It's not broken!

JM did great during x-rays and we were able to find out very quickly that it isn't a fracture of any kind. He still won't walk on it, but at least we know it should heal itself soon. He is 25.6 pounds too! Finally a little weight gain!

CZ was approved for the RSV shot. Which is wonderful, and will hopefully help me sleep better at night. As would him being in the cradle.... Maybe I should try that!

It's already been a week!

I can't believe I haven't posted in a week! Here is an update:

Monday 12-22: CZ went to the cardiologist where he weighed 9 pounds 12 ounces, apparently all of this nursing IS doing something! Overall good check up, and he was taken off oxygen during the day, YIPEE!

Tuesday: Found out that CZ carnitine levels are still low. I talked to the geneticist and we are meeting with them Jan 13. Until then we are giving C carnitine supplements three times a day, and I am going to have some serious blood work done to see if I am the problem. I still hope it's me! Talk more with Dr. Karrie and decided to wean oxygen even at night!

Wednesday: We noticed that JM was limping and babying his left foot at Mimi and PopPop's Christmas. The boys got TONS of new toys and clothes. Mimi had a mini couch recovered for us. Now we have to move to a bigger house so we can put it somewhere. It turned out beautifully!

Thursday: Enjoyed Christmas with the Haley's, where again, my boys and myself were spoiled rotten. Thank you Haleys!

Friday: Neither of us can remember... Played a game at the Haley's at night, we would have won, but we needed to get home! he he he

Saturday: Went to breakfast at the Haley farm. JM (still limping) got a nibble from one of his beloved horseys. It barely scratched him, but he does have some bruising and a little swelling. It was bound to happen. He was begging to see his horseys today, so I don't think he's scarred for life or anything. Went to a bridal shower for Seth's best friend, Seth's bride to be Christin. Took both boys to a resturant for the first time (went pretty well), and played a dice game where I took everyone's money. CZ didn't sleep in oxygen!

Sunday: Enjoyed breakfast at the Rhoades' (seriously I haven't cooked all week!) with my Mexican family. JM couldn't believe there was another JM and called him Ria, just like his sister. We had CZ picture taken, JM was suppose to join at one point, but refused. I cannot wait to see them. They looked fabulous on her camera! And we finished with a pizza dinner at the Rhoades house. JM crawling around because he won't walk on his foot.

So this week looks like it will hold more doctor's appointments. Lord let 2009 be a much healthier year for my family! And yours!

Interview with JMH

I have stolen this from a friend who did this with her 2 year old... Thanks Andrea!

How old are you? Stares, "are you one?" big head shake.

How old is mommy? old

How old is daddy? older

How do you bake a cake? Shows me his tongue. "do you put it in your mouth?" yep!

What's your daddy's name? Big Daddy

When's your birthday? Questioning look.

What's your favorite color? Blue. Balls Blue.

What's your favorite animal? Horseys. MooCow.

What's your favorite food? Poops, no! Laughs, new news (noodles)

What do you want to be when you grow up? build big towers, up up up

A December Thanksgiving

Holy crow am I thankful this morning!! C nursed ALL.NIGHT.LONG and Seth got up with J at 730 (which is also something to be thankful for). I woke up at 9 to the smell of cinnamon rolls cooking. I brought C down with me and he (though telling me he was hungry, again) was happy and babbling.
Then my little family of four enjoyed very yummy rolls together, J singing "dingle balls, dingle balls...hay!" C rooting around for his eighth meal of the day, because really that third chin will not fill itself out. What a lucky woman I am!!!
Now as I type J and Seth are "discussing" grapefruit juice versus apple juice, and which one J is actually drinking (grapefruit), though J thinks it is just pink apple juice:)
I hope you are also able to reflect on all the blessings you do have in your life this season, even in this crazy time. Because at least for me, when I focus on the good, I am truly able to see how lucky I am!

More Pictures!!

Merry Christmas from CZ! He looks a little squished, but he isn't actually in the stocking.
JM proves that he is related to MiMi and her love of chocolate. And Pop Pop and his weird faces!
CZ and Dr. Figge who delivered him. She kept telling me how cute he was, and she is a professional! My appointment went fine, and C finally had his hearing test which he passed!!

X-mas Pictures!

Where has the time gone?

Into a baby. That is the answer. Actually two babies, to be exact. JM is very busy, with all things holiday, showing off his little brother, and just causing overall trouble. CZ is good at sleeping, eating, and making bathroom related messes. Between that and all the doctor's appointments, Christmas shopping, and trying to make cookies, clean up, and show off the new little man. Well now you're starting to understand why I haven't updated the blog. In fact, even now Tiss is watching JM, and I am nursing anf typing with one hand, which would explain all the typos.

As of last Monday cz is 8 pounds 5 ounces, and 21 inches long. As of Tuesday he is circumsized (Which seth watched!), on Wednesday we met with a worthless respitory theripist, and on Thursday we met with our wonderful cardiologist Karrie. She answered all of our questions (that were so numerous that we had written them all down on a card) and looked over all of CZ's eckos, EKGs and CZ. Everything looks as good or better than can be expected. We go back to see her on the 22 of this month and hope (and hope and pray and pray) That C will be ready to come off oxygen during the day.
C and I were both tested for the low carnitine levels, and we are all praying that either it is me or that it was a false positive.
We had a great family dinner last night for the last time before Tiss leaves for Mexico:( We are very very sad for her to leave and very very excited for her to start her new adventure! Christmas will definitly look different this year than it ever has before! Hopefully I'll get pictures up soon! That is it for now!! Kelly

Pictures!!

Right after he made his arrival.
Tonight, JM really loves his baby brother.
Getting ready to come home from the hospital. Right after crying really hard when they took off his stickers:(
CZ thinks he's a baby bird who needs to eat ALL.THE.TIME. Telling his dad that he just needs a little milk.

He's here! Quick recap..

I had Colin Zachary on 12-3 (his due date #1) at 507pm. He weighed 8pounds 3 ounces, 20.5 inches long.

I had my membranes stripped at 8am and was 4cm, and I kind of knew that it was going to happen that day, and spent the day getting the house ready, and big brother ready and finishing my Christmas shopping.

At 3pm I went to the hospital, mostly because I couldn't think of any more places to walk and it was freezing outside. I was a 5 and they kept me. At 4 the doctor broke my water at my request, since I had been a 3-4 for 6 weeks. And I wasn't willing to do pit. At 415 I decided to get the epidural, but the doctor wasn't there yet so I waited until 450 when he showed up. Things were really intense during that time, really having to breath through the contractions.

Right when we started the epi my face and hands were tingling, that's weird I thought, and told the nurse, she said I was hyperventilating. And gave me oxygen, didn't help, then I remembered that happened with my first right before I delivery. Epidural guy finally says we're going to do the test meds... I start yelling I have to push NOW.

A team was collected and with just a couple pushes Colin was out. I did end up with a little relief meds and my epidural took full effect as soon as he was out:( My best friend Anne missed the delivery and Courtney walked in just in time.

Right away they heard a mummer, we weren't expecting anything to be wrong and were not prepaired for the follow. We've spent the past 4 days at Children's Hospital. He had surgery Friday to repair a valve in his heart. After the scariest 4 days of our lives, we are home, happy, fairly healthy. Colin has what is call Pulmonary Stenosis click to read more. Colin will be on oxygen for a while, while he sleeps and his heart grows. But all signs point to a very normal life, even if the surgery has to be redone, which isn't uncommon.

We were truly blindsided, but hopefully all will work out! Sorry the end is quick I have to go now, new baby boy to feed! And another doctor's appointment to get to. I'll update more when we know more! Oh and I'm sure you all want pictures!:)

Today is Due Date #1

Well, here I am 40 weeks pregnant. Yipee for Baby Flat, who will probably be closer to round then flat, but we'll just have to continue to wait and see which is more true.
At yesterday's weekly appointment, we had a little excitement which turned out to be nothing. The doctor thought my water had started leaking, after 4 tests we confirmed it had not. However, this little detour made it impossible to strip my membranes, schedule the induction, or anything. So I'm heading in to the office today at 830 to do all of that fun stuff. Apparently I have made a little progress since last week though, so that is great.
I'm trying to finish Christmas shopping, wrapping and mailing, all before the baby arrives. I'm doing okay on that front. I have a few last minute things to get, and those of you who say you need nothing, but know you'll get something; you are what is stalling my labor! I only need one more thing before I ship to Michigan and I'm hoping to grab that at the store later today.
So everyone continue to wait patiently (said more for me than anyone!) for this little (hopefully) bundle of joy to arrive. I promise we will let you know once he is here, which will be this month, this I know for sure:)

Picture Update

I haven't posted any pictures in a while, and I FINALLY got the pictures uploaded onto the computer, so here is a hodgepodge of pictures:
Seth and JM at the zoo. He is really into all the animals and it was a perfect 60 degree day. All the animals were really active!


Who needs a Bjorn? JM carries his baby in his overalls, and showers her with kisses!


Hamming it up for the camera. Seriously there were like 10 of these!


One of our new favorite games, riding the brooms (Jildau and JoJo) all over the house. It is the cutest thing!

A pre Thanksgiving Update

Yesterday I realized that I had a bladder infection:( The doctor was able to get me in and we did our normal 38 week appointment at the same time. NO CHANGE!! I'm a little disappointed and yet, am excited to get to eat Thanksgiving dinner. She said she was able to wrap her fingers around the baby's head, and said she was a little rough on purpose. Almost immediately I started cramping. The doctor said he is definitly, definitly over 8 pounds!! Yea for healthy babies!!
I got home loaded up JM and went to the grocery to pick up my antibiotics. Then we went to MiMi's so JM could have a little MiMi love.
JM and I got home around 6 and Seth made dinner. My contractions were starting to get more painful and closer together, but I was able to put JM down for the night at about 8. Just before 10, the contractions became unbareable. We called the doctor, and MiMi who headed over. By 1030, we were at the hospital, and I was moaning.
The rest of the story is long and boring and doesn't really have too much of a point. So the condensed version is:
They figured out that it wasn't labor but a very intense bladder/kidney infection. The pain was from my kidneys shutting down. I was given IV antibiotics, fluids and finally some numbing meds. I was sent home around 2 with an Ambien.
I am feeling much better today, thank goodness. Though I'm slightly dissappointed that I was in L&D for so long and didn't get a baby, I am thankful that I didn't have to have the double pain going.
Baby Brother looked great!! Very healthy! My *actual* contractions are 5-7 minutes apart and still slighty bareable. Clearly we're getting closer, we're just not there yet!! I'll keep you updated! Happy Thanksgiving to all, may you all have as many things on your list of thanks as we do!!

Doctor's Update 11-19

Seriously I NEVER thought I would go this far... But here I am.
No Change! His head is a little lower, but still 3-4. I could tell the doctor was shocked, but not as shocked as I was when she estimated he already weighs 7.5-8 pounds! She really thinks I'll go this week (I've heard that before:) but we have tentatively scheduled an induction for the 5th of December. It's nice to have an end date. Plus everyone would be back from vacation then. The doctor called it a mercy induction. Is that a bad sign?
Otherwise she said he sounds really healthy (at his girth who wouldn't?) heart rate was 141, and she says I'm all baby.
I really don't want a Thanksgiving baby, so I think I'm okay waiting just a little longer to meet him. (I can say that now that I know I have no more than 2.5 weeks:)

JM, Seth and I are all battling a cold. JM was up every hour at least last night. We are working hard to keep his fever down, and something in his stomach, but he just doesn't feel like eating or drinking. He could use a few prayers to beat this, I hate seeing my baby sick:( Seth and I will recover fine, if we can get some sleep!
Hope your house is a little less interesting then mine! Love to all!!! Kelly

A few belly pictures

I'm debating posting these, but everyone thinks I should. I like a couple of them, Seth LOVES them. WARNING!! They are not for the faint of heart, those thinking of having children or those currently in the "cute" stage of pregnancy. I think the photographer did a great job, and can't wait to see the rest. For those of you locals, she Brooke with Precious Pixels Photography

Appointment Update 11-11

Yesterday I had another appointment! 3cm!!! I'm just glad all of these contractions are doing SOMETHING! Doctor still thinks (or was it hopes) I have another week. Contractions are fairly regular and uncomfortable if I'm doing Anything, but a lot less when I'm doing nothing.
Today Seth is in Silverthorne so I'm trying to do nothing. But we were out of OnMe (Oatmeal JM's very very favorite food) and I couldn't risk not having any in the house, I ventured out for my first grocery shopping trip since June.
Apparently, JM associates grocery shopping with donuts and had a complete meltdown after I only let him have one (really?? right before lunch, what a mean mommy I am, which is what he told me). Seth know they can't get donuts every time they go now.
I missed the 11-11 date I was hoping for and so now I hope he cooks as long as he needs, (not to be confused with how long he wants). I'll keep you updated!

The most pregnant I've ever been...

This is the most pregnant I've ever been! JM was born at 36 weeks 4 days at 4:19am. To celebrate this momentous occasion I woke to two stretch marks, my first of either pregnancy. As an added bonus one is bleeding. I am done. PLEASE come out little boy I want to hold you in my arms!!! I'm clearly a bit jaded at this point, possibly the reason I go early?

A few pictures

Last Saturday we had our photographer Brooke come out and take a few pictures. Mostly she was here for maternity pictures, but she also took the last ones of our family of three. She's only posted a few teasers but I thought I would share them.

Election Day Update

No, no not a we're painting the state blue kind of thing, (though both Seth and I voted, and you should too!)
Today I went in for (another) appointment for the baby. It was a little sad not getting to see him, but it was a whole lot faster. I'm up one pound since last week, (I thought that was going to be much, much worse because of all the Halloween candy I'm not letting JM eat, because you know I'm a good mom:) His heart rate was good, I was measuring 35 weeks, and I had my end of pregnancy testing done. I had my first internal too, which told us that: I'm 1.5 cm dilated, a have a little length left to my cervix, and the baby's head is RIGHT there. I was a bit worried that he had flipped on Sunday, but it looks like he just rolled over (he's so advanced:)
The doctor seems to think that I won't have him in the next week, but that he will be here by the 21. But I'm not sure what she is basing that on.
Tonight is my LAST shot (yipee, yipee) and we'll see how things go from there! My next appointment is next Tuesday the 11th.

Halloween 2008

JM went trick or treating last night just like a big boy! He started at Mimi and Pop Pop's and Grandma Horsey and Grandpa John's. He really liked the 2 new diggers from Grandma Horsey! Then JM canvased the neighborhood, getting treats from all our friends. Seth said he really seemed to get it after just a few houses. Luckily many people gave out pops (suckers)!
Seth and I finally finished carving our pumpkins, just hours before show time. Seth ended up using his Tiger saw to get through the great big pumpkin! Elmo, turned out fine, though it took way to long!
We also reached our last big milestone in the pregnancy yesterday! Now we are able to deliver in Longmont, which also means that if he would need to stay in the NICU he would be in Longmont too! We are still hopeful that we'll make it another week or two, but sighs of relief were heard numerous times in our house yesterday! :)
Hope everyone else had a happy and safe Halloween!

Birth Class Halloween Reunion prt 2

On Thursday we were able to join all but one family from JM's birth class, to celebrate Halloween. All the toddlers looked so cute in the costumes! We had our own little zoo!

Haley Boy's Offical Stats

Yesterday was JM's 18 month appointment, a little early but we wanted to make sure we got it in before Stan's arrival. Here are his stats.
Weight: 23 pounds 2.5 ounces- under the 25th percentile
Height: 33.5 inches- over the 90th percentile
Head circ: 47 cm- under the 25th percentile
The doctor didn't use the word perfect, but we could tell he wanted to:) JM did get 3 shots that are still giving him a small ow today. But we only have one more until kindergarten, so that's great!

Today we had Stan's last u/s, his stats:
Weight: 5 pounds 13 ounces-74 percentile!
His head continues to be his biggest asset (ouch!), and his legs are still a bit stubby.
We were able to see that he already has quite a bit of hair. I cannot wait to see what color it is!

I will guesstimate Seth's stats:
Weight: not much more than me, so 161?
Height: 6 foot 1, more if he stands up straight, which he doesn't
Head: Big, he has to keep all those wise cracks somewhere.

As for me, let's just say I've gained 24 pounds total, but apparently more than 5 of those are baby! My cervix is short, but they aren't too worried. We are hoping for two more weeks, but we'll just have to see if that happens. Next week they are doing all of my end of pregnancy tests, doing my first internal, and now I'm on once a week appointments; so they think the end is near. We are so so excited to meet this crazy little boy!!!

Carving pumpkins!

Our good friends the Gahn's and Andrew's came over tonight to carve pumpkins! Everyone came up with very creative faces, and the dad's did all the dirty work. We didn't finish all of our pumpkins, including the giant 150# pumpkin that JM modeled earlier in the day, or JM's Elmo pumpkin, but will hopefully finish before Halloween. :)
Apparently Elmo is a god to those in the under 2 crowd. RE and JM show the magical powers that Elmo posses. MW was not as impressed.

Feeding the giant fish

Way out by Lyons (not really that far:) By the big cowboy there is a place to feed the fish. The fish will jump out of the water for a snack putting on quite a show! While I'd like to think that it's not very well known, these fish are 2-3 feet long. So someone is feeding them. There are also horses, goats, and geese. Feed is 25 cents and Cheerios will work in a pinch. JM and I enjoyed a cool fall day with Mimi and S feeding the animals and the kiddos. It was one of those perfect fall days!

GO Buffaloes!

JM is already a huge Buff fan. He was hamming it up for the camera before the game on the 18th. The video shows him cheering on his team. Which at the current time is losing to Missouri, badly. But don't worry JM just keeps telling them to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Last Saturday we went to a very cute little pumpkin patch to get our family's pumpkins. JM did a great job picking out a pumpkin for each of us including his baby brother. The patch also had tons of animals which JM really liked, until the cow mooed very loud right in his face. Then he was ready to move on. He also did a great job pulling the wagon, which had all of the pumpkins in it. Unfortunitly he was tired of taking pictures and wasn't cooperating very well, and we missed getting a family picture. Hopefully we will get one tomorrow when we carve them!

Itty Bitty with Mimi

Friday the 24 JM and Mimi went crazy at IBC. JM's favorite was the stick horse. It sure is fun to get all your crazies out at a giant gym, and not in Mom's living room!

New baby's stocking

I am (almost) finished with the new baby's stocking. I've taken pictures now, before I put on the name so everyone can see. Next time you see this it will be hung by the chimney with care.

I am a blog slacker...

I am very sorry for the lack of posts. I was waiting to get pictures up loaded and it took waaay longer than it should have.

Jm wants you to know....

he can take off his own coat. It took a lot of practice. Oh goody!!!

Stan Update

We went in today for what I thought was my 33 week appointment. Turns out the doctor has my due date as 9 days later and would not be swayed to the 12-3 due date. Doesn't change too much, my last shot will still be on 11-4, but I am suppose to continue to take my other meds until the 14th, instead of the 4th. All of this is trivial, unless you're the one whose been pregnant those 9 days already and then it is an eternity.
That being said, Stan looks great!! He is LARGE! 4 pound 2 ounces, putting him at a weight due date of 11-27. Or in the 87th percentile for his 12-12 due date. Um, don't they know I don't have big babies? Heart rate was 140, and we watched him "eat" some fluid, I think he's going to be an eater. It was one of the only times he wasn't actually sucking his thumb. Though it was close by in case it was needed.
My blood pressure was a little higher 120/80 (so still fine), and my cervix grew (I didn't think they did that?), I've gained 24 pounds (eh), and I'm measuring 33 weeks in the belly (SEE!)
Overall good appointment, next one is on the 28th and it will be our last ultrasound unless I go full term, then they do another one (I think).
The only picture we got was a boy parts shot that show that the scrotum has descended. I told Seth he could put it in his car. :)

Just a cute picture!

Everyone needs a little JM cuteness in their lives, so here is the latest! He now says "ceez" and smiles. Oh so cute!!

Friday at Itty Bitty City

We live in a great city to raise kiddos in!! On Friday's there's an "indoor park" called Itty Bitty City. For $2 kids can run all over a gym filled with balls, cars, scooters, parachutes, and anything else the under 4 crowd would love.
JM really enjoyed pulling a scooter with a rope attached up, up, up the ramp and then down, down, down the other side.
The best part about IBC is how tired my little boy is afterwards!!

JM at a soccer game

On Thursday JM and I went to a soccer game so I could watch my girls cheer. JM explored the rough around the field, paying special attention to the "flowers". I just love how babies can squat like that! (But maybe I'm just jealous!)
JM really enjoyed playing soccer on the sidelines, putting dirt IN his tractor, and running, running, running. I was glad Seth came in as the relief parent at half time!!

32 Week Update

I didn't have to go to the doctor's this week, and surprisingly I didn't have to go in for anything. I do have an appointment on Tuesday (32 weeks 6 days), and will update the blog then with any new info.
Here is a picture of my ever growing belly. This pregnancy thing is not for the faint of heart.

JM's favorite videos

I know people parented before YouTube, but I'm glad I'm not one of them! JM loves horses and this video is his favorite, he'll ask for it numerous times a day!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-7jRPe2JTxHQ/baby_foal/

He also adores Great.Big.Trucks. They are redoing the sewer at the end of our street, but since mommy isn't allowed to walk down there to watch. This video is able to take it's place. JM calls this video "dirt".

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt--GpgUt0vz5c/bell_dump_truck/

We are on the verge of a busy weekend. Hopefully, we'll all be able to squeeze in a little sleep.

Stan's Doctors Appointment

Today Seth and I went to the doctor's for my 31 week appointment. The ultrasound showed Stan as measuring 2 days ahead of my due date overall. His head only showed a due date of November 17! Clearly different than his pin headed brother. He is still head down too, yipee! My cervix is beginning to thin, it is not in the dangerous zone, though it is less than they would like. The doctor doesn't seem too worried, but would like me to continue to take it easy.
I am up a total of 19 pounds (all ice cream!!) which puts me at a little less than I was with JM, but that is to be expected when you're chasing a 16 month old.
Both of us are very healthy and will hopefully stay that way for at least another 5 weeks. Oh my it's getting close!!!!

JM's New BIG Boy Room

Here are the pictures (finally) of JM's big boy room. Seth redid the dresser from his childhood, and the bookshelf and they both turned out amazing!! The crib is the same one all three Rhoades girls slept in. We still have finishing touches to add, but they will come with time. I would like to have some way of hanging a few of the beautiful pictures that JM makes on the wall. Possibly on either side of the blue frame. Any ideas are welcome!!

A Starbucks Afternoon

JM having a little Starbucks with TT, while playing on his slide! It's hard to climb with a "hot" in your hand. I love that with a little dressing up, even milk is more fun!