An awesome giveaway!!!

I am so lucky I decided to log on today! I clicked on the link I have saved to go to the Minnesota Mama's Must Haves blog and found this awesome giveaway! It is for an all natural wooden walker that converts into a scooter for ages 12 to 36 months and then into a push cart for ages 3 and up! I know Brian would really get some use out of it because he pushes EVERYTHING around! You can click HERE to enter the giveaway for yourself!


I also came across another great giveaway hosted by Minnesota Mama's Must Haves and it is the Anytime Costumes giveaway! With Halloween just around the corner this would be an awesome time to win a costume of my choice up to $50 value! Click HERE to enter this giveaway for yourself!

Please Pray

This post isn't for myself or Brian, but a friend of mine. I went to high school with her and she just had a little girl a week ago. She posted earlier on Facebook that they had been admitted to the hospital because Ember was turning blue/purple around her nose and mouth and would stop breathing at times. She just updated her page and they have ran blood work, have an IV and antibiotics going, she has been cathed, chest x-rays, and a spinal tap. My friend is having a hard time with everything. You have to remember Ember is only a week old. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I really hope they figure out what is wrong with her and get her better soon

Just a quickie (:

I just have a quick post. I have to keep it short because I really need to go to sleep and I have class tomorrow afternoon! YAY!!! So I got my angel wings today and I have to say I LOVE them! They are black and pink and the detail is done in white. They are more than I could have ever dreamed about!

Ok and I have to tell you about a really cool giveaway that will be going on over at Minnesota Mama's Must Haves. They are going to be giving away all sorts of things including an organic crib mattress, a bassinet, a Keekaroo high chair, and tons of other things! The giveaways start on September 1st and last all month long so join in on the fun and enter to win some amazing items!

16 Months

Well Brian is in a big boy bed now. He decided that he was going to start climbing out of his crib and I though now was the time to put him in a toddler bed. I let him pick out his own bedding (Cars) and he loves it! We went a few days ago and toured some day cares. One I know for sure he will not be attending. They were kinda rude and I don't feel they are sanitary enough for him to attend. They have all the kids cups mixed together so every one's cups are touching each other. We have had one to many bouts with Thrush and I am not willing to risk it. I think he may go to the head start day care I looked at. There are 11 kids in the class with 4 teachers. If he acts out then he will get personal one on one time with the teacher and they won't kick him out for his behavior. I was also looking at La Petite day care and while I liked them, I'm not as sure that they are the one's for us. Brian was shy when we first went in then wanted down to play. This little girl walked up and gave him a hug and he hugged her back. Then something snapped with him and he got mad and started pulling the girl's hair and biting her. I think he may have just been overwhelmed by the amount of kids as that was the most kids he's ever been around. The only thing I don't like about head start is I will have to take a Dr's note so that I can provide his dipes and wipes as well as his own cup. They provide Pamper's dipes and wipes, which Brian is allergic to the wipes and I refuse to use the Dry Max on him, so we will have to bring our own which is fine. Brian went to Rebel Rally with me at my old high school. It was great to see some faces I haven't seen in a while as well as the new school. I have to say though I kinda teared up standing as alumni and doing the Alma mater at the end. Man do I miss high school. Brian had a blast dancing, laughing, and clapping at everything. Like usual, when they did the pledge he kept talking. We've been having some trouble getting Brian to sleep. He gets 2nd and 3rd wind and wants to stay up until 3 in the morning. This past week he was better, but wanted momma to sit on his bed until he was asleep. I obliged, but I will very slowly start moving further away so eventually I can just put him in bed and he will go to sleep. He is doing remarkably well for being in a toddler bed so early. I have to admit I was scared he wouldn't sleep in it at all or he would be into everything. He's been really good though and when he wakes up he either plays until he wants something or he will climb in bed with me and snuggle for a little while, which I admit I love. Brian has recently learned some new words such as nugget, another, drink, fishy, mom (which has been his favorite word this past week), go, what, mouth, eye, and ear. I also taught him to do "piggy piggy piggy, oink pink" He laughs and walks around oinking lol! Next we'll be working on cow, then duck, horse, and chicken. He already knows cat and dog. I'm hoping to soon get some family pictures done. I don't have any with the 3 of us so it will be great to have those. Travis and I briefly talked about it, but nothing said was set in stone. Well I am off to bed. Today will be a test from God as it's the 2 year anniversary of when I lost Lilly. I'm praying today won't be to tough on me. I'm thinking about getting her angel wings done today in memory of her.

Brian and my friend's daughter. He was so gentle with her it amazed me!

My Birth Story

I went to the hospital about 9am on April 18, 2009. I had been contracting regularly since the 15th, but L&D sent me home saying that I wasn't contracting. I followed up with my midwife, Brenda, the next morning and allowed for her to check me. In 11 hours I went from 0cm dilated and 65% effaced to 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. I cried tears of joy! I knew I was in labor and I would soon be holding my little bundle of joy. Because I was over due they did an ultrasound to check my placenta and check the baby to make sure there was no reason to induce. The first time the baby wouldn't move. The tech sent me back out into the waiting room with some juice and crackers to see if we could wake him up. I went back in 20 minutes later and nothing. He moved a few times, one of which was the middle finger to us (he is my child lol), and she said he was not scoring what she needed. I was scared. I called Travis and my family to let them know what was going on. I talked to Brenda and was sent next door to the high risk office. There they did an intake and prepared me for an ultrasound. Of course me walking woke him up so he was moving around. They checked everything and hooked me up for a NST. By then Brian had relaxed and went back to sleep, preparing for his big arrival. They checked the strip and his HR looked good, but no movement. I asked them to place the monitor in a certain spot. They did and it then started showing my contractions! I was contracting every 3-4 minutes lasting 30-45 seconds! They were still mild, but I knew they were the real deal. They released us and sent us back over to talk to Brenda. I didn't want to be induced, but my placenta had calcifacations on it and I was told if we didn't have a baby by Monday I would be rechecked and she was about 98% sure we would induce, but she told me that she was 99.9% sure we would be having a baby this weekend. I asked what I could do to help things along besides sex. Sex and being overdue just does not work, plus it made me very sick (weird I know). I was told to walk as much as I could and was given the ok for Evening Primerose Oil (EPO). We went home and I took a small nap then Travis and I went up to the park and walked. I swear, that mile was the longest, hardest mile I have ever walked in my life! Things were coming regularly now. Travis was supposed to work, but decided that calling off was best. I felt like things were progressing fast and I was scared. I needed my hubby by my side to hold my hand and tell me everything would be ok. We walked back to the house and laid down. I went to Wal-Mart and walked the whole store then went home and went to sleep. I was up and down all night as my body would adjust to the contractions and then they would intencify. I went to Wal-Mart and Sam's with Travis's mom the next day. We again walked the whole store, every isle, and by the time we left I was contraction so bad that I would have to lean on the shelves and breath through them. We decided to go out to dinner that night as it would more than likely be my last meal for a while. We went to Red Lobster and I PIGGED out! No joke! I had 21 pieces of jumbo butterfly shrimp, 2 full house salads, 4 biscuits, half of a foundue thing, then had another biscuit and rice krispie treats when we got home. I tried to lay down, but my contractions were getting more intense and they were hurting. At one point I was in the living room with the family, Travis and his brother were fighting. I got up and went to the bathroom. I lost my mucous plug and my water had partially broke, but the baby plugged it. My contractions were now 200 times worse. I went back into the living room and tried to talk, but couldn't get a word in. Finally I yelled "excuse me please!" They stopped and looked at me and very calmly I said, "Im in labor." I believe Travis said yeah we know. I explained that I lost my plug and I thought my water had broke and that my contractions were now worse. We decided to go lay down and go to bed. That was 3Am. Fast forward to 9Am. I woke up and had to be pushed out of bed to go to the bathroom. My contractions were worse and they were about a minute apart lasting about 1 to 2 minutes. I knew it was time. I went to the bathroom and discovered that I was having my bloody show. I went back to the bedroom and woke Travis up. I told him it was time. I called the midwife while he woke up his mom and we got ready to go. The whole way there I thought that we would never make it. Before the ride didn't seem so long, now it seemed to take forever. We finally got there and I was admitted. I was 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. I walked the halls and tried the birthing ball, but my contractions were so intense that I couldn't breathe through them. I ended up getting an epidural, but the way I see it is that I went about 75 hours natural and for me thats good enough. As soon as I got the epidural the baby turned back like he was supposed to be. I was able to relax though and get some sleep. They broke my water and the baby had pooped while still inside so it was explained that NICU would be on hand so as soon as the baby was delivered they could take over and do what they needed. Things were progressing along rather slow. About 8Pm I was checked and I was about 7cm dilated 95% effaced. We were told it would be early the next morning when we would have a baby. Well they were wrong. My epidural had wore off and I knew I was ready. My L&D nurse came in and checked me and I was ready. She wanted me to do a few practice pushes to make sure my body was ready. After the first I was told not to push because she could see his head. They called for Brenda and I waited for what seemed like forever. I tried and tried not to push, but finally I told everyone they better get someone in my room to catch because I was fixing to start pushing and I would deliver the baby myself if I had to. It seemed like everyone started running in and we were ready to go. My sister Brandy coached me through and after about 10 minutes of pushing he was out! I remember my first though and I think my first words out of my mouth were, "My stomach is flat again!" They took the baby to look over him and make sure he was fine and weigh him. I delivered the placenta and was stitched up. I had a second degree tare, but it wasn't anything big. The baby was fine and weighed in at a whopping 7lbs 15oz and was 20.5 inches long. He had a head full of blonde hair and the beautiful blue eyes. I cried. I couldn't believe I was a mommy. My life was changed forever now. He nursed perfect the first time and I allowed them to take him to the nursery to get cleaned up while I was moved up into my room. Overall my delivery went good. There were somethings I wish I could have changed or tried, but Im happy and no regrets. 

Im A Big Kid Now!!

Tonight is night 1 of the toddler bed. I really hope he likes it more than the crib because he isn't so confined. He's already tumbled out of it once, but it wasn't anything big and he wasn't hurt. He climbs in and out of it and seems to like it. I let him pick out his bedding. I was surprised he didn't go with SpongeBob too. He wanted Cars! I would MUCH rather look at Lighting McQueen than a bright yellow sponge, no offence SpongeBob. So far so good. He is even wearing his Cars pj's. I can't wait for him to have his own room so I can decorate it in Cars stuff. Well Im off to bed.

He's Growing Up

Well tonight I put Brian in his crib and was laying in bed online. Something told me to look up and boy am I glad I did! Brian was straddling his crib! One leg over the other leg in. For right now I am going to full time co sleep with him because I don't feel comfortable having him in a toddler bed just yet. He is just growing so quick though! The last few days have been crazy for us too. I had to take Brian in to the Dr on Tuesday because he only slept like 3 hours and was inconsolable. The Dr couldn't figure out what was wrong so she sent us on to the children's hospital. They did an X-ray of his abdomen and said he was extremely constipated. Nothing they tried worked so they sent us home with Miralax. We were back at the hospital by 10pm because he was walking around holding his tummy screaming. He had a poop, but it wasn't a lot. The next day he seemed fine. He went to Travis Wednesday evening and I thought everything was fine. Travis called me Thursday and said that Brian was now having acidic dirreah and he wanted me to call the pediatrician and see what they wanted us to do. They wanted us to go have another X-ray done so we could make sure that there wasn't something else going on and that he was just cleared out. Sure enough he was cleared out. They had him taking 17g everyday, which to me seemed like WAY to much. After talking to the pediatrician that saw us Thursday evening I know it was to much. She said that they should have only had him on a teaspoon of it everyday.