We Survived!

Brody was all smiles on the way to get on the bus the first day of school.  I even did well as he boarded the bus and rode away.  I probably would have been smart to end it there and go on to work....but of course I didn't.

 

 

Jim and I went to Meadow Ridge to meet him as he got off the bus to enter school.  He was still smiles when he got there and came to tell me he had an accident.  He has to change buses at the elementary school he will go to next year, and I guess when he got there he decided to go inside instead of getting on the Flamingo bus.  Luckily he was smart enough to ask a teacher for help!

 

Things went well as we went in the school and got him in his classroom.  Jim and I started to walk down the hall and then I heard it "mommy!".  The tears were in his eyes and mine at this point.  It took a little while to convince him to go in the classroom.   I saw a little boy sitting at a table playing with an activity and said "Brody, why don't you sit here next to Keagan" and Keagan's response "NO!".  So we kept walking and sat at a table by ourselves, then the little angel walked up, Dahlia.  She looked at Brody and said "Don't worry my daddy left me here too, he said he will come back."  And that was the start to Brody's first friendship in DK.  I cried on the way back to the house, but I'm happy to say since that morning things have been great.  Brody loves school, actually says he likes it more than Kindercare.  He even told us that he has a girlfriend - life is good :)

Addisen waiting with me for Brody to get off the bus.  Her favorite phrase as we ride to daycare every morning is "Brody Bus, Brody Bus"

We might have a little tom boy on our hands!

Brody played in his last flag football game two weekends ago.  We had missed one weekend because of his surgery.  In regards to the surgery - my advice to any parent - don't wait until they are older to do something because they will understand...do it early, because they will understand!  It was one of the saddest days in our parenting days - Jim walked Brody back to the surgery room and was near tears when he came back - making it obvious to me just how hard it had been to leave Brody in that room.  Then after the surgery they came to get me as Brody was waking up.  He was in hysterics - there was no calming him down.  They had to put an IV in during surgery and had to put a tube down his throat during the procedure to help with breathing - and those two things made him feel horrible!  He was confused due the anesthesia and the only thing in his mind that made any sense is that those doctors made him feel worse when he was done than he had felt when we showed up.  He even looked at the anesthesiologist and said "What kind of sickness did you give me?"  At times it was somewhat humorous, but it was a good hour before he calmed down enough to fall asleep.  Luckily when he woke up he was in better spirits.  However, we dealt with nightmares for about 3 nights after the surgery - I hope this was all worth it!

At the end of his flag football game he got a medal for participating.  He was so excited "This is the first football medal I have ever gotten!"

Baby Raguckas Update:  Jim and I were able to get our first glimpse at baby Raguckas last Tuesday during my 20 week ultrasound.  I couldn't believe how active the baby was.  I have been feeling it for a few weeks - but thought that it must be pretty calm most of the day.  Nope!  I just can't feel a lot of what it is doing.  We are right on track for our due date and the baby is in the 51% range for size.  Unfortunately the baby was in an odd position during the ultrasound and didn't fully cooperate with all the images they needed.  So I will be heading back at 28 weeks so they can get some more pictures of the heart.  Everything looks great, but they just have to make sure the blood is flowing correctly.  Jim and I decided not to find out with this one - we secretly found out with Addisen, but agreed it was better to not know.  I have to tell you it was hard to not ask!  Although I don't think we would have been able to find out even if we wanted to.  The heart rate was 156 - same as Addisen's during her ultrasound - so my official prediction is girl.  Jim, however, got the feeling that it was a boy during the ultrasound - so in 19 weeks we will see who is right!

My Baby Boy is Leaving the Nest...on a BUS!

 

Tomorrow will be Brody's first day of Developmental Kindergarten (Young 5s) at Rockford Public Schools.  I have been dreading this day since one week ago when we went to orientation with him.  He did pretty well overall, a little shy, but after his teacher read him a story he ran off to ride the school bus without looking back.  Jim and I met him out on the playground, he was standing next to the jungle gym watching this little boy yell at his mother, and that's when it all started setting in.  He was going to be exposed to the world, not the world that I created for him (or decided on for him), but the real world...I wasn't ready of this!  And then to top things off we asked him how the school bus ride was, he said bad, no one wanted to be his friend...my heart broke again!

Since last Monday Brody had become more excited about riding the school bus and starting in Mrs. Zimmerman's class - which was making things easier on me.  But then this weekend he started talking about how he was getting nervous to ride the bus.  At first it was because there are no seat belts on the bus and he could fall and hurt his head, and now today it is because he may not make any friends.  It is taking everything for me to not drive him in to school everyday...I know this is good for him, this is good for me...but it doesn't feel good tonight!  I told him before he went to sleep tonight that tomorrow he would leave mommy's nest, he curled up in my arms and said he didn't want to...oh how I wish that was an option!  I sit here writing all this while my "school ager" is sleeping in his bed and I can feel his little sister/brother just barely kicking away in my stomach - how strange to be trying to hold on to one so tightly with literally carrying the other one everywhere I go!  It seems like yesterday that I was laying in bed talking to Jim on the phone and telling him " Oh!  I just felt the baby move!" - now I just wish I could keep him with me forever! 

 

 Luckily I also have this little one to keep me busy tomorrow!  She will keep me smiling and moving in the morning!  The plan is to take her off to daycare and make it back here in time to see Brody off on the bus.  And then of course meet him at school to make sure he is feeling okay about the change (and so I at least know he made it through the bus changes and arrived at school!)  I did check with the teacher to make sure it wouldn't disrupt his day too much by showing up!  Then I told Jim I will probably end of leaving work early to come home and see Brody off the bus, I don't think I will be able to stand not seeing his expression as he gets off the bus - that will be the answer to everything for me...is he smiling?  Yes - then that will make my days ahead easier!

 We spent the long weekend at the cottage - and Brody did a lot of fishing with his dad!

 Yesterday we were out swimming in the water when Brody tried to climb the dock and slipped off.  At first I thought that he had just gotten scared, but then we realized his finger was bleeding. Some how he got his finger stuck on the dock and tore the skin between his top two knuckles off - the poor little guy!  I have been changing the bandage daily and he just cries and cries...I think it will be a while before it heals - and of course happens the day before school starts!

 Here he is trying to get me to give his worm a kiss!

The local orchard had a special event this weekend - so the kids were able to enjoy some rides and ponies!  On Saturday we went for a horse drawn wagon ride and then on Sunday went back so the kids could play in "Kids Land".  We were shocked by how many rides Addisen went on - she even rode a pony!  Brody had a great time on the rides and in the bounce house - I think he went through it 15-20 times!  The Cottage has turned out to be everything I hoped - a place to make great family memories!

Brody started playing flag football a few weeks ago.  Jim is the assistant coach and is definitely getting a new idea of what patience means (it is a team of 4-5 year olds!).  Brody has been doing great - he got to play on the field at the local high school for his first two games.  He was lucky enough to make a touchdown the first game and was oh so close to doing it again in game two!

 One of my favorite parts about being at the Cottage is sitting by the fire at night and watching Brody and Jim fish from the dock.  The joy I see in Brody's face and all the trust he has in his daddy - it just seems perfect.  And then the best part is Brody always comes running to me to make smores...most the time the marshmallows are a lot crisper than I would like (he insists on lighting them on fire)...but how can a mom say no!

I hope everyone has a great week....I will keep you updated on how I make it through tomorrow morning!  Then on Thursday Brody will be having his 3rd set of tubes put in his ears and his adenoids removed.  The surgery is only suppose to take about 30 minutes - so keep us in mind from 8:30-9am - I'm sure I will be a worried mess then too!  The recovery isn't suppose to be too bad, he may have a sore throat for a few days, but hopefully he is feeling good by the weekend.



Summer Catch Up

We have had a great summer and exciting summer!  Addisen has enjoyed the treats and time outside!

Brody and Addisen have both loved the hose this summer!

The day that we told my family about the new baby we had the kids wear these shirts.  Of course I couldn't get a good picture of them - but they were cute in person!  It took my family about 25 minutes before my brother finally noticed that Addisen's shirt said "Big" not "Little" sister!

We spent the 4th of July at my parents house this year.  It was a hot night!  But the kids enjoyed some time in the pool and then the parade in town.

At the beginning of the summer Jim and I happened upon a lake cottage that we could afford to make an offer on.  The process seemed to take forever, but we finally closed on the house at the end of July.  We have had a lot of fun there on the weekends - although we don't have a boat - we have fishing poles!  Brody has LOVED catching the fish on the lake and Addisen has like exploring on land and in the water.  Last weekend they both ended up in the water with their clothes on - oh well!  I guess that is what you can do when you are on the lake!

 

Two weeks ago we were sweating to death as we stayed there for the weekend, and this past weekend we were dressed like winter!

Addisen with her fishing pole - of course if Brody has one, she needs one!

We found an apple orchard close to the cottage last weekend and were shocked by all of the animals they had in their petting zoo!  We ended up spending 2 hours there while the kids played (and Addisen got muddy!).  We will definitely be visiting there a lot!

Baby Raguckas Update:  I went for my 15 week appointment yesterday and everything is going well. I still have that anxiety as I wait for the doctor to find the heartbeat, but there it was humming along at 164.  The doctor said it sounded like we had another girl in there, and I commented "Or it is that wild 3rd child that everyone talks about!"  I would love for it to be a girl, and Jim would love for it to be a boy...so in 25 weeks, one of us will be getting our way (although both of us will be overjoyed!).  I can't believe that during our next appointment we will be seeing this little baby on the ultrasound - it seems to be going by so quickly.  The first 6 weeks seemed to take forever, but now time is flying by.  I will hopefully start to feel them moving in the next 2 weeks - then I think some of my anxiety will lessen.

We are shouting with glee....

There will be a number THREE!

 

Not the best picture of the family...but this was the morning that we found out!  Addisen went over to Jim and handed him the paper as he was cooking breakfast (actually almost put in in the burner!).  Jim looked down and then looked at me in amazement...or maybe disbelief :)

7/17/12: Today was the day - the last time I will likely make the trip to the doctors office in anticipation of hearing the heartbeat of my baby for the first time. Jim was lucky enough to be able to join me today and really wasn't phased by the whole visit, me on the other hand was full of nerves. I'm not sure if it was because I knew this would be the last time or because it just seems like so many people around me have had devastating things happen during their pregnancies. I am so thankful to say that our appointment was perfect - we got to hear the baby's heartbeat right in rhythm with mine - amazing! Right now it is humming along at 177 beats/min - exactly were it should be. Since we found out I was pregnant on June 2nd my emotions have been all over the place. Jim and I had agreed to start trying for baby # 3 at the end of February, with the assumption that this may take a year (actually Jim gave me the deadline of December). So when it didn't happen that first month, I started to think maybe it wasn't going to...and then just when I wasn't thinking about it anymore - there those 2 lines were! I think my emotions have been pretty much the same everytime I found out I was pregnant with one of the kids - a mix of "oh my" and "oh yes!". This time I have had a lot of ups and downs - this baby is giving me a very similiar journey as Addisen - sickness...lots of sickness. I found myself struggling to get through nights and mentally just unable to deal with it anymore - but then today I heard that heartbeat...and all those nervous emotions and feelings of not making it disappeared - there was the reason - it was all worth the journey! I can't wait to cherish each of these days, weeks, months - bittersweet that this is really the end of one of the chapters of my life - but at the same time it feels so right this time. With Addisen I had this feeling that it couldn't be the last - with this one...I know it is the last - and it feels okay. My kids amaze me - all three of them - and I can't wait to watch them grow into the great people that they will be - I just hope the ride slows down a little bit so we really enjoy it!

Summer Time Catch Up!

I have to apologize again for being so late on the post.  Our summer has been very busy so far, and it seems like by the time I sit down on the couch at night my eyes are already half closed.

Addisen's hair is finally get long!  Too bad she won't let me put it in pig tails!

We went to the zoo for the first time this summer a few weeks ago.  Brody had fun doing all the challenges along the walk.

Brody has a great memory - he wanted to do everything that we had done last Fall when we went to the zoo with his friend Mackenzie, including recreating photos!

 

 

 Luckily Jim is a lot more adventerous with the animals at the zoo.  I could share many stories about why I am the way I am...I am just thankful that Jim is willing to take on these feats! 

It was Addisen's first time in the bird cage - she looks like she feels the same as me about birds! 

Brody wanted to ride on the camel and Jim willingly agreed.  Jim got in line to buy Brody a ticket and quickly found out that he would need to ride too!

Rockford had their Start of Summer Celebration earlier this month - Brody had a great time on the rides and playing some of the games.

Addisen enjoyed the parade.  She loved watching the marching band and picking up all the candy that was thrown!

Father's Day was beautiful here - Jim was able to enjoy some fun in the sun with the kids and also helped me cook dinner for my parents and brother on Sunday.

We didn't realize quite how adventerous Father's Day was until Tuesday.  Brody and Jim were playing baseball that night and Brody landed on his arm while he dove for a ball.  He could move his wrist and fingers so we thought everything was fine.  His wrist seemed to be getting better until Tuesday night when he was trying to put on his seatbelt.  He screamed out in pain and then I realized something was definitely wrong.  Jim took him in to the doctor and sure enough he had broken his arm!  Jim and I felt like parent's of the year!  Today we found out that he will only need to wear a splint for 3 weeks vs. a cast.  Brody was a little disappointed that his friends couldn't sign it - but Jim and I are relieved that we will be able to take it off for baths, etc.

Mother's Day and Fun in the Sun!

I know I have been slacking at the blog updates!  It has been on my mind a lot, but other things seem to grab my attention, and then I am just too tired.  Addisen tried corn on the cob for the first time this year - and she loved it!  That first night she had two ears, and now she won't even touch it when we put it on her plate - crazy girl!

Addisen has had her ups and downs in the last few weeks.  On Mother's day she started with her non-stop coughing and it resulted in a trip to the doctor on that Monday morning.  She was having an asthma attack and was put back on steroids as well as her nebulizer.  Luckily, she was feeling much better by the next day.  I thought I was going to have an evening of relaxation but then Brody started complaining of ear pain at 11pm and we were up for the rest of the night.  He had his 3rd ear infection in the last few months, so he is likely on his way to a 3rd set of ear tubes! 

Jim left on Sunday afternoon to go and visit his family before starting the week off for work.  I was feeling pretty down that we didn't get to spend Sunday evening with him and just couldn't seem to shake the sadness.  At 2am on Monday I figured out why - Addisen woke up screaming and when I went in to check on her she was burning up!  She had a temperature of 104!  Luckily a little tylenol brought her temperature right down, but it still was a night of worry for me.  We were back in the doctor's office on Monday and it looks like she has the start of pneumonia.  She is now back to herself - but my nerves are shot!

Brody is the most amazing big brother.  Addisen is going through some times of hitting and pulling on him but he just takes it.  I am amazed at how calm and patient he is with her.

A few weekends ago Jim ran in the 5/3 25K and I pushed the kids on a 5k walk.  It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time.

My Mother's Day picture - at least I look good :)

This past weekend we had awesome weather.  We played outside most of the day on Sunday.

My favorite picture that I have taken of Addisen recently - our kids have been blessed with beautiful eyes!

I don't know why I like to take profile pictures of Brody - probably because if I ask him to look at me and smile he gets all crazy. 

We had bought this little sink about a year ago on clearance and just finally set it up for the kids to use.  They loved drinking all of the water...even with the bugs in it!  It's just a little added protein right? 

Brody and Jim played a little catch before Jim left on Sunday.  Of course Addisen needed to be the center of the game. 

My mom brought some hats over on Mother's Day for Addisen.  She had a great time trying them all on.  She is so silly - she will often go and get one of Brody's winter hats and just put it on and walk around the house - she sure can make me smile.

I am so thankful for my children.  They have definitely put me through a lot of worry in the last year with all of the illnesses we have experienced, but it is all worth it to have them here with me.  My friend will be celebrating the one year birthday of her daughter on Thursday, it will also be the one year anniversary of losing little Grace.  The loss of her little girl has stayed with me throughout this year and it just makes me thank God everyday for my two kids.  I have been so blessed with them, and I try to constantly remind myself of that, even through the tantrums.