Picture Tag!

Because Suz did it and I might as well too!!





The object of the picture tag is to:


1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer


2) Select the 4th picture in the folder


3) Explain the picture


4) Tag 4 people to do the sameNO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)





Here is mine:

This picture of Olivia was taken in August. I remember this day. I was hanging up clothes in her room and I was giving her tummy time. She HATED tummy time and was crying, so I rolled her over and then voila! she was happy! I love this picture because it shows her chubby little thighs and her first few weeks of true smiles. Also, a dress picked out by Aunt Andrea!

I challenge you all to do the same! :)

Thanks Suz!

A Texas Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Olivia, Mom, Dad, and I made the trek to Texas. We enjoyed spending time with Andrea and Rex. I wish you guys lived closer! Olivia was able to have her first turkey. At first, she wasn't too sure. In the end, she ate it. But I believe she preferred the mashed potatoes. For the record, these mashed potatoes had so much butter, they were YELLOW. Yummy!! We enjoyed Thanksgiving at Rex's sister's house. Wonderful food and wonderful people. They also have this small horse...well... really it is a dog named Max. Olivia was fascinated and even got to ride him! :) Picture to follow.

As always, us girls headed out Friday morning for some shopping frenzy! We were at Target at about 5am. Got some good deals! After returning to Andrea's about 1pm, we all crashed for a nice needed nap.

It was a great trip. Olivia is not sleeping so well... which is frustrating for all involved, but I hope to gain back control soon. Right now she is crying in her swing because she is fighting sleep... oy.

Enjoy the pictures!

Crying it out..

This occurred on Monday night....

So the time is 11:42. My daughter has been asleep for almost two hours. Right now she is gearing up for a crying fit. I can hear her on the monitor. We used to be a glistening sleeper. Going to sleep every night at 8 or 8:30 and sleeping until 6 or 6:30. Weeellll... not so much lately. Since Grandpa's sickness and getting home at all hours of the night, bedtime has become closer to 9:30 - 10pm. Ouch. Ouch for Olivia and ouch for Mommy.

Sooo... I believe with all the time she has been spending with Mom, she has become very needy. If I were to walk in there right now and scoop my sweetie up, rock her for 3 minutes, she would be back in sleepland. Now, the question I have asked myself and others, how do I break this routine of waking up every 3-4 hours to be 'comforted'? I know she isn't hungry, she ate a large bottle before bed, she got a bath, and a fresh rump... so, I just sit here and listen.

I have never been a fan of 'crying it out' but I know she is capable of sleeping all night. I didn't think she was capable of knowing how to 'pull Mommy's strings' but apparently she is old enough to know I will go in and scoop her up, as I always do. Can you tell I'm babbling to keep myself busy while she cries.... Don't get me wrong... she is not screaming bloody murder and you can still tell it is a sleepy cry...

The time is now 11:48. Five more minutes and I will go scoop her up. LOL As Michel said earlier today... 'Letting your daughter cry, knowing she has been cared for, is not child abuse".So I wait... and wait... and torture...and torture...Please Olivia.. put yourself back to sleep... you need sleep... Mommy needs sleep... You can do it!...


It is getting quieter... really... is it really happening? If she self soothing?! LOL I feel like a moron, but typing it out is keeping me sane...The time is 11:51... the crying has stopped.

My Grandfather walked to the arms of Jesus on Monday, Nov. 10th. After struggling with pancreatic cancer, emphezema, COPD, and an array of other illnesses he finally let go.

After been through losing both of my grandfathers, I still can't figure out what is best. My first grandfather went suddenly with no warning. My second grandfather, we knew he was going to die and were able to say our goodbyes and hear his last wishes. Obviously, both tragic, but not sure which one I would relive again.

He was 80 years old and lived a very very full life. I am so glad my daughter was able to meet him. She LOVED him. Would just smile and laugh anytime she was in the same room with him. It was bliss. I am so sad she won't know/remember him. Kind of morbid, but even at the funeral home... when she saw him laying in the casket, she would still just smile and giggle. Completely priceless.

Continued...

Here are more of the pictures I promised. I couldn't add any more the other day!

Enjoy!

Because I've been shown up..

So the ongoing thing between my sister and I is to see who can go the longest without posting... haha, just kidding.
Life is just so crazy!

I promise the end of this post will be loaded with pictures of all the said events.

Olivia loves her food! So far, we are up to cereal, carrots, green beans, and peas. We were supposed to start on squash, but Auntie A never made it. ;) But she did make carrots this weekend for Olivia to enojy! She is not too keen on peas, but loves her carrots. In about two weeks or so we will start on fruit and oatmeal!

This little girl loves to laugh! We get to enjoy so many big belly laughs. Her hair is finally growing in. Yet, the girl with 32 bows still has to wear headbands! :)

Since my last post, Olivia's ears are now peirced. For those that know me, you knew I couldn't wait till 6 months! Of course she cried and I got a lot of dirty looks, but we have not had any problems. No infections, etc. She has also moved into a big girl carseat! She got tired of her carrier because she couldn't sit up like she wanted to. And basically, the kid got too heavy to lug around!

We also helped Grandpa celebrate his 80th birthday party!

Olivia and I made the trek to Dallas this weekend. All alone! Can you believe the 'I hate carrides girl' slept all the way there and back!? It was great for Mommy! It was a whirlwind trip and I feel I need a vacation from the vacation.

On Thursday we met up with Andrea for lunch and then out to dinner with Unc, Auntie, Olivia, myself, and some of Andrea's friends. Friday Olivia and I helped corral Andrea's kids into an art/science project. They loved Olivia. It was too cute. Then Friday night a whole herd, correct words would be stroller herd, headed to the Texas Fair. It was great fun and a little crazy. But you can never go wrong with a corny dog and a fried smores! :)

Saturday was a day filled with shopping! Olivia came back with a lot of loot! I love Carter's and Once Upon a Child. Those two places you can find so much stuff and really good sales! She is pretty well outfitted for fall/winter. We also went garage saleing at a neighborhood garage sale. Besides Andrea taking us to the same garage sales eighteen times, it was great fun. Haha, love you sister!

Olivia also visited her first Pumpkin Patch. She was too busy people watching and getting fussy to get great pictures, but I believe they turned out well. She also is now sporting a new knitted beanie. (Pictures to follow).

Then out for a great dinner and a long car ride to Johnny Carino's. Wonderful food.

Sunday we headed home. We took our time getting back; stopping in Gainesville (where Mommy found some clothes!) and also in Davis, OK for some Fried Pies! I highly recommend them! :)

That was our crazy and rushed feeling trip to Texas! The Kleckners will be here next month for my birthday, so that will be fun!

Olivia's next doctor's appt. is December 5. I promise to post before then! HAHA.

Updates

Hi fellow readers.... if anyone is still reading...lol

Life is going great. I'm still tired a lot, but getting better. My students are starting to understand how 2nd grade works and their crabby teacher.

Olivia is getting so big! Within the past two weeks or so we have gained excellent control of our arms. She can now bring her hands to her face/mouth without banging herself in the head. She loves to rub her eyes and chew on her fingers. She is also able to grab a toy hanging and sitting somewhere and hang on, even bring it to her mouth!

She also HATES to lay back. Anytime you lay her back, she will protest by pushing her little body forward! Quite the defiant one I have on my hands.

I am looking forward to the three day weekend. I hope everyone else is as well!

Work Work Work

Hello all. I started back to work about two weeks ago. It has been a whirlwind. It has been so hard transitioning from 3rd back to 2nd graders. They are so little and needy. I don't even know what is on my desk or what my chair feels like any longer. Forget any type of lesson plans unless I want to stay at work till 5pm. It is just insane.

Mom has been keeping Olivia. I think she wears Mom out, but Mom is a trooper and an absolute saint for helping me. I couldn't ask for a better caregiver. Love you Mom! The week after next Mom starts a class on Tuesdays, so one of my moms from school, Michel, will start watching O on Tuesdays. I think she will be great with her as well.

I get so sad leaving her. It is also hard when I come to pick her up. She really doesn't want anything to do with me. Which, I am so glad she loves her Nana and is doing so well with her. But I literally see her awake for 3 hours a day. She is asleep when I take her in the mornings and back asleep by 8:30pm. It's so sad. I really cherish my weekends.

Olivia is getting so big. Long gone are the days where you can lay her on the couch and walk away. The child has become mobile. She turns her head and digs her feet into the floor/bed and turns. I NEVER wake up anymore to find her still laying 'normally' in her crib. She is always sideways in her crib now. Mom said she did the same thing on the floor yesterday, moved herself off her play mat. Oy vey.

She is also teething something terrible. We go through at least two bibs a day. Her gum is turning a bit white at the bottom and the other night she was running a fever. Poor thing. She is still a pill to take care of between 7-bedtime. I won't leave her with anyone for awhile with this behavior. It makes me feel terrible and I can't imagine what she feels like. We are lucky to get a peaceful bath.

Yet, I will trade that all in since I am getting wonderful sleep. Like clockwork (assuming we are home and on schedule) she is asleep about 8:30 and doesn't wake up until 5:30am. It's great. And yes, she is in her own crib and has been for quite awhile. I sleep well and I'm assuming she does too.

I can't remember if I put it on my last post or not, but Olivia will be welcoming a baby cousin in April!! I am so excited!! They will be less than a year apart and hopefully will be close even though its a bit of a drive. We can make it happen! I know Mom will be down there tons and once summer hits, we will be on the road too!! Congrats to Andrea and Rex. Love you guys!!

Well, I have put off going to work long enough. Have a great weekend!

Back to Work

Well, I'm back at work. Blah is all I can say. I'm, of course, blessed to have a job, but I still don't really want to be here. I have 19 second graders. They all have the attention span of about 5 minutes. I forgot (after teaching 3rd last year) how little these kids are, how much they don't know, and how much they NEED to know!
Leaving Olivia is of course still tough. I feel like I never get to see her awake anymore. I'm supposed to start working at Sylvan again next week. I'm rethinking. I'm definitely needing the money, but being away from her is so sad. I'm so scared she is going to know her Nana more than her Mama. :( Send the prayers my way! My mom is doing a GREAT job with her! They run errands and do fun things together. Once again, so blessed to have her with my mom.
If you haven't heard, Andrea (my sister) is pregnant! I get to be an Aunt! I'm so excited for her and Rex and pray for them daily!
That is about all for now.

Well...Well....Well...

Okay, so I KNOW it has been WAAAAAAAAAAY too long since an update. So here it goes:

- Olivia hit her three month mark. My goodness, time flies.
- She now weighs approx. 13 pounds. My little porker. She even has fat rolls on her thighs you can't UNroll!
- We are in size 2 diapers! Oy!
- She is smiling all the time! She is the happiest in the morning.
- She wants to laugh SO bad, but just can't seem to get it out!
- We are starting to roll to our side, but have not yet made it all the way over.
- She HATES tummy time.
- My mom (Nana) is keeping her while I am at work.
- Did I mention she will have a little cousin in April?
- She still has monkey hair, but it is getting a bit longer and fuzzier!
- We have been sleeping IN OUR OWN CRIB since 9 weeks!
- I love her so much!

In a nutshell, that is us!! I returned to work this week. BOO. But, it will be okay. One step closer to May, right? Did I mention I will have a neice or nephew in April? I am so blessed my mother is getting to keep Olivia. I couldn't do it without her. Her Grandma Karen is also keeping her bunches which helps me so much!

As for XDAH, he is not around. I think we saw him once in July? Maybe? But you know, I am so happy. I don't think about him or the negativity he creates. I am just so happy with my life and my little girl, it's amazing. My grandfather was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It is super sad, but I know God has a plan for every single one of us, and in reality, it is not up to us when we go. I am so glad I had a wonderful life filled with his laughter, jokes, and love. I get teary eyed when I know my daughter will never know him. :(

Enough of that sadness, enjoy some pictures!

Slideshow

Enjoy!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Long time no write!

Greetings from Texas!!! Mom, Olivia, and I made the trek down Thursday afternoon to vistit Auntie A and Unc. Yet, if your Nana, you call Auntie A Auntie Ann and you have to remind her she doesn't make pretzels. (Love you Mom!) We are having a great time here and it just reminds me how much I miss my sister and brother in law. Olivia is receiving all the hugs and kisses she can take. Auntie A has become to designated diaper changes. And not the nice diapers. LOL :)

I have decided Olivia is not allowed to come to Texas anymore though. Here are the reasons:

1. She out grew her newborn diapers and entered the Stage 1. (Thanks Kathryn for your help in the matter.)

2. She sat up perfectly in a Bumbo. (This brought me to silent tears. Just last week she was a flopped over fish.)

3. She has gained a ton while we have been here. She FEELS heavy!

4. She started giving away my smiles!

She is getting so big. :( Yet, Nana is ready for her to help in garden, so I guess she has to keep growing.

We came down here to help sister plant, hang blings, and hang pictures. Well, mom and Andrea got the plants planted and are currently hanging blinds. Pictures will be up to her and Rex.

Not sure what else to talk about, so I will end this post with some pictures. Enjoy!

Mom and Olivia guarding the Garage Sale. - Granny and Olivia

Olivia (Peanut) and Great-Grandpa

Bath time at Auntie A's.

The Aylors and Olivia (and half of Auntie A)

Nash - loaded with his Pacis.

Kathryn, Nash, and Olivia. Nash insisted she didn't need her Paci.

The Aylors and Olivia

Olivia in the Bumbo - giving away my smiles! :)

Updates

I'm such a bad blog mommy. Haha. I do have down time, just never know how much I'm going to get. Hence, right now it is midnight.

Olivia is doing fantastic. As of Thursday, she weighed 7 lb 1 oz. We are still breastfeeding, which is going well. I do supplement some with formula if she isn't getting full or if we are out and BFing isn't ideal. I'm coping with the fact she won't die on formula. It's tough being a mom.

She is an absolute doll and it still doesn't seem real. She is starting to really focus on faces now and smiling will soon follow!

Enjoy!

A few pictures..

The Birth Story!

Okay.. Birth story..
Cervidil started Wed. at 1pm. Dilated to 1cm, 80% effaced. No problems what so ever. Back pain started around midnight, couldn't get comfortable. Pitossin (sp?), antibiotics (Strep B +), saline, and demerol all given at 2am. I believe doing all this at once put Olivia into some stress. Her h/b went down to 60, they traced her several places and then put oxygen on me to help her out. Very scary. I was doped on the demerol, therefore I really didn't know what what going on.
About 4am I was still in excruciating back pain and couldn't sleep. I was on the ball, etc. I got back in bed about 5am to try and rest. The pit was still not really bothering me, nor bringing on dilation or contractions. While I was in bed I felt what felt like a kick very low followed by a small gush. I told mom I think I had just peed on myself. It wasn't sure because it wasn't a lot of liquid. But, I got checked and confirmed my water had broken. Well, by 5:10am the contractions were on top of each other. I labored horrendously from 5-7am. I was still only 1 1/2 cm. but fully effaced. I was in so much pain. I can't even describe it. I was cussing out mom, my sister, and XH. LOL. It was awful. (HOOORAY to you Mom's who go natural!!!!)
At 7am my nurse fibbed a bit, said I was 3cm and ordered my epi. I LOVED the epi!!! I was so nervous, but it was sooo much easier and nicer than the contractions. He let me curl up on the bed instead of hunch over. XH rubbed my hair and hand the whole time.
By 7:30 I was in HOG HEAVEN. It was great!! Anytime I closed my eyes I would dream some CRAZY dreams. LOL. I was checked again about 8am and was between a 4-5cm.
By 8:30-9:00 I was very close to being complete. Yet, the epi started to wear off. I had it on a drip but to no avai. The good man came back and gave me another dose straight to my catheter. Within minutes, I was once again in heaven.
They asked me about 9:30 if I was ready to push. I told them no because my dad wasn't available to be there until 12pm. About 11am, my nurse told me to try a few practice pushes. She then realized it was time to call the doc and see "what could be done" due to Olivia's position. Well, that worried me because I wasn't sure "what could be done" meant. LOL
Doc was there about 11:30 (dad was there shorlty after). About the time I got my feet in the stirrups and ready to go, two WINDOW WASHERS came by!!!! LOL, it was great to see everyone lunge towards the blinds.
Serious pushing started at 11:45 with my doctor. I was completely and utterly numb. Couldn't move my own legs or lower body at all. So they would yell push and I would push, hoping it was in the right area!
At about 12pm, she was prepping the vacuum or plunger as it looked. She also called in a slew of people to start helping me push and support her. The anethesiologist was pushing hard on my stomach with each contraction as my doc was LIFTING up on Olivia because she was STUCK behind my pelvic bone. Olivia had slowly rotated herself, but was down low behind my bone.
After three attemps with vacuum, they finally all started yelling "This is it, this is it!" and I pushed with what all I could (not much). They put the receiving blankets on my stomach and I instantly started crying as well as XH. Within moments she was on my tummy just looking around. She wasn't crying but wasn't in distress. Very pink and covered in vernix.
They allowed her to stay on my until they had her cleaned off and then I let them take her to the warmer for all of baby stuff.
Doc had to cut me: 2nd degree. She said not bad for a first pregnancy and a vacuum.
Olivia was 6 lb, 6oz. 20" long.
If you made it this far, congrats. :)
I was too swollen and numb to pee. So I had to be cath'd three times which hurts like labor all over again.
Thanks to everyone for all of your love, support, and encouragement the past nine months.

Baby Olivia

I will post the birth story later when I'm not in pain. :( But here are her first pictures, taken by Aunt Andrea.

Weekly Schedule

Okay... so here is the run down of the week.

Monday - Work - Take Chloe to dance - JCPenney - Find gifts for some very special people. Get nervous.

Tuesday - Work - Baby shower at work - Interurban with Mom and Granny - Unpack/wash/put together baby shower goodies. Freak out and try not to barf.

Wednesday - Try to get some sleep - eat IHOP stuffed French toast - Be admitted to hospital at 12pm. Start the cervidil. Hang out, enjoy people's company, see my sister, try not to become crazy.

Thursday - Start pitocin at some point. Receive epidural whenever possible - HAVE A BABY!!!!

Okay... so in a PERFECT world that is how it should go! Let's see how cooperative Baby Olivia will be!!

Surprise!! Maternity Photoshoot

New Progress and Updates!

So... went to the doctor last Thursday where she did my first internal check. I was a fingertip dilated and 50% effaced. Weeellll... yesterday I was 1 cm and 80%. She was very impressed with my effacement. Now everyone is scaring me, because they say that means it could go quickly. Other people tell me if could still be weeks. Well, one week in our case.

So Dr. F got on the phone (during the appointment) and called Labor and Delivery. They have me set to go in April 30th at noon to start Cervidil. (A cervix ripening drug.) I am pretty nervous about this. She said to expect lots of cramping. Then Thursday morning they will start the actual induction with Pitocin. Nervous about that too!!

So, I believe with the way I am progressing thus far at not-quite 37 weeks, Olivia would have came before her due date anyway. I actually am glad to have a date. Yet, I know it takes the spontaneity out of it.

Nana is very worried about getting sewing done and Poppy (Yes, Poppy) is very worried about losing his wife!!

Aunt Andrea is just worried about making it in time!! LOL

Love to you all!

Me and My Thriftiness! :)

So let me tell you my events of today. So Andrea and I have been looking at Craigslist to find her furniture for her new house. Well, last night I was searching through Oklahoma City and typed in Microfiber. This was at 7:30pm. The first thing that popped up was a microfiber loveseat and a microfiber couch, both with recliners, for $200!!!!! I was stoked! Andrea was stoked too until she realized I was wanting them for my very own!! Haha. The couches had just been listed at 7:15pm. So, I instantly emailed the lady. I didn't hear back from her until this morning. By Noon the couches were mine! The lady said she had over 100 replies, which she obviously felt dumb for listing them so cheap!!! Anyway, I got home and thought okay... well.. now I have a couch and a chair I need to get rid of. Mind you, I picked these up off the side of the road in our neighborhood. They are comfy, but well loved. used, and abused. Haha.. so what did I do? I put them on Craigslist for $200. (Waaay too high for the quality, color, age of this couch and chair) SOLD within 5 hours!!! I had about 10 emails! Hahaha! The man just picked them up and paid me!
It was so much and I am not out ANY money!! YEAH for good finds!!

Baby Shower

Baby Shower

Here is a slide show of the baby shower pictures. Enjoy!

We have another date!

Haha, because I am whiny and my doctor loves me, she agreed to inducing at 38 weeks. That's May 1st!!!!

WOW!!

So get ready, here she comes!!

The ultrasound looked perfect. Dr. F said she couldn't find anything wrong to even make up to be wrong, haha.

She is estimated to be about 4 lb 12oz right now. We got a really cute face shot, will scan and post soon.

We Have A Date!!

First off, induction date is scheduled for May 8th, a Thursday. She informed me today that that was the latest she would allow me to go. She does not allow her thryoid patients to go full term. So either way, Olivia would have been evicted even if I had other plans. I asked lots of questions. First off, she starts with the cervdil (?) (the cervix pill softener thing). Then, once the cervix is "ripe" she begins the pitocin. The pitocin is started at a 2 and she said I am free to roam around, change positions, bounce on a ball, etc, until I need my epi. (She likes her patients to wait until the pitocin is up to about a 14-18 before the epi, but will definitely approve when I am in pain) She prefers her patients with an epi to be in bed though due to the fact your legs are not all that stable. I also asked about the c/s rate for induced FTM moms. She said the national average is about 20% and her rate is MUCH lower. She believes that is because she doesn't jump to a c/s when things are progressing. She believes if your body isn't going fast, she waits it out unless the baby is in danger. So, all in all, I was VERY reassured.

Whew.... I'm sorry that was so long, I just had so much!!! AND, I get another u/s next week (A growth scan) to make sure she is on target due to my thyroid, etc. So I get to see her again!

YEAH!!!!!!! 37 more days and I will be a mommy. Or SOONER if little miss "kicking the doppler because she is tempermental" decides to come before that!! Haha... it took the nurse a bit to get her h/b because she kept kicking it. Like, it bouncing off my stomach kicks!!

New Pictures

So here are the 33 week pictures. Ew, stretch marks. At least they are low? I'm totally grossed out by them, but hey, it's life and if I have to have stretch marks to have my baby, bring them on! :) Went for my 2nd NST today. I am having severe back pain and Braxton Hicks, but everything is normal. Just my body 'gearing up'. My next appt. is April 1st, and hopefully then we will talk more about the induction. I am looking at May 9th as the date.

I am also including some pictures of Andrea and Rex. Haha... let me explain. Andrea learned how to hang blinds. But not without getting light headed, forgetting how to breathe, and developing her very own "stool" to sit on.

Rex - Well... you know... his shirt says it all!! He was supposed to be working, but yet, he decided the Easter Bunny needed to come visit while everyone else was working. LOL. It was a great laugh and we love him!