100th post = 100 things about me!

1. I love to see Little One's tan line -there is something oh so cute about a white toddler bum against a tan back
   
2. It took me eight years to get my English degree
3. My favorite candy is peanut M & M's
4. I love putting puzzles together - especially around Christmas and Thanksgiving
   
5. I love balancing our bank account with our Quicken software. It's something I do everyday
6. It hasn't always been that way - until we went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, I never balanced my check book
7. I have a habit of leaving cupboard doors open - it drives a lot of people crazy - myself included.
   
8. I was 29 when I got married
9. We dated for three years
   
10. I was 30 when I had our first son
11. We got pregnant on our honeymoon
    
12. My sister and I lived together in a very cool downtown apartment before either one of us got married. It was a fabulous period in my life.
13. I love post it notes and sharpies. Actually, any kind of new office or school supply make me happy. But the big bright package of multi-colored sharpies calls my name every time I'm in the school supply isle
    
14. I am a major introvert
15. My eldest son is a major extrovert
16. I have spent nine months attending a Bible college called Capernwray in England
17. During that time I spent 3 weeks in Kenya
18. And one month in Germany
19. I've only lived in two states - Colorado and Texas
20. In the summer I love to drink iced chai
21. In the winter I love to drink warm chai
22. I have an on and off relationship with coffee. I drank it in high school, decided that I didn't like it in college - and drank tea until this last pregnancy. I then craved coffee like crazy - and now have a cup a day (with lots of cream and sugar)
23. I love to give gifts
24. And wrap them
    
25. I love to buy gifts at Anthropologie
26. Daisies are my favorite flowers
27. I can not keep plants alive
28. I LOVE to get fun snail mail
29. I have watched more episodes of Blues Clues and The Wiggles than I care to count
30. Fall is my favorite season
    
31. I really enjoy living in Texas
32. I really miss my friends and family in CO
33. I really wish that I were a better photographer
    
34. I really wish that I scrap booked. It's been a forever wish, I have yet to do anything about it
    
35. I never thought I'd be excited about a new season of Sesame Street
    
36. It took me a good year to start blogging
37. I am the oldest child in my family - followed by a younger sister of three years and a younger brother of 10
38. I'm not sure I can come up with 63 more things about me
39. I love to spend time in pools and in the water - but don't really know how to swim
40. I hope to change that by next summer
41. I am a huge fan of Craig's List - and have found some real treasures from the site - Including a Nanny job for myself a couple of years ago - and a WONDERFUL nanny for us while Baby Brother was born!
42. I like to buy and sell things on Ebay
43. I have a mill and grind wheat to make our flour - and make fresh bread almost weekly
44. In fact, that is what I should be doing now instead of making this silly list!
    
45. I am a very vivid dreamer - and can recall most of my dreams in the AM
46. Right now my favorite CD is Alive Forever by Travis Cottrell
47. My first car was a 1989 Yellow Cavillier. I loved that car! It had a sun roof and we called it the sunshine mobile
48. I have been in three auto accidents - all of them very minor
49. I once left my emergency brake off at my parent's house - and my car rolled down a hill and hit a tree, and barely missed hitting the neighbors car. Brother! I still can't believe that one.
50. I hate driving in snow
51. I love being snowed in!
52. When I was single I thought I didn't ever want to have children
53. Now I can't imagine it any other way!
54. Did I mention I like to cook? If so, it's worth repeating
55. I love a bubble bath
56. I whole heartedly believe in miracles
    
57. One of the ways my husband spoils me is by giving me a monthly facial
58. I am a baseball fan
59. However, I don't have a favorite team. I tend to change teams every season.
60. Last year my hubby and I were able to go to all of the Rockies home playoff games. We tried desperately to get World Series tickets - but didn't. That's something I'll never forget.
    
61. I am sad that I'll never get to go to the original Yankee Stadium
62. I like pink baseball hats
    
63. I understand nothing about Fantasy Football
64. I understood nothing about real football until I married my hubby. Then that changed.
65. I am debating about revealing my family's real names on the blog
    
66. I love Target
    
67. I love to buy new sponges and cleaning supplies
68. I hate cleaning bathrooms
    
69. I would love to sew - but don't, and probably never will
70. I once tried to learn how to knit, but wound up getting really upset, crying and leaving the knitting party. Now, I was in high school, so I think there were some other things going on - but I haven't tried since.
71. The most fun job I've had was working as a receptionist at a hair salon
72. My baby is a big grunter. Today we went to Bible Study and he grrrrrrrddd most of the time. He's doing that now, which means I need to change his diaper and feed him.
73. I went to a private school from preschool - 12th grade
74. There were 19 students in my graduating class
75. I really wanted to go to Covenant College - but ended up a Colorado University. It's all good
76. I was a cheerleader in Jr High. I hated it
77. I really wish that I went out for basketball in highschool. But, I was way lacking in the self confidence arena. Don't ask about how that works with the cheerleading.
78. I buy myself a spiced pumpkin yankee candle every fall
79. I don't get the buzz about Twitter - and can't imagine doing it these days. However, I do think I could totally get into it if I were still working in an office environment...
    
80. I love Shutterfly
    
81. I've worn glasses/contacts since I was 16 months
82. My dad has been a Walgreens pharmacist for 30+ years
83. My mom drove a MK Pink Cadillac when I was in 3rd grade. She worked hard for that car!
84. During that time I wore a little pink t-shirt that said "Ask my mom about Mary Kay." and I wore it with pride.
85. I think I would like to write children's books someday
86. I was a preschool teacher for a couple of years
87. I don't think I have a favorite movie. There are a ton that I love and that I would have to claim as a favorite - I can't really narrow it down to one favorite.
    
88. I'm a total chick-flick lover
    
89. I'm a big crier
90. I wish that I had an older woman as a mentor. I'm praying for that.
91. I haven't been to church all summer
    
92. That's a story for a whole other post
93. Today Baby Brother's birth announcements came - I am so excited. I didn't send them out when Little One was born, and I totally regret it.
    
94. I used to ski. Then I had a ski accident - and now haven't skied in years.
    
95. I know my husband would like for me to give skiing another try.
96. I do love staying in the lodge cuddled up by the fire
97. I went to Aruba once and LOVED it. I totally want to go back with my Hubby.
98. Are you still reading this? It seems that I've been working on it forever.
99. I am fond of basement apartments
100. My son is grunting again - time to eat again! (Two days after the first grunting I described...)
     

Phew, I'm glad that's done! Now I can continue on with other posts. I've thought for a long time that I wanted to do this for my 100th post - but who knew it would fall right after I had a baby? It took me all week to get this list together. My computer time is so limited these days. So is my sleep. And, when I have to chose between the two, I'm opting for some shut-eye. In fact, that's where I'm headed right now.

Sesame Street and Burp Cloths - bare necessities around here!

I actually wrote this on Monday ~ and am just now able to sit down and upload pictures! Better late than never.....


Today is the first day that we are on our own. But, not really - because Hubs decided that he would come home for lunch and watch the boys while I went to the doctor - giving me a nice little break. Thank you Honey! Making tomorrow the official "mommy on her own day" - and Hubs works late - so a long day it will be.

Baby Brother is a little cuddlebug! Forget "Back to Sleep"! He sleeps best when he is in someone arms - on his stomach. He has to have two layers of clothing, swaddled, and then a heavy blanket over him. He prefers to sleep on his side propped up by a pillow - and when he is in his swing the only way to settle him is to put a burp cloth over his head. Don't worry, I don't sleep when he's sleeping these ways - that's how I know that he likes them. At night, I put him "back to sleep" with only being swaddled - and he fusses and hems and haws. And no one gets any rest. Tonight I think we are going to try letting him sleep in the swing (minus burp cloth) and see if it helps any.

Little One is adjusting to being Big Brother very well. Yesterday we discovered that his "miderman boots" are too small. It was very tragic. In order to make things better, Daddy suggested that he wear them on his hands as gloves. Now he runs around with the boots on his hands and pretends to box the refrigerator, couch, kitchen island, etc. All the while saying "I's hittin stuff Mama!" How is it that boys are such boys?! He's never seen a boxing match, yet the impulse to defend and fight came so naturally. Baby Brother took a few knocks to the head yesterday with the miderman boots gloves. Little One didn't do it on purpose and Baby Brother didn't get hurt, but he let us know that he didn't like it!



Little One also LOVES for Baby Brother to do the things he does. This morning Baby Brother was introduced to Sesame Street. Doesn't Baby Brother looked so entertained?

And here, Little One is helping Baby Bro find all of his toys. What a great helper!

So, now that it's the end of the week, I'm happy to report that we made it! We have even gotten a little more sleep at night - thanks to the bouncy chair. I know, I shouldn't use sleep "props" but whatever works I'm going with these days! :) I have a few more posts written in my head, but I make no promises as to when they'll actually be posted. I have a feeling my posting will be pretty random in the coming couple of weeks.

Three years = Three Men

July 28, 2008
June 4, 2006

August 13, 2005

Happy 3rd Anniversary My Love!

I said I liked the hospital, but not THAT much....

This past weekend was a little bit wild. On Friday I went to my one week post pregnancy check up. The nurse took my blood pressure and with a frown said : "hmmm....your blood pressure is a little high..."

I had completely normal blood pressure throughout the whole pregnancy.

I kinda wrote it off - Hubs and I had had the kind of morning where we were both a little annoyed with one another, Little One was not being himself and winning like crazy, we were concerned about Baby Brother's circumcision, and I had lost my wallet a few days earlier - and couldn't find it anywhere. Of course my blood pressure was high!

The doctor comes in, toting the blood pressure cart. She checks my blood pressure two more times. And two more times it is high. She then discusses with me all of the symptoms of post partum preeclampsia. Headaches, seeing spots, high blood pressure, aches in your side...ok, got it. She then instructed me to monitor my blood pressure at CVS throughout the weekend, and if it was higher than 139 over 40 - to call her.

I went Saturday morning with Little One - and it was next to impossible for me to sit still for the test while my toddler was exploring CVS. I had to take the test multiple times, only to get a reading of 144 over 58. I decided that my blood pressure was elevated due to the toddler factor, and decided I would come back later and get a more accurate reading.

On my way home, I began seeing spots. Great.

I returned to CVS that evening - and my blood pressure was 158 over 90. Not good. Especially because things had been resolved between Hubs and I, I had no toddler with me, BB circumcision was just fine, and I had found my wallet. So, I gave my doctor a call - and she told me to go to the ER and tell them that I just gave birth and have really high blood pressure - and they'd know what to do from there.

At the ER my blood pressure was 181 over 101. Really not good. And, come to think of it, I had had two or three fierce headaches that week, and my ankles had been very swollen. hmmm...
After monitoring me, they decided that I needed to be admitted! What? I couldn't really believe it. I guess I was in danger of having seizures and who wants that? I was admitted to the labor and delivery floor - and they gave me a 24 hour dose of magnesium sulfate. That stuff is HORRID. I suddenly felt like I had been hit by a truck - and that I had the worse case of flu ever. I can't imagine having that stuff given to me while pregnant and then giving birth. (I guess that's what they do for pre-labor preeclamsia.) But, once I had the magnesium sulfate, I have a very slim chance of having a seizure and my blood pressure went way down. After they took me off the MS - I was feeing completely normal within a few hours. Wild! I was released yesterday, and feeling fine (although a little tired) today.

Thankfully, my MIL had flown in on Saturday for a visit. She was here for no less than one hour when we announced that we had to go to the hospital. "Are you joking?" she asked so sweetly. I am so thankful that she's here. I brought Baby Brother with me to the hospital, but when we arrived, there was a lady throwing up, and another moaning miserably - and I just couldn't stand to expose him to all of the germs. I told Hubs to take him right back home.

When I found out that we would be in the Labor and Delivery ward, I was hopeful that Baby Brother could come and be with me during my stay. But, the nurse discouraged it - and she was so right. There was no way I could have cared for him being under the Mag Sulfate. So, I just pumped and sent my milk home to feed our little guy. It was so hard being away from him for so long!

So, that's the story of my weekend. It was so random and unexpected - I still can't believe we went through that. I really have so much to be thankful for. The timing of my MIL's visit, modern day preventative medicine, and that I have an attentive and detailed oriented doctor.

God is good, all the time - and all the time, God is good.

Happy Birth Day! July 28, 2008

*****Long Post Ahead!*****


Mama's Arms

Watching Daddy Change B B's Diaper

Hi! Baby Brother!

Mama's Boys

Welcome Home!

Our scheduled date for the C-section was 5:00 AM on Monday, July 28th - exactly 39 weeks. I had had exactly 0 contractions or any signs of going into labor - and really, I am so thankful that we did things as we did.

The night before I had planned on doing last minute preparations - you know, like packing the hospital bag, picking up the house, and wiping down the bathrooms. I admit that I am a total procrastinator. I knew what needed to be packed, and I knew that if I forgot anything, Hubs could go and get it for me. The hospital is only 10 minutes from our home, and I knew he'd be home to see Little One anyway. So, I wasn't that worried about unpacked hospital bags.

Well, Little One could totally feel the anticipation - and did not go to bed until 11:00! That's what I get for being a procrastinator! The hospital bags got packed, but nothing else was done. Oh well. They still sit undone - but that's okay. I also admit that I wasn't very stern with the whole bed time routine the night before - because I was still really sad that this was our last night together as the three of us. I just kept thinking "oh, this is the last time..." silly, I know, but it's true. I wanted to cherish every single moment - and all the other things could wait.

We left for the hospital in the wee hours of the morning - and were checked in and in the surgery prep room by 5:30. It was so weird that it was so anti-climatic. No contractions, joking with the ER techs, walking up to my room - and to think we held our baby within the next two hours! Weird! After I got my lovely hospital gown on, and they got my IV started, I signed a bunch of papers warning us of all of the complications that could happen with the surgery - geesh - that was not the most comforting thing at all! It was then when I started to second guess myself and our decision to have a C-section - and then I started to think about Little One and I missed him to the bottom of my toes. I so wanted him to be near - as this was a huge family time - and he is so family. I think too, I was a little freaked out by all the papers I had signed and was a little fearful that something might happen to me. So, a good cry helped.

Then, my wonderful doctor came in. Then the wonderful anesthesiologist. All made me feel that it was going to be just fine. At 7:00 I drank the worst shot of medicine - and walked into the operating room. That was the hardest part - as I had to go alone until the spinal was done and then Hubs could come in. It seemed so surreal. I don't remember much about Little One's C-section - as it was emergency and everything was going so fast. But, with this one I could take in every detail. I walked into a sterile, cold room - and nurses and doctors flitting around, getting everything ready. I had conversations with two nurses. I made it through the spinal. They put the blue sheet up. I waited for Hubs to come in.

He came in. He held my hand. The doctor poked a prodded - while waves of nausea washed over me. Hubs and I talked about the baby's name. We had two different names picked out, and had decided that we would name the baby once we saw him. And, then, at 7:40 the doctor tells me that she sees his head - and with a push against my diaphragm - he was out! He started crying immediately - and so did I. My doctor held him up over the blue sheet so we could see him- and then he was taken to the other side of the room - where I could see every thing that was going on with him. Hubs was with him, and then brought him over to me. We decided on the name, and then they were off to the nursery.

Once in the recovery room, I had a great nurse named Molly - who took such good care of me. Actually, every nurse I had was STELLAR. Nurses are really such wonderful angels. Shortly after, Hubs brought Baby Brother to me, and he began nursing immediately! Joy! Joy! Joy! This was such an issue with Little One - but not this time around! I am so grateful.

Little One came and visited every afternoon. Every time he wanted to crawl up into the bed with me and snuggle. Once he met Baby Brother, he said "so sweet" and "snuggle". He then wanted to bring things to Baby Brother that he thought he might need, a pillow, Little One's "Moo" (his security blanket), the phone... It was super sweet.

We were there until Thursday morning. I am thankful for the extended stay - as it really was restful. The hospital is a new hospital, and they were excited because exactly 31 babies were born in the month of July. Which, means that we got great care, in a brand new hospital. There was no rush to get me out the door, and all of the nurses had time. They had a relatively small nursing staff, so we got to know most of the labor and delivery nurses as well as the nursery nurses. To say the least, we were spoiled.

There's a little recap of our sweet second son's birth. I thank God for such a redeeming experience. There was so much trauma with Little One - and through this birthing process there has been so much healing. That could be a whole other two or three posts. Maybe someday I'll go there on this blog - I'm not sure. I do know that I can see the faithful hand of the Father every where I look - and for that I am eternally grateful.

Welcome to our World Baby Brother. We Love You So!

Round Two

Today was a particularly rough day. Not with the newborn - but with the toddler. Somehow dealing with all of the new-born issues is a walk in the park compared with dealing with the toddler whose world has completely gone haywire. I remember stressing about everything with Little One when he was just a week old. Should the umbilical chord look like that? Has he been sleeping too long? How in the world was I going to function on sleeping for only three hours at a time? Ha. That's all old hat. Tonight I tried to feed Baby Brother formula - just because I have a splitting headache - and he is in the mode of "I just can't get enough mom". He refused the formula. Oh well. Anyway, I stressed a bunch when it came down to feeding Little One formula. Tonight it was a five second decision.

Little One is having a hard time with all of this change going on around here. All of the sudden every answer to every question is "NO!" and he does very little of what we ask him to do. There seems to be a little of a power struggle going on here. I am frustrated because he is not normally like this, I am running on very little sleep, and recovering from major surgery. My patience is running thin! He's frustrated because this sweet Baby Brother is not going away, and oh, he takes a lot of mom and dad's time. Tonight at bed time I laid down with Little One and he could not stop talking. "What's that?" and "Sing song". Keeping me there and putting off sleep as long as possible. It's like he was drinking in my presence. Okay, I need to change the subject because I am in a pool of hormonal tears....


I seriously wanted to down load every discipline/child raising book that's on my reading list onto my ipod tonight. I now feel like I felt when he was a brand new baby - What do I do? How do I handle this? I so want to do it right, and I so want to be sensitive to what's going on in his mind and heart. But the attitude, the whining, and resistance - it's really not okay.


So, does anyone out there have any suggestions or stories about their oldest and the transition to a new sibling? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Baby Pics

Baby Brother LOVES to be swaddled

Brothers checking each other out

Love those toes!

Oh Baby!!

"Baby Brother Here!" Are words that Little One has been saying alot. We are home, had a longer stay at the hospital than anticipated, but I welcomed the rest. Everything went really well - and now we are all home!


I really need to go and rest while both boys are sleeping - but I just wanted to check in with you all. More pictures and stories will be coming soon!

Love,
Rebecca