Normal Does Not Exist

Confirming those 2 pink lines

2012-01-07T21:13:00.004-06:00

So once getting those 2 pink lines I called the RE(Reproductive Endocronologist) immediately to make sure we were indeed pregnant and it was a healthy pregnancy. We confirmed with bloodwork and ultrasound that Tuesday that we were indeed pregnant! After that we went weekly from 4 weeks gestation to 9 weeks gestation and each time the ultrasound and bloodwork were the same showing a happy healthy baby in there!!! We also enlightened our families in on the secret. For Joe's side we Skyped as they live far away and had TJ tell them he had a secret. Then when they asked what he said, "Mommy has a baby in her tummy!". It was overwhelming excitement for everyone. For my parent's who live close we asked them to meet us for lunch and we presented them with this...

They were thrilled as was Bailey. After that we gradually told family and friends. We waited until just before the 2nd trimester started and then made the big announcement as it was at Christmas time and fun!

"This year we will get 1 of those!!!"

2012-01-05T23:12:00.002-06:00

This is what I hear from TJ EVERY single time we see a baby now! It is super cute. Joe and I were talking about how we can officially say we are having a baby this year and TJ caught on resulting in this. So as you can now tell we have been blessed with a healthy pregnancy! It only took 4.5 years of trying, many infertility treatments, a miscarriage, and an adoption for it to happen but happen it did. We were very shocked, thrilled, scared, blessed, and every other emotion in the book when we saw those 2 precious lines show up! This was an au naturale conception and it couldn't have been more surreal the first few weeks. Actually, it still feels surreal much of the time but it IS happening to US!!!!!

Alright after getting this started I realize it could end up being an entire book so I will be breaking it down into separate posts over the next few days.

So let's go back to the beginning. Okay, not THE beginning as no one wants to hear any of that but the "there are 2 lines" beginning...

Halloween weekend we were all over the place with some parties and a fun night out for Joe and I. The only odd thing was that every.single.time I got in the car I threw-up. Very odd as when I wasn't in the car I was perfectly fine. At one point my mom asked Joe what was wrong with me and he responded with she's pregnant. I told him to knock it off since after 4.5 years you just don't tend to believe it could be true and even if it was I was still a week away from being able to take a test. Fast forward to the next weekend. Joe needed to drop his leaf blower off at Sears to be fixed and we needed stuff for dinner. He dropped me at Walmart and him and TJ headed to Sears. When I went to check-out I noticed the $.88 pregnancy tests(yup, $.88!!!). A Facebook friend had posted a status earlier that week asking if anyone had tried these new tests that Walmart carried and for feedback. I remembered this and though what the heck I'm not late but should be anyday now and so I grabbed one just because. I told Joe when he picked me up that I had gotten it but when we got home we got dinner ready and were preoccupied. Later that night I decided to take it. Well, imagine my shock when it came out positive!!! The problem though was the 2nd line wasn't as dark as the control line so we were skeptical because it is an $.88 test that Walmart just came out with! I had shoved the test in Joe's face so no surprising him with the news after that. It was somewhat late and Walgreens was closed for the night so Sunday morning finally rolled around and we went to get the "good" brand name test. Yes, yes, YES every one that I took was positive! We were beyond thrilled and couldn't believe that God was blessing us in this way after so long! With a miscarriage in the past we were anxious to get to the doctor and have it confirmed and monitored. I called first thing Monday morning and got an appointment for Tuesday morning. With that I will save the next bit for the next post.

Hmmm....

2011-11-10T11:45:00.001-06:00

Based off of my last blog post I must be psychic! That is all!!!

Rough and Tough

2011-10-18T23:55:00.003-05:00

WOW this past month has been SUPER rough but we are hanging in there and can see the light again! The good news is that the house is on the market so now we wait for someone to buy it and then we are off to the Big D!!! I see great things in our near future which is nice after having such a horrid month. The bad news about this month is really just plain sucky(it is SO a word!) so if you want to know email me(ekarseek@yahoo.com) and I will give you some insight. Basically, I spent the past month in the hospital and was released last Wednesday(yay!!!). Still not feeling 100% but I am well on my way. Hopefully, now we will see only great things from here on out and who knows maybe a special little 2 lines since all the medical issues have been evacuated from my body and told to NEVER come back! :o) Also on the horizon is TJ's 3rd birthday...seriously 3?!?!?!? Where the past 18 months went is beyond me! All I know is that the next 18 months and for that matter the rest of life will surely be EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!! I will always keep the faith!

Moving

2011-09-08T22:40:00.003-05:00

Yup, we've been busy this summer and I have been absent obviously! The biggest reason lately is that Joe's job has relocated him to Dallas. I have had my ups and downs on this as it is what Joe REALLY wants but we have to leave our precious bug, Bailey here in Houston. :o( I have NO clue how we will actually leave her but we have been playing it up. New room that she can help decorate, a house with a pool and a game room, plenty of new things to do/see in Dallas, and she gets to come with us to house hunt. She seems okay with it now but we will see what actually happens when we make the move. There is no timeframe so Joe can go back and forth(3.5 hours drive) until we sell our house and buy the new one. It is just all going to be a huge adjustment. I do thank God that it is only 3.5 hours away and easy to meet half way with my parent's at least once a month for Bailey to spend the weekend or things like Spring Break with us!!!! Without that I would be lost. TJ and Joe are beyond excited and as I look at houses and things to do I am becoming excited but it is still hard for me. I don't ever want My Bug to miss us and especially since Joe is LITERALLY her FAVORITE person in the world as she will tell ANYONE and EVERYONE that will listen to her. So big and better but also sad and depressing...here we go!!!

Wish there was more good to report...

2011-06-26T01:33:00.003-05:00

Since my last post things have been pretty miserable. I was feeling pretty great the first almost week of the 2nd surgery then BLAH!!! It started with me falling. Our bed is pretty high up so Joe put a step stool on the side so I could use that during recovery. I went to get into bed on Wednesday night and when I lifted 1 leg into bed I was evidently too far over on the stool. It tipped and caused me to tip right into the side table. I screamed, Joe ran, and it sucked! I called the surgeon the next day and they said just keep an eye on everything. Things seemed okay until I had my post-op appointment on Monday. Several of the incisions were infected and so they put me on some pretty strong antibiotics and a special wash to use on the area. They had me come back on Friday morning to check the incisions. The result was being sent straight to the ER. The surgeon did NOT like that my incisions looked worse not better. I went to the new hospital by our home and was taken back immediately(score!!!) but ended up being there for 6 hours. They talked about admitting me but in the end I got to come home...YAY!!!!!!! They found quite a few things that they didn't like but nothing too major. The thing that ticked me off was that they found a cyst on my right ovary. We JUST cleaned out all that stuff 1.5 months ago when they did the first surgery so I am NOT happy with my body already having another cyst. Hopefully, it isn't a big deal and will just go away on its own though. I have a copy of the CT scan from the ER and will be taking it to our infertility doctor to evaluate. So my body is sucking as usual and we are praying it gets better!!!

In other news we have family(my side) from around the country in town at my parent's house this weekend. We went over today(me being sentenced to a chair/couch because I am on strict bedrest) and had a great time! TJ loved swimming with his cousins, aunt, grandpa, and uncles! He wore his new life jacket for the first time and within 10 minutes was swimming by himself and jumping in! I thought it would take him awhile to figure out how to stay upright with the life jacket but oh no! He is way too clever for us and had it ALL figured out. He has NO fear which makes mommy have LOTS of fears! My dad did fried walleye from Minnesota(YUM!!!!!!!!!!!) which made for a great meal! Joe and TJ loved it which is great since Joe doesn't really like ANY seafood. It was just an all around great evening with family! I must add that my cousin told me(1 of the first to know!) that she is pregnant with their second and we couldn't be more excited for them! They will be leaving for Argentina(for 18 mo) next June and wanted to get pregnant and have the baby several months before moving. They had a window of when it could happen and it did! Experiencing infertility makes you long for NO one else to experience it. I am SO SO SO happy that they have had the good fortune to get pregnant both times easily. Their baby boy is precious and another one will just add to their cute little family. Congrats to my cousin and her hubs!!!

1 year mark, 30 birthday, 2nd surgery...ALL complete!

2011-06-10T18:38:00.002-05:00

So first the FUN stuff! We met TJ at a Memorial Day party in 2010 and our lives haven't been the same since! The baby boy(18 mo at the time) that we met is now an energenic, smart, silly 2.5 yo that keeps us laughing and on our toes. I am not sure how we even lived before him. People always say do you remember life before your newborn and while TJ wasn't a newborn we still can't imagine our lives before him. We went back to Lubbock, TX to the same home we met him in. There was a Memorial Day/Celebration of TJ party in which people came together to celebrate all that will forever be remembered on that day. Not only will we ALWAYS remember those that have served us but we will also ALWAYS remember the first time we met our son! It was a great day and while we were missing a few vital people(my SIL and BIL) they will always be remembered as being there that first day!

A week later we celebrated my 30 birthday(6/4). Again, it is a momentous day because that is the day we officially brought TJ home with us for good! We picked him up that Friday last year and when we went to drop him off that Sunday we met his birth parent's who assured us we could turn right back around and they would sign the paperwork needed for us to have him in our care full time. The feelings of heading to drop him off and the feelings of leaving with him will NEVER leave me! Tears were shed on both rides but for completely different reasons. Tears of sadness because we weren't positive when/if we would see this little man who had stolen our hearts ever again and then tears of joy that we could possibly be headed home with OUR son!!!!! Crazy how a few hours can change your life. Last year we spent my birthday in Lubbock picking TJ up and then going out to dinner with some friends. This year we spent my birthday with my parent's and Bailey. We went to my favorite restaurant, Yard House. We had a great time and it was my parent's first time eating there and they seemed to enjoy it as well. We had 2 onion ring towers, truffle fries(first time and NOT the last as they were AMAZING!!!!), and then our meals. I had a wonderful piece of porcini crusted halibut over parmesan mashed potatoes with a porcini cream sauce and white truffle oil with asparagus and bok choy. It was the first time I tried it and again it will not be the last time! Afterwards we parted ways with my parent's and Bailey. On the way down we noticed that the horse track by our home was having a country concert. It was A Day In Country with quite a few singers. We went home after our late lunch, changed, and headed over there. We got to see several good artists such as Little Big Town and Leann Rimes(good singer, bad human!?!?!) among others. It was such a nice birthday and seriously not a depressing big 3-0 kind of day at all!!!! I couldn't be more blessed! Again though, we were missing some much loved family members!

My 2nd surgery was not scheduled until 6/22 but I got a call a week ago today that it had been moved up to 6/9. WHOA what?!?!? There were several surgeons and since they had to coordinate all their schedules that is why it was so far out so to get that call was a bit shocking. We immediately changed our plans to accomodate. My mom had TJ yesterday and today. Then, after Joe finished with work this afternoon he headed to Dallas with TJ. They are hanging out there tonight with some friends and then they will meet with his mom and step-dad tomorrow. They will be taking TJ for the whole week so I can fully recover from this procedure. Unfortunately, this surgery is not as easy as the last one. I have 5 incisions that are between 1-2 inches long and need more time to recover. I cannot lift anything over 15 lbs for the next 4-6 weeks. When I showed my mom the incisions today I think her jaw almost hit the floor because of how nasty the site looks. I have been feeling pretty good considering but am obviously a bit sore. I am trying to move around as much as possible so I don't get super stiff and I know that they always say the more active you are the faster you will recover. Here's hoping that is true! For now though I will be doing what I need to recover fully so that when my baby comes home I am ready for his energy!!! It is going to be a LONG week without him!

So in closing if you had asked me a year ago where we would be on my 30th birthday I would have NEVER imagined we would be parent's to the beautiful boy we met that Memorial Day but we ARE!!!!! God is good!

Not sure...

2011-05-21T23:11:00.003-05:00

what to blog about! I just know that I haven't blogged in a little while and I should post something. Hhhhmmmm I guess I will just talk about random things going on with us. We are QUICKLY approaching the 1 year mark of meeting TJ which is CRAZY!!!! We met him last year during a Memorial Day party so this next weekend is a year. SO much has changed in a year obviously! WE HAVE A SON!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it?!?!? Last year at this time we had NO idea that our son even existed and now well now he is our whole world! I could go on and on about this past year but let's face it it would end up being a novel so I will spare you all. For now anyway...after next weekend there will be a million pictures and stories!

Bailey is almost done with school for the year and so we have a few fun things planned for the summer. We are trying to plan a trip with us, my parent's, and Bailey to my dad's hometown which is ALWAYS a great time!!! Bailey is beyond excited and so am I! They live on a lake in a SMALL Minnesota town so it is just relaxing to be there.

As for Joe he is busy with work as always but we find time for fun and family nonetheless! Thank goodness his company likes their employees to have a good work life balance!!!! We try to spend 1 on 1 time with each kiddo whenever possible. Even if it means Joe taking Bailey to the DQ drive-thru alone or him taking TJ to the grocery store or me taking Bailey to get a cupcake at the bakery. I now realize balance isn't always easy in life especially when it comes to the kiddos because you NEVER want anyone to feel like 1 has more then the other.

As for me well I had my surgery. It went well and I am healing. What didn't go well?!?!? While they were in there they found 2 huge hernia's. One on each side of my stomach. They have no clue how/when they formed as 2 years ago when I had surgery with the same obgyn surgeon they were NOT there. There are a few ideas but nothing concrete. The bottomline is they have both perforated my ab muscles(yes, they are there somewhere!) and I need a 2nd surgery. The first thing I said to Joe in recovery was, "how did it go?". His answer plain and simple, "You need a 2nd surgery for 2 huge hernia's.". NOT the way to come out of surgery. :o( Such is life though and I can't control this at all. They wanted to do it this coming week...ASAP basically. However, we have a VERY important anniversary to celebrate next weekend(the 1 year) so I am waiting until the following week.

That is a little bit about what is going on these days at our house. I guess I had a lot more going on then I originally thought!!! I totally could have made each update into it's own titled post. The great thing is that all in all we are doing great and I can't complain too much. Yes, even with 2 surgeries in this post!!!

Check list much?!?!

2011-05-09T21:55:00.002-05:00

So with this upcoming surgery I am trying to get as much done as possible so that I can just recover and not worry. I also want Joe, my parent's, and neighbors(yes, we have GREAT ones!) to feel like they can walk in and just focus on TJ and nothing else. I have made a huge check list of what I want done and it is getting smaller...phew!

Today I did a HUGE grocery shopping trip so that we are fully stocked. Joe and I cleaned a bit this weekend and I did more today. I also cut up a ton of the fruit that I bought and put them in individual serving size containers so that anyone can just take 1 out and give it to TJ as a snack or for breakfast with yogurt/cereal/bagels. It gives me something to take my mind off the second half of this week and prepares for the help that we will have. I know that everyone coming into our home is perfectly capable of doing things like cutting fruit or making meals but it just makes it that much easier on everyone. Tomorrow I will be doing the laundry that we have, running a few more errands, and making a few phone calls. I also have a few things to keep TJ busy with others like puzzles, books, and toys that are all new so he will be excited to have them.

I just keep thinking of all the little things that will make life easier and hopefully they will all get done. I really hope that all the preparation helps out anyone that is ready and willing to help care for TJ and I.

Any suggestions on what you might do to prepare? It isn't a super invasive procedure and I should be feeling better by the weekend but I won't be able to really care for TJ on my own for about a week.

Ups and Downs

2011-05-08T23:00:00.002-05:00

Today...well gosh there isn't much to say. All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!! I am a mommy for the first time! Yes, I have been there for Bailey through and through but when it comes down to it I am not her mommy. :o( This past year I have been given the biggest blessing though and have become the mommy to a WONDERFUL, CUTE, SMART little man! I couldn't be more honored to be his mommy! He has brought our lives so much joy and laughter. I canNOT imagine my life without him at this point. It would feel empty and would just make me sad. He is a 2.5 yo boy and I have moments of OMG why can't he just listen but overall it is pure bliss!!! I wouldn't change it for the world! He really is what I live for and what I wake-up for. One year ago I was very sad as we were approaching the 1 year mark of our miscarriage and the surgery because of it that put me in the hospital for 3 nights/4 days. NOT cool...this year I had the most AMAZING day!!!! We hung-out as a family and I never even left the house. Joe let me sleep in and I awoke to 2 handsome boys saying that they love me and are happy that I am the mommy! Doesn't get much better! We spent the day just enjoying each other.

The down is that infertility once again has played a major role in our lives this month. Poor TJ see's me getting ready and Grandma/Bailey pulling up and immediately says, "Mommy has to go to the doctor". THAT IS SAD!!!! Going to the infertility doctor everyday or every other day is NOT normal! Unfortunately, it is normal for us. We had such a hopeful experience in the beginning of this cycle and really thought this cycle would end with a sibling for TJ. It was not in the cards evidently. After such hope came despair. Things didn't go well and bottomline is I am once again going to have surgery on Wednesday morning. The doctors are hopeful that we can go it alone for the next 3 cycles and *hopefully* will be pregnant in the end. This is a hard pill to swallow. After almost 4 years of trying to get pregnant it is hard to believe it will actually happen. We remain hopeful though and WILL add to our family somehow! We will not let infertility beat us and if it leads us down the adoption path we WILL certainly accept that. We DID get our AMAZING son this way so why not build our whole family that way!?!?!?! I pray that I can experience pregnancy but in the end we just want a family! Who cares how we get that family? NO ONE!!!! A family IS a family no matter how it is built.

So on this Mother's Day I will be thankful for what we do have(a gorgeous son) and pray that God blesses us again no matter what form it is. It is 11:11 and my wish is just for more children to add to our family.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!

Doing well ourselves but prayers for friends are NEEDED!

2011-04-23T11:20:00.002-05:00

Not much going on other then trips to the RE's(reproductive experts) office and Easter weekend. Things are going well with pretty much everything at this point! We are blessed and hope that everyone else can be blessed on this special weekend! I will ask for lots of prayers though as we have many friends that REALLY need them right now.

Excited, nervous, happy, anxious!!!

2011-04-19T00:56:00.002-05:00

It is late but I am not a sleep because I have a million scenerios running through my head! We got good news regarding our infertility treatments and while we haven't had the actual procedure yet things are looking great! We are praying that the results we got today will lead to a full-term pregnancy. Since we had less success 2 years ago when we did the same procedure we are excited! By success I mean we have more follicles(eggs) this time then the last time and we DID get pregnant then we just didn't stay pregnant. :o( It is okay though as we now have our precious little man who we might not otherwise have if we had stayed pregnant. We have 4 times the follicles that we did 2 years ago so we are staying hopefull that since we had 2 last time and got pregnant that with 4x that we WILL be successful! My title for this post gives you a glimpse of the feelings that are going on right now. I really wasn't expecting to have that many great follicles and man are we excited! Such a nice surprise!!! BTW we are doing this IUI almost exactly 2 years to the day of our last IUI in which we did get pregnant. Isn't that strange?!?!? I think God knew at the time that there was a little boy that would need us just as much as we needed him. I can't even imagine what life would be like without TJ and as odd as it sounds I am thankful to God that we didn't stay pregnant 2 years ago. I LOVE TJ MORE THEN LIFE ITSELF!!!! I am hoping that since we are doing this almost 2 years to date from our last IUI that it is a sign from God that this is the right time! Rollercoaster ride has officially begun!

I love this family!!!

2011-04-16T22:58:00.002-05:00

So, when Joe and I firsted started trying for a baby I found a wonderful support group online. At first it started out as just women that knew what I was going through. It quickly turned into much more then that. The women(all of them) I have met the past 3.5 years have become more then support they have become like family! They are women that I can turn to NO matter what I am feeling. I know I will NOT be judged and will always have support in ALL areas of life. When experiencing infertility there are SO many emotions and not all of them are good. I say this because if you haven't dealt with infertility it is hard to understand sometimes. I always give people the benefit of the doubt when they make comments that cut me to the core because most people just don't understand. I don't fault people for it I just try to explain my feelings when things hurt. So with that I am honored to say that I met one of the women, her husband, and her son today!

I have known Amy(http://whatrhymeswithwillis.blogspot.com/?spref=fb)(sorry I don't know how to do the link a blog thing) for 3 years now and she is BEYOND wonderful! Amy has ALWAYS been a phone call, text, or FB chat away when I need her and I hope she feels I am always that when she needs. She has a gorgeous son that is 15 months old and a great husband! They had been living in Oregon but Rob's(husband) family lives in Louisiana and so he got a job there. Amy and Jensen joined him this weekend as Rob got their place and life set-up. Amy and Jensen flew into the airport by us here in Houston last night(Friday). Rob met them and they stayed at a hotel and then this morning(Saturday) they came to meet us! I was all kinds of excited and nervous! I mean what if Amy and her boys didn't like us in person?!?!? Would I be the same person(and family) she knew via internet and phone calls?!?!? Well, I can tell you that she didn't disappoint me...you have to ask her because I can't tell you if I was all that she hoped. LOL okay clearly I am NOT all that but I hope I am the same person(and family) that she thought I was going into the visit! When they arrived around noon we were giddy with excitement! Joe was heading to get ice from the corner store with the golf cart so Rob joined him. Yes, they knew each other for all of 30 seconds when they were sent off on this task. Being men they didn't just go get ice but had to drive around being "cool"(both hubbies are cool in my book) in the golf cart. Jensen and TJ got acquainted and were buds! Joe grilled some awesome burgers and fried up some homemade french fries. The kiddos napped after playing hard outside then when they woke-up we ate. We had the burgers, fries, watermelon, and homemade Mexican rice...it was all delicious! We all hung-out until around 7 pm and our friend's had to leave. :o( They had a 4 hour drive back to their place in Louisiana.

We have already decided we will be meeting up LOTS in the future and hopefully one of those times will be a nice weekend in Dallas. Both our hubbies love Dallas so it should be a fun trip to plan!!! It is so fun to have someone close enough for visits like these.

I seriously canNOT express how awesome Amy and her boys are! Amy is someone that I truly adore like a sister!!! She is SO supportive and just overall an amazing person! I never question the genuine friendship we have. Amy always thinks of others and is an equally amazing friend to SO many! We are blessed to have her and her boys in our life. It is hard to find good friend's that understand and support what you are going through in life. This family is one that we will keep in our lives for as long as they will let us be in theirs! It is somewhat like internet dating and meeting your husband online. You meet a few bad guys but then when you meet the right guy you can't imagine your life without them. Again, we are so blessed to have such an amazing support system in this family. My only wish is that ALL the women in our group could come together. Such an awesome experience that will be the first of many!

The bottomline is that my friend is AWESOME!!!! Thank you Amy(and her boys) for always being there and making my life easier during everything! I hope that the next time we see each other is SOON!!!!

It's Only Saturday and....

2011-04-16T22:32:00.004-05:00

it has been the most amazing weekend!!!

Friday...I went for my CD3(cycle day 3)(sorry any men that read this) ultrasound and blood work. They called me Friday afternoon and everything looks great and that I should start my injections. Yes, that means I am giving myself a shot every night BUT the process is SO easy and the needle is SO small so no biggie. Joe planned on going into work after my appointment but didn't. :o) Our neighborhood does a community garage sale a few times a year which means they put out an ad in the paper and a bunch of signs with a map of where each home participating is. Then, you decide if you want to do a garage sale and set-up like a normal garage sale at your home. So pretty much you get the advertising for free as you don't have to put up signs or an ad in the paper. We set-up and "opened" at 8 am and I left at 8:40 am for my appointment. I got back at 9:30 am and things were hopping! We ended up selling so much that we didn't even "open" up today(Sat.). Joe decided to just work from home which was awesome! He had a few concalls but spent lots of time with us. We got PF Changs for lunch(my fav), took a ride on the golf cart, went on a bike ride, and a few other fun things. The weather was out of this world! Low 80's, NO humidity, sunny, and a nice breeze! We were literally outside from 8 am until 1 am. I should say that it was the ADULTS that stayed up that late NOT the kiddos! We had some good friends over so it was fun to sit out back in the nice weather. So all in all a great day with my boys, friends, a bonus of extra cash, and of course the fact that we got rid of stuff!!!

Saturday...I am going to make a whole other post to cover this but will summarize here. We had some other good friends over and had a blast! Again, the weather was too perfect to even describe! Just like yesterday...low 80's, NO humidity, sunny, and a slight breeze. I think our friend, Amy, from Oregon brought the cooler weather with her...thanks Amy!!! We were again outside the majority of the day. I am actually still outside right now...what did we do before wireless internet?!?!?

Sunday...Yeah, yeah I know we aren't into Sunday yet. The weather is supposed to be just as gorgeous as the previous days. The only thing planned is going to Joe's softball games(he plays for his companies team in a slow pitch league). They have gotten quite good and it is fun for TJ and I to go watch. TJ is their good luck charm according to them.

So as we head into Monday we will have had a GREAT weekend! We are staying busy but it is a relaxing kind of busy not a we ran around all weekend and didn't get a chance to sit kind of busy.

Oops...sorry about the hiatus there!

2011-04-13T10:42:00.003-05:00

So, lots has been going on over here in our house! First, we had a change in plans with the IVF. :o( We are VERY blessed that our insurance has infertility benefits which is why we decided to try IF treatments again. Well, not so fast they said! They require that you do 3 IUI's before trying IVF. Very well, we have done that. Again, not so fast! They require that the IUI's be done WITH injectibles. Well, the first 2 we did were with Clomid and the last one was with injectibles. GRRRRR to little details like that that were NOT mentioned when I talked with them months ago! So, back to IUI we go. :o( The good thing is that the IUI with injectibles DID get us pregnant last time we just failed to stay pregnant. Therefore, we are hopeful that this will be successful!!! So, in about a month from now we will know yay or nay.

In other news we have been busy with our day to day life. We are all doing well and having fun enjoying the weather before it reaches ridiculously hot temps. Bailey is getting so big and it is unreal that she is going to be in preschool 4 days a week next year! I am not sure how our little preemie is such a big girl now. She is ALL girl and changes about 7 times a day! She always wants to look cute and gets excited to show me certain outfits that she has picked out for herself. She is a girl after my own heart! This weekend we took a little girls time to get ice cream together while TJ napped and Joe did some work outside. I always cherish that time with her and she always asks for that time which I hope continues for YEARS to come.

TJ is just hysterical as always and keeps us on our toes! EVERYONE that meets him cannot believe that he is only 2.5 years old. He is incredibly bright and amazes us with the things he does and says. Just yesterday my mom said she doesn't know how I keep up with him. Some days I don't either! What I can tell you is that I gained 25 lbs because of the IF medicines and since TJ came into our lives I have lost 20 of it! YAY for being back in a size 6 which is quickly becoming a size 4. SO embarrassing to have gained that much but I am proud that I have been eating healthier and have been more active. Okay, sorry that got a little off topic! Oh and all that just in time for our IUI, more meds, and HOPEFULLY a successful pregnancy!!! I will gain 300 lbs if that means we can add to our family! Okay, back to TJ, he is just amazing. The best thing to happen so far this week is that we received his birth certificate yesterday!!!!!! I know that we have officially been TJ's mommy and daddy since 2/25/11 and we have considered ourselves his mommy and daddy since 6/4/10 but this was great! I mean WE are the one's on his birth certificate and it is our last name on the birth certificate! Such a great feeling to have ALL the pieces of the puzzle now. We are so blessed!!!

Joe is still LOVING his new job! He is on the company softball team and they recently had their end of the year tournament. It is a league of a bunch of different companies that play slow pitch. Joe's team was 1-9 going into the tourney. It was a one and done tourney so we thought we would be there for an hour and then head home. Well, they came together in a BIG way! They were in the bottom of the bracket so they were playing teams at the top with great records. They ended up winning the whole tournament! We were there from 2 pm to almost 8pm which was totally unexpected but fun. TJ was their good luck charm and got to be in the team photos at the end! That was a few weeks ago and this weekend they started the new season. Low and behold they went 2-0 so they really have turned around and have become the little engine that could!!! Joe also surprised me this past Friday with an early Mother's Day gift. We have been looking at getting a bigger SUV for quite some time now and found 1 last week that we both really liked. On Thursday he was going to go and get things set-up for purchase. He texted me though and said the dealership called and the one we wanted sold. :o( On Friday Joe decided to work from home and that would give us a chance to go down to the dealership and look at other SUVs. So, I started looking at their website and showing Joe the ones I liked. Joe then said that we didn't need to continue looking because we had already found the one we wanted. I reminded him that it had sold! He said with a you caught me face, "Yes I know because they sold it to ME!!!". Haha I totally ruined the surprise he had for me! We picked the SUV up on Friday and I love it! Certainly a great gift for my first official Mother's Day! Of course, nothing can top the handmade gifts I have received from Bailey but Joe did a good job.

I am a very blessed woman and pray that God will continue to make 2011 the best year ever!!!!

We're really doing this?!?!

2011-03-24T17:25:00.002-05:00

I know we made the decision to try IVF but now we are gearing up for it in a few weeks! I have had several procedures done so far this month to make sure things look good for next month. Everything looks GREAT according to our RE(reproductive expert)!!!! Driving home it hit me that we ARE doing this and the talk is over. It is crazy that this time next month we will be finding out whether it worked or not. I have maintained that I WILL be positive about IVF and not think about it not working!!! Will I be devastated if it doesn't work...yes but I have to believe it will work for my sanity and the fact that we wouldn't try it if we didn't have hopes that it would work. It is just surreal to me that 3.5 years ago we thought we would start a family...Haha! If only it was that easy for everyone!!! So now we have been blessed with TJ and we pray we can add to our family soon!!! And yes we are excepting any prayers, positive thoughts, etc that anyone cares to offer. Thanks!!!

Busy!

2011-03-22T16:58:00.002-05:00

Wow have we been busy lately!!! This past week was crazy and this week appears to be looking that way as well. Last week Joe was gone for business the beginning of the week. We met up with TJ's bio-aunt and her kiddos for the St. Patty's Day parade right by our house. It was TONS of fun!!! All the kids got lots of stuff from the floats and we all got a chance to catch-up since we hadn't seen the older girls since they moved to Houston. On Tuesday Joe came home and I got TJ and I packed to head to Port A. We left first thing on Wednesday and ended up getting there pretty early so we enjoyed beach time! It was amazing since my paternal grandparents came down from MN and got to meet TJ for the first time! TJ really enjoyed Bonka(grandpa) and Grammie! After lots of fun and sun we had to return to Houston earlier then expected. This comes with the territory when doing infertility treatments because you have to have certain procedures and tests done on specific days. We had a great trip regardless! Bailey and my mom came home with TJ and I which was nice because it is a long 4 hours by yourself. Bailey stayed the night Friday and we got up and headed to the Houston Rodeo on Saturday morning. We ended up spending about 5 hours there and the weather was gorgeous! After LOTS of food, rides, animals, shopping, and new cowgirl boots for Bailey we loaded up and headed home. It was such a fun day and the tradition of new cowgirl/boy boots each year at the rodeo has been set in place. Sunday we headed back downtown for Joe's softball tourney. He is on a team for his company and this week was the play-offs to end the season. Being that his team was 1-9 all season we thought they would be 1 and done. Low and behold they really came together and WON the tourney!!! What we thought would be something done by 3:30 lasted until 7:30! Joe was even named MVP!!!! He really did a great job as did his WHOLE team! TJ became their good luck charm and got to be in the team pictures. We had such a great long weekend and I wish it weren't over already! As for this week there is just a lot of going on but nothing really special or fun scheduled at this point. We shall see what the week brings.

Still no pictures

2011-03-12T22:06:00.003-06:00

Yes, that is right I am STILL going through pictures!!! We were busy and there are a LOT of pictures to go through and edit. I hope I get some up soon though. So, Friday we had the GREAT pleasure of watching TJ's biological cousin. He is a few months over 1 years old and so precious! His family moved to Houston after his daddy got a new job here. He has 2 older sisters and his parent's are great! We enjoyed seeing his mommy and him for the first time since they moved here. I think we are getting together tomorrow with all the kids to see a St. Patrick's Day parade that is very close to our house. Both dad's have work commitments so they won't be around. It should be a fun time and since we haven't seen the girls yet I am excited! Other then that we have just been doing our everyday normal things such as errands and being outside ALL the time because our weather has been amazing! I told Joe tonight that I am dreading this weather changing because it will happen soon and then it will just be HOT...YUCK!!!!! Seriously though tomorrow I will get lots of good pictures from the parade and regardless of if I have gone through the other pictures I WILL post those!

Today....

2011-03-10T22:58:00.003-06:00

First off there are way too many pictures for me to go through and put a slideshow together by tonight. Sorry people! I am working on it though. Yup, I know you are all so disappointed. ;o) None the less today was a GREAT day!!!! I saw the RE(reproductive expert) today and we set-up an April IVF! This is the one infertility treatment/procedure that we haven't done. Due to the fact that we haven't tried it, have no known problems that the doctors can find, and great insurance we are PRAYING that this is the beginning of our pregnancy journey! If not we are lucky enough to have the insurance to try again. The weather here has also been fabulous and therefore we have spent LOTS of time outside this week! TJ has brought so much joy to our lives and we want nothing more then to make him a big brother! He is already a little brother to Timothy and Tyler but we would like to make HIM the big brother SOON!!!! Bailey and TJ are getting so big and adding another little one ASAP would be ideal! I just hope that God agrees with our plan because he is all that matters in this process. Tomorrow should be a great day as well! TJ's bio-aunt and her family recently moved to the Houston area and she is starting her college degree. We haev the privilege of watching TJ's bio-cousin while his momma is at school tomorrow! He is about 15 mo old so it should be a fun day of 2 boys playing together!!!

SO MANY Pictures!!!

2011-03-10T10:50:00.003-06:00

I started going through pictures this morning that go back to Memorial Day 2010 when we met TJ for the first time. Oh gosh I have no clue where to even start! I would really like to put together a slideshow of our journey so far with TJ but I am realizing that I have taken over 4000 pictures since that day! I am going to have to stick to fewer pictures that mean a lot to us. I think most people that know us have seen a lot of these pictures anyways on my facebook so nothing new...sorry peeps! I can see that going through, editing, and putting together a slideshow will take ALL day. I hope to have something up by the time I hit the hay tonight!

WOW

2011-03-09T23:29:00.002-06:00

OMG...it has been OVER a year since I have updated this blog!!! Man has A LOT changed! Not only is Bailey the only girl in our lives but we also have a new FABULOUS boy to celebrate! On 2/25/11 we officially welcomed TJ into our family! He is now 26 mo old and has been with our family since my birthday(6/4/10). He has brought more joy to our lives and it has truly been an amazing journey! I hope to blog more and not neglect as much as I have! We have been blessed so much this past year and can't wait for what 2011 will bring us!!! We are doing our first round of IVF in April and are excited to see what that brings us....twins, triplets, YIKES!!!! Thanks for hanging in there with us and being there every step of the way!

OMG....

2010-01-16T13:47:00.002-06:00

we are still here and I didn't forget about this blog we have just been really busy!!!

I will spare you the details from the past 2.5 months and just share links to my Facebook pictures. Enjoy!!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=187409&id=689655931&l=3d54aead0a

Okay...more to come tomorrow. I promise!!!

Halloween Here We Come!!!

2009-10-20T15:35:00.002-05:00

Well, in a word our life has been BUSY lately!!! A good kind of busy though. We have had Bailey A LOT which we love and even have had my parents as well. While they are having all the floors done at their house they have had to vacate and have been staying with us. They got a break when they went to their beach house this weekend with some family friends and Bailey stayed with us. Being that it is the beginning of the holiday season we have been gearing up and doing lots to prepare. Obviously, we have been focusing on Halloween but Christmas/Santa is NEVER far from Bailey's mind!!! We have done lots of decorating, projects, and baking that is all Halloween themed. We will even be making Halloween decorated Canoli's when Bailey wakes up from her after school nap today.

As for Bailey and what she has been up to there is just SO much so I will keep it as short as I can. Since school began she has been getting more and more independent. They have goals each year and this year is to create independent children that don't have to rely on someone else for everything. This has been both amazing and hard at the same time. We LOVE that Bailey is wanting to try new things, be totally potty trained, and help us out. However, like any toddler she wants to do it HER way and on HER time...hehehe. We have been able to really keep the fits to a minimum and have been SUPER lucky to have such a well-behaved little girl. I hope that this continues and that what people keep telling us doesn't ring true that 3's are worse then 2's. Like I mentioned above we have been doing LOTS of baking and activities as Bailey just adores that kind of stuff. I always have a helper at dinner and you know what it really is true that if the child helps make the meal they are much more likely to eat the meal. Bailey might not always like what it is we made after a few bites but she will at least try which is all we can ask. Again, we got lucky as Bailey is a huge fan of things like cauliflower, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, corn, green beans, ANY berry, chicken, steak, clementines, etc, etc....of course, she wouldn't be a toddler if she didn't enjoy her chicken nuggets and candy here and there! Talking is now nonstop and we find ourselves cracking up at her statements. They are so innocent, smart, and funny. Out of the mouths of babes if you will!!! One thing that Bailey talks about a lot and gets hung-up on while out and about is babies. Anytime we see a baby Bailey makes it known that SHE wants us to have a baby. When she tells us that she then holds out her hands like she is cradling an egg and says, "a baby like this". Ugh...it breaks my heart that we have yet to be able to give that precious girl something that she see's so many others have. We tell her all the time we will get her that baby and I know in my heart we will eventhough it might not be the conventional way we WILL get her that baby!!!! I know I don't mention it too much here but if you could spare some prayers that we get that baby soon no matter how it is done we would GREATLY appreciate it!

Here is a link to my facebook for the latest pictures...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158592&id=689655931&l=4f731fd968

I love the rest of the year!

2009-09-30T10:22:00.003-05:00

The past few weeks have been pretty low key around here so there are no fun pictures or anything to share. It has been nice since we had been SO busy in August and the beginning of September. However, the madness is about to begin and last through October. We have many events and fun times ahead this month such as a trip to the pumpkin patch this weekend! I love this time of year because from now until the end of the year is just so festive and fun. I love the decorating and holiday spirit that starts to show. I love all the "shopping fairs" in which people set-up their booths and sell all sorts of different items. I love seeing all the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas stuff in the stores even if they do put it out REALLY early!

I really can't wait for all of it this year because Bailey is SO much more aware. Last year she liked everything but this year seems different because she is talking so much and can really get what is going on where last year she just liked seeing the decorations and such. She is SO into the decorations and we cannot have a visit to Costco without walking down the Christmas decoration aisle now as that is Bailey's favorite even surpassing the toy aisle! People always tell you that you cannot understand the joys of seeing things through a child's eyes until it is your child and that is SO true!!! Everything from our basic weekends to holidays would be so BLAH without Bailey these days. She brings such life to our homes and with the holidays approaching she makes them that much more exciting. I cannot wait for the holidays to actually begin as Bailey is going to love it! Plus, as most people know I love to cook/bake and Bailey has taken to these activities as well and is such a helper in the kitchen! So, this year I am most looking forward to sharing my kitchen with a set of little hands that is eager to help in anyway I let her!!!

Sorry, no pictures this time but definitely stay tuned because we are going to the pumpkin patch this weekend!

Good Shopping Day

2009-09-21T20:32:00.003-05:00

So, Sunday we headed to the mall because Joe had gotten some Macy's coupons in the mail since he has a card with them. We went for 1 blazer and that was it. Needless to say we came out with way more!!! First, we looked around Macy's mens section for shirts, blazers, pants, and shoes for Joe. He ended up getting 5 shirts. Then we decided that we would go look for some Puma's since we have been wanting to get each of us a pair of them. We found ones that we loved and snatched them up! They are all matching pairs(I know...LOL now). Bailey and I have the exact same ones because I fit into child sizes(LOL again here) and Joe's are the same as ours but the Puma symbols on his are black. So, then we head back to the car but have to walk through Macy's mens/Furniture store. We decided to do a quick walk through of the furniture section as we love their furniture and our bedroom set and dining room set are from there. We got lucky and found an amazing table set that we fell in love with! They also only had 1 left so it was 30% off and then without even asking the sales ladies gave us an extra 10% off!!!! It is really cool. The shelving units on the end are on rollers so you can move them to make room for more seating or you can move them to whatever area of the house could use the storage. We immediately brought it home and put it in the breakfast area. It is always a good shopping day when you go for 1 item and come home with everything from shoes to clothes to furniture!

Here are our shoes and new table....

The Mud Pit

2009-09-17T12:12:00.002-05:00

So, this past weekend the weather was MUCH cooler then it has been which allowed for more outside time for us. I was inside getting some things done around the house and Joe, Bailey, and the dogs were outside. I then headed out to join in the fun and enjoy the cool night. Well, what did I find?!?!? Costco had been digging which left a pretty good size hole in our yard next to the patio. Joe had decided that Bailey needed a mud pit in which to get dirty and make mud pies. He had filled the hole with water which created a child's dream of water and dirt!!! Bailey had a blast playing in it and ended up playing for almost 3 hours out there! It was so fun to let her just be a kid getting dirty and serving us the mud pies and tea that she made. Here are some pictures of that and of the dogs with the "hot dog" treats that Bailey picked for them...

Busy Busy Bee's We Have Been

2009-09-12T13:48:00.002-05:00

As most of you know we did lots of traveling this past month and now that it has calmed down I am finally getting a chance to update you. I have a slideshow below that is only about 1/8 of all the pictures I took between the wedding, Lubbock, and the beach house...if anyone wants to see them all feel free to email me and I will send you a link to them.

First, we started off our travels with my cousin, Kate's, wedding in Scottsdale, AZ. It was an amazing time in which we got to see family and relax at the nicest resort I have ever been to. Bailey was a flower girl and did her job like a champ and didn't even hesitate to walk down the aisle!!!

Second, Bailey and I left the morning after we got back from the wedding to head to Lubbock, TX. Joe grew up there and was there for grad school that week. He had to leave before us since school started so we flew out to meet him. We spent the week hanging out with Gloria(my MIL) and anyone else who happened to drop in(I love having family and friends around). We visited Joe during his lunch breaks to eat, explore campus, and stock up on Texas Tech goodies!!! We even got to catch a few glimpses of the football players gearing up for this season...GO RED RAIDERS!!!!! Bailey really enjoyed being with GiGi(Grandma Gloria) and didn't want to return home. However, who would after a long weekend at a gorgeous resort and getting loved on by family?!?!?

Third, Jackie flew in and we all headed down to the beach house. We had lots of fun, sun, and swimming! The weather was(still is) HOT and made for perfect beach days! We got to just have fun with Jackie and a few friends that came with her.

Fourth, speaking of those friends that came with Jackie...As most of you know we have been struggling for the past 2 years to have a baby all our own. Obviously, we haven't been blessed YET and the final straw was 2 weeks ago when our infertility benefits ran out DAYS before we were supposed to try IVF for the 1st time. Coincidently 1 of the friends is a child social worker in Austin and was a great advocate for fostering and fostering-to-adopt. Well, needless to say we are signed up and moving forward with all the training, paperwork, and housing inspections that will get us qualified to foster. We are BEYOND excited that we could have a child in the next 4-8 months!!! We are going to try and get the qualification process done as quickly as possible as we have already waited 2 years to have another child in the house and we want another SOONER rather then later. I will definitely be keeping you updated here about where we are at with it and what is going on.

Fifth, Bailey has officially started her 2nd year of school and is LOVING it!!! Last year there were a lot of meltdowns at drop-off and so far this year ZERO! She has great teachers and they make it easy for us to be at ease. We are really hoping that the excitement continues and the tears stay far away! Bailey is also now potty trained and talking NON-STOP!!! She loves to sing and knows ALL the words for many songs. We love her beyond words and every change we cherish as we have seen how fast the past 2.5 years has gone by.

Long Lost Blogger Has Been Found

2009-08-01T22:13:00.002-05:00

I was reminded yesterday by a good friend that I was not being a good blogger myself when I prodded this friend to start her own blog...oops!!!

We have been doing really well and have gotten Bailey potty trained! That is probably the most exciting thing that has happened recently. Bailey is as always growing and changing everyday. The things that come out of her mouth shock and amaze us all the time. It really is true that kids say the funniest things! I have new pictures but need to upload them and put them into a slideshow so that will have to wait for tomorrow so stay tuned!

We are getting ready to do quite a bit of traveling which is making me nervous and excited. Nervous because traveling with a 2.5 year old to 1 destination for 2.5 weeks is hard enough let alone 3 destinations in 2.5 weeks! Luckily, each step of the way there will be lots of hands between my parent's, Joe, MIL, Jackie, and many other family members on my side and Joe's side. First up we have my cousin, Kate's, wedding in which Bailey is a flower girl!!! The time difference between the destination and our home is 2 hours and since we are only there for 4 days I am hoping that it doesn't throw Bailey off too much. The dress Bailey will be wearing is absolutely adorable and there will for sure be tons of pictures! Second destination will be to visit with Joe's side of the family while Joe is at grad school for 1.5 weeks. We will be back in our time zone for this but an airplane ride will be required. Any tips on flying with a 2 year old by yourself are appreciated! Third and final destination will be my parent's beach house for a week. After ALL that Joe and I will be starting our 1st(and hopefully ONLY) intense procedure. If you want details on that email me, leave a comment with your email, or give me a ring.

Bailey's 1st Swim Lesson and More...

2009-06-23T20:57:00.003-05:00

I know, I know...bad blogger! There has been lots going on. Bailey finished up her last few weeks of "school" which was bittersweet as we loved her teachers but are so proud that she is growing into a beautiful big girl! It seems that Bailey never stops talking and is in our eyes just the funniest little thing. She is very opinionated about what songs she likes Beyonce's "Single Ladies" is a favorite and Keith Urban's "Sweet Thing" is disliked. She is also into ANYTHING that has to do with The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, and Shrek...YES, we watch them OVER and OVER!!!

While Bailey has been a water baby since she was an infant she had her 1st swim lesson yesterday! There are 3 kids in her class and none of them had a fear of water which made for a fun to watch class. Bailey was a great listener and did everything that her instructor asked. I know it is very parentish to say but it was fun to watch Bailey because we don't really see her with people other then us. I am always so proud of her but to see her listen SO well and be so polite with others is such a relief!

Okay, okay...slideshow time!

Some new pics and my bday flowers from Joe!

2009-06-04T18:09:00.001-05:00

Sand Fest

2009-04-22T18:50:00.002-05:00

This past weekend we headed down to my parent's beach house for what turned out to be an interesting weekend. They were having their annual Sand Fest down on the beach which was fun but made the island busier then normal. We also experienced a dune fire which was close enough for us to see EVERYTHING!!! It was very scary and the neighborhood next to us told to evacuate and they were throwing their things into the backs of their trucks! They were able to get it under control but it was a little close for comfort!!! Okay, enough about the scary stuff! The Sand Fest is a big event that they do every April in Port Aransas on the beach...they have tons of booths with crafts, food, and all kinds of stuff and then the highlight is people that come from all around to build awesome sandcastles. Saturday was a bit overcast but turned out to be sunny and then Sunday was gorgeous. We went down both days and Bailey's favorite was the Roasted Corn On the Cob stand where she ate corn several times throughout the weekend. A couple(The Estes') that my parents are friends with also came down which made the weekend that much more fun!!!

Here is a slideshow with some pics from the weekend...

Easter Pics and an Update

2009-04-14T16:44:00.004-05:00

Gosh, it seems like it has been SOOOO long since I blogged! Where to begin...Bailey is doing great and talking up a storm! She seems to get bigger everyday and we love it but miss our tiny little baby sometimes. For Easter we were all at Joe and I's house and it was a gorgeous day. Bailey got to wear her new dress and loved looking for her goodies from the Easter Bunny.

Here are 2 slideshows since the pictures wouldn't all fit on one...

Tagged!

2009-03-23T14:05:00.004-05:00

I normally don't do this kind of stuff but I was tagged and looked up the pic so though what the heck!

If you’re reading along with me, your instructions:

(copy & paste)1. Find your sixth picture folder and in that folder, the sixth picture

2. Post it on your blog with some of the background of the picture

3. Tag four others and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been tagged....I am tagging Erica, Shell, Karen, and Jenna.

What a great picture! This was from Bailey's Christmas card picture session in 2007...her 1st Christmas. It was about 2 weeks before Christmas and we hadn't done a picture yet so we put her in these pj's and bow to match and started snapping away infront of the tree. This was one of the better pics but didn't make the cut as "the" picture.

Bailey Update and Pics

2009-03-22T20:10:00.002-05:00

Let's see where do I start! Bailey is as usual getting so big and now we are really seeing her personality come out because she is talking more and more. She says phrases and sentences now not just one word here and there. She likes to say, "try this", "I need it", and "that is mine"...ahh the true toddler in her! She thinks that she "needs" everything and that everything is of course hers. Everything aside though she really is a good girl aka no temper tantrums or meltdowns just the occasional "NO!!!!" which can be expected from anyone regardless of their age. She still loves to watch her "music" videos on uTube and while she tends to like things like "Wheels On the Bus" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" she does like Beyonce's "Single Ladies". She is also into bubbles and anything having to do with being outside. She also thinks when anything appears to not work that it MUST need new batteries and she tells you, "batteries!" and goes to get them.

There really isn't too much going on with us besides work and Bailey on the weekends. Tim was here for the weekend so we spent time with him and Jackie is moving home this week. Our Aunt Elaine is flying out to RI to make the long drive down here with her and they leave this Tuesday afternoon. It will be fabulous to have Jackie home!!! With summer approaching fast we are planning a few trips that should be fun. Joe will be traveling to his hometown of Lubbock, TX for school and Bailey and I will be flying out for 5 days later in the week. We will be there for Memorial Day weekend and it will be Bailey's first time in Lubbock and meeting most of Joe's extended family. We also have my cousin, Kate's, wedding in AZ which should be a blast! Bailey has the honor of being a flower girl which should be interesting since she gets embarrassed easily. Having over a hundred people stare at her as she walks down the aisle should leave her thoroughly embarrassed. Oh yes, and then there is the fact that she is a neat freak and will most likely refuse to throw anything on the ground purposely. Actually, if another flower girl goes before her she may end up "picking up" after them. Ahhh...should be good times!

So, that is us for right now...as usual Bailey is the star and we are just living in her world.

Not Much Happening

2009-03-20T08:52:00.003-05:00

I know, I know I have been a bad blogger! There just hasn't been much going on. This is basically because my parents and Bailey headed to the beach house so we haven't had her in 2 weeks!!! :(

I promise you this weekend is bringing some fun and pictures though. We have Tim(cousin) in for a few days while he is on spring break, Joe is picking up his new car, Bailey has her first official "school" friend birthday party, and many more exciting things!

Stay tuned as I know after that you must be on the edge of your seats! ;)

Pictures from this past weekend

2009-02-25T16:34:00.003-06:00

We had such a wonderful weekend with Bailey so I thought I would share some new pictures! The weather was beautiful so we spent a lot of time outside playing and using the new patio set with firepit in it. We also took Bailey swimming at the family pool in our gym which she especially loved! I thought I would try a slideshow format this time...

Thankful on Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T20:48:00.003-06:00

It seems like such a long time since I posted here and with good reason as things didn't quite work out the way we thought this month. It is okay though as we are trusting in God and our doctor and we WILL get there sooner or later!

I just wanted to take this moment on Valentine's Day, the day of love, to acknowledge the wonderful husband that sits next to me now singing along to the radio and saying we ate too much...okay and now dancing silly! After all that we have been through and the VERY moody me he has had to put up with lately he has been amazing! He has continued to make me laugh even when I thought the tears would never stop and brought dinner home when I didn't feel up to cooking. I really can't express what he has done for not only myself but my family and most of all, Bailey. Again, I am not sure I can ever put into words how much I cherish the way he is with Bailey and all he gives her. I know there will never be enough I can do to thank my husband and what he has brought to my life. I love him dearly and hope over the lifetime of our marriage I can mean as much to him as he has meant to me!!!

Sick Toddler!

2009-02-03T20:23:00.002-06:00

Our poor little bug is really sick and had to go to the ER today! :( The peditricians office couldn't see her but my mom said she was REALLY sick so they had to head to the ER. I guess it is just a bad case of the flu but they gave her lots of meds and a shot of some type of pain relief since she hasn't slept well the past 2 nights. If everyone could say a little prayer for her that would be great as we all know how miserable it is to be sick!!!

LOTS of Pictures From Bailey's Birthday Weekend

2009-02-03T13:30:00.010-06:00

BAILEY'S BIRTHDAY PARTY(Saturday)...

Waiting for the party to begin!

Callie, Cade, and Jackie playing in Bailey's room.

Bailey, Cade, and Callie playing with some building blocks.

Mom and Auntie Peggy

Me, Mom, and Aunt Jack
Me, Margaret, Jack, and Lauren
Hanging out eating some chips and Cheetos.

Dada lovin' on his princess!

Opening a present from Margaret.

Opening presents.

Bailey trying to get outside so she can use one of her gifts.

Being silly with Auntie Peggy's reading glasses.

Now trying on Mr. Potatoe Head's glasses.

Putting the glasses back on Mr. Potatoe Head(a present)

Opening a SUPER soft blanket from Becca and her parents.

Look at all those presents!

Dada helping open a present.

Callie helping Bailey to to a toy!

Opening more presents.

The cake!

Cade and Callie are excited but Bailey isn't so sure what to think!

Blow out the candles!

Still not sure but why not stick my finger in there...

MMMmmm...

First bite.

Okay I can totally do this birthday thing!

Yummy!!!

BAILEY'S ACTUAL BIRTHDAY DAY(Sunday)... Hanging in the backyard with Aunt Jack before Chuck E Cheese!

Sitting with Dada at CEC having some pizza.

Jack and I obviously enjoying CEC.

Bailey likes Chuck E!!!

Enjoying a ride!

Winning tickets at Skee Ball.

Get 'em!!!

Bailey relaxing on a present from The Baker's at the end of her birthday weekend!

As you can see by ALL the pictures Bailey's birthday weekend was a fun one! I still can't believe "our" preemie is 2 years old! She is such a good little girl who is always making everyone laugh with her big personality! Certain things haven't changed like her everlasting, over-the-top love for her Grandpa and Dada and the fact that she still doesn't sleep through the night(I know shame on us). Many things HAVE changed though and like everyone says it goes SO fast! I don't think any of us would give up the sleep we have missed for the many moments we have had with our precious girl. We really haven't hit the terrible twos yet and hope they stay away for a while longer because Bailey is pretty laid back in most aspects...just don't spill or put something in the wrong place as she will notice! We look forward to spending all her birthdays in such a fun, happy atomosphere and hope that our preemie will continue to grow and help us make unbelievable memories!!!

WE LOVE YOU BAILEY BUG!!!!!!

Bailey's 2nd Birthday

2009-02-01T21:06:00.002-06:00

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY BAILEY!!!

That is right "our"(I say ours because she is SO many people's love!) baby is already 2 years old! I can't believe our little 5 lb preemie is now a funny, sweet, wild 2 year old! We had an amazing birthday weekend with her. The festivities included a small barbeque at our house on Saturday night and then today Chuck E Cheese and dinner at my parents. It was busy and we are all tired but it was so worth it! I will definitely be posting lots of pics in the next few days from our fun weekend so stay tuned for more.

Good Week!

2009-01-30T22:58:00.003-06:00

Again, this is one of those posts that I won't go into detail as if you know us you know what is going on. I just ask that we get lots of prayers and positive thoughts!

We also have Bailey's 2nd birthday this weekend! I know I know it is true our preemie baby is 2 days from being 2 years old which seems crazy! Stay tuned for what I am sure is a weekend of fun and lots of pics!

Thank you for everyone that has been such a great support to us! I cannot tell you how much we appreciate each and everyone of you and the prayers that have been offered to us.

Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover

2009-01-24T23:03:00.002-06:00

Today trying to set aside the headaches, nausea, and moodiness that these meds have created for me we ventured out. I had gotten Joe tickets to see Dave Ramsey live for his birthday and today was the day! We were both excited as we both enjoy Dave Ramsey's advice and Joe really looks up to him as someone he aspires to be like. I wasn't sure though, I mean 5 hours of listening to 1 person talk about finances doesn't exactly seem like something enjoyable on a Saturday. I was totally surprised and the 5 hours was delightful! Dave Ramsey is not only a financial genius but also just as funny as he is on his radio show! I highly recommend that if you have a chance to see him speak you should. We also bought several things from his "Total Money Makeover" line. Joe also bought Bailey the kids version eventhough she is still 1 year from being at the recommended age for starting the lessons...YES, my dad will also be very proud about this purchase! What....who says girls marry a version of their dad?!?!?? ;)

All-in-all a fun and educational day!

Peek A Boo

2009-01-21T20:53:00.003-06:00

While at the beach Bailey decide to play hide and seek and then peek a boo with me in the master shower. Bailey thought it was hysterical and was laughing her little head off which of course made me laugh until my cheeks were sore! I was able to catch some cute pics...enjoy!

Lots Going On

2009-01-21T20:36:00.005-06:00

We have so much going on and because of the nature of all those things I am not sure that many people want to read it so I will just leave it alone. First, because if you know us you know what is going on and are probably sick of hearing about all of it. Second, because it might be a little TMI(too much info) for some. I will say that this is going to be a good year for us and we are just relying on excellent doctors, lawyers, and most of all God!

Excuse the morning hair! ;)

As for this past weekend we had a nice time down at the beach with awesome weather!!! Bailey got to open her Christmas presents from Joe's mom, Gloria, and Frank which she of course loved! Bailey is so lucky to have so many people that are so generous with her and we feel honored to have such wonderful family members! I know it is a ways away BUT in May Bailey will get to meet all of Joe's family as we are going to take her to Lubbock with us for 5/6 days! That's right Lubbock better prepare for the cutest toddler it has ever seen...yes, I am biased!

Sorry for the lack of updates!

2009-01-13T21:45:00.003-06:00

There has been a lot going on family wise and I have not been in the mood to really write much. The trend has continued this week and I think will get worse next week with all the doctors appointments that are going to start taking place. We are very hopeful that the doctors will help give us the small push we need and we will have happy results before long! If you could spare some prayers for us it would be appreciated!!!

I have a 3 day weekend and will either be going with my parents and Bailey to the beach house or Bailey will be staying here with Joe and I. Joe cannot go to the beach house as he does not have Monday off. :( I am hopeful that a nice FUN 3 day weekend whether spent at home or at the beach house will yield something great to blog about!!!

Blah!

2009-01-05T21:32:00.003-06:00

I knew at the end of my 2 weeks off I would have to hand Bailey back over to my parents but didn't think much of it. I mean we hand her back every Sunday night no problem, right!?!?! So, when I left my parents house on Sunday night I had NO idea how sad I would be. Granted, I had a bad cold, Joe was gone, and I had to start back to work the next day but still. I cried A LOT as I sat home without my little bug to keep me on my toes. I know I lose a lot of sleep when we have her, that it isn't as easy to do things like Target when I have Bailey, laundry seems to pile up faster, etc BUT all the bad things are SO minimized when she is running around laughing under my feet! She can so easily make a bad day amazing by just cuddling up to me even if it is just for a minute. I know that there are so many of us that love her beyond belief and because of this it makes it sad for anyone of us not to have her for an extended period of time. It makes me wonder what the future holds for us and how we deal with all those things that no one wants to think about. I guess for now all I can do is enjoy Joe and I's weekends with our little bug and push aside all those sad things that I don't want to think about!

A Look Back On 2008

2009-01-01T11:32:00.017-06:00

I must say that we have had our ups and downs as a family this year but I am only going to focus on the positives as that is what I want to remember going forward! I know I cannot forget the bad times but I can choose to only highlight the good times! Looking back on this year we really are blessed and while we have our problems like any family we are happy, healthy, have jobs, and that is all we can ask for right now!

February...

Bailey and Gloria(Joe's Mom and my wonderful MIL!)

Bailey opening a gift at her birthday party!

In February, Bailey turned 1 and that was an exciting time as the previous year we spent that week in the NICU with a 5lb preemie! Now we had a healthy, happy, thriving 1 year old on our hands! We had a small family gathering to celebrate. Gloria, Joe's mom, came in to town to celebrate her birthday as well!!! It was a fun weekend with Joe's family!

March...

Trip, Bailey, and Me

Part of The Karsnia family in the kitchen at the Port A house.

March was a busy month for us with many guests! First, my mom's side of the family came to Houston to see Trip(my cousin) off to Iraq. It was a sad but happy time as we all came together to wish him well! Second, my dad's side of the family came down to Port Aransas for a get together. It was an amazing long weekend in which Bailey and Nissa pretty much stole the show!

April...

Hanging out with friends and family at the Nascar race.

Inside the track...this place was HUGE!!!

Jerrit and Angie

Joe and I

In April, Joe and I traveled to Dallas to see what was my first Nascar race. I was iffy at first but it was lots of fun and I even got to cheer on Fenway Racing who won the race with Carl Edwards! Joe's sister, Angie, and her fiance, Jerrit, joined us along with lots of friends! We also traveled to Lubbock to help Gloria move into a fabulous new house!

May...

In May, Joe enrolled and started his double masters program at Texas Tech where he got his undergraduate degree. The program he is in is brand new and classes are only held twice a year for a week both times. He does however, have homework all year...blah!!! He is doing great though and I am so proud of him!!!

June...

Bailey toddling after the dogs!

Then came June and with that a walking toddler!!! Bailey shocked us all when at 16 mo we thought she would never walk and she toddled around the corner and has been on her feet ever since!

July...

Bailey and Uncle Bill Bailey and Danielle

Bailey outside at the beach house.

In July, we spent the 4th at the beach house with family and friends.

August...

Bailey and Aunt Jackie watching the planes.

Bailey and Grandpa getting off the plane in Int'l Falls

Bailey and Nissa in the pool on my grandparents deck

Bailey helping water her Great Grandma's flowers!

Me, Tim, and Jackie hanging out.

Tim, Dad, an unhappy Bailey, Tyler, Grandpa

Bailey enjoying her time with Tyler!

Tyler, Bailey, and Dad on the deck hanging out.

The view of the lake from the deck.

Grandpa and his honorary grandchild, Tim

Bailey and her great-grandma looking at pics

Bailey, Nissa, and their great-grandma watching the water at Sha-Sha.

In August, we had the privilege of traveling to International Falls, MN to see my dad's side of the family. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!! My parents, Jackie, Tim, Bailey, and I traveled to the gorgeous lake weather leaving behind the Texas heat! Joe could not make it because he was in his 2nd session for grad school. We had a fantastic time seeing MANY members of The Karsnia Family that we haven't seen in a while. We couldn't have asked for a better getaway!

September...

Bailey outside on her 1st day of school(Mother's Day Out)

Checking things out.

Having fun at "school"

Bailey started her first days of "school" or mother's day out this year! We felt that she needed to socialize and become accustomed to people other then us! She really enjoys Ms. Anna and Ms. Jennifer and they love her!

October...

The Pirate Princess

The Pirate Princess enjoying a sucker. Joe and Bailey, his pirate princess.

In October, we finally got Bailey set-up in a big girl room at our house! She absolutely loves it and sleeps there with no problems! For Halloween, Bailey was a Princess Pirate and was more into the decorations then the candy.

November...

Our new addition, Costco, whom we adopted at 1o weeks old.

Tired puppy!

Thanksgiving spread!

Bailey enjoying some cranberry sauce with Grandma

In mid-November we found the newest addition to our family online at a shelter site. Believe it or not we had to go through a thorough interview and home inspection before we were approved. Once we were we picked "Blue Jay" up in Austin and brought him home as Costco! He has been a great addition to the family! Then for T-day we were once again down at the beach house. My mom's side of the family joined us along with a few honorary family members for the holidays! It was a fun time as always!

December...

Okay, I won't bore you with more pics of Christmas since you just saw them and are probably sick of pics at this point in the post! I will say we had a great Christmas albeit a quiet one.

Could I spend New Year with a cuter face then that?!?!?

Okay, I could spend it with 2 cute faces!!!!

How Bailey ended 2008!

As far as New Year's...Bailey, Joe, and I spent the evening together. We kicked it off with a great steak dinner at Texas, Land, and Cattle where Bailey ate most of my kabobs! Then we headed home and rang in the new year with Bailey sleeping and Joe and I cuddled under a blanket on the couch with champagne!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Ouchie!

2008-12-30T16:25:00.002-06:00

Aunt Elaine and I took Miss Bailey to see Dr. Nix and she has a double ear infection! Poor baby showed NO signs of an ear infection at all! He said the coughing and everything else is just from a normal cold so that is good and gave us some safe decongestant/coughing meds for her. She is sleeping now and NEEDS it big time! She is such a trooper though as she was pretty happy all day long! Now if she will just sleep through the night that would be great!

PS...our little preemie is now 35 lbs and 35 inches tall!!!

Poor Bailey!

2008-12-30T10:04:00.002-06:00

Our poor little Bailey didn't fair so well last night! She has a bad cough that kept her and I up most of the night. I felt so bad as there is only so much you can do for a cough! This morning her nose looks like the kitchen faucet and the cough is still there along with some(TMI warning) bathroom issues. It looks like we will be taking a trip to Dr. Nix today at 1:30 to make sure it is nothing more then a cold(hopefully)! My parents are still away but Aunt Elaine is in town staying at my parents so we are going to get showered up and head in that direction. Hopefully, today and tonight go better then last night! I will update on Bailey later this afternoon.

Beach House!

2008-12-27T20:17:00.002-06:00

So the craziness of Christmas is over and what better way to unwind then heading to the beach house! My parents, Bailey, and I headed down yesterday to spend a few days relaxing beachside. Joe had to stay behind in Houston for work which sucks but there wasn't much he could do about that. We do miss him though!!! My cousin, Trip, who just returned SAFELY to his home in Michigan from Iraq is heading down tomorrow which will be fun! We saw him last about a year ago right before he deployed so we feel blessed that we can see him again right after his return! Trip is visiting with a currently deployed man's family and will then head down here. We are going to treat Trip to a nice prime rib roast and a Jack Daniel's Gift Set! Him, Bailey, and I will then head back to Houston on Monday night.

Joe has to work Monday and Tuesday but will then be off for the following week and a half so we will get to finally spend some quality family time together!!! It really sucks that between his work and mine we don't get to enjoy the same time off but unfortunately for now that is just the way the chips fall. We don't really have any major plans for this coming week other then hanging out and putting all the Christmas stuff away. My Aunt Elaine will actually be in town staying at my parents home so I imagine that we will meet-up with her at some point.

WARNING: Christmas picture overload!!!

2008-12-25T20:34:00.009-06:00

Checking it out!

Beautiful Dahling!

THE Kegerator!

Grandpa's mini-kegs

Taking a break with Costco

YAY Mr. Potato Head!

One of Joe's present with a fav pic in it

Bailey helping Grandma open her gift

Bailey helping Grandpa open his gift

Handy Manny!!!

Opening her 1st gift at Grandma and Grandpa's

Talking on the Elmo's World phone

Using her "big" gift as an art table

Bailey opening her Elmo outfit!

Bailey giving out hugs! I LOVE HER!!!

Opening a Mickey Mouse Kareokee book

My totally awesome set of pots and pans!

Joe with his XM MP3 Player Car Conversion Kit

The "big" gift as an easel

Bailey's "big" gift

Opening the Car Kit

An Elmo's World Phone!

Tadoodles are exciting!

Enjoying a little Elmo Christmas music

Bailey Opening her 1st present!

Gosh, how to explain Christmas with a child in the family is pretty much impossible!!! I think had no one gotten anything but to see the joy on her face we would have all been happy! Last year was fun because it was Bailey's 1st Christmas but this was the 1st year that she somewhat understood and could enjoy what was going on so it far exceeded that 1st one. While she doesn't get why we were all getting presents, the Fisher-Price Nativity Set that she LOVES, the Baby Jesus who she knows but doesn't know what he really stands for, and all else that went on she still completely understood the joy of the day! The looks of surprise and joyous laughter that came from her were the best present I could have ever gotten! I cherished every minute that we had today just being together.

As far as presents, man I was blessed this year in more then just material items. I have such an amazing husband, parents, sisters, in-laws, friends, and of course, niece! Even in the tough times that our world is seeing I can say that I am beyond taken care of and couldn't ask for anything more. Okay, maybe 1 more thing but with faith and patience that 1 thing will come!!! ;) We are all healthy, thriving, and will end the year just as blessed as ever!

Okay, on to the material things that pale in comparison to the above but are still just as fun! For Bailey her main gifts were an easel/art table, Sleeping Beauty vanity, and a Handy Manny tool box in which all the tools move up and down and they sign the "Jump Up" song. She got a lot of stuff for her easel/arts table, Elmo stuff, and a huge Mr. Potato Head set. My dad's big gift was a mini-kegerator that are all the rage this year and is very neat looking! Of course, him and Joe already "tapped" into it to break it in! He also got quite a few small gifts such as a Costco membership, Whiskey Stones(http://www.teroforma.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=00331!VTSOA), a wine set, and more. Joe's big gift was the XM radio car conversion kit for his XM MP3 player. He also got The Ultimate Car Kit, Whiskey Stones, a Texas Tech frame(with a pic of him and Bailey in it), a camera case, and more. My mom's big gift was a gift card from my dad. She also got the Ziploc Food Vaccum(she wanted it!), a cool beach sign, a Ralph Lauren sweater, and more. As for me my big gift was a new set of gorgeous, durable pots and pans! I know lame to most people as Jackie pointed out but to me a gift I will cherish for a long time! I also got a Barnes and Noble giftcard, movie tickets and a promise from Joe to see Twilight, a clip-on LED light for books/lap-top, and more! See, I told you we were all very good and lucky this year!!!

My heart was full but we were missing many family members that couldn't make it home and that was VERY hard for Joe, my parents, and me. I know that we spoke to them over the phone many times through-out the day but it just isn't the same as hugging them and sharing in the enjoyment of the day. Christmas is about celebrating our greatest gift with family and friends and for us we were lacking in that area a bit. I hope that they all know that we were thinking about them and feel blessed to have them in our lives even if we couldn't spend the holidays with them.

Cookie Making with Bailey

2008-12-24T23:41:00.003-06:00

Bailey and I decided to try out a new recipe that a coworker gave me for Ginger Cookies. Similar to Gingerbread cookies but softer. I have never really had Bailey help me make anything semi messy so this was a big experiment as I have never made the recipe and was letting a toddler help...yikes! We had a blast together and Bailey did a great job helping me dump all the ingredients in as we counted out how many of each needed. After you roll the dough into the balls you roll them in sugar(a toddlers best friend!) before placing them on the cookie sheet and Bailey was a "big" help with this....haha as you can see from the pics a "big" help might be an overstatement but she enjoyed it immensely which made us both happy! She had eaten a tomato before so she had that dribbled all down her shirt and then any sugar that didn't make it in her mouth was all over her...see pics for the after math!!! The cookies ended up coming out really tasty and the recipe is a definite keeper.

P.S. The cookies are just for us so no poor soul has to eat these very unsanitary Bailey made cookies!!!

My Husband's New BFF

2008-12-23T19:40:00.002-06:00

So, while I mentioned that all the TV's in the house worked when the satelite guy left last night the job was evidently not done because he is once again here. At this point him and Joe are chatting out back enjoying a drink but never the less he is here. He graced us with his presence once again to hook-up the rest of the rooms in our house for satelite tv. I think the job is FINALLY done after a week of him making himself at home here! Luckily, he is a great guy who has a very witty, funny sense of humor and since he is away from home trying to make a living for his family during the holidays I welcome him to chat with us as he pleases! I sent him on his way last night with some goodies such as the homemade Chex Mix that Bailey and I made the other day and hope he will take some more goodies with him tonight! I think tonight will be the last we see of satelite guy but let me tell you he will not be soon forgotten!!! :)

In other news....Bailey has been a ham all day and I am just loving it! Anyone that knows us knows that Bailey doesn't much enjoy sleep and doesn't like anyone around her to sleep either. She has been this way since birth and doesn't show any signs of changing her habits. When she does sleep it is a treat and she defintely gave me a Christmas treat last night/this morning. After going to bed a little late(9:30 pm) she slept until 2 am got up for a bottle of water and fell back a sleep. She then woke-up at 7:30 am so I thought okay we are up for good! I got her her morning bottle of milk and she fell back a sleep until 10 am!!!!! :) She woke-up in a great mood and has been in that mood ever since! We didn't do too much today as the holiday traffic is horrendous! We met Joe for lunch and then Bailey fell a sleep(that's right after sleeping that late she NAPPED too!) on the way to Target so we went home. After a short nap we headed to Target, I am not sure why as we could have gotten what we needed at the corner store but oh well it got us out of the house for a little while on this rainy day! We were successful and even ended up with more in the basket then necessary but hey that is the glory that is Target! After braving the long lines at check-out and grabbing an Icee we headed home where we have been ever since.

Where's My TV!?!?!?!

2008-12-22T22:41:00.003-06:00

It is now 10:40 pm here in Texas and the satelite guy is STILL here! This all started a few weeks ago when my husband decided we needed HD tv. Okay, sure why not we have the big flat panel tv that deserves to have shows viewed in high def! It started with them supposed to be out between 12-4 on Thursday. Then on Thursday they called and said between 12-2 then it was 3-6pm. So 6 pm hits and no satelite man. Joe calls and finds out he is on his way but he got lost and was running late...no problem we are a little annoyed but fine with it. He was here until 10:30 pm and NO we did not have HD when he left! He then came back on Friday in the afternoon for several hours and again NO we did not have HD when he left! At some point he was here again and still NO HD when he left! So here we are now almost 11 pm on a Monday night and he has been here for almost 4 hours!!! This POOR man....he is here in Texas from Georgia because there is no work for him there and is missing Christmas with his family! I have now missed "essential" tv the past week because my husband who RARELY watches TV needed HD! ;) (I love you babe!) Oh my in the time it has taken me to write this my husband and satelite guy have been SUCCESSFUL!!! Off to watch some HD tv!!!

Sleep Is For the Weak

2008-12-22T09:01:00.005-06:00

So I have 2 weeks off from work for the holidays which is amazing! For these 2 weeks Joe and I will have Bailey the whole time which we are excited about! Usually we only have her on the weekends which is NEVER long enough! Well, what is the ONLY thing wrong with this plan...oh that is right she STILL does NOT sleep through the night! I must say though that this little bug snuggled up under "the blanket" beside me watching Imagination Movers is WORTH every minute of sleep I don't get! I mean how could you not love that toddler to the right?!?!?

I should mention I will get a reprieve when we go down to my parents beach house for a long weekend after Christmas. They will get up with her at night so I can get a few good nights of sleep! Hopefully we will get lots of good nights where Bailey is only up once in the next few weeks!

Disney Playhouse Live Recap

2008-12-21T23:43:00.003-06:00

So I HIGHLY recommend Disney Playhouse Live for anyone that has children who enjoy the shows involved! Bailey had the time of her life! She is really into Handy Manny right now so she loved that the most. They did a thing at one point where they had a black screen come down and then had Handy Manny's tools projected on to it for the "Jump Up" song they do and immediately Bailey started jumping up and down! Of course, the merchandise was every where so we had to buy her something! ;) My mom and I really weren't sure what to expect and were nicely surprised. We both enjoyed the show and the reactions that we got to see from Bailey! Ahhh life with Bailey is just way too much fun! It really makes me giddy to do things like this with her! Heck it makes me giddy taking her on a walk and seeing her react to birds and airplanes! She really does bring a joy to my life I never imagined possible! I love my "little" bug!!!

Disney Playhouse Live!

2008-12-21T10:30:00.003-06:00

So today my mom, Bailey, and I are headed down to the Toyota Center to Disney Playhouse Live! Bailey is really into Handy Manny, The Little Einsteins, and Pooh and Friends. They will be putting on a live show in which all the characters of those shows plus more will be involved in some type of adventure! I think that Bailey will be beside herself with all the characters in real life! I am hoping that they have the characters available before or after the show to pose with the kiddos! Since Bailey did great with sitting on Santa's lap and doesn't mind Chuck E Cheese I am hoping she will LOVE posing with Handy Manny and such. This is just the first in our many adventures while I am off from work for 2 weeks!

Christmas In a Whole New Light

2008-12-20T22:35:00.000-06:00

Here we are several days from Christmas and I am beyond excited! Don't get me wrong I have always loved Christmas but since Bailey's arrival almost 2 years ago I have discovered a whole new side of the holiday season! I never imagined how much joy I would get out of walking through Target looking at Christmas decorations just to see Bailey's face light up. It truly takes me back to childhood and all the excitement of waiting for Santa, taking rides to look at lights, seeing cousins that we only saw at holidays, the special cookie tree made by my mom, etc. I can't even imagine what the holidays would be like without our precious little bug to brighten our days as she has turned them into something I didn't even know existed.

First Blog Ever

2008-12-20T22:32:00.000-06:00

So after finding that more and more people are using blogs as a way to keep in touch, update, and just plain get their feelings out I figured I would check it out. I will see how it goes and if I am any good at all this!