Sorry guys, its been a while again!! I guess I am not too good at keeping this thing updated!! The blood tests for Cystic Fibrosis came back 97% negative!! Praise God, we knew they would. The pulmonologist wanted to go ahead and draw a second set of blood work and send off for the second panel, just to be sure, but once again, we know what the results will be. God is so good!! We are so blessed!
Jake is doing great!!! He's smiling and laughing and eating up a storm!! I am so glad that my precious baby is feeling better. There is nothing harder than seeing your baby sick and being completely helpless. Please pray that he continue to do well.
We go back to the pulmonologist in about 2 weeks. Its just a consultation, and then we will schedule the scope that they are wanting to do. There again, I know God is in control. He is so awesome, and has done so much for us and so many others in our church already this year, and its only January. I can not wait to see what God does the rest of this year, its going to be great.
In other news, my sister in law had me another nephew. Calder Byam Holt was born January 9, 2010 at 10:09 pm (I think). He was 5lbs 13oz and 20" long. He is precious!! I stayed at the hospital until almost 3:00 am just so I could be one of the first people to hold him!! He was almost 4 weeks early, but he is just fine. No NICU for him, THANK GOD!!
I think that's about all for now. Nothing too terribly exciting going on right now. God is doing some amazing things, and I can only hope that I am making him proud in my daily walk.
PS: I will do my best to get some new pictures and post them soon!!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Blog #6
Okay, so A LOT has happened since the last time I blogged. Its a really long story, so I will condense...
Once we get the blood test results, they are supposed to do a scope down his esophagus to check a couple of things, but both things that they are checking for are either treatible or will correct itself with time.
Now that I got past the "dark" part of last week, I will move on to the day we got out of the hospital and everyday after, because they have all been great!!
We went to my cousin's the evening that we got out of the hospital, then we braved the ice and drove to Grapevine to spend the night at my in-law's house. What is normally a 25 minute drive, turned into a 2 hour trip. I am so glad Jeffery is such a good driver, because there is no way we would have made it alive if I had been driving! Anyways, we finally made it around 10:00, and went to sleep around midnight. We got up the next morning, and went next door to my brother in laws house for breakfast and gift opening. IT WAS GREAT! Jeffery is the best Santa EVER!! I got the one thing I asked for... a manual cheese grater! BUT, I also got a dual headed shower head that I have wanted since we bought our house 2.5 years ago, but I am too cheap to buy. I also got the nightstand for our bedroom to replace the TV tray that I had been using. And as though that wasn't enough already.... he also bought me a front load washer and dryer!! He is WONDERFUL!! Also, my sister in law drew my name this year, and she got me the "Ninja". Its like a blender/food processor thing a majig. I can't wait to use it! I am so excited about making, or at least attempting to make Jake's baby food!! On top of all of that, I also got cold hard cash! The only thing that could have made this Christmas better would have been if my father in law was home from Afghanistan. COME HOME SOON, JOEL!!!
After we finished in Grapevine we headed back to my sister's house in Saginaw. We ate delicious mexican food, and then Jeffery surprised me with yet ANOTHER present. He bought me a 32" flatscreen and wall mount for our bedroom AND a Blue Ray DVD Player to go with it! He is too much!
Jake went back to the hospital December 21 and stayed until about 3:00 Christmas Eve. They tested him for whooping cough and it was negative. They did an abdominal ultrasound and confirmed that he has very mild reflux, but went ahead and kept him on Prevacid. The also did two sweat tests... a test to help determine if he has Cystic Fibrosis. Both tests were very boarderline, so they drew blood and sent that off in order to run genetic testing and get a more conclusive result. We won't get those results back until about January 6. In the mean time, they sent of a sample of his poo poo, and conducted a stool analysis. Evidentally, CF patients do not make enzymes to break down and digest certain things, and that is what they were checking his poop for. I got those results on Tuesday, and Praise God, his doo doo is normal!!
Now that I got past the "dark" part of last week, I will move on to the day we got out of the hospital and everyday after, because they have all been great!!
We went to my cousin's the evening that we got out of the hospital, then we braved the ice and drove to Grapevine to spend the night at my in-law's house. What is normally a 25 minute drive, turned into a 2 hour trip. I am so glad Jeffery is such a good driver, because there is no way we would have made it alive if I had been driving! Anyways, we finally made it around 10:00, and went to sleep around midnight. We got up the next morning, and went next door to my brother in laws house for breakfast and gift opening. IT WAS GREAT! Jeffery is the best Santa EVER!! I got the one thing I asked for... a manual cheese grater! BUT, I also got a dual headed shower head that I have wanted since we bought our house 2.5 years ago, but I am too cheap to buy. I also got the nightstand for our bedroom to replace the TV tray that I had been using. And as though that wasn't enough already.... he also bought me a front load washer and dryer!! He is WONDERFUL!! Also, my sister in law drew my name this year, and she got me the "Ninja". Its like a blender/food processor thing a majig. I can't wait to use it! I am so excited about making, or at least attempting to make Jake's baby food!! On top of all of that, I also got cold hard cash! The only thing that could have made this Christmas better would have been if my father in law was home from Afghanistan. COME HOME SOON, JOEL!!!
(Side note: If you are reading this, please take a moment and say a quick prayer for my father in law. He has been in Afghanistan working for a LONG TIME, and we really miss him and want him to come home. Plus, if you watch the news, and I know you do, then you have to hear how bad things are getting over there right now.... suicide bombers, its really dangerous, and we want him and all of his employees to be safe.)
After we finished in Grapevine we headed back to my sister's house in Saginaw. We ate delicious mexican food, and then Jeffery surprised me with yet ANOTHER present. He bought me a 32" flatscreen and wall mount for our bedroom AND a Blue Ray DVD Player to go with it! He is too much!
After I left there, I went straight to my Mamaw and Papaw's house. We visited with them for a little while, then headed to Jeffery's Memaw's house. We ate again, and just hung out, and then headed home around 8:00 or so. We were exhausted after not being in our own beds for almost a week.
I think that about wraps up my Christmas. It was so wonderful, and God has been so good to us this year. I am looking forward to 2010, and I'm excited to see how God will use my family this year.
Look how much better I feel!!
(Another side note: In case you are wondering, neither me or Jeffery have any family history of Cystic Fibrosis, that we know of. I had a couple of break downs when they first told us that they were going to test for it, but as usual, Jeffery was strong and stayed calm for me. We have prayed and prayed, and we are at compete peace that God is in control and the test results will be negative. We are thankful that He chose us to be a light for Him in this trying time, and I can only hope that we have made Him proud with the way we have handled things. Jake is doing 100% better since he has been home, so please pray that he continues to strive. Thank you all so much for everything!)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Blog #5
Being a mommy is hard work.....
I love my baby so very much, and I just don't think we can handle anything else... at least not for a long time! He's been congested pretty much since we brought him home from the hospital. Being the crazy new mommy that I am, I have taken him to the doctor a hundred times. Then he developed a cough, and he has gone through two different antibiotics with NO CHANGE. I finally had enough night before last... well technically yesterday morning. He woke up at midnight coughing his head off and breathing really fast, and I decided to take him into the ER. The ER doctor ended up admitting him with the diagnosis of asthma and bronchitis, but the attending doctor that saw him once he got into a room said no. He said he has been sick too long for it to be bronchitis, and he said he's too little to diagnose asthma. He decided to have a pulmonologist take a look at him. She said that she thinks he has reflux, even though he has never been one to spit up. She said its more like an adult's reflux... where it comes up, but not out.... Make sense? She said that when it comes up, it is irritating his sinus cavity, and the inflamation is causing mucus production, and the mucus production is causing congestion, which is causing the cough. She changed his formula, and put him on Nasonex nose spray to help the inflamation in his nose and sinuses, and Prevacid to help stop the reflux. I pray that this helps!! There is nothing more pathetic than a sick baby!!
Jake and daddy in the emergency room at Cook's
Doesn't he look cute in his little gown?
I love my baby so very much, and I just don't think we can handle anything else... at least not for a long time! He's been congested pretty much since we brought him home from the hospital. Being the crazy new mommy that I am, I have taken him to the doctor a hundred times. Then he developed a cough, and he has gone through two different antibiotics with NO CHANGE. I finally had enough night before last... well technically yesterday morning. He woke up at midnight coughing his head off and breathing really fast, and I decided to take him into the ER. The ER doctor ended up admitting him with the diagnosis of asthma and bronchitis, but the attending doctor that saw him once he got into a room said no. He said he has been sick too long for it to be bronchitis, and he said he's too little to diagnose asthma. He decided to have a pulmonologist take a look at him. She said that she thinks he has reflux, even though he has never been one to spit up. She said its more like an adult's reflux... where it comes up, but not out.... Make sense? She said that when it comes up, it is irritating his sinus cavity, and the inflamation is causing mucus production, and the mucus production is causing congestion, which is causing the cough. She changed his formula, and put him on Nasonex nose spray to help the inflamation in his nose and sinuses, and Prevacid to help stop the reflux. I pray that this helps!! There is nothing more pathetic than a sick baby!!
Jake and daddy in the emergency room at Cook's
Doesn't he look cute in his little gown?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Blog #4
Weekend wrap up... (plus Monday):
Last Friday night was pretty much as I anticipated. On the way home from work I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things. As soon as I got home I put my chicken in to boil.... all 5.5 pounds of it! While I waited for it to cook I chopped up my celery and kissed my two favorite boys goodbye. Jeffery was headed to our monthly Sunday School Bible Study, and he took Jake so that I could actually get some things done. My PLAN was to make the chicken salad for Jennifer's baby shower the next day and to get my house clean. What ACTUALLY took place was that I finished the chicken salad, made myself some frozen pizza and laid on the couch and watched "Julia and Julie" or is it "Julie and Julia"? Whatever, you get the idea. It was wonderful! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my boys, but it sure was nice to have a night all to myself. I didn't get the house clean, but I did manage to get a couple loads of laundry washed, dried, and even folded. I am very proud of myself, because I hate folding/hanging laundry. I put everything away except for one load still sitting in my livingroom and one load still sitting in the dryer!
Saturday was a whirlwind.... I got up at 8:00 and got ready for my sister in law's shower that I was helping throw. My plan was to get me and Jake ready and let Jeffery sleep in late... that didn't happen. I am not the best with time management, and I ended up having to ask Jeffery to get up and bathe/dress/feed Jakers. Somehow, even with my wonderful husband's help, I still managed to leave 15 minutes later than I had planned. Anyways, I got to Jentri's (my sister in law's) house at about 10:20. Me, Jentrt, and Krysta (a friend/co-worker who also helped) were running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Putting the sandwiches together, setting the table, getting cups filled with ice etc etc. People started showing up around 10:45. Long story short, the shower was a hit! She had an awesome turnout and got TONS of stuff! My little nephew is going to be so stinkin' spoiled!!
I didn't end up heading home from my sister in law's house until around 4:00. I got home at almost 4:30 and attempted to lay on the couch for 30 minutes. I say, attempted, because I thought Jeffery would entertain Jake so that I could close my eyes and rest for a second, but that didn't happen. He was way too busy trying to find something to take to our Sunday School Christmas Party that night for the White Elephant Gift Exchange. Normally, I could have put Jake in his bouncer and leth him lay in that and watch TV, but he wasn't having it. Instead, he wanted to get in his big boy JUMPER!! We just recently started trying to put him in it. Sometimes he really likes it, and other times he really hates it. Saturday he really liked it, and since we just started putting him in it I couldn't manage to take my eyes off of him long enough to close my eyes for a minute or two.
At about 5:15 I started getting ready for the Christmas Party. We were having ribs and brisket and everyone had to bring a side. I know my husband, and I knew that if I didn't make something that he liked, he would end up only eating meat and rolls. So I made... you guessed it... MAC N CHEESE!
In the midst of all of the chaos, Jeffery had decided to get some of my Christmas gifts out, and stick them in the middle of the living room. One of them was a big, heavy thing, wrapped in one of our bed sheets with a bow on it. He knows me too well.... It was killing me. I had to know what it was... so we exchanged ONE GIFT! He won, I lost. Oh well, I got a beautiful nightstand to replace the TV tray that I had been using to sit the baby monitor on every night! I am married to a child, and I am no better... I accept that.
We left the house about 5:45. The Christmas Party was at the church,a nd it started at 6:00. After we stuffed ourselves on BBQ (thank you Bobby Mrs. Kim), we played Christmas Cranium... women VS men. It was really fun, but somehow the women lost... again! Then we played "Who's Who?" Basically it was a game that our Sunday School teacher's put a list of random facts about each of us together, read them out loud, and we are supposed to write down who it is. For some reason, both of the facts about me and Jeffery were about poop.... I guess we were a match made in Heaven!
After the party ended the ladies stayed to clean up the cafeteria and kitchen, while the men went next door to the sanctuary/gym to help clean up the basketball tournament and set up for church the next morning. We didn't end up getting home until almost 11:00. I have never seen my baby boy so tired. He is normally a heavy sleeper, but he had had a busy day and no good naps! Jeffery fed him and laid him down and he was out like a light. I know I'm his mommy, but he really is the cutest baby I have EVER seen! I love him so much.
Sunday was just like any other Sunday. Church, lunch, home, church, Sissy and Kyle's for the Cowboy's game, home. Oh yeah, in between lunch and home I also talked Jeffery into stopping by Children's Place so that we could buy for the two angels that I got from our church Angel Tree. I love buying for angels every year! We are definately not rolling in the dough, but we are abundantly blessed, and it is such a good feeling to know that God has allowed us to be a blessing for someone else this time of year.
That's about it... That was my weekend. As you can probably figure out, my friend DID NOT have her baby. The poor girl has been walking around dialated to a 5 all weekend, probably more now, and she just won't go into labor. She is miserable. Hopefully she will have that baby soon!
I didn't blog yesterday, so I guess I will tell you about Monday too. It was a Monday, what can I say. Work actually seemed to go by quickly, so that was a nice surprise. It was also really nice to come home and my husband be there and not have to leave. Normally, I see him for 30-45 minutes and then he's gone for the rest of the night. If I'm lucky, he gets home from school before I put the baby down for bed. He is on Christmas Break for 3 weeks though, and I honestly didn't know what to do. I ended up making pork chops and MAC N CHEESE for him, and pork chops and mushroom rice and broccoli for me. It was yummy. Then Jeffery took me to Starbucks to get a White Chocolate Mocha, and we drove around Saginaw looking at Christmas lights. After we finished we stopped by my parent's house and watched Sing-Off with them. Then we went home, fed Jake, and went to bed!! It was a wonderful night.
Tonight we were supposed to get family pictures done at Picture People, but I had to reschedule because the school's Christmas Play is tonight at 7:00. I always enjoy their Christmas play, so tonight should be fun.
Last Friday night was pretty much as I anticipated. On the way home from work I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things. As soon as I got home I put my chicken in to boil.... all 5.5 pounds of it! While I waited for it to cook I chopped up my celery and kissed my two favorite boys goodbye. Jeffery was headed to our monthly Sunday School Bible Study, and he took Jake so that I could actually get some things done. My PLAN was to make the chicken salad for Jennifer's baby shower the next day and to get my house clean. What ACTUALLY took place was that I finished the chicken salad, made myself some frozen pizza and laid on the couch and watched "Julia and Julie" or is it "Julie and Julia"? Whatever, you get the idea. It was wonderful! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my boys, but it sure was nice to have a night all to myself. I didn't get the house clean, but I did manage to get a couple loads of laundry washed, dried, and even folded. I am very proud of myself, because I hate folding/hanging laundry. I put everything away except for one load still sitting in my livingroom and one load still sitting in the dryer!
Saturday was a whirlwind.... I got up at 8:00 and got ready for my sister in law's shower that I was helping throw. My plan was to get me and Jake ready and let Jeffery sleep in late... that didn't happen. I am not the best with time management, and I ended up having to ask Jeffery to get up and bathe/dress/feed Jakers. Somehow, even with my wonderful husband's help, I still managed to leave 15 minutes later than I had planned. Anyways, I got to Jentri's (my sister in law's) house at about 10:20. Me, Jentrt, and Krysta (a friend/co-worker who also helped) were running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Putting the sandwiches together, setting the table, getting cups filled with ice etc etc. People started showing up around 10:45. Long story short, the shower was a hit! She had an awesome turnout and got TONS of stuff! My little nephew is going to be so stinkin' spoiled!!
I didn't end up heading home from my sister in law's house until around 4:00. I got home at almost 4:30 and attempted to lay on the couch for 30 minutes. I say, attempted, because I thought Jeffery would entertain Jake so that I could close my eyes and rest for a second, but that didn't happen. He was way too busy trying to find something to take to our Sunday School Christmas Party that night for the White Elephant Gift Exchange. Normally, I could have put Jake in his bouncer and leth him lay in that and watch TV, but he wasn't having it. Instead, he wanted to get in his big boy JUMPER!! We just recently started trying to put him in it. Sometimes he really likes it, and other times he really hates it. Saturday he really liked it, and since we just started putting him in it I couldn't manage to take my eyes off of him long enough to close my eyes for a minute or two.
At about 5:15 I started getting ready for the Christmas Party. We were having ribs and brisket and everyone had to bring a side. I know my husband, and I knew that if I didn't make something that he liked, he would end up only eating meat and rolls. So I made... you guessed it... MAC N CHEESE!
In the midst of all of the chaos, Jeffery had decided to get some of my Christmas gifts out, and stick them in the middle of the living room. One of them was a big, heavy thing, wrapped in one of our bed sheets with a bow on it. He knows me too well.... It was killing me. I had to know what it was... so we exchanged ONE GIFT! He won, I lost. Oh well, I got a beautiful nightstand to replace the TV tray that I had been using to sit the baby monitor on every night! I am married to a child, and I am no better... I accept that.
We left the house about 5:45. The Christmas Party was at the church,a nd it started at 6:00. After we stuffed ourselves on BBQ (thank you Bobby Mrs. Kim), we played Christmas Cranium... women VS men. It was really fun, but somehow the women lost... again! Then we played "Who's Who?" Basically it was a game that our Sunday School teacher's put a list of random facts about each of us together, read them out loud, and we are supposed to write down who it is. For some reason, both of the facts about me and Jeffery were about poop.... I guess we were a match made in Heaven!
After the party ended the ladies stayed to clean up the cafeteria and kitchen, while the men went next door to the sanctuary/gym to help clean up the basketball tournament and set up for church the next morning. We didn't end up getting home until almost 11:00. I have never seen my baby boy so tired. He is normally a heavy sleeper, but he had had a busy day and no good naps! Jeffery fed him and laid him down and he was out like a light. I know I'm his mommy, but he really is the cutest baby I have EVER seen! I love him so much.
Sunday was just like any other Sunday. Church, lunch, home, church, Sissy and Kyle's for the Cowboy's game, home. Oh yeah, in between lunch and home I also talked Jeffery into stopping by Children's Place so that we could buy for the two angels that I got from our church Angel Tree. I love buying for angels every year! We are definately not rolling in the dough, but we are abundantly blessed, and it is such a good feeling to know that God has allowed us to be a blessing for someone else this time of year.
That's about it... That was my weekend. As you can probably figure out, my friend DID NOT have her baby. The poor girl has been walking around dialated to a 5 all weekend, probably more now, and she just won't go into labor. She is miserable. Hopefully she will have that baby soon!
I didn't blog yesterday, so I guess I will tell you about Monday too. It was a Monday, what can I say. Work actually seemed to go by quickly, so that was a nice surprise. It was also really nice to come home and my husband be there and not have to leave. Normally, I see him for 30-45 minutes and then he's gone for the rest of the night. If I'm lucky, he gets home from school before I put the baby down for bed. He is on Christmas Break for 3 weeks though, and I honestly didn't know what to do. I ended up making pork chops and MAC N CHEESE for him, and pork chops and mushroom rice and broccoli for me. It was yummy. Then Jeffery took me to Starbucks to get a White Chocolate Mocha, and we drove around Saginaw looking at Christmas lights. After we finished we stopped by my parent's house and watched Sing-Off with them. Then we went home, fed Jake, and went to bed!! It was a wonderful night.
Tonight we were supposed to get family pictures done at Picture People, but I had to reschedule because the school's Christmas Play is tonight at 7:00. I always enjoy their Christmas play, so tonight should be fun.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Blog #3
THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY... and payday (double blessing)!! Like I said yesterday, I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR, but why does it have to be SO BUSY!? Last night I worked the concession stand at the church for the boy's basketball tournament. Tonight I am supposed to go to our Sunday School Bible Study, but I told Jeffery that him and Jake are going to have to go without me. I really want to go, but tomorrow I am helping throw a baby shower for my sister in law, and I am in charge of making some delicious chicken salad.. for A LOT of people. Anyways, this chicken salad involves boiling 5-6 pounds of chicken. Then, I need to shred the chicken. Does anyone have any idea how long it takes to shred that much chicken?!? A long time, that's how long. Anyways, there is no way I'll be able to get that done if I go to the Bible Study and not get home until probably 9:00 or after. Tomorrow will be just as busy... be at my sister in law's at 10:00 to help set up for shower, shower starts at 11:00, clean up after shower, go home for VERY SHORT time and then go to Sunday School Christmas Party. Tomorrow will be a great day, but VERY busy!
I am hoping that my friend, Rashael, will have her baby sometime this weekend... I just don't know when it will fit in. I want it to be this weekend, because I am afraid if she doesn't have her this weekend, then she'll have her next week... and if I'm at work then I can't be there, and I REALLY want to be there.
I am hoping that my friend, Rashael, will have her baby sometime this weekend... I just don't know when it will fit in. I want it to be this weekend, because I am afraid if she doesn't have her this weekend, then she'll have her next week... and if I'm at work then I can't be there, and I REALLY want to be there.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Blog #2
I am just realizing that this year has gone by so fast. I can not believe that Christmas is just 2 weeks away! I love this time of year. We are so blessed to have our house, but sometime I wish it was just a little bigger... Our entire house is only 900 square feet! We have absolutely ZERO room for a Christmas tree. Right now its not too big a deal, but when Jake gets bigger this will definately be a problem!
I thought I was doing really well on my Christmas shopping, but I am now thinking that two weeks is not that far away.... Why does my husband have to be so hard to buy for?!!? He has a list a mile long, and there's not one thing on it that I know ANYTHING about. For instance... Cold Air Intake? Yeah right, like I know anything about that kind of thing. I googled it, but evidentally you need to know details on the vehicle that you are buying it for, and there again, I know NOTHING about his truck. I have enlisted the help of a friend, so hopefully he will be able to get me the information I need.
Speaking of Jeffery, I must tell you that he is the most laid back person I have ever met... except for at Christmas time. He becomes possesed by the spirit if gift giving and receiving. He is the BEST "gift picker outer" I have ever met, and he will spend every cent he has to get the perfect present. He loves buying for other people. With that said, he also LOVES getting gifts. This brings me to last night.... Every year he buys my Christmas presents and it just about KILLS him to not tell me what he got me. He always wants to give me my gifts early. I do not agree with him on this. I realize Christmas is not about the gifts, but I prefer waiting until Christmas Day to exchange gifts with him. For me, giving them early takes away from the whole thing. He also ALWAYS tries to get me to tell/give him what I bought him. This year he has actually been pretty good.... until last night. Its like he was taken over by the need to know what he got. He presented three different "propositions" to me in order to find out. I declined them all. He is such a little kid... for proof of this, feel free to reference the picture taken at this time last year....
PS.. Jeffery does not know about this blog, and I would appreciate it if nobody mentioned it until AFTER CHRISTMAS!!
I thought I was doing really well on my Christmas shopping, but I am now thinking that two weeks is not that far away.... Why does my husband have to be so hard to buy for?!!? He has a list a mile long, and there's not one thing on it that I know ANYTHING about. For instance... Cold Air Intake? Yeah right, like I know anything about that kind of thing. I googled it, but evidentally you need to know details on the vehicle that you are buying it for, and there again, I know NOTHING about his truck. I have enlisted the help of a friend, so hopefully he will be able to get me the information I need.
Speaking of Jeffery, I must tell you that he is the most laid back person I have ever met... except for at Christmas time. He becomes possesed by the spirit if gift giving and receiving. He is the BEST "gift picker outer" I have ever met, and he will spend every cent he has to get the perfect present. He loves buying for other people. With that said, he also LOVES getting gifts. This brings me to last night.... Every year he buys my Christmas presents and it just about KILLS him to not tell me what he got me. He always wants to give me my gifts early. I do not agree with him on this. I realize Christmas is not about the gifts, but I prefer waiting until Christmas Day to exchange gifts with him. For me, giving them early takes away from the whole thing. He also ALWAYS tries to get me to tell/give him what I bought him. This year he has actually been pretty good.... until last night. Its like he was taken over by the need to know what he got. He presented three different "propositions" to me in order to find out. I declined them all. He is such a little kid... for proof of this, feel free to reference the picture taken at this time last year....
PS.. Jeffery does not know about this blog, and I would appreciate it if nobody mentioned it until AFTER CHRISTMAS!!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Blog #1
Well, I'm not really sure how to start this whole blogging thing. I have been wanting to start one for a while, and I guess this is as good a time as any. I would assume if you are reading this then you probably know me, but if you happen to be a crazy person who reads other people's blogs just because you're nosey (I am one of those people), then I will provide you a short review....
My name is Ashley. I am a wife to a wonderful man named Jeffery, that I know God created just for me. I am a new mommy to my miracle baby, Jake, who again God gets all the credit for. I am the daughter of two wonderful parents, and a sister to my best friend. I am an aunt to 3.5 nephews and 2 nieces. I am a Christian. I am what some would call loud. I am oppinionated. I am honest. I am a fighter. I am a worry wart. I am determined. I am a little OCD. I am a lot of things, but above all, I am blessed.
The main reason I want to write this blog, is so that one day when my son gets older, he can go back and read everything I wrote. I am hoping that through my words he will know how much I love him, and maybe see a different side of his "overprotective" mommy. Maybe through this blog he will have a better understanding of me, and why I am the way I am.
Now that the introduction is out of the way, I will provide you with a little history. I don't want to write a novel, or put anyone to sleep, so I will try to keep it short.
I had a wonderful childhood. I had a great family, good friends, and made straight A's. I went through a rough spot in middle school, with nobody to blame but myself. I made some dumb choices. I almost burned a house down. I DID burn all of my bangs off.... What can I say? It could have been worse. On October 31, 1999 my sister and brother in law invited me to church with them.... UUGGHHH, what almost 16 year old wants to go to church on Halloween?!!? Not me, but I am glad I did. I went. The preacher showed a movie called "The Burning Hell". Who knew an old school movie about a couple of hippies could change my life? But it did! The movie convicted my heart, and showed me that if I didn't get right, and change my life that I would die and go to Hell. It showed me that being a "good person" didn't get you to Heaven. It explained that in order to be saved I needed to admit I was a sinner (Romans 3:10,23), believe that God sent His only son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay for my sins (John 3:16), and confess that Jesus is my Lord and I put my trust in Him alone (Romans 10:9). I did that, and my life was changed forever. Was I perfect afterwards? NO! I was still a teenager. I had some more stupid moments, but God saw me through it.
When I was 22 I got a job working at Agricultural Workers Mutual Auto Insurance Company... a mouthful, I know. Anyways, half the church worked their, as well as half their family. Maybe not half, but A LOT. Through all the craziness, I ended up working with my future mother in law, who gave my number to her son, who I ended up meeting on a blind date.... Did you get that?
Jeffery was smart, he got my number the first week of February, but didn't call me until February 15... yes, the DAY AFTER Valentine's Day. We ended up setting up a date for that Friday night, and the rest is history.
We dated for 4 months and got engaged on my parent's anniversary. We were engaged for 10.5 months, and were married in April 28, 2007. I originally wanted to wait 4-5 years to have a baby, but Jeffery was ready as soon as we got married. I guess he won, because we decided to start trying after a year. It took 10 months and a round of Clomid, but we found out we were expecting in January 2008. We were so excited!!
The day Jeffery Proposed
My name is Ashley. I am a wife to a wonderful man named Jeffery, that I know God created just for me. I am a new mommy to my miracle baby, Jake, who again God gets all the credit for. I am the daughter of two wonderful parents, and a sister to my best friend. I am an aunt to 3.5 nephews and 2 nieces. I am a Christian. I am what some would call loud. I am oppinionated. I am honest. I am a fighter. I am a worry wart. I am determined. I am a little OCD. I am a lot of things, but above all, I am blessed.
The main reason I want to write this blog, is so that one day when my son gets older, he can go back and read everything I wrote. I am hoping that through my words he will know how much I love him, and maybe see a different side of his "overprotective" mommy. Maybe through this blog he will have a better understanding of me, and why I am the way I am.
Now that the introduction is out of the way, I will provide you with a little history. I don't want to write a novel, or put anyone to sleep, so I will try to keep it short.
I had a wonderful childhood. I had a great family, good friends, and made straight A's. I went through a rough spot in middle school, with nobody to blame but myself. I made some dumb choices. I almost burned a house down. I DID burn all of my bangs off.... What can I say? It could have been worse. On October 31, 1999 my sister and brother in law invited me to church with them.... UUGGHHH, what almost 16 year old wants to go to church on Halloween?!!? Not me, but I am glad I did. I went. The preacher showed a movie called "The Burning Hell". Who knew an old school movie about a couple of hippies could change my life? But it did! The movie convicted my heart, and showed me that if I didn't get right, and change my life that I would die and go to Hell. It showed me that being a "good person" didn't get you to Heaven. It explained that in order to be saved I needed to admit I was a sinner (Romans 3:10,23), believe that God sent His only son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay for my sins (John 3:16), and confess that Jesus is my Lord and I put my trust in Him alone (Romans 10:9). I did that, and my life was changed forever. Was I perfect afterwards? NO! I was still a teenager. I had some more stupid moments, but God saw me through it.
When I was 22 I got a job working at Agricultural Workers Mutual Auto Insurance Company... a mouthful, I know. Anyways, half the church worked their, as well as half their family. Maybe not half, but A LOT. Through all the craziness, I ended up working with my future mother in law, who gave my number to her son, who I ended up meeting on a blind date.... Did you get that?
Jeffery was smart, he got my number the first week of February, but didn't call me until February 15... yes, the DAY AFTER Valentine's Day. We ended up setting up a date for that Friday night, and the rest is history.
We dated for 4 months and got engaged on my parent's anniversary. We were engaged for 10.5 months, and were married in April 28, 2007. I originally wanted to wait 4-5 years to have a baby, but Jeffery was ready as soon as we got married. I guess he won, because we decided to start trying after a year. It took 10 months and a round of Clomid, but we found out we were expecting in January 2008. We were so excited!!
The day Jeffery Proposed
Our Wedding Day
Our Honeymoon Cruise
The first two trimesters were flawless. No morning sickness, no massive weight gain, no extreme cravings, etc etc. Life was good. Then, all the sudden, my blood pressure shot up somewhere around my 27th or 28th week. I was told to monitor my blood pressure at home and start coming for more frequent doctor visits. It continued to go up until they took me off work and placed me on strict bedrest. I was in and out of the hospital 3 times, and peed in more industrial size orange jugs than I care to remember. I did everything the docotors told me to do, but on August 5 I went for my 2nd of 3 weekly doctor's appointments, and I was told to go to the hospital and stay there. They couldn't control my blood pressure and any time I had a contrcation Jake's heart rate would drop. The next day my doctor decided it would be safer to deliver the baby than for me to continue on the path I was going down.
The day was a complete whirlwind. Jake wasn't due until September 20, so I was thinking I would be in the hospital for a long time, but things did not happen that way at all. My nurse checked all of mine and the baby's vitals first thing that morning, and by 11:00 I was told I would be having a c-section ASAP. That meant that Jake was coming 6.5 weeks early. I had a million and one things running through my head, but through it all I had an overwhelming sense of peace. I knew that ultimately God was in control, and I prayed that His Perfect Will be done. It also helped that Jeffery was as calm as ever. From time to time I would get a little overwhelmed, and he would reassure me that things would be fine.
Looking back, I can't recall exact details. Things happened so quickly. The nurse came in an gave me an IV of Magnesium. This was supposed to keep me from having seizures since my blood pressure was so high. Then I was beyond humbled when she inserted my catheder. Afterwards, I was wheeled to the surgery prep room where they watched me for a while, and explained to me what all would take place in the operating room. I was taken to the OR a little after 4:00.
The biggest fear that I couldn't get out of my mind was that he wouldn't cry. I kept asking Jeffery, "What if he doesn't cry? What if he doesn't cry?" God is good though, and at 4:12 pm Jake Kemp Holt was born, and I heard the most beautiful sound I have ever heard... a wonderful scream and crying! Immediately tears started pouring from my eyes, it was amazing. Because he was so early, there were tons of people in the room. My doctor held him up for half a second, and then he was bombarded by the NICU Team. He was 4 lbs 1 oz and 16.5 inches long. He was breathing, but he needed a little help so that he didn't get too tired. He was taken to the NICU and placed on c-pap as well as two different IV's. He was also slightly jaundice, so he was put under the lights as well. On top of al of that, he was too little to eat by himself, so they put a feeding tube (really more like a super skinny chord) down his throat.
While all of this was going on, I honestly couldn't tell you what was going on with me. I know that I was sewn up and taken back to the recovery room for a while. At some point I was taken back to my room where tons of family and friends awaited me.... but that's about all I remember. Because of the Mag, I was pretty much out of it. Only two people are allowed at a crib side in the NICU at once, so one at a time Jeffery took different family members back to see him.
The next thing I remember is the following day. I don't remember waking up, I just remember asking to see my baby. They told me that I couldn't until I was able to have my catheder removed, walk, and go to the restroom. I was finally able to do that around 11:00 or so. FINALLY, I was able to see by baby boy for the very first time.
I thought I would be an emotional basketcase, but I actually had no feeling at all. It was kinda like an out of body experience, like I was looking at someone else's baby... living someone else's life. I looked at Jeffery and asked him what was wrong with me. Why wasn't I crying, where was my emotion?! I told him I felt like a terrible mommy, but it just didn't feel real. Evidentally, what I was feeling was very normal.... at least that's what they told me. The second time I saw him, later that day, my emotions were working overtime. I completely lost it. I was hysterical, and I couldn't control myself.
We finally got to hold him on what I am pretty sure was the 3rd night... At that point days and nights were all the same to me. We had to have the nurse help us since he was still hooked up to all the wires and monitors, but holding him that first time is something I will never forget. Although we had a long way to go, I knew my baby was going to be okay.
I was released after 5 days in the hospital, and going home without my baby was the hardest things I've ever had to do. I am so thankful that I have such a strong and supportive husband. As with any NICU baby, we had our good days and our bad days. We were up there for several hours at a time at least twice a day. Finally, after 32 days, Jake came home!
Fast forward to today.... Jake will be 18 weeks old tomorrow. He is a little over 12 lbs now. He is getting so big!! He has wonderful head control, and always holds it up like such a big boy. HE LOVES TO EAT... what can I say, he's his mama's baby! (Hopefully he will inherit Jeffery's metabolism.) He's a good sleeper, he's a cuddler, he's impatient when he wants something, he's the cutest thing I have ever seen.... More than anything, he is the biggest blessing I have ever received!
I think that about sums it up. Sorry for going so long, but cut me some slack, this is my first blog. I will try my best to update as often as possible, and I will do my best to keep them short!
The day was a complete whirlwind. Jake wasn't due until September 20, so I was thinking I would be in the hospital for a long time, but things did not happen that way at all. My nurse checked all of mine and the baby's vitals first thing that morning, and by 11:00 I was told I would be having a c-section ASAP. That meant that Jake was coming 6.5 weeks early. I had a million and one things running through my head, but through it all I had an overwhelming sense of peace. I knew that ultimately God was in control, and I prayed that His Perfect Will be done. It also helped that Jeffery was as calm as ever. From time to time I would get a little overwhelmed, and he would reassure me that things would be fine.
Looking back, I can't recall exact details. Things happened so quickly. The nurse came in an gave me an IV of Magnesium. This was supposed to keep me from having seizures since my blood pressure was so high. Then I was beyond humbled when she inserted my catheder. Afterwards, I was wheeled to the surgery prep room where they watched me for a while, and explained to me what all would take place in the operating room. I was taken to the OR a little after 4:00.
The biggest fear that I couldn't get out of my mind was that he wouldn't cry. I kept asking Jeffery, "What if he doesn't cry? What if he doesn't cry?" God is good though, and at 4:12 pm Jake Kemp Holt was born, and I heard the most beautiful sound I have ever heard... a wonderful scream and crying! Immediately tears started pouring from my eyes, it was amazing. Because he was so early, there were tons of people in the room. My doctor held him up for half a second, and then he was bombarded by the NICU Team. He was 4 lbs 1 oz and 16.5 inches long. He was breathing, but he needed a little help so that he didn't get too tired. He was taken to the NICU and placed on c-pap as well as two different IV's. He was also slightly jaundice, so he was put under the lights as well. On top of al of that, he was too little to eat by himself, so they put a feeding tube (really more like a super skinny chord) down his throat.
While all of this was going on, I honestly couldn't tell you what was going on with me. I know that I was sewn up and taken back to the recovery room for a while. At some point I was taken back to my room where tons of family and friends awaited me.... but that's about all I remember. Because of the Mag, I was pretty much out of it. Only two people are allowed at a crib side in the NICU at once, so one at a time Jeffery took different family members back to see him.
The next thing I remember is the following day. I don't remember waking up, I just remember asking to see my baby. They told me that I couldn't until I was able to have my catheder removed, walk, and go to the restroom. I was finally able to do that around 11:00 or so. FINALLY, I was able to see by baby boy for the very first time.
I thought I would be an emotional basketcase, but I actually had no feeling at all. It was kinda like an out of body experience, like I was looking at someone else's baby... living someone else's life. I looked at Jeffery and asked him what was wrong with me. Why wasn't I crying, where was my emotion?! I told him I felt like a terrible mommy, but it just didn't feel real. Evidentally, what I was feeling was very normal.... at least that's what they told me. The second time I saw him, later that day, my emotions were working overtime. I completely lost it. I was hysterical, and I couldn't control myself.
We finally got to hold him on what I am pretty sure was the 3rd night... At that point days and nights were all the same to me. We had to have the nurse help us since he was still hooked up to all the wires and monitors, but holding him that first time is something I will never forget. Although we had a long way to go, I knew my baby was going to be okay.
I was released after 5 days in the hospital, and going home without my baby was the hardest things I've ever had to do. I am so thankful that I have such a strong and supportive husband. As with any NICU baby, we had our good days and our bad days. We were up there for several hours at a time at least twice a day. Finally, after 32 days, Jake came home!
Fast forward to today.... Jake will be 18 weeks old tomorrow. He is a little over 12 lbs now. He is getting so big!! He has wonderful head control, and always holds it up like such a big boy. HE LOVES TO EAT... what can I say, he's his mama's baby! (Hopefully he will inherit Jeffery's metabolism.) He's a good sleeper, he's a cuddler, he's impatient when he wants something, he's the cutest thing I have ever seen.... More than anything, he is the biggest blessing I have ever received!
I think that about sums it up. Sorry for going so long, but cut me some slack, this is my first blog. I will try my best to update as often as possible, and I will do my best to keep them short!
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