Love you baby cakes!!

Valentines Day Shirts

I have been feeling crafty this week. And a woman from one of my facebook groups decided to post a photo of a cute couple of V~Day shirts.

"I could do that", I shouted with glee. Ok well maybe not glee and maybe I didnt even shout, Oh heck I never even said it out loud. But in my head it was with glee and shouted, alright?!?! Dont judge me!

WHATEVER!

Anyways, i decided to go ahead and try with the boys shirts, okay they came out kinda crappy. But hey, they are going on my kids and my kids dont care. So then I finished those and thought I would step up my game for my daughters. I found a picture online and outlined it. An TA~DA her shirt was designed.

They love them by the way!
My husband on the other hand, sighed. And then went on about something along the lines of our kids being teenagers with christmas tree shirts or something, I dont know I stopped listening. Let my babies be babies. They will never grow, NEVER I tell you!

So here is the pics I took, of cell phone quality, at night, in my poorly lit bedroom.

Merry Christmas from Melanie's Mania

We wish you a merry Christmas!

Here is a quick view of how we spent our day!
We hope you enjoyed your friends and family as much as we have!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!


Christmas Eve night....

And the children were nestled all snug in their beds...

My family at my moms...

My Family at my moms for Christmas Day

Our awesome moustache gifts!!

We moustache you a question!

My children - 31 Days of Joyful Blessings

My children.

Skylar, Dakota and Eli.

Oh man. I have been not looking forward to this post. How can I possibly convey how I feel about my children. How can I possibly explain to cyber world, just how much they mean to me???

I moved to California in May 1999. My ex was in the Marine Corp and was stationed on Camp Pendleton. I was scared, excited, nervous, and in love. It was hard out there with out my family and I was so far from home. I found work as a manager at a local Sub Shop and quickly made a mini family. I got pregnant in August 1999 ( on my 21st birthday). Again I was excited, nervous, scared and in love... We were so young and knew each other, but didnt really know each other, if that makes sense... I had known him since high school but never really got to know him as a boyfriend...  But regardless we were about to bring a child into the world and so we decided to get married.  Our wedding happened on March 11, 2000. Skylar came flying into the world on May 19th, two days before her due date.  I have never experienced such love for someone I had never met! She was an angel sent from heaven.... then we got discharged and the colic began... I was so lonely and wanted my family so bad.  My ex husband sent back to Florida to help me in June. Skylar was 6 weeks old. I moved in with my mom for a few months and got the help and love I needed. Then I moved into an apartment that my ex mother in law owned so she could help out too. My ex moved back to Florida in October 2000. And we tried to have a healthy relationship for Skylar and it just didnt work. We split in June of 2002.

L.J. and I were together for 3 years before we tried for Dakota. We tried for a few months and got pregnant. There was nothing abnormal about my pregnancy. All the testing looked good. I did fail the AFP at a 1:174 chance of Down Syndrome and at the time that seemed like such a far off number but looking back, it is still a pretty good chance. I wasnt given the abortion talk, but it was lingering there waiting for my reply...  I said no to the amnio - it didnt matter to me. My baby is my baby no matter what... I went into labor at my oldest brothers birthday party.. The contractions began in the pool... I thought they were fake, but they hurt enough for us to leave the party.  I drove home tensing up every ten minutes or so.  I put Sky to bed and laid down.  About 3am, it was time. Dakota came flying into this world on August 14, 2005. His Down Syndrome scared a lot of people, but not me. I was ready. He was wanted. And loved.

L.J. and I tried for Eli for a year. We had just about given up and decided two kids is enough. When suddenly one week, I just knew I was pregnant. I took 5 cheap tests that all came back negative.  I told LJ that I swear I am pregnant and decided to fork over the cash for the expensive test. LJ didnt think I was right so he laid out on the recliner waiting for me to take it. I went to the bath room. And there it was. The second line I KNEW would be there. I came running out - pants around my ankles in tears!!  He jumped up, nearly collapsing the recliner. Ahhhh memories! Eli was my trouble pregnancy, I had lots of bleeding and pain with him. But I survived and he joined us in this crazy world on March 9, 2011....

These kids, these very different experiences  their very different personalities. They are forever in my heart. I cant imagine my life without them, honestly! They mean the world to me and I feel so blessed that God chose me to be their mom! I know they have so much more to teach me and I cant wait to learn! I adore watching them grow and seeing how they are becoming who they are!

Stay tuned for more of our antics!

My Husband - 31 days of Joyful Blessings

My Husband.

Ever wonder where I met my husband?
On the Internet.
Yep, we are one of those couples.

I had just started working for a new Internet company. Where we scoured the Internet for hours, built websites and did some online shopping. It just seemed natural to look for dates as well.

Whats funny is that my husband was so annoying on the Internet, I actually had deleted him from my friends list a few times because he was weird. I am completely serious! He lived with his step mom and two step sisters and they would change their font to a rainbow color and when he popped up it would be in rainbow lettering. I was like, what is up with this dude.. What guy writes in rainbow? HAHA
Then he tells me, he thinks he is good looking because his sisters told him so... Ummm, wait, what??
Delete. Delete. Delete.
Then he pops up and tells me he is moving back to New York. Umm, ok. Bye. Delete.
Then he pops up and tells me he stayed. OY!!

So, I was headed to a birthday party at some club for a friend on a particular night in December, and he popped up and asked if I wanted to meet. I figured, well if I don't like him, I can use the excuse of the party to leave. No problem!! So I said, lets do it! Lets meet up!

I drove to his house around 8pm. I wasn't nervous, because honestly, I figured I would be leaving in a few minutes. I had no high hopes with this one.

I stayed 4 hours. I missed the party.

The second he walked out the door, something in me stirred. I felt like a school girl. He wasn't perfect, but I loved that. He was funny and charming. I felt like I knew him forever and I felt like we never stopped talking. There was no awkwardness and it just felt so natural. We sat outside under the stars on a porch swing and chatted the night away...

I left wondering if he felt the spark, the connection that I felt. I wondered if I would ever see him again...

He called the very next day.

And the rest is history.... Noooooo just kidding, there is more...

He moved in with me about a month later. But I was living in an apartment owned by my ex husbands mother. So my ex was always around. It was hard on LJ to have that lingering baggage nearby, but instead of talking about it, LJ up and left. He wrote me a letter. A letter? I was infuriated.  He ended up moving back to New York. I thought I would never see him again.

That was in early February.

Some day in early April, a familiar name popped up on my computer at work.
It was LJ. My heart stopped.

He wanted to call me. And he did. I held back tears as he told me he was glad he left, but he did miss my daughter and I. He told me how well things were going and how he still wanted to be friends. I just agreed and let him go...

Later that night he called me at home, in tears. He wanted to come back, he missed us so bad, he made a huge mistake - yadda yadda....

Both of us in tears opted to try again.

He moved back a few weeks later, and we got our own apartment. Away from the ex's.

And the rest is history -  for real this time.

I knew from the moment I met him, that there was something. Something I cant put my finger on. But that spark, that flame, the thing they always talk about in movies, I had that! We have that! I love him as much today as the first moment I met him. And its exciting!!

Yes he irritates me, yes he makes stupid decisions, yes he is weird. But he is perfectly imperfect, and that's what I love.

I am so blessed to have found him. And I love him to the moon and back!

My Faith - 31 days of Joyful Blessings

Welcome!

Today starts 31 days of Joyful Blessings, where I will be sharing with you the blessings that have changed my life...

I cant possibly start off this journey with out naming #1 most important factor in my life: My faith.

Here is my story:

I grew up in a catholic family, I went to catholic schools. But I never really knew what it was about. I never really took it seriously. I hated going to church - it was so boring. I just went and "existed".  I sang the hymns, I stood, kneeled and sat when supposed to. But there was never any feeling in it. And then my mom got into a horrible relationship. I feel like my life took a sharp left. He abused her... bad... and I watched. I felt like God wasn't there. He wasn't watching over us. He was letting my mom die inside. I hated it, and I hated Him for allowing it. I didn't understand there was a bigger plan working.
Sometimes I like to look back and think, wow, look at what we over came! Its astounding sometimes.
I lived my life as an atheist for a very long time. I had heated battles against Christian friends. And felt like I won them, because I shut them up, they always stopped arguing. But I didn't realize then, that I didn't win and they didn't stop because they had no more to say. I learned that sometimes, as a Christian - you have to digress. I know and understand that now.
Back in 2008, I was going through a very tough time. Financially, mentally, physically. I felt like a no one. A nothing. My husband was out of work. We were so poor. We were about to lose our apartment, we had no food, our electric was getting turned off. We were in a bad spot. I was fighting with my mom, my boyfriend, my kids. This is not where I thought my life was headed. I was so depressed. I thought, if I leave maybe everyone will be happy...
I turned on my internet to check my email to turn on a vacation response, as it was getting shut off the next day, and there was an email from a  friend.  It was simple, just a few words..

"Was thinking of you and felt that I should ask you to come to church."

Keeping in mind, this person never emailed me. We talked on the phone, saw each other in person, but never emailed. Keeping in mind that this person has asked me to church a million times since high school, and stopped asking years ago... Keeping in mind this is the person I would argue faith about all the time.

I laughed at the email and shut off the computer. I started at the screen for a while. and my laughter turned into tears. My boyfriend came out and asked what was wrong. I asked him if he wanted to go to church. He said, "Sure"

I turned back to the computer screen, took a deep breath and turned it back on. I hit reply and entered - Yes. and hit send.

We attended church that Sunday and I didn't burn up in flames! ( I joked about this for months)
Something stirred in me. I cried. A lot.  I felt my burdens and shame leave.

We went back again and again. The first Sunday in June, we attended as usual and the Pastor had spoke his prayer to recommit ourselves to the Lord. I spoke it in my heart and on my lips. And then he asked for those who spoke it - to stand up and profess it to the world. I was thinking NO WAY am I standing up in front of all these people!!  He was scanning the crowd, people were standing left and right. Then the Pastor looked right at me. I felt his eyes burning in my soul! How does he know???  I still sat, he went through the crowd some more, and as he started to look back my way - the Lord gave me a not so gentle push. I jumped out of my seat like a rocket. My Pastor acknowledged me and I collapsed in my seat in a bundle of tears. All the weight of the world left me that day. And I have never felt the same.

Even as hard as it gets, I will never be the same.

As for the rest of the story?

My boyfriend, L.J. and I went to the church for financial help. And we got way more help then that. An associate pastor, agreed to marry us - FREE. In a few weeks!
Marriage! YIKES!!!
His only request was that L.J. live separately from us until the wedding, as God intended it to be. To show we were serious about our commitment.
And we did.
L.J. lived in a place called Calvary house for a month.
We got married December 21, 2009, at my step dads restaurant. In front of family and friends. and of course... God, Himself.

I got a new life that year. Jesus wiped my slate clean with the spilling of his blood a long time ago. But I never felt the impact until then. I never felt thankful until then.

I cannot wait until the day we go to our real home. In heaven.
Wont you join me there?
Its never too late!

A glimpse of a Sunday Morning...

My Morning:

Making my boys breakfast (waffles) I was singing away in my kitchen... I gave them some strawberry milk while they waited for the waffles. They sat and watched me as I sang and danced my heart away ... Between lyrics I would kiss one boy and then the other...

After The waffles were done and the boys were eating, I made my cup of coffee and sat down to enjoy thier company... here is how it went.

D - Mom 
Me - What honey

D - Mom
Me - What babe
D - Mom
Me - Yes, dakota, what is it.
D - boo boo boo boo ( this means potty)
Me - do you need to go potty?
D - no
Me - ok
E - Mom
Me - What Eli
E - blah blah inaudible blah
Me - Wow really that is awesome!
E - Mom
Me - What baby
E - done
Me - you are done already? I just sat down
E - Fusses and cries
Me - Ok I will let you down
D - ( pushes his plate) All done
Me - Sigh, ok boys nice having breakfast with you

Then - They both got down and cuddled on the bench I was sitting on grabbed their breakfasts and started eating, one boy under each of my arms. Oh man, this is heaven! I love them!!

~Blessings to all on this day! Thank you Jesus for my babies...

Sky and LJ are still snoozing by the way so they missed out - especially on my awesome singing!! ;)

Happy Birthday. to.. me...?

Yes, so yesterday was the day I was born. The day I came kicking and screaming into this world.
Little did I know that 34 years later this day would still end in tears...

I had an okay day. The older kids were in school and Eli and I just lounged around the house. I did not lift one finger, I played lazy Mom. I stayed in my jammies and we watched cartoons.
My mom sent me a beautiful arrangement of flowers, including my favorite, daisies. They smelled amazing.

My kids came home, gave me big hugs and sang to me...
After work my mom stopped by with a few gifts and a huge cheesecake. We had some and then my hubby got home.

We asked my mom to baby sit for a bit while we went to dinner, so we dropped off the boys and went to Outback.
We had a great waiter, he was very enthusiastic and told us lots of jokes. He even guessed I was 26, even tho I knew he was way under guessing to not hurt my feelings...

My mom texted me and said Eli had a fever so we rushed out of there to grab the boys and head home. When we got home I went in my room to grab a diaper which are located on a shelf next to my bedroom window..

When I got there and put my hand in to grab a diaper I felt a gust of heat. I looked over and noticed the curtain was funky, so I pulled it back...

BROKEN WINDOW, GLASS EVERYWHERE...

*SCREAM* - I ran out to the living room screaming, "We got broken into", L.J. instinctively grabbed his gun and went thru the entire house.

My heart was pounding so fast I couldn't even get my phone to turn on.

L.J. called the police and they arrived quickly, when the police got here they saw the blood. Whoever broke in cut themselves pretty bad...

"Is anything missing?" the policeman asked...

In my panic, I didn't even look.. I didn't notice anything. My jewelry, my laptops, my electronics, everything was still there.  Then L.J. said... "Our change jug"

See we have this OLD wine jug that we put our loose change in, well I had just emptied it for a fundraiser for VBS so there wasn't much in there, maybe $5 or so... That was the only thing missing!

The thief walked past a camera, an xbox, a laptop and stole a jug of change... So weird and it didn't sit well..

Anyways, there was blood all over the window and the sill, which they broke off... So the police officer called in forensics to take samples and finger prints...  I hope we can catch who ever did it. That would make me sleep easier...

The police seem to think that it was a teenage neighborhood kid. They pulled a plastic chair up to our fence to jump it, as its locked from the inside, and used a 5 gallon bucket to climb thru the window, which they threw not one but two pieces of concrete into, to break...

I am thankful we weren't home,
I am thankful they didn't break into the boys room,
I am thankful they didn't hurt my dog,
I am thankful they left my lap top.
And lastly I am thankful we are all safe.

My heart was hurting and I wished bad things upon the person, I even said out loud that I hope they bleed to death. But this morning I prayed that they were okay. And if they needed money that bad, I prayed some would come there way in a better form. I pray the Lord touch their hearts.

But dont think I do NOT have a gun nearby... I kept it in arms reach last night and will for a while. Dont think I wont be ready to use it. Dont think I WONT use it.

I have never felt so violated. And downright scared to death. I didn't sleep a wink.

I know it will get better, but right now, I am on edge and I am packing heat!

Happy Birthday to me, right??

I am going to try to take pics today to upload, cuz it was dark last night...
Can you believe this crime happened in between 7-9PM? Crazy!!

P.U. Stinky Feet!

Since school has let out, Dakota has been complaining about pain in his right foot.
Children with Down Syndrome have a large V in between their big toe and second toe.  This is where the pain is. Or so he tells us. He also has complained all the way up to his knee hurting. Normally after a few days of moaning or groaning about something, he stops. But this time it lasted far too long.

So I gave a call to Shriners Hospital, they had seen him before a few years ago, when we got foot and ankle inserts, due to him not walking. It had been a long time since we had been there so it was due time anyways.

 I made our appointment and we headed out there last Monday.

They told us again, we needed inserts for him, as its possibly his flat feet that are aching. The inserts will not improve the arch, just take away some of the pain. Due to his Down syndrome, his feet will always be flat, as his low muscle tone stops the arch from really forming to begin with.

So he may always have to have inserts, or not.  Depends on him!

I wish I had taken a photo of the inserts - but I havent - yet.

So here are some shots from the Hospital:

Waiting in the room

There was a huge wall mirror

This is in orthotics

They do casting and inserts here...

The boys love coming, they get tons of goodies! They left with a Bucs stuffed bear, And some John Deere Trucks! We love Shriners! They have amazing care! 

Love

I fell in love with my husband - AGAIN - today.

No particular reason. Nothing special happened. I just got that feeling. That butterfly in your stomach feeling. That phone is ringing and its him feeling. That spotting him in a crowded room feeling. That first kiss feeling.

I was just sitting here watching him. Not doing anything in particular. he was just sitting there. And I realized just how much I love him. No matter what. How lucky I have been to get him. The Lord shined his love upon me and sent me to him. What favor I have found in the Lord that he sent me an angel to be my husband.

Thank you.

I love you LJ. You are my heart and soul.

Love always!
Melanie Joy

God gave me a second chance

March 21, 2011

Around Noon I called LJ telling him I was having chest pains, I told him I think its just heart burn. As I was waiting in the parking lot for Dakota to get out of school it was getting worse. I came home took some heart burn medicine and sat on the couch. It wasn't getting any better, so I thought some fresh air might help. I take Dakota and Eli outside. I sit down with my crosswords and enjoy the air.

Then it hit me.
GASP GASP GASP
I suddenly couldn't breathe. Oh my God, am I dying?
GASP GASP

I try to pick up Eli and take him inside. I couldn't lift him. I start to panic, which makes my breathing worse. I call LJ, he is on the Skyway on his way. But it was gonna be a while. PANIC
I call my mom, she JUST walked thru the door from the beach, she was on her way.
LJ made it home first and took the kids, My mom ran me to the Hospital. St Pete General. I thought it might have had something to do with just having a baby, or it was just a bad case of heartburn.

I had an EKG done, it came back fine. I had a chest Xray done, it looked okay. I had a CT scan done. They found something. But they couldn't tell what. It was either Pneumonia or a blood clot. They had to keep me over night so they could do a VQ Scan in the morning to find out. They started me on antibiotics and shots in my belly to thin my blood. Treating me for both ailments just in case.

VQ Scan the next day showed it was pneumonia in my lower right quadrant of my lungs. They STOP the blood thinners and continue me on antibiotics. They want to keep me one more night just in case.

That night Pastor Art came to see me. he is the one who married LJ and I. It was nice to pray with him. Shortly after he left I was traumatized by the events that took place.

Right in front of my hospital door, across the hall was a loud man. He has visitors ALLLL day. And you could hear his booming voice all the way down the hall. Lord, please let him go to sleep soon, I am so tired! And he is so loud.

I am ashamed and sad.

He gets up out of his bed and collapses in the hall way. CODE BLUE CODE BLUE.
Oh My Gosh. Please don't die. I start to pray.

Nurses Doctors Everyone in the hall, stood around my door. I had front row seats to a show I didn't want to see. They worked on him for and hour. And that was it. He died. Right there. Right there in front of me. Right were, just a while earlier he was joking about the Lightening Games with his roommate. Right there where I had asked the Lord to make him be quiet. I had a gut ache. I called LJ and asked him to pray with me.

Then I sat and watched as his family approached the room. I watched their faces as they were told what happened. I wanted to look away. But I couldn't. I watched as they entered the room to see his lifeless body. I watched as his wife collapsed by his side.

I don't want to die here. I want to go home. I miss my kids.

March 24th -
I go home with the diagnosis of Pneumonia. I was so relieved. The doctor came in one more time before I left and gave me a script for two antibiotics. And then dropped the bomb. "Gall Stones"
Say what? No one ever mentioned Gall Stones?? He said they happen, and not to worry unless I am in extreme pain. Umm okay, but weird I have been here three days and no one mentioned them up until now. I told him I was confused. he walks out. Ummm, okay. Just send me home!
I ask the nurse to look at my chart and tell me about the Gall stones. He said there is NOTHING in my chart about that. I wonder if he read someone elses chart. Get me out of here.

Get home to a VERY happy family. Hugs and kisses all over the place. So glad to be home with my babies!

Lj fills my prescriptions. Comes home with just one. Where is the other one? Well the pharmacist says the two meds the doc gave me combined could have given me an instant heart attack. Say WHAT?? What the hell kind of hospital is this place??


March 26th 2011

LJ takes the kids for a walk. I wasn't feeling well still and wanted to stay inside. They aren't gone long, but while they were out. It hit me again.
GASP GASP GASP.

I run to the bedroom, crawl in bed.
GO AWAY< GO AWAY
I don't want to go back in there. Please Lord Make it go away!

LJ walks thru the door takes one look at me and says LETS GO, NOW!
We go to Morton Plant this time.

I need another CT scan which is risky, cuz I just had one and the radiation could kill me.
This phrase :could kill me:, is one I hear a LOT in the next month.

I decide to do it, cuz the benefits out weighed the risks.

The Doctor comes back, sits down. Its never good when they actually sit down.
Its NOT pneumonia.
Ok, so what is it?
Bilateral Pulmonary Embolisms in both lungs.
Ok so what is that?
Blood clots in each lung.
It could kill me.
TEARS. TEARS. TEARS.
They have to keep me. NO NO NO
I do not want to stay I have a new born baby, I cant stay again.
I have to stay, it could kill me.
They start the blood thinners - shots in my belly immediately.

WHY? LORD, WHY?
Another 4 days stay in the hospital. Lots of pain meds, lots of shots in my belly, lots of blood taking. I leave battered and VERY VERY bruised.

I come home still in pain for several weeks. Going to get blood drawn weekly which always ends in very huge bruises from the blood thinners.
I will be on those for a year. Which thankfully is far less then being on the for life.
I have to change my diet. I have to change my lifestyle.
But I am alive. And I am with my kids.

APRIL 9TH 2011
Back to the Emergency room, pain is so fierce I cant take another day.
They do an xray and still see fluid in my lungs. They want me to stay for observation. NO WAY. Send me home.
I go home with more pain meds.

April 12th 2011
I have a docs appt to check my levels. i tell her I am still in so much pain. She gives me a steroid shot.

RELIEF.

Its a miracle. I felt relief! I mean the pain was still there, but I could breathe and move and Oh Praise the Lord, i felt relief!





April 19th 2011
Today -
I feel better. I still feel pain. but I feel so much better. I almost feel normal.
But today I got my first real period. This is going to be a problem. I am bleeding like a deer got gutted in my bathroom. I have never seen so much blood. This is scary. But I know its because of the thinners. And I do have my 6 week check up with my OB next week. So I will check with him if I am okay. As long as I am not dizzy I am not worried. But dang, how can someone lose so much blood? Sorry I know that's gross, but hey, your the one still reading!! ;)

Thank you for all the continued support and prayers. I appreciate all the help everyone has given me in this time and I will pay it forward as much as I can. You are all a blessing to me!

Welcome Eli Simpson Merritt!

March 7th 2011

I went to the doctors for my weekly check on the baby's progress. I was in bad pain, my back ached badly, I was having leg cramps and I had sciatica. I was hoping they would send me straight to the hospital. Dr. Javate was the doctor there that day. He was my fave! He said Wednesday that he would induce me and deliver. SOLD! Since I was already 100% effaced and 2cm dilated, I was ready!

March 9th, 2011

7:00am
Off to St Pete General. Got induced.
During the next few hours, several interns came in and asked if they could watch the birth. I give them permission. I could care less.

1:45pm
I am ready to push. Dr Javate shows up, interns are in place.
PUSHING...
Intern steps in to deliver. I think it was his first delivery. LJ says he was shaking to death.
Eli's head gets stuck. Finally it comes out. Eli's shoulder gets stuck.
PAIN
PAIN
PAIN

2:08pm
Eli Simpson Merritt is born.
He is bruised form getting stuck and he is BIG. Its finally over. He is here.
HAPPINESS

8lbs 12.7oz and 20 1/2 inches

I am in love, again.
He is beautiful!

I start breastfeeding immediately. Then after an hour they rush me off to get my tubal litigation. No more babies for this factory.

5:30pm
When I get down there they pump up my epidural with some heavy meds. And I go under the knife awake.
OH MY GOSH
I FEEL IT.
Mad rush from the nurses, thing on my face," breathe deep " is the last thing I heard, they knocked me out.
Wake up an hour later.
WHERE IS MY BABY?!?!
She is awake.

7:00pm
Sent me back up to my room. I have no idea which way is up. I feel confused and lost.
All my visitors went home. LJ and Dakota were left. Hugs and kisses and they left too.
Just me and Eli. Onward with the breastfeeding.
PAIN
CRAMPS
PAIN


Having babies is NO fun.
But the end result is SOOOOO worth it...

Mommy loves you Eli!

Panic!

Thursday morning started like any other. I got up to my alarm, woke up my son. ( I do not have my daughter on Thursday mornings.) And started my day. Got in the shower, gave my son some breakfast, got dressed, got him dressed. Left to bring him to school. Came home. My husband happened to be home this day, so I chit chatted with him while I got ready for Women in the Word, a bible study at my church.

Seeing as I am pregnant, I decided before I left I would go potty.

I stood up and yelped. Blood. Oh no.

"What do I do, what do I do???"

Panic.

Ok, first pull your self together, get your pants up and get out of the bathroom.
Hubby at least is calm and says, "Just call your doctor." Ok, ok. Take a breath.

Call the docs office. They tell me a doctor will call me back.

Tick, Tick, Tick.

An hour later no call.

Panic.

Call my mom. She says call them back, don't wait around.

Ok. I go to the bathroom again to see if it was a fluke. More blood, now clots. ACK!

Call the doctor back, tell them I am panicking! They say they don't have an OB on staff today that they have to call one of the docs at home. "SO CALL THEM!" Ok, they will call me back.

Tick, Tick, Tick.

Finally, they call back. "Its fine, happens all the time. Just rest."

SERIOUSLY? I don't even get a call back from the doctor? The receptionist tells me I am fine? Umm, ok.

I feel okay, so LJ and I run off to a store before we pick up the kids. Have the urge to go potty again.
Even MORE blood, a lot more.

Panic!

Didn't even call the docs, rushed off to the Emergency room.
LJ left to get the kids from school so he could drop them off at a friends and join me in case we got bad news.

Hospital searched for a heartbeat.

Panic!

Finally he found it. Utter relief! Checked me out the rest of the way, said he didn't really know where it is coming from, but the baby sounds fine, i can go home. Bed rest for 2 weeks.

LJ calls, says he just got Dakota and is headed to my friends, I tell him I am done and going home. He is irritated, but relieved.

Today is Saturday and I am still spotting, but not as bad as the other day. I still feel fine. Praying it is nothing and Gods will, will be done.

This is my third pregnancy, you would think I would be a pro by now, but I am not. These little things scare me to death! Hoping this is just a little blip in the radar that turns out to be nothing. But I cant help but still being nervous.

BlogLand

OK OK OK...

So I am behind on Blog World. Seems like everyone is doing it... BUT ME! So I am a natural born slacker, Sue me! No - Dont really do that! But seriously! I have decided to take the plunge, as I don't already have enough on my plate, and I dont promise I will keep up as well as others with filling this bad boy out, especially if they decide to do what everyone else does - when I finally get used to the template they change it all around, and being as I am resistant to change, I stop using it altogether....

But on a more positive note: uhhhh, hmm searching for positivity.... uhhh ERROR ERROR....

My goal is to try and do this weekly, and give you input on the kids and everything that has been going on with us, so those of you who are Facebook Challenged can keep up...
I will try and include pictures when I take them...
I will try and remember everything that happened in a week, even though I cannot remember yesterday and I promise to update with wicked important stuff, more often then a week....

So Lets begin:

This week, we went to the ER at All Childrens twice because Dakota was complaining of leg pain, of course the second visit proved to be the same diagnosis as the first: Toxic Synovitus.. Say Whaaaa?!?! Yeah apparently it is a pediatric arthritic condition, where fluid pockets form in the joints. Now that sounds fun! Uh, not! So today, Monday, he seems to be feeling better, so I am gonna attempt to put him back in school tomorrow.

Skylar won another award this week, for her Yes, I Can Award, that she won last year, apparently she won the state contest too... Go Skylar, Go Skylar. Her teacher from Mt. Vernon Elem., came up to us at church on Sunday and presented it to her. She was beaming, which made me in turn fluff out my chest and walk around strutting ...

LJ and I put up our pool this weekend - not as fun as I imagined it. but reaped the benefits nonetheless. Dakota, Sky and I swam in it with some of my friends... It was cold. Can we say "blue lips" on everyone....BRRR. Ok So solar cover is back on it, and we are hoping to try again soon!

LJ also finished up the fire pit. What is it with men and fire pits?? I mean seriously, must be a caveman thing...

Oh yeah and on Friday we had movie night at the the church. That was fun! Dakota just loves Veggie Tales and it was all you can eat buffet (kinda kid oriented, but filled my guts)

Ok i think I covered everything... See ya next week!

PS, I hope I did this right.... :SIGH: