WE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This is the beautiful Christmas Tree that Jeff and Tucker decorated.


He even remembered to decorate the mantle, so that when I came home I could enjoy it.


Tucker already dug into his gum that Santa left in his stocking!


Is it just me or did I get HUGE!!! Don't worry, I am not walking around, this is on one of my bathroom breaks.

You can't have Buffalo without hockey! Now Tucker and Uncle Marc have matching shirts.

It's just a bit chaotic at Uma and Upa's house Christmas morning. But here is Scott, Jessica, Marc, Amelia, One of the Boys (Sorry Jess, is it Henry or Sidney?), and Tucker.


My brother Mason (aka May-Make to Tucker) helps Tucker open my new source of Migraines!

Isn't that just wonderful? Just kidding Mason...we LOVE it!

Baby "Boris" Morris even got a few presents. Check out those adorable socks!

Tucker is all set to make Christmas Cookies next year! I have a matching one.

All in all, Christmas was a huge success. I enjoyed being home for Christmas and enjoyed being with my family. I did manage to sneak out to my MIL's house for Christmas morning and spent the morning in a recliner. I had a blast watching everyone open their presents.
The day after Christmas my family came up from Virginia. They stayed at our house to spend some extra time with us, and to make sure that I didn't over do it. They really had a good time with Tucker, but I have a feeling they are enjoying some peace and quiet back at home.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! Thank you for all of your love and continued support through the New Year.

I'M FREE!!!!

I am finally free! I did leave the hospital on Sunday as planned, around noon. I could not have been happier. I have decided to post my hospital discharge in pictures...






I still have one more picture to come, which is my favorite. But it is on Jeff's camera. So stay tuned for the picture of me getting my first breath of fresh Buffalo air in 5 weeks, 1 day, and 4.5 hours. (But who's counting?)

IT'S OFFICIAL...SUNDAY MORNING I'M OUT OF HERE!!!

One of the other Dr.s in my group came in today, and announced that he will be in early Sunday morning and he will discharge me then. That is soooo great. Jeff is going to have his hands full tomorrow bringing home all of my decorations, plants, and toiletries. I was told that I would have to be seen in the office once a week, and that I will be on the same bed rest at home as I am here. That is okay though, because I have a lot more liberties than you would think. I look forward to being with Jeff and Tucker in our own home. Also, my family is coming up from VA on Wednesday. That will be so wonderful. I know that my family has been so anxious to come up here to be with me during all of this. Now we can do it at HOME!

Well, here are some more Tucker pictures from the hospital.

I see you too Mommy!

This is T-Man opening up some of his presents from his teachers at school.

And last but not least...Yet another shot of Tucker acting like an old man. He's obsessed!

My next post will hopefully be written from home! Wish me luck!

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Great news everyone. After waiting for 5 long days to see my Dr., he came to see me today. After a brief conversation (and a little persuasion on my part), he decided that I could go home the Sunday before Christmas. How exciting is that. After being here for 5 weeks, I will be able to GO HOME!!!!!! I will be 29 weeks pregnant this Wednesday. I am so ready to go home and just be with my family. Of course I will still be on bed rest, and I will have to continue all medications, but it will all be worth being with Jeff and Tucker. I will be able to watch Tucker open his Christmas presents on Christmas morning. Oh, I could just cry. Please pray that the next week goes smoothly so that he doesn't change his mind. Wish me luck!!!

SURPRISE PIZZA PARTY!

Last night Tucker and Jeff were coming up to visit and have dinner with me. Jeff told me not to eat my hospital food if it came, that he was bringing dinner. He showed up with Tucker and some clean laundry, but no food in sight. I wondered where the food was, and he told that he had to go pick it up. Well, not 5 minutes later, My SIL Amanda and BIL Marc walked in the door with pizza and wings. I was so surprised and excited. I had not had pizza since the day before I came into the hospital. That was over a month ago. That is a long time for Buffalonians. We had a great time eating, laughing, and tracking the impending winter storm.



Tucker started pretending that he was a crippled old man. He used a candy cane as an old man cane. He was so funny hobbling around the room, grabbing his back, and shaking his cane. He is truly an entertainer.

NOTHING NEW GOING ON

Well, there is nothing new going on in the world of bed rest. Other than my surge of hormones that are rearing their ugly head today. Luckily, I have yarn and knitting needles to take them out on. Thanks to my SIL Jessica for teaching me how to knit, I have yet another avenue to take out frustrations and cure boredom. I have had many visitors in the past few days. Jeff's Aunt Joni and 2 of his cousins came and brought me a big box of gifts for the "12 days of Christmas". I now have 12 wonderful gifts to keep me busy for the next 12 days. And on the top of each gift are these lovely ornaments to decorate my tree with. Jeff's Aunt Patricia came on Wednesday and brought me a wonderful pasta lunch and a pastry heart for dessert. It was a great visit. And my other SIL Amanda came last night with my favorite sandwich from Globe Market. Just imagine this...Roast Beef, Ciabatta Bread, Sliced Apples, Sliced Bree Cheese, Arugula, and Horseradish Mayo. OMG my mouth is watering. Thanks Amanda!!!

And since I do not have any recent pictures today of things going on in my life, I have chosen to reveal my nursery theme and colors. Are you ready?

I just love it. If you cannot blow this picture up, the design on the bumper pad and quilt are little circles and airplanes. We are going to do the walls with white bead board on the bottom, and chocolate brown on the top. And we have all white furniture, that used to belong to my brother Mason, and was handed down to me to use for Tucker. Now this little one will be able to use it.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to post Tuck-Man's school picture. I will try to take a good picture of it and post it for all of you to see.

Please keep praying for me and Baby Boy Morris!

'TWAS A NIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL

As I lay here in the wee hours of the morning, I was inspired by the Christmas Spirit not to flip out on the next person to wake me up. But rather make lemonade with the proverbial lemons I have been handed. I am going to make comedy out of the tragedy of constantly being woken up every chance the staff gets. So without further ado, and in keeping with the Christmas Spirit, I present to you:

'TWAS A NIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL

'Twas a night in the hospital, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,
The IVs were hung on their poles with care,
In hopes that good news would soon be there,
The patients were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of new cures danced in their heads,
With compression stockings on, and Pjs from the Gap,
I had just settled down for a much needed nap,
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
I sat up in bed to see whose lip was about to be fatter,
The door flew open, hit the wall with a thud,
Whoever this is, their name is now mud,
The lights flew on without a fair warning,
“Wake up, Wake up, it’s almost morning“,
Its 4am by the clock on the wall,
Please dash away, dash away, dash away all,
Without a word, she went straight to work,
Handed me my pills, this nurse is a real jerk,
Now as it happens, I’m wide awake,
Man, these pills really make me shake,
She turns on a dime, I never got her name,
Just my old crotchety nurse, such a shame,
Before she slams the door on her way out,
She turns one last time and gives a quick shout,
Smirking in my doorway, not yet out of sight,
“Good luck getting back to sleep honey,
Have a great night!”

I hope you enjoyed it, I sure enjoyed writing it. It really helped get some frustrations out. Well, I butchered a well known Christmas poem for my own selfish reasons. Does that exempt me from my Christmas Spirit Award? Nah, I am keeping it.

I GOT A CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AWARD!

I would like to thank S. at Our Vietnamese Ladybug not only for my nomination for a Christmas Spirit Award, but also for all of my very uplifting comments that she leaves for me. She has also been through hospitalized bed rest and knows what we are going through. So thank you for your uplifting words.

So, what is the Christmas Spirit Award?

Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature. Those who care about others. Those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that. Those who display the “Spirit of Christmas”.

My nominations are in:

First and foremost, I would like to present my SIL Amanda of Pursuit of Poppy, with the first Christmas Spirit award. I cannot tell you how much she has done for me, now and in the past. She truly knows the meaning of Christmas. Without her, my bulletin board would not be what it is today. And I might not be able to have Monopoly negotiations like that with anyone else.

Secondly, I would like to nominate my Aunt Sue-Sue (Don't laugh, I've been calling her that for many years). She has showered me with gifts through the mail, including cards, gingerbread (the best I've ever had), a holiday pillow, and many other items to keep my son busy while he is visiting. She also calls every day just to say "Hi".

Thirdly, my mother. She is great with sending me cards once a week, just to say she loves me and is proud of me. This woman is amazing. She is many states away and has managed to keep her sanity through this whole ordeal. She wants nothing more than to be here to take care of me. But knows that she is needed at home too. After all, she did decorate 3 Christmas Trees this year, even though she wasn't in the mood. All it takes is one viewing of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, and she's hooked.

(Okay, enough with the numbering) Also, my MIL Kris, is getting one too. And not just because she brought me the best pie I have EVER eaten in my life. Whoever came up with Pecan Pumpkin pie is a God. No really, she too, is an amazing woman, who manages to juggle her life as well as mine. What I mean by that is, she has taken over responsibility for Jeff and Tucker. Hey, someone has to make sure they eat. And sacrificing her loving husband so that he may finish my kitchen before I come home. Thanks again!

And last but not least, my other SIL Jessica is a Superhuman Mother. I think that Superhuman Mothers deserve Christmas Spirit Awards, if for no other reason, just because they have the energy at the end of the day to still stand up. Jess and her hubby Scott, have 2 year old twin boys and a couple month old daughter. As if that is not enough to keep them busy, they have taken on the task of getting Tucker on and off the bus everyday. They are truly miracles to take this task off of Jeff's hands, otherwise, I do not know what we would do. So thank you very much.

Okay, I know they are all women. But women rock! Women have the miraculous ability to give birth. And I don't think that men would have the patience to be on bed rest to allow their baby to grow.

TUCKER'S WINTER WONDERLAND

Well since I have not had the internet for the last 4 1/2 days, very few of you have heard my good news. If we have no more little scares, my Dr. told me I might be able to go home around Christmas time and be on bed rest at home. That would mean so much to me, to spend Christmas at home with my family. How cool is that? And...my Mom, Dad, and brother Mason, are coming up the day after Christmas, so we will be able to spend some quality time together. Oh, just imagine, Christmas morning at home and not in my hospital room. I must admit, the thought of Santa having to deliver presents to the hospital on Christmas Eve, was rather depressing.

So in other news...Tucker and Jeff went with the Dieterle Family (Jeff's cousins) to a brunch with Santa. They had a great time. Tucker ate all of the food on his plate, and this is the first year he was really excited to see Santa. He didn't freak out at all!

Jeff and Tucker also picked out a Christmas Tree this weekend. Jeff found one that he liked and asked Tucker "Is this the one we should get?" and Tucker said "Nope". Well, Tucker went to the next tree and that was the one he wanted, so they took what is now dubbed "Tucker's Tree" home. Short, but beautiful. I cannot wait to see it decorated.

And I can't leave you without showing you my favorite picture from this weekend...Snowangels!

CHANGING UP THE SCENERY A BIT!

In the very first week of my stay here at the hospital, my lovely husband Jeff brought me a bulletin board and some pictures to decorate it with. I loved it, it was like a piece of home. But I thought that the pictures needed to be updated. So I ordered some of our latest pictures online and requested of my visitors to bring something with them to help decorate and cheer this place up. So, my MIL Kris, brought me chestnut garland that she made with chestnuts from my yard. And my SIL Amanda brought me a ton of scrapbook paper, cutouts, and acid-free dots to hang it all with. That has been my project for today. This is the view from my bed, check it out!

Don't you just love it? Tucker has also made me some things to decorate with, but I enjoy playing with them instead...

I had two visitors today, my friends Jill and Chris (Corky) they are so great. They brought me smiles, and more importantly, they brought Tim Hortons!

And in other news, quite possibly the most exciting, Tucker's audiologist chose Tucker to participate in a marketing campaign for the company she works for. What this means is, Tucker and Jeff will participate in an interview, take pictures, and a video for the company. How cool! Tucker could be in brochures and possibly on TV!!! What surprised us most, is that Christmas is coming early for the Morris household! We were told that, by Tucker participating in the campaign, he would receive a brand new pair of hearing aids. OMG!!! They are FM ready hearing aids which we would've had to pay for ourselves before he went to kindergarten. Merry Christmas Morris'. We could not be more happy for us, and for Tucker.

I GROW 'EM BIG!

How exciting! I was surprised today with a trip to Fetal Testing for a complete sonogram. That is when they scan the baby to see how big he is. They can tell by his measurements how far along he is in gestation. Well, let me tell you...my baby boy is already 2lbs 5 oz!!!!! He is measuring anywhere from 27 1/2 weeks to 28 1/2 weeks. I am so excited. I will be 27 weeks on Wednesday. But, the sonogram determined my due date to be March 1st instead of March 8th. We'll see what happens next. I wonder if they will change my due date "officially" because it is a full week ahead of what we thought it was.

My little man fell asleep the other night while watching Harry Potter in my bed. Notice he still has a tight grip on the remote control.

This is the poinsettia that my Mom, Dad, and Mason sent me to get me in the holiday spirit.

This is my Christmas tree. Bob and Kris (my mother and father in-law) brought this up to me the other night. Complete with all of the things I needed to string popcorn and cranberries. So, that is what I did yesterday. I think that it turned out rather nice. Also, my sister in-law Jessica came to visit me last night, and brought me Tim Hortons Coffee (a must if you are visiting me), and a bag full of yarn and knitting needles. She is going to teach me how to knit next time she comes up. I can't wait. My brother already placed an order for a beanie hat. We'll see.

Keep up the prayers, and keep bringing me good food! They both seem to be helping this baby grow big and strong.

HAVING MORE FUN EVERYDAY!

CHEESE!!!
More like Cheeseball!

















Last night Jeff and Tucker came to visit me and brought me a delicious dinner. Jeff had marinated a steak all day and cooked it up with some potatoes. It was so yummy! I knew that they were coming with dinner, so I had ordered Tucker some chicken fingers and fries on my dinner tray. He loved it. And for dessert Jeff baked some toffee cookies. Perfect with a cup of coffee. Tucker and I played around in bed tickling each other, just like if we were at home. He does not seem to be affected by me being in here. He just goes on about his day, this is our "new" normal.




















This is Jeff and I planting the bulbs that Jeff brought me. We planted Amyrillus and Paper Whites. Tucker watched Polar Express, it's his favorite!





















The view from my room! And check out our FIRST BIG SNOW!



















One of my wonderful nurses Carol, noticed that my mood was down the other day, and thought that I was a bit too bored. So this morning she brought me some fleece, scissors, and a ruler. She put me to work on this adorable blanket, that took up my whole morning and is absolutely adorable! I really love my nurses!

VISITS ARE ALWAYS NICE.

Yesterday was THE day for visitors. I had the time of my life yesterday. It started with my friend Trish bringing Christmas in November. She called and asked if I wanted a coffee or anything. I said yes, but then realized I don't have any money to give her for the coffee. (Not that she would've taken it) Well, coffee was the last thing on my mind after she got here. She looked like a Christmas elf with all of her bags of presents. Trish brought me a beautiful blanket to help make my room "less hospitally". I love it! She brought me a very soft robe from Victorias Secret, that I can't seem to take off. She brought me an assortment of lotions from Bath and Body Works (6 to be exact). And she brought me one of every magazine ever made! This girl is amazing, and we manage to talk to whole afternoon away.

The day didn't end there. Last night was my scheduled Monopoly Tournament, that the entire hospital had to hear about for the last week. My Sister-In-Law Amanda and her great hubby Marc came to play Monopoly with me and bring me dinner. These guys thought of everything. Amanda made the BEST Chicken Pot Pie you ever did taste and a wonderful dessert that resembled Hello Dollies with nuts. They brought Diet Pepsis, plates, utensils, cloth napkins, and salt/pepper shakers. I was waiting for the candle aubras to come out. It was wonderful. We ate and talked and ate and talked. Dinner was DELICIOUS!!! Then the claws came out. For those of you who don't know me so well, I am very competitive when it comes to board games. My other SIL Jessica and I once were found rolling on the floor, hair in hand, playing a not so friendly game of Spoons. Just Kidding, about the hair, but we had fun rolling. I think she ended up with the spoon. Cheater! Anyway, Monopoly was so much fun, at one point or another, we were all loosing and mortgaging our properties. But, after 3 1/2 hours of raised voices, negotiations gone bad, and sheer Monopoly fun, I WON! Winning is an understatement, I demolished them. A rematch will be scheduled, but I think next time we are going to tackle Clue or Life. So I want to thank you guys soooo much for keeping me entertained and laughing so hard I thought I was going to go back into labor.

VERY EVENTFUL WEEK!

Where does one start...

Well, Wednesday afternoon Jeff's Aunt Patricia and Cousin Colleen came to visit me. We had a great visit talking and eating chocolate. Right after they left I started feeling "crampy", and that quickly turned into contractions. I called for the nurse and she put me on the monitor. Sure enough I was having contractions again every 2-3 minutes. After a quick check from the resident Dr., I was wisked away to Labor & Delivery. My home away from home! After a whole gambit of tests, IVs, and Dr.s, it was explained to me that at this point they will not give me anything to stop labor, because nothing seems to work on me. Well, I am happy to report, that after a good night sleep (medically induced of course), and a whole lot of praying, the contractions stopped the next morning. I have now returned to my room upstairs, and have resumed my exciting life of internet exploring and movie critiquing. I had a sonogram yesterday and got to see my beautiful baby and heard that there is really no change. I am still 1-2 cm dilated, but I can last at that for a long time.

In other news. I want to say "Happy Belated Anniversary" to my parents whose anniversary was on that fateful Wednesday that I went into labor, so needless to say, they did not have a great night. And thank you for the Pointsetta. Its lovely!

STILL GOING STRONG!

I know you think this is going to sound corny, but I really think I am finding myself in here. Oh boy, it sounds like I am writing from my prison cell. Though sometimes it really feels like prison because I do not have a lot of freedom, and the food is terrible, its not really that bad. I do however, have endless time on my hands. It is so funny how in just 11 days I feel like a somewhat new person. I feel strong and empowered because I know I am doing what any mom would do to keep her baby healthy.

Oh...hold on...

"For the 50th time today, WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND YOU or I will whip this magazine right at your..."

Okay, where was I? Oh yeh, I am so incredibly strong and patience is really the key! LOL!!! Jeff and I had a great date night last night. He brought me my favorite sub, a chicken finger sub and onion rings. He is so thoughtful, he even remembered the ketchup this time. He did however take the laptop home with him. He needed to bring much more than a chicken finger sub to make that okay in my book. But, my wonderful mother-in-law brought it right back to me today. What a nice surprise. Before Jeff left last night he did manage to snap a new belly shot of me on a quick trip to the bathroom. So check it out! No make-up though. Maybe I can convince Jeff to bring that next week when he takes the laptop.

I have had wonderful visits from friends and family. The weekdays are the most boring because people are at work. Luckily I have a friend that works here, and she bee bops in and says Hi, and my wonderful Mom calls and keeps me calm and happy throughout the day. Today Tucker and Jeff are coming up to see me, and I have new things that people have sent me to give to Tucker. Stickers and cookies work well! Hint Hint Hint!

Tomorrow I will be 26 weeks along. Keep praying and believing. We sure are!

HOW I ENDED UP HERE...

Jeff, Tucker, and I went on our annual July 4th trip down to VA for a fun filled week at the "rivah". I just wasn't feeling up to par and was very tired. I just chalked it up to a long trip with my husband and 3 year old. Until one day it hit me. Right on back of the jet ski in the middle of the Rappahanock River, Jeff and I went over a wave and I felt it. Don't ask me what I felt, but I leaned over and said "Honey, I think I am pregnant!" Well, its a good thing I was holding on, otherwise I was going to land in the water, because Jeff just stopped on a dime. After our quick conversation and conclusion that I was crazy, we went on about our outing and forgot about it. Or so I thought. As it turns out, Jeff had been thinking about it for the rest of the week, and immediately upon our return to Buffalo, he asked me to take a test. So, before the car was even unpacked, we knew we were going to have another baby. He decided that I had better take another one, so after 3 more tests, we were sure.

Baby Boy Morris just 2 months old!

Oh, how scared we were. Here we were getting ready for the 1 year anniversary of our twins birth and death, and finding out we were going to be parents again. I called the Dr. that week and went in 2 weeks later for a confirmation test, and of course, it was positive. We then worked out a plan for our extreme high risk pregnancy. I was to have weekly sonograms to check my cervical length, and I was going to start progesterone injections once a week to help keep me from going into preterm labor. My pregnancy was going great, yes I was tired, but no, I was not as sick this time like I was in the past. I felt amazing. And check out the belly, I was getting huge!!!

Weeks went by and no change in my cervical length and Jeff is a wonderful man, who has become a professional progesterone giver. He was not squimish at all about having to inject me with a needle. Tucker would frequently go with me to my sonogram appointments and he quickly became the mascot of the Ultrasound Dept. I was in deep trouble if I didn't bring their "Little Man" with me.

That brings us to my birthday. My birthday was wonderful! It consisted of my husband's whole family, and my favorite dinner...pizza and wings. I got great presents and enjoyed the whole night. The next day which was Friday the 16th. At around 1:15pm I was laying on the couch watching TV and relaxing until Tucker got home from school. All of a sudden I started having contractions. I did what I knew to do. I drank some water, used the restroom, and laid on my side. And repeated it when after 20 minutes I was still having them. Well, at 2:00 after calling the Dr., I called Jeff to come home to get Tucker off of the bus, because the Dr. had instructed me to go to Labor and Delivery. I thought "Here we go again". Jeff found someone else to get Tucker and he drove me to the hospital.

When we got to the hospital it was an emotional rollercoaster and we were overwhelmed with questions about previous pregnancies, and what exactly had I been doing when the contractions started. By this point the contractions had gone from every 7 minutes to every 2 minutes. I was flipping out. Well, after many tests, monitors, medicines, and doctors, it was decided that I was going to stay for awhile. My contractions finally stopped at 10:00am on Sunday morning. Not soon enough. I ended up dilating to 1cm from the contractions. The neonatologist came by to discuss the complications that a 24 week baby would encounter and what we needed to expect. We were scared, but we had faith.

Well, that was 9 days ago!!! And I'm still pregnant!!! The baby and I are doing fantastic and are under the best care possible. I have been ordered on hospital bedrest until I deliver or 34 weeks, whichever comes first. I have a private room, and Jeff has completely set it up for me. I obviously have the internet. My iPod and Nintendo DS have really come in handy too. Jeff also keeps me stocked with DVDs, clean clothes, and wonderful company. I really do have the best husband in the world. He has taken over the household. And has done a great job with Tucker and bringing him up here to see me.

I will post more tomorrow on how we are, and maybe a picture of my room, so you can visualize my new home. Please continue to pray for us. And thank you all for your love and support.