3.29.09 -- Church, Soccer Game & Blaine's Dance Competition

Today we started the day where it should start (in Church) then we went over to the soccer fields for Grant's First Soccer Game (well the first one we have been able to make) Grandma McKay and Nana & Paw Paw joined us and they had a blast! Then we rushed over to 290 and 610. Our family from Waco was in Houston for Blaine's Dance competition. We stopped by to see it and then went to dinner with them. It was a real treat! We are getting prepared for work/school tomorrow now so later! I am going to get better about keeping up again. I have tons of thank you's left to do, a tropical forest of potted plants to water, tomorrow is garbage day. You get my drift. I have to fit working and having a baby in there somewhere also! :-)

SORRY BLAINE THAT IS THE LAST TIME I LISTEN TO MOM! :-) I had it right the first time.

3.28.09 -- Bluebonnets

Today I went with the Bravo's to Brenham, TX the Bluebonnett Capital of Texas. They pride themselves in the quality and quantity of bluebonnets the town has. We had a delightful time and Chris took all the photos so I will have to post later but we got some good ones and everyone had fun.

3.24.09 -- Dr Visit and Ultrasound!

This afternoon I had a Dr visit with an ultrasound and everything looks good but at approx 33 weeks she is right at 6 lbs and she should be in the 3-4ish range! I am not real sure why I am so suprised because Grant was 9,2. Well it is late so goodnight for now!

3.20.09 -- Today

Well today I had alot to do to try to get caught up. At lunch I met two of the guys that I use to work with and go to lunch with every day. They both have since retired and one moved to Arkansas but he happened to be in town so we met up for lunch! It was a great time of catching up and remembering the "good ole' days" we had alot of fun!

Tonight I was catching up with Kelly's blog and she has a post about praising him despite all of the bad things that have happened to people this month. I cannot speak for the others but when I lost my second baby at 14 weeks the Casting Crowns Song, Praise you in this Storm was my theme song. I prayed that this would be the worst "Storm" that I/we would ever have to face. I was wrong! The thing that I feel differentiated it most was that I did not know that baby personally (especially since it was so early and it had stopped developing at 10 wks) I knew David personally and depended on him so much so this has been so much more difficult for me, I just pray that this is it for now, that I can have a break from any additional sorrow. I have to keep looking forward and keep praising him in this storm also. He is still here! He is showing me that everyday by the people that I come in contact with in real life and via the web. MANY THANKS EVERYONE!

3.17.09 -- Aubrey's Baby Bed

Tonight David's parents, my parents, & David's Aunt and Uncle came over before they head back to Georgetown, TX to help put together Aubrey's crib. It was nice, I kept laughing because David is so laughing at us! We got two of the legs switched and we had to take them off and put them back the correct way. Who needs the stinking instructions anyway!


(Grant & Lauren)


Today they all went to Space Center Houston, the NASA visitor center. I am so glad that they took Grant because he has REALLY been wanting to go and we had been putting it off. Daivd worked there in College before he got his internship at NASA and I guess he spent plenty of time there. We had great memories of all the parties that we attended there over the several years and of the costume parties where Wende Kelly made our costumes! She is SOOOOO awesome.

3.13.09 -- Friday the 13th Two Months in a Row

I am so gald that I don't believe in this stuff, I ended up having a decent day. Last Friday the 13th (2/13/09) I found out that Dad was going to have to have surgery in College Station, TX and I was not allowed to come up there (Looking back that was a blessing, but at the time seemed too difficult).

My Friend Rachel Evans came and spent the day with me today. On Sunday the Great State of Louisiana will be getting a GREAT new family! We met the Evans Family when we bought our first house in 2001 and they bought the house across the street from us. They were great neighbors and I am so glad that we were blessed with their friendship, and we cannot wait to come and visit them at their new house! Well they stalked mom until she came home from work and there were haircuts for everyone :-).

The Bravo's came by later with their two girls so we had a house full of children, a pizza party and lots of fun! Rachel and I first met in 9th grade (her first year out of Catholic School). She was there when David and I started dating and her and her husband Chris have ALWAYS been there for me. She was in the delivery room with me when Grant was born! (What a friend) :-)

3.12.09 -- OB Visit

Today I had an OB visit at 2pm, and I found out that me and one of David's Aunt's Share the same Dr. She is a Wonderful Dr. and she ACTUALLY knew my Husband David becuase he would ACTUALLY go to the Dr. visits with me and they were all so impressed by him because of that. Well I had 1 factor come back positive from my 4 hr glucose screen on Monday, but you have to have 2 to be considered a gestational diabetic. The bad news however is that I am still expected to follow the diet and the factor that came back positive was one that contributes to having LARGE babies (Grant was 9,2 so this is not a big suprise). Her heartbeat was strong and I am still measuring large so I have another appointment with the Dr and for another ultrasound on 3/24. I cannot wait to actually see her again! I feel like it will be extremely reasuring.

3.9.09 -- Back to Life

Well today I went and took the 4 hour Glucose Screen that I was told by my Dr. to do two weeks ago (for some reason at the time being with my husband seemed to be more important, she will have to understand). After the vampires were finished the lady looked down at my James Avery Charm bracelet and commented on how beautiful it was. She told me that she had one but it was just a cheap one and then she asked who gave me mine. I started crying and told her my husband had passed away on the prior Sunday, and then I showed her each Charm and told her the Story behind it.

http://secure.jamesavery.com/index.jsp

Skis -- David got this for me when we were dating and his family took me on their ski trip with them our freshman year of College.
Heart and Mommy -- Grant picked this out in 2007 for valentines day. David tried to talk him out of it telling him that they could get it for Mother's day instead and he told him "Daddy it is a heart and it says Mommy it is perfect." who could resist that!
Open Heart -- Mission Recognition Award from Acteens from 1999 when I helped with the Girls.
Butterfly Cross -- My Friend Vicki gave me this one because she said that it reminded her of me.
Seashell -- Grant and David got this for me for Mother's Day becuase they said that shells were like Mother's all are diferent, beautiful, unique, and treasures.
Turtle -- David got this one when we were dating because I LOVE turtles!
Rocking Horse -- David sent me to pick the one I wanted to represent Grant's Birth.
Horseshoe -- It was sewn into the hem of my wedding dress and went down the isle with me. It is an old English Royalty tradition.
Shopping Bag -- Vicki again, she said that it just looks like me. I don't wear jewlery but I LOVE James Avery.
Beach Chair -- Represents our trip to Hilton Head, SC! It was very special.
Bell -- Vicki again from the Christmas before last.
Dog Bowl -- This is for our furry child Zeke.
Heart one side larger -- This one is for the Baby that we lost at 14 weeks because of an ectopic pregnancy that I was not sure that I would survive. It is called a mother's love.

I have another one to add that was given to me on Saturday by Mary a special family friend it is an angel with two children around it. I cannot wait to take it on Friday and add it to the collection.

Well Enough! I would really like to thank everyone SO MUCH for the wonderful outpouring of Christian love that we have received. I cannot tell you how comforting and reasuring it has been (it has also been a good distraction and I would like to Thank EVERYONE SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart!!!!

3.08.09 -- Memory Book / Rodeo (Jonas Brothers)

Would everyone that knows us please write a special memory or story about David and send it to me your name and how you know him/what he meant to you. I want to put together a book for the kiddos so they will be able to remember him thru your stories. Grant is still young and I want to keep David's memory alive for him in the years to come and Aubrey will only know him thru your memories. Please send to e_k_mckay@sbcglobal.net

Grant's friend Mason had an extra ticket to the Rodeo to see Jonas Brothers tonight so they are taking Grant with them. David had really wanted to take him and had made sure that we had tickets because he knew that Grant would be so excited. Well when he was in the hospital I called my friend Vicki and asked her to try to get rid of the so I would not let them go to waste, I am not EVEN in the mood to go to the Rodeo and it is only the second time that I have not been (I skipped the year I was pregnant with Grant).

3.7.09 -- FIREPROOF

I wanted to share something with you guys that I did not post a few weeks ago and I should have (it has MUCH more significance now than it did then). David went out and bought us a copy of Fireproof at Walmart the DAY it came out. We were busy with Grant and life and did not watch it immediately, but one night about a week before he went to the hospital Grant went to bed early (unheard of) and we sat down together and watched this movie. I cannot tell you how happy I am that we had this evening together! After the movie was over we sat there and discussed it and our marriage, these moments were and will always be PRICELESS because we BOTH knew EXACTLY where we stood with each other right before we went down this path together.

On Monday before I left the hospital for the evening to be with Grant on 2/23/09, his parents left the room for a minute and I sat on the side of his bed and told him that I was not sure what was in store but that we had walked every road together since we were 17 and that I would be right there by his side while we walked this road (never imagining where the road was leading at that time). I am honored to say that the LORD gave me the strenght to be right there by his side until the VERY end, it was then that I turned him over to Jesus until we meet again.

3.7.09 -- Burial

Today we placed my husband earthly vessel in the ground. My Cousin Oscar Wesley Henson preached the service and it was a wonderful Country burial in a little country cemetery with a beautiful little 1800's era Baptist Church on the Grounds. I was doing extremely well until Grant (almost 6 and learning to read) went up to the concrete lid with the metal plate with the name and date on it and read it and said, that's my Daddy's name. Once again I lost it and started crying. It is amazing how he is the only one that can set me off. I feel like I am a big girl and I can handle it but I cannot repair the hurt in Grant's heart and how he cannot understand what is going on right now. It is soooo frustrating. Afterwards we went to my uncle's house and had a country family lunch and I was able to make a short Kaboda ride to the lake at the disaproval of MANY family members. Everyone is saying that it looks like I have dropped and they are all panicked!

3.6.09 -- FLAG

I forgot to post that on Monday 3/2/09 the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX where David was a Contracting Officer for the Federal Government, flew the flag at 1/2 staff over the Center in his honor (I bawled when I found out that they had done this). Today at the funeral Mary presented the flag to me. I cannot even begin to express how much this gesture meant to me because David was SO PROUD to be a part of the NASA family, and I was so proud that he worked for such a distinguished organization.

3.6.09 -- Funeral

Today we had David's Funeral. It was exactly what I wanted to pay proper respect for his life and to properly reflect his love for his Lord. I cannot believe how easy today was I was terrified but I was able to keep reminding myself that I have not LOST him because I know exactly where he is! I was fine until we walked out of the Church and Grant lost it crying, it was terribly painful!

3.5.09 -- Visitation

Well tonight I survived the visitation. I was extremely concerned becuase we are now to the emotional part of everything where they pull at your heartstrings. I cannot tell you how many people were there but there was a line for three hours! It was unbelievable. The preacher now expressed concern on whether the Church would be able to handle that many people and there are two overflow areas. I cannot tell everyone what the outpouring of Christian Love that we have received. I don't really know how to handle it because my blog is for the grandparents and to keep a journal of our family events, but I sure would give anything to go back to my Ordinary Family Life.

3.5.09 -- Cards for the Funeral

Here is the card that will be at the funeral:



David Vincent McKay
August 29, 1977 – March 1, 2009

David Vincent McKay, 31, went home to his Lord on Sunday, March 1, 2009. David was born on August 29, 1977 in Pasadena, Texas and was the youngest child of Harry and Romaine McKay. David's life was a reflection of his love for the Lord, and his greatest happiness was found in the time he spent with his family. In 1995, David began dating Emily Kathryn Pipes and on May 19, 2001, she became his bride. Their marriage was blessed with a son, Grant Harrison, born in April 28, 2003 and is soon to be blessed once more with the upcoming birth of a daughter he named, Aubrey Grace, in May of this year. David was a member of Monument Baptist Church in Deer Park. He graduated from Sam Rayburn High School where he expressed his passion for singing in the school choir and in Encore, he was also a member of the National Honor Society. David attended the University of Houston-Clear Lake and graduated in May 2001 with a degree in business. In June of 2001, David joined NASA as a Contract Specialist in the Space Operations Procurement Office. In 2003, he was selected to serve on a high visibility Space Program Operations Contract and then in 2006, David was promoted to a Contracting Officer and moved to the Institutional Procurement Office. In 2007, David tackled his latest challenge in construction procurement. Throughout his career, David received many honors and awards, including multiple Performance Awards, a Superior Accomplishment Award, a Group Achievement Award, and in 2006 David was the Johnson Space Center Contract Specialist of the Year. To his five year old son, Grant, he was also Daddy of the Year when he recently provided his class with cool coloring books, stickers, and rocket kits for Space Week. David loved his family and his friends. He loved to play golf and snow ski, but his greatest passion was traveling with his family and friends. David leaves a legacy of love, hard work, and generosity. David is survived by his wife, Emily; his son, Grant; parents, Romaine and Harry McKay; sister, Sheila Saunders, husband Sean; niece, Lauren; mother & father-in-law, Tommy & Kathy Pipes; sister-in-law, Paula Pipes, nephew, Reid, and his loving dog, Zeke, along with numerous family members & friends.