I'm alive!!!

So I went to the doctor yesterday at 2pm.  Cried through the whole appointment.. so embarrassing.  Anyway, the doctor could see how much pain I was in and when he felt of my abdomen he said I was VERY tender, which wasn't good.  So he said he wanted me to be directly admitted into the hospital and put on pain medicine, antibiotics, fluids and vitamins.  He said I would still have my surgery Monday.  We didn't understand why I was just going to sit in the hospital for 3 days instead of just going ahead and having surgery.  We found out later from my sister-in-law that doctors don't like operating on an inflamed gallbladder if they don't have to.  So they are giving me the antibiotics to get that under control by Monday for my surgery.  I asked the doctor if I would still be able to nurse Nathan and he don't me he didn't think so.  So I immediately started crying all over again.  I didn't want Nathan to have any formula and I knew I didn't have enough milk to last as long as we needed.  So when we got to the hospital I asked a nurse if she could double check for me about the nursing and she said she thought I COULD still nurse but she would go double check with the pediatrician (they have me on the delivery/nursery floor) and let me know.  So later we find out that I CAN still nurse Nathan and that all the medicines they are giving me are safe.  The nurse said her and the pediatrician even went and looked it up just to take double sure.  So Nathan has been spending some time up here to nurse and then I am pumping as well.  That was such a relief!  I'm doing well.  The pain comes and goes but is no where near as bad as it was yesterday and I'm just happy to be doing better.  My surgery is for first thing Monday morning and I should be back home that evening.  Kent and I are working on getting someone to stay at the house every day while he goes to work since he is getting short on sick days.  We should have enough people to help out.  I'm currently on a clear liquid diet which stinks because I am finally wanting to eat!  So once I'm out and able to eat normally again, I plan on pigging out for one big meal!!  LOL.  Well, that's my update!  I hope everyone is doing well.

I'm dying

I swear if I didn't know better, I would think I was dying.  This pain has just gotten worse.  And my only relief is to sit down, hunch over to my left side and pray.  I am telling you.. this pain is flat out unrelenting.  Even the pain medicine isn't touching it.  I don't know what to do.  I feel so out of control and so helpless.  I feel like the worse mother in the world because I can't even play with the kids.  It took me forever to get from the living room to the bathroom to help Jon Kent wipe his butt (graphic.. whatever).  He kept saying, "Mommmmmaaaaaa!!!  IIIIII pooooopppppiiieeeed!"  I would tell him I was coming but by the time I got half way there he was saying it all over again.  THEN earlier this morning he wanted to poopie on the "big potty" because the "little potty is Zoey's now" and he had his underwear around his ankles but couldn't get on the seat.  He was doing the I've got to go, it's about to come out dance by the time I got there.  UGH.  And to say I feel all alone is an understatement, but we won't get into those details because it does no good.  My family (in laws included) have been a good help and I appreciate it, but it's not them I need.  So whatever.  Nonetheless, hopefully at 2pm I'll get some answers and hopefully a timeline of when all this will be over and I can get back into the swings of my normal life.

The Chronicles of Potty Training: The Zoey Edition

Day 10:
Again she had another good day.  She told me when she had to potty and even pooped in the potty several times.  No accidents except for during nap time and sleeping through the night.  But that will come with time.  I'm in no rush to get her sleeping without peeing.  That can backfire on me quickly.  Otherwise she is doing great.  Looks like she is getting the hang of it before the 2 week mark which I said it would probably take her that long to start grasping it.  So she proved me wrong, which I'm glad she has.

As for me.. eh.  I'm still hurting.  Except for about an hour when I'm "medicated".  But I don't like taking them when I'm alone with the kids so I just push through it while it's just us during the day.  I can't walk while standing up straight.  It hurts too much to not bend over a little while walking.  I'll be so glad when this is over.  Hopefully starting tomorrow at my appointment we will get some answers and some plans will start forming.

The Chronicles of Potty Training: The Zoey Edition

Day 8 & 9:
They went well.  I think in the past two days she has had one or two accidents.  She is going to the potty on her own or telling us she has to go.  So that is great.  I'm really proud of her and wish I could be more involved right now with her and congratulating her better.  But I didn't plan on having gall stones so...  Anyway, HORRAY for Zoey and the fact that she is doing so well!

About my gallbladder.  I have an appointment to see the doctor Friday at 2pm.  I think this is only to see him and not to have the surgery.  So I don't know when it will be.  I'm not one to want to wish time away because I know how quickly it can go on its own.. but I'm in constant pain minus a few hours through out the day.  Sleeping is hard and getting around is harder.. and Kent went into work today because he is wanting to save as much of his sick leave for when I have the actual surgery.. so fun times.. let me tell ya.

Prayers Please

It started out fine.  We grilled and swam and the kids were having a blast.  Nathan loves being outside so he was pretty pleasant all day.  Around 2pm my upper abs started hurting.  I thought it was a gas bubble or something.  I've had like 3 or 4 more of these "episodes" since Nathan was born.  So around 8pm I finally had had enough pain and got Kent to take me to the ER.  After running several tests and getting a CT scan I've been Dx with gall stones.  I'm waiting on the surgeons office to open and I'm going to get in to be seen and maybe have surgery today or the latest in the next day or two.  The ER doctor said there were several in there and that my gallbladder needed to come out.  So, I will be doing that.  Which is going to suck with having a newborn and two other kids to tend to as well.  Thank goodness Kent still has sick leave left.

The Chronicles of Potty Training: The Zoey Edition

Day 6 & 7:
Yesterday I believe Zoey had 2 or 3 accidents.  A poopie one and like 2 pee-pee ones.  One of those times the potty was occupied and she couldn't hold it.  Oops!  But she finished off the day fine.  Today I don't believe she had any accidents.  And was even telling us when she had to go.  So that was great!  She seems to be getting it.  I'm really hoping that we can soon put her in "real" panties and we can quit buying pull-ups (except for nap and bedtime).  Then we only have to rarely buy pull-ups and then Nathan's regular need for diapers.

Kent is healing from his vasectomy.  And we'll just leave it there.. lol.

I hope everyone has a good Memorial Day tomorrow and takes the time to remember all of our soldiers and the price they have paid and continue to pay for our country.

Redneck Water Fun

For now summer has arrived.  It's only 11:20am and it's already too hot to play outside.  But I do love this time of year.  It's time for swimming, playing outside (even if only in the morning and evening), going to the beach, family activities, etc.  I just love it.

This morning I put the kids' swimsuits on and we went outside to play on the "jumpoline".  The kids had no clue what I had in store for them.  They were happily playing when all of a sudden I come out with the hosepipe and sprayed water on them and the trampoline.  They had a blast.  "Do it again, Momma.  Do it again!!".  It was fun.  They got to get wet and have a good time.  After that they had a popsicle and decided that it was too hot to stay outside any longer.  So they both came in for a "baba" break and nap time.  Nathan is still snoozing from his 9am nap (yes it's been over 2 hours now...).  Kent is playing video games and healing.  I've done all the chores for today, so the rest of the day is free and open.  Yay!  I'm probably go to hit the gym this afternoon.  My parents are going to keep the kids for me while I do that.  It will give Kent an hour or two to just be alone and relax.  I'm looking forward to the hour alone at the gym myself.. lol.  The evening will be just relaxing.  I believe, but not totally sure, that Jon Kent and Zoey will be spending the night with my parents.  I'm going to cook Kent his favorite meal, Hamburger Steak with mushrooms and gravy.  He is already talking about eating that and finally getting to take a shower.  I hope it all makes him feel better. 

Well, that's it for now.  I'll update yall on Day 6 of potty training later.

The Chronicles of Potty Training: The Zoey Edition

Day 4 & 5:
After a good day on day three we have had two bad days. =(  Yesterday, I believe, Zoey peed in the potty twice and then the rest of the day was in her panties.  Ugh.  Today was about the same.  And I know, to a point, it's my fault.  We have been majorly busy, especially today.  And it's hard to remember to remind her to go potty when I'm that busy or not here to do it myself.  Today I was gone all day with Kent (his surgery was today for his vasectomy) and the kids stayed with the great grands.  And while Granny does remind Zoey to go potty and takes her to go potty I think Zoey believes she can get away with not going potty.. and with them she does.  So, to say I'm a tad frustrated would be an understatement.  But there is always tomorrow and she will get it.  It will just take some time.  And once we are "unbusy" it will be easier to just focus on her.  But Kent is out of commission for 7-10 days so we'll just have to see how it goes.  She'll learn, she always does. 

Now to Kent.  His surgery went well.  From the time he went back to the doctor's office until he came back through the doors, it was about an hour.  He came waddling out and I drove us home.  He has, for the most part, been laying on the couch all afternoon/evening.  I got his drugs filled and that has helped him out a good deal.  He said the surgery was pretty painful and if he knew then what he knows now he wouldn't have had it done or at least not without some "calming drugs" first.  He said all they did was give him the numbing shot.  They didn't give him anything to calm him down or to make the process less painful.  He said he felt a lot of what they did on the right side.  A lot of tugging and pulling.  But I am so proud of him and thankful to him that he took that burden on himself instead of passing it on to me.  We know we are through having babies and this was the best option for us.  I don't like doing hormonal birth control nor do I like having anything foreign in my body so it was the best choice.  I could've had my tubes tied but since my doctor works at a Catholic hospital it would have to be done at the out patient clinic and then I would then be brought back into the hospital to be taken care of.  So, we just thought it would be easier with Kent getting it done.  Now I do feel somewhat bad.  He was/is in a lot of pain from it.  I'm hoping the pain medicine will help and in a few days he will be able to get around easier.

Anyway, I'm gone.  I hope everyone has a good Memorial Day weekend!

The Chronicles of Potty Training: The Zoey Edition

Day 3:
It went well.  Very well.  I decided to just leave Zoey in her pull-ups and just call them panties so she would still realize that she couldn't pee in them.  Which took stress off of me having to worry if she was going to pee or poop some where in the house and I not know it.  I never could do that with Jon Kent because he still thought of them as diapers and did his business in them instead of trying to not mess them up.  Anyway, so we start the day and she pees in the potty.  She ended up doing that a time or two more before she said she needed to poop.  So we sit there for awhile and she never does it.  So I go to nurse Nathan and Zoey is in the living room playing when I see her bend over a little bit grunting.  I asked her if she had already pooped and she said yeah but when I checked her she hadn't so we run to the potty and yall SHE POOPED!  WOOHOO!  She pooped in the potty!  So afterwards she finally got her "grand prize" for peeing AND pooping in the potty.  We bought it Sunday evening and it sat on the window seal for a day or two until the kids got on my nerves asking if they could have it every 5 minutes and I would have to example over and over again that Zoey couldn't have it until she pee AND pooped in the potty.  So it was put in a closet until she peed and pooped in the potty.  So once she pooped she was all excited about getting her "puppy house".  So after they got that Zoey was all excited and was playing with it and ended up peeing in her "panties".  But that was the only accident of the day.  And by the end of the day she comes running TO ME telling ME she had to pee-pee!  So that is great progress there!!  Yay!!!!!  So awesome!  I hope she keeps it up.  Because if she does, we are well on our way to being potty trained!  Woot-woot!

The Rest of Day 2 and High School Graduation

Potty training went better yesterday.  So at least we are making progress.  Yesterday afternoon she only had one accident and peed in the potty three times.  I'm seeing with Zoey that she won't go on her own.. at least not yet.  Every single time she has actually peed in the potty is because we've taken her.  With Jon Kent he just learned the feeling and knew he had to go.  So I think Zoey still needs to learn that feeling.  And once she does, I think she will take off with the training and do well.  I just have to keep reminding her to go until she does that. 

Last night we went to Kent's little sister's high school graduation.  It went well.  It was kind of hot in the place it was at so Nathan got cranky towards the middle of the ceremony.  Kent took him out and then I went and got him so Kent could see his sister graduate.  He was fine once he was out and walking and not bunched up and hot.  I took him outside and he loved it because the wind was blowing (storms were rolling in) and it just felt nice.  Anyway, Kent's sister is now a high school graduate which makes me feel old since I've known her since she was like 2.  Goodness.

I do believe that is all to report for now.  Potty training: Day 3 is going well so far.. so let's all keep our fingers crossed for some poopie in the potty today!

The Chronicles of Potty Training: The Zoey Edition

Day 2:  Early Entry
We have a high school graduation to attend tonight so this is early and incomplete but we'll just roll with it.  This morning Zoey woke up dry.  I was pretty impressed by that, but knew it wouldn't be long before she would have to go.  So we went and sat on the potty.  She pee-peed!!!  I acted like it was the greatest thing in the world and told her how proud I was of her.  I went and got Kent and he did the same.  She was pretty proud.  So we went and put on her big girl panties and off she toddled.  Later in the morning Jon Kent was doing his #2 business and Zoey said she needed to poop also.  So after Jon Kent was through she sat down and tried but said she couldn't.  So she goes off to play and I go to cook breakfast.  I walk in to Jon Kent's room to tell them breakfast was ready and I smell something and then see a rather large sagging in her panties.. Grrrreat.  We go and change and I'm repeatedly telling her that we do not poop in our panties.  We poop in the potty, etc.  She changes and then we go and eat.  Later her and Jon Kent are playing while I'm doing some chores before we go out and play.  I walk down the hall and see Jon Kent in the kitchen slowly walking around a puddle in the floor.  Grrrreat, again.  I go and find Zoey and sure enough she had peed.  And let me say here during all of this I'm asking her like every 5 minutes if she has to go potty.  So we change AGAIN and outside we go.  At least out there she can't pee or poop on my carpets.  So we play and she doesn't have any accidents.  We come back in for nap time and I put a pull-up on her.  She wakes up from her nap wet (expected because being dry during that will come with time) but I still thought she might have to pee.  So we go and sit on the potty and she pees in there.  YAY!  She is proud, I'm proud.. we're all proud.  And that's where we are at now.  What she will do the rest of the day is yet to be seen.  Like I said earlier.. she will train in her own time and it probably won't be as quickly as Jon Kent.  But I am hoping that by this time next week, we have at least seen a good improvement.

The Chronicles of Potty Training: The Zoey Edition

Day 1:  Yesterday
Not much to really report on.  Every time she had to go to the bathroom.. she did.. in her big girl panties.  By the end of the day I was ready to call it quits, go out and buy her a mega huge pack of diapers and put potty training off for another year...  But I remembered that Jon Kent's first day(First Day) didn't go well either.  And now look, he is fully potty trained and he even did it in 2 days.  Now, I totally do not expect Zoey to do it in 2 days.  And truth be told not even in 2 weeks.  She is just so stubborn.  Once she is set in her ways, she is set.  It takes a lot to get her to change.  So we'll see how it goes.  Look back later for a report of Day 2.

Yesterday I had my 6 weeks post partum visit with my OB.  It went well.  All was fine and unless my pap smear comes back abnormal, I'm good for another year.  The only concern is that my back has been tender in the spot that they put in my epideral.  The doctor looked at it and said that more than likely I just have an unresolved clot and since it's in the space between my spine and nerve that it's taking longer to resolve.  So he said if it isn't any better by the end of June to come back in and he would set up a MRI to look things over and make sure everything is OK.  So, I'm hoping it's better by then.  I'm free now to exercise and have sex....  And with that I finally close the chapters of having babies in my life's book.  Kind of sad, but it is what it is and I'm good with that.  Friday Kent will have his surgery and in 2-3 months we should be all clear from here on out.

Well, I need to go.  Got breakfast to cook, floors to vacuum, kids to be played with, a baby to be fed, burped, changed, held and a little girl to potty train.

Shut-up!

Lately with Jon Kent becoming more and more aware of his surroundings we are having to deal with him saying things that aren't appropriate.. at least not in this house.  Shut-up being one of those things.  We first told him that we just don't say that.  That it's not nice and if you want to tell someone to quit talking (Zoey) to tell them to be quiet or hush or shhhhh.  Of course, that doesn't go over well because, "Lion King says it".  Well since Lion King says it.... @@ (eye rolls).  So we tell him that big people can say that but even then it's not nice.  -Yeah we like to confuse our kids around here-  So Jon Kent thinks on this for awhile and I thought the subject had been dropped.  A few days later we are sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast and he says, "I'm going to eat all my waffles so I can grow up and be big!".  I applaud his genius idea and we continue to eat.  He then chimes in and say, "Then after I eat and get big I can say shut-up!"

*sigh*

Art Gallery

It's been a rainy day here so this is what we did.  Enjoy.

Ooooh.. just get over it.

Kent, Nathan and myself went to Kent's doctor appointment this afternoon.  I was in the waiting area (a huge open room with lots of different areas of waiting for different types of doctors, etc.) with Nathan.  He was sleeping in my arms and was getting restless so I knew he was getting hungry.  So I got the blanket out and threw it over me and started to nurse.  Then I make eye contact with this lady, who "subtly" was pointing at me to her friend.  Then her friend gives me this look, like WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!!?!?  I just stared at both of them until they put their heads back into their books.  But they both continued to look to see if I was still nursing Nathan.  I'm like get over it people.  My baby is hungry and I'm not showing a thing.  As we were leaving we walked right past them and I pointed at them to Kent and told him to meet my audience.

Quarter Century

Happy Birthday to me!  Today I turned 25 years old.  It was, for the most part, a normal day.  The kids did bring me cards this morning and Zoey sang happy birthday to me.  Kent went into work today.. he usually takes the day off, but since he is going to the doctor tomorrow he went in today.  Which was fine and even told him to do it.  Anyway, I made sure today wasn't about the house or dirty clothes but that it was just to be about the kids and me.  So we played and while they napped, I napped.  It was nice.  And the kids all too extra long naps so I got a good 90 minute nap.  Nice!  Kent's grandparents came by and dropped off a card and some money.  Then my parents called later in the afternoon and offered to take us out to eat for my birthday, which I gladly excepted.  They also gave me some money this past Saturday (since Kent and I were going out shopping that evening).  Thanks Momma and Daddy!!  We had a good time.. then Nathan woke up and decided he wanted the whole place to know he wasn't happy.  So we left.  We swung by Sonic and grabbed some ice cream and came home.  My in laws gave me a card and some money so that was nice.  Then it was bath time for all the kids and now they are all down and sleeping.  Kent and I are catching up on our shows that were on the DVR.  So all in all it was a nice day. 

Mother's Day weekend

This has been a busy weekend.  Yesterday afternoon we went to a family fun day at Kent's work.  They had lots of things for the kids to do and we ate hamburgers and hotdogs.  The kids enjoyed it and it was a great day to spend with the family.  Then last night my dad watched the kids and Kent and I went out for a date night and some shopping.  Kent "wanted me to get what I wanted" for Mother's Day and my birthday (this Tuesday) so I got a good haul.  ;-)  It was a good time and we finally got to have some "alone couple time".  Very nice!  Last night/early this morning we had a horrible line of storms come in and it was pretty intense a few times.  The lightening was something wicked and the wind got pretty bad a couple of times as well.  There were several tornado warnings around us but we never were put under one.. at least not when I was watching the TV.  But by this morning it was all cleared up and ended up being a very nice day.  This morning at church we had baby dedication and Nathan was dedicated.  Now this means nothing as far as his own salvation and walk with the Lord.  It's just for us to dedicated ourselves to raise him up in church and in God's word and to make that commitment before God and our church, etc.  It was nice and special.  Our pastor has been the one to dedicate all our kids, so that is also pretty special.  Anyway, the rest of the day was just spent with family and relaxing.  So it was a good weekend/day.  Enjoy the pictures!

Jon Kent Funny

While we were playing with dolls yesterday...

Me:  Zoey, are you going to feed your baby?

Zoey:  Nah.. you can do it.

Me:  No, you can do it if you want to. 

Jon Kent:  No Momma, Zoey can't feed her baby.

Me:  Why not?

Jon Kent:  Because she has little boobies.. not big boobies like you.

1 Month

Happy 1 month to Nathan!!

Nathan's Check-up

Nathan had his 1 month check-up yesterday.  Even though it was 2 days early.  Anyway, he weighed 11 pounds and 7 ounces.  Little pig.  He is is 21 5/8 inches long.  He is in the 50th percentile for his height and he was off the charts for his weight.  =D  Mama's milk is agreeing well with him, even though his reflux may not always agree.  The pediatrician upped his dosage of his Zantac (reflux meds) because of his weight gain.  BUT she took one dosage out.  So he is getting 2 doses a day now instead of 3.  She said since his weight was great and we haven't had many bad days of throwing up, that she thinks he will do fine on the 2 doses but we can up it back up to 3 if we need to.  So far he has done well.  Maybe this is a path to weaning him off of it sooner rather than later.  Nathan also had to have one shot.  And boy is he cranky today.  Whew.  Cranky, cranky, cranky.  He didn't let me put him down all morning.  I finally got a break when he was just totally out a little after noon.  Whew.  Anyway, we go back for his 2 month check-up in June.

May

Happy first day of May to everyone!  It's a very pretty day here in the grand state of Alabama.  The kids and I went outside this morning and enjoyed the nice weather.  Weather like this just makes a person feel good.  At least it does me. 

I would like to take time now to give a "shout out" to my folks.. aka.. parents.  Today is their anniversary.  And if I've counted right they have been married.. 32 years.  Right???  Anyway, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Tomorrow, May 2, is when Kent and I became an "official" couple.  And that was back in '98.. so a whole decade as come and gone.  I don't know about anybody else, but that blows my mind.  LOL.  So happy "dating" anniversary to Kent and me!  Woohoo!

Well, that's about it for now.  I am waiting on Kent to get home and I'm going to the gym to workout.. wooooohoooooo!!  ALONE TIME for me!!!!!!!!  Enjoy the pictures from this morning!!