Bloggity Blog Award

In all the mayhem that has been going on around here I am just getting to the awards that have been so graciously left for me!

Dawna at Hiccups in Time, Mrs M at IMOM and Janae at Pink Moss left this award for me!  Thanks so much ladies and sorry it took me so long to get them up!

The Rules:



1. Thank the person who gave you this award. Completed!
2. Share 7 things about yourself.  Completed!
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic! UMM not gonna happen..sorry!!!   Completed!
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award. Working on it!

7 things about myself:

1. I cannot stand shoes.  I take mine off as soon as I walk in the door but yet I don't make people remove their shoes in the house!


2. I will buy candy and then hide it from the kids just so I don't have to share.  Don't lie you know you have all done it! :)


3. I have been pulled over a few times but only 1 time did I receive a ticket and the cop threw it out..now thats just luck!
 4. I just started going to the gym and love every minute of it!


5. I am super messy!  How can I seriously expect my kids to keep their room clean when I can't keep mine clean??  But I am working on it! In my defense I now have "A" sleeping in the room with me so she has to bring all her toys in there which doesnt help in the keeping clean aspect.


6. I love my Starbucks Frappucinos and am really hating that they are 50% off yet they are so bad for my diet.

7. I hate cooking.  I love it when Daddy is home and I don't have to cook since he is a much better cook than I am!


And now I would like to pass the Versatile Blogger Award on to:

1.  5...6...7...Kate
2.  A dollop of My life
3.  Four Better Four Worse
4.  MannLand 5
5.  This Fabulous Army Life

Mother's Day Mania-Letters

Mama M at My Little Life is wrapping up Mother's Day Mania with Letters to our Oldest. If you know me then you know that I am not a good letter writer so this was a bit difficult for me.  So many thoughts running through my head yet nothing looks or sounds right on the screen but I decided to just write what came to me and didnt change a thing!


My dearest "M",

   For the past 9 years you have blessed my life in more ways than you will ever know.  Though we may have had our ups and downs please know that I will always love you more and more every single day.  I have loved every minute of watching you grow as you dance across the stage. You may get exhausted with all the rehearsals and trust me I know the feeling but you have stuck with this and blossomed more than I ever thought possible.  You are an amazing, graceful, smart and talented young lady.  I wish for nothing more than happiness and love in your life and will do whatever I can to make it possible.  In the years to come you will have to be faced with decisions, heartbreak, disappointment, happiness, a sense of acheivement, and many more obstacles and I know without a doubt that you will overcome them and accept them with no problem.  Just know that if you ever need someone to talk to, cry with or even jump up and down with then I am there for you.  You may be the oldest of the bunch but you will always be my baby no matter how old you may be.  I love you "M" and always will.

Love forever,
Mommy

Head on over to My Little Life to read some more heartfelt letters from Mothers to their oldest babies.

Mother's Day Mania-What do I love?

Day 4 of Mother's Day Mania with Mama M at My Little Life is off and going!!  Head on over to read other's stories about Motherhood!

What do I love about being a Mom? 

*  The unconditional love that they give you from day one (though they may say they don't like you sometimes)
*  The random kiss on the cheek and when you ask what it was for they answer "Just because"
*  Checking on them at night and seeing their peaceful faces knowing that you have done everything during the day for them and because of them
*  Seeing them grow each and every day and knowing that you had a part in this!
*  The look of excitement or accomplishment when they learn something new whether they are 3 months or 13 years old.
*  Hearing I love you for the first time (no matter how mumbled it may be) and every time after!
*  Seeing them run to you with excitement after you have only been gone for a little while knowing they missed you every single minute of it!
*  Knowing that no matter how mad or frustrated you may get with them you know that you will always be the number 1 person they go to when they need help, advice, cuddling or whatever their heart desires and also knowing that in .02 seconds you will stop being mad and love them more than ever.

5 Question Friday

 

1. What is your worst memory of your siblings? 
I would have to say when my sister and cousins would leave me in the woods out in the country knowing I hated it out there!!  I still don't like to go out in the woods at night and never will!!




2. What was YOUR naughtiest childhood memory? (Must be something YOU did, no pawning it off on someone else!) 
UGH..I have no clue!!  Sneaking out could possibly be on the list though I don't remember it.  Lying about where I was..yep I am sure that happened.  Not answering the phone b/c I knew I wasn't where I was supposed to be or definitely wouldn't make it home in time.  Yep those happened!  Take your pick. 


3. Where do you like to go to relax? 
I have found the gym!!  I just started this week and absolutely love it.  I can get on the elliptical or treadmill, turn on my music and just drown the world out.  Who cares that I am covered in sweat and my face is the color of a tomato I am in my groove and no one can bother me!!


4. What was the last thing you won? 
A pair of Delicate Soles though I wish my feet weren't so darn small and they fit :(  They are absolutely adorable and I am seriously debating contacting them and telling them to make a smaller size!


5. If you could be on a game show, which would you choose? 
OHHH I am going to go back and say Family Feud!  Nothing like a little family rivalry right??

Now head on over to My Little Life and see what others answered!

Mother's Day Mania --Birth Stories

Mama M over at My Little Life is continuing Mother's Day Mania with Birth Stories!!!

I have held off posting well for several different reasons today.  The most important reason though is b/c I have been super busy celebrating "S"'s 2nd birthday.  Oh man I don't have a baby anymore.  WAAAAAH!!! What better day than to share his birth story right?  Right!  Well I will get onto it then.

I had been having contractions with dear "S" since I was 14 weeks along.  Irritable uterus leads to an irritable mommy!  My OB thought there was no way I would make it to full term.  I had been in the hospital twice at this point in pre-term labor in which they gave me the most horrid medicine called terbutiline.  I would never wish it upon anyone! 

At my 36wk appt I was a good 2cm and my OB told me to come in the next week and she would strip my membranes.  I had never had this done so figured why not give it a shot right? 

So that beautiful Tuesday morning I woke up, showered, got kids off to school, "A" to the in-laws house and I headed to my appt.  I get there and the OB did the exam and stripped my membranes. I headed to pick up "A" and went home to walk the neighborhood.  I was determined to have this baby soon!  I walked and walked and finally came home and bounced on my bouncy ball while talking to Daddy on the computer (he was deployed).  Thank heavens no one was around to watch that b/c I am sure it was a sight to see!

After hours of doing the walking and bouncing the end result?? No more contractions than normal.  Dang it!

Girls came home from school, we had dinner and headed out to our normal activities.  I decided to head to the in-laws and walk around their neighborhood since they have humongous hills!  What do you know?  I no sooner made it down the first hill and the contractions felt like they were ripping me apart. 

UH OH..I had to make it back to their house.  I was determined to keep those suckers coming so I kept walking until I made it back to their house.  I headed inside and told my mother in-law that I was going to get the girls from dance and thought I would be heading to the hospital tonight.  Yep I was still in denial even though they were 5-7 min apart at this time!

I called my sister in law who was my labor coach again and told her I was having contractions.  She asked when and I told her I had one right before I called her.  Well dance is a 5 min drive and by the time I got there I was having another one.  She told me to get my rear end to the hospital just in case.  Oh yea..I had "V" in an hour so no one wanted this baby to be born in the car or at home!

I got the kids dropped off and settled at the in laws and headed out.  I got checked in and the nurse tells me they have to monitor me for an hour.  UMM Seriously?  An hour!!  Well my OB was on call and saw the monitor and came in and checked me.  I was at a good 3-3.5 so she said nope we are admitting you and breaking your water.  Did I mention I love my OB?  If not well I do! 

They get me settled in a room (8-8:30pm) and by this point my sister in law arrives after working two 12 hr days in a row.  Thank you Kris!!  They break my water and asked about an epidural.  I was trying to have a med free birth but "S" decided that he wasnt up for that.  After an hour of horrible pain in my head from the fact he was sitting on a nerve and every contraction would shoot up to my brain I decided that an epidural was needed.  They started placement at 9:15 and completed it at 9:30.  Right after it kicked in "S's" heart rate dropped which in my case is a tell tale sign that delivery is not far off at all.

They got me all settled on my side and I looked at my sister in law and said "I feel pressure".  She looked at the OB and repeated it and I have never seen people move so fast.  It was actually kind of funny b/c they all know how fast I go from pressure to delivery (like super fast!).  This all happened around 10pm and "S" was born at 10:11pm weighing 6lbs 14oz and perfect as ever!

And for your viewing pleasure and since its his birthday here are some pictures of him!!!

Day 1...All snuggled up and sound asleep!

Like Father, Like Son

This was right before he opened his birthday present today!

Head on over to My Little Life and read some more fun and interesting birth stories!

Bloopers

Mama M over at My Little Life kicked off the Mother's Day Mania today!  Wednesday's task is to tell a story all about bloopers, whoopsies, uh oh's you may have had with your child(ren).  I like the word bloopers better so sorry Mama M I had to go with my gut today instead of saying whoopsies. Seeing as I have 4 I am sure I have too many to remember.  I am almost positive there has been the occasional head bumped into the corner of the wall or a toe stuck in the shoe (last week actually!) but I have 2 that always will stay with me. 

This story takes place when "V" was 3.  Setting: Living room. 
It was a Saturday and we were getting ready to head out and go some garage sale shopping!  We were sitting on the couch watching the end of a TV show (Dora I am sure) and "V" stated she had to go potty.  I replied with the typical "well go ahead".  No more than 3 steps away from the couch she fell which was typical.  Me being the wonderful mommy I am just told her to get up and go potty so we could go.  She cried that her forehead hurt.  I told her to go potty and I would kiss it when she was done.  This would come back to bite me in the butt!  After a min or so of her not getting up I went to check on her.  Well this poor but brave girl lifted her head and all I saw was BLOOD!  She had fallen and hit her forehead on the corner of the wall and busted it wide open.   I immediately made sure she was conscious and reactive and then laid her in my lap.  "M" being only 4 at the time was amazing and listened to what I told her and made sure to grab the only dark colored bath cloth we owned.  She got it wet, squeezed it out and brought it to me along with the phone (all with prompting of course!).  I called my mother and sister in law and they headed on over.  My mother in law drove us to the ER and my sister in law stayed with "M" at home.  I remember I was so worried the entire drive b/c  I was scared someone would pull us over and I would get in trouble for having her laying in my lap but there was no way I could sit her up in a car seat b/c every time she sat up it started bleeding more and more!  Luckily no one did and the guard at the gate on post just looked at us (covered in blood) and let us through.  We ended up waiting forever in the waiting room and then once we got back they had to "monitor" us for a while.  UGH!  Just take care of my baby and then do the monitoring.  I understand they have to do their job and make sure I wasn't harming her but sheesh just fix her darn it!  My poor girl ended up with 7 stitches in her forehead and cried for the longest time b/c all she wanted was a pink band-aid.  Finally one nurse took sympathy on us and gave her one though you aren't supposed to cover it up! 

Story 2 takes place when "A" was 6 weeks old.  Setting: Home 
 We had just been discharged from a 2 day stay in the hospital for a fever and non eating but she was diagnosed with just a tiny virus thank heavens.  I laid her down in the bassinet in our room and came out into the living room.  "V" had gone into the bathroom and all of a sudden I hear screeching.  All I know is I took off and "V" was running to me saying "I just laid her on the bed"  Yep my 4 1/2 year old took her sister out of the bassinet and laid her on the bed then left!  Oh the joys of kids.  "A" had fallen off the bed and hit her head on my bedside table which has super sharp corners.  I immediately picked her up and tried to comfort her but she wasn't having any of it.  I started to nurse her and while she was somewhat content with that checked her pupils.  Nope not reacting evenly.  Shoot.  Another trip to the ER.  I walked into the ER with "A" in one hand and car seat in the other.  I still have no clue why I took the car seat!  My mother and father in law met me there shortly after which I am still so grateful for.  They took me straight back to the urgent care area and assessed her but then had to leave for a bit b/c there were 3 life flights to take care of.  The head of the ER came over and said that she was looking good but they were going to do X-rays to see if there was any internal damage.  Talk about scaring the crap out of you!  We waited a bit longer with several checking in on's by all the staff and then headed off to get X-rays.  If you have never seen an X-ray on a infant its quite a feat!  You have to hold their tiny heads with the round things oh and try to stay out of the picture while trying to keep your baby quiet.  Yeah right!  Diagnosis--mild concussion.  Yeah for my 6 week old!  Talk about doing a great job as a Mommy!

Oh yeah there was the time that "S" poured Chicken Noodle soup on his face and ended up looking like this!

Now that you have heard my bloopers as a Mommy what are some of yours?  Head on over to My Little Life to read more and share yours!

Mother's Day Mania

Mama M over at My Little Life is having a Mother's Day Mania this week in honor of Mother's Day on Sunday. (Yep if you forgot here is your reminder!)  Starting Wednesday there will be a different theme each day and it will continue onto Sunday!  Head on over to My Little Life and check it out to see what the different themes are and join in!