2005 in Review

Wow!  Another year has come and gone.  I can not believe that today is the last day of 2005.  SO much has happened over the year!

Jon Kent has grown from an infant into a baby.  He has 8 teeth with more just waiting to pop out.  He weighs 25 pounds and is 31 inches long.  He eats "big boy" food, only takes one bottle now, can say certain words, and has found his own personality.  He also went from being the only child to being a big brother.

During this year, we found out we would be expecting another baby.  We were shocked, scared, and overwhelmed with the idea of having two kids under the age of one.  We found out that the little surprise would be a girl.  Which I was thrilled about because it meant that if we wanted it to be, that our family was complete.

Zoey was born on December 2, 2005 at 7:07am.  She weighed 6lbs and 13ozs.  She was 21 inches long.  Since her birth she has gained almost 2 pounds.  She has started to be a bit more alert and she has her periods of staying awake longer.  She sleeps fairly well at night and is content as long as you are holding her or she is in a place where she "thinks" she is being held.  Zoey has, for now, completed our family.

I don't know what 2006 holds for my life.  But I do know that as long as I have my family and friends to support me, that I can handle anything.  Well, another positive pregnancy test might do me in, but other than that I can handle anything.

Some of my New Year's resolutions are:

1) Losing weight.  I want to get down to where I was before I had Jon Kent.

2) To enjoy the moment at hand and not worry so much about the what if's of life.

3) To talk more with my family and get closer to them.

4) To feel accomplished as a mother and wife.  And not let what society thinks blur what I know in my heart is right.

5) To NOT get pregnant!

Well, good-bye 2005.  It was quite an eventful year!

I was tagged by Dana

Here are the rules; the first player of this game starts with the topic. Five weird habits of yourself and people who get tagged need to write an entry about their five weird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next five people to be tagged and link to their web journals. Don’t forget to leave a comment in their blog or journal that says “You are tagged” (assuming they take comments) and tell them to read yours.

1) I bite the inside of my lower lip.  I guess it's a nervous type habit.

2) I always have to brush my teeth before going to bed.  I can't sleep if my teeth aren't brushed.

3) Before having two kids, my legs would have to be shaved EVERYDAY.  I would drive me nuts if they weren't.  Now, I can go about 2-3 days without caring.  I guess that's what having kids will do.

4) I organize drawers all the time.  I can't stand for drawers to get messy and unorganized.  I've been slacking here lately, but once I get into a good routine, all the kids' drawers are getting organized.  I hate to put clean clothes into messy drawers.

5) My bed has to be made before I feel like my day can start.  If a day goes by where the bed isn't made, I feel like that whole day was wasted.

Umm...I am seeing a pattern where almost all my weird habits have to do with cleaning of some sort or being neat...umm can we say OCD???

I tag... Mabes, Erin, Kim, Thumper, & Becca

Zoey is 4 weeks old

Yesterday afternoon we got a call from the pediatrician's office asking us to call them back because some blood work of Zoey's came back abnormal.  So we call them back and they tell us that the blood they sent off for her state screening came back with elevated levels of amino acids.  So we took her in today to get more blood taken.  The results won't be back for about two weeks.  I don't know what any of this means, because we didn't see a doctor and the nurse couldn't really tell us anything.  She said that if they still come back abnormal that more than likely all we would have to do is change her diet.  Umm...I AM her diet.  So that made me feel really great...  Hopefully we will know something soon.   Zoey also has ANOTHER doctor's appt. Monday.  She will be a month old then.  We are going for her one month appt. and a shot.  I'm hoping everything checks out fine and that she is gaining weight and growing like a little weed.   Well, tomorrow is the last day of 2005.  I'm hoping to get in an entry summing up the year in before the clock strikes midnight.  Until then, enjoy the pictures.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!!  I hope you all had a very happy day surrounded by friends and family!!

Today was a great day.  We got Jon Kent up at 6:30am and showed him all his new toys.  He LOVES his 4-wheeler.  He still doesn't quite know how to keep it going.  He pushes the power button over and over again, so he jerks around while riding it.  Everyone now and then he will hold his finger on the button long enough to run into a wall.  Zoey slept through Christmas.  I just left her in the bed this morning and I think she slept in until about 8am.  Next year will be better for her.  We all had a great Christmas with lots of goodies.

Tomorrow we are hitting the sales!  Well, not really.  We are going to Lowes and Sears to look at appliances.  We are hoping to find some good deals on them.  My parents are "covering the bill" for them, so we are wanting to find a good deal for them.  But like my daddy said, don't get a poor quality appliance just because you are trying to save a little money.  YES SIR!!  LOL  In all seriousness, I am hoping we can get some nice stuff, but at "after Christmas" prices.  We'll see!

Well folks...  Another Christmas has come and gone.  On to 2006!!

Christmas Eve

Tonight we had Christmas Eve with my parents and my mom's side of the family.  It was a good time.  We ate, told stories from the good ole days, and exchanged gifts.  Jon Kent racked up with all the gifts that he got and Zoey didn't do too badly either.  I believe Jon Kent's favorite toy was a Wiggles guitar that he got from my brother and his girlfriend.  He kept playing it over and over and over and over and over and over again...lol.  Zoey pretty much slept through it, but that was OK.  There is always next year.  Kent and I got a lot of things as well.  Gift cards, clothes, lotions (me), etc.

We have already sat our all the gifts for the kids from Santa.  They are all nicely placed out for them to be goggled at tomorrow morning.  Although Zoey won't notice, but Jon Kent will.  We are most excited about his 4-wheeler.  We can't wait to see how he reacts to that.

Well, this Mrs. Clause is tired.  Going to bed as soon as I load all these pictures.  So yall enjoy them.

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Remember the reason for the season.  Jesus who was sent to us to die for our sins.  Don't forget the Christ in Christmas!

One down...many more to go

Last night was Christmas with Kent's family.  We had a good time.  Jon Kent and Zoey did very well in the gift department.  I took a few pictures as you can see of what they got.  Although there is still a lot they got that isn't in the pictures.  Zoey got some more clothes, a picture frame, and a figurine type thing.  Jon Kent did pretty well with unwrapping his gifts.  He didn't do so well at his birthday party over a month ago, so we weren't sure how he would do with his Christmas gifts.  But once I got them started for him, he pretty much tore the rest off himself.  He even helped with his sister's gifts. 

Tonight is Christmas with my family.  We are eating around 6pm or so and then unwrapping gifts afterwards.  Then later on that night, we are exchanging gifts with my parents.  I'm looking forward to spending time with my family.

Well, yall enjoy the pictures.  Zoey is napping so I am going to take advantage of that while I can.  Talk with yall later.

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!!

Let the Christmas Activities Begin!

And so it begins.  All of the family activities for Christmas.  It starts tomorrow night with Kent's family.  We are going over to Granny and Pops' tomorrow night to exchange gifts with the O's.  There will be about 25 or so of us.  We will be eating and just spending time together.  I'm really looking forward to it.  It's Zoey's first Christmas and Jon Kent's first "real" Christmas to which he can actually enjoy things. 

Anyway, Saturday night is my mom's side of the family get together.  We will be having it at my parent's house this year.  Eating supper and exchanging gifts among the kids.  After everyone leaves, my parents, my brother and his girlfriend, Kent, Jon Kent, Zoey, and myself will all exchange gifts. 

              

Then Christmas day is the Santa stuff early that morning with Jon Kent and Zoey, church at 10am, then Kent's parents, sister, brother, Kent, Jon Kent, Zoey, and myself will exchange gifts.  I don't know if we will be doing lunch at Granny's or not.  Since it is Sunday and all.  Anyway, Christmas night is my dad's side of the family's Christmas get together.  So as you can see, there will a lot going on for us in the next few days. 

I'm hoping to get some good pictures of the kids and Christmas morning.  Especially since it will bea bit more active than it was last year.  Not much to document when you have a newborn asleep the whole day.  At least this year we will have a one year old AND a newborn.  It should be some fun stuff.  I'll try to update as much as possible to keep you all up to date on the on goings with the O_____ family.

Zoey Pictures

Here's a few pictures of Zoey that I took today.  Enjoy!

Jon Kent & Zoey Doctor Visit

Jon Kent and Zoey both had an appointment today.  Jon Kent was for his one year well baby check up (yeah I know we are kind of late on that) and Zoey's was for her 2 week check up and another check up for her jaundice.  Jon Kent is 25 lbs even and 31 inches long.  He got two shots and we declined the flu shot.  Zoey is 8 lbs 8 oz (momma's milk is doing wonders...she was 6 lbs 13 oz 17 days ago...) and is 20.5 inches long...she shrunk half an inch...lol.  Both are doing wonderfully.

We went to Rooms to Go today with Kent's grandparents to look for Jon Kent a bedroom suit for the new house.  Since Zoey will be taking Jon Kent's once she is a bit older.  We found one and ordered it today.  They are going to deliver it once we get moved into the new house.  I am so excited.  Hopefully he will sleep in it.  We still have to get him some rails so that he doesn't fall off the bed during the night.  Because he is one wild sleeper.  I woke up once during the night (he has been sleeping with us some since Zoey was born...I guess he just needs that extra attention right now) and he was laying in between Kent and me and his feet were next to my head and his head was down by my hips.  He is one wild little sleeper!!  Anyway, once we get him into his own "big boy" bed, he is going to have to stay there.

I'm hoping to get some more pictures of Jon Kent and Zoey posted soon.  Zoey has already changed so much, so I want yall to see how my little piglet is growing.  Hopefully that will get done soon.  Until then, I'll talk with yall later!

Saturday Ramblings

I can't believe another Saturday has come and gone.  Only one more Saturday and it will be Christmas!  I can't believe it.  This month has really flown by!  I guess it has a lot to do with having a newborn in the house.  She tends to keep me busy.  Today we had a girls day in.  Kent and Jon Kent went up to Kent's parent's house.  We are building our house next to theirs and Kent was up there building a "house" for the well pump.  They were up there all day, so Zoey and I just stayed home.  She slept and I cleaned house.  It felt soooo good to get back into cleaning.  Sounds crazy, I know, but to just go back to something familiar and "regular" felt good.  I'm hoping to continue.  I also started my exercises again.  Which also felt pretty good.  I only worked out for about 15-20 minutes, but it was still nice to get back to exercising.  I won't be able to really do much until I go for my 6 week post partum check up, but until then I can do some workouts.  I gained 31 pounds with Zoey not to mention the 10 pounds I still had left over from Jon Kent.  So I am currently 30 pounds from where I want to be.  I have lost 19 pounds so far.  I'm hoping by May or June to be close to my goal weight.  Hopefully I will be able to reach it.  Well, I need to go.  My pillow is calling my name!  Talk with you later!

13

Today Jon Kent is 13 months old.  And today Zoey is 13 days old.  My daddy pointed that out to me last night that it would happen that way.  He is a math teacher, everything is numbers with him.  Anyway, both babes are doing great.  They both were supposed to have a doctor's appointment today, but the doctor's daughter was sick so the office called and asked if we could reschedule.  So we did.  Their new appointment is Monday @ 10:15am.  Jon Kent will have his one year shots and Zoey will be weighed, measured, and get her billiruben checked again.  Hopefully all will check out well.

Today we took the kids picture in front of the tree.  We tried yesterday, but Jon Kent wouldn't sit still for a minute so every picture we took came out blurry.  So we tried again today.  We are hoping that at least one picture comes out clear.  If not, I don't know what we will do.  Time is running out to get Christmas cards sent out.  Oh and I haven't even sent out Zoey's birth announcement.  By the time Jon Kent was a week old, I had his sent out.  I guess that is just how it goes with the 2nd child.  Poor thing.

Well, I do believe that is it for now.  Not much to really talk about.  I'm sure that will change soon.  In the next month or so, Christmas will come and go, we will hopefully be moving into the new house, and I am sure Jon Kent and Zoey will have done numerous cute things in that time frame as well.  So until then...

Tuesday

Only 12 shopping days left until Christmas!  In a lot of ways, time has really flown by.  It doesn't seem like it's almost the middle of December.  At the same time, it seems like time has just stood still.  Zoey is 11 days old and seems to be growing like a weed.  I can't wait to take her to the doctor Thursday and see how much she has gained on "momma's milk".  That was something that I was always proud of when we would take Jon Kent to the doctor.  They would say, "Oh, he gained so many ounces, whatever he is eating is agreeing with him."  I would secretly beam inside, because it was all me...lol.  That was until his reflux kicked in and it all went down hill from there, but I digress.  Zoey so far, seems to be taking her food in and keeping it in.  She has some spit ups from time to time, some larger than others.  But I think that is just when she has been a hog and has tried to eat too quickly or too much.  She's a really good baby though.  Her and her brother's personalities thus far are pretty different.  She seems more laid back.  Only crying when she is hungry or wants to be held.  She sleeps pretty good as well.  Some nights, I wake up before she does because I am so "full of milk" that it hurts.  So I end up waking her up.  One night she went almost 6 hours!  But mostly, she will wake up about every 3 hours.  Which is pretty normal for a newborn.  And since she sleeps with us, I just roll over and we go back to sleep.  During the day, I would say is a little bit harder.  Just because she doesn't like to just lay in her bed.  She has to be held or something.  Even if you put her to sleep, she will wake up about 15 minutes after being laid down.  Kind of frustrating, but I know this too shall pass eventually. 

I have a lot to do today.  Or really, if I am being honest, I have a lot to do because I haven't mustard up the want to do it already.  Like clean my house for example.  It's really starting to look bad.  Toys every where, leaves that were tracked in from outside, little crumbs from who knows where in the carpet, dust all over the place, things just scattered and not really put up, etc.  It's driving me crazy.  No one else seems to notice.  And at the moment,I am just trying to figure out a routine or schedule that will fit in our lives.  Which is hard to do with a newborn.  But I guess it will get figured out.

Well, I better go.  Zoey has a dirty diaper and these clothes aren't going to fold themselves...although it would be nice if they would.  Later!

Is it Saturday?

All of my days have been running together lately.  I guess it's because Kent is off of work.  I seriously have to think about what day it is almost everyday.  I guess I'm already starting to lose my mind, and my kids are even teenagers yet!  ACK!!

Kent and I went out on a little date last night.  My parents came over and kept the babes for us.  We just went to the mall and finished up our Christmas shopping and then went out and ate.  It was nice having one and one time with my husband again.  He is truly a wonderful husband and father.  I am truly blessed to have him as my partner.  I know a lot of women out there that have to beg their husbands to feed, change, bathe, dress, etc. their kids, and my just does it.  He is really something special!

Tonight is the local Christmas parade for my town.  We are going.  Jon Kent was a tiny little thing last year, so we didn't venture out and take him.  We really saw it pointless to take a newborn to the parade just to sit in the car with him.  However, Zoey will be going with us this year.  And we will be in the car...lol.  But Jon Kent and his daddy will be out checking out all of the floats.  I am actually looking forward to it.  Even though I will be in the car, it will still be a chance to get out and about for an hour or so.  Which is always a good thing when you are in the house all day long.

Well, I guess I better go.  Zoey is napping and the boys are up at the new house doing "stuff".  So while I have the chance, I think I will clean the house.  It truly needs it!  I'll talk with yall later.  Oh, and enjoy the pictures!

Just updating

Today was a fairly busy day.  We took the babes to get their pictures taken with Santa.  Jon Kent surprisingly did very well.  He started to cry, but once the photographer started playing peek-a-boo with him, he smiled.  Zoey slept.  The next stop was to have actual Christmas pictures taken.  We went to Sears.  At first the lady seemed seriously rude because we didn't have an appointment.  We were walk-ins.  But honestly, who can make an appointment when you have a one year old and a newborn?  Their routines are so unpredictable at this point that it would be ridiculous to try and guess when a good time to take pictures would be.  Anyway, once we got back there to start taking the pictures, the lady lightened up and we actually got really good pictures from it.  And another bonus, was when we went to pay for the pictures, the lady saw Kent's jacket (Federal Prison) and asked if he was in the military.  He said no, but that he did work for the Department of Justice.  She said, well that counts.  As long as it was for the government.  So we got $23 taken off our total!  I was happy about that!!  After taking pictures, we went and pretty much finished up our Christmas shopping.  We only have one person left to buy for and that is my Daddy.  We would probably have gotten his, but Zoey got hungry.  So we just headed back to the car so that I could feed her.  Once we got home, we went and looked at the progress on the house.  We have walls!!  We were really surprised at how quickly they got them up.  They still have to come in and mud the walls, but everything else is up.  Even the ceiling!  I am beyond happy about that!  We are seriously thinking that in about a month or a month and half, we will be in our new home.  I for one will be glad to be done with it all.  Once we are moved in, maybe our lives can settle down a bit.  Being pregnant, having a baby, building a house, and moving into that house all within a year can be tiring on a girl!  Y'know?!?!  Anyway, there is my update for today.  Enjoy the pictures of the house. 

Zoey Taylor's Birth Story

November 30th

I had a regular doctor's appointment that day, but I didn't make it.  All the night before and that morning I was having contractions.  They were pretty regular.  We went in and saw the OB and she told me I was in early labor and that things would slow down, then get regular, then slow down again, and then get regular and probably stay regular.  At that time I was almost 2cm dilated.  So we went home.

December 1st

Just like the night before, I was up most of it with contractions.  It was horrible.  For almost 3 hours I would have contractions.  I tried every position trying to get comfortable or make the contractions just a little bit easier to get through.  Finally at 6am that morning I told Kent that I was going to take a hot shower and get cleaned up just in case this was it.  So I did.  Sure enough, my contractions completely stopped.  So I just got in the bed and slept most of the day.  Thankfully Kent's Granny was sweet enough to keep Jon Kent for me.  I was exhausted!  That night around 5pm or so the contractions started up again.  Except this time they weren't coming as close, but when they came---boy did they come!  Around 8pm or so I told Kent that I just couldn't take them anymore.  I hopped in the bath thinking it would just stop them again.  I was just wanting to get some relief!  I took a hot bath and when I got out I thought I was feeling better.  Well, around 9:30pm they started up again and all I could do was cry.  I didn't want to go through another night like my last two.  I told Kent that I was going to call the hospital and see if I needed to come in.  But I just went to bed crying instead.  I was at my breaking point with the pain.  Kent called the hospital for me and I ended up talking to a nurse.  She told us to come on in.  We got there about 10:30pm and they hooked me up the monitors.  The nurse checked me and I was at 4-5cm dilated.  She said that they were going to get me a room and admit me.  Before getting me a room she checked me about 45 minutes later and I was 7cm dilated.  Kent and I both freaked!  Kent started calling our parents telling them to get there soon that the nurse said we were going to have a baby by 3am!  The nurse finally gets me into a room and I was still having contractions. 

December 2, 2005

The contractions were coming about every 6 minutes.  Kent looked at the monitor and said one contraction was in the 90s out of 100.  It HURT but I was able to breathe through it.  So the nurse asked if I wanted an epidural.  Uh, duh!  YES!  So I while getting one they were taking my blood pressure and it was getting kind of high.  The nurse asked if I was nervous and I was like..."yeaahhhh".  I mean come on---a huge needle is in my back and I could feel it!  So, after a few minutes, the epi took and we were good to go.  Although I could still tell when I was having a contraction.  So the nurse calls in for a boost for my epi.  Once I got that, I couldn't feel a thing!  Well, after the epi my contractions completely stopped.  This was around 2:30am.  So the nurse told me she was going to let me rest and then if my contractions hadn't started back up by 5am they would start the pitocin.  So, I went to sleep.  5am rolls around and they start the pit.  6:15am the doctor comes in and breaks my water.  7am I start pushing.  7:07am Zoey Taylor is born.  6lbs 13oz and 21 inches long.  She came into this world "sunny side up" with her cord around her neck twice.  The doctor and nurses were surprised that I pushed her out that quickly with her being face up like she was.  When she came out, she barely cried.  She looks JUST like her brother when he was first born. 

While in the hospital, Zoey got jaundice and we had to put her in the billibed.  It was horrible.  We have had to go to the doctor twice since being home to get her blood drawn.  Her numbers are still up but not as high so we don't have to put her in the bed.  But we are having to keep an eye on her and make sure her color doesn't get worse.  Besides that, everything else seems to be going well.  She sleeps fairly well although she has a stuffy nose so that tends to bother her more at night than any other time of the day.  But her first night home, she only woke up twice and one of those times I had to wake her up.  I'm not going to lie, it's been hard at times.  It's A LOT of work to have two under 13 months.  But Jon Kent has really been good.  He doesn't really notice her too much and he hasn't seemed jealous of her when I am holding her.  He gives her kisses on the top of her head and tries to poke at her nose.  He smiles when he first sees her in the morning.  It's cute.  Well, there is the story.  Sorry it took me so long.  Hopefully in a few more weeks I will get back to more of a routine.  Until then, I'm not promising much!  LOL

Birth story to come

Sorry about not updating sooner.  But I am sure yall understand.  There is just a lot going on with having two babies now...whew!  It's been hard at times and easier than expected at others.  I will try and type up my birth story soon.  Talk with yall later!

It's me again

::::::::Bangs head against computer:::::::::::::

Starting at 3:10am I started having contractions again.  They came roughly 5 minutes apart.  Some would be 7 or 8 minutes and like 2 came back to back.  Almost 2 hours later, I do believe they have started to slack off again.  I have had 20 contractions in the last 2 hours.  Some pretty painful, others were not so bad.  I am just really exhausted though.  The lack of sleep plus the pain are starting to wear on me.  Hopefully some thing will happen soon.  If not, I am going to rip my uterus out!