I'm Not a Superhero, I'm Trystan Nicklaus Tullock

For TNT's third birthday we decided to have a birthday party at Funville in Greeneville. Funville offers party rooms and inflatables for the kids. Since the weather in March is unpredictable, indoors was the way to go. Also it didn't hurt that we didn't have to clean up before the party or after.

We decided to go with a Superhero theme and I used Amazon to find these two-sided masks for each kid. I then cut out felt capes and put a symbol with each kids initial on the back to wear during the party.

Cake by Jessica Lewis. It was DELICIOUS

He got a little help

Opening Mom and Dad's gift

Yes, He got his own iPad

Playing games with Dad

Super Family. Phillipians 4:13 "For I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."

Trystan's New Car

It has been awhile since I posted anything on here. I thought that I would share a new picture of our little hairball and that way everyone could see how big he is getting. We decided to buy a walker. I know, they say that they aren't very good for leg muscle and can be dangerous, but my physical therapist husband fell in love with it. Since the time we saw this walker he would call it Trystan's first car. Well apparently he showed a picture to Matt and together they decided that Trystan should get the car. So I had to stop at Babies 'R Us on Friday afternoon and picked up the car then. Right now all he wants to do is eat the steering wheel.

Miracles Happen

Four years of trying to have another baby, only to be told that everything that can be done had been done. We were given the choice of trying in-vitro, but with it there are no guarantees. As many of you know that wasn't an option that we were willing to go through. All that money, when we knew that there were other children out there to adopt. So we felt led to begin the process of adopting. I felt then, and I still feel now, that going through the paperwork process was part of God's plan. At every point that we encountered a large bill or stumbling block then a check would appear of after prayer the obstacle would be overcome. So once we started really getting ready for adoption I stopped thinking about getting pregnant. I would often joke that we were going to adopt and that I would be one of those moms that gets pregnant when I was getting ready to retire. But God's plans are bigger than we can hope for or image for ourselves.


During the whole month of July I was exercising almost daily. I would use my Nike+ and I-Pod to monitor how much I was walking and at what rate. I started eating Strawberry Field Salads (a recipe that I enjoyed from Friday's) but the weight never came off. My mother was losing weight and I was gaining. What was the deal? On August 4th, I was scheduled to present at the afternoon portion of the countywide inservice. After eating lunch I stopped by CVS and purchased a three pack of pregnancy tests just to rule out the weight gain and my constant feeling bad. Before starting by first session I went into the bathroom at Chuckey-Doak High School and attempted to take the first test. No luck. I messed the test up and received an error. So after feeling bad all afternoon, I went to my grandfather's home to pick up Matt and decided to go ahead and take one of the other tests in the bathroom. Shock isn't the word. I had my grandfather even come into the bathroom to confirm that it was positive. His response was classic. "You know how you get that way don't you?" Again I believe that my grandfather being the first to know was part of God's plan because a month later he had a stroke and has been in a nursing home ever since.


Matt and I went to the Gynecologist office for another test to confirm and then went out in search of ducks. I had always said that that would be how I wanted to tell Anthony if I got pregnant, by giving him a rubber duck. Well we (Matt & I) ran into some people that we knew and he was so excited that he told them...before his Dad. I finally had to tell him not to tell anyone else before his dad. We then drove to Anthony's clinic and once he opened his gift, he immediately knew. Bear in mind that Anthony was the one that kept telling me that I was pregnant and I kept telling him that I didn't want to waste the money on the pregnancy test or going to the doctor. We decided to buy a shirt to share the news and started making our rounds to tell the grandparents.


I have had a very uneventful pregnancy. I was placed on blood pressure medication after the second doctor's visit. This is attributed to my previous blood pressure during my last pregnancy and the job related stress. During the week 20 ultrasound the baby showed off his goods immediately. This was amazing and the exact opposite of his brother. We had invited both grandmothers since the had never been able to experience this with their own children. Because Matt only weighed 5 lbs. 14 oz. and because of my age I was deemed "high risk". This meant going every month for an ultrasound and having non stress tests every week after week 32. It was amazing to see how the baby was growing and developing. At one point I actually was able to see him breathe during one of the ultrasounds.

Coming up with a name started out as a challenge. We had a girl's name picked out, but we hadn't considered that we were having a boy. So we started throwing out names. We knew that the initials either had to spell out a word or mean something.


Trystan Nicklaus Tullock was born at 6:10 PM on St. Patrick's Day (March 17th). After laboring since 5 AM without an epidural, I was given the choice at 5 PM to either use a vacuum or have the C-Section. Trystan's head as face up and the vacuum would cause a hematoma (something I didn't want after the trauma that we had due to Matt's hematoma). Since I knew that I was having surgery the next day anyway, the c-section was the choice. In some ways I feel like I have let Anthony down. He had been told that he could help deliver the baby and he had already scrubbed up and was ready to catch. At the same time Trystan's head was extremely large (14 1/4 cm) and the doctors have told me that there was no way that I could have delivered naturally. However all of this is water under the bridge. What is important is the result. We have a beautiful, healthy baby boy.


Matt adores his brother and the feeling is mutual. God answers prayers. It is in his time according to his will and purpose. Trystan completes our family. Two weeks ago I could not have imagined what my life would be like not. It is better than anything I could have envisioned.

Hospital Here We Come

I can't believe that I have been pregnant for 40 weeks. In some ways it seems like forever, in others it seems like no time at all. We are going in to be induced tomorrow...Early. We are going to Tipton's for breakfast and then to the hospital. Right now we are finishing up our last minute items. Getting cigars (real ones) for Anthony. Believe it or not they are hard to find. Filling in Trystan's baby book and making sure that we have everything packed. Basically we went and rented two movies and Anthony is actually taking a putter and cup to the hospital to have a way to pass time. While we are hoping for speedy, we are praying for healthy.

No contractions today, but I am just hoping that when we get there that I am dilated a bit more than 2, but I have learned to expect the worse, pray for the best, and it will be what God wants it to be. That is really hard for a Type A to admit. I know that throughout all the years of wanting this God is in control, not me.

I covet your prayers, especially since I won't be taking the epidural this time either. I know that I won't be myself this time, but I am going to try my best to just concentrate on what is happening, pray through the pain, and know in the end it is all soooooo worth it. I know that this is easier said than done, but I made it through last time without the epidural so if I can do it once hopefully I can do it again. Also pray for Anthony. I hope that I am halfway decent to him tomorrow and try not to grab his finger too much.

We will keep everyone updated. Anthony is going to email a picture to Matt's teacher at school if Trystan arrives before school is out. Anthony is going to block the door until Matt is able to meet his brother. Then everyone else can come visit. We are planning on having Trystan's picture put on the online nursery at the hospital. Just use the link and the first three letters of our last name. I don't know how soon they will get them up, but just keep checking. http://www.takoma.org

Time's Getting Closer

This afternoon we went in for our regular weekly appointment with the OB, but also for our last scheduled ultrasound. I had had an awful day and my blood pressure was high. After laying down for awhile the numbers came down significantly. I really thought that I would be placed on bedrest since I am in quite a bit of pain. However, she would like me to continue to work since that will help bring on natural labor. Since I do suffer from continuing blood pressure issues and since I am old (in terms of pregnancy) she told us that if Trystan isn't here before the 10th of March then she would induce on either the 10th or the 12th. Good news...I have a day to set as a deadline. Bad news...I have a day to set as a deadline.

As I am looking at my to-do list, I have only 4 weeks of English lesson plans to complete for the remainder of the year. I also have nine weeks to finish for Reading though. I need to get on with it, but I am struggling with it.

At this point the guess is that Trystan is over 7 pounds. We will see. Matt was suppose to be over 8 pounds but wasn't. I am just truly praying for a healthy child.