Mary Kay and more

As Trey mentioned, I am now a Mary Kay lady. My former consultant decided to quit selling MK and encouraged me to try it. It has only been a few weeks, and I'm doing okay with it so far. I have not really even done much yet to get my business started, so I'm glad I already have a few customers. I don't really have an agressive, salesperson personality, so I know I may be facing some challenges.

If you are interested in having a complimentary facial or hosting a skin care class, please let me know. Even if you are not interested in buying MK products, I'd love to be given the opportunity to share the products with your friends and family. I also have a MK website: www.marykay.com/cheribliss if you'd like to place an order online. I will ship the products to you at no additional cost if you are out of town.

Now for the baby Bliss update. We had another check-up this week. Everything is looking good. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat. We definitely have an active baby. Every time the nurse would find the heartbeat, baby Bliss would move and she'd have to find it again. In only 2 weeks, we will have an ultrasound and hopefully find out if it is a boy or girl. I'm thinking it is a girl this time because this pregnancy has been different from Luke's. We have no preference this time. We just want a healthy baby.

I still have fears and worry about what may happen in the weeks to come. When those times come, I take my fears and worry to God. He has given me so much peace throughout this pregnancy. I just pray that peace continues as we get further along in this pregnancy.

CLB

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream......

I feel bad not blogging more. Thankfully, there just really isn't a lot to write about right now. Nothing major is happening with the baby, it's not time to go to the beach yet, nothing major.

Well, Cheri is selling Mary Kay now....but she's gonna have to blog about that.

So, this post is dedicated to ice cream, specifically HOMEMADE ice cream.

After what seemed like a 10 year absence, my family has suddenly decided to start making ice cream again. It started last year when Cheri and I picked up some peaches on the way to Americus, then I made some Oreo for a church function, then some vanilla, and another batch of peach this past weekend.

So we got to talking, and decided that we would keep on the homemade ice cream kick, and tried to come up with some different recipes and flavors we could try....and that's where all of our faithful readers come in. I need some recipes, and I know that some of you have some great ones...so post your recipes here, or send them to icecream4theblisses@gmail.com

Mmmm...mmmmm...good.

Operation Day

Well, today was operation day for Cheri. Our adventure really started yesterday when she called to get her time and was told she was not being done until 11:30. So that meant no food or drink for a lot longer than expected. The food is easy, the drink is tough. Add the time for the surgery, and it ended up being about 15 hours without anything taken in.

Well, you do what you have to do, and we left about 11 to go to the outpatient center. I did my best to reassure her, even telling her she could ride in the wagon like Audrey has with all of her surgeries. I try my best to use laughter as a distraction. Well, when the time came, Cheri passed on the wagon, and went on her own to the operating area while I went to the lobby to wait.

Waiting is tough. I don't know why they try to reassure you by telling you it will only be a few minutes, or by giving you a time. That just makes it worse to wait...when the 30 minutes they say becomes a little over an hour, you tend to have a little worry creep into your head.

But just as soon as I began to worry, Dr. Goggin came out and told me it was over, the surgery had gone well, and the baby was doing great. He did say that the condition he fixed was indeed the cause of the problem with Luke, and that Cheri would need to have the procedure done with each child as we continued having children.

As we were preparing to leave, our nurse (Joni) reminded us more than once that they would call tomorrow to check and make sure everything was OK. Well, Dr. Goggin went beyond that and called us just a minute ago. He's the best, and continues to make us believe that we have made the right choice, both in trying to have children again, and in having him as our doctor.

In closing, we both want to thank everyone for all the prayers they have given us for so long, and especially in the past few days. We know that God is good and that He listens to us, and we are so thankful for His grace and love.

Trey

One of Those Moments

Well, today was checkup day, and it turned into one of those moments.

Cheri and I went to Dr. Goggin's office today for a routine 12-week visit...you know, check the vital signs and listen to the baby's heartbeat. Well, that's when the moment came, the nurse practioner could not find the baby's heartbeat.

Let me tell you, no matter how many times she said "This is normal" or "A lot of times at 12 weeks it's tough to find the heartbeat", after everything that has happened, the worst fears entered our hearts and minds.

So, we head to the ultrasound room for an unscheduled ultrasound, where we get ANOTHER one of those moments.

Luke was a very passive baby inside of Cheri, usually lying still, maybe sleeping, occasionally the slightest movement of a hand, or a leg....nothing major. Today, the baby (we really need to come up with a code name for this one), was dancing, or exercising, or something; but whatever, enjoying every second of it.

And the heart was beating strong, and all is well!

Trey

Just Another Update?

I was thinking to myself today that we had not blogged this month, but that we really did not have anything to say....things are just going normal.

But then I realized, that while we have told people personally, and had a few facebook posts referencing it, we had not yet posted on here that we are once again pregnant!

The official due date is December 7th, but based on a few variables, Dr. Goggin (our new obstetrician) is expecting us to have a less than normal Thanksgiving.

It is both exciting and scary based upon what happened with Luke. But our Faith in God, and our belief that Dr. Goggin has identified the areas that need extra attention, instill us with the utmost confidence that this time will bring a happier ending. Still, bad thoughts have a way of lingering, and every time a blood pressure reading is a little high, or the morning sickness gets a little worse bring about some level of trepidation.

We are still so appreciative of everyone who helped us out in our time of sorrow....we can not wait until they are all able to share in our moment of joy!

Trey

Missing Luke

Today has been rough. I've really been missing my baby boy today. Luke's due date was just a few days ago. It is still so hard for me to comprehend why he is not here with us. I am trying my best to be thankful for the blessings God has given us and will give us, but sometimes all I really want is to have Luke back in my arms.

Trey wrote a poem for me shortly after Luke passed away. I did not know if I would ever post it on here or not, but I have decided to post it on here. Hopefully, he will not mind that I am sharing this with all of you. CLB

What tears did you cry today?
The tears I saw that night,
Filled with hopelessness, anger, and betrayal?
Those tears are like acid,
Eating at the soul and the heart.

What tears did you cry today?
The mournful tears of loneliness
That soak the depths of your being?
Those tears are like a flood,
Rotting the roots of growth.

What tears did you cry today?
The tears I cry when you push me away?
The tears I keep inside pretending to be brave,
Letting build up like a dam holds a river.

What tears did you cry today?
Tears of joy, and of hope, and of love?
Cry those tears.
Let those Tears Flow.
Let those tears enrich you,
And bring bloom within you.


What tears did you cry today?

The Passing of a Great Man.

My Great-Uncle Bubba Bateman passed away yesterday, after a battle with Alzheimer's. He was 92 and lived a full life.

Everyone should have an Uncle Bubba. I was asked one time who I looked up to, who had an influence on me. I gave credit to my dad, but also mentioned what an influence Uncle Bubba had been.

Uncle Bubba never had kids, and that is a shame. So many of us saw him as a second father, an additional grandfather, and whatever we needed him to be. I can only imagine what a great father he would have been. While none of us know exactly what heaven holds for us, I can imagine Uncle Bubba finding my little boy up there and the two of them sharing time together the way he and I did here.

Bubba served in World War II, and will receive the honors that go with that at his burial on Friday.

And I will receive maybe the highest honor of my life, as he chose me to receive the flag draped over his coffin. Words can not describe my pride, and my humbleness at the same time. It will be forever displayed prominently, next to Cheri's Dad's flag.

God Bless You, Uncle Bubba.