Paige Barnes

Reason #18 that I love my husband: Some of the things he does. Like he went and bought me feminine products when we were on a trip once. Keep in mind this was before we were married. We were engaged at least! He commented that in that particular country town in Alabama that probably made us legally married! :) Like the fact that today he is going to buy special formula and gas drops because I can't get out with the baby and she's not tolerating her formula well. Like the fact that he could hold his own with a Diabetic Educator on such topics as insulin pumps, carb counting, and diabetic foot care. Like the fact that he is learning infant CPR because we have a new baby who was sick when she was first born. Like the fact that he hates needles, but can give an insulin shot or implant the new insulin port without flinching. (Although he, we both, hate having to do that). Like the fact that he is now our son's new Cub Master, even though he doesn't like standing in ...

Reason #19 that I love my husband: He's content. "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. " - Philippians 4:12 This so describes my husband. As long as he had me and the kids. He'd be ok. Like live in a box in the street ok. I so want to be more like that. ~Paige

Reason #20 that I love my husband: He is my best friend. When we are together, all is right with the world. He is my best friend. I can't imagine a day without him. Thank goodness for instant messaging. It makes me feel close to him all day, even though he is at work. I watch British comedy shows just so I can be with him. I always let him have the cherries in my cherry coke with extra cherry from Sonic (even though I really like them) because he likes them. I would let him have my last Sun Drop... ~Paige

Reason #21 that I love my husband: He lets me know that he loves me. Unlike many women, I never have to wonder if my husband loves me and thinks I am beautiful. He tells me and shows me. And I love it when he says to our son, "do you know how much I love your mommy"? Since I didn't grow up with that same thing from my parents, I hope the relationship Cole and I have will be a godly example to our children. ~Paige

Big Red the cowboy! Daddy and his girls. Reason #22 that I love my husband: He has given me two beautiful children. Big Red (7 1/2) is outgoing and outspoken. He is funny and creative and so smart. He has a tender heart, and is very inquisitive. He likes to learn about all sorts of things. He is a strong, brave boy, who truly is my hero. He prays every night for lots of interesting things, but he never forgets to pray for all the kids who have diabetes that don't have access to health care - that they will be taken care of. That humbles me. He is the most beautiful child in the world. Baby Girl (3 weeks) is dainty and girly already. She has her daddy and mommy wrapped around her small little finger already. She is a happy, contented baby and is such a joy to us already. She gave a quite a scare during my pregnancy and when she was born. We look forward to watching her grow. She is the most beautiful child in the world. ~Paige

Reason #23 that I love my husband: I overheard him say this... "Sweet baby Kate, you have no idea how much I love my babies" . I was fixing my hair in the bathroom this morning while he was holding and talking to our new baby girl. Now, that's a man for you - a strong man of God, wonderful husband, and amazing father.

Reason #24 that I love my husband: He does certain things that he really doesn't like just because he knows it makes me happy. Like wearing a suit or tux every now and then because I like to see him in one. He abhors yard work and most physical labor but he will do what has to be done (with minimal complaining) because he knows it's important to me. Or taking posed photographs because I'm a woman and I want family photos. He even tried sushi once because he knew how excited it would make me for him to try something out of his routine and comfort zone. And every now and then, if he's in a good mood, he's the one that suggests we go shopping and he'll wait patiently as I try something on or go in the girly stores with me - because he loves me. This makes me happy. :)

Reason #25 that I love my husband: He loves what he does and works hard. My husband is a computer engineer. He was still in college when we got married and those were a rough couple of years as he finished up. He studied hard, and worked too as we had our son after our first year of marriage. He has a fabulous job at a great company with good coworkers. Not a lot of people can always say that. He works very hard on projects, often travels and brings work home from time to time, but he really loves what he does. I love that he is happy and satisfied with his career. In my daily prayers I give thanks to God for his job, his boss, and his company and ask God to bless their work. He is a hard worker and a wonderful provider for me and the kids, and we are very proud of him! ~Paige

Reason # 26 that I love my husband: He supports me no matter what. My husband and I are quite different in our personalities. He is quiet, I am loud. He lives in the moment, while I often live "for tomorrow". He is calm, and I am high strung. The list could go on and on. Perhaps this is why we get along so well. I mean our biggest argument ever was over the South Beach Diet. :) But no matter what my crazy dreams or ambitions have been, he has always supported me. I am my own worst enemy, but he is my biggest fan. He is the only one I really want to impress. He loves me unconditionally no matter hard I can be to love some days. And I love him unconditionally, too. ~Paige

Reason # 27 that I love my husband: He is a genius. He really is the smartest man I know.  While he is content to live his quiet life and has no desire (at least at this point) to climb some metaphorical ladder of worldly success, he really is a genius.  He looks at the world through different glasses than most of us do.  And while I don’t always agree with his opinion or viewpoint on a particular subject, he always causes me to stretch my perspective and think outside the box.  He has a wisdom that runs deep.  He teaches me, and I love that about him.  He would tell you that he is a geek, and I am a nerd.  I’m the one who likes to study and go to school and read.  He’s just…well…gifted with brilliance.  And to me, smart is sexy! ~Paige

Reason #28 that I love my husband: He can play the guitar and sing. When I was a little girl, I always said that I wanted to marry a man who could play the guitar and sing. Not only does my hubby play and sing, but he does it to lead worship. And not just at church. Sometimes, just at our house with just us. Those are some of my favorite times. When he just starts playing and singing and then we join in too. And sometimes he and I sing together and he plays. I love that. We don't do it often enough. But I'd rather hear Cole's voice coupled with the notes from his guitar over anyone's any day. I can't wait for baby Kate to hear her daddy play and sing. ~Paige

Reason #29 That I Love My Husband: He's a pretty funny guy. Unless you really knew him, you probably wouldn't know that. He's on the quiet side most of the time. Not always, but generally speaking. He doesn't like to be the center of attention or really even have attention drawn to him. But he can tell the funniest jokes. And he makes me laugh so hard, I literally almost wet my pants. He, more than anyone, knows how to put a smile on my face and a laugh in my heart. ~Paige

Happy 30th Birthday to the love of my life! I will be posting 30 reasons (in random order) that I love my husband for the next 30 days in honor of his 30th birthday! Reason #30 that I love my husband: My children adore him. Big Red is as much a mama's boy as he is a daddy's boy, but he has always had a special place in his heart for his daddy. He lovingly makes him books of printer paper colored with his favorite things (Star Wars, Transformers, and pictures of our family) and stapled together and titled "Dad". He always asks his daddy if he can "come home early from work today". He told my husband one day that he wanted to be an engineer like him and work in his office one day. He always wants me to call or IM his daddy when we get home from school and something great has happened. He loves to play video games with his daddy. He thinks his daddy knows everything there is to know about everything in the world. He thinks his daddy can fix anything th...

Tomorrow is my husband's 30 th birthday. He absolutely hates a big deal being made about him, so that means no surprise parties or even parties, really. We will do something low key at home. This is what he likes. And since I haven't worked in almost 2 months due to bed rest and the pregnancy, he will get an IOU for his birthday present. He will not mind this either, as he is absolutely wonderful. So in honor of my husband's BIG 3-0, starting tomorrow, I will post "30 Reasons I Love My Husband". One post each day for the next 30 days. And since there are only about 8 or so of you who read this (thank you!), maybe this won't be "too big" of a deal for him. :) Please share your comments if you know him or would like to send him some birthday wishes, and I will share them with him. ~Paige (not quite the BIG 3-0 yet)

~Both sets of our parents were able to be there to support us at different times. ~A visit from a facebook /twitter friend! ~Being able to stay at my husband's sister's home while they were out of town. ~A financial gift from a couple dear to us to help us with food and such during the week. ~Dear girlfriends who still had the baby shower originally scheduled on Sunday, even though we couldn't make it. We had sweet gifts to open when we finally got home! ~More dear friends who did some yard work at our house while we were away. ~A dear girlfriend who fed cats and got mail for us while we were gone. ~The nurse at Big Red's school who was a tremendous help in so many ways during the week. ~The countless phone calls, emails, twitter, and facebook posts and encouragement from so many. ~Visits from our pastors and wife and life group friends. ~A visit from my high school best friend! And she brought the best smelling lotion that I have used everyday since! ~Visits from swe...

Mommy finally at home with her babies! Kate in her going home outfit. A dress worn by her cousin and a vintage sweater and bonnet worn by all the girls in daddy's family. Mommy and her babies. They had to test Kate's carseat before we could get her ready to come home. After nine days in the NICU (with WONDERFUL doctors and nurses) we could come home! Praising our sweet Jesus for healing and allowing our family to all be together again. We are looking forward to the midnight feedings and dirty diapers!

Big brother holding little sister for the first time on her 1 week birthday in the NICU! On our 4th day in the NICU they told us that Kate would be moving to the other side which they called Progressive Care. It's like the NICU step-down unit. We were still a little concerned about her eating, but she was keeping her food down and so at this point of our journey we were making sure the food continued to stay down, she was peeing and pooping, and gaining weight. They were still monitoring all of her vital signs and such. She was still losing a little weight, which is normal for babies, and especially since they had not let her eat the first three days of her life. Her IV was out so she was not getting any supplementation. On Thursday, her 1 week birthday, we went in that morning expecting to take her home. But her bilirubin level had gone up and she was back under the blili-lights. We felt as if the wind had been sucked out of us. She would stay under the bili-lights for the nex...

Big Brother can't hold little sister, but he can kiss her! Mommy holding baby Kate in the NICU. Daddy feeding baby Kate, and hoping it will stay down! Kate stayed 4 days in the NICU side. They were constantly monitoring her heart rate, respirations, oxygen level, and temperature. On day two she went down for her tests for her bowels. We had been praying for poop as this would let us know that her bowels were functioning correctly. I even had one friend tell me "I have prayed for many things in my life, but this is my first poop prayer"! I was allowed to accompany the nurse and Kate to radiology, but had to wait in the waiting room during her test. I was told not only did she poop, but she pooped across the room on the radiologist. Yay for baby Kate! Prayers were answered. The neonatologist told us there was no evidence of the Hirschprung's Disease. She was also having trouble on the upper end of her gastrointestinal system - not keeping her food down. The doctor...

Big Brother with little sister before she is transferred to NICU at Huntsville Hospital. Kate just chillin' under the bili-lights. On Sunday, the day we should be taking our new baby home, we were told she would be transferred to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at the other hospital here in town. The hospital we delivered at was great, but their nursery was not able to care for her at this point in the journey. We were sent to the Regional NICU at Huntsville Hospital . We can't say enough about the stellar care that our daughter received from the nurses and doctors there. I was able to ride in the ambulance with her and when we arrived we got a crash course about life in the NICU. We were only allowed to see her at certain times and couldn't hold her or even touch her that first day. It was very hard. They had to put her under the bili-lights because her bilirubin level was too high. I was a ball of emotions. I mean, I had just had a baby, and now our sweet baby ...

Mommy holding baby Kate in the Special Care Nursery for the first time since the delivery room. Baby Kate and her little IV. Before this was all over she had an IV in three different places, bless her little heart! We were so proud to welcome our new baby Kate into the world. She started her journey in the nursery with some minor breathing problems because she was born about 4 weeks early. She was then moved to the Special Care Nursery because her abdomen became distended (swollen) and she was not keeping any of her food down. We were allowed to see her when we wanted to, but she wasn't able to come to our room. Big Brother was not allowed to see her except through the nursery window. He was so sad that he couldn't hold baby sister. He loves her so already! They put an IV in her and were not allowing her to eat. We were so worried about our little girl, so the prayers started going up! We knew God had our baby in His mighty hands so we prayed for healing. Now we would jus...

Kate Jillian Barnes October 1, 2009 @ 11:53pm 7 lbs and 18 inches

Big Brother waiting on little sister to be born! Hello, baby Kate! Thursday, October 1st began as any other day in the Barnes household. We were getting daddy ready for work and Big Red ready for school. I had reached the 36 week mark in my pregnancy on Tuesday of that week. Still a little early for baby to come. I noticed a few contractions that morning as I was helping Red to get ready, but since I've been trying not to have this baby for 6 weeks now, I didn't get too concerned. On the way to take the boy, I noticed I was still having them, so I called the hubbs and told him not to head into work just yet. I got back home and we began to time them. They were pretty regular and after a couple of hours, we knew that we should probably call the doctor. He, of course, wanted to see me in his office. We picked up Big Red from school and we were on our way. The doctor said I was definitely in labor so off to the hospital we went. We were excited, but very nervous as the do...

Matthew and his second grade class recently learned all about manners. At the end of their month of learning, they were given a chance to practice what they had learned at a special brunch at the Decatur Country Club. The boys each escorted a girl and they were also given a short speaking line to tell about all they had learned. We are very proud of Matthew and since he is having a baby sister soon, he will get many more chances to practice! ~Paige

Big Red is still loving soccer! He has team pictures not too long ago and we are so proud. Wanted to share a couple with you. I haven't been able to attend his practices, but have tried to make the games. He is learning new skills at every practice and game and we think he is doing great! ~Paige

Well, lots has happened in the past few weeks. Me being on bed rest for this pregnancy hasn't allowed me to update as much as I thought I would. So, I need to play catch up. You will see several posts coming up in the next few days. Maybe even several on one day as I try to catch up with the past few weeks! ~Paige