-- Things are starting to get back to normal around here. Well, a 'new' normal I guess you could say. It has been an adjustment having a baby in the house after 8 years, but it has been a good and relatively easy one.
-- Lee is slowly healing from his knee injury. The doctor gave him the okay to wear his leg brace less, and he is able to drive again. Slow and steady wins the race. We are hoping he will be released to head back to work in the next few weeks. The guy is going stir crazy.
-- Kaylee had orientation for middle school, and I'm not going to lie. I cried. Not like a blubber-fest or anything. but I did shed a few tears. I'm having such a hard time with this growing up crap. She had a great time though and is super excited for the 6th grade. Me? I'm terrified.
-- Ava had her check-up last week and looks fantastic according to her doctor. We took her in yesterday because she was having cold like symptoms to find out that she had gained an entire 11 ounces in just 6 days. This girl of ours is a porker and has the baby chub to prove it. It's awesome.
-- I'm back to work (well kind of) I'm not cleaning just yet, but I did start back up with my photography. I had a session last weekend and have one this upcoming Saturday. Feels good to be back at it, especially without the aches and pains of pregnancy. I've missed it.
-- Speaking of pictures, I have learned a thing or two recently. Photographing a newborn totally SUCKS. Damn it's hard. I accomplished some pictures of Ava for her announcements (after three different attempts) but threw in the towel this weekend while trying to take pictures of all of the kids. It was freaking torture. I ended up throwing a fit like a 2 year old, and gave up all together. It has me seriously wondering if I will ever have an updated picture on my wall. Not anytime soon, I can tell you that much.
-- Oh, and last but not least, Lee went in for the good ol' "snip-snip" last Thursday. No more kids for us, means some sore balls for him. Poor guy. He has impressed me however, I figured that he would be super whiny to be honest, because lets face it, men are just babies when it comes to being sick. But, he has surprised me by only complaining a few times, and even doing hours worth of chores and yard work just 2 days after his surgery. Pshh, show off.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Bittersweet.
Lee has been on this organizing kick lately (I'm so not complaining) and the other day he helped the kids go through their rooms.
They spent hours at it and ended up giving up a lot of stuff.
It broke my heart when he came into the kitchen and told me that Kaylee no longer wanted to keep her barbies or her dollhouse.
My first reaction was something like: "Um, she has to keep those! She isn't old enough yet to get rid of them."
He just looked at me with a sweet smile and said: "Babe, it's okay... she's just growing up."
The sound of that literally makes my heart ache. I'm not prepared for that yet. Not sure if I ever will be.
Lee likes to tease me by saying: "Hey, you have another one now to baby..." but, doesn't he know that having Ava makes it no easier watching the oldest one grow up and move on from her childhood?
If I'm being totally honest, it makes it just that much scarier.
They spent hours at it and ended up giving up a lot of stuff.
It broke my heart when he came into the kitchen and told me that Kaylee no longer wanted to keep her barbies or her dollhouse.
My first reaction was something like: "Um, she has to keep those! She isn't old enough yet to get rid of them."
He just looked at me with a sweet smile and said: "Babe, it's okay... she's just growing up."
The sound of that literally makes my heart ache. I'm not prepared for that yet. Not sure if I ever will be.
Lee likes to tease me by saying: "Hey, you have another one now to baby..." but, doesn't he know that having Ava makes it no easier watching the oldest one grow up and move on from her childhood?
If I'm being totally honest, it makes it just that much scarier.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Labor day.
After weeks and weeks of braxton hick contractions, I was a little skeptical of the "different feeling" ones that I was having while making dinner Monday night. I waited to tell Lee because I had been saying every night (for FOREVER) that I was "hurting" and I just figured it was no different. But, the more they came, the stronger they got. I finally told Lee: 'Okay, babe... this may be it. These ones are packing a real punch.' He at first was kinda like: 'yeah, okay...' Then, as they kept coming, he started getting a little more excited and a few minutes later, my water broke. (Totally gross, may I add?) But, game on. It was about 6:15PM.
Lee finished packing us up for the hospital, and Kaylee and Layton pitched in to clean the kitchen for me. Lee called family, and Becca headed over. She started timing them for me while I layed on the couch waiting for everyone to leave. They were about 2 to 3 minutes apart.
We got to Silverton at around 7 o'clock and got admitted into triage. They quickly determined that I was in fact in active labor and that I would be staying to have a baby. (Um, duh.)
Contractions obviously didn't let up and by the time I got to my room (around 8) they were coming so fast and so strong that I could hardly handle it. Back labor made them even worse. I think my mom was actually traumatized by the words flying out of my mouth. (uhh, sorry mom.) I had a great support team helping me through each one though. I had Becca, Steph, and Lee by my side the entire time. All of them taking turns massaging my back and cheering me on. My poor husband even had visible marks on his shoulders from me clawing the crap out of him during every one. He was a real trooper.
My ultimate fear was that I would go too fast to have my epidural, so the nurse got it ordered right away. She came back to my room to inform me that there was an emergency in the OR (of course there was - my luck) and that the anesthesiologist would be with me as soon as she could be.
Right before she got there, I was checked and dilated to 6cm. I won't even get started on how rude and unprofessional this lady was, but lets put it this way, it was one of the worst experiences ever, and I am not referring to the huge needle that was inserted into my spine. After the tubing was put in, she told me to lie down so she could give me the medicine. All of a sudden I had this huge urge to push. They checked me and I was already complete. Go time. I was given medicine but by the time it kicked in, Ava was out at 10:13.
I was in labor for a total of 4ish hours and only pushed maybe 10 minutes.
Kaylee and Layton were in the delivery room and were both in tears when they first saw her. It was one of my favorite moments of the whole experience. Seeing those reactions and knowing how special it had to be for them. Knowing it was something that they would always remember - made me so happy. I had all three of my kiddos and I was one proud mama in that instant.
I feel so blessed with this family of mine and can't wait to see what is in the future for us
Ava was the missing piece, and now - she makes us complete.
Lee finished packing us up for the hospital, and Kaylee and Layton pitched in to clean the kitchen for me. Lee called family, and Becca headed over. She started timing them for me while I layed on the couch waiting for everyone to leave. They were about 2 to 3 minutes apart.
We got to Silverton at around 7 o'clock and got admitted into triage. They quickly determined that I was in fact in active labor and that I would be staying to have a baby. (Um, duh.)
Contractions obviously didn't let up and by the time I got to my room (around 8) they were coming so fast and so strong that I could hardly handle it. Back labor made them even worse. I think my mom was actually traumatized by the words flying out of my mouth. (uhh, sorry mom.) I had a great support team helping me through each one though. I had Becca, Steph, and Lee by my side the entire time. All of them taking turns massaging my back and cheering me on. My poor husband even had visible marks on his shoulders from me clawing the crap out of him during every one. He was a real trooper.
My ultimate fear was that I would go too fast to have my epidural, so the nurse got it ordered right away. She came back to my room to inform me that there was an emergency in the OR (of course there was - my luck) and that the anesthesiologist would be with me as soon as she could be.
Right before she got there, I was checked and dilated to 6cm. I won't even get started on how rude and unprofessional this lady was, but lets put it this way, it was one of the worst experiences ever, and I am not referring to the huge needle that was inserted into my spine. After the tubing was put in, she told me to lie down so she could give me the medicine. All of a sudden I had this huge urge to push. They checked me and I was already complete. Go time. I was given medicine but by the time it kicked in, Ava was out at 10:13.
I was in labor for a total of 4ish hours and only pushed maybe 10 minutes.
Kaylee and Layton were in the delivery room and were both in tears when they first saw her. It was one of my favorite moments of the whole experience. Seeing those reactions and knowing how special it had to be for them. Knowing it was something that they would always remember - made me so happy. I had all three of my kiddos and I was one proud mama in that instant.
I feel so blessed with this family of mine and can't wait to see what is in the future for us
Ava was the missing piece, and now - she makes us complete.
The helper.
Layton has been dying to mow the lawn. For weeks, he has been harassing Lee to teach him how - he swears that he wants to do it this summer for his allowance. (He says that now, but we shall see.)
Because of Lee's leg though, he hasn't been able to really do much of anything.
The other day (after being ok'd by his doctor to do so) he decided to go out to mow before the kids got home from school. Bad idea.
Layton almost had a panic attack when he got home to Lee doing it without him.
"Mom! Why is dad mowing the lawn without me?"
I told him that he just got started and to get out there if he wanted to learn.
Then? I grabbed the camera, of course.
I just love moments like these.
Because of Lee's leg though, he hasn't been able to really do much of anything.
The other day (after being ok'd by his doctor to do so) he decided to go out to mow before the kids got home from school. Bad idea.
Layton almost had a panic attack when he got home to Lee doing it without him.
"Mom! Why is dad mowing the lawn without me?"
I told him that he just got started and to get out there if he wanted to learn.
Then? I grabbed the camera, of course.
I just love moments like these.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Our Ava baby.
Well, she is finally here.
Ava Reese Frakes was born on Monday, May 7th @ 10:13 PM weighing in at 6 lbs and 10 oz.
So far she is one chill and laid-back little girl.
She cries only when she needs fed, or if she needs changed, and she even sleeps in 2 1/2 to 3 hour stretches at night. (and oh, how I appreciate that!)
Not too bad for being just 4 days old.
Yep, it's pretty safe to say that she is already full of awesome.
But, then again we kinda figured she would be.
Ava Reese Frakes was born on Monday, May 7th @ 10:13 PM weighing in at 6 lbs and 10 oz.
So far she is one chill and laid-back little girl.
She cries only when she needs fed, or if she needs changed, and she even sleeps in 2 1/2 to 3 hour stretches at night. (and oh, how I appreciate that!)
Not too bad for being just 4 days old.
Yep, it's pretty safe to say that she is already full of awesome.
But, then again we kinda figured she would be.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Holy backache.
As most of you know, I have had major back issues in the past.
Last year I was diagnosed with scoliosis (which is a curve in the spine) and had to go through months of physical therapy to help strengthen my back.
My midwives were worried at the beginning of my pregnancy that I would have issues throughout and need to start my PT again until I delivered.
Luckily, I have been really fortunate and have had no real problems with it.
That was until last week.
I woke up on Thursday with horrible spasms and I was leaning sideways while trying to stand up straight.
I figured it was just the scoliosis flaring up because normally that's exactly how I feel when it does.
I was irritated, but thankful that if it was going to bother me - at least it was at the very END of my pregnancy. After complaining to my midwife (and her just apologizing for my discomfort) I decided to schedule an appointment with my awesome chiropractor for the following day for an adjustment. I called, but the couldn't fit me in until Monday. I wasn't pleased, but I took it.
That evening however, I started getting these jolt-shocking type pains in my right hip, and down my right leg.
[Um, probably some of the worst pain that I have ever felt in my life. EVER.]
I figured that it was my sciatic nerve, and figured that I'd just have to deal.
After a night of almost no sleep, constant pain, rocking back and forth on my medicine ball trying to find some relief, and then crying for over an hour feeling sorry for myself. I decided that I just couldn't deal.
I Called my midwife again. No help. (Although, I'm not sure that I even know what I expected her to say?)
My awesome mother-in-law was able to get me squeezed in with my chiropractor that day. (Geez, I just love that lady.)
After he examined me, he said that it was my iliac tendon - an area in my lower back that was totally inflamed due to the baby moving down. He said it almost mirrors the same symptoms of the sciatica. After massaging me and stretching me, he sent me on my way for a very uncomfortable weekend at home. (May I add? I was super bummed to have to cancel two photo shoots that I had scheduled. I am so thankful for my understanding clients.)
Man, I've never liked taking pain meds in the past but holy crap, I was wishing that I could have had them for this. Tylenol was a big fat joke.
Today is the first day that I feel a bit better, but sleeping? It's almost impossible.
And while dragging my leg behind me while I try to walk? It has me feeling like an 85 year old woman.
My only real cure is to have a baby.
So, she better be listening when I say this: Um, Ava? Get your little butt out of me young lady...NOW.
Last year I was diagnosed with scoliosis (which is a curve in the spine) and had to go through months of physical therapy to help strengthen my back.
My midwives were worried at the beginning of my pregnancy that I would have issues throughout and need to start my PT again until I delivered.
Luckily, I have been really fortunate and have had no real problems with it.
That was until last week.
I woke up on Thursday with horrible spasms and I was leaning sideways while trying to stand up straight.
I figured it was just the scoliosis flaring up because normally that's exactly how I feel when it does.
I was irritated, but thankful that if it was going to bother me - at least it was at the very END of my pregnancy. After complaining to my midwife (and her just apologizing for my discomfort) I decided to schedule an appointment with my awesome chiropractor for the following day for an adjustment. I called, but the couldn't fit me in until Monday. I wasn't pleased, but I took it.
That evening however, I started getting these jolt-shocking type pains in my right hip, and down my right leg.
[Um, probably some of the worst pain that I have ever felt in my life. EVER.]
I figured that it was my sciatic nerve, and figured that I'd just have to deal.
After a night of almost no sleep, constant pain, rocking back and forth on my medicine ball trying to find some relief, and then crying for over an hour feeling sorry for myself. I decided that I just couldn't deal.
I Called my midwife again. No help. (Although, I'm not sure that I even know what I expected her to say?)
My awesome mother-in-law was able to get me squeezed in with my chiropractor that day. (Geez, I just love that lady.)
After he examined me, he said that it was my iliac tendon - an area in my lower back that was totally inflamed due to the baby moving down. He said it almost mirrors the same symptoms of the sciatica. After massaging me and stretching me, he sent me on my way for a very uncomfortable weekend at home. (May I add? I was super bummed to have to cancel two photo shoots that I had scheduled. I am so thankful for my understanding clients.)
Man, I've never liked taking pain meds in the past but holy crap, I was wishing that I could have had them for this. Tylenol was a big fat joke.
Today is the first day that I feel a bit better, but sleeping? It's almost impossible.
And while dragging my leg behind me while I try to walk? It has me feeling like an 85 year old woman.
My only real cure is to have a baby.
So, she better be listening when I say this: Um, Ava? Get your little butt out of me young lady...NOW.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The hobby.
Layton has this addiction with making paper airplanes.It started a few months ago and has gotten relatively worse since he received a huge book of ideas for his birthday. He will sit for hours creating new ones, and then 'testing' them out.
I started noticing that my printer paper was disapearing so I finally got him a package of cheap notebook paper to cut my cost a bit.
I find these things everywhere. In the bathroom, in my room, on top of the cabinets, outside, under the kitchen table, in the hamper, in my car; absolutely everywhere. The kid is obsessed.
I must admit though, it's kinda nice to see him so interested in something other than video games. It makes me happy to know that he has the imagination and the patience that goes with it.
So, even though I am picking them up all the time and getting on his case about leaving them everywhere, deep down I can't help but smile and think: little boys, how awesome are they?
I started noticing that my printer paper was disapearing so I finally got him a package of cheap notebook paper to cut my cost a bit.
I find these things everywhere. In the bathroom, in my room, on top of the cabinets, outside, under the kitchen table, in the hamper, in my car; absolutely everywhere. The kid is obsessed.
I must admit though, it's kinda nice to see him so interested in something other than video games. It makes me happy to know that he has the imagination and the patience that goes with it.
So, even though I am picking them up all the time and getting on his case about leaving them everywhere, deep down I can't help but smile and think: little boys, how awesome are they?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)