the Hammons

Thanks!

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:56:03 -0500

It is long overdue.. You have been on my mind everyday and I am reminded to be thankful. Thank you dear friends for your kind words. For your congratulations and prayers for Vivian’s recovery.. We thank you for being positive along side us as we took care of a sick little girl. We are just in awe for her strength and recent homecoming. We have been challenged and learned a great deal.. we love this little Vivian and we are blessed to have her apart of our family. Thank you dear friends for your friendship, your kindness and your concern, we have felt your prayers.. they have helped answer ours.

Goats are apart of our Texas experience.. these beauties greeted us as we took their snapshot. Very curious sort.

The two llamas in the background are the “goat protectors”.. I guess they get pretty mean when a coyote comes around. Or a girl wanting to take their photo..

Woe is paint

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 12:37:29 -0500

Today, I am trying to sew amid the daily grind. Feeding my babe (keeping her fresh and clean), a little mopping, some laundry and spending some sweet ole time on the computer.. my outlet while we are home bound. Plus trying to be creative with M & R. What to do indoors while it rains today. Ideas?

Weeks ago when we moved into our home I knew the grand project here would be to paint “Mya’s” room. The home owner had painted her daughters room neon green & an obnoxious pink.. combination, I don’t like!! Sorry to all who are turned on by this palette but I was quickly mortified and ready to make the change. I spent a week while we settled in with paint swatches (not long enough, I think). What I really wanted was a gray (I thought “blue-ish” gray was it). Yes for my dainty girls room, I know what you are thinking. To compliment her pink drapes, I thought it would be a fun medley. Well folks I am learning as I go to.. I have made a faux pas!! I never thought I would be so careless with color but I missed the mark.. Don’t tell Travis (he already knows). We (Travis) painted her room nearly the exact color R’s room is currently, a nice boy blue. A far cry from the more sophisticated gray-ish I was trying to achieve. How could I have been so off? Really I am not certain. I was just off.

SO. Lesson to myself. Those cute paint samples you can purchase, buy them and paint the swatches on the wall before you have your husband sacrifice his day in the name of love.

Mr blue bird on my shoulder

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 20:44:26 -0500

So a quick recap.. Vivian is home! The night before she was released from the hospital I had to spend the night in the NICU. I was being tested to see if I was fit to take care of her and bring her home.. AH ha ha ha! I passed, was the end result.. but that night was incredibly precious and fun all in one! I loved having my baby all to myself.. I was able to nurse as I pleased, kiss and love on her & be “mom”. Then to make the days better my family came to pick me up and we rode in our car home where we have since settled in with our little babe and have enjoyed life with her.
In random order these photos give you a glimpse of the past few weeks..

Happy, Grateful.. feeling Blessed

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:27:29 -0500

Our baby is home! This is a phone photo of our drive home.. Yes! Home!!

the view I see

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:01:55 -0500

It is incredible how your perspective changes after a more (for lack of better words) tragic challenge in life occurs. I remember driving home with my mom last week. Contemplating the circumstances and watching the rest of the population travel home, wondering what they were up to. Whatever life held for them and then thinking of what is most important and how can allow room for these bigger learning opportunities. I saw a new realm open. How I quickly put a great value on life and the rich blessings that are all around us.

I also read NieNie and Mr. Nielson’s view as he came and went to the hospital to see his sweetheart. I could totally relate to his post. I see this as I go to and from the hospital. It has such a tender place in my heart. I heart this place. And although I have cried a great cry many times over my baby I can still feel the blessings all around me and how Heavenly Father hears and answers prayer.

Vivian

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:34:31 -0500

It has been a whirlwind 12 days! Back and forth, to and fro from home to the hospital.. 4 to 7 hours plus an hour of drive time.. I wore myself thin. Thankfully after my parents left back to their mission my sweet sister Karen and two of her daughters flew out to take care of us. We needed, I needed moral support, a sitter and a dear face to have near.. If you can believe during these day of days Travis had previous plans to leave to Missouri to do dental work (we thought with her due date at the end of the month we would be in the clear). We miss his presence.. The nearest and dearest know how vital he is to me, but we are managing..

Hey! The great news is that Vivian has made progress!! She is off the oscillator, her lungs are working on their own, so she is off all breathing machines, has a pick line in, (that is a arterial iv that goes close o the heart to give her pain medications and nutrition as she requires) the umbilical lines are removed from her umbilical cord, and she is on 25% O2, we require 21% to breathe.. So as soon as she is weened from the fentanyl (pain medication), she accepts more quantities of my milk and they prove there are no esophagus or tracheal detours she can come home. That, as far as todays visit went could be a week or more. We are hoping for less.. but we know we need to be patient and prayerful that all goes steadily well.

Oh how I believe only momma arms can heal all wounds, I am faithful to respect and appreciate the progress of modern medicine. Her progress has been like sunshine, it feeds my needed little fire that wants my baby in my stead. I yearn for her to be present in our family.. HOME. I am ok on the “patient” scale.. but that quality is becoming harder and harder.

During our visit with Vivian today I brought Mya and Roanan. It has been many days of visits all on my own and it felt GREAT to have my little companions come with me. They googled (especially Roanan) at their little sister. We sang and we held her. This was the third day since her birth I have held her.. my first words to the nurse were.. “ this is better than a massage..” Drugs or something.. I laugh at my analogy, but it felt like heaven.

Thanks for the dearest comments, the loves and the prayers on our behalf, we feel of your support and it have given us so much strength. Thank you.