BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Base Chapel

Yep, I went there. Today I ventured into the world of the base chapel and found that I loved it. Why? Because when I walked in there were more "temporarily" single moms than couples. There was a girl who sat down next to Kaelyn and her dad had left  on very short notice just a day or so ago and she looked at Kaelyn and calmly said, "My daddy went away on an airplane to a different country.". Kaelyn looked at her and said, "My daddy is gone too." We, the girls and I, don't stick out here...we don't get the curious glances as to, "Is she married? Is she single? Why isn't her husband here?" and I don't feel the need to find a way to justify myself, my situation or clear the air in a conversation. (I once was walking in an airport pregnant with both the girls and I got/overheard some comments regarding "what kind of man would let his wife do this" and I quickly replied "one who has orders to go fight in a war". That not only shut them up but got me some really great help getting through security). I don't get the well intended comments that can be just a tad painful on those hard to adjust days...we just get a smile from someone who has been there...someone who understands without asking and prays for me, for their loved ones, and for my kids. I won't say this is our home church now, but I will say it was very nice and refreshing to walk into a place where everyone already knew my story.

Friday, August 27, 2010

We went to Sea, sea, sea to see what we could see see see

Ryan's squadron had family day at a local military beach out here. When the invitation went out...I thought...Who in their right mind? That would have to be some crazy woman to try and take a 5 week old, potty training 2 year old and 4 year old to the beach all by herself....and before I knew it, I had coleslaw made and was making the drive to the beach....with a very full hybrid.
I don't know what drove me to the brink of insanity...but whatever it was...Thank you! I had a wonderful Friday evening with my "military family" and they were always there to lend a hand with carrying things to the beach or taking my fearless two year old out into the ocean.
Kaelyn spent most of her time on the beach playing in the sand, but she eventually ventured out into the water (despite her overwhelming fear of sharks that has been known to have her hiding on a very large boat from the water).
And she loved it! Have I mentioned that I have a brand spanking NEW CAMERA! It's the Fuji XP FinePix. Not only am I loving the clarity and detailing of this point and shoot camera, but the REAL reason we went with this camera is that it is virtually indestructible...Want to take it scuba diving---go right ahead. Want to hike Mount Everest---this is the camera for you. Point and case, the camera went swimming in the sandy surf rescuing sweet Anna from her very sick obsession with the waves and surfs!

She was way too comfortable with the waves. She would go out as far as she could, get knocked down, tumble in the undertow and start to get carried back out....come up coughing and smiling and do it again....and again...and again. Thank you peanut shell for the awesome sling which lets me snag my child!

It was a lot of fun watching her just run head first into the face of waves that were much taller than she was. I adore this child's lack of fear and determination (only when it's not directed at me). She spent a good fifteen minutes trying to "move water"

With a shovel...
Thankfully, I had my military family to keep an eye on Kaelyn while I spent the majority of my time playing Baywatch with Anna!

Ever since I've decided to embrace every fun opportunity that comes my way regardless of my overwhelming to-do list, I have found that we are really starting to enjoy our time together despite Ryan being away. I also find that the things on those lists always end up getting done and can often serve the purpose of filling that void of time after the kids go to sleep when I would normally snuggle with the hubby.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Happy 2nd Birthday Anna Elizabeth!

 

Anna, IMG_1073

2 years! I can’t look at you now and imagine you, my chubby little toddler on the cusp of becoming a preschooler as the sweet baby full of  spunk despite being born 5 weeks early. You have grown from a tiny little curly haired quiet baby in your first few days of life to a child who has ALWAYS had a voice that was meant to be heard. I admire you ability to stand up for yourself, perhaps it has something to do with being the second child, but I have never had to worry that you were being left out or mistreated…you would have let me know.

    You have a smile and a personality that can charm even the coldest heart or soothe even the most frustrated Mom. You are definitely your own person, and very different from your sister. I love that! I love how you can smile and just brighten my day, how you are so quick to give a hug or a kiss, how you love your little brother just a little too much and how you can annoy your sister with just a look.

Unlike your sister, you are not interested in coloring (although you no longer eat the crayons or markers which is a HUGE step in the right direction).

But you talk so much better than she did a this age! Matter of fact, you amaze me with your understanding of language and the way the world works!

You are counting, jumping, climbing, running and riding your bike like you wouldn’t believe.

You are such an inquisitive creature, now I just have to harness that tendency in the right direction!

 

Anna, I am so blessed to be your mother and I can’t wait to see what person you become.

I love you baby (sorry this is so late in being posted)

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Our last days…

We kind of have a traditional way of “saying goodbye” to our Main Man (here is the post on that), and this last time hasn’t been any different other than we got to have a really AWESOME date night, compliments of one of my best friends out here. 

IMG_1444This is Nolen who tagged along on our date night.

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Ryan enjoying his Adult beverage!

IMG_1452 Then some snuggle time on the bed!

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Daddy helping Nolen sit up!

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Followed by some Comic book Story time.

IMG_1481 Then snuggles on the couch the next morning with a movie!IMG_1512

IMG_1519 Everyone is trying to squeeze in some last minute snuggle time with Dad!IMG_1497

All and All, it’s been a good send off! Now it’s sink or swim time! I’m a pretty good swimmer!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Baby shower!


I hope you don't mind an all photo post! I was taken out by Christine, my Sister-in-Law, who led me to believe we were meeting some friends for breakfast. Long story short....My friends and family surprised me with a GREAT shower for a then unknown baby!
Brittany(SIL), myself, Christine (SIL), Grandma, Val
Gifts at my surprise shower!The cute fruit basket!My sister-in-law Christine!My Grandmother-in-law, Izzie and Myself at the surprise shower!Grandma Again!The obligatory side shot!My beautiful cake!
Jullee (in brown), My Mother in law who hosted the party!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Felt like super woman...but then reality hit


I really felt like super woman, for all of three minutes. And those three minutes happened at Nolen's 2 week check up...which is where I learned that he gained 2 pounds in a little over a week! Nolen was seen at 1 week due to his jaundice, but had not gained ANY weight...he was holding strong at 6 pounds 7oz. At his 2 week check up...8lbs4ozs That has NEVER happened for me....I've always had to supplement.


But, then reality happened...and I have piles of laundry in the corner of my room (but it's clean and that's half the battle) that I just knocked off the bed after INTENDING to put it away so that I can sleep.

Anna bit Kaelyn, Kaelyn cried, Anna pushed Kaelyn, Kaelyn cried...Nolen kicked his foot THROUGH his zippered sleeper (and yes I mean he BROKE his zipper!), He spit up, he peed...and suddenly it dawned on me...

Drum roll please, 3 kids is a lot!

But give me a few more weeks and I'll find my balance! There is a lot of things going on around here and I am just choosing to focus on the positive

Ryan leaves in a few days, but he IS here
Nolen isn't sleeping, but he IS gaining weight
Anna isn't playing nice with Kaelyn, but she IS potty trained
Kaelyn isn't doing school right now, but she IS learning to read
The laundry isn't put away, but it IS clean!
There isn't any sugar or other basics, but there IS meals (thank you squadron AND MOPS)



Just trying to find that silver lining and a balance...it IS there.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

It's a BOY!

Yes...you read that right! On July 21 (the day Ryan was supposed to be flying out) at 9:45 am we delivered a healthy baby BOY! Nolen Ryan McAdams (no, it's not after the baseball player, Nolen is a name we like and Ryan is my husband's name. His family has a tradition of using the father's first name as a middle name. Just a happy coincidence!) weighed 6 lbs 10.5 ozs and was 19.5 inches long. He is perfectly healthy although super skinny and long. He has the biggest little hands with crazy long fingers and arms! Sweet little monkey toes and a head full of hair!

His first real cry...he was slow to open his eyes and start crying.

THE BIRTH STORY
(for those who are interested, and those who aren't can just stop reading...although it's all very pg)

Labor started early on the 20th but I wasn't entirely convinced I was going to have a baby, so I walked and walked and walked and around 3pm I was pretty sure it "could be it". We packed a few things and then went out to dinner as planned. During dinner my contractions were about every minute and half and I was starting to get uncomfortable so we went back to Ryan's Dad's house and hung out for awhile. I tried the pool, thinking it would relax me, but this time around the water just annoyed me. So I got out and walked some more. We went to the hospital around 9 pm thinking they would just send me home or stop my contractions since I was still early, but while I was there I progressed from a 3-4 in less than an hour. They decided to admit me and I immediately asked if I could get up and walk around. The nurse (who I loved by the way), gently told me that it wouldn't be possible since my contractions were so frequent and intense. I wasn't happy about htis, but I went with the punches and decided to labor in bed as directed. I informed the nurse that unless they break my waters this was going to be a LONG night. She laughed me off and said that although they (the nurses) couldn't break my waters they were certain I would go quickly.

Fast forward two hours with no cervical change and waning contractions (still frequent but not really going anywhere) and baby's heart rate acting up she suggested I go ahead and take the epideral so that they could start pitocin. Part of me thinks they went with pitocin because they knew Ryan was suppose to leave, and after the nurses left me alone Ryan and I talked it over and he told me in the end it was my decision as long as what I decided didn't endanger myself or the baby. I told him that I'd take the drugs and pitocin because as much as I wanted to go natural, I really wanted him to be there more. So, around 11 pm I got my epideral and the nurses once again expected things to move quickly (the delivery items and baby crib were ready and waiting five minutes after I arrived, that's how CERTAIN they were that things would go quickly despite my repeated reminders that until they break my waters...nothing about my labors happens quickly).  Shortly after my epideral (which didn't bother me at all because I had had it with my previous two children), I got a cath (which bothered the HECK out of me because I had never had it before...something about urine in a bag just gives me the heebie geebies) and then the pitocin started.
I can attest to what you hear about the dreaded Pitocin...it definitely makes contractions more intense....and for me that meant I felt EVERY one of my contractions DESPITE the epideral. I wasn't in pain, but there was near constant pressure which lead to a very long sleepless night! At 545 am, my water broke...the first time...confused? Yeah, so was I. Apparently my placenta pulled away from my uterus leading to a high leak in my fluids. This high leak just made me progress a small amount more. My doctor came in at 745/8  proclaiming that he had expected me to deliver already. I told him like I had told the others, unless you break my waters...this baby isn't going anywhere, BUT once you do...I'll be ready in an hour or two to deliver. He laughed (once again thinking I didn't know what I was talking about) and proceeded to break my waters. Once my waters broke, they ended up placing an internal monitor on the baby and on my uterus to make sure my contractions weren't too strong and ended up turning off the pitocin (and I suspect my epideral too because shortly after this all sorts of pain started). While the nurse was watching the new monitors, the baby started to really have some issues which resulted in me being put on oxygen, instructed on how to breathe and flipped around until his heartrate returned and stabalized. About thirty minutes after that scare I noticed something was really off and told Ryan to get the camera ready and call his family into the room (they had all been fast asleep the ENTIRE time I labored). Shortly after the phone calls were made and his family came into the room, I told him to get the nurse. Before the nurse even got in the room...this happened

This is me breathing through the urge to push...for about twenty more minutes.
The nurse walks in, checks me and I'm fully dialated but I have a cervical lip holding the baby in....and due to his iffy heartrate she decides to MANUALLY push my cervix over his head....did I mention that by this point I'm fairly certain I felt everything from the infamous burning sensation of his head to well the other less glorious bits of delivery.
The doctor walks in as my body is literally making Nolen crown on it's own without any help from me (despite the strong urge to push).
After he's born and we realize it's a boy the doctor then has some issues with my bleeding (they thought I was hemoraging but I suspect it was due to the placenta pulling away earlier on in labor) and then my placenta was "stuck" and I once again had to have someone MANUALLY deliver it for me by pulling it out with their hands (so if you see me looking not so happy in various pictures it's because it could have been during one of the various procedures where they realized my epideral was gone and had to give me local anesthesia). It was definitely not the easiest labor...but Nolen made it in time to meet his family!
That's Aunt Christine and Ryan's arm :)
Then our camera battery died and I'll have to upload more pictures later. But for now, I'm going to go nap!