Today is a life changing day. It's a day that we have struggled to get to for three and a half years. Here we are now and it's scary. Ricky and I have wanted this child for so long. February of 2006 we started "trying" for another baby. We were disappointed when it wasn't the month, cried over the loss of the baby last year and wondered if we were only meant to have Regan. Today we will be welcoming Kollyn Avery into our world. A baby that has lived in our hearts for over 3 years. I hope to be able to post about his arrival very soon. Thanks for following us on this journey.
Ever feel like it's you against the world? Lately I do. The husband,the parents,the children, even the unborn one. Please let this be only pregnancy hormones cause right now I'm mentally packing for a vacation to a far off place by myself.
It has just hit me that these are my last two days alone!!!
The doctor said I could go at anytime and so now we wait but we have already set an induction date in case Kollyn wants to hang out too much longer. Regan is out of school next week for fall break and so he and I will be hanging out together until the BIG DAY!
What am I planning on doing these last two days of quiet time? Cleaning and getting groceries bought,laundry,cleaning Kollyn's room again, all while trying to keep the swelling down in my legs. Sounds like fun,huh?
Today I put a crying 4 year old on the bus. Not because he didn't want to go to school but because we got off the porch late and didn't get to have our races down the driveway. The child has a routine and doesn't like for it to be messed up. He is really going to be messed up when he realizes that I switched his snack up. I would almost bet that he gets a frowny face today. I bet if he could he would give me one today. Who changes two parts of an obsessive compulsive's day on the same day?? Oh if only he had the words to tell me how bad I am today.
Dear sweet hubby
Just when I think you are being so sweet for folding the clothes that are in the dryer, you really mess it up when I find all my clothes in a pile on the floor the next day. Thanks for killing it for me.
Your wrinkled wife!
This weeks meals are pretty simple. I'm making a few casseroles and things that I can make double and freeze. I was going to try to do all my freezer meals over the weekend but it just didn't work out for me to do it that way. Maybe this will work better??
Monday
Red beans and rice with smoked sausage
Tuesday
Italian pork chops~ Crock pot
Au Gratin Potatoes
Green Beans
Wednesday~making one for freezer
Enchilada Casserole
Thursday~making one for freezer
Chicken pot pie
Friday~making one for freezer
Pizza Pasta Casserole
Saturday~ Company for the game
Buffalo chicken Sandwiches
Chips
Again our lunches are usually leftovers, salad,chicken salad, cereal or something quick and easy. We have saved a couple of hundred dollars since school started just by not eating out during the week for lunches. We only go out to eat like once a week and usually on Friday since football season has started so that also saves us lots!!!
What are you having?
I love hearing about great products that people love. I don't like finding out that their finds would cost me and arm and leg just to try. So here is my attempt at spreading the cheap joy!
I'm sorry but blogger has lost out on the things to do. I'm exhausted. I get Regan on the bus and usually go back to bed. Get up at one and then I'm ready to go back to bed by the time Ricky gets home. This house is falling apart and the laundry well its a mountain. Today I feel okay so that is why you get a post.
Things are okay with the pregnancy. I'm still having those stress test done every week and as I posted on facebook I got scared yesterday but I've decided that if he really thought something was wrong I wouldn't be home today I would be in the hospital with the little one. Hopefully next week will be worry free!! I'm up a total of 15 pound which is all I wanted to gain for the whole pregnancy but two weeks ago Kollyn weighed over 5lbs so I'll just remember that he is taking up some of this weight!! He isn't growing as fast as he was so he is about where his original due date was. WHO KNOWS when he will be here. Ricky says next weekend and I'm going for 3 weeks from now. What do you think? The bus drivers tells me this morning that I have dropped!! WOOHOO!
School is going good for Regan. He did get two frowny faces lastweek. One for throwing rocks and one for eating them! The kid loves rocks. What can I say.
Ricky is off this weekend but we have lots going on!! Friday his mawmaw is turning 75 so we will be having a get together for her. Saturday is college football day. My brother and sister-in-law are coming over for the game. Ricky and Jay are going to be cutting grass afterwards,we hope for no rain. Sunday we go to order the pictures we had made last weekend and then we are having a small baby shower hosted by Ricky's family. We all know how much I struggle with these kinds of things but at least Ricky will be there for me.
Hope all is going well for all of you. I'm reading blogs even though I'm not posting here on this one. Have fun!!
I'm needing some freezer meals to cook and freeze before this baby makes his way into the world. If you have any send them my way.
Less than 5 weeks!!! I get to have another ultrasound this week to see exactly how big he is or as the doctor says " to see if he is just swimming in a big swimming pool" I'm measuring 40 weeks already!! We passed the non stress test again Thursday but will be taking another one Wednesday to keep an eye on him!
This weekend was an up and down weekend for us. A teacher,neighbor,friend passed away over the weekend. Our little neighborhood has been very quiet. Last night a bunch of the girls were outside playing volleyball and it was such a relief to hear their laughter. We had some people over for the game Saturday night. Then Sunday we had my brother and his wife over for supper and then we made a fire and roasted marshmallows and chatted. Regan was with the grandparents and so we then went to my brothers and played Wii for hours. I had to be up at 5 yesterday morning to go shopping after only sleeping about 3 hours but Mom and I had fun just hanging out together.
I love three day weekend because then I really only worry about meals for 4 nights. This weeks menu is:
Tuesday~ Pizza We bought two yesterday and have an entire pizza left over
Wednesday~ Red beans and Rice with Turkey sausage~ because Ricky loves it
Thursday~Grilled Chicken Salads
Friday~ Out to eat
Saturday~ Buffalo chicken sandwiches~ My favorite football food
Have a good short week!
I don't even know where to start with this. I don't know this boy and girl at all but I think of them every morning and pray that they make it safely to and from school.
Every morning this one truck passes our house. Regan and I are on the porch or just walking down the driveway. I wait on him to pass because his driving scares me. The first week of school he came flying around a car on our little two lane road. He was so close that he hit the rocks in our driveway and rocks went everywhere. I said some rather unnice things about him and even called Ricky to tell him about it. I told Ricky that I was going to do something!! I never did.
In the afternoons he often got stuck behind Regan's bus. It takes awhile for Regan to get off the bus because he has to tell everyone bye. The boy and girl always smile and wave at Regan and I often wanted to stop and tell him to SLOW DOWN! He was going to get hurt. I never did. I showed Ricky the truck on days that Ricky was here and told him how worried I was about this boy and girl because I was once that girl in the truck. Letting the guy drive crazy and never thinking what could happen.
This morning I didn't see them. I wondered if I was early or if he was late. Then right after Regan's bus left the first response team came by, then another, then a state trooper, then another and then two ambulances and finally a wrecker. I knew something had happened to them. A few minutes later the life helicopter flew over. I called Ricky and told him something bad had happened. I keep sitting here waiting. I needed some stamps and so I headed toward the post office. When I came to the top of the hill there sat all the emergency vehicles. I couldn't see anything and had to turn around. Sitting here a few minutes ago the wrecker went by and there was that truck. The same one I have wanted to do something about and never did. The one that I have prayed would get those two kids to school. I have never seen a truck so messed up. I know it's bad and I feel responsible. I feel guilty, horrible,terrified.
I don't know anything about the status of these kids but I'm afraid it isn't good. I haven't been able to stop crying since I saw the truck. Why didn't I do something. What if I would have said something would it have made a difference to them? I'm afraid it wouldn't have no one could of told me anything different when I was their age. I thought nothing bad could ever happen to me and I know they did too. Please say a prayer for these kids and their families. It just breaks my heart that this could have been avoided.
Went to the doctor AGAIN today. I had to have a non-stress test done and well we passed. Kollyn did great. He has to have ten times that his heart rate goes up in a 30 min time period. After she buzzed him with the buzzer to wake him up he got 10 in about 5 mins. I think by the time it was over he had went up about 30 times. When Ricky would talk his heart rate would go up. How cute is that.
My blood pressure was great! I also got a flu shot. He said that the swine flu shot would be in shortly and he recommended that I get one of those also.
Things went great and we will get to do it all over next week!! Only 6 more weeks!!!
Football Season in the South
Planning for the fall football season in the South is radically different
than up North. For those who are planning a football trip South, here are
some helpful hints.
Women’s Accessories:
NORTH: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a
fifth of bourbon. Money not necessary – that’s what dates are for.
Stadium Size:
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
Fathers:
NORTH: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath.
SOUTH: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.
Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.
Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also a physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss America.
Heroes:
NORTH: Rudy Giuliani.
SOUTH: Herschel Walker & Peyton Manning.
Getting Tickets:
NORTH: 5 days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus.
SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus,
make a large financial contribution, and put name on a waiting list for
tickets.
Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they’re going to the game, because
they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don’t want to see the few
hung over students that might actually make it to class.
Parking:
NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for game
parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the
weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.
Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to
where ESPN is broadcasting “Game Day Live” to get on camera and wave to the
idiots up north who wonder why “Game Day Live” is never broadcast from their
campus.
Tailgating:
NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio
station with truck tailgate down.
SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking
accompanied by live performance from the Dave Matthews Band, who come over
during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.
Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask “Where’s the stadium?” When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you’re near it, you’ll hear it. On game day it is the state’s
third largest city.
Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team’s mascot on it,
filled less than half way with soda, to ensure enough room for bourbon.
When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH: Stands are less than half full, and less than half of them stand up.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.
The Smell in the Air After the First Score:
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of bourbon.
Commentary (Male):
NORTH: “Nice play.”
SOUTH: “Dammit, you slow sumbitch – tackle him and break his legs.”
Commentary (Female):
NORTH: “My, this certainly is a violent sport.”
SOUTH: “Dammit, you slow sumbitch – tackle him and break his legs.”
Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a tear in
his eye because he is so proud of his team.
After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to the
nearest package store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next week’s game.
HOW MANY SEC STUDENTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?
At VANDERBILT: It takes two, one to change the bulb and one more to explain
how they did it every bit as good as the bulbs changed at Harvard.
At GEORGIA: It takes two, one to change the bulb and one to stabilize the
rolling beer cooler the bulb changer is using for a ladder.
At FLORIDA: It takes four, one to screw in the bulb and three to figure out
how to get stoned off the old one.
At ALABAMA: It takes five, one to change it, three to reminisce about how
The Bear would have done it, and one to throw the old bulb at an NCAA
investigator.
At OLE MISS: It takes six, one to change it, two to mix the drinks and three
to find the perfect J. Crew outfit to wear for the occasion.
At LSU: It takes seven, and each one gets credit for five Semester hours.
At KENTUCKY : It takes eight, one to screw it in and seven to discuss how
much brighter it seems to shine during basketball season.
At TENNESSEE: It takes ten, two to figure out how to screw it in, two to buy
an orange lamp shade, and six to phone a radio call-in show and talk about
how much they hate Alabama.
At MISSISSIPPI STATE: It takes fifteen, one to screw in the bulb, two to buy
the Skoal, and twelve to yell, “GO TO HELL, OLE MISS”.
At AUBURN: It takes one hundred, one to change it, forty-nine to talk about
how they did it better than at Bama and Georgia, and fifty to get drunk and
roll Toomer’s Corner when finished.
At SOUTH CAROLINA: It takes 80,000, one to screw it in and 79,999 to discuss
how this finally will be the year that they have a decent football team.
At ARKANSAS: None. There is no electricity in Arkansas
I just can't imagine what in the world I would have done if some stranger slapped my child.
A 61 year old slapped a two year old in Walmart in Georgia after telling the mother to shut her up or he would.
Here is a link to the story!!
Dear Santa,the easter bunny,tooth fairy,cupid,and any other person who will bring me something:
I want this!!
See I've never really loved any cars until I saw this car. It is perfection! I went ahead and built one on the dodge website so I could show exactly what I want on it. And well here ya go!
6.1-Liter SRT HEMI(R) V8 Engine
Premium Leather Trim Bucket Seats w/ Accent Stripe
6-Speed Manual Transmission
AM/FM Stereo Radio w/In-Dash 6-Disc CD/DVD/MP3 Plyr
Bright Accelerator, Brake and Clutch Pedals
Power Sunroof
13 Kicker SRT High-Performance Speakers
200-Watt Kicker SRT Subwoofer
322-Watt Kicker SRT Amplifier
Instrument Cluster White Face with Tachometer
The color doesn't matter as much so feel free to surprise me on that. The cost well it is as much as we owe on our house but hey! It sure is pretty and well two car seats would surely go in the back seat with no problem, right? Because you know safety first!
I won't ask for anything else for at least six months if I could just have this one little thing.
Dear Our lovely insurance company,our ENT,and the anesthesiologist ;
You stink!!
I will now have to clean out my baby emergency fund AGAIN!! This is the second time this year that we have had to take everything out to pay medical bills for Regan. I'm fed up with it!! You got over 5000.00 for Regan's surgery and now you want another 550.00?? Why can't you take what the insurance paid you and be happy?? I mean a surgery that lasted less than 10mins gets you paid 5000.00 and that isn't enough?
Now if something goes wrong with Kollyn we will have no emergency money to deal with stuff. Thanks ya big jerks!!
It's time for another week to begin. Well actually 17mins til Monday but I'm up and so here is what we are eating for the week!!
Monday~~ Dorito Chicken Casserole
Tuesday~~ Pizza~ Regan has open house so it will be easy
Wednesday~~Italian porkchops, corn, green beans ~~ Yes, I know we eat this every week but Ricky loves it and asks for it every week when I get the menu together.
Thursday~~ beef stroganoff~ My mom's version
Friday~~BBQ porkchops, Mac and cheese and broccoli and cheese
Saturday~~ START OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!! Michael and Candice are coming over and she is cooking her famous to us Brats and onion rings. I'm going to fix some snacks and dessert but it's going to be low key.
Sunday~~ My mom and I are heading to Georgia for Power's Crossroads We go every year and I'm bound and determined that being 33/34 weeks pregnant won't stop me. We will see what the doctor says Thursday.
Breakfast is easy since Regan is at school for breakfast. Ricky and I have waffles,cereal,french toast or cinnamon rolls.
I've got to do better on my lunch. I forget to eat! So this week I'm going to make some chicken salad and chicken and dumplings to eat for my lunch. Ricky got some meals and we will both eat some left overs.
Pretty simple but it always is with us. Have a good week!!
How far along: 32 weeks by my dates 33 weeks by Kollyn's measurements
Total weight gain/loss: 9 pounds
Maternity clothes? pants yes shirts I wear a mix of because most of my shirts are lose
Stretch marks? Not any new ones only the ones from Regan.
Sleep: What is that? About 4 hours a night and then usually a nap when Regan goes to school
Best moment this week: Sunday my mom brought us bags and bags of stuff she had bought us!! It was fun getting a surprise!!
Movement: YES! Crazy movements!
Food cravings: Lemon but that isn't anything new for me
Food aversions: none
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: lots of braxton hicks
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Sleep of course and feeling stable. I feel uncoordinated lately.
What I am looking forward to: Putting the car seat in. Packing my hospital bag. Which will happen next week before my test. ~~SEE BELOW~~
Weekly Wisdom: I have none
Milestones: I will be pregnant no more than 8 weeks!!!!
So I went to the doctor today! It was raining like crazy when I got there and I hate getting my feet wet so I about threw up trying to get into the building. My blood pressure was pretty good 130/80 and my iron was still up. So yea! The baby's heartrate was 164 which I think is good. Last week there was some blood in my urine and so that was a concern but there wasn't any this week. He is going to do a Non-stress test next week and check on the baby. Just to make sure there isn't any fetal distress. I'm trying to think positive and know that it will be okay. But I'm going to go ahead and pack my bags just in case we need some more monitoring next week.
Today is Regan's first circle time. We filled his bag with all the things he loves Mr. Brown can Moo! Can you?,a motorcycle,football jersery,and Elmo's world Wild Wild West I have practiced and practiced with him on using his words to tell about each item. Things like his roll tide he says, paw paw motorcycle ride, wild wild west and his version of moo,moo buzz,buzz. This is the day that I want to be there, I want to explain things for him. I don't want him to be laughed at by kids in his class. While I know they will have stories about their items I'm praying that he says two words about what is in his bag. I debated on sending a note in his bag with all his things so that the aide or teacher could tell about it for him but then decided that I would let him do it. He doesn't need me to fix everything, maybe if he sees the other kids telling about their things he will be able to follow their lead. At least that is what I'm hoping for.
***UPDATE***
I couldn't help but wonder how things went today so I emailed Regan's teacher. She sent me an email back and said that he good. He showed the pages of the Mr. Brown can moo! Can you? book and when asked if mommy reads the book to him he said daddy read book. When it was time to put everything up he took off his shirt and tried to put his jersey on so she let him wear it the rest of the day. Yea!!
Here are some pictures she sent me!
I really enjoyed the first week of school. I got tons of stuff done which was great. But I'm now ready to have my little man back at home with me. It's awful quiet here on the home front. The only thing that keeps me from running after the bus every single day this week is knowing that in a few weeks Kollyn will be here to entertain me. Plus, the kids really likes school. He still gets excited to see the bus coming and tells me every morning bus ride! 
Is it too early to wish for Summer vacation?
I've spent an hour writing this long detailed post and now it seems I've deleted it all. Oh well! Here is the cliff note version.
I need someone to take my side.
I need sometimes for other people to admit that they see the delays in Regan.
I need to know that I'm not the only one working on him.
I need to know that people respect my decisions on what happens with Regan.
I need to know that my name isn't being smeared to other people just because you don't like what my rules are.
I need to know that this will get better.
I need to know that this isn't going to tear my little family apart.
I need to know that some people would stop what they are doing to spend time with Regan.
I would like to blame this on hormones, but its something that just keeps building inside me.
Monday~ Italian pork chops,corn,broccoli and cheese
Tuesday~Taco Salad
Wednesday~Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Thursday~ Grilled cheese/ Ham sandwiches, salad
Friday~ Taco soup
Saturday~ Chicken fingers,tater tots or pizza, cupcakes
(We are having Levi and Katie over for the day. Friday was Katie's birthday and so she is coming over to play with Regan and Levi and Ricky are going to do the guy thing and play NCAA10)
Pretty simple this week.
I'm now 31 weeks pregnant!! I know that just yesterday I was 29 weeks but when we went to the doctor today this little boy was measuring ahead and so we are looking at October 17th now!!! Some of his measurements were 2+weeks ahead and some where they should be. So we got to change our date by 1 week. Right now he weighs 3lb 5oz!!
My blood pressure was 123/78. There was no protein in my urine and my iron level was 11.4. Everything that was bad last week was perfect today!! I'm was ecstatic when I saw the blood pressure result. That made my day so much better, heck that made the week better. I'm feeling great and this baby is doing great!
Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. Looks like we are right on track for a little pumpkin in mid-October!!
Regan started school yesterday. I decided to tell his story with pictures so you can see how it has been for him.
His I gotta go where? face
Here we are at school.
Walking into school holding on to daddy
Here is my place at the table
Mommy and daddy are letting me play all day??
Here comes to bus!! Meme has waited all day!
My first bus ride!!!!
Sitting on the porch waiting on time for the bus
Regan saying bus ride!!
Making our way to the end of the driveway
Jumping is so much fun
The bus is coming!!!!!
These steps are HUGE!!
The bus is turned around and heading to school
Ricky's wedding band is now too little for him. He has thickened up so much since we got married that about a month ago he struggled to get his wedding band off. Since then it has been sitting in the jewelery cabinet. My plan is to get him a new one for when Kollyn is born. I would love to be able to give him a present for giving me two wonderful little boys.
So you can only imagine my excitement when tonight I ran across a giveaway on Jenna's blog. To giveaway a Tungsten wedding band!!! Click here to visit her and her adorable little boy.
Oh please let me win!!
I've gotten a few emails,comments, and sweet phone calls ;) asking about what is going on with this post so here you go. The not so short version.
I went to the doctor Wednesday. Took Regan with me for the first time. He did SOOO good. He played with his cars and sat in the chair while I was measured and we listened to Kollyn's heart. He was amazing!!
Ok that isn't the part you wanted to know is it? So first off I jumped on the scale and was down some. Two pounds actually so I've only gained 5 pounds this entire pregnancy. As we all know I had plenty extra before I got pregnant so the little gain isn't something to worry about! Promise!
Then my least favorite thing. BLOOD PRESSURE!! It was 143/79. Bottom number good,top a little higher than they want it to be. So off to the room we go. Amazing doctor comes in and measures me and says he is a growing boy!! I assume it just means that he is still ahead a week like he was two weeks ago. He then tells me that he has grown LOTS!! and I'm measuring way ahead of what I am.
He listens to the heart rate and its 144. That is where its been just about every time we go in. So sweet!
Then he tells me that my blood pressure is creeping up. And I know this it has been higher at home. He tell me that their is protein showing up in my urine. SAY WHAT? I know that that is a sign of preeclampsia Which isn't good.
He then tells me he wants to do an ultrasound of the baby next week to see exactly how big he is. Because he doesn't want to let him get "Too Big" and that we might look at other options when we see how big he is.
Now I'm officially 29 weeks pregnant but baby boy here is measuring like he is 35 or 36 weeks. So instead of 11 weeks to go we may have less. Like lots less. So here is my panic setting in. Not only is my body having a hard time dealing with the stress of pregnancy. Like the infection,protein in the urine, high blood pressure and all that stuff that I know isn't good for my health. This baby may be born soon and I'm not ready!!!! So next weekend is going to be get things ready for Kollyn to be here. I have to get everything ready because I'm afraid the next step for me will be bedrest if this Blood pressure and protein thing doesn't get better!!! I'm just hoping that it is home bed rest and not hospital bed rest!!!!
I go to the doctor Thursday morning so we will know what is going on then! Right now I'm just praying that Kollyn is a healthly little man and we don't meet for the next 7 to 8 weeks.
Every year my favorite part of school was getting my back to school shoes. I love the feel of new shoes to start school back. I went yesterday and got Regan some new shoes at Hicks Family Shoes in Gadsden. They take the time to measure and work to find a shoes that actually fits and not just hand you something from the back of the store. The sweet lady worked with Regan almost an hour trying to make sure we got shoes that would fit over his braces and not be moving around on him. She was fantastic!! Trying shoes on Regan is always a chore he hates new shoes but he did great yesterday! Yea for a good shoe day!!
Here are his new shoes!!
He picked them out and even though we usually try to buy in New Balance or Nike, I know that these shoes fit correctly and that his foot is well taken care of in them.
