Response

Yahoo! Well, thanks for all the help with going private -- I still haven't decided, but anyway, just thought I would mention that I won't be posting for a little while but I just quickly wanted to say that I do appreciate the input and I will definitely keep ya'll on my list if I do go private. We are having some friends come to stay at our house tomorrow so I just know I won't get a chance to write. Be prepared though because we have some really fun pictures to post -- nathan and Abby went to CA and got to meet jack Black and Paul Williams - The guy who wrote Rainbow Connection and be on the set of Yo Gabba Gabba! They had a blast! Plus we had a great cousins party and celebrated Pioneer Day and stuff -- so when I get a chance there will be some fun pictures!! yippy!
love to ya'll!!

Going Private

So one other thing I noticed about the blogging stuff is that many of you are going or have already gone private! So, you know, I think that is probably a really good idea! I actually can't view most of your blogs anymore and I want to still snoop on your blog -- so what can I do about that and also - how can I make mine private -- I think you do it through the settings button, but..... I think it may take forever to add all the email addresses that I will allow to view my blog -- just with friends and family and all -- any tips? Is there an easier way to do this? THANKS

The Cutest Blog on the Block

So, my sister came to town and we talked about blogging and digital scrapbooking and all that jazz and I am so excited that I found this cute website with free templates - suggested by Lisa Johnson among others too!! But seriously I was so excited it was so easy and look how cute this template is!! hahaa! So fun I could change it once a week!! There are so many fun things offered out there!! Next I need to get a photoshop program, get a header going and work on some fun scrapbooking! So thanks for all the inspiration from all you bloggers and friends and family! It is like getting ready for a date or a reunion --- I want my blog to look cute and all dressed up because wow -- people actually read these and keep in touch and I am so excited to be reacquainted with my old friends, roomates, and buddies! This is such a spastic post - but i am excited about it so much that i had to write my thoughts and they are going a mile a minute! I sometimes think that the computer is too confusing for me and I can't do it --- but I think I may have found a new little joy in blogs and scrappy stuff!! yippy!
love kathy

Summer Lovin'

So, I guess it is time for my bi-annual update!! Sad that so much time has past - so fast!! Anyway, we will start with the end of school -- here is Kimball graduating from preschool! This is awesome because - this is the same preschool I went to!! :) Seriously - this is Sister Barbara Dobson - at her home - and for the record I am sure my mother has a picture of me hugging her just the same way, in the same room, sitting in the same old green chair - and the wonderful woman hasn't aged and is an incredible teacher - then and now!


Shortly after school got out, we helped my parents out with their garden while they were out of town -- My dad knows how to grow 'em big in TEXAS! (Nathan watering - Kimball helping?)



Then next comes the surprise of all -- we were just kinda waiting in the car while Nathan finished up and I spotted something moving in the trees!!!







We jumped out of the car and Nathan moved in for a better shot -- it was a bobcat! Pretty awesome!!




Ok, then - just an update on Yo Gabba Gabba --- Collin is 2 and loves YGG! He has about 4 t-shirts and basically he wears one every day - I have to stay caught up on laundry to last through the week! So, anyway, we are excited because they are working on Season 2 and it is going really well and it is getting awesome reviews in other countries as well!! (to those of you who didn't know about it, Nathan's cousins and brothers helped create it and get it to where it is now on Nick Jr. - So, here is just a cute little shot of Collin and Tori watching a little YGG!!)


And then I just had to post these darling little photos of the kids!! We had a photo shoot with the kids in downtown Mckinney with a photographer and then we came home and took a couple in the backyard before it got too late and too dark!

Anniversary Party

Hey friends and family!! I hope to be posting more posts soon - but for now I just wanted to get the message out that we are throwing ourselves an Anniversary Party!! THis Saturday from 7 til whenever! No kids - just adults oh and babies too! But, anyway, we are celebrating 10 years!! So, please if you can make it come - bring an appetizer or dessert to share! THANKS
kathy

Merry Christmas!

I just love this time of year and I am so thankful for all my friends and family! This coming year we will have been married 10 years and we have been blessed with lots of love, craziness, and 5 kids! So.... I just wanted to post a little bit of love to all my friends and family.... y'all are so great and I hope you all have a Merry Happy and Shining Christmas and PLEASE remember the reason for the Season! WE are nothing without Christ and all he has done for us!!

Here are the new family pictures!

Everything is going pretty well -- the baby is growing and we are just adoring her. The one with the 4 kids was funny cuz Kimball was playing with that tube that is in the middle of wrapping paper and he didn't want to put it down for the picture. He is almost in tears and finally when we gathered in the rest of the

family for the real deal - he went crzy and started crying!! Finally I bribed him and we have the cute picture you see there - with his very

cheesy but cute smile!! He is awesome! And of course Collin the younger boy is not sure what is going on with the camera when no one is behind it so we couldn't manage to get a smile out of him - the self timer thing blinking didn't make any sense to him - why in the world would the whole family be looking at a camera proped on a table? Anyway, we got some cute shots - enjoy!

And for the record! I love my family and friends!! Thanks for all the good times, emails, talks and memories!! Lots of love this Christmas!

So Much to be Thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!! I am so thankful today! Tori Elizabeth Berrett was born last week on November 14th at 4:55pm. She weighed 5lbs. 10 oz., 17 1/2 inches long. She is a tiny little miracle!!

A MIRACLE TOOK PLACE:

On Wednesday November 14th we went in at 2:00pm to prep for the cesearan. They absolutely could not find my veins and I was poked about 6 times before they had the doctor come in and get 2 IVs in to prepare for the c-section surgery. Things weren't going so well, but I could still smile for a picture.

Because of the placenta previa and placement of the placenta, the C-section was tough. I had to recieve 2 units of blood, but they were able to sew things up and it seemed to be ok. I got to the recovery room around 7pm and sent Nathan to get the kids so we could show them the baby before their bedtime.

The kids came in - so excited to see their baby sister, when all of a sudden I started blacking out and bleeding. The kids were quickly escorted out and I went right back into surgery. They removed my uterus to control the bleeding. I should not be alive today. I lost so much blood that I had a total of 10 units of blood transfussed, platelets and plasma. After a long 3 hours of torment for Nathan I came out of surgery. I was put completely out for that surgery and so I had a tough time coming out of the sleep. I tried for a day to understand what had happened - each day as I learned more - I became increasingly aware at how close to death I truly was. It was because of a great blessing from the Lord that I am here today - to spend more time with my family and raise my children. I am so thankful for your prayers and well wishes. I know that between the power of the priesthood, prayers from you who put your heart and trust in the Lord and by His grace to me and my family I am here. I stayed in ICU for a few days and could not be with my new baby girl. They brought her down one day for me to see her - wow was she beautiful!! She looked right at me and smiled - the nurse and I were so surprised - we didn't catch it on camera - but you can see here - she is still looking at me! I had never seen a newborn do that! I know it was just for me - to let me know everything was alright!

So, I was in ICU and didn't get to see her again for 2 more days. Then, I was transfered up to Labor and Delivery where I stayed for a few more days. However, even though I got to be closer and see her daily now, she could not leave the Special Care Nursery because she started having sleep apnea and they had to now keep her on monitors. The kids all came to visit me each day and they could only see their new baby sister through the window. They were so excited to have a new baby and were so sad to find out they wouldn't be able to really hold and touch her.

I was in the hospital for a total of one week exactly. The baby and I were both able to come home yesterday morning! I was starting to go crazy in the hospital for that long and was so happy to finally get home! Things are going so well. We have had a wonderful time enjoying, holding and loving on our new baby girl.

I hope this wasn't too much information, but I just wanted you all to know how much your thoughts, prayers, love and concern have meant to me over the last week. I cannot explain how blessed I feel. Please for those of you who have been praying for us, tell your children that their prayers worked! Tell them how I could feel the spirit and felt comforted when I was afraid.

And to those who have written, called or come to visit in the hospital - I want to thank you too! We received so many awesome gifts and well wishes I just want to also post some pictures of the beautiful things we received:

I want to conclude with a scripture that I keep feeling applies so well to how I feel:

Mosiah 2:21 (straight from the LDS.org website scriptures)
I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.