutes. But I assured him it was all ok and that night we would go meet the teacher and everything would work out. So sure enough we went to meet the teacher and the attitude changes. Everything was ok. Plus we bought out all the Lakewood Tshirts. So now we are dressed for success!!!!

Yesterday we were at Target buying the final school supplies. I felt like we got a sign that Lakewood was where we were supposed to be. I pulled out the old worn list that I had picked up a few weeks earlier for school supplies. When I opened it I saw that the list I had picked up weeks earlier was actually for Lakewood. I had picked up the wrong one before. I showed Bryson and said see this is where you were supposed to go all along. Everything will be ok.

This morning Bryson said his stomach hurt and I assured him it was just nerves. We got up early and had breakfast. Chris tried to be a part but he is still fighting an illness. We loaded up and made the 17 minute drive to Lakewood (I timed it). When he was getting out I saw the nerves on his face but I said you will have a good day. He goes to BCYC after school and I will be anxious to pick him up. My little boy is growing up so fast.

This Friday we head to San Antonio to watch the Tigers play in the Alamo dome. We are so excited. I am sure a post will come soon about that.

I hope everyone has a wonderful school year. I know we will.

Telling Bubba Bye!

Bryson turns 10!

Ten years ago I was young, nervous, excited, and scared. I was having a baby boy 6 weeks too early. I went from a routine doctor visit, to bed rest, to the hospital, to induction in a matter of 24 hours. Then the 43 hour standoff for my first son to come into the world began.

At 7:20 on 8/20 Bryson Riley Trimmier Mills was born. He weighed a whopping 4lbs 9ozs. He was delivered and taken immediately to the NICU and thus began the hardest 2 weeks of my life. He was sweet and gentle from the beginning. A little mischievous and a lot cuddly. I remember going to see him for the first time and being overwhelmed by all the gadgets attached to his little body. He was under what looked like a cake lid that provided him oxygen and there were many cords attached with all kinds of irritating bells and whistles. Looking back his NICU stay was a virtual cake walk compared to what we could do 7 years later when his baby brother was born but at the time it was hard. I remember going home without my first born and crying the whole way there. I went home with just enough time to put stuff down and wanted to immediately go back.

Now he is turning 10, and three days later will start his last year of elementary school. The other night when I thought about writing this post I started to look for the pictures from his birth. I couldn't locate the photo album and that started an hour long meltdown of tears. I wanted to see the pictures, I wanted to remember that tiny little boy. I found them and stared and ooooed and ahhhed. Then was a little sad because I no longer had a baby.

Bryson is still the same boy. Sweet, sensitive, a little mischievous,and still cuddly. Honestly that is how I want him to stay. He is also smart, funny,and the best big brother ever. It is hard to watch your kids grow up. You want them to be little forever. But now my goals for him must change. I want him to be a kind and grateful man one day. So I will tell my baby happy birthday and let him grow up and hope that we can be the example of what we want him to become. I love you Bryson!

Getting ready for SA

We are taking a little trip to San Antonio on the 27th. Partly for Brysons birthday and partly just for fun. Today I purchased something I have been wanting for a while to capture the memories. Can't wait.


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Summer coming to a close

School will be starting in less than 2 weeks. I am not the mom who is ready for her kids to go back I am the one who wants them to stay out forever. We are ready though. Supplies bought and backpack loaded.

As everyone knows school has not been easy for Bryson. It actually has been pretty much like a living HELL. So this year we knew we could not go on in the school that he had been with. We made the decision to transfer him to Belton. This summer when the approval letter for his transfer came the way his face lit up was priceless. I took him with me to pay his tuition and as we were walking out Bryson said to me, " Mom, they may think it was short but it has been forever me trying to come here." Bryson has always wanted to be a Tiger and last year he said he had to move no matter what. Chris and I knew that we had to take on this financial responsibility to help him. He needed this. We are hoping this makes school a positive experience for his and the rest of us.

Bryson will be going to Pirtle. He is all registered and ready to go. I made the comment the other day that our family looks better in red than blue anyway. I am ready to start fresh. GO BIG RED!

Troupe is 3!

Today is little Trouper's 3rd birthday! What a big guy! He is staying with Noni this week because his daycare is closed. He started off his morning with lots of kisses and then got No-nuts (donuts) on the way to Noni's. Noni and Troupe have spent the day at the Lions Junction park. I am sure they are having fun.

Saturday we had Troupe's party. Lot of fun. We had it at a splash park and everyone stayed cooled off. After the party we went straight to the lake and spent the rest of the day on the boat with Jee and Tyler. It was exciting and exhausting. After the lake we came home and cleaned up and went out to Oscar Store for some dancing. We know Troupe loves the music. Needless to say all the excitment ended about midnight and we were all exhausted. We passed out in bed and didn't wake up until 10am Sunday. How great is that? Here are some pictures of our fun. Enjoy!

The day that began to make our family of 3 a family of 4!

Three years ago today I went to the ER. Chris and I had watched a marathon of UFC fights and the big one was due to start. We were ready. On a whim I took my blood pressure during a commercial. It was HIGH. I don’t remember the exact numbers but I looked at Chris, showed him the blood pressure cuff and said, “We have to go to Labor & Delivery.” Groaning, he got up, went and got Bryson and we headed out. After some readings at the L&D and some meds, they decided to admit me. It was so late and about 3am I looked at poor Chris and Bryson curled up on the most uncomfortable couch and said go home. I will be fine. Come in the morning. We knew then the process had begun to make our family of three a family of four. We were told that night that I would not be leaving the hospital without delivering a baby. Problem was I was only 28 weeks.

That night I did not sleep a wink. My mom, dad, sister, and Tyler had just made it to their destination for a vacation. I was up all night not knowing what to do. Should I call, I mean I might be in the hospital for 6 weeks, why ruin their trip? I waited until a reasonable time to wake someone 6am. I called Becca first, she understands what I am going through and maybe she can give me advice on calling my mom. She said call. Then I called Cindi, she got in her car and drove to Temple. Then I called Jackie, if my mom wasn’t there at least I could have someone like her. Then finally about 8:30 I made the dreaded phone call to my mom. I told her the deal; the service was spotty in the mountains so the call was very stressful. At first Julie and mom were going to get on a plane. Then they all decided they would come back. I think they had the shortest vacation ever.

Turns out I was not in the hospital for 6 weeks but rather for 5 days. 5 days later I called my husband at home at 6 am and said you need to come up here. My blood pressure won't come down and we are having a baby today. We were both scared. Everyone rushed and assembled. At 11am they rolled me into the OR and 2lb 0.6oz Troupe Maddox Jackson Mills was born. Thus began our 65 day journey out of the hospital and 3 fun and happy three years of our lives.

Weekends at the Mills'

Our weekends are jammed packed. Most of it we do to ourselves. This weekend started with Chris having a softball tournament. We loaded up with our coolers and spent much of the day at the fields. Between games our neighbors and ourselves hosted an impromptu BBQ for the softball guys who lived too far away to go home between games. It was fun. After the games we made a B-line to our pool. We all needed it. We swam and swam.

Our pool time was cut short because we had another party to attend for Bryson's baseball team. We had a great time. Pool party and cookout. We had the whole team sign baseball's and each player got one. It will be very special for Bryson. Needless to say we all slept good Saturday night.

Sunday we headed out to Dead Fish Grill in Belton. We sat outside overlooking the lake. It was a little hot but it was beautiful. We had a great time. Afterwards we headed, yet again to our pool. Then to yet another party for our neighbors birthday. Like I said our weekends are jam packed but it is all about fun and family. These are the times I love. Now if we would only get rid of Mondays.

Summer 2010

Summer is here. Well not technically but it might as well be with the heat and kids being out of school. We got a pool, a little 12 foot metal frame, and we have been in it every day. We love it, I love it. I need it.

Friday was Bryson's first day out of school. He went with Pop to work. He had a great time. The got a free slurpee and fixed the go cart. Then he got to ride around on his go cart.. Until it broke again. Oh well, guess he will have to go back to work with Pop again.

Today is the another first for Bryson. His first day at BCYC (a boys and girls club in Belton). I have known for a while he was going to be going but today after I dropped him off I was really sad. I told Chris I hated taking him there. I want my son to be home having fun in the summer. Not at camps. I wish there were other arrangements. I wish I was home with him. Not to say that there is anything wrong with BCYC, just to say I want him home. When 3:30 came and went and I didn't get my daily phone call from him like I usually do when he gets home from school another wave of sadness hit. I miss my 3:30 phone call with my oldest. The only other year that he has had to go to a summer program was the summer Troupe was born. And that was not real because he ended up going everywhere BUT there because of all the drama with Troupe being in the hospital. Every other summer vacation he has been home. Be it when Chris and I ran our craft show business, or when Chris worked nights.

I always think I am a strong momma. Not too clingy. But then I send my baby to summer rec centers and in ruins my whole day. I can't wait to go get him. Maybe he missed me too. I guess I hope not because I want him to have a happy summer.

Fun at the Carnival

We went to the Bloomin' Temple Fest (or whatever it is called) this weekend. The boys had fun. Troupe loved loved the rides. Bryson had a lot of fun too. We are going to have to take them to Six Flags or Fiesta Texas this summer cause the carnival is enough to break the bank. Not to mention worrying if you are going to come out alive. Anyway, Troupe threw the BIGGEST FIT when we left because he wanted to ride till they shut it down. Never-the-less, here are pictures of our adventure.

Spring is here!

Well we have started out spring, allergies and all. The boys had a good spring break. Grandma was here from Florida to spoil them. She brought Kathy with her too which made it even more fun. Bryson was quit upset when they left.

Bryson has started baseball. Chris is coaching this year again. They are a kid pitch team called the Bandits. They had a scrimmage which they tied. Bryson scored the first run for the Bandits. I think they are going to be pretty good this year. Troupe really wants to be out there playing too. I have to keep him wrangled.

Speaking of Troupe, he is doing good. Getting big, talking more, and being him. He loves loves being outside. He ALWAYS wants to be outside.

We got a new dog last week. Her name is IZZY. Bryson and Troupe found her when they were on a four wheeler ride in Academy. Looks like she was dumped. She is very sweet and we are glad to have her.