hmm...

it's been a while since I've posted anything so I guess I'll just ramble.

Hailee is pushing every button I have. She's trying to see how far I'm willing to budge. And I'm proud to say...I'm not budging!!! She's just going to have to get used to the idea that babies take time, and she still has to have manners and mind! She's wonderful with Braden, and loves to help out with him..but everything else she will challenge me on! Darren took 2 boxes of toys to the attic yesterday because she refused to clean her room up. Any other day she cleans up after herself...I needed her to do it yesterday since we're having company today and she would NOT do it. I made her stay in time out on her bed until she cleaned. That didn't help, so Darren packed up all the stuff on the floor! She helped! Didn't even phase her...she said "I have too many toys anyway". Good grief, 4 years old are fun! lol

Braden is still having breathing trouble, but the zantac the specialist put him on has really helped in reducing his spit up! That's nice, wish I would've had someone put Hailee on that! He sleeps really good at night, most nights, not so good during the day. But I wouldn't switch that around for anything! I was up with him from 4:30 until 6 this morning because he kept waking himself up trying to catch his breath.

well that's my rambling...here's a sneak peek at my latest layout! It can viewed in the gallery at www.scrapbookplayground.com on June 5th!!!

I finally scrapped!

I did my first layout since Braden's been born! It isn't my best, but it felt great to do it! So for those of you who read my blog, you get a sneak peek!!! This is a layout for www.scrapbookplayground.com . It will be uploaded in the gallery on May 20th for our Queen & Co. sponsorship!
So, it's my first layout since having a baby, first layout of the baby, and first layout using the AWESOME Basic Grey Oh Baby Boy papers!!!! Yes, it was FUN!!!

not much left...

not much left for me to eat or drink! This poor little baby can't handle red sauce (spaghetti, pizza, etc.), soda (the carbonation), anything spicy, and yesterday my decaf mocha upset his tummy! AAAAAHHHH!!! SO...nothing with flavor to eat and I'm down to just water to drink! The things I do for my kids! I would be devastated if I couldn't nurse so out goes all the good stuff from my diet! I'll be fine. As he gets a little bigger I can start adding things back in...hopefully not too long from now! I hate water. Really. I can't stand too much of it. So boring, no flavor. Blah.

My Family!

This is my new family. I couldn't be any prouder. Hailee is a fantastic big sister, and a great help. Of course she does get jealous when I'm nursing Braden because I can't focus on her, but I'm sure she'll get over that soon! (oh I do hope so!) Darren is a HUGE help! WOW! I guess it's because this time around he has experience and isn't as intimidated by a baby in the house. He isn't even mad when he gets woken at night! lol With Hailee it got to him when he'd hear me get up with her all night. And she was in her own room! Braden is in our room and I feed him on the bed. Darren either sleeps through it or wakes up and helps when I have to change a diaper or go to the bathroom! I feel like the luckiest mom and wife in the world (but I know all women feel that way!).

How Braden came into the world!

First I just want to say thanks to everyone who has sent me such nice emails and pm’s. You’re sweet thoughts and wishes mean a lot to me!

Okay, so we got to the hospital Sunday night about 5:45 pm. I was on an IV right away but the pitocin didn’t get hooked up until 7:30 pm. I was already dilated to 4cm!!! Wow! I went from 0 – 4 in under a week, what a relief. So I was told I could have my epidural when ever I wanted. That made me smile! The contractions were tolerable, but my back started to hurt real bad so I did get the epidural at 11:00 pm. That was awful. He had to give me so much numbing stuff that I couldn’t feel my boobs or shoulders when he was done! But once he got it right…aaahhh! Then they broke my water at 11:30 pm (they tried earlier but the doc thought he felt the umbilical cord so didn’t want to risk it). The contractions still went unnoticed but around 2:00 am I could really feel the pressure towards my butt and was uncomfortable. I kept pushing my epidural button but it did no good! Lol Around 4:00 am they had me do a test push because my cervix was gone except for what she called a “lip” on one side. So I pushed and it went away, but when I relaxed it came back…and Braden’s heart beat dropped to 96 and the nurse put me on oxygen and had to make me lay in a weird position because that’s what made the hb go back up. Then we tried pushing again at 5:00 am and was successful. So after 1 REALLY good push she said okay this is it. Then I did 2 more pushes and she stopped me, by putting her hand on Braden’s head and telling me to relax. Yeah, whatever! Lol The doc and more nurses came in to help push because I couldn’t reach the handles and my hands kept slipping off during a push. So with Darren on one side, a nurse on the other, they supported my legs and held my hands. One big push and out came his head. Then I had to work the shoulders. OH MY GOD! I’ve never felt pain like that before…I thought I was on fire! His shoulders started to come through but got stuck. I was SCREAMING!!! The epidurals are made now to only relieve contractions and some pain, they want mother’s to be able to push on their own so you don’t get numb down there anymore! Well then WHY did I get the epidural??? Well after 1 nurse and the doc pulled Braden, another nurse on the bed with me pushed my stomach, and Darren and the other nurse with my arms and legs…Braden was born at 5:33 am, Monday, May 1st, 2006. But does it stop there? NO! They cut the cord and rush him to the table (Darren was supposed to cut the cord but they didn’t give him the opportunity). It took them 2 minutes to get Braden to breathe. I flipped out. I kept asking what was wrong because I didn’t hear him, when Darren calmly said they’re getting him ready, I panicked. I just knew something was wrong...I went into hysterics…crying, asking for an answer, I almost hyperventilated. Darren stuck the oxygen back on me to get me to breathe better. Finally, a good cry came from my baby boy. Darren took the oxy mask off me and showed me where to look to see him moving and crying. So then I cry in relief some more. After that they’re working on him and checking all his stats and getting me cleaned up (by the way…no episiotomy, no tearing, NO STITCHES AT ALL!!!) the main nurse called another one in to look at him and they were whispering. So here comes the panic again. Come to find out they thought his shoulder was dislocated from being stuck for so long, but it was fine. Thank God! I didn’t get to hold my son until 6:30 am. What a relief to finally see him. Then of course more tears!

So glad I’m not doing that again.

Okay, so now I have my son and think all is well. Not so. The stuff with his kidneys is fine, no more fluid. Good. But now he has a new problem. His scrotum was real swollen but his testicles aren’t inside. They didn’t come down. Still not down. But they say that it will fix itself within the next couple weeks. I hope so. How awful to have to take my baby to a urologist to get him to find them! And his jaundice is not a major concern, but a concern. I have to take him to the doctor tomorrow at 1:00 pm to be rechecked.

So this sweet, adorable little boy has been causing “problems” since the day I found out about him. But he is oh so worth it! I’m am so blessed and whatever problems he has, will work out and I know I’m going to have a wonderful life with this little stinker!

Hailee is just in awe of him, constantly giving him kisses, rubbing his cheek, and telling him “I love you, Braden”.