Dyl-Bug!

So it took me long enough but if I want to get in done anytime soon I need to do it now!  The recent and upcoming for our second son, Dylan!  Like with Jacob's post I don't really remember when or what the last post was with any updates on him so I will go back a little.  First off last November he turned FIVE!!! He had a Halloween/costume party at our Stevi B's and had friends from school come eat and play wih him in their costumes! This past school year Dylan completed Pre-K! He loved it and learned SO much!  He has grown so much over this past school year!  He was also involved in church but wasn't quite old enough for RA's like Jacob so he did Choir and Mission Friends!  He had a couple concerts and and a Hymn sing! A couple months ago he had minor surgery as a follow up from a surgery following birth!  Everything went well with that and he has fully healed and doing great!  He recently graduated from Pre-k in a small ceremony at his school!  He was so proud as were Jeremy and I!  He is really excited about Kindergarten and riding the school bus starting in August!  Also recently we took Dylan to the Rheumatologist (bone dr.) to have his legs checked out.  He complains a lot about leg pain after any walking or strenuous activity.  He is very flat footed and pronated (knock kneed) so we figured this could be the culprit but wanted to confirm it wasn't more and to find out a solution! As we thought he is severely pronated and will be getting inserts into his shoes to help lift the inner foot and straighten his knees!  We also found out that he has Hyper Mobility.  Nothing major and sounds fancier than it actually is... basically meaning he is super flexible!  HAHA!  He over extends his joints which can cause injury and pain!  He loves to swim and being outdoors! Dylan has a very strong personality and is the loudest in the family!  He has been the "middle" child for the last two years and has made his voice heard and his presence known!  He is so bright, imaginative, creative and loving!  He is so affectionate and expressive!  He fills our days with laughter and also some frustration.  He has Mommy's patience or lack there of :) He loves being a playmate and brother to Jake.  He looks up to him so much and loves him dearly. He also loves being a big brother to Sam and is really looking forward to Summer.  Everyday for the last few days he has asked me "Is Summer coming out today?  I am SO excited".  Below are some recent pics of Dylan!

Re-bloging another blog!

Read this on a fellow blog and wanted to share.....  So true!

Parents. It’s not cool to put down your kids. It’s not funny. And it certainly doesn’t improve your relationship with your kids or change any issues that are bothering you.

Yup. Parenting can be hard sometimes. It can be annoying to find an unflushed toilet for the umpteenth time or smelly socks left in the living room. Kids can be dirty and stinky. They can be sassy and irritable and challenging and ungrateful. It’s true.

And you know what? So can we!

Do you want someone to publicly complain about you?

Tell me what it accomplishes to get into mom groups and complain about our kids?

What does it accomplish to devote full blog posts that get published on popular mom sites that rant about the myriad of things that you detest about your kids? The token, “But I still love them and wouldn’t change a thing” thrown in at the end does not suddenly make it all OK that you just publicly ripped apart your kids.

Gotta be great to be a kid who has parents who talk about “surviving” parenthood and the hardships of raising kids. You think they laugh it off like you do believing deep down, “Mom and Dad love me and wouldn’t change a thing?”

I’ll admit that I’ve jokingly said to my husband, “These kids are crampin’ our style,” as we realize that our plans are complicated because of the kids.

I’ve talked about how my kids can drive me bonkers. I even wrote a post on how my 6-yr-old was possibly possessed by Zuul, servant of Gozer the Gozerian.

I’m not suggesting that we don’t share our struggles. We don’t need to pretend that we’re never bothered or irritated or tired.

We can laugh together and commiserate on occasion.

But let’s be honest. All the whining about our kids is really, ultimately, about us and our own selfishness.

Because they did this, I have to do that.

I can’t do such and such because of them.

They aren’t listening to me.

I’m disrespected by them.

They make life difficult for me.

Yeah, we can feel better about ourselves when we put down our kids to other parents. We can justify it as venting. We bond with each other sharing our perceived horror stories.

And then we wonder why we don’t experience the family bliss some purport is possible. When we focus on the negative the positive gets lost even if it’s there. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that children won’t be affected by what you say about them even if you try not to say those things when they’re around.

So cut it out!

I’m tired of reading blogs and tweets and Facebook posts about how terrible your kids are (ha ha) and thinking it funny and entertaining. Fix the things that aren’t working in your home. Get parenting help if you need it. Stop complaining and take action. Then acknowledge that a large part of the issue is actually YOU, not your kids. Let’s address that.

Instead, lets rave about our kids and how amazing they are. Let’s share with each other how to become better parents. Let’s support each other as we try to get over ourselves and learn to put others before us because I didn’t see the clause in the verse (Romans 12:10 if you’re interested) that said the words applied to everyone except our children.

And then don’t tolerate less from others. Including those people who think they’re giving you a secret handshake when they see you with your kids and say, “You’ve got your hands full.”

If we want kids to respect us and others, let’s show them some respect. Will you join me?

Family scare....

So before I move on to posting about Dylan & Sam I want to share an experience we had last night in our home!  It was pretty scary and by sharing I hope to convince those who don't have a detector in their home to get one asap!  A Carbon Monoxide detector that is....  Last night at about 3:30am our carbon monoxide detector alarm went off in the upstairs hallway.  After of course waking us up Jeremy got up to check our what it was.  After discovering it was the CO alarm we suspected it being faulty.  We changed the batteries and it was still telling us the levels were too high in the house.  We followed the instructions to place the detector outside in fresh air to see if it still alarms... obviously if it still alarms in fresh air its probably faulty. Well, it didn't.  The levels dropped to 0% and it stopped alarming.  Once brought back indoors the levels quickly rose again.  After this we called 911 and had the fire department out to check the levels with their machine.  About 10 minutes later they arrived and started scanning the house.  The scary part-YES we had a CO leak.  The levels were 20's-30's up where we were sleeping and were only getting higher all the way down to the garage where the levels reached the highest topping in the 70's.  High enough down there that the firemen told Jacob and I we couldn't even stand in the room.  They suspected the hot water tank.  They told me to get the kids out of the house asap and for Jeremy to completely open the house- all windows and to get all the fans we had and run them inside to air out the house!  By 5:00am the boys and I were at my parents while Jeremy stayed back to air out the house!  Needless to say if it were not for the alarm on our CO detector we may not have woken up in the morning.  Carbon monoxide poison is fatal and the thought of that is out right scary!  The Lord had His watch and protection over us and our home and we are forever grateful to Him!  And as of today are purchasing more than one more detector to spread through out the house!  I of course HIGHLY recommend if you do not have a carbon monoxide detector in your home you get on right away!  It could mean  life or death!

Jakers!!!

So i figured I would start my post with the latest on the oldest & biggest brother, Jacob!  I don't even remember the last time I posted anything going on with him so I will start with things that have going on lately.  This past year he really enjoyed 2nd grade and was very active in church & RA's!  RA's, aka Royal Ambassadors (for Christ), was a class at church on Wednesday nights.  He learned a lot about discipline, loyalty, & spreading the word about Christ.  Much like Cub Scouts they take two camping trips, have a Racer Derby and lots of other fun activities through the year!  As like the school year RA's recently ended with a rewards dinner!  Jacob received a Lad patch, pin and two bars with stars!  He was so proud!  As for school, another year has come and gone and Jake is now considered a big 3rd grader!  Can't believe it!!!!!!  Another recent event for Jake, very recent... literally happened last night, he lost his THIRD tooth!  The first one he got out on his own!  The first two he lost were to two front bottom that he had to get pulled at the dentist bc his adult teeth came in behind them.  We worked and worked for 45 minutes on the already loose tooth and it finally came out!!!  We were all pretty excited!!! The summer should bring lots of fun and challenges as Jacob will again be a big brother but to a sister!  He will EIGHT in a couple weeks and is having a fun party at Mountasia with some friends from his class at school!!!!  Below are some pictures of some of the events from the last few months!  I will post about his birthday and party after it happens!

Baby Shower & Nursery!

I promise a post about my other children-my sweet boys is coming next... can you blame me for being excited about a girl finally?!!!  But while I am on the subject... Summer's baby shower was a couple weekends ago!  And WOW was it amazing!!  It was hosted my 4 amazingly wonderful blessings in my life, my three friends Kelly Trimble, Kheli Fallon, Jennifer Mills & also my loving Mom!!  We had a great turn out with over 20 people there to show their love!  I was spoiled rotten with LOTS of pink and adorable outfits!  We enjoyed yummy food and an adorable cake!  I could not have asked for a better day surrounded by those I love & cherish!  The good Lord knows exactly who I need in my life and has blessed me with exactly that!  Thank you to all who came!!!  Pictures below :)

And one more thing..... Pictures of Summer's completed nursery...

Updates on Mommy & Summer....

Well I have a couple posts to make about our family and things going on but I am going to break it up into a couple of posts over the next coupe days!  First I will update from my last post about mine and Summer's health since I have recently found some more information out.  I went to the cardiologist, my OB and the Perinatologist (High Risk Dr's) in the last two days!  First stop the cardiologist.  Back a few weeks I went to her about the results from the heart monitor I wore for a month.  She actually said it showed some abnormalities; showing what we already knew-several palpitations but also some SVT's (Supraventricular Tackycardia) and she originally wanted to change my medication.  At the time I had been feeling 100% better and was not at the time experiencing any of the same symptoms or even a palpitation so she trusted my judgement and left all be for the time being.  I left that appt a few weeks back with high hopes and instructions to call asap if I started feeling those symptoms again.  Well......not two weeks passed and I started slowly feeling bad again.  Feeling the same bothersome heart symptoms!  Fearful of changing my medicine due to the possibility of my blood pressure rising again since I have responded so well to the current lebatolol I got put on after my admission to the hospital at 19 weeks I waited a week or so before calling but the symptoms were only getting worse and my bp at home was actually kinda rising... so I had to call her back and went back in yesterday.  At that appt we discussed my feelings and thankfully she instead of changing my medication,  agreed with me on the bp rising fear and just upped my current medication dosage- actually over doubled it.  So I went from 400mg a day to 1200mg a day.  Another scary subject that was brought up was a possible blood clot in my leg.  I have had some bad swelling in just my right leg and some severe calf cramping at night that is very painful and wakes me suddenly from sleep that is also only happening in my right leg.  As soon as she heard of this she started talking about hospitalization, blood thinners, delivering early... yikes!  She did an EKG of my heart and then rushed me back for an ultrasound of my leg to rule that out.  THANKFULLY it came back negative for any clots!  Thank the LORD!!!!  So all went well and I just left with an increased med dosage.  Immediately following that appt I had my OB appt for a bp check which also went great!!!  Even though this post is already extremely long I have to add in here that these two appts were pretty early Monday morning and involved a little almost two year old tag along!  I must say I had already prepared mentally for lots of needed patience and understanding but was amazed at the absolute DREAM that Sam was for the whole three hours both appts took!  Even through the unexpected EKG and 20 minute ultrasound they popped up on me!  We had to sit in a tiny dark room for 20 minutes while they scanned my leg and Sam literally sat in the corner quiet as a mouse and watched!  He was such a blessing!  I have also had so many people helping and offering to help me with the kids and appts- it has been a tremendous blessing and I could not be more grateful for all of it!  So moving on to today's appt with the perinatologist.  I had a 32 weeks ultrasound of sweet Summer... and as of today she checked out great!!!  She is weighing in a t a whopping 4 pounds 10 ounces.. up almost two whole pounds from just 4 weeks ago!  The dr didn't seem too thrilled about how high of a dosage the cardiologist has upped me too and is a little weary and fearful of how it may make me feel, how low in might actually make my blood pressure and the fact that the blood flow to Summer may be compromised.  Basically he just stressed to me how important it is that I monitor her activity very closely and if I notice any drop in movement from my current VERY active baby girl to check in with them asap!  As for me my bp today was only 100/60 which for me is LOW... considering my high was 178/102.  He said I will (which I already am) feel very weak, sluggish, faint lightheaded and dizzy! On another note... I mean really how much more right?!.... The "Coxsackie Virus" !  For those who don't know the boys all came down with Hand Foot Mouth aka Coxsackie Virus a couple weeks ago (causes blisters in throat and high fevers).  I heard, of course after sleeping nose to nose with all three of them at some point or another for a week that this virus can have a bad effect on pregnant women.  Ugh!  Figures! SO I mentioned it to my OB and he did some blood work.  Sure enough and to no surprise to me my results came back positive for the virus.  I don't have an active version as I am not actually sick from it but it is in my system.  According to the OB and the Peri drs they are not too concerned since I contracted it so far along in my pregnancy and are not worried about it getting passed to Summer and her being born with it. With the time that will pass between my exposure and delivery my body will have developed immunity and antibodies to the virus and those will get passed to Summer!  So.........  Thats my story and I'm stickin' to it!  No really... all this is good news to me.  Yes I have to be more cautious than your average pregnant woman but all of this for me means the possibility of no bed rest in the end which will be such a blessing!  I mean it is all in the Lords hands and all at His will but I pray and pray that Summer and I can make it to our scheduled 39 week c-seciton without any major problems!!!!!!  Please continue to pray for us and for a healthy and safe last few weeks!  Much love-

Today face picture of Summer!

Summer Grace...

So we are moving right along in this pregnancy!  Summer is growing and is healthy!  We go to the perinatologist every 4 weeks for sonograms to check several things with her because of the blood pressure medicine I am on.  Our last one was yesterday.  I am 28 weeks and she was measuring exactly that!  She was measuring 2.13 lbs!  Up a whole pound from just 4 weeks ago!  She is very active and always proves it during every sonogram I have.  My health is doing well too.  I wore a heart monitor for a month and got the results last week. Not ideal and the cardiologist actually wants to change my medicine but I have been feeling great so I convinced her not to in fear that changing my meds will only result in my bp going back up!!  We scheduled my c-section so Lord willing Summer should arrive shortly after 10:30 am on July 5th!!!!!!!  We have a 3D/4D sonogram to see her beautiful face next week and then have my shower next weekend!!  I am so excited to be showered all pink!!!!!!  Her nursery is actually almost all done...haha!  I will post pics soon! Please continue to pray for our health and a safe and happy delivery when the time comes!  See her recent pictures below!

Her profile and arm!  She always has her arms/hands by her face!

Her face... her left eye & mouth are open and you can see her sweet nose!