Porter - A Collection

is is going to be a post dedicated to my dog, Porter. He is awesome. There's really not much more to say. I'll just have to show you.

Here is something new that he picked up. Since I haven't figured out out to embed my iPhone videos straight to the blog, I have snapshots that I'll be able to give you a play by play.

He sits next to me and I show him his favorite toy (the tennis ball). Then, I politely ask him to stay.

I chuck his ball to the opposite side of the play area. He stays.

He watches the ball fly away.

Then I wait for Porter to ask me if he can go get it. He has a way of speaking with his eyes.

After we stare at each other for a little bit. I release him to get the ball. And he wasts no time.


And he finds it and is on his way back.

Now he's ready for more.

What a cool dog.

Here are some other pictures that I've taken that continue in this theme of awesomeness.

Sticking with the idea that the tennis ball is his favorite toy ever, here are some shots of him just staring at it. Trying to will it into his mouth.



Liz bought him a tire. This is possibly the best dog toy ever.

These are just some other cool pictures I managed to catch.




I love this dog.

Jesse

View From the Keeper - Champions

This is a short post to say that the Session III Champions for the YMCA-Puyallup Indoor Co-Ed Soccer league is EMERALD CITY SMOOTHIE FC!!!

That's right. In only our third session as a team, we managed to pull off an undefeated season matched with undefeated play-offs, leaving us with the session III title of champions.

We had some great competitors and look forward to many more seasons of teams getting tougher and tougher and our team getting smoother and smoother.

Jesse

Preggo - Week Nine, Ten, and Eleven

My goodness, I can't believe that three weeks have passed since I last wrote about the development of our baby.

So here's a quick catch up. And because I'm doing so much catching up, I'm just going to paste exactly what BabyCenter.com told us.

Week 9 - Grape

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Week 10 - Kumquat

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Week 11 - Fig

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccuping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Our baby is doing so well!! We are very proud of her/him/them :) I am also very proud of Liz. She has allowed all of her resources to be drained for the well being and development of our child.

we have our first doctor's appointment tommorrow. We are very excited. Hopefully we'll have some pictures to share of the newest addition to the Duckett family.

Jesse

Prayer Requests - A Running Tally

I am going to try and keep a running list of all the prayer requests that we've posted on the blog so that they're all in one place. This will also allow for us to point out the answered prayers as well. It's always nice to see how God is specifically working in the lives of His creation.

The Pregnancy

As Liz moves through the stages of pregnancy, your prayers would be appreciated for continued strength and endurance during the sickness stages. Also for healthy development of the child that God is weaving together. I could also use prayers for being the father who has no clue what she's going through.

Jesse's Illness

I have been sick for quite a few months and recently found out that there is a small mass in my appendix. I have a consult this week for having my appendix taken out. Once they get it out, they'll be able to run proper tests on it to determine if there is anything else to worry about. Please pray that all goes according to the Lord's will.

Could you also pray for the scheduling of the final surgery. I am worried that they will need to take it out when I'm supposed to be on the Mexico mission trip with the youth or that they'll tell me that because of my appendix, I can't fly. That would be no bueno.

Unspecified

Could you continue to pray that the Lord's will becomes abundantly clear in this time of confusion surrounding the unspecified prayer request. God will know what you're referring to.

House Hunting

We are still in the process of finding a home. With a small salary, awesomely huge, gorgeous houses are hard to find. We've seem some ones that will work, but ultimately we want to purchase the house that God will be able to use most effectively.

We've placed an offer on one house that we found in Pacific, WA and we're just waiting to see if it's something that the bank is going to accept. The same day we placed our offer, we were told that someone had also just placed one. It's all up to God now.

SERVE

On the 7th of July the youth group from Our Savior's Baptist Church will leave on a short term mission trip to El Florid (sp?), Mexico for two weeks. Please pray that the hearts and minds of our youth are softened to hear the voice of God and His call on their life, whether it be as a sender or as a goer.

Please also pray for safety and health as both of these can be easily affected during our stay.

Sick Friend

I'm not really sure how much information my friend wants out over the internet, but he needs some serious pray. He is very sick. Sicker than I am or that I expect to be. He is a very close friend and I am very worried about him. Please pray that his illness will be short lived and he would finally be free of this. I also ask you to pray that my friend would be listening to God during this time and that he would seek His face.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to pray through these things and lift them to our Savior. Liz and I love you very much.

Preggo - Week Eight

Time sure is flying. Unfortunately, not as fast for Liz as she would hope. The morning/all day sickness is really starting to take a toll. The mornings are still definately the worst times of the day, but it also tends to linger throughout the rest of the day. However, she is a trooper and definately a fighter.

If you could continue to pray for strength and the ability to endure, she would really appreciate it. Of course, she'd also ask you to pray that it just stops. :)

So, on to the weekly update.

As of this weekend, our baby (babies...) has reached the size of a kidney bean. Developmentally speaking, there are webbed fingers and toes poking out from our baby's hands and feet, eyelids practically cover the eyes, breathing tubes extend from the throat to the branches of the developing lungs, and the "tail" is just about gone. In the brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.

How awesome is the process of life?!?!

We are getting very excited about the arrival of our child. If we're this jazzed at 8 weeks, I'm sure we'll be driving everyone crazy when we draw closer to the 40th week.

Jesse

Prayer Request - Unspecified

For those of you who believe in God and understand the power of prayer, you know that God knows everything and can intercede on our behalf, if only we come together and lift up or prayers to Him.

I have a prayer request that I cannot give any information about and it's not about anything I've written about. What I can say, is that we're praying for God's healing, wisdom, and grace in this particular situation. That His will be done above all else and that He, alone, will be glorified.

Because God knows all and cares deeply for His children, we believe that He will hear your prayers, even though you have no clue what you're praying for.

God is that awesome.

Thank you. This really means a lot to us.

Jesse

Prayer Request - Jesse

This is definitely going to be a post like no other, unless more like this follow.

This is a prayer request for me and I must admit, I'm a little bit scared. So, I apologize for the somber mood of this post and there might be some things written below that you would consider TMI. If you're not a fan of things TMI, please do not feel obligated to continue reading. Prayer for peace will be the main request.

For about three months now, I've been having a lot of digestive issues. I've been to the doctor a number of times and have received antibiotics and all sorts of other medication to get my system "back on track". I've also had a number of blood test and submitted quite a few different "samples". None of the medications worked and none of the tests showed that anything was wrong. If it weren't for the nausea and stomach cramps that accompanied the underlining issue, that might have been where the story ended and I would have been prescribed a set of shrugged shoulders and a 'Good Luck' pat on the back.

About a month ago, I was able to get a referral to the Gastroenterologist for further investigation. After the first exam, I was scheduled for a colonoscopy so that they could get a better look at what was going on, and hopefully find the problem and fix it.

Now, having a colonoscopy really isn’t that bad. In fact, I don’t remember a thing. Preparing for the colonoscopy, on the other hand, is a completely different story. I won’t get into it, but just know that it isn’t pleasant. I went in for my procedure last Thursday afternoon. Once I got there, I really had a good time. I know, it seems strange, but I did. Almost as soon as I walked past the main door, and left Liz in the waiting room, I got really nervous and my ‘Fight or Flight’ kicked in. Since I’m not a fighter, my Fight response could double as ‘Stand-Up Comedian’. So, to reiterate, as I walked past the main door, my ‘Stand-Up Comedian or Flight’ kicked in. I’ve been told that I can be funny sometimes, but it was like someone else took over my body. I was on a roll. I was telling jokes as soon as I crossed the door right up until the sleepy time gas kicked in.

The last joke actually made me laugh too. As the nurse was pumping my veins with the sleepy drug, they dimmed the lights and I just started laughing. She asked what was so funny, and I told her I thought the doctor was trying to “set the mood” before he got started. Then everything became blurry and my arms moved in slow motion. Next thing I knew, I was awake and dressed. And now that I am recalling this, I honestly don’t remember getting dressed. HAHA, funny stuff.

Wow, I can’t believe I’ve written so much and I haven’t even gotten to the point yet. I guess this is a little therapeutic too.

During the procedure, they found something. There is some kind of mass in my large intestine. They took a biopsy of it and will have the results back to me as soon as they can. I also need to schedule a CT scan of my abdomen.

Because this information was delivered to me in a very “matter of fact” fashion, I really didn’t give it much thought. Of course, I was probably still a little high from the drugs they had me on. As the day went on and I shared the findings with family, the reality and seriousness of the situation began to flood my mind and I began to realize some of the very possible outcomes.

Commence freak out.

I know that I have a Savior. I know that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life and one day I have already entered into an eternal relationship with Him. I know that my eternity has already begun and these thoughts bring a smile to my face.

I also know that I am not dying. I don’t have cancer. As of today, the only thing wrong with me is the original symptoms that brought me to the doctor. But it’s hard to ignore all the possibilities that are out there.

So here’s my prayer request. Will you please join in prayer for peace? That through this experience, I will see the Lord’s will and leading and that I will be willing to follow Him regardless of the path that He puts me on.

I am scared, but I also have hope. Thank you, in advance for your prayers.

Jesse

Baby's First Gift

Today we received our child's first gift. A onesie from Auntie Katie. Our kid is going to be one lucky kid.

Thanks guys, you rock!!

Jesse

Goodbye Forever

Both Flash Forward and Heroes have been cancelled. Den of Geek has coverage of Flashforward here and Heroes here.

I don't really feel too bad about Heroes. I really enjoyed the first season, but since then, they've had a hard time regaining the momentum created by the mystery of the unknown. I mean, before you knew it, everyone and their mother had super powers and everyone was a good guy and everyone was a bad guy. I will admit that if the show kept going, I would have kept watching just to see how they would end it, assuming they would have been given a proper send off.

I am bummed about Flash Forward. I just finished getting caught up and was pretty excited about where the show was going. It seemed to pick up quite a bit of steam in the last few episodes.

Well, I guess there's no real point in arguing any of this. What's done is done, and these two shows are done. Only to be immortalized in DVD next to Joey, Terminator: The Sara Connor Chronicles, Happy Town (which I think only saw two episodes) and any other TV show starring Christan Slater.

Some looked like they could have had a good run, but we need to make room for an Alias reboot and some other high school drama crap like The Hills and Gossip Girl. Lame.

Jesse

Happy Birthday Gavin!!

Yesterday, Liz and I attended a birthday party for a very special little guy. Our buddy Gavin turned five years old!! He is the son of two of our close friends Tim and Jill.

One of the things that we got him was a giant paper airplane book so that he and his dad can build and fly them together.

Of course his baby brother got to share in some of the festivities.

Jesse

Preggo - Week Seven

Sunday, our baby reached week seven in it's age. So, I thought I would keep you all up to date with what that means. Our child has doubled in size and has reached the maturity of a blueberry.

The following is an exerpt from babycenter.com:

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

How awesome is that?? We're pretty excited about all the things that are happening inside Liz. Although, she's definately ready for the sickness phase to be over. We are constantly amazed at how God so perfectly knits us together and the intricate attention to detail that is taken. How great is our God?

Prayer Request: Your continued prayers for health (for Liz and the baby) during this crazy time would be so much appreciated.

For an added bonus, here is a picture of the blueberry as it looks in real life.

She's so cute.

Jesse

Where's Porter??

Can you find him?

There he is!!

I wanted to see how good of a snout our pup has. So I chucked his tennis ball into the overgrown ravine.

Turns out, he's got a GREAT snout. It's a bit blurry, but he found his ball. Seriously, how awesome is this dog??

Jesse

Preggo Tip - Ziploc

From what I'm told, there is a fair amount of nausea that is associated with the beginning stages of pregnancy. That being said, you really never know when or where you might have to upchuck.
My beautiful bride started to carry around the large freezer sized Ziploc baggies...just in case.

Thankfully there has been a need to "use" them...yet.

Jesse

The Pets

Here's a quick little set of pictures, from over the last week, of our current children.

First off, Samson.

He likes being outside. I don't think he likes his little harness so much.

He was actually asleep like this. Ah, to be a cat. Fall asleep anywhere and be comfortable while doing it.

And here's Porter.

He looks so sad. I think he was just tired of me trying to get a good picture. He just wanted his dental chew.

I love these grinning pictures. They crack me up.

Just a good lookin' dog.

Jesse