Siblings

I'm so glad I am one.

A sibling I mean.  There are only three things I love more than my siblings, those being God, my husband, and my children. They really are great. I have five of them and I enjoy each one of them.

And I count myself beyond blessed that my own kids get to know the joy of being a sibling. Belonging even when it feels like you could never belong anywhere else in the world. Knowing that no matter how badly you mess up or how dorky you act in public, someone is forced to at least tolerate you.

But really.

I am so excited that Amanda is going to come see us soon.  While each of my brothers and sisters are special to me, none in the world can top Amanda. She's my very best friend.

She has been there with me through thick and thin. Since she's been born come to think of it. She's sat through more than her fair share of video games. That is true love. And it might be our ages that make us so close.

And that's why I'm so excited for Ana and Aaron. I hope that they can be buddies the way I was when I grew up. I hope they can always count on each other the way I have always known Amanda was there for me.

Analie is already so good with her tiny new brother. We (you know this means mostly Jeremiah) are trying to teach her to hold and carry Aaron. She isn't so comfortable with it yet, but she's trying. When we take car rides you can sneak a peak in the back and watch her grab his hand and hold it the whole car ride. And we have been known to take some long car rides.

She's so sweet and loves to talk with him and be involved. I totally expected it from her, but it's so heartwarming to see. I knew she would be a good big sister but she always finds new ways to completely blow me away.

Aaron seems to enjoy her too. In the womb Ana was the one who's voice he would kick most for. And he smiles when she comes over to play. But mostly he's a baby. So more to come on his love for Ana in the future.

Louisiana

So... It's been a while.

I'm sitting in a starbucks right now with my mother-in-law and Aaron. There is a monsoon outside and so I suppose I will be here for at least a few more minutes. She just turned to me and said it was a good thing so we can be sure to keep the humidity up. Louisiana is one of THE most humid places I have ever been in my life. When I travel from Washington back to my new home here I always regret not wearing my scuba gear. Seriously getting off the plane feels like walking into a dirty pool.

There are a lot of different things about living here. When I'm by myself it just depresses me. But for the last couple of months I have had non-stop guests and when there is someone to laugh with I can see the humor. Like the 14 cockroaches we killed in one night while my mom was staying with us. Or the 2+ hours WAITING to go to a 5 minute doctors visit. Or being shouted at by some rude (and loud) wanna-be bouncer from the back of a walmart to the front while it is CLOSING at 11 PM because we were trying to do this silly thing called leaving out the front door when everyone knows only a fool wouldn't try the side doors first. Way more funny when someone is there to laugh with you.

So I would imagine at the end of the week when my buddy leaves I'll be back to wondering if I'm the only sane one in this state... or if I'm the insane one for expecting people to show up when they say they are going to and not 30 minutes after the fact.

And I guess I'm where I have always belonged according to my spectacularly punctual sister. But this is ridiculous even for me.

Anyway. The reason I have had so much company is because I literally feel like my life EXPLODED. Andrea came out earlier than we bought her ticket for because I was having really bad contractions when I was still pregnant and problems with what I thought was kidney stones. I probably would have had Aaron at 37 weeks if she hadn't been there to help with Analie. We were scheduled to move on the 16th and my due date was the 17th of may. The week before we were scheduled to move, I called in to make sure everything was going as planned. And of course since Patrician Management does the housing it wasn't. They had set us back to July 16th and didn't tell us.

That was upsetting since I had packed a lot of things and I wanted everything to happen at once so I could put my life back together all at once. Feeling out of control for a few weeks instead of a few months sounded better, but whatever. So I continued to have pain and found out it was my gallbladder. My OB wanted me to have it taken out just as soon as I was out of the postpartum stage. He also wanted to induce me at 39 weeks. I said that I wanted to wait until the 17th. He said he had classes that day so he would take me at 39 +6 May 16th. I agreed. So I was supposed to come in at 3 am. At 2:30 am I woke up with contractions and my water broke. I had him unmedicated at 6:14 am on May 16th. He was 9 lbs even and 21 1/4 inches long. We named him Aaron Danger (after 2 days of controversy I wanted him to be Elijah). But Aaron fits and I'm so glad to have him.

That didn't end my gallbladder problems and I was on percoset until I had the gallbladder removed. But before that happened my wonderful mother came out to spend time with us. It was so much fun and I really miss being so close to her. She helped us move. Housing told a friend of ours that we were moving early so we got to the bottom of that little problem and yes, we moved early. On May 26th we moved from Algiers to Belle Chasse. I really like the new house.

A New Life

There have been so many changes happening in our life. We have officially lived in Louisiana a year and 3 days. We have been preparing for the new baby and moving and our mothers coming down to stay with us. It's been fun and a little hectic.

When I was pregnant with Analie, I struggled with kidney stones. They were awful and there was no way I could have handled them on my own, so I'm so glad I was home with my family with her. With this pregnancy I have had SPD (kills my hips) and gall stones. Only slightly worse than kidney stones. They make me feel like I'm going to die. So when Jeremiah's mom could come out earlier and help I was so pleased. She has really been a blessing and has kept me and Ana sane through the last few weeks before the baby came.


My last episode with gallstones happened on Monday the 14th. I had to take a ride in the ambulence because there was no way I could have traveled without pain killers and being laid on a bed. I was passing out and throwing up and scaring my poor mother in law.  When I got to the hospital (second time I had been hospitalized for them in two weeks), they gave me an ultrasound and found the stones. They wanted me to induce that day, but since I wanted an unmedicated-as-possible labor and I knew I was way too tired to labor without meds, I begged them to wait.  My docotor agreed and said I could come in at 3 am on wednesday morning. I wasn't thrilled about an induction before my actual due date, but I also knew I couldn't have another attack with gallstones while I was pregnant so I agreed.

I rested up on Tuesday and had a fun evening with the family. We went out to eat and got some snacks for Jeremiah at Target. I was nervous for being inducted, so I prayed the whole time I would just go into labor. I didn't start while we were out.

But God is faithful, and when I woke up at 2:30 am to head into the hospital I realized my water had broken and i was leaking. I got all my stuff, said goodbye to Analie, and headed out to the car and contractions started. By the time we left the gate my contractions were four minutes apart.

I got to the ER to check in for my induction and found out I forgot my paperwork. The receptionist called up and got it. When she got back she realized I was actually in labor. They called a guy to wheel me up to the labor room.

With Analie, I was really encouraged to change positions and move around as I wanted. Here, I was made to lay on the bed the whole time. The baby had dropped nearly three weeks ago, so I felt a TON of pressure and at about 5 he dropped a final time and it was all I could do to keep my body from pushing.

My doctor came in at 6 and everyone rushed around getting me ready to push. I was in so much pain, I couldn't get behind my contractions to push. So it took one push that I kind of faked because they were all telling me to, but I wasn't in sync with the contraction yet. Then I pushed once for real, a second time and they told me to stop while he crowned, pushed again and was told to stop again because the cord was wrapped twice around his neck.  They snipped it and my body couldn't not push him out and so it did and he was out.

It was so painful, but Jeremiah was a good coach and a short labor. He was pretty big, 9 lbs exactly, 21 1/4 inches long.

The baby was so beautiful and Jeremiah followed him down to the nursery for some tests. We had to stay at the hospital for two days. We named him a few hours before we were discharged. I was hoping for the name Elijah, but ultimately gave into Jeremiah's favorite name: Aaron. We had decided the moment we found out it was a boy his middle name would be Danger.  He is the most beautiful baby boy.  His sister is smitten and they are already best buddies.


He is nursing a lot better than Analie ever did, and so that is encouraging.

Overall it was a wonderful experience and even though I was really nervous to do it in LA away from family and friends and the healthcare I'm used to, it was good.

Luckily, I'm in Louisiana

Have you had that feelng of "wow I should have known better"? Like the times when you decide it's time to get outside and see if there is anything to do in your new neighborhood on the navy reserve base in New Orleans only you decide that noon is the best time. And you check the weather report and you see that it's supposed to be "hot and sunny" and you think "MAN! I gotta get on this! I wouldn't want it to be chilly and rainy when I finally get my rear in gear" because in washington you know that hot and sunny means 70* with a low chance of overcast. And so you pack up your baby in the stroller and go down your 7000 stairs to get outside. Then you get halfway across the base and you realize that the sweat dripping down your face, back, neck, legs, and arms is NOT because you are really feeling the burn of a good workout, but rather feeling the burn of a HOT BRIGHT LOUISIANA SUMMER DAY and you look at the thermometer and it says 101* and your baby doesn't even want to play at the playground or even walk on the grass. You know that feeling?

I do now. So it's a good thing I live here now. So I can relate and all.

The Whiny Whinyies

Sometimes being a new mom is just so rewarding. I get to learn so much about my little sweetie and I learn so much about myself.

What I have learned about myself today: I'm going crazy.

My current lesson: Suck it up buttercup. Who knew that when moms talk about this lesson they mean I need to suck it. I always thought it was the toddlers they were talking about. Oh no. I mean, you can try to reason with your screaming child... but that's about as productive as hitting your head against the wall. Believe me. I may or may not have done both.

Analie has entered this phase where she found out if she can cry loud enough I'll run around the world trying to get her to stop. This little smarty has figured out how to FAKE cry. Wah wah wah wah wha!! Until I come to her aid. Then she just stops. On a dime. Writing this I am seeing the humor in it... but when I'm in the moment or calling my mom complaining about the woes of motherhood it is NOT FUNNY. mother. :P

To Ana's credit she IS growing AND teething right now. Plus fighting allergies like her daddy. So she has an excuse sometimes. Thank goodness for mexican otterpops. :) She loves them and they are cheap even at Albertson's (which is just down the road). So I can sit her down with one of those long enough to blog about it. But just long enough. I have a sticky leg now. :|

Fun things to do in SoCal

About two months ago I moved down to Southern California to be with my husband. We live in a medium sized city between Los Angeles and San Diego. I've only been to California once before in my life and it was to go to DISNEY LAND of course! :) So this is the farthest south I've been. It's pretty here and while I miss a few things from Washington state, I really love my new temp home.

Analie loves it too! She really enjoys that because there is SUN we can actually go out and do things. She's still pretty young to get some of the things we can do, but she's learning fast.

I am within walking distance to two parks. It was so funny the first time we took Ana. It was

magical. She was SO excited to climb all over stuff! We live in such a tiny room that I am really glad she has a place to exercise and learn skills like climbing (and more importantly coming DOWN stairs), and running, and dolphin riding.

We also enjoy our beach in Carlsbad. Jeremiah likes to dig and Analie likes to...eat sand. She also enjoys chasing the waves. She is a DAREDEVIL and we really have to watch her. One time a wave completely toppled her over and she blew bubbles in the water while she flailed on her belly. I don't think it's going to be that hard to teach this little lady to swim!

Jim at the gym

So today I was in a really bad mood. like. super bad. Everything was just dumb and stupid. My daughter, Analie was not cooperating at all with my sleep schedule. I had laundry to finish and a room to clean. And Jeremiah had yet to even check in.

When I finally did get a text from him, he was already studying. He had spent his ENTIRE DAY sleeping. Was a jealous? Only alot. We had been talking the night before about wedding plans and other stuff that doesn't matter now I guess. But we had stayed up FOREVER. So it didn't seem fair to me that even though HE was the one fighting with ME, he got to sleep! Haha, maybe I was being a little over dramatic. I'm glad I got over myself.

Or rather I'm glad I went to the gym because I had some serious steam to blow off. Analie stayed with her Grandma so I could go. I usually go with Amanda, but she's in Moses Lake with Desi so I had to go BY MYSELF. Yes, life is quite cruel to me. So anyway as I'm elipticaling ALONE finishing my bridal magazine and Twilight the first movie on my iPod feeling sorry for myself and going pathetically slow I look over to one of those ceiling mounted TVs. The kind that makes me feel as if I am some part of an elite expensive club. Anyway I look over and JIM! Jim Halpert. Right there. In the office. In my gym. :) It was the episode where Phylis is getting ready to get married and they are throwing her a bridal shower. Haha, so Micheal is like "yeah well we're having a shower for Bob too! And no girls invited! But nothing gay, just men taking a shower from 2:30 to 3:15. A nice long shower with all men." AHAHAHAHAHAHA

So needless to say, I was happier after that. If there is one thing you should know about me it's that I absolutely LOVE Jim. I think he is SO fun. And it makes me sad when I see pictures of John Krasinski and his ACTUAL wife (who isn't Pam OR Jenna Fischer) it makes me sad. Anyway, I digress. I was inspired to continue my workout and when I went to the bathroom to weigh myself I discovered...I lost weight! Almost 13 lbs since I first started working out like....3 weeks ago. It feels great. I was expecting to see that I had gained since I last checked (it'd been a few days and a few cookies since then) but nope. I lost. YES!

Then after I got home we had dinner. It was nice. Meatloaf made in a cupcake tin. :) very yummy and a good portion. Also corn which I love. And I had Analie on my lap and my sister Kaytie came up behind me and she said "Hey, I think i saw that Ana has teeth" and my mom and I looked over and said "nah, she's just teething but no teeth yet" But I stuck my finger in there anyway (Analie wasn't very happy) and WHAT DO YOU KNOW? A TOOTH! My baby got her first tooth tonight!

So even though this day started out stinky, it got better Hurray!!

Fitness log

35min Elliptical

10min abs & chest

Total: 45min