More pics from Vacation...

Here we are on our deck off the back of the condo. You can't really see it, but the bay was right behind us. We had a good time fishing off the pier and I even jumped in the bay on a float and let the waves carry me back. It was a very needed getaway for us!

Our Vacation

We just got back from taking a family vacation to Rockport, Tx. When I say family I mean my whole family....there was 18 of us. This was my Mom's side of the family. We got a condo on the bay and we had a great time! Kyle loved it. He wanted to be in the water 24/7. This was the first time he had ever been to the beach and of course, he loved it. He thought the waves were fun and would splash his little arms up and down everytime a wave would come. He also enjoyed the sand and I had a tough time keeping it out of his mouth! He is getting so big so fast! We can't believe he will be six months old on the 15th of this month! Check out his totsite if you wanna see more pics of him and learn more about what he is doing these days. Here are some pics from vacation....

Oh...The life of a Coach

Heres an update for ya! George and I went to Diboll and met with Coach Martell. He recruited us hard and we were really impressed. The town was georgeous, the jobs sounded wonderful (especially the school nursing job), the house market was in our range, the people were nice, it sounded to good to be true. Then.....ba ba buuummmm.... we talked numbers. I knew going from a hospital nurse to school nursing would be a cut, but this was ridiculous. Both of us would have been taking pay cuts, which would be a total of about 20K less a year! We prayed and crunched numbers as much as we could, but in the end we just didn't think we could afford to do it.

So, what are we gonna do now? We aren't sure. We have many options still to play out. George has interviews at Spring ISD and Austin High School, and he has applications at Conroe ISD and College Station Middle School. So, I guess we will see what we get offered and go from there. There is always the option to stay here also. This would give us more equity in our house and we wouldn't have to move (something I don't love to do). This is just risky because we don't know what kind of AD might be coming in and what he might decide to assign George to.

Also, I really really really want to get out of hospital nursing unless I can get back into my love-working on the postpartum, L&D, Nursery, or the NICU floor. My grand plan is to for sure be out of hospital nursing by the time Kyle starts school. Working holidays and weekends is really getting old already and I don't plan to miss important times with my family. Plus, I feel I am already experiencing some signs of nurse burnout and I don't want to become one of those "old, mean, eat your young" nurses. I guess the main thing is for us to just let go and let God...something I am working on trying to get better at. Just please keep our family in your prayers as we try to make these important decisions that affect our futures. Thanks!!!!
~The Taylors

A Wonderful Mother's Day

I had a great first Mother's Day. We were in Austin this past weekend to attend the State Track Meet. We had a great time. We got to visit with lots of family. We took Kyle to the hotel pool and he loved it! He is just a little fish...On Mother's Day we went out to eat at Red Lobster with my Mom and Step-Dad and my Grandparents. Kyle and George got me some great cards and a Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son's soul book. Mom and Vince took me shopping and bought me a georgeous dress and an outfit. Heidi got me some bath and body works stuff. We had a great time, but are glad to be home again. Whew, it is so hard to travel with a 5 month old! He has more stuff then us put together. George and I decided not to accept the job offer he got at Commerce for various reasons, but this week we got offered an even better deal! This time we were offered a package deal for him coaching Varsity, being Middle School Coordinator and teaching PE and me an Elementary school nurse job! I am very excited about the job offer, but we aren't so sure about uprooting our family yet. Please keep us in your prayers so we can make the right decision for our family.

Our trip to the Zoo

This past Sunday we went to the Houston Zoo. Kyle loved it and we had a good time.

This was actually his first play date too! We met Matthew, Kim, and Preston there.

Kyle didn't like being in his stroller, he wanted us to hold him so he could see everything.

He loves to be oustside and the more things there are going on, the more he likes it.

The Taylors-Easter 2007

Busy Busy Bees!

We have so busy lately! Sorry I haven't kept up better. We had a great Easter, hope you all did too! George is doing well. He has been doing nothing but going to track meets since we got back home this week. He actually interviewed last week for a job at Commerce ISD. Commerce is a town about 60miles northeast of Dallas. It is a 3A school and George has worked with the AD there before at Barbers Hill. We aren't sure we want to leave Anahuac, but with all the problems they have been having and the mess with the school board and trying to decide about renewing the AD's contract we figured we better have some options. The interview went really well, but before we decide anything we would have to get an offer and then go up there and check out the place and make sure it would work for all of us. Frankly, I am a little scared of moving so far away from all our family. I have never moved somewhere that I didn't know a little about the town and atleast have one family member there. Plus, it would make my job resume look really bad, since I just got a new job and would have to leave it already! He has also applied a few other places too, so we will see where God leads us.

I am still training at work with my preceptor. The last couple days I have worked have been much better. I actually enjoyed yesterday! I had all pedi pts and it was great! I missed my baby though. It is still really hard to leave Kyle. I find myself wishing we could win the lottery or something and I could stay home. But, then I come back to reality and know it isn't gonna happen! With everything thats going on (I know I am crazy) but, I have been considering going back to school. I may start taking a few classes to work on my BSN. UT has a ADN to BSN program here in town and they actually come to the hospital I work at once a week and teach there. I would still have a few pre-req basics I would have to take first before applying to the program though. Right now I am just looking into it. But, if I did this then I would apply for UTMB's internet program to become a Neonatal Nurse Practioner. Lately I have found myself wondering what my next goals are going to be and I realized I want more in my work life. I would love to be a nurse manager or NP. I just don't know if it is going to be possible. I would also love to get into photography or opening a daycare, but this really isn't possible since George is a coach and we will probably be moving alot. I guess we will see what works out. I am just going to take things slow and save money for classes.
Kyle is doing great. I am afraid he has got colic though...he sure cries alot more now than he used too! Well, I goota go because he is crying now and needs some attention. Check out his totsite to see more about how he is doing and new pictures...

Look at all these handsome Aggies! George, Kyle, Mattew, and Baby Preston! Preston was born Mach 22, 2007. He weighed 7lbs and was 19 inches long (if I remember right). It is so hard to believe that three months ago Kyle was smaller than that! It sure goes by fast......

Kyle at 3 months old!

Life as we know it....

Things alway seem to work out! Our prayers were answered this past week when we found a daycare for Kyle. The lady who runs it is a nice Christian lady with four children of her own. It is actually open 24 hrs Monday-Saturday, which couldn't be more perfect for us! Also, it is two blocks from our house and between our house and George's work. Kyle has stayed there once already and he seemed to really like it and they like him also.
I admit I could have found this place sooner if I wouldn't have been so picky! I had considered this place not an option because of my prejudices and hasty conclusions of what other people might think...but, I finally went and looked for myself and what I found surprised me. It taught me a lesson to not judge things by the cover, which I never really knew I did until now. I am learning that as parents we have to make decisions about how to raise our children on our own and not worry about how other people do it. I need to just take advice as just that--advice and then George and I can ultimately decide on our own how we want to raise Kyle. I have learned alot about myself the last few weeks! I thought I had gotten over caring so much about what people think, and trying to please everyone, but I guess I still have some work to do! Who knew being a parent could be so enlightening!
I started my new job last Monday and the first two days I worked were really rocky. I wasn't expecting the type of patients I had to care for! I was under the impression it was a Surgical/Pediatric floor (hence the name) but, it turns out they get a majority of medical patients. Suddenly, I was caring for drug addicts with amputations and horribly nasty infections. I was changing adult diapers and cleaing bed pans. When I got home that night I didn't even want to touch Kyle before I took a shower! The third day I actually had some ortho pts and it wasn't so bad....so maybe things will get better or I will just have to get used to it. The people I work with are really cool though. I am just trying to keep a positive attitude about it and in the mean time I am hoping to get to transfer to a OB/NSY floor soon!
Our little Kyle is doing great-- check out his totsite for updated info!

Our Spring Break

I had my first day of general hospital orientation at my new job on Monday (which was very long and boring!!) and then Tuesday morning George, Kyle and I headed for Brownwood. After a lot of rain and about 7 hours we made it. Kyle was really good in the car, he just got tired of riding once and we had to stop and get him out and play with him a little. Kyle turned three months old yesterday! We can't believe he is already that old, it seems like yesterday that he was born! We are enjoying our spring break right now, just visiting with family and relaxing.
George actually left today to go to Killeen for the state powerlifting meet. He has one girl who made it to state. I am going to leave Kyle with his Nonna, Apa, and Aunt Heidi Bo tonight and go meet George in Killeen. This will be our first night away from Kyle ever! I am sad about being away from him, but it will be good for George and I to have some alone time. I will just be gone from about 5pm today until about 10 am tomorrow, so it shouldn't be too bad.
George and I have had a big crisis on our hands this past week, and I got really depressed about it. My sister-in-law decided she can't keep Kyle anymore. (even though we had agreed she would keep him for us until the summer (and by the way we were paying her). She kept having too many conflicts and it just wasn't working out to be a very dependable thing, which is a MUST! For some reason she decided she would rather substitute teach. So, I found another lady who kept one other little 8 month old boy and Kyle stayed at her house once and it seemed to work out, so we hired her and she was supposed to start after spring break. Then, she called and cancelled on us too! She said someone quit at her husband's business and she had to take their place. sWhat bad luck we have!! We are on the waiting lists for both of the daycares in town, but they are all full! We have put an ad in the paper and George sent an email out to all the people at school, hoping someone would know someone good. I just don't know what to do! I can't think of anything else but finding a good,dependable person to keep my sweet baby! Of course, I wish I could do it, but if I stopped working we would lose everything. There is just no way we can afford to do it. Amazing huh, two people can go to college and both have degrees and still not make crap and spend the rest of their lives paying for the student loans they took out to get the degrees in the first place! Ugghhh! Sorry, I am a little stressed if ya can't tell. So, we are currently trying to let God handle the situation. We have just been praying up a storm! Thank God for my mother-in-law. She was able to take off two weeks to watch Kyle for us temporarily while we attempt to find someone. Please keep our family in your prayers as we face this obstacle. Thanks! We love and miss you all and hope you have a good spring break. I will fill you in later on how the night away goes! I am going to miss him so much, but I can't stand George up on our night out!

Our Little Man

Kyle loves to sit in his high chair at the table while Mommy cooks, and lately he has started something new. He loves to put his feet on the table!!! Mommy says "Get those tootsies off my table!" and he just laughs and coos and smiles! It is sooo cute!! He will take them off for a minute and then when I look away he puts them back and laughs!

Good News!

Last night the school board called a special meeting and ended up renewing Coach Davis' contract for one more year as AD! Turns out that the school board couldn't go against the Superintendant's recommendation and they had to revote. The new vote was 7-0 to renew his contract. This means job security for George! Also, the Superintendant specifically asked George to be an Academic Advisor to all the athletes! We are very excited to not have to uproot our family yet and to give George more time at the high school level before moving on. I also am excited to know that I get to have more time at my new job.

A rough few days for the Taylors

We have had a rough couple of days! We are all home sick today. Kyle started getting really congested and fussy on Sunday night and I just wasn't sure if he was feeling bad or having some colic. Plus, we were out of town and he was off schedule and tired. Then, I felt sorta bad on Monday with a cough and sinus problems and just general tiredness, so I stayed home from work. At about 4:30 pm I suddenly felt exhausted and got the chills. I was so weak I could hardly hold Kyle to breastfeed him! I took my temperature and it was 104!
So, I called George (he was at track practice) to see if he could come home early to take care of Kyle while I tried to take care of myself. He answered his cell and said "That is so weird, because I was about to leave and come home because I am not feeling well!"
We are all at home today feeling terrible. I went to the doctor last night at 5:30pm as a walk in and finally saw him at 11pm! He said acute bronchitis and maybe the flu! I got two shots and a breathing treatment and a bunch of meds. Plus, all the sudden my breast milk production decided to slow waaay down! Thank God I had some frozen to feed him for awhile.
Kyle seems to be doing ok for the moment, just eating more, which I think it is because he is trying to help build my production back up. He hasn't had any fever. I am just using saline drops and the bulb syringe and a humidifier to help with his congestion.
George went to the Dr. today and he said he thinks George has some kind of virus that is just starting, since he isn't running any fever. But, to get plenty of rest. Which, is really hard for my hardheaded husband to comprehend, since he went to track practice and a coaches meeting today anyway! Which, brings me to the next news. I didn't mention it in my last blog because it wasn't "official yet," but the same day I got my new nursing job at San Jacinto... the school board voted to not renew the AD's contract at Anahuac next year. This means George's job is in danger. We really wanted to stay here next year, but not sure now that it will happen. We are trying not to stress about it and just pray that God will lead us where he wants us. But, that is always easier said than done. So, in short please keep us in your prayers! Hope you and yours are doing great!!! I am going to try and post new pics and info on Kyle's totsite soon, so keep watch if you are interested.

Change is inevitable!

Since I started back to work it has been really hard driving 70 miles one way to work and doing twelve hour shifts. We are lucky enough to have family to babysit, but many other things are still difficult due to my long drive to and from work. So, we decided as a family that it might be time for a change. We have prayed about it and I took my time looking for another job. Well, I feel that God has answered our prayers. Yesterday I intereviewed at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown (only a 20 mile drive) and it went great! They called this morning and offered me the job! It has great benefits, a sign on bonus, and a good hourly pay. Also, George has a big test coming up on Saturday that could affect his job next year. Please keep our family in your prayers during this time of transition in our lives.
I started an aerobics class a couple weeks ago and I love it! I have lost back down to my prepregnancy weight, actually a few lbs less, and I am starting to have more energy. I went clothes shopping last week and was excited about the sizes I fit in and they way they looked on me. I have been sick this week with a sinus infection, but I think I am finally starting to feel better. Kyle is wonderful. He never ceases to amaze us daily with the new things he can do. He is such a cutie!! I love watching him smile and coo and play! He is just such a blessing in our lives. George is really busy right now! He is coaching powerlifting and track and is pretty much booked every weekend for the next couple months with meets. Kyle and I have a trip planned this weekend to go to College Station and Flynn and visit with family. Kyle now has his own website if you would like to visit it at www.totsites.com/tot/kyleandrew This is where I will now post his newest pics, growth, and things he can do. Hope you are all doing great!
~The Taylors

I love this picture! Kyle had spit up all over himself after an early morning feeding, so I undressed him and handed him to George and asked him to keep him warm while I went to get Kyle another outfit. This is what I found when I came back! Like Father like Son! Their hands are even positioned the same way! I love it!

Kyle and I both got some new sunglasses yesterday. I think his are still a little big, but should fit good by summer.

7 weeks old and trying to keep up!

Well, things have been going great! I am finding myself super busy and having less time to blog, but I am not complaining. My life feels very fulfilled. I started back to work on Tuesday the 30th and it was so hard to leave Kyle. I cried alot, but it helped knowing he would be with Sam (my sister-in-law). I think it would be much more difficult if he wasn't being kept by someone I know well and loves him. I didn't realize how much I missed my co-workers/friends and my job though. I really love what I do. Plus, it was such a great reunion when I got home! It felt like I hadn't seen him in weeks instead of 13 hours.

Kyle is really growing! He is no longer able to wear any of the preemie clothes we bought and now wears newborn and 0-3 months sizes. We haven't taken him back to the Pediatrician lately, but on our scale at home he now weighs about 11 lbs! He is really eating well! In fact, my new nickname for him is Wilbur (as in SOME PIG in Charlotte's Web)! Now anytime we put him down on his tummy he rolls over onto his back. He is much more alert and loves to stare at people's faces and smile at them. He is making some new noises also, but we aren't sure at all what they mean! His favorite is "GHEEEE!" He also still makes the cutest little "uuuuwhoooooo" sound after he sneezes. It is my favorite! Typically he sleeps about 5-6 hours a night now without waking up to eat! He does have a bad night sometimes though and it always seems to coincide with gas. He loves that mylicon, in fact, his Daddy calls it his candy. Also, he likes to sleep in the bed with us, something Mommy started! OK, OK, so I spoiled him. Do you blame me? Who wouldn't want to snuggle with that little cutie all night! It shouldn't be a problem until he gets older...and we will hopefully get him in his own bed way before that.

We had a visit this past weekend from Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Natalie. Pawpaw and Meme took us all out to eat and we stayed and visited with them for a while! We had a great time and some good food! I work this coming weekend and George has a powerlifting meet so Meme is going to keep Kyle for us on Saturday. I am so glad I have people I can trust to watch him, because then I can go to work and not worry! Next weekend Heidi and Kirk are coming to visit and we are looking forward to that. We haven't seen Heidi since Kyle was born. Well, I better go try to do some laundry before George gets home and I have to cook supper!

All bundled up...

Kyle's curious face!