McCoy is 6 months old

My littlest boy is already 6 months old. Where does the time go? From the first day he came into this world I could tell he was just the sweetest little soul. Nothing has changed in these six months. McCoy doesn't like loud noises or anybody foreign holding him. He is perfectly content with his mama. He is totally into nursing although I think I'm slowly going to give up breast feeding so he can get more food. I did pretty good this time. 

McCoy is happy most of the time. He fusses when he's hungry. He must be easy going to make it through Disney at only one month old. Mama survived that too. He lights up while he stares at KK. 

I started him on sweet potatoes this week and he ate it right up. He always keeps his head up when he is sitting. He didn't like riding in the car but is getting much better. He has rolled over just a handful of times. He seems like he wants to walk before he crawls. He only sleeps two hours at a time so I am definitely looking forward to him getting a little older so he can get longer sleeps so mama gets a little more rest. He is grabbing toys and he has been chewing on anything to help his gums. He should be getting some teeth soon. He is such a beautiful baby and has th ebrightest blue eyes. 

Sweet brothers. 

Christmas Eve Church Service

We always take a Christmas selfie before the service starts. Looking good!! We filled a whole pew with our family but they actually stayed quiet and we all made it through the whole service.

We began Silent Night and got our candles lit. Kiernan wasn't too sure about it.

But this is Gavin's favorite part of the service. Who doesn't love Silent Night with a lit candle?

Bill spotted the gorgeous Christmas tree in the church and it was just too beautiful to not stop for a photo. I thought this turned out great of our family.

Mom and Dad were taking their picture and I decided I needed to get one with them. Love these two to pieces,

Christmas 2014

Bill and I got the toys out and headed off to sleep. This year I tried to be methodical in what the boys got. So many times they don't even play with half their toys so this year I tried really hard to only grab what I thought would really keep their interests.

From the first day we asked Kiernan what he wanted for Christmas he stated he wanted a trumpet. From that day forward he never waivered from his answer. He wanted a trumpet. After searching high and low I found one trumpet on the internet. He absolutely loved it.

He has also loved this fishing game.

And then we already went to the driving range to test out the new clubs. I think we got him quite a few things that he can enjoy.

McCoy enjoyed letting all the other kids unwrap his gifts and Gavin loved his new drone. He left the day after Christmas so he will be back soon to play with his presents more next year.

Celebrating Christmas

Kiernan bought Gavin a present and even wrapped it himself and then signed his name....BACKWARDS!!

Ashley made homemade dough and all the kids enjoyed making Christmas cookies. The kids had an absolute blast smashing the dough into the sprinkles. I also might add that the final product was delicious. I think it even beat Subw@y sugar cookies.

We went over to Bill's parents house to celebrate on Christmas Eve and the kids all got PJ's and robes. We decided to go caroling at the neighbor's house. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves.

Poppy

My dad is extremely sentimental and asked if we would take individual pictures with him in front of the tree. I thought they turned out great. I think he had a great holiday with all of us.

Poppy and Kiernan

Poppy and McCoy

Kiernan and Hadleigh helped Poppy with his presents. After the holidays we will begin the tough quest for answers but for now we are enjoying all of this family time.

Jingle Bell Run

My friend Amy decided to do an event once a month in 2015. I thought it was the best idea. She decided to do a test run and sign up for one in December too. So I decided to try it out. I needed someone to watch the boys while I ran so Julie and her kiddos met me up there and entertained the boys. I started out and was going a pretty good pace. I wasn't too winded but the air was pretty cool. Amy and I started together but we split from each other. I got in a good groove but the was a trail run. It became really difficult. You had to slow down pretty good to climb the hills and go down the hills avoiding the FALL. I did pretty good and I think I ended up around 45 minutes. Not bad for my first race post baby and a trail run. It was fun and I am looking forward to the races in 2015.

Klatskin Tumor

This all started over my dad's frozen shoulder. My dad could no longer lift his arm above his head. He is extremely active and loves golf. He wanted to be out playing with his buddies so he had to get this shoulder back to good working condition. This began his long journey at multiple doctor's offices. 

The first doctor did some blood work in September and found his liver levels were one number above normal. She simply stated that he needed to keep an eye on that number. Time passed and dad endured many physical therapy sessions and even change doctors because he just wasn't having good luck. He finally landed in the best office for him and got the results he was looking for. He had regained great range of motion and was ending his therapy and to him he was almost back to normal. During this time he never stopped playing golf or exercising. So we went in for blood test again when he got called back because his liver levels were off the charts. We didn't understand. The doctor called him back for a sonogram and I remember checking in on my dad and he said, "Well Summer, I'm not pregnant!" His sense of humor and one liners are always my favorites. He then got called in again to do a CT scan. Even at this point none of us seemed to be worried. He then had a follow up with the doctor on Friday, December 19th, to go over the results. 

Gavin had his Christmas party that morning so we were super busy. Bill and I then ran over to a job to check on the progress. At some point I remembered my dad's appointment and decided to call him. 

He answer and I asked him how did it go. There was complete silence on the phone. Again I asked in a chipper voice how things went. Finally I realized something had gone terribly wrong and little did I know at the time that my world was about to be shattered. He finally muttered he didn't know what to say but that it didn't go well. He never did tell me what exactly it was except somehow he said it was cancer and the doctor had nothing good to say. He told me the doctor really didn't give him any answers to how long he had or what stage he was in. I began to sob. 

My sister text me and asked what is was. I said cancer. We went over to their house that night and it was the most somber night we've ever had. They didn't answer to many of our questions but that is was a tumor on his liver. Ashley and I went home and out our kids to bed and immediately called each other and began to discuss all the possibilities. We researched every website we could find. It seemed there was three possibilities that it could be and we had our eye on the one we hoped that it was. Our minds started to wonder about our lives without our dad. We didn't want to think about it but our mind kept taking us there. 

The next morning I ran in a 5K and went to Gavin's basketball practice. We all met at moms for lunch. Again the mood was somber. My mom had some projects for the guys and they began them after lunch. The mood was so dull Ashley and I began to be suspicious that there was something more going on. Ashley and I decided to snoop around and find my dad's medical paperwork. What we found was our worst nightmare. 

My dad has a Klatskin tumor. The rest of the day we began asking the harder questions and scouring the Internet for answers. I cried off and on all day. 

Gavin Joseph

Gavin is now in 3rd grade. He has gotten so big. He enjoys going to College Station to watch his cousin Ashlie play volleyball. We have tried to make as many games as possible. We have a lot of fun going up there. She had a wonderful freshman season.

We went to my sister's for Halloween this year. We bought some HUGE pumpkins and Gavin was dying to carve them. He finally got to but he was the only one who would touch all the yucky guts.

Gavin found the elf early this year and so we had to spring into action a whole week early. Man I am tired. They were so happy. Crazy how addicting the "elf" game can be for these two. Gavin wrote him a letter.

Gavin's soccer team did awesome this season and made it all the way to 2nd place at city. He has a really good group that he plays with. They are now gearing up for basketball season.

Baby Ellie not feeling good

My best friend's little girl was recently in the hospital and she was so sad and we just loved her sweet little bottom lip. We captured it and I had to share. It was a rough hospital stay but they are now at home and Ellie seems to be doing much better. Such a sweet baby girl!!!

Kiernan tries Karate

I wanted Kiernan to get involved in something. I know he is only three but he is such a busy body. I looked up a Karate class and sent him out to try it. He loved it and did so well at it. In the end he is very into basketball so I gave him a choice to do karate or basketball and of course basketball won out. So I signed him up for January basketball. Should be interesting for a three year old.

McCoy Hayes

McCoy was a quiet low key baby for the first two months and then he became much more irratable. Finally, we decided to start oatmeal and all things are right again. He smiles all the time and is talking all the time. I think I was starving the poor thing. I start to not produce as much milk and in turn my lil' man isn't getting full. He was up every 1.5 hours and I thought I was starting to lose my mind. I got really run down. With the oatmeal he is doing 5 hour stretches at times. Which makes me so happy!!!

Headin' to church. He won't take a bottle from anyone except his day care teacher but I still leave him in the nursery since it is only an hour.

San Antonio is so cold this year. I have had to bust out the cold gear a little early and my mom had to run out and get him a few more outfits because it was not this cold this early when KK was a baby. This gingerbread outfits is one of my favorites.

I've tried to enjoy the baby stage a little more this time round. I think as new mom I was so clueless I was just trying to get to the next day but with McCoy I am trying to enjoy it a little more. I won't ever get these cute little milestones ever again. McCoy is very sensitive and sweet natured. 

And I would like to annouce the boy can't roll over at 5 months but he can say "MAMA". I was changing his diaper today and he totally said it. I ran outside and told his day care teacher and she said yes he said it twice yesterday. Made me smile.

Kiernan Knox

I am sure every mom says this but Kiernan is the smartest little three year old I know. He is my little shadow at the house. Yes this is in the bathroom. 

He is being a good big brother to McCoy. I really worry about the boys being close so I really try to keep them loving on one another. Kiernan also loves his new baby cousin Channing. She is just as sweet as she can be. He always asks Ashley is he can hold her.

This kid loves to dress up. He changes clothes about 50 times a day. I get kind of tired of it because it makes more laundry for me. But one night Bill decided to dress him up. This urban cowboy was my favorite.

He is very particular about what he wears now. He likes to dress in the nicest clothes. Good thing my sister has given me all of Rocco's old clothes because he has the best selection to choose from now.

Just love this little boy.

He has been doing amazing at his little day care that he goes to. His teacher is amazing. HE knows all his letters and numbers and colors. He can write his name and can read tiny books. I just signed him up for basketball in January.

Halloween 2014

We had a Star Wars theme for 2014. I decided to dress up as well. I borrowed Gavin's pajamas and wore some work out tights and threw on the mask and I was a girly darth vader. 

On even years we head to Ashley's house. It was so much fun. Her whole neighborhood came and feasted in the front yard. It turned out so nice.

.

The little ones weren't sure what to think of their outfits.

In the end, these two loaded up the wagon and began to munch on all their yummy candy.

McCoy Hayes Pearce

I woke up at 5:00am because I had to do my hair and make up. I never go to the hospital without this being a priority. People think that I am crazy but let's be honest bright lights and cameras are always lurking. We got to Stone Oak Hospital about 6:00am. We were in Room 3. I got into my gorgeous robe and was hooked up to the monitor.  Immediately I had two huge contractions but didn't feel a thing. At 8:15 the nurse came in named Janice. She was absolutely wonderful. She checked me and I was 2 centimeters. They got my IV in and Dr. C came by and broke my water. At 9:45am, I got my epidural and was resting peacefully watching the Today show. Then the waiting began.

At 11:30am, I got the catheter put in and was moved to my right side. I was 4 centimeters.

At 12:15pm, Dr. C came in and checked me and I was still at 4 cm. She inserted a ambiotic catheter to the baby;s head to monitor things more closely.

One of my favorite deliveries, well I guess I only have two delivery stories to tell, was on June 30th when McCoy came into this world. My favorite part was the hilarious story that unfolded with my sister. She is also pregnant and of course we use the same doctor. She had an appointment at 3:00pm the day of my delivery and Ash and I were totally confused on how she can delivery my baby and have appointments on the same day. But we quickly found out exactly how it works.

Everything was going smoothly and I was progressing just fine and the family and I were hanging out in the room until about 2:45pm.  The nurse checked me and I was at 6cm. Ashley decided to head over to her appointment and as she is heading out the door she said, "You better not have that baby while I am gone to my appointment." Mom and Dad decided to leave as well to get a bite to eat. It was all quiet and we thought we were going to get a small little break before the mayhem when the nurse came in again and decided to check me. 

At 3:15pm She said I was at 10cm and she needed to call the doctor. I told her to wait because my sister had an appointment and she was waiting in the room to see the doc and I didn't want her to miss it. The sweet nurse told me no problem we could wait a little bit. I text my sister and she was still waiting.......

At 3:40pm, the nurse finally said I really think I need to call the doctor because you are getting close to having this baby. My sister said she was sitting in the room when the intercom came on and said Dr. C you need to head to the hospital for a delivery. My sister said a sweet nurse came in and said I am so sorry you will be waiting awhile because Dr C had to go to the hospital. My sister screamed, "I know it is my sister! Can I leave?" 

Back at the hospital, I was getting prepped for delivery and the big lights were getting turned on. Dr. C got there and was putting on her scrubs and gloves when there was a knock on the door. I hear, "Surprise!!!!!! Is there room for one more?" I looked at Bill and we decided to bring her on in.

So here we are seconds away from meeting McCoy.

Ash was on my right and Bill was on my left. We began the process and on the next contraction we immediately saw the head. We pushed three times and the head came with the cord wrapped once (loosely) around his neck. After one more push out came Baby P. He looked really blue to me(like in this picture) and wasn't crying at all so I called the nurse over and she took him to work on getting his blood flowing better.

Sooooo handsome. From the moment he came out he has had the sweetest personality. He is very clam and laid back. He very rarely cries unless something is wrong.

Adding to the family.

Kiernan was able to come up right away to see his brother. He was very attentive and protective of him.

McCoy Hayes weighed 6lbs 11ozs @ 4:16pm and  20.5".