Nathan was playing Goat Whisperer again ....... I have no idea what it is with him and goats....
Then we went home, had dinner and cake :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Zoo Birthday for Kaedyn...
For Kaedyn's 4th Birthday - on his birthday ...... we went to the Zoo.
Nathan was playing Goat Whisperer again ....... I have no idea what it is with him and goats....
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (incase you couldn't read that)
Lemers
Goat
Elephant
Tiger #1
Tiger #2
Awwwwww Monkey ....
Hanging Monkey
These were taken in the Aquarium....
Penguins ...
Turtle....
Walrus ....
This is E.T. the HUGE Walrus
Noah taking pictures and Kaedyn ....
Seals
Otter
Puffin
We stopped to watch the show ....
This was the bad guy - "he" wanted to poison everyone to stay inside and be lazy ....
Some of the animals that they shared - it was hard to get pictures of them cuz they were literally only there for a split second and would fly off or duck in .... and there was one bird who didn't behave... LOL... these are not all the animals - just the few that I caught....
The Wallabys were by the playground ..... where we went after the show....
Then we went home, had dinner and cake :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!!!
Nathan was playing Goat Whisperer again ....... I have no idea what it is with him and goats....
Then we went home, had dinner and cake :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!!!
Memories.... for a 4th Birthday....
I am posting this a little late. I should have posted this 10 days ago .... but really, I'm trying to get back into the swing of bloggin ..... ha ha....
So with that said...... my little big man turned FOUR on September 9th. Today, was his due date four years ago.
I remember when I found out I was pregnant - and got far enough alone to start up the whole "guessing" game thing.... everyone, including myself, was hoping for a girl. The only one who really guessed it was going to be a boy was Noah. I remember the guess he made .... it was Boy, 9-2-08, 8lbs 3oz and 18 inches. I thought he was so silly for picking 18 inches... LOL.... seems small to me.
Anyway .... on Nathan's 1st birthday we announced what we were having......
I bought a "It's A Boy" banner ....... and this is what I got!
I didn't have time to try to return it and get one that was correct .... so I just *fixed* it with scrapbooking materials.
Regardless - when our guests arrived and they saw...... I was greeted with a variety of responses.
"No way, you're lying"
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry"
"Are you serious?"
And mixtures of those.
They had no idea that I had literally cried for hours (and I mean hours) the day before when my DR called me. Don't get me wrong, I was ecstatic when I found out he was genetically healthy, even though that doesn't mean everything cuz Nathan was genetically healthy too on the amnio.
I had dreamed since I was little of being a mommy. All I ever wanted to be was a mommy. That's it. Writing, photography, all of that were after thoughts. And in all those dreams, all of them... I had a little girl.
When I was pregnant with Calahan... I swore up and down and left and right and over and under that he was a girl and there was NO WAY IN HELL I was having a boy. I was 19, thought I could control that aspect I guess.... if I wanted it bad enough. I got girl stuff - no boy stuff, and some neutral stuff. I did buy a pair of PJ's that were teal.... just....in... case. When Calahan was born and the doctor yelled "It's a boy!" I thought ....... oh my God! Put it back until it turns into a girl!!! I often threatened to cut off his boy bits if he was a boy ... that could be why he needed an eviction notice and didn't want to come out on his own. He was afraid I'd keep my word. But, in the end, my mom said I didn't hesitate, I just grabbed that baby and didn't let go. We laugh about it now.
With Noah and Nathan ... I had amnio's done and we knew they were boys before 20 weeks.
And at 18 weeks when we got the news that my last baby would be a boy ... I had to grieve the loss of the fact that I'd never have a baby girl. It wasn't that I was upset he was a boy, not in the least. But just the fact that all those dreams I had forever and a day - would never be. There wouldn't be dance classes, or gymnastics, or ballet .... there wouldn't be cheer leading or anything else like that.... no barbies, no baby dolls, no reminiscing of my childhood favorites with my daughter....
Kaedyn's name was picked out by Nathan. We debated, played around, had fun with names - but when it came down too it ..... we gave Nathan the baby book one day (remember he was only a year old) .... and told him to pick out a name.... he opened it up and pointed to Caden .... of course, I had to spell it differently.
On September 2nd I went to the hospital ... Dr. B wanted to do an amnio to see if we could deliver baby because I was on bedrest and MISERABLE ... so we went in hoping that his lungs would be mature. But alas, they were still a little green and we were sent home.
I had been growing sunflowers all summer and they were HUGE. This was taken September 8 ... the sunflowers weren't the only thing huge!
So on September 9th, I went in again - for another amnio. I had been having contractions since May and I was still on bedrest but damn if I didn't say screw it. I was up that day cleaning, trying to make sure everything was in order, contracting the whole day. To the point where both Dennis and my mom had noticed and commented on it and of course I denied denied denied .... even though it was very clear I was having contractions. And I knew they were *different* ....
But you have to realize, I was on kid #4 and had never gone into labor ....... sure I went through labor with Calahan but I was in the hospital when the contractions started, I wasn't on my own. And the contractions I was having was mostly minor.
All day I'm thinking .... something is different ....
But we weren't suppose to be to the hospital until 2 ... and so I just kept cleaning and fretting and worrying about everything.
When it came time to leave ...
When we got to the hospital, we parked and Dennis was walking ahead of me going in. He was at the front doors to the hospital and I was still lagging behind in the street - and in the middle of that street infront of the front doors of the hospital..... I stopped dead in my tracks and had a doozey of a contraction. I literally couldn't move while having it.
Dennis stopped, turned around, saw me holding my belly - stopped in the middle of the road... and ...
said the words he will NEVER live down....
"Are you having a contraction."
And I kid you not ....... my response was to him: "No, I just felt like stopping here hoping I'd get hit by a car."
Yep....
So we get into registration ... "We're here for L&D" ... and the lady goes "are you having contractions?" Dennis and I looked at each other and he goes, "yes she is but she won't admit it." Ha... he was right though.
So we get upstairs (after they INSISTED on putting me in a wheel chair) ... and they hook me up to the monitor .... and no kidding, I'm having contractions every 2 minutes.
EVERY TWO MINUTES ....
I don't know how long that had been going on - I'm pretty sure they weren't that close together until we got to the hospital.
But when Dr. B came in, I said "I'm having contractions every 2 minutes Dr. B - you may not have a choice but to take him out today." He laughed at me and started his speech about the amnio and risks and he stops dead in his tracks as he's watching the monitor. He says ... "you really are having contractions every two minutes."
Did he think I was lying about it???
So he says "Change of plans, lets get you checked, see if you've dilated, and if you have, we'll have to do the c-section immediately" ....
So he checks me.... and sure enough .... I was dilated to 3 .....
So proud of myself!! I actually went into labor!!
We're having a baby!!!!!
Quickly we got whisked away into the O.R. ...
At 3:55 pm that afternoon.... Kaedyn Phillip Russel was born.... on 9-9-08 ... he weighted 8lbs 3oz and was 18 1/4 inches... (they originally put 19 on his card but later found out it was really 18 1/4) ... and he was all boy.
Even though I didn't get my girl...... I got a baby boy who is truly a mini-me. He looks just like me .... just.... like ... me....
After we brought him home.... I entered postpartum depression. PPD is a funny thing. You are asked "do you have it" at every appointment ... and the answer is no. I don't have it. Most the time, if you have it or not. I didn't even realize I had it until after I snapped out of it.
You have to realize, I came home to an experience. I had two older kids... Calahan was 12, Noah was 6, Nathan was one but the size of a 3-6 month old baby. I may not have hit the "mark" for Irish twins - but they are Irish Twins. Kaedyn quickly caught up to size with Nathan and then surpassed it. It was like having twins. I get asked ALL THE TIME if they are twins. My answer?
No, they are 16 months apart ...
To which I'm usually questioned more. Only once did I ever say "Yes, they are" ... and that was out of sheer desperation. I had been asked 10 times already that day if they were twins and I just couldn't explain it yet.... again..
They were both in diapers, both drinking bottles, they were in the same size clothes, same size diaper, same size whatever ...
Kaedyn wouldn't let me put him down, he was nursing ALL THE TIME... Nathan was wanting attention - I constantly had a baby on me... the other two needed attention ... I was overwhelmed ... I was so overwhelmed. But I was super mom .... I could do it all. Only - on particularly bad night I thought ... "I understand why animals eat their young."
So ... it was hard. He didn't sleep in his crib for 6 months. He only slept with me, on me, or occasionally in the swing..... I would lay him down in the crib or bassinet and he would instantly wake up. Instantly ....
It was hard. But so worth it....
Kaedyn's 1st Birthday ....
Kaedyn's 2nd Birthday ....
Kaedyn's 3rd Birthday ....
Kaedyn's 4th Birthday ....
HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY MY LIL MAN!!!!
So with that said...... my little big man turned FOUR on September 9th. Today, was his due date four years ago.
I remember when I found out I was pregnant - and got far enough alone to start up the whole "guessing" game thing.... everyone, including myself, was hoping for a girl. The only one who really guessed it was going to be a boy was Noah. I remember the guess he made .... it was Boy, 9-2-08, 8lbs 3oz and 18 inches. I thought he was so silly for picking 18 inches... LOL.... seems small to me.
Anyway .... on Nathan's 1st birthday we announced what we were having......
Regardless - when our guests arrived and they saw...... I was greeted with a variety of responses.
"No way, you're lying"
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry"
"Are you serious?"
And mixtures of those.
They had no idea that I had literally cried for hours (and I mean hours) the day before when my DR called me. Don't get me wrong, I was ecstatic when I found out he was genetically healthy, even though that doesn't mean everything cuz Nathan was genetically healthy too on the amnio.
I had dreamed since I was little of being a mommy. All I ever wanted to be was a mommy. That's it. Writing, photography, all of that were after thoughts. And in all those dreams, all of them... I had a little girl.
When I was pregnant with Calahan... I swore up and down and left and right and over and under that he was a girl and there was NO WAY IN HELL I was having a boy. I was 19, thought I could control that aspect I guess.... if I wanted it bad enough. I got girl stuff - no boy stuff, and some neutral stuff. I did buy a pair of PJ's that were teal.... just....in... case. When Calahan was born and the doctor yelled "It's a boy!" I thought ....... oh my God! Put it back until it turns into a girl!!! I often threatened to cut off his boy bits if he was a boy ... that could be why he needed an eviction notice and didn't want to come out on his own. He was afraid I'd keep my word. But, in the end, my mom said I didn't hesitate, I just grabbed that baby and didn't let go. We laugh about it now.
With Noah and Nathan ... I had amnio's done and we knew they were boys before 20 weeks.
And at 18 weeks when we got the news that my last baby would be a boy ... I had to grieve the loss of the fact that I'd never have a baby girl. It wasn't that I was upset he was a boy, not in the least. But just the fact that all those dreams I had forever and a day - would never be. There wouldn't be dance classes, or gymnastics, or ballet .... there wouldn't be cheer leading or anything else like that.... no barbies, no baby dolls, no reminiscing of my childhood favorites with my daughter....
Kaedyn's name was picked out by Nathan. We debated, played around, had fun with names - but when it came down too it ..... we gave Nathan the baby book one day (remember he was only a year old) .... and told him to pick out a name.... he opened it up and pointed to Caden .... of course, I had to spell it differently.
On September 2nd I went to the hospital ... Dr. B wanted to do an amnio to see if we could deliver baby because I was on bedrest and MISERABLE ... so we went in hoping that his lungs would be mature. But alas, they were still a little green and we were sent home.
I had been growing sunflowers all summer and they were HUGE. This was taken September 8 ... the sunflowers weren't the only thing huge!
So on September 9th, I went in again - for another amnio. I had been having contractions since May and I was still on bedrest but damn if I didn't say screw it. I was up that day cleaning, trying to make sure everything was in order, contracting the whole day. To the point where both Dennis and my mom had noticed and commented on it and of course I denied denied denied .... even though it was very clear I was having contractions. And I knew they were *different* ....
But you have to realize, I was on kid #4 and had never gone into labor ....... sure I went through labor with Calahan but I was in the hospital when the contractions started, I wasn't on my own. And the contractions I was having was mostly minor.
All day I'm thinking .... something is different ....
But we weren't suppose to be to the hospital until 2 ... and so I just kept cleaning and fretting and worrying about everything.
When it came time to leave ...
When we got to the hospital, we parked and Dennis was walking ahead of me going in. He was at the front doors to the hospital and I was still lagging behind in the street - and in the middle of that street infront of the front doors of the hospital..... I stopped dead in my tracks and had a doozey of a contraction. I literally couldn't move while having it.
Dennis stopped, turned around, saw me holding my belly - stopped in the middle of the road... and ...
said the words he will NEVER live down....
"Are you having a contraction."
And I kid you not ....... my response was to him: "No, I just felt like stopping here hoping I'd get hit by a car."
Yep....
So we get into registration ... "We're here for L&D" ... and the lady goes "are you having contractions?" Dennis and I looked at each other and he goes, "yes she is but she won't admit it." Ha... he was right though.
So we get upstairs (after they INSISTED on putting me in a wheel chair) ... and they hook me up to the monitor .... and no kidding, I'm having contractions every 2 minutes.
EVERY TWO MINUTES ....
I don't know how long that had been going on - I'm pretty sure they weren't that close together until we got to the hospital.
But when Dr. B came in, I said "I'm having contractions every 2 minutes Dr. B - you may not have a choice but to take him out today." He laughed at me and started his speech about the amnio and risks and he stops dead in his tracks as he's watching the monitor. He says ... "you really are having contractions every two minutes."
Did he think I was lying about it???
So he says "Change of plans, lets get you checked, see if you've dilated, and if you have, we'll have to do the c-section immediately" ....
So he checks me.... and sure enough .... I was dilated to 3 .....
So proud of myself!! I actually went into labor!!
We're having a baby!!!!!
Quickly we got whisked away into the O.R. ...
At 3:55 pm that afternoon.... Kaedyn Phillip Russel was born.... on 9-9-08 ... he weighted 8lbs 3oz and was 18 1/4 inches... (they originally put 19 on his card but later found out it was really 18 1/4) ... and he was all boy.
After we brought him home.... I entered postpartum depression. PPD is a funny thing. You are asked "do you have it" at every appointment ... and the answer is no. I don't have it. Most the time, if you have it or not. I didn't even realize I had it until after I snapped out of it.
You have to realize, I came home to an experience. I had two older kids... Calahan was 12, Noah was 6, Nathan was one but the size of a 3-6 month old baby. I may not have hit the "mark" for Irish twins - but they are Irish Twins. Kaedyn quickly caught up to size with Nathan and then surpassed it. It was like having twins. I get asked ALL THE TIME if they are twins. My answer?
No, they are 16 months apart ...
To which I'm usually questioned more. Only once did I ever say "Yes, they are" ... and that was out of sheer desperation. I had been asked 10 times already that day if they were twins and I just couldn't explain it yet.... again..
They were both in diapers, both drinking bottles, they were in the same size clothes, same size diaper, same size whatever ...
Kaedyn wouldn't let me put him down, he was nursing ALL THE TIME... Nathan was wanting attention - I constantly had a baby on me... the other two needed attention ... I was overwhelmed ... I was so overwhelmed. But I was super mom .... I could do it all. Only - on particularly bad night I thought ... "I understand why animals eat their young."
So ... it was hard. He didn't sleep in his crib for 6 months. He only slept with me, on me, or occasionally in the swing..... I would lay him down in the crib or bassinet and he would instantly wake up. Instantly ....
It was hard. But so worth it....
Kaedyn's 1st Birthday ....
Monday, September 17, 2012
First Day of Pre-School ....
My littlest man started his second year of preschool today .... I had a really busy morning, stopped home, grabbed him real quick, snapped a couple of photos with the sun in the poor kids eyes.... and off to school we went.
He was wearing his special Pre-School Rocks shirt his first day! :)
When we dropped him off he instantly started to cry when we got in his classroom and started to cling to me. He's watching me write this right now, looking at the pictures ... and he's saying "Momma I cry." Yes, yes he did.
It took a little while for me to be comfortable to leave him. He's got a new teacher, one of the teachers he had last year is there too but she wasn't there that day. So it was new people, and his brother wasn't there with him this year. It's scary ..... and he's such a Momma's Boy.
But eventually, the teacher got a hold of him and was trying to engage him..... I took that moment to try to escape and ran out the door with him realizing it and last thing I hear is this scream as I shut the door.
Broke my heart - it did.....
But when I went to pick him up from school he was fine.
** Edit ** 2nd Day of school was great. Had to drop him off again cuz the bus didn't show up and he was fine - no tears - no screaming - and I think part of it was Mrs. Vera from last year was there this time. YAY Kaedyn!!
He was wearing his special Pre-School Rocks shirt his first day! :)
When we dropped him off he instantly started to cry when we got in his classroom and started to cling to me. He's watching me write this right now, looking at the pictures ... and he's saying "Momma I cry." Yes, yes he did.
It took a little while for me to be comfortable to leave him. He's got a new teacher, one of the teachers he had last year is there too but she wasn't there that day. So it was new people, and his brother wasn't there with him this year. It's scary ..... and he's such a Momma's Boy.
But eventually, the teacher got a hold of him and was trying to engage him..... I took that moment to try to escape and ran out the door with him realizing it and last thing I hear is this scream as I shut the door.
Broke my heart - it did.....
But when I went to pick him up from school he was fine.
** Edit ** 2nd Day of school was great. Had to drop him off again cuz the bus didn't show up and he was fine - no tears - no screaming - and I think part of it was Mrs. Vera from last year was there this time. YAY Kaedyn!!
Friday, September 7, 2012
First Day of Kindergarten ...
5 1/2 years ago ...... this little guy entered our lives ..... all 3lbs 4oz
And today ..... although he's only 27 lbs and is smaller then all the other 5 year olds, he started Kindergarten ....
Here he is in his classroom.... with all the other kids....
With all the kids and the parents and teachers in the room - he lasted about 5 minutes before needing to go to the Inclusion room because he was uncomfortable with all the other people in the room. We got down to the Inclusion room and he was so happy! He sat down and I asked for a kiss, and he turned and blew me a kiss and was like "bye mom - you can leave now" ... LOL... in the classroom he sat and down and was doing the numbers - but after a few minutes he kept coming to me to cuddle and looking for his backpack to go home... so I'm glad he likes and is comfortable in the inclusion room.
We'll see how he is when I pick him up at 3:30!
OOOOOOOOH and best of all... MOMMY DIDN'T CRY!!! lol
And today ..... although he's only 27 lbs and is smaller then all the other 5 year olds, he started Kindergarten ....
Here he is in his classroom.... with all the other kids....
We'll see how he is when I pick him up at 3:30!
OOOOOOOOH and best of all... MOMMY DIDN'T CRY!!! lol
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Happy Birthday Princess!
Today - there is a little girl who is turning 8. Another year has gone by and your Daddy (your REAL Daddy) misses you like crazy. We were wishing you a happy birthday!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSA!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSA!
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