Relief!

Praise God, I am much better! I have a filling in my tooth again and the pain is nearly gone.
I feel almost back to my old self. I have been down and out for over 2 weeks. I can not tell you how nice it is to sleep and be able to do laundry and housework without pain. Thank you for your prayers.

The storms of life

The latest storm in my life started last week. I was feeling a little off and went in to the doctor. Turns out I had the flu, strep, ear and sinus infection. Praise God my mother in law was in town by chance. I did nothing but sleep for 3 days. After that, I still felt like death but managed to go to work on Friday. On Wednesday of last week, one of my molars started feeling weird. I had a root canal and crown on it 5 years ago and didn’t think much of it. I had my teeth cleaned on Friday and they found nothing. I was in so much pain Friday night and Saturday I had to call the dentist. He prescribed a round of antibiotics and painkillers which did nothing for the pain. Sunday night I had an emergency visit with a special dentist for an abscessed tooth. Right now I am still in a tremendous amount of pain to the point in effects my work, my parenting, my relationship with James. I get very nauseous from the pain and not much helps it. They just called in a new antibiotic to hopefully get me some relief. I wish at this point I had them pull the tooth, but at the time saving the tooth was cheaper and seemed like a better choice.
With all of that going on I am trying to seek God and what he is trying to teach me. He has made it clearer than ever that James is a wonderful husband and father. He has taken great care of me and just let me sit, and cry. I am struggling with handling the pain and staying sane. I know that God has a lesson in all of this, I hope that I ‘get it’. It hurts me so emotionally to not be able to play with Zach and give him what he needs.
I heard this song on the radio. It made me realize that this is not a tragedy. I’m trying to suck it up, but it is hard!Sounds like life to me it ain’t no fantasyIt’s just a common case of everyday realityMan I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it upTo hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedyIt sounds like life to me

15 months

The boots is 14 months.

WOW Time flies

Where to begin

Where to begin…
I guess what is on my heart.I want to LOVE and KNOW JESUS better! I get so caught up in “me, me, me” that I do not put what matters most 1st. I know that to be the wife and mother that God has called me to be, I am going to have to put Jesus in my life in more places. What and how I am doing on that will come later.
I am currently, exhausted. No, I am not pregnant. But, it is that kind of exhaustion. Work is kicking my butt right now. I love what I do, but I feel so tired and lazy when I get home. I took Zach to daycare one morning and did not see him until the next morning. I told my boss that would never happen again. I am blessed because he totally understood.
I am also an emotional wreck. I don’t know if it is my raging hormones, hot flashes, stress from work, lack of sleep, physical exhaustion or all of the above. I know it is the hormones and stress that cause triggers these emotional lapses, but I hate it. I hate not feeling stable and not having it together.
We took a test at work about what color you are, and I am gold. That is not surprising, but I being gold is not always a good thing. I have to learn that when the plan, the schedule, and how I have planned everything in my head without even meaning to plan it doesn’t go my way it is okay.
My dear friend taught me so much about grace. I am currently living on that hope and faith that she taught me through God’s words. His Grace is sufficient. He is enough. I have to remember and cling to that daily.
Zach brings us more joy that we could have ever imagined. We are so blessed by him. My recent surgery has us thinking and praying about whether Zach will ever be a big brother. We are still unsure, but know it will not be for some time.

I can't even begin to blog about our summer. I need to so that it is on record. It was fun, exciting, and what I needed.

I need to be a better friend. I miss all of you so. Please know I love and care for you all. I may not comment, but I am reading again about your lives and sweet blessings.

Summer

WOW-June is gone and we are about to hit the road again.

We were in Disney for a week. Zach did amazing. He really LOVED it! Mickey was his favorite. He even did the "Hot Dog" dance with characters at a character lunch. I would take him back at 13 months again. At first I thought we were crazy, but it was worth the sweat to see his sweet face experience Disney. Everyone asks our favorite part, and it really was seeing Zach's eyes light up at all the excitement. He would point and say 'ook' at things. He clapped so hard during the shows.

Zach went home with my parents GiGi and Pops, for 4 days while I went to San Antonio to a great conference. It was such a hard 4 days without him. My Mom and Dad would keep him forever if they could. I got to go and spend about a week with my family in Cooper. I truly miss where, how, and who I grew up with. It is a very special place. Zach truly loves country life. He loves the swimming pool, kitties, horses, and his little red wagon. Zach's uncle Welton took him for rides down the steep driveway and into the field. I almost had a hear attack, but Uncle Welton assured me it was not his first trip.
We will be in Lubbock for a few days and then are headed to Corpus for a week. The plan then is for me and Zach to go back to my parents for one last week.

WOW! This Summer is almost gone now!

What a Year

This is my favorite picture. I miss sitting and holding him all day long!

These are some of the first pictures of Zach, with clothes on. ;)

This Saturday, May 2nd, is Zach's first birthday! What a year we have had filled with such JOY! I always knew that children were/are a blessing, but I have been blown away with what blessing Zach is. Each day, no matter the circumstance, his little face brings us such joy and happiness. I see in those big brown eyes, God's love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness. The sacrifice God made for me is even more real now.

I think back often of the dispair, hopelessness, and hurt in my heart trying to have a baby. How faithful our Lord has been to our family. How can we keep from singing his praise!

A few scriptures that are on my heart:

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Ps 127:3

He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD. Ps 113:9

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11

Spring Pictures

We have too much going on to even begin to blog about it.
Being a working mom is tough, but we are so blessed. Zach is growing and changing every day. He tool three steps on 4/09 but does not consistently walk by himself. He can really cruise if he is holding a hand though.
Here are some Easter/Spring pictures.
I always had colored chicks growing up. I am so thankful Kelly found some and Bianca took Zach's green chick home with her.

Okay, so as always I tried to upload too many pictures at once and blogger pooped out.
I will post when it it not almost midnight.

For now, what is on my heart:
I serve a risen Saviour,
He's in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He's always near.Chorus:
He lives,
He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and He talks with meAlong life's narrow way.
He lives, He live,
salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.

Haircut

After

Right After

During

Before



My little boy looks like a little man now. Zach had his first haircut on Saturday. He did a really good job! I teared up for a minute.

Zachary and the terrible, horrible no good very bad day

Have you read this book? It is a great book to read when you are feeling like you are having a bad day. I wish that I had it to read to Zach today. And to be honest, read to myself.
This week was not very bueno.
Zach had fever and a stuffy nose Wednesday and Thursday. I had a high fever Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I went to the dr. and my flu and strep test were negative. Thank God! I had a fever though and my whole body ached. I just knew it had to be the flu. I am still running a low fever with cold meds and antibiotics. Weird!

Today, James went to work out and then to work until 1:30. Zach and I had a very bad morning. I don't know if he is teething or just fussy, but I could do nothing right for him. He was hungry but didn't want his bottle or me to feed him. I put food on his tray and he got mad he couldn't get it all to his mouth. But, heaven forbid mommy put it in his mouth. Then to make matters worst, mommy attacked him with the nose saline and the booger sucker several times.

By the time James got home I was in tears. I was mad at Zach and mad at myself for being mad at Zach. It is not like a 10 month old knows what he is doing is driving me mad. If I could get air through my nose it probably would have helped the situation, but I can't breathe through my nose.

So, Zach is asleep and I am going to take my night time cold meds. Hopefully, this is the end of the very horrible, not good very bad day.

Great is your Faithfulness...

My husband just said: "This horse just gave birth to another horse." Comments like that are why I love him. I was going to blog seriously, but I can't after that comment.

Okay, here goes...

Pictures of our daily reminder of how faithful God is are above. We had a great Valentines Day! Detials are below.

As we sang the words to this song this morning, I realized how true they are. More importantly, I realized how true they are and how much I truly believe them. As I sat and reflected, I confessed to myself and God that I have not always trusted and allowed my God to be faithful to me. He rocked my world to show me that he is faithful, true to his promises. He was he is and he always be to us, faithful, unchanging, and able to rock our worlds!

Great is Your faithfulness

Great is Your faithfulness

You never change

You never fail, O God
True are Your promises

True are Your promises

You never change

You never fail, O God
So we raise up holy hands

To praise the Holy One

Who was and is and is to come
Wide is Your love and grace

Wide is Your love and grace

You never change

You never fail, O God
You were,

You are

You will always be

Valentines Day
We have gone out for Valentines Day the last 9 years with our dear friends, Bianca and Adam. This year was no different. We did throw a loop in things and went to Gilberts for Steak and lobster instead of the Frenchman Inn. We really enjoyed dinner, but we will be back at the Frenchman Inn next year.
James sent me flowers at school and got me a Chi. My Chi bit the dust last week. :)

The best gift was Zach giving me his card. :)
Thank you all for filling our lives with love!

NO MUMPS

Just some weird unexplainable viral infection. Only James. We have Lysoled everything several times.
Zach is into everything. I can't get things baby proofed fast enough. How do you baby proof a fireplace? Any stairs baby proof advice?

The Mumps

Well...James may have the mumps.
He has all the symptoms. They ran blood work but we will not have the results until Monday or Tuesday. We have him quarantined upstairs until we get the results back.
There is a good changes that it is an infection in the same glands that mumps get into.
There were 300 cases of mumps in the US. So that means there is a 1 in a million chance he has it. So if he does have it then we are going to buy lots of lotto tickets. I would prefer that our 1 in a million luck would be for the lotto than mumps.
Please pray that he does not have the mumps and will recover from whatever is wrong with him.

Carne Guisada Gravy

I always said that I would use organic baby food. I try so hard to make sure Zach eats a balanced diet and organic when it can be. I confess that I do not do this as much as I should. Easy often takes over. Today, I realized that I use Avent bottles that are not BPA. There are lots of things I do that I said/thought I would not do. I will have to post about that later.
Before Christmas Zach's baby sitter said how much he loved mashed potatoes and gravy. I thought gravy??????????????? I send all organic baby food and he is eating gravy? I let it go very easily because she LOVES Zach and takes such good care of him. We are truly BLESSED to have this amazing women in our lives that loves Zachary as her own grandson. She only keeps him and her grandaughter.
Well the other day James comes homes. He was reluctant to tell me what the baby sitter had said. She informed James that Zach enjoys his baby food with carne guisiada gravy mixed in with it. James was proud as this is one of his favorite dishes. :) I am sure he gets lots of home made tortillas, beans, and rice as well.
So, I have traded my desire for all organic for love, nourishment, and an environment where Zach is taken care of not just watched.
But, I thought you would all laugh at Zach's love for Mexican food at an early age.

What has been happening

It has been WAY too long. Zach is now 9 months. My how he has grown sense this 7 week picture.
I think list work better and are a much faster way to get everyone up to speed on what is going on in the Garza world.
Zach can crawl everywhere now and pull up on anything. He is taking baby steps while holding on to things.
I have (as of last night)give him freedom outside the living room area. My they get into things fast. He managed to pull everything off the end table, get into the dog's water bowl, try to eat Panzer's dog bowl, get out a box of zip lock bags from the bottom drawer, take all the kleenex out of the box, and find that he loves a pot on the tile floor. MISSION this weekend: BABY PROOF the house. Any suggestions on what, how, why?

Zach needs a hair cut, but we are so sad to have to give him one. Once he gets a hair cut any remaining baby features will be gone. I am loving every stage of his development. It is really hard to see my baby growing into a toddler. I cherished every moment of him being a baby, but now it seems like so long ago that he was just a bundle of sleep, eat, and poop. :) It is so hard to let go and allow and trust him to be protected by the Lord.

I am doing the 10 days of praying for your children from my friend Hillarie's blog. I want and desire Zach to love the Lord, the Word, and walk in the truth. I confess that I get so caught up in the every day to do things that I do not nurture my walk enough. I know that I must in order to show Zach how much Jesus loves him. My friend said one thing you will answer for when you get to heaven is your children and how you grew the gift God gave you.

Zach can play patty cake. He will be crawling around and look at you, clap his hands and say pa pa.
James and I both are doing well. We stay busy and enjoy just being at home as a family.
I have a new stroller. It is called a Valco buggster. This now means we have our graco stroller, 2 umbrella strollers, a jogging stroller, and this new one. WAY too many. We don't stroll that much. We got the buggster for Disney world. It is like a supped up umbrella.

I need to post an opinion poll. How do ya'll feel about backpack leashes? We are going to Disney and I think someone will be walking or toddling around by then.

BTW we have use of a sippy cup and straw down.

Pictures...finally

All I got for Christmas was this bow...yea right! It took 2 cars to get it all home

Cousins

Giving mom kisses on the Riverwalk in San Antonio

Telling Santa what he wanted

Me and daddy

I let him have a taste of a cookie on the Polar Express Zach was really excited about what he got me for my birthday, an ESQ watch with diamonds
All of us on the Polar Express
I have a better pic of Zach and the Condutor but it takes forever to download
Zach was not really naughty this year

What's going on...or been going on

Today, I am home with a sick little Zach. He has his first stomach bug. Luckily it is not too bad. I know it could be far worst. He is eating, some.
We had a whirlwind of a Christmas. How blessed it was to sit and open presents with our little miracle. He loved the paper, the bows, the lights, and the boxes all of his toys came wrapped up in. Of course, he did not realize that he is the best gift of all to so many people.
Here is a run down of what is going on with our family and Zach:
Zach can pull up all by himself. He is figuring out that he can pull up on anything and not just his toys. We have had a few head bumps, but nothing serious. ;)
Zach is crawling. He is no ready for the races, but he can get where he wants to go. No longer is he in the same place when I get back to him.
Zach flew on his first airplane over the holiday and did very well.
Zach got a little red wagon to keep at his GiGi and Pop's house in the country he loves that thing and his country cats.
Work is about to be super busy for me and always is for James.
I am trying very hard to not control everything but enjoy the evenings with my two boys. So what if the clothes never get folded and put up, they are clean.
Did you know that having healthy relationships is one of the most important things to maintaining healthy stress levels.
James got me John and Kate plus 8 Season one and two for Christmas. So, we all need to have a viewing party.
I have TONS of Christmas pictures I will get on soon.
Zach got to have his picture made with the real Santa in San Antonio. His pictures were MUCH better and only $5. That beats the $25 I paid at Holiday Happening with the fake Santa that don't show Zach's face.
Really that was a run down of what is going on with Zach.
Not much goes on with James and me because our world seems to revolve around Zach, in a healthy way. :)
I got to spend some good time with my best friend from high school that lives in Cooper. I miss you Julie Kay!
James is looking forward to March Madness.
We were both upset with our Red Raiders poor showing at the Cotton Bowl.
WE BOOKED A TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD IN JUNE!!! Zach is going with us. Our nieces will be there too. It should be such a fun time with our family.
I didn't proof this. So to my loyal following of folks that tell me all my mistakes...you probably have your work cut out on this one.