need I say more . . .

for those of you who haven't already heard . . . it looks like we have a confirmed hit! right at the top of my uterus. I never really understood how to read these things (and have always found other people's ultrasound pictures ultra-boring) . . . but apparently that little black spot is the "yolk sac", according to my doctor. I am too early (around 5 weeks) to see anything significant, but have another appointment december 4th.

During the ultrasound session, I am commenting on how it just looks like a bunch of gray and black abstract images (meaningless to me, really) . . . while Matt is commenting on how full my bladder looks in the picture! go figure!

a 30 year old gypsy

Yes, yes . . . I am officially old now. No more, "oh, I'm in my twenties." My birthday came and passed so quickly, leaving me just plain 30! I must say that my husband went way overboard on the gift . . . an all-day spa package at the Ritz Carlton (salt bath, body massage, facial, body scrub, manicure, pedicure). It felt amazing, and relaxing. I was so pampered, I almost felt guilty!
For Halloween, we were planning to go to a party (which fizzled out, as Matt was too tired), but I must have tried on like ten gypsy costumes . . . this one was my favorite.
What a fabulous gypsy I would have made!


My dear sister also went way overboard for my 30th birthday, with this very classy, velvet jacket from Ann Taylor, and turquoise earrings . . . have to look good once you're 30!



Here is the dinner I made last week . . . proof that I really do feed Matt. (Don't know why he stays he soooo skinny!) It's kinda depressing to know that I'll be gaining so much weight (and will probably surpass him in size!).

Frankie loves me, even if I am old and 30!

(I'm reading my new dragon book in this picture . . . still not sure I'm sold on sci fi!)

apparently my blog is incorrectly named . . .

So . . . my friend Kourtney and I were driving down the highway (returning from an arduous day of shopping), and I commented on the scenery . . . the highway was literally built over the swamp (trees/grass growing out of boggy water). And I explained that this was why I named my blog "Life in the Swamp". Kourtney says, yeah, but you don't live here on the highway, do you? No, I admitted. She said, yeah well, if you wanted to accurately name your blog, it would be "Life in the Hood!" Is it really that ghetto? I asked, but then we both answered that redundant question together . . . YES! So . . . I guess I should rename my blog "Life in the Hood"

Of course, I couldn't post with including at least one picture . . . my nephew (Noah), who obviously loves his Aunt Carly so much that he can't even pronounce her name. But he loves me so deeply that when asked who is Aunt Carly married to? he can tell you, Matt! (yes, he has met Matt twice in his life of 2o months and can say his name, but not mine!)

remembering Wayne

I was very privileged to be with Wayne (my step-grandfather) and my family during the time of his passing to be with the Lord. It was a unique and blessed experience, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. A myriad of emotions hung in that hospital room during his last hours on earth, as we all reminisced about our time with him . . . and those precious moments that seemed so short. Wayne had been in my prayers regularly during these past months, as his health deteriorated. Now I know that as I was praying for the Lord to ease his pain and to comfort him, give him peace . . . now I know the Lord was listening. For he is now in a much better place than any of us. I am ever so grateful for my amazing family, who were there to support and comfort each other during this time. I know that it meant a lot to my grandmother to have us all there. There is such healing in family.

Here are a few memories of our time with Wayne . . . these first two pictures were taken this past July, at the family reunion.
Grandma and Wayne sitting in Valerie's backyard . . .

Jackie and Wayne by the pool . . .

These are some snapshots from my wedding (July 2007) . . . Wayne had such a splendid time at the wedding. I think he had more energy than I did . . . he danced to every song!

He really liked dancing with this 'gal' . . .

Wayne and Leann dancing together . . .

Yikes, its Ike!

Need I say more . . . take a look at Ike . . .

I guess we should expect hurricanes in NOLA, but the thought of evacuating again is a bit depressing. I've already heard many NOLA residents on the news saying that they aren't going to evacuate again . . . which could spell big trouble for the city. The path could still shift around a lot . . . so lets hope and pray for the best!

Matt, Frankie and I returned last night from NC . . . about a 12 hr drive. The traffic was good until we reached NOLA. Frankie was bad until we drugged her again. At least we're getting practice with evacuating.

Not much damage here . . . lots of fallen limbs and debris, broken fences, and trash on the sides of the roads. No flooding, and we had power when we got home last night. Food is a different story . . . Matt had to go to 3 places before he found food for dinner. The only thing available at the place he went was "the box" . . . four pieces of (fried) chicken, french fries and a piece of butter soaked bread. Very healthy for sure! Oh well, at least we got to eat.

Pictures from the evacuation to my parents . . .

Frankie sitting on Matt's suitcase . . . ready to go back to NOLA I guess . . .

Matt had fun in Gastonia. He and my dad went to the shooting range on Monday, and then Matt returned the next day by himself . . . shoot em' up Matt (Notice his very daper 'shooting' attire . . . he was the only one dressed in Polo)

Here, Matt is showing that he can take out your bladder with his gun as well as with a scapel in OR!

In my parents' dining room . . .

Frankie loved my parents' screened-in porch . . . here she is rolling around on the porch

Frankie is trying to take a bath and her mother won't stop taking pictures of her . . .

Frankie is now sitting on Matt's clean clothes, which Matt was really happy about . . .

Matt, tell us how you really feel about driving 12 hrs back to NOLA . . .

Frankie was happy about it too . . .

Didn't Matt want to get in the picture with the back of my hair?

Family happiness in the car . . .

the Industrial Canal . . .

Frankie is so glad to be home . . . she sits with her paws crossed all the time . . .

Is she trying to wake me up?

the evacuation vacation

Yes, it appears Gustav did actually have the audacity to run itself into Louisiana! Matt and I evacuated to my parents' house in NC. We left Saturday afternoon around 3pm when Gustav upgraded itself to a Cat 4 with a predicted path to NOLA. We drugged poor miss Frankie with some benadryl and threw her in the car; she actually did very well in the car (although, sleep she did not!). We went through some painful traffic on I-10 east - we left before the contraflow started. Once we picked up I-65N in Mobile, Al, the traffic drastically improved . . . although, all the bad drivers from LA seemed to be following us. We arrived at 4:45 am on Sunday morning (and we were exhausted). We will wait out the storm here and see what happens . . . the earliest we would return to NOLA is on Wednesday . . . but maybe not until the weekend . . . keep us in your prayers!