We are adjusting.

Richard has been home since the day before Thanksgiving, so it's been a strange adjustment this week. Wyatt woke up this morning and immediately asked where Daddy was.  Poor little guy, he really liked having him here more!


Jack has been up to some very strange business....

Wyatt was so excited when he found him in his own room. He stood up on his bed, and he almost touched him today, but then remembered that he would loose his magic if he did! The look on Wyatt's face when we spot him somewhere new, is priceless!  I can't wait till Josie is old enough to join in on the fun!

Jack ~ Night four!

Jack ~ Nights two and three

 Night two

Night three

Jack is here!

We knew Jack was coming, and have known for a while. I've been reminding Wyatt that Santa was picking out a very special elf friend for him. He didn't know when or how he would arrive though.

It was a little after dinner on a clear Thanksgiving night. I went out on the porch to feed the cats, and there was a package there for Wyatt and Josie!

We unwrapped our new elf, and read the story! Wyatt instantly named him Jack.

This is awesome! A tradition I wish was around when I was a kid! I've been taking some pictures of the shenanagins that Jack is getting into, and hopefully I can find a few minutes through the week to share with you what he's been up to!

Have a wonderful Holiday Season! I know we will!!!

Jack ~ Night one

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I hope you remember to be thankful for everything you have, and that your day is filled with love!

I recently painted our kitchen table with chalkboard paint. Needless to say, it was a huge hit!! We all wrote on it, what we are thankful for.


Here's Wyatt's contribution to the table of thanks.....

Josie is ONE!

It's so hard to believe that my baby is one. It seems like just yesterday we welcomed her into the world. She is growing faster than I remember with Wyatt. Maybe it's because we think she's our last? I don't know, but either way...I wish I could stop time and enjoy this just a little bit longer.

Here are some pictures from her party. She was very overwhelmed, but she really did seem to enjoy it!

Happy, Happy Birthday my Josie!!!

Ok, wow....how did I let this whole blog get away from me?

Where to begin {sigh}....it's been a very busy 3 months. Wyatt's third birthday was Sept. 4, then Josie's was Nov. 16th, and now Thanksgiving is coming....I feel like I've been pulled in ten different directions at once. I know Christmas is right around the corner, but I hope for at least a week or so, things will be a little  bit calmer.

I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. We are going to combine my family and Richard's family, and have one big family Dinner. I think it's going to be great!!! I sure know Wyatt will love it.

Santa will be delivering Wyatt and Josie's Elf, after dinner Thursday. I can't wait! I am going to try writing every day of the holiday season, or that's my goal anyway!

Until then, I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Count your blessings, and thank God for them all.

Dog days of summer. Literally.

We aren't half way through the hottest months yet, and it's so miserable. Wyatt wants to go out and play, but being so fair skinned, he has a hard time not getting burnt. The only way it's bearable is to go to the lake or beach. Makes me look back and wonder.....how in God's name did I go through 2 summers being large and pregnant??

See, even Moon like to swim!

 It's been a busy month for Josie. She got her first two teeth on the bottom, both in a matter of two or three days. None since then though. I keep thinking I'm gonna see one pop through soon. She loves sitting up, and has been doing it for a good while now, but still isn't crawling, or pulling up on anything. She looks like she's going to, but then just gives up and lays her head on the floor. I have a funny feeling that she is going to skip crawling, and just start walking.

 

Wyatt is growing so fast. I just don't know what to do with him. I miss my baby boy...but am so excited for the little man he will be! His birthday is in less than 6 weeks....he will be three years old. How is that even possible?? We just brought him home the other day.

I am trying to get so much accomplished every day, but I always run out of time before I know it. Then I lay in bed thinking about all the things I wanted to do today....and I tell myself that I'll do it tomorrow. Funny thing about tomorrow, there is always something else to do and I just can't fit it all in. I always manage to find the time to play though!

Attachment

I'm told it's just a phase she's going through, but...honestly. It gets exhausting being the only one who can hold, feed, change, or do anything with her.  Also, she must have not gotten the memo that I need sleep. I hate comparing them, but I'm going to anyhow.....Wyatt was a great sleeper. Granted it has always been in our bed with us, but from about three months on, he slept through the night...every night. If he woke up, I knew something was wrong, or he wasn't feeling well. Josie Posie is a whole different story.

I have been so stinking tired, that I've apparently become dyslexic, and I can't remember when the last time was that I showered. How gross is that?? Guess I'm gonna leave it at that, and go wash the stink off before they both wake up.

Have a great day!!!

Josie is 4 months!

 Happy four month birthday to our sweet, sweet Josie. She is starting to do so many things. She loves her playmat, especially when her bubbie lays under it with her. She loves baths, and cries like the devil when you take her out. She eats like a champ, and is getting so big.

Time flies.....she is growing up too fast. She is our last, and sometimes it makes me sad. Knowing that I will never have this time again makes me love it even more.

How to Save a Life

I had my first appointment with Dr.Lloyd, and he is a lifesaver.

I am now taking Methotrexate (which is a chemo drug) to lower my immune system. I have to be careful while I'm on it, because a simple cold or the flu, passed on, can be deadly to me. For now, I'm on 3 pills weekly.

He also put me on prednisone (a steroid) to help with inflamation. Let me just say that these two drugs are saving me right now. For weeks, I could hardly function. I couldn't take care of my kids by myself. Now...I am getting by.

I still have yet to venture out with the kids, or drive much. My hands are still a little swollen for that.  I will live....with RA. 

A new chapter in life

In my last post, I explained a little bit about what started out seeming like hormonal changes from having Josie. She was almost a month, and after I had Wyatt, my body started to go back to normal around the same time.

However, when things got worse, and I mean much much worse, I know there was something else going on. Thank the Lord that Richard had some time off from work, and could help some. I also had a ton of help from Mom (Lorraine) and Dad.

The very first business day after Christmas... Monday, December 27th, I went to our family Doctor here in town, and explained my problems. By this time my hands and shoulders, even feet were so swollen I couldn't move them much. She did some blood work and told me to double up on the ibuprofin I had been taking.  Not exactly the answers I had been looking for.

The next morning, Mom and Dad came to help me some. Richard was still here, and at this point he was so upset that they hadn't let me know anything, that he went to their office and waited to talk to the Doctor. She said that she hoped to have the test results back that afternoon.  She finally called, about 4 o'clock that afternoon. The blood tests showed that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA. She was sending me to a Rheumatologist for follow up.

I guess this is where the page in my life turns. I will never spend another day without some sort of pain and stiffness. There will always be a reminder of how my body has failed me. I will try to stay positive, and active...and enjoy the good things this messy life of mine brings me!

Like them.....

Happy Holidays!!

Better late than never. I just wanted to post pictures from Thanksgiving through Christmas....until I can get all caught up on my blog, and get back to being a faithful blogger.

There aren't any from Thanksgiving. Josie was only 9 days old, and the last thing I thought about doing was taking pictures.... boooo...hissss. Looking back, I could kick myself in the arse!

Christmas, was so very difficult. I woke up 2 o'clock that morning to feed Josie, and screamed out in pain. I tried to walk, and knew it hurt, but as soon as I tried to pick her up it felt like my wrists, hands and arms were breaking. It was only 3 steps from our bed to her bassinette, so I didn't realize till I had to crawl (yes, I mean crawl...like a baby) to Richard and cry for help. I couldn't pick my baby up, I couldn't walk to the bathroom, I could hardly move. I made it to the recliner, he put her in my arms and helped me adjust her (and myself) so I could get the boob out to nurse her. It was so painful to bend my wrists or move at all. He sat up with me while I fed her. I took a pain pill and laid back down.


I was up a few hours later and was still hurting...not as bad. The pain meds made it much more tolerable. Richard got int he shower with me and helped me stand and bathe. I made it long enough to get the ham in the oven, then he and Jim took it from there. I was so doped up, that I hardly remember anything about the day, except that it sucked.

It was Josie's first Christmas, and I was helpless. I hated that I could hardly take care of her, or enjoy the day with my family.

I want to share these pictures before I get caught up in another day's story! I will be posting more about this later, when I have more time.

 

 

 

Happy Valentines Day (early), and Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!!! We have been through some rough times already this year, but he has stood by me no matter what life has thrown hurled at us! He isn't perfect, and neither am I, but I do love him so!

Josie's first photo shoot

The day after we got home, Christy came by the house to do some newborn photos of Josie. She was difficult to say the least.  God bless Christy for her patience! She did get a few beautiful shots before she wore herself out (Josie, not Christy!!!)

Wyatt had to get in on the action too!

First Days

Never thought we'd have first days home twice! We got home later in the afternoon, so most everyone waited to come till the next day. Josie was born on November 16th, a Tuesday....and we were home the next day around 6:00.

Josie with Granddaddy

I have to say, the recovery was horrendous. I would much rather recover from a C-Section like with Wyatt....it hurt terribly to do anything. Hurt to sit, walk, go potty, shower, even laying down was difficult. Dr. Iobst did say, had he known how big she really was, he would have done a repeat C-Section. The last U/S for her estimated weight around 7lb 9oz, which was just a little bigger than Wyatt was....blahahaha...jokes on me!

Josie, however did great! She slept most of the time, and since I breast fed her...she was busy eating the rest of the time. She was just beautiful, her little head full of dark, almost-black hair.

I know I was hormonal, and acting like a really big beeatch, but thank the Lord for my Mother. Grammy came and stayed with us for the 2 weeks. Richard was home the first week, so she came for weeks 2 and 3! I was horrible to her, and looking back, I am so ashamed. I found out at my 6 week check up that I had mild Post Partum Depression.... and was a total wreck.  I know she was about ready to hitch a ride back to Orlando, but for sticking it out with me, I thank and love her!

Wyatt was awful, ugly, BAD! He knew he had a sister coming, but once we brought her home, he went nuts. He showed out every chance he got. At first, I thought to myself...what in the hell have I done? It took about 5 weeks, and he was, for the most part, back to normal! He spent a lot of time with Moon in the first few days. I guess he felt safer with her, knowing that she wasn't going to go and bring a new little person home with her.

 

Even through the rough patches, I would go back and do it all over again....I love my babies!

Almost home

These were all taken just after Josie was born. Don't know how I missed them in the last post....

Daddy's Girl!

In her carseat.....here we go! 

Her first visitors at home.....Grandma and Grandpa!

Josie's birth...part 2!!

Things went pretty slowly.  I called Nancy to have her bring my bags to me, and then I called Kristin.  They both came later that evening.

They came in and decided to start pitocin.... ummmm...yay!? They were increasing it every time they came in to check me.  The pain was starting to get to be much to handle.  I asked for an epidural, and got partial relief.  Jsut like with Wyatt, it worked only on the left side of my body. I don't even remember how many times they came in to "top it off".

 

I think it was around 2 am that I really started feeling like I HAD to push.  The nurse came in and found that I was completely dialated and I said I could start pushing.

Kristin was holding my left leg, and Richard had my right...while Nancy stood beside the bed. All of the sudden, Kristin said she didn't feel good, and her eyes rolled back in her head.  She told Nancy that she was gonna have to come hold my leg.  The nurse got her a stool and made her sit down.  Nancy looked like she was going to throw up....she said it was because of the smell... LOL! They both did an awesome job though.....couldn't have done it without them!



Things went slow, but okay for a good long while, till about 3:45 am.  The monitor wasn't picking up her heartbeat anymore.  The nurse called for extra hands, and all of the sudden the room was flooded with nurses.  They flipped me onto the opposite side, that didn't work...still no heartbeat.  Then they had me get up on my hands and knees (which isn't easy when you have an epidural) that didn't work either.  They put oxygen on me, and Dr.Iobst came in.

The rest of this was so quick....... he got out the forceps and started to pull. Then he made a small cut, then he pulled, then another cut.....finally he told me to really push while he pulled, and I can remember begging him to do whatever he had to do, to get her out alive.  Finally...I can remember pushing as hard as I could, and him pulling with all his might...me screaming and she was finally out.  Josie Lucille was born on November 16, 2010 at 4:06 am.  She weighed 8lb 10oz and was 21" long. 

She started crying, and I just knew that everything was going to be okay.  She laid there on me for a while, then Richard finally got to cut her cord.

The nurses took her and started to clean her up and suction her out, while Dr. Iobst sutured me up.

I found out after the fact (from Richard) that the Dr had his knee on the end of the bed for leverage while he was pulling...she was stuck...and I also found out that she was face up, just like Wyatt was.  That's why the delivery was so hard.

I ended up with a 3rd degree episiotomy, but Josie was okay...and that's all that mattered.

I couldn't thank Dr.Iobst enough for saving her! I love that man, almost as much as I love Richard! Hahahah! After he was done sewing me up, he spent a while with Josie while they finished cleaning her up.