What a month!

(the first two in his diaper are moments after bringing him home from Primary's, the blue bandage was where they inserted the IV and the circular disks are from where the heart monitor was connected, it was a hard getting those off. the third is tiny laying on the tissue paper I was using to wrap gifts with, so sorry if you were the recipient of the smashed tissue.) Stay tuned for more.

If you've followed the last few blogs, you'll know that my little boy has gone through alot! For the past few weeks since taking him to Primary's he has not gotten any better and to top it all off we've made weekly visits to his pediatrician. I like her I do, but seeing her on a weekly basis is more than I'd like.

In the weeks that have followed his hospital stay he's lost weight and we were told that our traditions of going to family parties and even celebrating christmas with family were put on hold, what a different christmas this was for me.

Here are a few pictures of what the weeks leading up to the end of the month looked like...

Scary Experience

For the past week or so Tiny has been throwing up and having yucky diapers, I took him to see his pediatrician on Friday(12-10), he's one month old now! She sent us to have an xray of his abdomen, trust me it was tramatic for the both of us. Then when the x ray came back she sent us to the primary children's outpatient building in the riverton hospital campus to have an ultrasound done, she thought he had plorus stenosous, where the muscle connecting the small intestine to the stomach is too thick, causing nothing to get through, which would account for all the throwing up- the ultrasound found no indication of that, sigh of relief!
We then trecked back to the doctor's office and she wrote him a script for prevacid to reduce the acid reflux caused from the throwing up. Uncle Jake and I took Tiny home, where daddy was waiting.
Then we went over to my mom's so she could help me while daddy went to his mom's... after he had thrown up the pedialyte and the small amount of formula we had given him my mom suggested I call the doctor. The on call doc told us to go to Primary Children's ER. We made our way there where they pumped him full of IV fluids and admitted him. Watching them insert the IV line and taking what seemed like an overly excessive amounts of blood for a month old baby I wanted to take his place he cried so hard... I suppose I would too if they stuck big needles in such small veins.
Finally at 3 in the morning we went to the room where he would be staying the night and my mom and dad left. What a long day it was, I hope he doesn't have to go back.

What I wasn't doing

On December 2nd my mom called and asked, "So how are ya feeling?" I replied "tired but otherwise fine, why?" She then said, " Today is your original due date so I thought I'd call and see how you were feeling." I laughed and replied, "Well it sure beats the 17 hours I was in labor three weeks ago. No instead tiny mite and I are sitting in a chair watching a dvd, it's quiet for the moment."
What silly things grandmas think to say, it was the most humorous thing that had happened all week. I love being a mom and getting this time with my son, but somedays I wish it didn't seem so overwhelming!

He's Here!

On November 10 at 1:30 in the morning I got the surprise of my life, my water broke! I no longer had 3 1/2 weeks I knew I was going to be a mommy that day! So I woke up Corby, we called the doctor's office and then my parents. I am ever so grateful that they live so close. We met my parents coming into our court as we were headed out and made the 15 minute drive to the Riverton hospital, completely soaked, it reminded me of the rapids ride at lagoon where you are in a constant source of wet! Corby ran the red lights with a unified police car in the lane next to us, luckily he must have been on auto pilot because he never pulled us over!

When we got to the hospital my dad stopped his car and ran into the south entrance asking the security guard where to go to the emergency room or where. By that time the nice man got a wheelchair and helped me out of the car and up to Labor and Delivery.

At 2 am there I was trying to change into a gown meanwhile hoping that the steady gush would stop. Five hours later the gushing subsided and the pain took over. I held out(God knows why) for another 3 hours before getting an epideral.

By that time my sister arrived with my brother who was watching her baby in the waiting area. I was so glad that she and my mom were there to help me bring my son into this world, after 17 hours at 5:49 p.m. my tiny little mighty man( weighing only 5 lbs 9 oz.) made his enterance into the world!

Corby did wonderfully through it all, he coached me and reminded me that it was all going to be worth it when that baby arrived. Tears flowed from all eyes in the room as he was born and while he was making his debut. The moment he was born a team of doctors flood into the room whisking him away, he was having trouble breathing on his own, but eventually did as he was put under the lights.

I didn't get to hold him right away, but my mom took pictures and Corby followed the baby to the nursery soon after. It wasn't until I had gotten to the mom and baby room at 10:30 when I finally held him for the first time.

It's amazing the powerful love that immediately sweeps over you the moment they place that baby in your arms. Suddenly all the fears that I had and have seem so small.

Thank you to all my family and the staff at the hospital who helped bring this bundle of joy into our lives.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Mommy, daddy and baby Carson

What was I thinking!

For years all I've ever wanted was to be a mom and now that it's here I just realized I can't do it! You have to have what I don't( the use of two good hands) to use almost all the equipment you need for a baby!
Last night after my baby shower I went home to put the carseat cover (that my sister made me, Thanks Er) on the carrier to see how it looked. Then I thought I ought to try and take it off the base and move the handle up and down and guess what? I can't do it without the use of TWO GOOD HANDS! How am I ever going to get Carson out of the carrier let alone in and out of the Xterra?! I have three weeks left!

Oh Help!

Weekly visit, Finished nursery(almost) Pregnant Pumpkin

So this week was hectic at school, but what week isn't-with one exception it was Halloween week. The school parade was on the 28th because there was no school the 29th. Look for the picture of the pregnant pumkin on the left, that is all belly-no need to stuff this year!

We finished the nursery as much as we can anyway until we get a few pictures hung, last weekend my dad helped me finish putting the front of the crib on and even helped put the bedding on-watching him put the dust ruffle and the matress pad as well as the crib sheet on was hillarious- I wish I had video of that! Thanks dad for all your help.

This week's visit to the doctor had it's highs and lows. Carson now weighs according to the doctor's estimate, 5 and 1/2 almost 6 pounds! I also had the amniotic fluid level taken again and went from 26 cm to 31 cm in a week! I have to go back to the maternal fetal specialist to see what next step to take. Cross your fingers that all goes well.

Here are pictures of the nursery with furniture and me as the the pregnant pumpkin, Enjoy!

Another weekly visit

Don't be shocked if you see more posts about the last few weeks before the delivery, only 5! According to the due date. Crazy, how nine months goes by!
Oct. 19th's appointment went better than the previous week's. Carson was more active in the stress test this time. Which made both mama and doctor happy. I still have huge feet and high blood pressure, but we'll just take baby steps to getting things under control.
Monday the 18th I felt like I might be going into labor, after a quick visit to the doctor they reassured me it was nothing more than pressure and discomfort(like I would know that, it's my first baby). Now I need the aid of a back brace to help with the mounting pressure. Ugh!
Within the next few weeks I am going to be lavished with gifts apparently, both sides of the family are giving me a baby shower and get this they are both on the same weekend! My mom has scheduled her surgery to get the screw in her foot removed on the 14th because she said she had a shower to give on the 6th and couldn't do it the 4th. I got an email yesterday saying that the shower my in-laws are giving me is on the night of the fifth! What a weekend that will be!

Stay tuned for pictures of the shower and the pregnant fifth grade teacher who is going as a pumpkin!

Love ya all!

weekly visits and nursery furniture

Things can turn around quickly in two weeks time, I went on October 12th to a doctor visit and had a non stress test and a ultrasound to measure the amniotic fluid as well as a visit with my doctor. I really hope that Carson's lack of movement was just due to the fact that he was lazy or sleepy that day, because he only moved 4 times in twenty minutes.
My doctor is concerned about the amount of swelling in my feet and the fact that I am anemic, and my blood pressure is higher than he'd like it to be. So he wants to do a stress test every week now that I'll be seeing him weekly until the delivery. 6 weeks is all! That is if he comes on his due date, but let's face it what baby comes when they are "scheduled" to come.

On to happier things, Wednesday the 13th, my dad and brother went and picked up the nursery furniture! They brought it over and said that they'd help put it together another day. Well, when Corby got home on Thursday he was too excited and so I called Jake to come over and the whole family, minus Phill came over for the unveiling. I'd post pictures but putting three men in a room to put a crib together is dangerous and now let's just say we have to order another part before they can finish putting it together... men, less is more people!

Couldn't be happier

Today I couldn't be happier, yesterday I had my second and FINAL appointment at the maternal fetal specialist's office. According to my 31 week ultrasound there is no longer a reason to fear that their might be a cleft palet on Carson's upper lip(possible side effect from meds), his heart is healthy, all chambers look good, hooray! His spine is fully formed correctly, Yea! No more physically deformities to worry about! What a relief!

The doctor told me that I didn't need to see the specialist again and now I can just concentrate on regular doctor appointments and getting fatter :)

Yesterday mom and I ordered the crib, stay tuned for pictures of the nursery

Here's a pic of our healthy baby boy

32 years later

On Thursday I turned 32, it's hard to believe, but it's a fact. Yesterday the family and Susan celebrated as Erin and Mom had parent conferences on Thursday. My family is so generous. I love them to pieces! On my way to work that morning I called my mom and congratulated her, on this date 32 years later, my mom is a grandma instead of a new mom. She admitted she liked the grandma role this year. Who can blame her right, I've heard the only reason many woman have children is because eventually they will be grandparents and can love, hug but send those sweet babies home when they get cranky.

On Thursday however, Corby made me dinner-pancakes. He tried his best, but there is a reason why I do most of the cooking, hehe... He also made me peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips that taste a lot like recess peanut butter cups-yum! What a sweet man for trying!

Update

I see it's been a while since I last updated the blog. Let me remedy that now. Since my last entry school's started again and I've gone to two doctor appointments. School is good, although there is one boy who is going to be my challenge. Overall my class is nice.
On August 24th I had another doctor appointment after school where Corby met me at the hospital. My doctor did the usual measuring my stomach and listened to his heartbeat. He said it was steady and strong, I was disappointed though because yet one more time Corby hadn't heard his baby's heartbeat. Just in the knick of time, the receptionist knocked on the door and asked if I was still there, to my relief Corby walked through the door.
I hadn't gotten up from having the doctor listen for the heartbeat, so I asked him if he could do it again so that Corby could get to hear his heartbeat. The doctor agreed and for the first time Corby got to hear the amazing sound of his baby's heart beat. I loved the look on his face as we walked to the car.
On Sept. 3rd we went to see a maternal fetal medicine specialist at the IMC in Murray, because I am a high risk pregnancy my doctor wants to leave nothing to chance. We had a third ultrasound where they determined that we are really having a boy! They asked us if we wanted to know and because we had gotten two conflicting answers before we thought we would have them confirm it for us.
The technician Cami said I won the prize for the most uncooperative baby, he wouldn't hold still for anything. He has been really active for the last few days. They couldn't get a good look at his face because his hands were covering it. Nor could they get a good look at his heart. Those are two areas that my doctor wanted to be sure were developing properly especially because of the medication I take, there is a risk of cleft palet and holes in the heart.
So I go back on the 1st of October to see if they can get a better look. Let's pray that everything goes well.

Hard to believe

I hate the fact that the summer is almost over and that school starts again soon. Yes I said the "S" word. My mom goes back tomorrow poor woman, I sure hope she can get around okay. A two story school in a wheelchair-ugh! I go back the week of the 16th, sure could use a quick getaway before that happens.
Looking forward to our next baby doctor appointment, Corby gets to come this time because now that "S" starts I have to take the very last appointment of the day! He'll get to hear his son's heartbeat for the first time!

Update on baby Carson

We had our fifth doctor's appointment on Tuesday July 27th. Everything is good, his heartbeat is strong. My doctor alleviated all my fears that I had after being present at the birth of my nephew Xavier. Being on seizure meds I was concerned about whether he might go through withdrawals once he was born. I was also concerned about what would happen if I had a seizure while giving birth. He assured me that was something I didn't need to worry about. He quickly squelched my fears about having a seizure too by reassuring me because my seizures are well controlled he doesn't anticipate that happening, but if it does what he would do.
I then asked him about what might happen if I tear, Erin did poor thing and is sore and has been in pain for weeks. My Doctor said that there are different degrees of tearing and it is likely because Carson is my first that there will be tearing, but the degree to which Erin tore is highly unlikely. Congrats Er on being the one in two that tears that badly. Baby Xavier is worth it I'm sure.
18 weeks from now I will have my son in my life, where did the time go?

Now my fears are only school related, anyone willing to reassure me in that aspect?

Generosity of others

Last night my neighbor and his daughter knocked on our door with a stroller in tow. I guess Graham and Cara were cleaning house and getting rid of some things, Graham said that Cara went throgh a phase where she bought strollers every few months...anyway, they were getting rid of this almost brand new, still had the owners manual attached blue and brown stroller-so cute for our baby boy! He said if we wanted it it was ours!
I brought it into the house stunned as Corby rounded the corner to see who was at the door. It took us a minute to figure out how to fold it down, but I just can't believe the generosity of others, wanting nothing in return!
What a blessing, one more thing to check off the list!

Nephew's Arrival and 6 years later

Since the last entry, Erin had Xavier on July 12 at 6:37 p.m. after a 10 hour labor. I was privileged enough to be in the delivery suite with her when my nephew was born. An experience I won't soon forget, what a miracle it was. Although after seeing Erin's delivery, I'm either thinking about just keeping Carson inside or scheduling a C-section! !

Yesterday Corby and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary! Corby played hookie and we went to a movie and shopped around a bit, then went to dinner at Outback Steakhouse, which I lost seconds after we got home. Good thing we had a gift card so he really wasn't out a whole lot. I did tell him I was sorry over and over though.

Overall it was a good day, minus loosing dinner.

Update on Erin

It would seem that my sister will be having her son this weekend, July 10 or 11. If not this weekend they will be inducing her on Monday. Yay, no more waiting! Xavier Rex Harrison is coming! The doctor told her yesterday that because of her high blood pressure, they can't wait any longer than Monday.

Can't wait to meet Carson's playmate!

Stay tuned for the details of his arrival

Baby Carson

On the 6th I went to my second ultrasound, the first one indicated that the baby might have been a girl. This one however showed a very different outcome. Corby and I are expecting a BOY!

We've decided to name him Carson William, William after my grandpa who passed away a few years ago.

I've been decorating the nursery in the past few days, we wanted to go with a jungle theme-fits for boy or girl. So I ordered the corresponding wall decals to coordinated with the bed set and my mom gave me a wall saying.

Here's a few pictures of Carson and his corner of the world.

P.S. Corby assisted me in painting the letters, he did a good job huh? I did the green and white dots

Latest appointment

Yesterday, June 29th we had our fourth appointment. Baby Daddy wasn't able to come, so my mom took time out of her day to go with me. She was excited to hear the baby's heart beat and was thrilled to hear that I have gained another four pounds especially because I've been so sick lately.
Everything looks good for 18 weeks and by next Tuesday I will post new ultrasound pics.
An update on Erin, she's still waiting, but goes to the doctor today the 30th all of us are hoping her doctor tells her to head down the hall to labor and delivery, she is really ready for Xavier to come, as are the rest of us.

Stay tuned for more.

Waiting and more waiting

Erin goes to the doctor today and hopefully she'll tell Erin it's time for baby Xavier to come. Erin's really ready to have him here, the poor girl has swollen feet and can hardly wear flip flops anymore and he's really active and she's gotten no sleep for several days.

The countdown is on 13 more days.... or less depending on what the doctor says

I'm praying for Erin's sake it's less than 13

New life

This past Monday, June 14 my second neice arrived. Makayla Wamsley and Ailey Hardy are joining the many grandchildren of Lance and Alaine and Makayla is the first girl to be born into a long line of boys in the Wamsley family. What a joy it is to see their sweet faces and hold their tiny fingers. I am expecting yet another nephew in a few weeks, What fun I will be having playing the role of aunt before getting to play the mom role myself.

I surely am blessed this year. We have another ultrasound in a few weeks and I am hoping that the first ultrasound prediction is the same as the next. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Congratulations Kaeloni and Cody and a belated congratulations to Shilo and Eric.

First Ultrasound

June 8th was so awesome! I loved the look on Corby's face as he watched the screen while the technician Ann was looking to check that everything with the baby physically was okay. Everything is fine(breathe a sigh of relief), the spinal cord is connected to the skull- there was a risk of spinabifida, it's insides are growing on the inside of it's body, yay! The skull flap is closed and the legs and arms are developed. The heart and kidneys are functioning well.

In fact we couldn't get a profile picture because the baby's legs are crossed

The most exciting part was when Ann said, "I might be able to tell the sex of the baby today, do you want to know?" Corby and I readily agreed and thanks to her sitting with her legs crossed we could see very easily that our baby most likely is a girl! Ann told us not to get too excited and go out and buy pink paint for the nursery, but I told her that we are going with a jungle theme, so it wouldn't really matter.

Finally mom can use that "Baby girl bag" that she has in the bottom of her closet.

When Erin first found out that they were expecting, mom had a dream about a little girl in a dance leotard with blond hair, but wasn't able to see her face. She assumed it was Erin's baby, but then Erin found out that she was having a boy. After our appointment the other day my mom came over to see the pictures and I asked her, "Do you think the little girl in the leotard could have been my little girl?" Her face lit up and she replied, "It makes sense because you came to me before you were born."

We'll wait for the conformation in four weeks.

Baby's Heartbeat

June 1 was a wonderful day, after school ended anyway. I had a doctor's appointment and heard my baby's heartbeat for the first time! It was faint but strong. The miracle of new life! I'm going in for my first ultrasound on Tuesday the 8th.

Stay tuned for further posts

Update

I just realized that I hadn't written for awhile or even about my adventures in motherhood lately so I thought I'd give you an update.

Things are going well, the "morning sickness" Who ever named it morning sickness ought to come talk to me as I have it morning, noon and night. It will be nice to be sick at home rather than at work, four more days and then we're free!

We've had two doctor appointments thus far and each has gone well. The last one, the doctor tried to see if we could hear the heartbeat, but "Nugget" was being stubborn. We have our third on the first, my brother keeps asking me if we know what the baby is yet, I think he's excited to be an uncle.

I also think he wants to go get the baby a camo overalls outfit and needs to know what color to get, yes they come in pink too. He bought my sister's baby Xavier, who's due to come in five weeks- an orange set.

Clothes are starting to shrink, especially my pants. Oh the joys of pregnancy!

Next year's assignment

Well I guess I am no longer a lower grade teacher, I am staying in fifth grade one more year, oh joy...I can only think of one good thing about next year, December and maternity leave! I am frightened of this next group coming up, they are disrespectful and rude and there is one boy who tells me all the time that he wants me for a teacher and he's a handful. The other day he left the lunchroom and wasn't found,who knows where until 3 o'clock! Ugh! That's exactly the kind of kid I want in my class when I'm 6-7 months pregnant!
Lord help me!

sincere thanks

Thank you to all your heart felt congratulations. I have such great friends and family I love you all!

Too Excited Not To

I've announced it to my family so I'm going to announce to my corner of the world. My parents are going to be grandparents times two this year. Erin is due with her baby boy in July and Corby and I are expecting our unknown sex in December! After all these years, I feel very blessed.

Lazy Doctors

For the past three weeks I've been sick, and have been to the doctors three times. I went to an instacare each time. The first time I went the doctor said I had RSV(which only normally effects babies and children under the age of 5). The first doctor sent me home with antibiotics and that was that. A week later I wasn't feeling any better, in fact I couldn't breathe very well. That Dr. said that there was nothing wrong with me and made me feel like I was just making it up. I could hear him talking to the nurses and he kept saying, "There's not a thing that is physically wrong with her, I don't know what to do." Then he came back in with a perscription for an inhaler and that was that.
This past Sunday(Mar.14) I woke up feeling lousy like my head was going to explode and my face around my sinuses hurt.
My dad immediately took me to the doctor, yes on a Sunday-Corby was at church the good boy. Anyway, we went to the instacare at the new Riverton Hospital....The doctor examined me and listened to my dad tell her what all the other doctors said(and oh by the way I have no voice).
My dad said the more he explain the bigger her eyes got.
She then said and I quote, "If you're old enough to drive you couldn't have had RSV. So that meant that I was miss diagnosed and was given antibiotics for something I never had. She listened to my lungs and she shook her head. That combined with all my other symptoms she said, "You are sick, You have bronchial pneumonia."
She sent me home with more inhalers and a C-pack(antibiotics) and instructions of what to do everyday to ease the tightness in my chest. So on my bathroom mirror I have a paper with those instructions so I don't forget.
I am grateful for the one doctor who finally figured it out. Maybe now I have a chance at getting better.

The Blessings of my life

As always the new year comes with resolutions... I don't like to make them however because I just disappoint myself in the end when I don't live up to them. I do want to reflect on the blessings that I do have.
I have a job and am grateful that Corby was able to find a seasonal one. Thank goodness it's turned into something more permanent. There are going to be three little spirits coming into my life this coming spring and summer! Congratulations to those couples, you know who you are.

My hope for the coming year is that things turn around for Corby and I and that all the crap we've endured is behind us.

Happy New Year all!