Mayah - Laying on my bear 
Mayah - sucking her thumb - she really gets into it!
Our Kitchen - re-arranged to house a baby during the day!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
As Promised - Pictures!!!!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Only 2 months later
**NOTE TO SELF** I am sure that these loyal :) readers would like to see some updated photos of the brothers - I should get on that.
So yesterday we took the brothers to their 18 month check up. Thats when I found out that it isn't even an 18 month check up but a 15 month check up. So instead of being 2 months late we are actually 5 months late. Great - sign me up now for Mother of the Year! Well I was late yet again - shocker. This time when I walked in (don't worry I called on my way letting them know I was going to be late) the receptionist obviously annoyed with me being late looked at me and then down at her watch. Nice. This is only my 2nd visit to this office and I am already making a great impression! Although I do have to say that the receptionist that was there our first day was a WHOLE lot more pleasant than the one that was there today.
Well once we got called back to the room we then stripped the boys down to just their diaper and took them to get measured. Here are their important stats:
Isaac
25 lbs even - 26%
33.5 inches tall - 55%
49.5cm head cir. - 78%
Aidan
23.8 lbs - 11%
33.5 inches tall - 55%
47.5cm head cir. - 30%
We were then waiting in the room when the Dr came in and asked if we would be willing to return later that afternoon to finish up the appointment. Apparently she had a lunch appointment that she couldn't miss or be late for and wouldn't have time to spend with us before that. So we did - we clothed the brothers and packed them all up and took them home. Now I guess this wouldn't have been such a big deal - I mean we were late to begin with but here was our timetable for the day:
11:15 - Aidans Appointment
11:25 - Time we actually showed up
11:30 - Isaac's Appointment
12:15 - Time we were asked to leave and comeback
2:30 - Time we were asked to comeback
That meant that I had just over 2 hours to get the boys home, feed them and give them a nap. Of course their normal nap time is at noon. Well thats what we did and dispite Isaac being a little fussy all went well.
Once back for our actual "appointment" I spent some time with the Dr just telling her about the boys, since this was the first time that she saw them. I told her about Isaac's never ending sickness throughout the winter and the fact that he has had a lot of ear infections. Well she then examined them guess what - yep - Isaac has yet another ear infection. So now with his snoring, high pallet, and numerous ear infections - he gets a trip to the ENT. She wants us to be seen again in two weeks - either with her or the ENT. I think that a set of tubes is in his future. She said that with his high pallet it just pushes everything up and leaves little room for his adenoids and nasal passageways.
Other than that everything is just fine with the brothers. They are still on the small side but they are growing and they look great! The next time that we see her again for a well visit is at 24 months. Oh and they each got 2 pokes - one in each leg. Poor Babies.
I am sure that I left a few pieces of the day out - but that was the main points I think. :) Remember I am a sleep deprived mother right now!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Mayah's 1 Month Check Up
I do have to say that today was a good day! Although it started really early - you know the kind of day that you really can't tell when the night before ended and the new day began. Mayah got a bath after my shower - I LOVE the smell of a freshly washed baby! Donned her cute outfit - have I mentioned yet that I falling in love with dressing a little girl - and got ready for her first appointment with a new Dr that my friend Angela led me to. David stayed home with the boys and Jessica and I headed off with Mayah - late of course! Our appointment was at 10:30 and we arrived at 10:40 - and that was just with one of the kids - Lets hope that if we have to take more we make it in time (like the brothers tomorrow)! I had already downloaded all of the paperwork needed for new patients and had it filled it out for everyone - so I didn't need to arrive early for that.
We were then taken back into our room and got the wonderful stats on Mayah - she is a whopping 8 lbs 4 ozs - The boob juice is working!!! She is also now 21 1/2 inches long - that could very well be a miss-measure because I don't know if she really grew almost 2 inches in 5 weeks. Overall, other than a cold, she is doing extremely well. For once I didn't get "lectured" for letting her sleep on her back - Just warned of the risks of SIDS. I do understand the risks - but all of my kids have been tummy sleepers.
Here is a checklist of things that she should be doing between birth and 3 months - I have checked off everything that she is doing now. I do have to add that she is consistently rolling over from her tummy to her back too - oh and actively trying to crawl! She can scoot from one side of our bed to the other or from one part of the floor to the other! She is just a very active little girl!
Well that it about all of an update that I can muster tonight. Tomorrow we have the Brothers 18 month check up so I will update on that tomorrow! Good night and lots of sleep to all!
Social and Emotional
Movement
Vision
Hearing and Speech
We were then taken back into our room and got the wonderful stats on Mayah - she is a whopping 8 lbs 4 ozs - The boob juice is working!!! She is also now 21 1/2 inches long - that could very well be a miss-measure because I don't know if she really grew almost 2 inches in 5 weeks. Overall, other than a cold, she is doing extremely well. For once I didn't get "lectured" for letting her sleep on her back - Just warned of the risks of SIDS. I do understand the risks - but all of my kids have been tummy sleepers.
Here is a checklist of things that she should be doing between birth and 3 months - I have checked off everything that she is doing now. I do have to add that she is consistently rolling over from her tummy to her back too - oh and actively trying to crawl! She can scoot from one side of our bed to the other or from one part of the floor to the other! She is just a very active little girl!
Well that it about all of an update that I can muster tonight. Tomorrow we have the Brothers 18 month check up so I will update on that tomorrow! Good night and lots of sleep to all!
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Vision
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Hearing and Speech
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Thursday, May 22, 2008
Mayah is 1 month old!!
Well Mayah is a month old already. I think that it is so crazy how fast time flies now that she is out of me! My pregnancy seemed to go on forever and now she is already a month old. It is so crazy how much I love her and how she has already changed our family!
We will go for her 1 month check up on the 27th - so actually she will be 5 weeks old by then. She is doing so well and so stinking cute!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
A New Blog
Like I needed more to do!
I have started a new blog - this one is more focused on my daily devotional times. I am soon hoping that I would be able to actually update it daily! :) I also started it 'cause I have some new cool things in the works - I will let you know when it all works out!
If you would like to check it out you can do so here.
I have started a new blog - this one is more focused on my daily devotional times. I am soon hoping that I would be able to actually update it daily! :) I also started it 'cause I have some new cool things in the works - I will let you know when it all works out!
If you would like to check it out you can do so here.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
530 hours
Thats how long my its been since I pushed my baby girl out my whohaa! What a 3 weeks this has been! She is growing so much - she actually has some chunk on her now! I will post updated pictures soon. My camera battery needed to be charged so I was not able to get some shots today like I wanted too. Maybe tomorrow.
Mayah has rolled over twice now from her belly to her back. At first I thought that it was a total fluke but now that it has happened again, I don't think so - I think that she is really doing it! We also watched her as she tried so hard to get on her hands and knees. She was on her belly and her little head was straight up in the air and she had her legs under her - up on her knees and she would push up with her arms (hands in fists). It was so cute - she would try for a few minutes and then she would just drop down and breath really hard until she got her energy back and she would try again. She did this for close to a half hour. Yep - she is going to give us a run for our money! I can just see it now she is going to be just like her brother Ethan and do everything so early!
She did really good at nights for a while but now she seems to want to give us a hard time at night. She sleeps so well during the day - sometime too well, and she is up most of the night. She is giving mommy a hard time!!!! I am just hoping that it is a mixture of gas and a growth spurt. She is wanting to eat just about every hour starting at 1:00am. I am not one who can just fall asleep so easily - thats David - not me! In between feeds she just grunts and groans until I feed her again. We have been giving her that gas stuff every 2 hours but it is not really helping. I am really hoping that we can just get over this soon!
Well Mayah is sleeping now - and we are watching the season finale of ANTM - (Go Whitney) - so I am going to shut down my computer, lay down and wait until Mayah wakes up to eat and PRAY that I will get some sleep tonight after that!
Mayah has rolled over twice now from her belly to her back. At first I thought that it was a total fluke but now that it has happened again, I don't think so - I think that she is really doing it! We also watched her as she tried so hard to get on her hands and knees. She was on her belly and her little head was straight up in the air and she had her legs under her - up on her knees and she would push up with her arms (hands in fists). It was so cute - she would try for a few minutes and then she would just drop down and breath really hard until she got her energy back and she would try again. She did this for close to a half hour. Yep - she is going to give us a run for our money! I can just see it now she is going to be just like her brother Ethan and do everything so early!
She did really good at nights for a while but now she seems to want to give us a hard time at night. She sleeps so well during the day - sometime too well, and she is up most of the night. She is giving mommy a hard time!!!! I am just hoping that it is a mixture of gas and a growth spurt. She is wanting to eat just about every hour starting at 1:00am. I am not one who can just fall asleep so easily - thats David - not me! In between feeds she just grunts and groans until I feed her again. We have been giving her that gas stuff every 2 hours but it is not really helping. I am really hoping that we can just get over this soon!
Well Mayah is sleeping now - and we are watching the season finale of ANTM - (Go Whitney) - so I am going to shut down my computer, lay down and wait until Mayah wakes up to eat and PRAY that I will get some sleep tonight after that!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lazy, Lazy Dayz
Today was just one of those days. You know the kind where no one gets out of their Pajamas until it is time to change into new ones for the night. I was awoken to David telling me that the Air Conditioner repair man was here - he was in the hallway right outside our bedroom. That kept me in my room with Mayah for the next hour or so. David got the boys all up, bathed, and fed right away. After I came upstairs and fixed my breakfast the boys were all ready to go down for their first nap. David and I then decided to watch a movie. This would be one of the first times that we had spent just down time together in a long while.
We had a couple of choices that we talked about, I am Legend, Dan in Real Life, Juno (my choice), but we then decided on PS, I Love You. Okay so I would have to say that this is one of the best movies that I have seen in a LONG time. I cried throughout the WHOLE movie. I think that sometimes you just need a good cry. I think that I was also able to get out some of those pregnancy hormones too! If you have not seen this movie, it is a must see.
The rest of the day went really easy, we just had a really nice day. I like it when David has his days off in the middle of the week - The weekends are already so full of things to do, that him working is just one of them. By having a day off in the middle of the week - it is not filled with other things and we are actually able to just veg and not do much except just hang out with our family.
David went to a Youth Staff meeting for just an hour, and while he was there I made meatballs and Angel Hair pasta. I also decided on making a chocolate cake that we had in the pantry. Yummy! We sat and watched American Idol and ate our dinner. David then had to go and get cake frosting since we didn't have any and he didn't want to eat cake with out any. The cake was really yummy. We are now just sitting in bed - each on our own laptop doing misc. things - waiting for Mayah to eat one more time before we call it a night.
Oh - Just some random updates:
David is meeting with the COO of a company this Thursday to discuss possible career opportunities with his company. Please pray that this will all work out and that there will be something that will work for our family and meet our needs. David would really like to get out of Starbucks sooner rather than later.
Also totally random: my ears have been pierced ever since I was 10 or something. Well tonight - no clue why - my ear is like infected. It is all gross and red and pussy and stuff. So weird.
Well I am going to call it a night.
We had a couple of choices that we talked about, I am Legend, Dan in Real Life, Juno (my choice), but we then decided on PS, I Love You. Okay so I would have to say that this is one of the best movies that I have seen in a LONG time. I cried throughout the WHOLE movie. I think that sometimes you just need a good cry. I think that I was also able to get out some of those pregnancy hormones too! If you have not seen this movie, it is a must see.
The rest of the day went really easy, we just had a really nice day. I like it when David has his days off in the middle of the week - The weekends are already so full of things to do, that him working is just one of them. By having a day off in the middle of the week - it is not filled with other things and we are actually able to just veg and not do much except just hang out with our family.
David went to a Youth Staff meeting for just an hour, and while he was there I made meatballs and Angel Hair pasta. I also decided on making a chocolate cake that we had in the pantry. Yummy! We sat and watched American Idol and ate our dinner. David then had to go and get cake frosting since we didn't have any and he didn't want to eat cake with out any. The cake was really yummy. We are now just sitting in bed - each on our own laptop doing misc. things - waiting for Mayah to eat one more time before we call it a night.
Oh - Just some random updates:
David is meeting with the COO of a company this Thursday to discuss possible career opportunities with his company. Please pray that this will all work out and that there will be something that will work for our family and meet our needs. David would really like to get out of Starbucks sooner rather than later.
Also totally random: my ears have been pierced ever since I was 10 or something. Well tonight - no clue why - my ear is like infected. It is all gross and red and pussy and stuff. So weird.
Well I am going to call it a night.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Today I am a better mother
I have been a mom of 4 for just about 3 weeks now. In these 3 short weeks, I have realized a ton of different things. First being that I have awesome kids! I need to make sure that I always keep that thought first and foremost in my mind because let me tell you not all the time do the behave like awesome kids! Brining Mayah home has really brought out the, um **best**, in my boys. Lets see in the past week, Isaac has learned to and perfected the art of hair pulling. Now maybe it is because Aidan's hair is just so dang long - or he actually realized that pulling Aidan's hair is a easy and quick way to get his attention and then distract him long enough to steal what ever toy he is currently playing with. The brothers now need to be closely watched when going up or down the stairs. Aidan is now really walking up and down the stairs - no longer sitting and scooting down or crawling up. Big WAY TO GO. BUT they now understand that they can push each other down the stairs. So far it has just happened at the bottom of the stairs so the pushed brother has only fallen down 3 or 4 stairs. This is because I have caught either brother many times at the top of the stars getting ready to lung into the other one. Nice. So this has brought me to the realization that my cute, sweet, innocent boys are out for blood! They have perfected the art of stealing toys from each other, pushing each other down, hitting, strangling, pushing each other off the couch, throwing toys at each other, hitting each other with toys, doing things to each other that I never would have imagined kids that young would do to each other - but then again they are BOYS!
I have also realized that I could possibly "raise my voice" more than is necessary. There are times that I have "raised my voice" and then noticed that my windows are all open and hoped that none of my neighbors had their windows open, or even the people driving down the road had their windows down and heard my moment of weakness. Okay in the spirit of full disclosure here - I have had quite a few of these moments of weakness - each hour it seems.
I also realize that our children learn from us how to deal with situations in life. So if they are doing something that I don't like - if I yell - um "raise my voice" at them I am teaching them that when something happens to them that they don't like they get to yell and be angry. We have noticed so many times - our exact words or even our exact attitudes - coming back at us through the mouth of Ethan - and guess what - we don't like it. In fact we tend to punish him for those things. Why? Its not his fault that we have taught him what was "acceptable" behavior. We have to remember that "Do as I say, not as I do" never is successful. I will be calling Suppernanny in 5 years if we continue down this path and I have 4 mouths reciting the very things that I tell them, in the very same manner. Jo will then tell me that I brought this all upon myself.
Why don't we just turn the tables now? Change the course of our legacy, starting today? Well yesterday. Yesterday I made a conscious effort not to "raise my voice" at all. When one of the brothers hit the other - I just made sure that the one hit was okay and told the one that hit that hitting was not okay. There were no loud "NO'S" or "ABSOLUTELY NOT'S" just me focusing their attention in another direction. By the end of the day there were less fights, toy stealings, couch pushings and hair pullings. That was a big sigh of relief. Do you want to know what else there was less of - strife. I actually was not worn out at the end of the day. I actually liked my kids at the end of the day! The house just felt different.
Now it was a decision that I had to make each time I saw one bully the other - but it was a decision that was so totally worth it. It also took less effort than yelling - um "raising my voice" - at my kids. I think that I can survive being a stay at home mom of 4!! Can I also just remind everyone still reading - 3 of them under the age of 2!
I can do this. Not only am I bettering myself, but I am teaching my children that there are other ways of dealing with issues than getting angry and "raising voices". Today I am a better mother.
The most wonderful family
There is a family that I have been blessed to get to know over the past few months. They all have been a wonderful support for me and my family through everything that we have gone through. It wasn't until this past Thursday night that I really understood how great this family is. This past Thursday I attended a going a way party for one of the youth. She was one of our babysitters while I was on bedrest and she will be greatly missed. Her name is Tabby and the thing that I love about Tabby is the way that she worships God. You can just tell that she is truly seeking the heart of God during worship. The Bible in John says that God is seeking true worshipers - ones that worship in spirit and in truth. I know that when God sees Tabby worshiping, He is pleased. Tabby will be missed!
Okay back to Sherri and her family. I had met Sherri when David and I had first started going to River of Life - well really shortly after we moved here. Sherri runs a local Christian School that is very successful. I had first met her two daughters, Cori and Kayla, because they worked in the nursery where the brothers went. They really attached themselves to the brothers right away. I got there phone numbers thinking that if we ever needed a sitter we could use them. (If we only knew!!!)
I then started having some pre-term labor issues and was put on bedrest in December - right before Christmas. Debbie and Ward were there so we had the help that we needed at that time. David had changed his work schedule so we really thought that I could handle 2 hours with the brothers and Ethan all by myself without too many problems. Well a week after Debbie and Ward left we realized that was not the case and I was hospitalized for 5 days due to pre-term labor. That is when we really found out the heart that Sherri has. She called David and didn't ask him if he needed anything - but she pretty much just told him that she was going to take care of making sure that our kids were taken care of not only when I was in the hospital but also once I was home. You see she spent time on bedrest with all of her pregnancies. She knew what I was going through - She had done the hospital visits, medication, bedrest with other kids. She had been there.
With the girls at her school, she arranged a weekly schedule for us. We had 1 or 2 (mostly 2) girls come over everyday when David was working and play with the boys, feed them, give them their naps, bath them, and then put them to bed. They would also keep me company. I am so thankful to these girls and all that they had done for us. The helped keep David and I sane through the past 5 months!
Well Sherri and I also made a trip to the ER for Aidan - after his wood eating incident, and a trip to L&D for me after Aidan (think he might be my adventurous one?) bruised my big 'ol preggo belly. We were able to talk during those times and I learned so much about her and her family. She also told me about her school. The kids have a chapel time everyday and some of the ones that she has described to me, and that the kids have told me about, it sounds so awesome. I want to be a part of that. How often do you see teenagers want to worship or pray for others - and it is all genuine? During the going away party I got to see a small glimps of what they do. There was a video that was shown of one of there chapel times that turned into "Church on the Street". They took chapel outside and ended up worshiping and praying for 3 1/2 hours right in front of the school on the sidewalk - in the middle of downtown Woodriver. We also watched part of the video that was filmed during the National Day of Prayer. The schools worship band played and the youth did a video. It too was awesome. At the end of the party, Ryan (one of Sherri's sons) pulled out his guitar and ended the party in worship. So if you are reading this - that might have sounded cheesy but it was not. These kids, at least 40 of them - if not more, went from playing around, having fun, jumping in the pool when it was a gloomy 55 degrees outside, eating food, behaving like normal teenagers and yet they transitioned so easily into worship. Like it was a normal part of their day. In all of my time working with youth - this is not something that I have ever seen before. It amazed me. It also made me realize that there were a bunch of things at work here.
1st - Sherri's house is a comfortable place for these teens to come and not only hang out and have fun, but to also worship. They know that. You can tell that there is peace in the house. Now I am sure that with 4 teenagers (2 boys - 2 girls) living there, there are plenty of times that the house is not peaceful but yet it is always peace-filled.
2nd - These kids are doing something right. They way that they are so easily able AND willing to enter into worship, during a party - not even at church, means that they are walking this walk every day - not just at church - or even at school. Wow.
In watching these kids, I am, dare I say it again, in Awe of them. It makes my heart happy! This is what I want to be a part of.
During this Thursday night outing I was also able to watch and get to know Sherri's kids better. They are all teenagers now but you can tell by watching them the kind of upbringing that they had. I pray that I am able to give my children that. I pray that my 4 will interact as well as her kids do. I pray that I will be always an encouragement to my children. I pray that my children will learn from us that their relationship with God is a personal one. Not something that is mandatory or expected. As much as I want my children to be believers and walk in the fullness that is God. I want it to be their choice first and foremost.
I look forward to spending more time with this family. I want to learn all that I can from them. I am blessed, and honored to call them my friends. And our babysitters! :)
Okay back to Sherri and her family. I had met Sherri when David and I had first started going to River of Life - well really shortly after we moved here. Sherri runs a local Christian School that is very successful. I had first met her two daughters, Cori and Kayla, because they worked in the nursery where the brothers went. They really attached themselves to the brothers right away. I got there phone numbers thinking that if we ever needed a sitter we could use them. (If we only knew!!!)
I then started having some pre-term labor issues and was put on bedrest in December - right before Christmas. Debbie and Ward were there so we had the help that we needed at that time. David had changed his work schedule so we really thought that I could handle 2 hours with the brothers and Ethan all by myself without too many problems. Well a week after Debbie and Ward left we realized that was not the case and I was hospitalized for 5 days due to pre-term labor. That is when we really found out the heart that Sherri has. She called David and didn't ask him if he needed anything - but she pretty much just told him that she was going to take care of making sure that our kids were taken care of not only when I was in the hospital but also once I was home. You see she spent time on bedrest with all of her pregnancies. She knew what I was going through - She had done the hospital visits, medication, bedrest with other kids. She had been there.
With the girls at her school, she arranged a weekly schedule for us. We had 1 or 2 (mostly 2) girls come over everyday when David was working and play with the boys, feed them, give them their naps, bath them, and then put them to bed. They would also keep me company. I am so thankful to these girls and all that they had done for us. The helped keep David and I sane through the past 5 months!
Well Sherri and I also made a trip to the ER for Aidan - after his wood eating incident, and a trip to L&D for me after Aidan (think he might be my adventurous one?) bruised my big 'ol preggo belly. We were able to talk during those times and I learned so much about her and her family. She also told me about her school. The kids have a chapel time everyday and some of the ones that she has described to me, and that the kids have told me about, it sounds so awesome. I want to be a part of that. How often do you see teenagers want to worship or pray for others - and it is all genuine? During the going away party I got to see a small glimps of what they do. There was a video that was shown of one of there chapel times that turned into "Church on the Street". They took chapel outside and ended up worshiping and praying for 3 1/2 hours right in front of the school on the sidewalk - in the middle of downtown Woodriver. We also watched part of the video that was filmed during the National Day of Prayer. The schools worship band played and the youth did a video. It too was awesome. At the end of the party, Ryan (one of Sherri's sons) pulled out his guitar and ended the party in worship. So if you are reading this - that might have sounded cheesy but it was not. These kids, at least 40 of them - if not more, went from playing around, having fun, jumping in the pool when it was a gloomy 55 degrees outside, eating food, behaving like normal teenagers and yet they transitioned so easily into worship. Like it was a normal part of their day. In all of my time working with youth - this is not something that I have ever seen before. It amazed me. It also made me realize that there were a bunch of things at work here.
1st - Sherri's house is a comfortable place for these teens to come and not only hang out and have fun, but to also worship. They know that. You can tell that there is peace in the house. Now I am sure that with 4 teenagers (2 boys - 2 girls) living there, there are plenty of times that the house is not peaceful but yet it is always peace-filled.
2nd - These kids are doing something right. They way that they are so easily able AND willing to enter into worship, during a party - not even at church, means that they are walking this walk every day - not just at church - or even at school. Wow.
In watching these kids, I am, dare I say it again, in Awe of them. It makes my heart happy! This is what I want to be a part of.
During this Thursday night outing I was also able to watch and get to know Sherri's kids better. They are all teenagers now but you can tell by watching them the kind of upbringing that they had. I pray that I am able to give my children that. I pray that my 4 will interact as well as her kids do. I pray that I will be always an encouragement to my children. I pray that my children will learn from us that their relationship with God is a personal one. Not something that is mandatory or expected. As much as I want my children to be believers and walk in the fullness that is God. I want it to be their choice first and foremost.
I look forward to spending more time with this family. I want to learn all that I can from them. I am blessed, and honored to call them my friends. And our babysitters! :)
Friday, May 9, 2008
I am a College Graduate!!
And I graduate with honors as well!
After starting my college degree when I was pregnant with my first son. I am now done. I joked with one of my professors that now that I am done with my BA degree I can stop having kids! 4 kids - 4 1/2 years - I am done. I only have grades for 2 out of 3 of my classes so far. An A- and a B. My second B throughout this whole journey! If I get at least an A in my third class I will graduate with top honors - Summa Cum Laude, but if I get a B in my third class, I will still graduate with honors - Magna Cum Laude. Pretty cool considering everything that I have been through during this journey. Ethan - Pregnant with the twins - Pre-Term labor with the twins - Isaac and Aidan - Preterm birth - 23 days in the NICU - Seizures - being diagnosed with Epilepsy - moving cross country - Pregnant yet again - Pre-term labor, again - 127 days on bedrest - 2 more seizures - Mayah! All of this and I now have a Bachelors degree in Psychology!!!
After starting my college degree when I was pregnant with my first son. I am now done. I joked with one of my professors that now that I am done with my BA degree I can stop having kids! 4 kids - 4 1/2 years - I am done. I only have grades for 2 out of 3 of my classes so far. An A- and a B. My second B throughout this whole journey! If I get at least an A in my third class I will graduate with top honors - Summa Cum Laude, but if I get a B in my third class, I will still graduate with honors - Magna Cum Laude. Pretty cool considering everything that I have been through during this journey. Ethan - Pregnant with the twins - Pre-Term labor with the twins - Isaac and Aidan - Preterm birth - 23 days in the NICU - Seizures - being diagnosed with Epilepsy - moving cross country - Pregnant yet again - Pre-term labor, again - 127 days on bedrest - 2 more seizures - Mayah! All of this and I now have a Bachelors degree in Psychology!!!
Mayah - 2 weeks old - And a update on life.
Well as of today Mayah has been outside my womb for 17 days!! Everyday that I look at her it is like my love grows for her more and more! I can not believe that after 126 days on bedrest - wondering just how I would deal with one more day - she is in my arms! My daughter. Just as I think that the bond between a mother and her sons is really something special - I have come to realize that the bond between a daughter and her mother is great. As much as I didn't think that I could step up to the challenge of being a mother of a little girl - I am so thankful that I am given this opportunity. She is truly our gift from God. And I am thankful that we have been blessed with her and thus completing our family.
We are adjusting with life with a new little one. And let me tell you it is an adjustment. We rearranged our kitchen so that we have a pack-n-play there so that Mayah has a place to sleep or just hang out and she is on the same level as all of us when David is at work. The brothers are adjusting with not being the only main focus throughout the day. They are acting up just a bit more mainly when I am holding or feeding Mayah. Our pediatrician suggested that we try a sling with Mayah so that she is close to me but also my hands are free for the twins. I just got my Ultimate Baby Wrap out and all cleaned so I will try it out this afternoon with her.
She is has a long awake period during the day - normally like 4 hours. Too bad this time is normally at the same time that the brothers are down for their nap. She is a good sleeper at night though. We normally get at least one 4 hour block a night. She is really then up every 3 hours to feed.
She is a champ at feeding. We have been to the Dr. a few times just mainly for weight checks since she was born - Here are her stats up to now:
Birthday 4/22/08 - 6lbs 7ozs 19 3/4 in long
4/24/08 (discharge day) - 6lbs 3 ozs
4/25/08 (first Dr visit) - 6lbs even
4/30/08 (second Dr visit) - 6lbs 2 ozs
5/7/08 (third Dr visit) - 6lbs 10ozs
She is gaining just like she should be! I so wanted to be successful at breastfeeding with her and it looks like we are off to a great start! There are times when I feel like all I am doing is feeding someone or changing someones diaper! If it is not Mayah it is Ethan or the brothers - or ME!!! I can't believe how hungry I am! This Tuesday I had my braces adjusted and now my mouth is really really really sore so I am not able to eat anything that I have to bite into. That limits my food intake choices quite a bit!
We are adjusting with life with a new little one. And let me tell you it is an adjustment. We rearranged our kitchen so that we have a pack-n-play there so that Mayah has a place to sleep or just hang out and she is on the same level as all of us when David is at work. The brothers are adjusting with not being the only main focus throughout the day. They are acting up just a bit more mainly when I am holding or feeding Mayah. Our pediatrician suggested that we try a sling with Mayah so that she is close to me but also my hands are free for the twins. I just got my Ultimate Baby Wrap out and all cleaned so I will try it out this afternoon with her.
She is has a long awake period during the day - normally like 4 hours. Too bad this time is normally at the same time that the brothers are down for their nap. She is a good sleeper at night though. We normally get at least one 4 hour block a night. She is really then up every 3 hours to feed.
She is a champ at feeding. We have been to the Dr. a few times just mainly for weight checks since she was born - Here are her stats up to now:
Birthday 4/22/08 - 6lbs 7ozs 19 3/4 in long
4/24/08 (discharge day) - 6lbs 3 ozs
4/25/08 (first Dr visit) - 6lbs even
4/30/08 (second Dr visit) - 6lbs 2 ozs
5/7/08 (third Dr visit) - 6lbs 10ozs
She is gaining just like she should be! I so wanted to be successful at breastfeeding with her and it looks like we are off to a great start! There are times when I feel like all I am doing is feeding someone or changing someones diaper! If it is not Mayah it is Ethan or the brothers - or ME!!! I can't believe how hungry I am! This Tuesday I had my braces adjusted and now my mouth is really really really sore so I am not able to eat anything that I have to bite into. That limits my food intake choices quite a bit!
Monday, May 5, 2008
7 Years Today
7 years ago today - David and I started our journey together. It is amazing to look back and see all that we have been through together. We have been blessed with 4 beautiful children. We have lived in 6 different houses. We have lived in 3 different states, moving cross country 2 different times. We have both gone back to school and received college degrees. Through all of this I can say that I love my husband more today than the day that I said "I Do". He does complete me. He is my better half. Tonight we will celebrate our lives together. We will be amazed at where we came from, we will be in awe at where we are at, and we will dream about what the future holds for us. Most importantly we will be together. Forever and Always.
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