Merry Christmas

I just realized that this post never got posted! Oops! Merry Late Christmas! Hehe


Well, I'm really bad about updating my blog. I feel like such a slacker!!! The past 2 months have been really tiring, but fun. Jess is such a cutie pie. She has started sleeping better & has tried rice cereal a few times. She 'coos' a lot & sometimes screams (happy screams) & looks surprised like 'what was that loud noise?' It's really cute! She was sick the whole month of November. First, she had another ear infection. Then, it was a runny nose that made it hard for her to nurse & breathe at the same time. Then, she got a cough that lasted 4 weeks!! Just about every time she coughed she would choke & barf all over. I felt like we carried an ice cream bucket around with us for a month! It was pretty bad. Then she got over that & went in for a check up & her ear infection isn't cleared up yet! So, the poor girl has really had a rough start! It's very frustrating to only get 3 hrs of sleep at a time, but it isn't her fault. Poor thing!

We are doing well! We hope all of you are too. We probably won't be sending Christmas cards out this year. I know, we are so lame. I'm too tired & busy for that. So, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

Can you say Procrastination?

I am horrible at keeping this up lately!! Wow, I just looked at my last post & just about started laughing!! After that last post our lives have been sleepless & hectic!!

A week after that post I took Jess in for a routine weight check, (which she had gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks!) & found out she had an ear infection!! Yes, at 2 weeks old! So, they put her on Ammoxicillin. Well, a week later I realized she had what looked like 'Thrush' in her mouth, so set an appointment & sure enough it was Thrush & a yeast infection on her bum!! I couldn't believe it. No wonder she'd been so fussy! They wanted to see her back in 10 days to check her ear, so we went back in & I told the Dr. how she was acting & she thought she had reflux. She doesn't ever spit up, but it comes up in her throat & goes back down, so it burns twice as bad!! So, she is on Zantac for that.

Poor girl. She has had a rough start & mom hasn't gotten much sleep! I have taken a nap almost every day since she's been born! I feel like I'm sleeping her life away!! I can't believe she's almost 3 months old! Crazy. Now, she is doing good. She weighs about 14 lbs already! Yes, she nurses well!! She is so much happier too. She is such a sweetie!

My parents & sister (Amy) came out at the end of September for Jessica's blessing. I was so glad they could come. We had a good time together. Amy was a great baby holder!! She would just take Jess for me so I could nap & even offered to take her in the middle of the night for me!! She never had to, but it was nice of her. I showed her where the 'bottle making' stuff was, just in case!! Amy left after a week & my parents stayed another week. My dad did a few projects for us around the house & fished a lot with Craig. I think they had a good time. They were probably glad to get back to their 'quiet' home! I miss them already.

My mom made Jessica's blessing dress which was beautiful!!! Here are some pictures of it:

Isn't she a cutie pie? She's so YUMMY!!

First week home

Ok, that last post was a little much for some, I am sure. So, I'll just stick with posting pics this time. Enjoy!

Cutie Pie

Long fingers!

First sponge bath

Sleep deprived mommy

Tired girl in the swing

Emi & Jess

Proud Daddy

Jessica Nicole Record

Baby Jessica Nicole was born on Aug. 1st, 2009 at 7:25am. She weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz. & was 19 1/2" long.

WARNING: Long & Graphic labor details! LOL

I started having contractions every 8 r 9 min. at 11pm on Friday. By 2:30am they were pretty strong & every 5 or 6 min. So, I called the hospital & woke Craig up & told him we needed to go to the hospital. He said "Are you serious?". I thought "NO.... I'm waking you up at 2am for a joke!" I didn't say that though. So, we called grandma & she came over & we headed out. The bumps in the car seemed so exaggerated!!! Holy cow it was really uncomfortable!

We got to the hospital & there were 5 people waiting behind the desk. I asked if they were waiting just for us & they said I was the only one there that night! So, Dr. Scott checked me & I was 4cm dilated. I thought he was kidding! I had been 3cm for 2 weeks! I thought for sure I would be more than that! So, He broke my water to speed things along & the nurse asked if I wanted to get in the jacuzzi. So, I did that. It felt really good, but man did my contractions start coming strong! So, I got out after about 20min & Dr. checked me again.....5cm. So, I was making progress, just not as fast as I had expected, especially after my others were so fast. So, I asked for Nubane. If that didn't work I was going to get the epidural. The Nubane made me feel so loopy in between contractions. I felt everything during them & they hurt like crazy, but in between I was able to relax a little. So, I didn't get the epidural. I SHOULD HAVE, but didn't.

The baby was 'face up', so I had really bad back labor!! It was horrible. Craig said he could see my backbone all deformed & curved weird. No wonder it hurt so bad. I had him pushing on my back as hard as he could & it still wasn't hard enough! I was in SO much pain. By this time I was 7 cm & it was too late for an epidural. As the Dr. was checking me I went from 8-10cm during a few contractions. It seemed like it took forever, but it really was only about 1 hr of really bad contractions, but I had never felt that before. I had always had epidurals. I really don't think I was expecting that at all. If I had been more prepared maybe it wouldn' t have been so traumatizing! Pushing was weird. It wasn't the same feeling as with the epidural. It hurt like hell! It didnt' feel right, it was just weird! 3 or 4 pushes & she was out. Luckily, she was small. I think I may be paralyzed right now if she were any bigger! LOL

After she was born the Dr. got looking at the placenta & said it was small & that there was a piece missing. He told me he needed me to be calm & relax. I said 'ok' He said 'I have to reach in & get the rest of the placenta. If I don't get it I have to take you straight to surgery to get it out or you could hemmorage."I freaked out a little. He told me I couldn't be tense or he wouldn't be able to get it. So, with no medication & having just delivered a baby, He had to reach his WHOLE HAND in me to get it out! He got it though & we were so relieved! Until.....he told me he had to do it again to make sure it was all out!!!!! I felt like I had just delivered triplets!!!!Holy cow! I'm still debating which was worse, the delivery or that!!!

The Dr. said that it was a 'Bi-lobal'(sp) placenta. Where the placenta forms in 2 pieces with a bridge in between, instead of one whole piece. He said that could be the reason she's small, the blood flow wasn't quite right getting to her. Everything is healthy though, so that is good.

I'm not sure if it's hormones or what, but every time I think of the labor & delivery I get all emotional & start crying. I really don't know why. It was very traumatic for me & I really felt like I could have died right there that day. I am so blessed that the Dr. knew what he was doing & that everything turned out the way it did. I don't know why people go through that pain on purpose without medication. I'm healthy & we have a precious baby girl who is also healthy. That's all that matters in the end, but I sure don't want to go through it again!! She is SO worth it though.

She is the most mild-mannered baby we've ever had! She is so sweet & we love her so much!

The kids absolutely adore her. Especially Matthew!!! Remember how he didn't want a brother or a sister??? Well, he sat & held her for over an hour the other day & kissed her & talked to her. It was so precious! They are all SO good with her. She is the perfect addition to our family! Definately the baby in my dream!!

Baby Update-36 weeks

Well, I had my OB appt. yesterday. Baby sounded good, measured good, blood pressure good, head's down & 3 cm dilated! I am freaking out a little about this! I usually go pretty quick once I hit 4 cm, but we'll see. I go back in on Monday & if I'm 4cm & contracting.....that could be the day! That's what happened with Matt & Emily. Who knows. I'm SO excited to meet this little girl. I want everything to be healthy & developed enough though so we don't run into problems. So, hopefully, she'll come when she's all ready.

I've had some really weird dreams lately.......

One was that I opened my tummy like an oven, took the baby out & said " you're not done yet, you gotta go back in" & put the baby back in the oven........I mean my tummy!

Another one was where I unbuttoned my belly button, opened my tummy like a 'flap' & took the baby out. So weird!

Another one was that Craig could feel the baby's hand through my tummy & she could grab his finger through my skin. Like some Scifi movie!

Man, I wake up SO relieved that they were just dreams!! So strange.

My feet & hands are so swollen. I've never had this before, but I've never been pregnant in the summer before either. It is so weird to not be able to see the bones in my feet & hands! My toes look like little sausages! I told Craig to just call me 'Fiona'. I feel like I have Ogre feet! LOL I tried on some size 9 shoes the other day.....couldn't even get them on! I might have to have my wedding ring cut off too if this baby doesn't come within the next week or so. It's starting to hurt pretty bad at times!

My friend Chantelle took me out to dinner last week to PF Changs & then we went & got pedicures! It was so nice of her to do that for me! I felt SO pampered. I'm sure the lady doing my feet was like " Wow, these feet are huge!" It was such a relaxing night & I had a great time with a wonderful friend! Thanks Chantelle!

Baby Bash

Some friends from church threw a Baby Bash for me & 2 other friends that are expecting in October. It was wonderful of them to think of us. It was a good relaxing night & so nice to get together with good friends to celebrate these little miracles! The food was great too!

Here are some pics of the night:

Caroline & I

All of us

I look SO huge in the pictures. I'm sure the camera adds at least 15 lbs. Right?

The 3 Preggos

Jen, Kellie & Lisa

Remember, I'm due in 6 weeks, they're due in 3 months!

I have no idea why Kellie's pointing at me or why Jen is making that funny face.

Baby update

So, I'm officially due in 5 or 6 weeks, but I've always been 2-3 weeks early. So, I went to my OB appt. on Wednesday & she said I am 1cm dilated. It freaked me out a little. I called Craig & he was REALLY freaking out. He was asking if we had everything ready & what we needed. I told him to calm down, I could be 1cm for a month! I guess I have to start somewhere, but we thought it was a little early for that. We weren't expecting it. Anyway, she wanted me to come back in another week instead of 2 weeks. I thought that was a good idea. So, I'll keep you posted on what's going on.
Meanwhile, I have been cleaning & organizing everything that I can. I cleaned/defrosted the deep freezer the other day. It took over 2 hours. I don't think I want to let it get that bad again. I was so tired! The boys helped though. Adam helped me scrap (I know, you're not supposed to do that) & Eric held the hairdryer to speed things along. Matthew 'dumped' the 'snow' outside for us. It was nice that they all helped. What a mess. Now, I have room for some freezer meals that I want to have made before the baby comes. That's my next project.
We're all getting excited for the baby to come. I've washed the clothes, the cradle is up, we have diapers & car seat. I think we're set. I've been trying to do fun things with the kids lately because I know once the baby comes things will have to slow down a little. So, we have some 'staycations' planned that are close to home, but hopefully will still be fun.
Next appt. is Wednesday. I'll do an update then.

Lemonade & Porches

The kids wanted to make a lemonade stand the other day. I told them I wasn't sure how many people would stop by because most people stop for yard sales & such, not just for lemonade. Well, they proved me wrong. They were out there for an hour & made $5. I couldn't believe it. Neighbors were coming over to get a drink to go with their lunch, cars were stopping by, cars were even driving by & then turning around to get some. I was shocked! They had a great time out there together. They made the lemonade & the signs by themselves too. I brought them lunch outside so they didn't have to take a break too. What little entrepreneurs!

Matthew with missing teeth eating watermelon

Emily

While I was outside taking pics of the kids, I snapped a few pics of our new front porch. It isn't done quite yet. We still need railings & it needs to be painted, but you get the idea. We love it! It's so nice to just sit out there & watch the sunset or have dinner. Hopefully the railings & paint will be done next week. We can finally go in & out of the house through the FRONT door! Amazing!

Just ignore the long grass.

Twister

For FHE the other night the kids wanted to play 'Twister'. I'm not really up to bending like that right now, so I was the judge/photographer & Craig was the 'spinner'. The kids had a blast & got all twisted up. I love the pic where all their bums are sticking up in the air.

Funny Emily!

Don't mind the crazy hair & wild clothes. Not sure what was up with that. It was a fun night & we were all together. I love those times!

The Zoo

I took the kids to the zoo the other day. It has been so rainy lately. So, we needed to get out & enjoy the sun while it was out. It was clear blue skies when we left & looked so nice out. Well, we got to the zoo & an hour later there was a down-pour!! It was raining buckets. I have no idea where those clouds came from. Holy cow! We got SO wet. We went into the restrooms to dry off with the electric hand dryer a little.

We had a lot of fun despite the rain! We saw all of the animals, had lunch, played in the water (like we needed to after that rainstorm), & then headed home- all tuckered out. We were exhausted! We took Matt's friend, Sean, with us (if you're wondering who the extra kid is in the pictures).

Here are some pics:

In front of the muddy Rhinos

Sean & Matt by the Albino snake

Eric & Adam by the Albino snake.

Emily by the turtles

This is a sign that was posted about the white tiger that was supposed to be at the zoo, but had sprained it's ankle while playing, so he was resting. I thought it was funny that they posted a sign.

The kids, being 'turtles':

Emily

Matt

Eric

Adam

Adam & Eric on the 'spiderweb'

Roses are Red.......

This is a rose from my rose bush that I got for Mother's Day. I think it is so pretty! The bush actually has 10 or 15 blossoms on it now, but this was the first one to bloom, so I snapped a pic.

Go fly a kite................

Literally.

We bought some great kites the other day at the Christmas Tree Shops. I think they were $3-$5, Emily's was the cheapest & flew the best. We had the perfect day to fly them too. The kids had so much fun. All I could think of is "this is what summer's supposed to be about"

Fun in the Sun.

Flying kites.

Emily got her kite up SO high & she would just sit there & hold it. It was pretty cute. The boys weren't as patient.

Look how high!

So, If you get a chance........Go fly a kite!

They boys went inside before I could get their picture, so you just get to see Emily.

A Visit to the Dairy Farm

Emily went on a field trip to the Dairy Farm with her preschool a few weeks ago. I got to go with her. They got to see the cows being milked by 'robots' & some baby cows that were only a few days old too. They also got to ride the 'big bus'. We had a lot of fun! Here are some pics:

On the bus with her friend, Kyasia

The milking 'robots'

3 day old baby cow

In the barn

Petting a pregnant cow

Wow, It's been almost a month!

I can't believe it's been a month since I posted anything! I'm such a slacker! We've been busy finishing up some stuff on the house the past few weeks & I've been in 'cleaning mode'. Not sure if it's really 'nesting' (because I'm sure it will all have to be done again in the next month or so), but I feel the need to clean & organize EVERYTHING!

Here are a few things we've been doing the past month or so:

Baseball

Baseball season IS over.........but Adam made the All Star team this year! We're very proud of him! So it's not really over.....yet. The first AS game is this Saturday. So, we'll see how it goes. If they win, they could go to States. Really, they have 'States' for little league? It's little league. Whatever. We may be in this thing all summer long.

Matthew up to bat
Eric-Yankees

Adam-Yankees

Michigan
The boys took their annual trip to Michigan with Dad at the end of May. They go with another family & their boys. They have a fun time fishing, camping & spending guy time with eachother. Here are some pics of their trip:

Before leaving

Matt with his 'catch'

Playing in the water/mud

Campsite

Before heading home


Woody The Woodpecker

We found this dead woodpecker in the middle of the road a few weeks ago. It was so sad! It's such a beautiful bird. Of course, the kids had to hold it & inspect it (washing their hands afterwards, of course) We were hoping to not get arrested for having it, they ARE endangered. Sad.

Snakes Eating Frogs

Our neighbor asked if the boys wanted to see an science project over at her house. She told the boys that there was a snake eating a whole frog. So, of course, they all RAN over there to witness this:



Nice, huh?

It ended up devouring the WHOLE thing!

A few weeks later, the boys picked up a snake in our backyard & a frog came out of it's mouth! They were convinced that this was the same snake they saw eating the frog. I'm not so sure. Gross.

Mickey
This is our cat, Mickey. He makes himself comfortable wherever he wants. He's usually sleeping in some odd position like this:

I think Adam took this picture.

Grandpa Daily?

When my grandpa Daily was alive, he ALWAYS had his pantleg tucked into the top of his boot. It was something that he did (not knowing) just about every day. Well, Matthew wanted to wear his cowboy boots to church the other day (besides, he couldn't find his other church shoe), so he came in the kitchen looking like this:

Pantleg tucked into his boot

I had to take a picture.

If you can't tell, he wasn't too happy with me making fun of him for it. It WAS funny, though.

At my grandmas funeral/burial they ended up having to 'move' my GRANDPAS grave (he passed away 12 years ago) because they had made a mistake & buried someone in my grandmas 'spot'. I thought it was funny. Just how their whole life/marriage had been. LOL So, in order for them to be buried next to each other, they had to move him. Anyway, we REdedicated his grave that day also, so this is what my sister, Anne, did to her pantleg, in his memory during the service:

Funny.