Ivee gets the juice

hi daddy, I can breath better now. This is me getting my juice fix. I took it pretty good last night, and slept all night again. i can't wait to see you. ethan and britt sing tonight, so i am going to see them. mommy said she would tape it for you. hopefully ethan will be as funny as he was that other time. you know, after pastor joel came...? while i was still in mommy's tummy...? well, i remember. Love you and see you in 9 days.

It's Been a While

I've tried to update earlier in November but the site was always down...So anyway. The Gift was great. I wish everyone could have seen it. Brittney was completely awesome. We got to preview what the DVD will look like, and it is so clear and the audio is great. We are so glad that we had it professionally filmed.
Well, the family is great. Emmett left this past Monday for a month in Texas (for his job). He'll get to come home for 3 days at Christmas. We miss him alot. The kids are being a help to mommy right now...most of the time.
We have a new addition to the family. This is a picture of Berry. My daughter, Britt not Ivee, suckered her mom into taking her home and "trying her out." She belonged to an older couple that was moving to Europe and couldn't take her with them. They were going to put her to sleep, cause they couldn't bring themselves to take her to the pound. A friend of mine stopped them from doing that and promised that she would find her a good home. She is a sweet dog. She's a 9 year old Terrier, so I warned Britt that she is older and she could live just another year or five years, and that she would have to be prepared for that.

Here are some pictures of Ivee. She is 7 months old today. In the second picture she is in her crib watching T.V. She loves Nemo. My other kids watched T.V. also, but nothing like Ivee does. She is very attentative. She just takes everything in.


I'm going to try to get her to watch another movie other than Nemo though. I seriously have the whole thing memorized. I think it is the bright colors that draw her into that one.







These are some pictures from the play. You'll have to forgive the quality. They are shots from the DVD. I would let it play through my computer, pause it and take the picture with a digital camera. So, it's truly a picture of a picture. Here Ernie and I are preparing the set. We made a stone wall out of foam. It was messy and fun.

Ivee gets free with her food!

Ivee has learned to eat her food very well now. Above, this is after I have already cleaned her up a little. She likes prunes, and she likes Apple/Prune Juice. She does not care for White Grape juice. She likes to put her hands in her mouth constantly. She observes everything and loves to watch the t.v. This past Wednesday she rolled over for the first and last time. She hasn't done it since. I guess when she realizes it will get her somewhere, or get her what she wants, she'll do it more. Well, this was a quick Ivee update. I'm going to upload some pics of dad's vacation out west with Uncle Wesley. So, get back to me on that soon.

The Gift

In a season where people long for miracles, a little girl's unconditional love touches the lives of everyone she meets, and gives new meaning to one man's life, teaching him to live again and how to truly BELIEVE!

(This is the picture I created for all the publications of the play. Everyone says it doesn't look like Brittney, but it is her. I took the picture in my boss's office, and had to create the busy street scene and the man. I'm proud of this one, if I can say so myself : )

We are preparing for our Christmas Production of "The Gift." It's based on the best selling novel Gideon's Gift by Karen Kingsbury. We performed this production last year, and had an overwhelming response from the public, and many decisions where people realized their need for a Savior, and submitted to the Lord's call in there life. Brittney (pictured above) appeared in the play last year, as she will this year, and last year a great story of how God uses us took place. After the first performance on Friday, a man came up to her afterwards and said, "Because of you I found the Lord tonight." I know Britt may not understand what that means now, but one day she will fully understand. She'll realize that though she was nervous, scared, and out of her comfort zone, God used her willingness and obedience in a great way. I encourage any of you that if you are anywhere near Spanish Fort, AL on December 2nd or 3rd, join us for an experience that will encourage you and touch your heart forever. It begins at 6:00 p.m. For more information, go to my churches website. www.faithfamilyonline.com. We are still working on it, but it should be up soon. I'll give more information to my friends and family later. Love to all!

Update

Sorry, it has been a while since I've blogged. With being back at work and Christmas everything coming, it stays busy around here. That, and Emmett and I never stay at home.
Below are some new pics of the fam.

Here are Britt and Ethan swimming at my friend Diane's daughters birthday party. I saw Di's gma for the first time in about 13 years. It was cool being back there again.



Here are pics of Ivee and Paw-paw. She is getting sooo big and she looks alot like her daddy!

She is laughing so hardy now and she takes in everything. She watches everything including t.v. She is trying to roll over, but sincerely I think her butt is too big! : )
I'll update a little more information later this week.
Take care, and Yeah, Deb is having a girl. I have 7 pregnant friends now. Crazy.

The latest

Here are some new pictures of Ivee. She has learned to smile and laugh. She is so big now. 12 lbs 3 oz and 24 inches. Also, here are some pics of the big kids swimming in Jacksonville in July and at a friends home this past weekend.

Just realeased from the Hospital, AGAIN!

So, I just got out of the hospital for the third time this year. This time, gall bladder. I had two attacks after I had Ivee, and after an ultrasound 6 weeks ago, my doctor confirmed I had gall stones. He put me on Protonix, and it has been working great up until this past Monday. I woke up early (12:20 a.m.) on Tuesday morning and was having another attack. My past attacks never lasted more than an hour. Well, by 3:00 a.m. I told Emmett to call my doc and see if going to the emergency room would do any good. The doctor on call told me to go in and that they would have to take my gall bladder that day. So, I did go in and by 6:00 a.m. they gave me demerall for pain. (however you spell it). Well, Em wishes he had a video camera, cause within 10 seconds of that shot, I was tripping...good! They admitted me, and that evening I had emergency gall bladder surgery. So, now I am in recovery at home, with four holes in my stomach. Trying to take care of Ivee is not easy, but Em is at home with me for the week. So, I am still nursing her, but have to take it pretty easy. What a summer! I mean I just got back to work, and here I am again out. Guess I'll see how valuable I really am : ) ! Well, remember me in your prayers that I will recover well and get back to work next week. Remember Ethan too, cause next Tuesday he has to have a tooth pulled. This is his first extreme dental episode. Love everyone. take care!

Trip to Jacksonville

Ivee's first time in the swimming pool. She did NOT like it!

Ivee and Aunt Kim

Ethan watchin DVD's in the car and being "O so good!"

Ethan and Britt passed out in the car.


Ivee asleep in the car.

Ivee on Sonia's balcony with her binky. Sonia so gracously taught her to love it in only two days. THANKS! : (


My last night there, I had 2 bed buddies. Yes, there was no room for me to sleep!

Well, we just got back from visiting Aunt Sonia, Uncle Cris, Whitney, Aunt Kim and Terri in Jacksonville. It was a short trip but I had a really great time. It's fun to get together with family. Ivee did very well for an 8 week old on her first long trip in the car. Frankly I think she did better than her brother and sister. Ethan and Brittney did do okay on the trip down, but on the way back Whitney came with us. The three in the back seat, even with a DVD player showing movies and with head phones, was still extremely loud. They don't get the concept that you don't have to yell with head phones on and if you are talking to someone else with headphones on they can't hear you. Then there was the, "Stop touching me! your on my side!" stuff.
For those of you who keep up with my blogging, I have a couple of prayer request. Ethan has an extremely bad abcessed tooth. He is on a second round of antibiotics to knock out the infection, and once it is gone the tooth will have to be pulled. Ethan has never even had a cavity, so I am hoping he doesn't freck out that his first dental problem is a slightly big one. I know I would be scared at the age of six to have that needle coming towards my mouth. Luckly he doesn't know what is going to happen yet, so I'm not getting the nervous jitters out of him everyday, having the anticipation of what is to come.
Also, I have a big discission to make within the next week. I'm really struggling with which way to go. I know what my heart wants, and I know what would be best, but there are things that I would have to give up, some good, some bad, and there are things that I would enjoy and dislike about both sides. I know this sounds a bit confussing, but it will make sense someday to most of you. I am just waiting for confirmation from God, cause I don't want to go anywhere he doesn't want me to go, or do anything he doesn't want me to do.
And lastly, Ivee is getting over a cold, so keep her in mind. It is so hard to be congested when you are only two months old and you don't know how to blow your nose.
Thanks and love to everyone.

Here are new pictures of Ivee. She is really starting to getting chunky. It is adoreable.

Pics of Ivee

This is Ivee Isabell while still in the hospital. One of the first times that daddy got to hold her. She has changed alot since then. I'll update the pictures as soon as I take some new ones. She is doing great. She is now 8 lbs 14 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. Still 1 1/2 inches and 1/2 a lb away from the size and weight that Ethan was when he was born. When I hold her, I can't believe that I ever delivered a baby bigger than she is now. She seems huge!

Below is a more recent picture of Ivee with daddy at home.

I don't know if I blogged this before, but at my three week check up the doctor confirmed that I have gal stones. This we discovered when in the two weeks after I had Ivee I suffered two gal bladder attacks. They are horrible. You know what I mean if you have ever had one. So, eventually I'll have to have my gal bladder out. I'm going to wait until Ivee is a little older, and when there is time. I'm on meds, so I just pray I don't have another attack. If I have too many more, I'll go ahead and get it done just so I don't have to go through with the pain.

Hope everyone's doing well. Pray for me as I have to go back to work next week. I've enjoyed the time off, and am getting the chance just to be a mom and wife. Now I have to share myself again. Take care...

THE BABY IS HERE!!!

For those who don't know, baby Foley 3 is here. We had a baby girl, "Ivee Isabell Foley." She was born on Monday, May 8th at Mobile Infirmary at 7:14 p.m. weighing 7 lbs, 20.5 inches. She had a ruff entry into the world though. When she was born, the cord was wrapped around her neck, and fortunately the doctor cut it quickly. In the process, though, she breathed in fluid in her lungs, and swollowed about 15 cc's, which had to be pumped from her stomach. I didn't get to hold her, cause she had to be sent straight to an oxygen "hood" cause her breathing and oxygen consumption were not so good. Over the next day, she continued to decline in breathing effort. She keep breathing to hard and heavy, and by Wednesday, she was worn out. She honestly scared her daddy and me. A doctor from USA Children's and Women's Hospital was called in at 3 am on Wednesday morning. By this time, her oxygen was bumped up to 60%. A few hours later at 6 am, another doctor from USA came and told Em and I that Ivee needed to be transfered to USA. So, the transfer unit came at 9 am and brought her by our room to say goodbye. That was the hardest thing I've been through so far in my life.
I was discharged from the Infirmary short of my 48 hours, so that I could go visit Ivee at USA. The Infirmary was very generous and gave me another room on the 5th floor to use as long as needed until Ivee went home.
To cut a long story short...Ivee was in the USA NICU for seven days. She had to be intibated and a feeding tube inserted down her throat. They gave her some surfactant to help ad in her breathing that Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon, she was able to go back under the oxygen hood, and when we came back in Friday morning, she was breathing on her own. (at this point, we still weren't able to hold her). When we came in Saturday morning, her night nurse said that he came over to her crib in the middle of the night, and she had yanked the feeding tube out of her stomach and riped the tape off of her face, with no crying at all, so he bottle feed her and she did fine. So, that Saturday, six days later, I finally got to hold her and feed her a bottle. She at this point was Jaundice and had to stay under a lamp until Monday night, and had antibiotics injected two times a day. She had an I.V. in every part of her body, hands, wrist, feet and in the end her head.
Tuesday morning Ethan had K5 graduation, and before we went to see him, we stopped by to see Ivee. We prayed she would be discharged this day, but her nurse said it would probably be Wednesday. Well, after Ethan's graduation, we called to check on her, and her nurse said she was ready to go home. Em and I cryed more in ten days than probably any other time in our lives...out of happiness, and fear, and dispair and pure joy. God was there completely through it all.
Well, that is our beginning journey with Ivee Foley. Visit www.bornatusa.com and click on May 8th, and Ivee Isabell F. and you can see her picture. I'll download more pics later for you to view of her journey. Thanks for the prayers.

Two more Days

Well, since the Foley '3' is not here yet, we are going in Monday, May 8th to the Mobile Infirmary. I have to be there at 6:00 a.m. and they'll start me on a drip at 8:00 a.m. So, the baby will be here Monday. I'm sure I'll post sometime later next week to tell everyone about the new boy/girl in our lives. Stay posted.

It is time!...?

Well, I have been experiencing contractions since last week, but they are coming more regularly now. Today has been a long day for me. The back pain has been pretty consistent. So, everyone who knows and loves me, pray that my water breaks and I can get to the hospital asap. I'll let you know when it happens.

The Foley Family 

It's not close enough

So, I have been okay up to this point, but now I am ready. Over the last three weeks "Shim" (that is the baby's non-gender name) has really gotten big. I'm in that...Can my stomach really stretch any farther... stage. Even though I know from past experience it can. The leg cramps are keeping me up at night. And I'm starting to feel that mid-night-time urge to go potty. The bladder is the only play toy it has right now. We did finally decide that if it a girl she will be called Ivee Isabell Foley. I really need a vacation from having to work at this point, but of course I am saving all those sick and vacation days for maternity leave. Sometimes that really bites. Even though I'll be happy to have time off after Shim is born, I still hate the thought that I can't take a real vacation this year! Oh well, that is life and right now, that's what I'm living.

Well, it is Sunday night March 5th, and I can't sleep. Too many aches. With baby three due to arrive in 2 months, Em and I are still trying out names. Naison Wesley is sticking and for the girl name we were thinking today of Ivee Isabell. What does anyone else think? Initials don't mean much to me, but they would be IIF. I knida think it is fun. : )= Then if she married someone who's last name started with an S it would be IIS. Haha. Then again if she married someone who's last name started with an I it would just be about her...III. Ok, I know it is late, but think of all the possibilities.

It's getting closer

Well, baby's arrival seems to be getting alot closer with only 12 weeks to go. If the baby is a boy, his name will be Naison Wesley. And once again, we need help with that girl name. Anyone who has a great middle name to go along with Ivee, let me know. Britt and Ethan are getting excited about the delivery day. Last Friday, Emmett wanted to take me out to eat since Valetines day fell on a Tuesday. So, I told the kids a babysitter was coming over. Somehow Ethan interpreted that to mean that a babysitter is someone who is coming to the house to take the baby out. Not sure how he interpreted it that way. If he could understand the concept of time, this would be easier. Days, weeks, months...mean nothing to him. Another case of Ethan doesn't quite get it...
About 6 weeks ago, I had a horrible virus and became dehydrated, so I had to be hospitalized. Emmett brought the kids to see me the 2nd night I was there. Ethan didn't understand of course why I was there. The next day, I was released and on the way home, we went by the school to pick them up. Ethan ran to the car looking in the window at me. I rolled down the window to say hey and how much I missed him. All he could say is, "Where is the baby?" Oh, my poor son. At least I know that when I do bring the baby home, one little boy will be very pleased.

Baby Update and Input

Well, I am now 14 weeks away from baby 3's arrival, and I am so ready. We haven't had a baby around in 6 years, and yes I do remember what is like to not sleep. Don't think I have forgotten. I will have to baby proof my house, which I haven't had to do in eons. The baby's gender is still a surprise. We are deciding names, buy that can be a lengthy process. So far, if the baby is a boy, we are thinking of the 1st name of Naison. It was my great-grandfather's name. And if it is a girl I will use my grandmother's name Ivee. Any middle name inputs are welcome. We were thinking of naming a girl Hannah Ivee, but I can't turn a corner without hearing someone call someone else Hannah. So, I guess I need new ideas. You can't rush naming someone who has to live with that name the rest of their lives. Well, keep praying that our health will be fine. And pray that maybe, just maybe, I'll go into labor before May 10th. : )

Also, keep Emmett in your prayers as he is job hunting. He will not be teaching any longer after May. It is the best decision I feel, considering how it affects him emotional and even physically. But, even though you know your suppose to quit, you still have to find something to do. Thanks.

The Rest of the Foley Family Home

This is the Foley living room before and after. it is a sunken living room which I like, but of course poses a problem when baby three arrives and will probably miss a step one day and take a dive. I do believe we'll be baby proofing the two entrances to this room.

And this is the master bedroom. It was fun painting the wall. I went against traditional methods and didn't measure anything out. I just did the design with tape and my eye. Not all the lines are perfectly straight, but that gives it character. (Ha)