Asking for lots of prayers...

My family is no stranger to cancer...I know a weird way to start a blog post but I have read two very sad stories about children with cancer.
A few weeks ago while reading the blog, http://www.oneporkchop.blogspot.com/, I found out about little Layla Grace. She was diagnosed at 16 months, May of 2009, with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma and on January 22 of this year they learned that the cancer had come back. Unfortunately she passed on Tuesday, after a long battle with her disease, she was only 2. Then today on the Mommy website I visit, TheBump, another Mommy shared how her friends have a little girl, Penny, who is also suffering from Stage 4 Neurobalstoma. Penny is in the beginning of her disease and her treatment, I am praying for her to recover very soon, and her parents are asking for lots of prayers.


As I said my family is no stranger to cancer; we have lost three family members to this MONSTER of a disease. My great-aunt, Tia Mari, to breast cancer, my cousin, Ginny, to ovarian cancer and most recently my cousin, Rusty to cancer. The strength that my family has found to go through this three times is a testament to our Faith in God and faith in each other’s love and support. Where these two sets of parents have found their strength to go through this with little babies is a testament to their Faith in God and each other. I know what is like to watch a grown person suffer through this disease but I can only imagine how much harder it is to watch a baby suffer.

I know I don't have many followers on my blog, but I ask for you few family and friends who follow us to please pray for these families. For Layla Grace's Family , The Marsh's, that they may make it through these next days, months and years (this is the hardest part) with the same grace, love, Faith & strength that Layla showed and taught them. And for Little Penny's family that they can lean on each other and the prayers of others to make through this difficult time.

I know that I will call my family and tell them how much I love them; hug my Joseph a little tighter tonight and let him know that Mommy & Daddy are here no matter what monsters may scare him.

To learn more about these two stories I am providing the web sites below, keep kleenex handy they are tough to read.
http://www.laylagrace.org/
http://www.pennies4penny.org/

I/We love you all and please know that NONE of you are ever far from our thoughts & prayers.
PS - I have a much happier post coming, I promise.
~Veronica

The joys of Parenthood

I have to say that being a parent really tests your patience & gag reflexes. My son is wonderful and very energetic...but...he LOVES to test our patience!!! (Sorry Mom & Dad, I apologize for all the grey hair my actions as a child gave you)


He, Joseph, likes to test boundaries and see what he can get away with between Mom and Dad. If he's mad he will scream and hit the air or you if you are close enough.
I was telling my Mom, that yesterday morning he was mad because we didn't carry him when he wanted and got mad...very mad...on the floor crying mad. So when Mark finally picked him up...he slapped him in the face! Mark scolded him and said not to hit and the the water works began...with a lot of feeling...and the cutest face ever! As I retold my Mother this story she reminded me that he doesn't know why we are scolding him and he gets very hurt, we should just re-direct him and he will eventually learn not to hit when he is mad. Nice advice coming from my Mother...who by the way has NO patience...NONE...except with Joseph. I laughed and said I knew he didn't understand but we still had to correct the behavior. I'm sure Mark's parents have had a similar experience with Mark when he was little. Mark SWARES he NEVER got in trouble...but with what I have seen with his personality and temper...I'm sure there were a few times he did get in trouble. Probably not as often as I did but he did get in trouble.

Testing of the gag reflex...

So this morning we were watching the morning news; Joseph and I were cuddling and he went "big potty" in his diaper as he usually does in the morning. So when Mark came to change his diaper and get him ready for "school" (daycare) I said, "Joseph, did you go poop?!?" He nodded "No" as he always does and Mark proceeded to change him. As soon as the PJ's came off...I SAW IT! Poop all over the side of his leg & on the PJ's! I quickly told Mark to stop and we got a towel for him to lay on so we could clean up the mess. Mark kept saying, "This is GROSS!! This smells!! How can you not be gagging?!?!?" I calmly looked at him and said "It's not too bad...just wait until he does it in the car seat and it's EVERYWHERE and you can't stop to fix it!" Little does he know that I WAS gagging and ready to puke all over the place!!

"Mom, did you have to tell that story?!?!"

The joys of Parenthood!! Here is a challenge for the readers that follow us...in the comment section please relay what trying or gross experience you have had with your own children/siblings/babysitting. I'm interested to see what y'all have to say!!

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!!

16 Months & Catch-Up Pictures

I am such a bad blogger!!  Sorry it has been two months since I last updated you on the going's on of the Ulrich Family...but we have been busy!

Today is Joseph's 16 month "birthday" and I thought I could redeem myself by showing you some pictures of the little guy!  He is constantly on the go & we are having so much fun!!

This past Sunday we took Joseph to his first Spurs game and he liked it.  We walked him around the concourse and he wanted to run around and look at all the lights and people.  We are hoping that the weather will get a little warmer so we can bring him to the Rodeo...you know San Antonio/Texas weather...wait 5 minutes and it will change.

Not too much new stuff to report...but...we are just a little over a month from my sister-in-laws wedding!!!  Joseph is a ring bearer, we are standing in the wedding party & I get to sing the "Ave Maria" for the ceremony!!!!

Oh and my newest addiction is "Zumba" if you don't know what it is please, please google it and check it out!!  It is a dance work out to latin dances: cumbias, salsa, merengue, regetton, and some flamenco.  You go to class for 1 hour and believe me it goes by fast!  I have been attending since the beginning of December and I can tell a difference in my clothes & even Mark is noticing the difference (he never notices if I gain or loose weight, I love the fact that love is blind!) in how I look!!  There is more to tell about this wonderful workout but I will save that for another post.

So here you go...I'll shut-up and show you the pictures of Joseph!  I know that's what everyone is waiting for. ;)

Joseph playing with his truck and bat

This is from yesterday morning before he went to "school"

WOW, he looks just like Mark in these pictures!!!

Here he is at my parents house during Christmas

Sleepy baby in his super cool pj's from his Aunt Myra & Uncle Myron!

Happy 14 months My Little Man!!

Taken by TipToe Photography

I can't belive that yesterday was Joseph's Year Anniversary at the daycare...boy do I remember leaving him at daycare...Mark and I both cried.  Leaving the care of your child to somone other than family is very scary...but we have a great facility that cares for Joseph and he is thriving!!!

Now its Joseph's Un-Birthday, 14 months, where does the time go?  Just yesterday I was 17 and dreaming of graduating and going to college and here I am married and a Mommy...WOW!...I am so blessed!

To Our Son,

You have enriched our lives in more ways than we ever thought possible!  Your Father and I are amazed at how you are learning, growing and changing everyday.  You have a very loving personality, you are a clown, you love making us laugh, you enjoy having us read to you & you LOVE to play peak-a-boo.  You are walking around exploring your surroundings and are very curious.  You "talk" and say, "Mama, Da, Pa, juice, agua, book, Bella, Laila & Bruno (our dogs)" and love to make animal sounds.  You LOVE music and are singing or dancing to Mickey Mouse, Barney and/or Raffi.

We have enjoyed watching your grow, your personality develop and most of all seeing the world through your eyes as you learn about the world around you.  Our parents were right when they said that we will act like little kids again and will act like complete lunatics just to make you smile...boy do we love your smile!

You are our little angel, the perfect example of our love for eachother, and we are better people because of you.  Things are going to keep changing but with each change there will be new adventures and memories that Daddy and I will always treasure!

We love you very much and are so blessed and lucky to be your parents!

Mommy & Daddy

Taken by Beth with TipToe Photography

Time Flies when your having fun!!!!

So, I started this blog to keep everyone up to date on our little man. It has had its good times and lately I have been slacking...BAD! Not because Joseph isn't doing well or that he isn't a ball of fun...because I/We have been having a BLAST with Joseph!

So first things first...Joseph is a BLAST!!!! His personality has really begun to show and BOY ARE WE IN FOR SOME ADVENTURES!! He is a little clown and loves to make us laugh!! This month he has begun to walk with more courage and we can't get him to settle down. We have had so much fun!!! He loves to have us read books to him, act like complete lunatics, and sing very silly songs!!! If any of you remember Raffi from long ago...I suggest you find him on iTunes or Amazon and download the song "Joshua Giraffe" it is one of Joseph's FAVE songs. He acts out the animal sounds and "sings" along with the song...it's great!!! I will have to get it on video soon and post it so you can see our little star!!! Along with inheriting my musical talents he has also inherited Mark's skill at sports...he loves to swing his bat-make that anything he can get his little hands on...and I think he may be a lefty just like Daddy!!!

On the married life...can you believe that this coming Thursday, yes Thanksgiving, will be Our 4th Wedding Anniversary?!?!? I am so BLESSED to have Mark in my life...I never thought my parents knew what they were talking about when they said, "You will know when you have met the one God has planned for you." I always thought they made that up to make me feel better after a breakup or when I was feeling "ugly."

They were...can I even admit to this...RIGHT! Mark literally walked into my life and my life as I knew it would never be the same!! Thanks to all my friends who wouldn't let me give up on this shy, quiet, tall, small town boy...I wouldn't have the life I have today if it wasn't for him!

Here are a few pics from our wedding!!!

Saying our vows and me trying not to cry

Our First Dance - George Strait "I Cross My Heart"

The Cathedral where we got married - a choir loft view

Lighting the Unity Candle

At the reception

Of course I HAD to sing with the Mariachi band...there were birthdays to celebrate...and I HAD to sing to them!

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Allen Ulrich (excuse the silly smile I have on my face...Mark looks great as always!)

Before the ceremony begins

Dancing with my Daddy and yes we started crying before the music even started and we cried the whole dance!

Me and my wonderful Husband!!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Halloween Pictures!!!

Joseph's Second Halloween was AWESOME!  Poor guy was recovering from an infected lymph node but he was ready to be out of the house!  Our friends the Lowman's invited us to join them at a Fall Festival that was hosted by the Baptist Church in Universal City.  We were joined by Mark's parents and his sister and brother-in-law to be and had a blast!  The set up they had was amazing; they has pony rides, bouncy castles, cake walks, "fishing" games, train rides & lots more that Joseph will enjoy next year.

Joseph was a little vampire and he looked adorable!  The only bad thing about Halloween was Mark caught what Joseph had and I'm trying not to get sick! Daddy got some TLC from me and J the rest of the weekend.

Here are some pictures...ENJOY!

Our little vampire!

Ready to go to the party!

He learned how to close the gate

Joseph and Daddy with the UC Fire truck

Getting Joseph ready for his photo op with Arabella

Joseph and Arabella...she's wondering what is so funny!

They are too cute!!!

Wearing Daddy's Texas Hat!  What a goof ball!

Our little monster in his Halloween PJ's

What a beautiful smile!!

Pumpkin Patch Pictures

Here are some pictures from our visit to the Pumpkin Patch this past weekend!  We were able to go with beautiful little Miss Arabella and her parents.  We had a good time but the kids were done after the first photo so these were the best we could get.

Enjoy!  Next week we are going to take pictures of Joseph and Arabella in their Halloween Costumes. 

Here they are in their Red Shirts; they are too CUTE!

In the wagon in their white shirts

Joseph tasting the background; I love that it's a little pumpkin

Joseph with the wagon

Oh know!! We lost the kids in the pumpkins!!!

Wait a minute...they are trying to escape FROM the pumpkins!!

It was a fun afternoon but the mosquitos were eating the kids alive so we left.  I think we will do the costume pictures at the house where the kids will feel more at ease.  Jacky, Arabella's Mommy took some pics too and I will have to see if she will let me post them on another post.

~V