Sick and tired

I have not blogged since I started reading about Stellan. Yes, it's true. My sweet cousin Cari got me hooked reading about MckMama and the whole MckFamily when this little boy had to go to the hospital. More than a week later his little heart is still struggling to find a normal heart rhythm, and I have been praying for him even though I have absolutely NO idea who this family is. It's amazing to see so many strangers connected to someone through prayer with technology.

With that, I think I've felt a little guilty worrying about Maddy's cold over the past week when this mother is spending night after night in a conference room floor getting kicked a few winks of sleep throughout the night. Last night I camped out in Maddy's room (thanks to my sleeping bag from Mom) since she was up about every hour coughing/crying/etc. The meds she is on do a number for her diaper so she is quick to tell us about it in the middle of the night. We have even had to cruise town several nights to get her to sleep when she is restless. Getting to sleep around 8 isn't the problem, but keeping her asleep for more than about 20 minutes past midnight is another issue. We usually grab a bottle, Bug, and the car seat and head to the 24-hr Starbucks. There is a lot of S.A. highway we just haven't discovered so we are making our way around the city. The doctor told us on Friday that Maddy is one more cold away from receiving breathing treatments since she has been sick a little more often than they would like. She definitely has not been herself lately....very clingy (a rarity unless grandparents are around), no appetite, and very still....all things that just don't typically go along with our Bug.

So I am still praying for Stellan and still praying for Maddy to get better. Colds may not be as serious as heart problems or nights in the PICU, but I know my God hears all prayers - both big and small - and is the Great Physician for these sweet little babies. If you can, pray that we can some sleep tonight...all of us.

Here is sick...

And here is tired...

Spring Break Part II

Vicki and Terry (Nana and Papaw) came into town on Sunday afternoon! Nana was so excited to have her picture made with Maddy on her first day ever to wear pigtails! (By the way, Maddy HATES having her hair done. She shakes her head, "no" and arches her back so I will stop. I've started doing it in her highchair so she can't get away.)

We went to the shops at La Contera to buy Maddy some Easter shoes (which I can't even find at the moment!). Papaw bought her a hat and a dress and made sure to get this picture in his phone.

Later we went to Gruene to eat at the Gristmill. I think this is the first family picture we've taken (and I've liked) since we moved to S.A. So glad to have a new one! Maddy is in her new outfit from Marme here.

I still haven't even been inside Gruene Hall, but I love the way it looks at night.

On Wednesday we went to the S.A. Zoo. Logan and Terry shared the role of Maddy's chauffeur for the morning. By the time we left around lunch, there was line that was very, very long! It was perfect weather and a beautiful day!

The hippos were amazing. This guy was up against the glass for everyone to see and just hung out there for a good while.

My favorite...he was a little guy all alone. Kinda sad.

On Thursday night we went to Market Square and to Mi Tierra's. Since Spring Break was in full swing by this point, there were SOOOO many tourists out and about. While we waited we looked around the market.

Logan said this hat was the perfect "Woo Girls" hat for you HIMYM fans.

Another family shot. Two in one month is just amazing!

Maddy discovered balloons at Mi Tierra's. It flew to the ceiling after about two seconds, but Papaw was tall enough to reach it. I made sure to show Nana the huge painting of Selena. It's a must see for S.A. life.

On Friday night, we got to see more Fritts' in Houston. Garrison loved playing with "Maddy Lou" with an orange cup.

Nana and Papaw got to take $500 worth of vouchers to stay an extra night in Houston. They really had to twist their arm so they got to come see us one more night! When we told McKenna Nana was coming, she said, "My Nana?" She was so excited to see "Her Nana" and to play games with her all night.

Saturday morning Garrison lead the Orioles in their first t-ball game of the season! He is such a natural athlete!

Sofia and Mike tied the not later that evening and had an absolute BEAUTIFUL wedding in Houston. The reception was at Varga's. We watched peacocks and swans all evening, but didn't get to take any pictures of them.

The new Mr. & Mrs. Michael Scott Tilton (put that in just for you Jane!)

Spring Break Part I

I was so thankful to have 2 full weeks off for Spring Break! Like I said earlier, I deleted some pictures of the beginning (surprise baby shower for Monica, Mom's birthday party, Maddy playing with the horses, and Maddy at TCBC), but I was still able to capture lots of great memories from the week. Here is a short recap of our Fort Worth and Mineral Wells adventures.

On Tuesday, we went to Ft. Worth to see friends and family. Maddy loved playing with Granny. She brought out some of Ruby's favorite dolls and stories.

Granny introduced Maddy to their new dog, Prince. She wanted to get down and meet him up close, but it was a little muddy that day.

Grandad let Maddy "read" the paper which she thought was very funny.

Later I stopped by Christen and Scott's new house to see all of the kiddos that were in our wedding. Christen and Scott returned from Vietnam with their new little rascal, Jack, just a few months ago. The only way we could get Quinn to sit in the chair was with the spaceship! (L to R: Jack, Caroline, Grant, Maddy, Quinn)

I also got to help Melissa look around at Babies-R-Us (her due date is the same as what Maddy's was 7/10!), but I didn't get any pictures of us together. Sorry Mel!

On Thursday, Mom and I took Maddy to get her pictures taken. I've had some issues getting them ordered, but Mom was so excited to buy Maddy a new shirt, new outfit, and her tutu for the big shoot. We went to Starbucks afterward to meet up with Logan.

Here's the Bug in her tutu at Scott and Jane's house. She posed for a bit on the couch for me while Juno licked her face when I wasn't looking.

On Friday, Mama Joyce had us over to her house. She bought Maddy a new book and loved watching her crawl around on her floor.

Later that night we made it to Aledo for yummy bbq at Railhead and to hear Shannon's bf, Herbie, play with his band (can't remember the name at the moment!). It was so much fun to see everyone (well, almost everyone--missed you Mere A., Mere R., Red, Becky, Jaime, and Cec) in one place!

Granny and Grandad hosted a brunch for us at their house on Saturday. The Woodruffs, Walkers, Hudkins, and Stantons all made it to see us one more time before we left the Metroplex. Emily loved squeezing Maddy, but I think Maddy was all pictured out.

My mom insisted on buying Maddy the bunny outfit so we put it in her a little early for Easter to show Mom what it would look like. Still not quite sure where we will be fore Easter.

It was a very busy week seeing everyone and running in and out of places from the rain. We were home one evening by ourselves and then Spring Break part 2 began...

Prayer List

Several things to keep on your prayer list for the Fritts Family:

jobs

• current -finishing strong and serving with excellence
• new -several interviews in the SLP world coming up
• revised - more to come on that one

ministries

• Jr. High - that the leaders and students will continue to thrive in God's word
• Sr. High - that with change, everyone will work toward His plans
• College Life - that students will come, feel loved, equipped, and renewed

finding friends down south

• our friends up north are just too awesome to compare, but we long for community
• finding a community group/bible study
• that we will be bold in putting ourselves out there in the community and not intraverted in the students' wing of AHUMC

Fort Worth & Mineral Wells

(All of these pics are from Cari.)

I can't believe anything this beautiful came from us! My boss, Monica, told me that every break (from school) her son, Wesley, did something new and different. Well, I think Maddy just gets more cute and loveable every time I have a few weeks off and I love getting to spend time seeing her all day! Jessie, we got some new bows and I know you're going to love them! Ha!



We had such a great week in Mineral Wells and Fort Worth last week. We were very busy and thankfully got to see so many family and friends. I got to see two high schoool friends, Jenna and Bridget. We took some cute pics of Maddy with Jenna's kiddos, but they were deleted accidentally. Maddy got to play with lots of puppies and the feed the horses at the ranch (pics also deleted).

The pictures here are from brunch at my grandparents' house (Granny & Grandad). They were so sweet to host a brunch for us before we left for S.A.




My mom, Marme, insisted on getting this bunny costume for Maddy for Easter. She wasn't very excited about it, but smiled willingly for the camera.



Big cousin, Lauren, was excited to bring Maddy some new clothes to wear. We have been so blessed to have such a full closet for Maddy with Lauren's cute wardrobe.



I have more to post later from the week. Get ready for pictures of tutus, Juno, Railhead, Chaos girls, and more.

It was so great seeing everyone. Now we're having fun with Logan's parents, Nana and Papaw Terry, in San Antonio. Tomorrow will be Maddy's first trip to the zoo!

Deleted

I was so excited to post tonight, but I realized I deleted a bunch of pictures from our week so far. We have seen so many family and friends and gotten so many cute pictures of Maddy with so many people (and animals)...

Jenna and her kiddos (high school friend)

family from Mom's birthday party

Sassy (Mom and Dad's dog)

Dancer, Bailey, Skylar (Mom and Dad's horses)

Hopefully after we get some more pictures from the week we'll have a more exciting post from Fort Worth and Mineral Wells.

Logan's wisdom teeth surgery

Logan had his wisdom teeth taken out yesterday. He has been a great patient and slept for most of the day. We'll see how he feels in the morning when his meds have worn off. Luckily, our sweet Kristen is taking care of Maddy so I can go back to work and Logan can rest a bit more.

Maddy hanging out with the patient...

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for...

my Savior and Maker

my family and friends

coffee with cream

student ministry

churches that are imperfect

cochlear implants and hearing aids

clean carpet sans hardened cheerios

the way Maddy's diaper makes little squishy noises when she moves

going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University

neighborhoods to run in with shady trees

every baby gift that was given or lent to us

the 2008-2009 school year

Logan's recovery from wisdom teeth surgery

the opportunity to change and grow

and YOU!!

I long to see you!

Today was my amazing mother's 51st birthday. It was one of my resolution's to send birthday cards to my family and friends, but that really hasn't happened yet. Honestly, I hate being away from everyone and not being able to celebrate the little things like birthdays and anniversaries and special occasions. Looking ahead, we really don't even know where we will be for Maddy's first birthday in July.

I've come to realize over the past few months I have a tendency to disengage when I am away from family and friends. Some say, "absence makes the heart grown fonder," but my heart just gets lonely so I tend to stray further away when I feel alone and without my support system. Not that I love anyone less (especially my family and friends), but it's just that I know now I need to make a better effort of calling, writing, and updating ALL of you as I promised I would when we moved here. So here is my new resolution...I will call, write, and update more often not out of duty or obligation, but simply because, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong--that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith," (Romans 1:11-12).

So if you are one of the many out there that I have pulled away from, please forgive me. Let's chat, talk, text, write, or get together soon. However it may be....I long to see you.

Maddy is crawling!

Well, Maddy has finally taken off and now is crawling. We took this video on Friday after I got home from work. Logan told me on the way home, "Oh yah, and Maddy started crawling," like it was no big deal and like she had been doing it forever. I was really expecting a phone call or text or something declaring the big news, but alas, no luck. We're still trying to get her to follow us around the apartment like a puppy, but she has to build up our stamina. With her new found mobility she has also discovered how much she likes everything around her that is not one of her own toys (e.g., DVD's, cords, rugs, fuzz, outlet covers, etc.) Needless to say, we've been vacuuming a lot more these days. Maybe this will be a good excuse for Logan to pick up his shoes after he gets home. Oh please, oh please!