Good-bye June

I just cannot believe that half of the year is gone already.  It's weird because while I'm living it, it seems to go by so slowly (especially when a certain 2 month old won't nap for longer than 30 minutes..) but when you turn to look back on the year it seems to have flown by.  Does that make sense?  I'm probably not making sense..  anywhoooo...

The kids and I met a friend of mine and her two daughters today at the park.  It took awhile for the kids to warm up to each other and start playing but once they did, they seemed to have had a good time.  We stayed for about two hours.  Even with all that the kids didn't take a nap.  Tomorrow they are taking naps though... Mommy needs her quiet time. ;o)

Kent started his new work shift this past Sunday.  Not fun.  He gets up at 4:30ish and has to be at work at 5:30am.  He gets off at 2pm.  Which is nice but he has to go to bed earlier.. which isn't so great.  Because I'm usually not sleepy (tired, exhausted.. yes.. sleepy, no) at that time so I'm up alone.  Not to mention once the kids go to bed that's "our" time and that is cut short now.  But it's only for 3 months.. so we'll live.

Well, I guess that does it for now.  Happy almost July to all! :o)

Our days through pictures

Since there isn't much to talk about I'll just throw out an entry with pictures.  Enjoy!

Good

Things are going good here.  Without really getting into it, just yet, our family is going through some changes and it's exciting. 

Summer is in full swing and I'm just trying to keep the kids and myself busy.  Doing things, going places, etc.  Anything but sitting and staring at each other and these beige walls.  There is still plenty more I want to do before the summer is up and we have time (3 months until fall.. lol).  Kent and I plan on taking Jon Kent and maybe Zoey to their first movie outing.  There are a lot of animated type movies out so we are going to pick one (shortest.. lol) and see how they do.  We were just going to take Jon Kent (and still may) but he said he wanted Zoey to go too.  How sweet.  I'm thinking she wouldn't make it through a whole movie.  It would require her not to talk for more than 5 seconds.. so...  we'll see.

Well, it's less than 4 weeks until we will be heading to the beach.  Yay!  We are going again this year with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephew.  There will be 10 of us total.  All in one condo.  Scary.  LOL, nah.  We'll have a good time.  I'm already itching to start making packing lists.  Is that sad? 

Well, I do need to go.  All my youngin's are asleep and I plan on enjoying this peacefulness while I can.  Later!

Picture Entry

Nothing new going on around here.  Jon Kent is still pappy free and going strong.  Wish I would have done it sooner, since for the most part it has gone smoothly.  Who knew?  This is Kent's last week of working his current shift.  Starting Sunday he goes in at 5:30am (yuck) and will get off at 2pm.  Which will mean earlier bedtimes for him and eventually me.  Not to mention a tired hubby in the afternoon.. boo.....  Anywho.. enjoy the pictures!!

We're still pappy free

It's been a little over 2 days since we got rid of the pappy.  He did good his first night and then received his prize the next morning.  He got a new game and control for his V-Smile game system.  He was thrilled.  Last night was a rough go because he wanted his pappy.  He was crying and whining about it.  We told him only babies use pappies and that he was a big boy.  He then told us that he wanted to be a baby and didn't want to be a big boy anymore.  It broke my heart.  But finally he gave it up and went to sleep.  Naps go a lot smoother than bedtime.  Although as I typed that Jon Kent comes walking down the hall... to which he just got.. "Go to bed." thrown back at him.  He went back.. ANYWAY.. naps *usually go smoother than bedtime.  I'm hoping in the next week this will all be behind us and we can close this chapter.  I know one thing for sure.. we are getting rid of Nathan's pappy as soon as he starts spitting it back out at us.  That's the way we did Zoey and it worked so I'm going to do the same with Nathan.  I do NOT want to go through this again!

No pappy? We shall see...

I have been telling Jon Kent for DAYS and DAYS on end that if I see him with that pappy in his mouth "just one more time" when he's not sleeping I'm going to throw it away.  Well, today was the final straw and he had it in his mouth trying to talk to me (drives me crazy) and I told him to give me that pappy.  I threw it in the trash.  Yes, you read right.. I took that poor baby's pappy and threw it in the trash.  And to my shock and amazement.. he didn't cry or even seem to care.  We did have several small conversations about how he was a big boy now and didn't need his pappy.  He took a nap.. not a long one.. but one nonetheless and he did fine.  The real test will be tonight.  I bought him a "prize" that if he goes all night without his pappy and doesn't cry or whine for it that he will get it when he wakes up in the morning.  We'll see how that goes....  If he does this then his baby days are truly over...  Zoey's has been over for about 2 weeks now (she gave her pappy up at around 9 months) since she has been potty trained.  Only baby I've got left is Nathan.  How sad.

We went swimming this morning.  Or rather Zoey and I did.  Jon Kent didn't want to go (he really didn't want to go outside.. it was too hot he said) and Nathan took a quick dip but decided the water wasn't warm enough to be his bath, so he didn't like it.  So it was just Zoey and me for about an hour.  She swam by herself again and then floated in the float for a bit.  She had a good time and I got a little tan.. so it was a good time all around.  I took just a few pictures while I could so enjoy!!

Nathan's 2 Month Check-up

Nathan had his two month check-up today.  He weighed in at 15 pounds and 4 ounces.  He was 24ish inches long and his head was 16ish cm.  He was off the charts for all his measurements but was still proportional.  The doctor said he looked healthy and great.  He had to have 4 shots and an oral dose of the rotavirus vaccine.  He cried for a moment but then went to sleep and took a marathon of a nap.  He slept for about 3 hours and that was after sleeping for a previous hour right before his check-up.  Needless to say I was ready for him to wake up and nurse.. lol.  We go back in two months.

We just got back from swimming and we have some "first" news.  Zoey swam without assistance except for her back float.  The back float just keeps your back up out of the water just enough to help you learn to swim.  Previously, she had been using a kick board and her back float but tonight  just swam with her back float and kicked her arms and legs.  She was soooo proud of herself and kept saying "I do it, I do it!!".  So sweet!  I need to remember to put it in her baby book.

Well, it's bath time around here and Nathan is letting me know about it.  So I must go.  Talk with yall later!

Zoey Video

This is a video of Zoey saying "her version" of "The Pledge of Allegiance".  So cute!  Enjoy!

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Happy Father's Day

Kent got his present earlier in the week.  A new cell phone.  I had some other special things planned to do so that he would still get something on the actual day.  So I went and got him a T-shirt that just had "Dad" across the front of it.  It doesn't look cheesy, just casual and it was a really comfortable feeling shirt.  Also, the kids made him cards yesterday with their hand prints on them and Nathan had his feet prints on his card.  There is no way to get a 2 month old to spread his fingers out to get a hand print.. been there, done that and all I got was a blob.  Kent seemed to enjoy his present and cards.  The rest of the day was pretty normal.  Church, lunch at Granny's and then back to church.

Tomorrow Jon Kent and Nathan have doctor appointments.  Nathan is for his 2 month check-up (9 days late..) and Jon Kent is for a recheck of his staph(spelling?) infection that he picked up from only who knows where when I was sick with my gallbladder.  Thankfully it didn't spread and was pretty centrally located in one spot on his leg.  I'm glad we just realized what it was and was able to get it treated before it turned into something really, really serious.  Anywho, we have their appointments in the morning and Zoey is going to stay with Granny and Pops for the day.  After the doctor's we are going to go look at beds.  We are getting us a king size bed.  A queen just isn't cutting it with having 3 kids.  I want all my babies able to sleep with me if they *need to.  Meaning if they are sick or there is a storm or if it's just the morning and they all want to snuggle and watch cartoons.  I want them all to be able to lay comfortably with us in the same bed.  And right now we are really, really cramped.  So a new bed it is.  Yay!

Well, that it's for now.  I hope all the daddies out there had a good day and Happy Father's Day to my own Daddy!!!  Later!

Perfect Giggles

It was 4:30 this morning and Nathan was stirring and trying to wake up.  I knew he wasn't hungry because he just ate at 3am so I stuck his paci in his mouth and tried to get him to go back to sleep.  Usually he does.  But this time he wasn't having it.  So I scooped him up and laid him in my left arm and cuddled him.  He closed his eyes and 2 minutes later started smiling and laughing.  He did that twice.  He was happy to be back in the bed with me.  He hasn't been there except once since my surgery because it was just so uncomfortable.  I rolled over and asked Kent if he heard that and he said yeah.  It was just too sweet and precious.

Short- FYI

Check out my weight loss journal for some exciting news!!!!!

http://journals.aol.com/emilythecreative/GettingFitafterPregnancy/

Good News/Bad News Type of Day

I took Jon Kent and Zoey to the dentist today.  My daddy tagged along to help.  They didn't know they were going because they would have had a meltdown the whole way there.  So we finally get there and Jon Kent asked, "Is the dentist going to brush my teeth?".  I told him yes.  He immediately folded and started crying and screaming.  He did this again when they called for him to go back to get his teeth cleaned.  Once he returned, he was fine.  No cavities!!!  Zoey's turn.  She cried too, but was easily distracted by the nurse.  She comes back out and was crying and crying and crying.  She had 4.. yes that is 4 cavities.  I then went for a consult with the dentist to discuss our options for fixing her teeth.  He told me that in some kids when their teeth come in they come in rough and have crevices that easily traps food and is hard to brush out.  Surprise, surprise one of my kids has to have that type of teeth.  He said that he, himself could come to our house and brush her teeth and she would still probably end up with a cavity.  So.... I had to make an appointment to get that fixed.  Can we say expensive!?!?! 

After the dentist we met my brother and nephew at the splash park and played for a little over an hour.  Jon Kent and Zoey had a blast.  Jon Wesley (nephew) wasn't too sure of it all.  There were a lot of kids there and Jon Kent was loving playing with them.  Funny story: I was picking Nathan up to go nurse him and had my back turned to the splash area.  My daddy was with the kids watching them and my brother was standing next to me.  He says, "Look at Jon Kent!".  So I turn around and wouldn't ya know it.. my son has his swim shorts around his ankles and he is peeing in the middle of the play area in the grass!!!  IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!  I yelled, "JON KENT!!!!!!!!!!!".  It was too late.  Boy was I embarrassed.

After the park we took the kids to McDonald's for lunch and then it was time to go home for a nap.  The kids didn't take long ones, which was surprising.  Usually they do.  So once they woke up we went to my daddy's house to let them play in the "little pool".  They had fun playing and Jon Wesley joined them this time so that was extra fun for them.

After that Kent, Jon Kent, Zoey, Nathan and myself all went out to eat.  It was my treat for Kent as part of his Father's Day present.  He already has gotten his "real" present.. a new cell phone.  Jon Kent talked Kent's ears off though the whole time.  You would have though he hadn't seen his daddy in a year.  It was cute though.  After supper we swung by Sonic for some ice cream and headed home. 

And that was my day.  A good busy day with just one bit of bad news.  Yall enjoy the pictures!!

I'm metal free.. YIPPEEEE!

I got my staples out today!  YAY!!  I feel somewhat normal again.  I'm still sore but no where near as much as I was when those foreign metal fangs were in my belly.  I was starting to get red and swollen around the staples and the doctor said it was just my body having a reaction to them.  Ya think!?!?  I'm just glad to have them out.  I went swimming this evening for the first time since Memorial Day which was the day I ended up in the ER.  It was nice to take a dip and not worry about anything.  The doctor said I was free to pick my old routines up but to gradually get back into full swing.  I look forward to getting back in the gym.  Goodness knows I haven't been "behaving" in the eating right and exercising department since this all happened.  I was in my self pity funk.. glad that is over.  I'm hoping come Thursday that the treadmill and I have reintroduced ourselves to one another.  Seriously.  So with that I finally get to close the gallbladder chapter in my book of life.  Woot!!

Overall Update

I want to start with probably the last entry for Zoey's potty training updates.  She is fully trained.  Has been since before I went into the hospital.  She is wearing real girl panties now and pull-ups to sleep in.  Night/nap time dryness will come with time.  We're in no rush there.  I'm just so thrilled with her progress.  Once she got it, she got it.  So 2 down and 1 to go. ;o)

Today Nathan turned 2 months old.  TWO MONTHS!  Time is starting to pick up now.  Summer will just make it go even faster.  Happy 2 months to my favorite littlest man!

My staples itch.  I guess they are "healing" but they itch.  By the way, I got 13 staples and like 2-3 stitches (they held the glorious drain in for 2 wonderful <sarcasm> days).  I'll be glad when they are all out.  They all look so foreign to me.  *sigh*  I hate surgery.

We got a bill the other day for my ER visit that resulted in us knowing about my rebellious gallbladder.  And to put it in perspective.. To have Nathan the hospital filed for a little over $11,000.  That was for everything from April 7th-9th.  My ER visit for SIX hours was a little over $10,000.  Can we say EXPENSIVE????  Who knows how much my hospital stay will end up being.  Goodness.  Good thing we have insurance.

Grr, my staples still itch...

Getting back to the basics

I had post partum depression after having Jon Kent.  I let it go for a long time because I was trying to be "strong".  I wanted to prove that I was stronger or smarter than it and that I didn't need any help.  Stupid is what I was.  I eventually got the help I needed and things were like night and day.  So after every baby I have, we always brace for worst.  Kent took a whole month off of work after Zoey was born just to make sure I was well taken care of and he could be around to notice any signs of the depression coming back.  It never did.  After Nathan Kent, again, arranged to take a whole month off if needed but ended up only having to take two and half weeks.  Again the depression never resurfaced.  It was a relief to know that I was able to get on with my life and not be sucked into that horrible black hole.  Unless you've ever been there, there aren't words to describe it.  You see the world around you going on and you feel like it's passing you by but there is no way to get out and start living.  It's hard.  So, after having my gallbladder taken out I was kind of shocked to realize that depression would be something I would have to face again.  It never crossed my mind really.  I thought I would have the surgery and a few days later get back into my routines.  But after finally getting out of the hospital I realized that a few days was going to be more like weeks.  I'm very independent when it comes to my house.  I like to do the cleaning, organizing, straightening.  I don't like for anyone to really help unless asked.  So for me having to let someone else take care of that, it's hard.  It's hard seeing my kids out running and playing and yet again I'm stuck on the sidelines.  It's hard having to hand Nathan off every time a diaper needs changing or he needs to be carried from one place to the next.  I didn't realize that again I would be facing depression.  I'm so thankful though that I am aware of it and can take the necessary actions to not let it overwhelm me.  Today I was able to straighten up the house a bit and get it back into more of "my order".  Kent and I also got some alone time at the pool.  I laid out and he took Nathan in for a dip.  So we weren't alone, alone but Nathan doesn't talk and he is content when in the pool so it felt like we were alone.  And then Kent's parents looked after Nathan for a few minutes while we got some extra rays.  It was nice and it brought me around to the "happier" side of life.  I have also gotten back into my quiet times again.  Praying and reading the Bible.  I have always done this since being saved back in November of '03 but I always get out of my "routine" (hate calling it that really.. more of way of life) when having a baby or having surgery.  With the surgery I was out of it longer so it made me colder, if that makes sense.  But getting that back into my life and straightening my own heart out has helped more than anything.  And I knew it would.  I'm thankful for that peace to be back in my heart.  I needed it and I needed Him.  I know things will turn around for the best soon and I just have to be willing to wait and let it happen in the right timing.

Who Knew?

Who knew that having 5 small holes in your belly can make one so tired and out of shape?  And I have "help" to boot!  My daddy has been here all day taking care of the kids while I rest and heal.  I helped clean up a few (few meaning like 2.. lol) toys after lunch and had to sit down.  I was seriously breaking out into a sweat!  Goodness, getting back on my feet is going to take longer than I originally thought.  Hmmph!

I'm home, I'm HOME!

Praise the Lord!  I am home!!!  I got to come home this afternoon and I've been resting all day.  They took the drain out this morning and can I say that hurt like heck!?!?!?!  It was the weirdest, grossest feeling in the world.  It still makes my stomach roll every time I think about it.  Anywho, I'm home, home, home.  Nathan got to nurse for the first time since Sunday and can I say that I just fell in love with him all over again and it was like nursing him for the first time.  Amazing!  Zoey was so happy to see me she hopped right on the couch (and me, OUCH!) and sucked her sippy and played with my ear (I'm seriously, no lie, her "lovey").  Jon Kent was glad to see me too because he got that honest, huge smile on his face but he was trying to hide it because he is such a big boy.  Anyway, I'm still in some pain but managing.  I'm taking fenugreek 3 pills, 3 times a day until I can see an increase in my milk supply.  Until then we will nurse and then he will get an extra 2 ounces of breastmilk or formula.  I'm hoping within the next week things will be back to normal.  Who knew being "normal" was so great!?!?!?  Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!!

my surgery update-typos and all

i'm still in the hossy.. at least for another two days. =(  my gallbladder was still pretty inflamed.  it's supposed to be the size of a hen's egg but it was the size of a grown man's fist.  my blood work showed an elevated bilirubin so a stone was more than likely stuck in my bile duct.  i had two large stones.. about the size of english peas and then he said my gallbladder was full of sand type stones.. smaller ones.  instead of 2 or 3 small incisions they had to do 4 and give me a drain.  so things didn't go so great.. =(  but we'll get there.  my milk supply is also going down but i'm going to get some herbs and get it back up hopefully but until then my parents are halfing all my pumped milk with formula because otherwise there wouldn't be enough milk for nathan since i'm having to pump and dump for the next two feedings.  i'm so afraid of drying up.  =(  i hope the herbs help and i start them in time (tomorrow)  right now i'm getting between 2-6 ounces when i pump.  so we'll see.  i should be able to go home wed.  well there's my update.  thanks for thinking and praying for me.  it's greatly appreciated.

Let the countdown begin

I'm in the hospital while my whole family is at a picnic on the river. seem fair??  ;o)  Nah, they were all told to go and I've actually enjoyed my "completely, uninterrupted" time to surf the net, watch a movie ("PS: I Love You".. LOOOVED it) and sleep.  Well, I've enjoyed it as much as one can in some sort of pain and well.. in a hospital.  Anyway, they are at the lake with the church folks fishing and grilling, playing games, etc.  It had been planned for awhile and we were all looking forward to going.  I'm sure they are all having a good time.  I just hope the kids haven't fallen in the water.  But they probably have.. lol. 

Well, in about 6 hours I have orders to stop eating.  My surgery will be for first thing in the morning.  I'm thinking they will start prepping me around 5:30 in the morning and surgery will be around 7.  As of right now, I'm not nervous.  I am actually at peace.  I know everything will be fine and I have many, many prayers being sent on my behalf.  I just hope it all goes smoothly and my recovery can get started and we can put this all behind us.  I'm looking forward to being recovered and able to get back into my routines and get the kids out and playing.  Oh and getting back in the gym.  I can't wait.  I just feel like my life has been stopped over the last week or so.  I'm ready to get it restarted again.  Really ready.

Well, my pain meds are kicking in.  I'm off to snooze until the family returns.  I'll update on the surgery when I can.