The Fight for Leah

As most of you know, my cousin Leah died in 2005 due to a complications from child birth. These complications could have been avoided if she was given the proper medical care, but sadly she did not.

For the past 10 days, a trial was taking place in Washington County for a lawsuit that our family filed against the Parkhill Clinic doctors. Without going into too much details, Leah suffered from high blood pressure at the end of her pregnancy, was not admitted for delivery and finally, when she was admited 3 days later and after almost 15 hours of labor, gave birth to Kinly Diane. Leah was then discharged from Willow Creek without ever beening seen by a doctor. Two days later she collapsed and never regained consciousnes.

For the past 10 days our family was in the courtroom reliving the nightmare of her death. We cried, we laughed and were holding onto hope for justice. Yesterday the verdict was announced and it was not in our favor.

As you can imagine we were devestated but the family put up a good fight. I wanted to thank everybody who was sending prayers up for us. Now all we can do is make a plea to every expecting mother in Northwest Arkansas to carefully consider their doctors. Do your research and know the history of your doctor. Oh and by the way, Leah's doctor was Robert Hix. We do not want this happening to any other family.

Leah, I love you so much and miss you terribly, especially now that I am planning my wedding. Just like I was a bridesmaid in your wedding, you would have been one in mine. Kinley is growing up to be just like her mama- sassy as ever. We love her and are so blessed to have a living piece of you with us. I can't wait to see you again someday and hope you are having a very Merry Christmas with the angels!

200 Days and Counting!

I got a reminder today: It is 200 days until your wedding!

When I talk to people about their engagement, the first thing they always tell me is that it FLYS by. I didn't really belive them until now. I can't believe that we have been engaged for almost 6 months and we are half way there.

On Sunday, Ryan said: "Do you need me to be doing anything for the wedding?" Isn't he great!!

Below is a list of things that are done:

• Church reserved
• Reception site reserved
• Caterer hired
• Florist hired
• Photographer hired
• Wedding dress purchased
• Wedding shoes purchased
• Wedding party secured
• Bridesmaids dresses picked out and ordered
• Wedding day Hair Stylist booked
• Ryan's wedding ring purchased
• Registeries made

And here is the list of things that I am currenlty working on:

• Getting addresses organized
• Invitations
• Save the Dates - Ok I'm not really working on this, my bridesmaid Kelsey is. She and her husband decided as a wedding gift that they are going to design our save the dates for us - they rock!
• Rsearching and meeting with DJs
• Getting price quotes on blocks of hotel rooms
• Shopping for the "perfect" head piece to wear at the reception
• Reserving reception "get away" car
• picking out tuxes
• In negotiations with Videographer
• Bridesmaids Gifts
• Engagement Announcement for local papers
• And the scariest thing of all...I am preparing for my "Wedding Bootcamp" diet and workout regimine that will begin in January. My dad is going to be my personal trainer and I am slightly scared of what he has planned.

I'll keep you updated with more wedding info throughout the next 6 months. Until then, hope everybody is having a great holiday season!

His Wedding Band - Check

There is a local jewelery store in Fayetteville that is shutting its doors. Ryan told me we should go there and look at wedding bands so yesterday we did just that. We got there and to our delight, all the male wedding bands were 50% off. Score! He found one that he really liked, and I did too, so I bought it right then and there. They were even able to size it so it fits perfectly.

While we were checking out, the nice man helping us said we get to pop a ballon and get an additional savings. He said every ballaon had at least a 10% off coupon in it. So I carefully examined my options of all the ballons around the store and I chose the lone purple ballon which happend to be right by the wedding band case. POP! I got another 20% off!! Wahoo!!

Even though that was just one thing on my list of thousands surrounding the wedding, it feels good to mark that one off the list. Now I am on the move to tackle the next item - reserving blocks of hotel rooms. Wish me luck.

Getting a Little Creative

This big blank wall in my bedroom has been driving me nuts ever since I moved in. I couldn't figure out what I wanted to hang on the way so it has just been blank for months. Once I got my engagement pictures back I figured out the perfect solution. I decided to get all different kinds of frams and make a collage out of them on the wall. I killed 2 birds with one stone - display our engagment pics and fill the space on that wall. I am pretty proud of it. Hope you like it as well (and yes I realize that some of the frames are croocked - I have already fixed them.)

I'm Slightly Obsessed with Christmas Decorations

I love Christmastime! And I love decorating for Christmas. Actually, I am probably go way overboard but I just can't help myself. I getting it from the Smith side of my family. You should see my aunts houses.

Ryan was gone all last week so I took the opportunity to take my time and do all of my decorating. I had a blast decorating my new house as you can see from all the pictures below.

First thing first - lights on the outside of my house. I LOVE christmas light and knew I wanted to put them up. I actually did the majority of my house by myself. I used the light clips that hang on your gutters and and the roof shingles and they made things so much easier. Dad came over with his ladder and helped me with the areas I couldn't reach. The hardest part was over my roof. We decided that we were going to have to crawl on the roof to get them up there. I started to climb the ladder and dad said: "No way. I am getting up there" and then I said "Well it's my house so I am doing it" and he responded "You are MY daughter so I am doing it." I gave in at that point and watched as he climbed on my house.

Of course the purple bathroom had to get the purple tree

Now on to the kitchen.

These reindeer both have stories. The little stuffed ones were my mom's she got before I was even born. The big gold one I got last year. Mom, Dad and I went shopping after Christmas to find some deals. I found this at Pier One and I didn't want anybody taking it so I had Dad carry it around the store for me while I shopped. Everytime I look at it I laugh and picture him holding it.

Moving into the living room.

I love snowman. I collect snoman ornaments and snowman figurines.

The main attraction - my Christmas tree

And the little tree in my bedroom. Tackle wanted in the picture too.

Hope you like my decorations. If you are in town, come by and see me.

Merry Christmas Y'all!!

A Royal Wedding

The big announcement was made. Prince William is engaged and will be getting married next Spring or Summer. Just like Princess Di's wedding, the world will soon be enthralled by a Royal Wedding that I am sure will be just as big of an event.

When I saw the press conference come on CNN about the engagement, I immediately felt sorry for Kate Middelton, William's soon-to-be bride and Princess. I mean, really who wants to announce their engagement at a press conference? But.....don't worry, I haven't forgotten that she is now wearing Princess Di's 14 k Diamond engagemnt ring. Wowzers! Now that is a rock.

I wonder if she was one of those girls that dreamed about becoming a Princess when she was younger. I wonder if she ever imagined that she will ACTUALLY become a princess. Crazy thought because in months time she will have gone from lowly peasant to all mighty Princess. If Prince William is the next King of England, does that mean she will be Queen? Even crazier thought!!

Kathy, my future mother-in-law asked me today "So how do you feel about planning a wedding and getting married at the same time a Royal wedding is taking place?" Up until that moment, I hadn't actually thought about it that way. I guess because I wasn't even born when the first royal wedding happend, I didn't realize how much of an impact these weddings have on the entire planet. Everybody will be tuning in to watch the Prince get married. What if they got married the same day I am? Even if its not the same day, it will be the same year. The Prince of England and I got married the same year.

Who knows, maybe I can steal some ideas from the Royals for my wedding. (Please note the sarcasm in my voice as I type.)

Stay tuned for more details on MY "royal" wedding.

Washington DC - Site Seeing from the Back Seat

For a very long time the #1 city on my "Must Visit" list had been Washington DC so when I found out on Friday that I was leaving the following Monday to go to DC for a video shoot, I was super excited. I literally found out on 3 p.m. Friday and at 9:30 on Monday I was on a plane heading to our country's capitol.

We arrived late Monday night and were staying 30 miles outside the city so we stayed close to our hotel. Tuesday we drove in early before our shoot just to drive around and do some site seeing from the car. We didn't have enough time to get out and actually see anything so I was playing the part of dorky tourist and taking pictures from the backseat of our van.

As I suspected, DC is a place you need to go to for at least a week and do all the fun stuff. I can't wait until I get to go back for pleasure and not business. See my pictures from the back seat below.

The Capitol
The Lincoln Memorial

Union Station

The White House - this is as close you can get in a car now.

The Washington Monument at night - beautiful!