Hey family!!! I know it's been a while but we are all alive and well! I do get on when I get the chance and at least read the blog to check in on everyone, I guess I need to make enough time to stop in a write but after I check in on Betsy and Jared's I seem to be in a "Kate Zone!" She is just so precious!

Blair, I wanted to thank you for doing a segment for Brock's Easter Egg hunt at school! That was so nice, and it really did make James and I smile even though he is ours and we've seen those pictures! And we enjoyed getting to see the pictures from Caden, Toby, and Kate's Easter. From Eletia's blog, it sounds like the "big kids" might have had more fun than the little ones!!! I love it!

Hope everyone is doing well and staying in good health. Have a great week!!!

God Bless,
James, Shavonne, and Brock

*~*Oh, Happy birthday to Ryan YESTERDAY!!!*~*

Happy Birthday Ryan!! Wow, 20 years old today!
Love, Blair

Mother...be sure and tell Ryan I said HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I've been swamped all day!!

Love,
kittie

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY RYAN
Love you!
Maw

hello everyone!
Thank you so much for leaving the comments on my blog. Especially Maw and Shavonne. It's really special to log on and know that you guys are checking in on us. I had to get on the blog and say how much I LOVE Madelynn's room. So creative. When will she be here? I remember someone saying Maggie's due date is April 1st? Hope everyone is doing well. So glad that Susan is better! Love to all! Please make a trip to come see us and to meet Kate!
Betsy

Have a great Friday

Good morning! Hope everyone is having a great Friday. Gary is on his regular San Antonio golf weekend. He is having a great time. They will play 3 different courses and will come home some time Sunday. All the Gowens Henry bunch seems to we well. I will have to see Stormy today or Saturday, can't go too many days without a Stormy fix. Love to all. Susan

Good Morning CT,
Peggy so sorry to hear about Dawn. It is so hard to realize just how fragile life is and in just a blink of an eye how things can really change. We will try to email Dennis to let him know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.
Also, sorry to hear that Judy got so sick. It has really been a tough year for colds, allergies and that kind of stuff. We have all had some form or the other and so hard to get rid of it.
Glad to hear Susan is doing so much better now. Glad James was able to go with you two on your trip to see Dawn. He is such a doll and so sweet. He has such a good little wife to allow him to do such as this also. Ya know, I think all of the Gowens kids from Blair, Jill, Jared, April, James, Maggie and Megan all have such a since of family and loving responsibility for their family and all all just pretty special.
Thanks to all for the BD wishes for Toby B. He was so so sweet. I kept him and Caden yesterday for Toby Bs birthday. We started the day off at McDonalds for breakfast and some play time. Then we had to do a little shopping for the party. We slept and played some and then time for the party. He fell asleep at his highchair eating his dinner. He did wake up just in time to open presents. He did so well with his birthday cake. I kid you not, he knew just what to do with it. He got a bath afterwards and by this time most had to go home for work the next day.
Blair made him a video of his 1st year and oh my gosh!!! THANK YOU UNCLE BLAIR FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD HISTORIAN FOR OUR FAMILY.
Kathryn, thanks for all your information. We do like to hear from you. Any PS is great. Sorry to hear about all the friends deaths. It is so hard to realize just how many folks are gone from CT now. Hope to have a good visit with you real soon. Maybe you could come visit us some weekend in the near future. I know we would all love this and you can meet Miss Kate too. She is so adorable. She seems to be getting to know who Nana is. Or maybe just my imagination. Oh well, I think she knows who I am. She is growing like a weed literally. She grows from week to week. Caden is doing real good and has T-ball games on Saturday mornings. Man of many many questions now. In the store yesterday he was asking all kinds of questions and one that he asked had everyone around us thinking, Yeah, Nana, how do we know. I just answered with only God knows.
Tressie, Mark, Sheron and Jerry are spending the weekend with us this weekend and I am so excited to have them. It has been a while since we have gotten together. Things just keep keeping us from being able to be together. We may have Meredith and Michael and Cameron, Diane and Brock some also. Of course, Blair, Jay, Jared, Betsy, Kate, April, Zac, Caden and Toby are welcome at any time.
Anyone else, please come when you can. Love to have you all.

Love bunches and bunches from the Ft Worth Crew and Eletia

First off...Happy Birthday Mr. Toby. Man..time flies. Judy and I got home on Thursday for our Easter here but got the news about Dawn on Friday. We went by Gary and Susan's Saturday morning to tell them bye and James offered to drive us up there. Told him we would be fine but he insisted and Gary and Susan had us take their car as it was more comfortable than the van. What a blessing. James drove us all the way up and all the way back and took very good care of us all the way. He had to put up with a lot from both us "old ladies" but he took it like a man and the trip was so much better because of him. Thanks so much Bogie...you are angel.

Judy came down with a really bad sore throat and fever and so she won't be going home until Sunday. She is taking a ZPak but she is not a lot better so may have to see the doctor tomorrow.

There isn't much improvement in Dawn today. She is still in a coma and has a fever and pneumonia now and things are just not good. They got results back today from xrays though and there are no broken bones or other injuries. There is a way to email and the nurses give them to the families so if anyone wants to send along good thoughts and wishes just go to saintjosephs.com and there is a place down the left side of the page to email patients, then put in Dawn Pace and the room number is 368. Her husband's name is Dennis. I'm sure they would appreciate any thoughts and prayers.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Love,
Peg

Happy Birthday Toby!!! WOW, cannot believe you are 1 years old today!!
I hope you have a wonderful day!!
Love,
kittie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, TOBY BRITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU BABY AND HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!!!!

LOVE, MAW & RYAN

Hey, this is a P S
Today would have been Donna Beth's BD. Also, I am mailing Toby a card today and hope it gets there on time for his party. Love you Toby!!!!!!!!!!
Maw
Hey, another P S
Pearl Mize passed away yesterday. Guess I have too much news to get it altogether, HA

Hey Family
Sounds and looks like everyone had a really nice Easter weekend. Blair, thanks for all the great pics. Made me feel like I was there.As I told you Mary Dunn passed away and that started my weekend out a little busier. We got Friday off at the office but I spent it cooking to get a meal together for the Dunn's following the 11:00 Sat morn service. Since they only had grave side, there was no connection with the church so Debbie Mullins Kittie and myself pitched in to get a meal fixed to serve them at Mary's house after the service. They really did appreciate it and told us over and over. Buzz came and ate with them too. He is finally able to get out and drive some since his fall back in January when he broke 5 ribs. Peggy had gotten home Thru and then got a call from Arkansas that Carol's neice, Dawn Pace and her husband had a motorcycle accident. Dawn was not wearing a helmet and has very very serious head injuries and is on a respirator. Peggy felt she had to go so James drove her up there and I checked with Susan this morning and there had not been much change and they will not reevaluate her for a few days so they are coming home today. I think they were at a hospital at Hot Springs.Went to church yesterday morning and sat with Maggie,Kraig,Boston,Megan,Kittie and Gary. Also behind us were Jill, Brandon and Stormy. We could hear Stormy talking during the services, was so cute. Kittie and I had gotten flowers, offered for sale by the church for part of the decorations, one for J W , Dalmer, Artie and Donna Beth so I gave one to Jill to take to Gary & Susan's house and then Kittie and I had one. They were really pretty. I ate with Kittie and Gary and the girls. Had a egg hunt inside for Boston. We had cold misty rain when church was over, too cold to go outside. Maggie is getting more than ready for Maddie to get here. Maybe this week????
Better get back to work. Love to all, Maw

Good Morning CT,
It is early Easter Sunday Morning. I am just sitting here reflecting the great Easter Saturday evening we had with all our kids. The only one missing was Zac as he had to work and we did miss him. Friday nite, Zac, April and Caden dyed eggs and they were just gorgeous. Caden was so proud of them. He told Pops so. We had a great time. Turkey, ham, dressing and all the delious fixings. Then the Easter Bunny came and delivered Caden, Toby and Kate a bag full of Easter books, toys and candy. There was even a little pillow in the bag for each of them. Caden had told me he needed a new pillow just the other day. We had an egg hunt in the house cause Toby and Kate were too small to get out side this year. Caden had already gotten to hunt eggs earlier (outside) at Kory and Tamaras with there other nephew. There was so much left over everyone had to take left overs home. The older kids had to play a game of hot potato. Mike had Easter surprises even for them. They all found there perspective egg hunt and can now enjoy eating out at one of four different eating establishments. It was great to have them all here again another year. The two new additions to the family make it even greater. Caden, Toby and Kate make holidays so much fun.
Hope all of your guys are doing good and hope your Easter is filled with love and fun also.

Love to all,
Eletia

Hey family,

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!! I am sure that the Easter bunny will be good to Stormy, Caden, Brock, Toby and Kate!!
Love to all,
kittie

Sorry to hear about Mary Dunn. Blair

Hey Family
FYI, Mary Dunn passed away this morning at Lubbock Hospital. Don't have any service info yet.
Talked to Peggy this morning and she is coming home tomorrow. This is all I know right now.
Love, maw

Susan glad you are feeling better and back home. You gave us a scare. Love you bunches.

Also, glad Jimmy Lynn is back home and doing better. Love you too.

CTOWN, stay well now everyone!!!

Okay, this Summer we all have to get together.

Me, mom and dad were talking about how young Papa Dalmer would still have been. Tomorrow is Artie's birthday. She would have been 93.

Love all,
Blair

Hey Family
So glad Susan and Jimmie Lynn are both home and out of hospital. You two rest and recover!!!!!!!!!!!!!Just wanted to say, can you picture Dalmer today, on his BD, at age 75????
On my way to church.
Love, Maw

Thank you , thank you, thank you

Thank everyone for the prayers and calls. I think I am on the road to recovery. Gary and I were so glad to be home in our bed. Hospital are sure not very comfortable. Glad to hear Toby is doing well. Also love the pictures of Kate. She is really beautiful, but what do you expect of a Gowens girl!!! All our love to everyone and hope everyone has a great week. Love, Susan

More on Susan

Susan is at home!!! She and Gary Lee got in around 6:30 yesterday evening. She isn't allowed to return to work until Wed. and even then they want her going half days for the remainder of the week. James talked to them earlier today and she was relaxing, and just catching up on her soaps that she records through the week!
Maw, to leave comments on Betsy's Blog you just hit the "comment" button, write it out, and log in under the same thing you do to leave a message here. If you want them to know it's from you be sure to add that because it'll just leave the message from griffinsister. Just play around with it and you'll get the hang of it, hope this helps!
Everyone else- hope you all are well! It seems like forever since we've heard from or seen any of you, maybe soon. . .
God Bless,
The Gowens Family Trio

Hey Family
I had talked to Gary Lee last night at the hospital and got the same report that Shavonne gave you. Hopefully Susan can come home today. Gary said the hospital is really great, a five star and taking very good care of Susan.
The reason for my blog this morning is I need to know how to leave comments on Betsy's Blog???I want you to know how wonderful all the pics of Kate and ya'll are. I love the black and white ones. Never see them anymore. Sorry I have not been telling you how I enjoy them, but I do and would leave a note or comment but do not know how.
Later..................Maw

Update on Susan

I thought I'd go ahead and update everyone on Susan. Her doctor came in tonight and told her that the staph infection was clear but they are going to get her for the night, run chest e-rays tomorrow, and go from there. They are hoping to be able to start her on oral antibiotics to send her home, but it all depends on the test results. She appreciates all your thoughts and prayers.

Maw, I wanted to let you know I finally uploaded the picture of you and Brock from your birthday party on his website!!! The two of you are precious!

Hope everyone is well and in good health. We are well, just searching and searching, and praying and praying. We love you all and hope to see you soon.

God Bless,
Shavonne

Hey,

Well I have not actually talked to Gary or Susan but Peggy is keeping me updated on what is going on. She said that the doctors have determined that Susan has a staph infection in her lung and that she will need to continue to stay in the hospital for IV antibiotics. Peggy said that she thought maybe Susan was feeling a little better but I am sure it will take some time before she is really feeling good again....So, Susan we are all praying for you and you are in our thoughts everyday....We hope you are better soon!!
love,
kittie

Hey Family
A quick update on Susan. Jill called me last night and Susan was moved to the Heart Hospital in Lubbock because that is where her heart doctor, Dr. Hurd is and he was the one that had the C-scan run previously to check out the "mass" on her lung. He felt it was scar tissue from having had pneumonia a couple of times in her medical history. Anyway, since he was more up-to-date on her history, she was moved there and will possibly be there pretty much the rest of the week. They told her that the meds she was getting all weekend in Crosbyton were not correct for her and had done her no good. They put her on different types and ran several tests including test for TB since she was spitting up blood. So far everything has checked out okay but she just got so very very sick it is going to take time for her to get well. Jill said she was feeling a little better but not a great deal. Just remember her in your prayers and she will be back on her feet and going soon. I think we all tend to try to keep going and get run down in the process. It is hard in our busy life to slow down and allow ourself time to heal, etc. I am talking to myself. Ha. Blair, thank you so much for the birthday page on here. You are so sweet and so good at what you do with our family site. We all love you for the time you spend on it!!!! (You too Jay) So now on that note, guess I'll get back to work. They are trying to organize a quilting club in Crosbyton so maybe that will be my "new" interest, eh??
Love to all
Maw

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday day dear Maw, Happy Birthday to you!!! Hey I enjoyed spending the time on the phone with you yesterday. Really sad we weren't there for your party or for Maggie's shower. This is when living so far stinks, huh.

I hope Susan gets to feeling better soon. Ya'll take care of her down there!

We love you all and miss you from the Fort Worth bunch.

Peggy be careful coming home next week.

Love,
Blair

Hey Family
I just wanted everyone to know how much I appreciated my BD gifts and the supper party Kittie had for me. Just sorry everyone was not able to come and that Susan is so sick. She has been transferred to Lubbock today to be checked out by pulmonary doctor to make sure her lung is okay. Jill is suppose to call me later when they have more news. Maggie (and Maddie) baby shower was lots of fun, had good food and games and lots of little kids to enjoy. She really got lots of neat things and I enjoyed sitting by Shavonne, Brock and her niece, Maddie.
For supper we had, Maggie, Kraig, Boston, James, Shavonne,Brock,Maddie,Jill,Brandon,Stormy, Jimmie Lynn, Jackie, Kittie and Gary Dale.Had 2 wonderful cakes and lots of good food. Sunday morning at church Kittie sang a beautiful arrangement of Amazing Grace and it was so wonderful. Wish everyone could have heard her. I did not enjoy the time change this morning but guess I'll get use to it. Thanks to all of you for making this a good BD for me,I love you all. Maw

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MOTHER....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day!!
Love,
Kittie

Hey Kittie! We are very sorry that we could not make it this weekend, but the gift is in the mail to Maggie. We would have loved to had been there, but just not moving as quick with Kate around. We struggle to just go to the store right now. :) I hope that all is well and that Susan gets to feeling better. That bug has really hit Ctown hard it sounds like. That is one good thing about having a new baby is that we havent been out much to get sick. We love you guys and hope to see you soon. Love Jared

Hey family,

Well we had a great weekend and missed everyone that could not be here. Susan was put in the hospital Saturday morning with pneumonia and our love and prayers go out to her for a speedy recovery.
Maggie had a great shower. We are truely blessed with so many friends and family!!
We also had a nice birthday party for Mother and missed everyone that could not be here, but the ones of us that were here had good food, cake and lots of "visiting"!! It was so much fun to watch all the "little ones" playing and having a good time. Reminded me of when all our kids were little.
I hope everyone had a good weekend.
Love,
kittie

Maw, Happy Birthday on Monday!!!! Wish I could have been there on your birthday to give you a big ole' hug and kiss. Love, Bear

Hey,

I hope everyone is well!! We are gearing up for a big weekend. I thought Saturday night would be a good time to have a little Birthday party for mother since Monday is her birthday and hopefully most of us will be gathered together this weekend. So if I haven't talked to you yet, this is your OFFICIAL invitation to join us for supper and birthday cake Saturday night!!

I hope everyone can come!!
love,
kittie

Hey Family
Sorry I have not been on the Blog much. I don't really know where my time goes. I have Maddie's quilt finished in time for the shower and will be thrilled to see everyone that can come.
Jared and Betsy, I have really enjoyed all the sweet pics you have posted of Kate. She is just perfect (as are all my grandchildren) I can just tell how full of love you are for her. Your dream has finally come true, you are "blessed". I check all the web pages real often and I really enjoy seeing how Brock is growing too. He is getting to be quite the little man (and tasting dog food) Ha. I tried to Chat Sat night but no one was on??We had a really cold and windy day today, high in the 30's. Was really busy at the office.I waited on about 25 people (all by myself, no helper) and had to drive to Ralls on my lunch hour to exchange mail and pick up my paycheck.By night I am worn out and tired, eat, watch TV and go to sleep. Went to church yesterday morn, sat with Kittie and Gary D. They had a reception at 2:00 for Mariana (she is leaving here) and I wanted to go so bad but just couldn't without getting emotional. She was so sweet and so good to J W and me while we were at the hospital in Dec. and I just couldn't go tell her bye without crying all over her. She is just a caring person. Maybe I'll send her a card this week instead. I talked with Peggy last week and I told her I don't feel like I have a sister anymore, she just left for good seems like??She said she would be back tho.Blair, I hope you and Jay are feeling up to par now. I was lucky I never got the flu. Can't wait to hug that Toby and tell him how sorry I am he was so sick. I really enjoy talking to Caden on the phone. He talks so big now. Maggie, Kraig and Boston are on countdown now waiting for little Maddie to get here. I can't believe all these sweet babies coming to our family. It is wonderful! Mike I hope you get some help soon, before you pass out. I'm sure you need some rest. I love you all very very much. Love Maw

Hello Ctown! I hope that all is going well with everyone. Maybe Peggy will go back to Ctown some day! :) Must be nice being in Florida that long. Shavonne, I want to thank you for all the kind words and support that you give Betsy. There are just many unknowns in parenting that many women have to experience personally to understand. How is James' search going to the police gig? I know how hard and long of a process that is and takes. Sucks!!!! We are still hoping that we can make it for Maggie's shower, but if not we will send our gift with mom. Kate is doing very well and is sleeping great throughout the night. She already has me wrapped around that little finger of hers. Betsy is doing wonderful and I am very proud of her and the way she is handling everything. She really loves sleeping on her quilt Maw made her. How are you doing Maw? Havent heard from you on the blog lately. Gary, the time is getting warmer for some golf again.......we need to hit it up. We love you guys and gals and take care!

Love Jared

Hey all...Hope everyone is having a great weekend. I'm so glad that Toby is doing better. He gave us all a good scare. Hopefully too everyone is getting over all the crud just in time for Spring. Well can't wait to see everybody at the next get together.Love,Blair