Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays!

I feel like lately it's been nothing but a big celebration around our house, which is totally fine with me! Last Saturday we had Hoyt's first birthday celebration with my side of the family at our house! It was such a beautiful day and we spent most the day outside playing and getting everything ready inside for the big party! We grilled burgers, hot dogs, brats, and chicken for supper, yummy! Mr Hoyt was spoiled as usual with gifts he got lots of blocks, a fire truck, farm animals, and some cute summer clothes! After gifts and of course more cake, which Hoyt just loooved, it was outside for a fire and s'mores! We are so incredibly blessed that we have the great partents we do and the awesome grandparents that they are to our little ones!


Aunt JoJo and some birthday money!


Waiting for some food!


Birthday Cake


Hoyt was so into the cake!


Tuesday the 18Th rolled around and it was my wonderful husbands birthday. We decided to just stay around home this year for our birthdays and spend time with one another and our kids, there is no other way I would pick to spend our days now! It was another beautiful day and after the boss man woke up from sleeping we headed outside and jumped on the trampoline and played on the swings. We had my husbands favorite meal for supper steaks, potatoes carrots and onions, and brown rice. It was nice to spend some quality family time and just be with one another and celebrate life and all the gifts we've been blesses with along the way. I'm so grateful for the 5 years that I've known my husband he is one of the strongest, caring, compassionate, and giving person that I know and inspires me to be a better person everyday. I love you more everyday hubby!


The boss man's fire!


My boys!


Yum!!

On to the third birthday in one week, mine! My day was as perfect as I could ask for! It was gorgeous outside, my kids were so well behaved, my husband brought me home the most beautiful roses and wonderful card, and we had one of my favorite suppers creamy poppy seed chicken! In 23 years of life I'm so grateful for all the happiness and love I have received from so many people. I have two great kids that light up my heart and soul each and every day of my life and I have a husband who is my best friend in the whole world. At this moment in my life I feel a happiness in my heart that has never been there before and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for the next year of our lives!


How pretty!

Dr. App and a long weekend!

Today was Hoyt's one year appointment and we were thrilled to hear that he is right where he needs to be developmentally and he is healthy as a horse! At the one year check, they prick their finger and check their hemoglobin levels and lead level and everything was in the normal range so we were happy to hear that considering we live in an older home! I was lucky enough to have my husband come along today which really makes our appointment go so much smoother, its not easy having two kids getting into everything and not wanting to sit still, so thank you daddy!

What Mr. Wild Man is up to at 1 year!

*Weight - 25 lbs, which is 81%

*Height - 30 inches, 59%

*Head circumference - 48.5 cm, 95%, he must be very smart!

*Saying - "dada" "mama" "dog" and "baba"

*Sleep schedule - Morning nap from 9:30ish to around 11, afternoon nap 1:30 to 3:30/4:00, you go to bed around 7:30 and get up between 7:00/7:30!

*Clothes - Mostly 18-24 months!

*You love to eat anything and everything, prefers things you can feed yourself though!

*Wears size three diapers still but will be going to size fours soon!

*Is walking! Hoyt took his first steps on May 5Th, 2010!

*You love to ride in the car now that your in a forward facing seat. You will just sit there and watch your sister and its so fun looking out of the window.

*Love to clap your hands and wave "bye-bye"

*Have one 7oz bottle in the morning but are starting to wean from that and one bottle still at night.

*Love to go outside and be pushed in your swing but would prefer being on the trampoline and crawling around like a wild thing!

*Get so happy to go to pick Gracyn up from preschool and see all her friends.

*Learning what things you can do that make your sister upset, and LOVE doing just that some days!

It has been very rainy here this week and I wasn't sure if we would ever see the sun again, but he made his appearance today and we are more than happy to have him back in our lives! Miss princess didn't have preschool today or on Monday so we are looking forward to a nice long weekend together and its supposed to be nice again, what could be better! We have another birthday celebration planned for Hoyt and a graduation to attend so the nice warm weather will be amazing and we will definitely be taking advantage of it!


The rain flooding our sidewalk


HUGE puddle under our maple tree!


Our favorite thing to do on days home!


Happy boy!

Birthday... Part II!

We arrived at the hospital around 7:30 got checked in, sent up to labor and delivery, checked in up there, situated in our room and then the fun began! I was scheduled to be induced at 8:00 am, but in true Dr. fashion my Dr was late. Dr. V arrived shortly before 9:00 and ordered my pitocin to be started along with all my IV's, I tested positive for the group B strep so I was also administerd an antibiotic to treat that. I loved that this time around I was able to feel a lot less stressed and worried about every little thing that the nurses came in to check and all the monitors and the nosies and it felt so much more laid back and I truly cherished that! The first three and a half hours were pretty comfortable and it was just me and my husband relaxing and watching tv and spending time together and it was a very enjoyable time, I also took in those last few hours of being able to feel my precious little one inside me and thinking how soon it would be til I was finally able to hold him. Around noon my dr came in and checked me and I was dialted to 5cm and was able to get my epidural and they also broke my water at that point and I knew then that thing would progress quickly and the nerves started to set in. For the first hour or two I rested and wasn't feeling anything and then around 2pm I started to feel the uncomfortablness and started getting restless and asked if I could be checked. At that point I was at a 7-8cm and just prayed for it to hurry up and to please let our Hoyt arrive safely. We decided to call my mom to bring Gracyn to the hospital around 3:30-4:00ish know that it wouldn't much longer at all, and good thing we called when we did because they checked me at four and I was at 9cm and told I could begin pushing soon! In all the chaos that was going on in the room those last 35 mins all I remember was my wonderful husband holding my hand and stroking my head and that alone was enough to keep me calm. At 4:25 I started pushing and at 4:35pm my heart stopped for a brief moment when they held up the most precious and wonderful little man I had ever seen, I will always remember that moment seeing his face for the first time and seeing the love in my husband's eyes as he looked at his son for the first time. They got Hoyt all cleaned up and the whole time I was patiently waiting to hear his weight to see how much bigger he was than his sister, Gracyn was 7lbs 7 oz, and I couldn't believe it when the nurse said 8lbs 11oz! That night we had many visitors come to see him and of course took millions of pictures and I remember one moment from that afternoon and night that was far greater than any, when my princess came into the room and saw her brother for the first time! Finally as the day came to a close our family went home and it was just the boss man, me and our new baby and it was so wonderful to just lay back and relax and take in this new little person that we had just been blessed with. From the moment we got there that morning I had asked if I could home the next day as long as Hoyt and I were doing fine and healthy and everything worked out great. Hoyt had a little rash all over him but the pediatrician wasn't worried about it and told us it would go away over the next few weeks, they also checked his jaundice levels and they were a little high but nothing alarming and gave us the okay that we could head home that next afternoon. The next afternoon came and they took care of all the paper work and everything else scheduled us for a appointment that friday to check his rash and jaundice level and sent us home that afternoon. I can't begin to say how happy I was to get home and be with both my babies and in our own house and just take it all in. Friday morning came and we got our first taste of what it was like to get two little ones ready, us ready, all the stuff that goes along with the kid and oh my word I was afraid I was never going to be able to leave the house again without at least three people helping me! We arrived at our appointment and we were expecting to hear that everything looked good and be on our way, wrong! Hoyt's rash was better but his jaundice was high and we were told to head upstairs to the lab department and they would draw more blood and check his levels at little more closely. After waiting for what seemed like hours and having our poor little man stuck in the foot three time they then sent us upstairs to the family area of labor and delivery and told us the pediatrician would be up shortly with the results. Once again we waited and waited and waited and then finally the dr came and told us that Hoyts levels were really high and that it would be in his best interest if we were admitted to the peds unit and put him under bilirubin lights. One quick way to make a momma cry is tell her that her two day old son has dangerously high jaundice levels and has to be in the hospital all after going through a rough last couple weeks of pregnancy, yep that sure did it for me! That friday, saturday, and sunday were three of the roughest days I can say I went through in my life. The started with just a little bili light that went up the back of his onies and that was okay since I could still hold him and keep him with me. They continued to use that light for all of friday afternoon, that night, saturday morning and then came saturday afternoon. The peds dr came in to check him and to tell us the results of his lab draws from earlier that afternoon and once again it was news that sent me to tears. The light wasn't strong enough and his levels were still high and he was going to have to be placed in an isolet in only a diaper and wear his little "bug eyes" and see what that did for him. My husband can testify to the fact that I was a COMPLETE mess that afternoon and night. We were only allowed to take him out for me to nurse him and change his diaper and then put him right back in the isolet and that killed me as Hoyt would just cry and cry and was so upset and tried numerous times to fight the bug eyes being put on. After that looooooonnnnnggggg afternoon and night sunday morning came and I prayed and prayed that the Lord please let his little body being better and his levels down and that we would be okay to go home. I felt such a happiness when the Dr told us his levels were down and he was all cleared to go home, once again cue the tears only happy ones this time! Over the course of the first couple of weeks it was definately an adjustment getting used to two kids, still taking care of the house and meals, and everything else that comes along with it.

Here we are a year later and we've had our tough moments and pure bliss moments I won't say it has all been good and easy, but I don't think it would feel quite as good if we hadn't had those moments that forced us to grow and be strong. We have two wonderful, healthy, precious children who bring so much joy to our lives and we couldn't be happier with were the Lord has choose for our lives to go!

Thank you to my husband for being the man you, the husband you are to me, and the amazing daddy you are to our children. We are beyond blessed to have you in our life!

Happy Birthday my love!

I sit here tonight with my children sleeping, husband at work, and the furry one of our house snoring at my feet and I cant help but feel a million different emotions run through me. Today we celebrated our babies 1st birthday and I am at a loss for words how this year went so fast! I can say that this was a day of pure joy even in spite of the fact that I was a tad, okay a little more than a tad, sad that he is already one! Thinking back to a year ago this day I remember so clearly and many times today it ran through my mind like a familiar movie. I figure since it is still so clear in my mind there is no better time then now to write it all down and have this to look back on to remember that glorious day!

It was May 11Th, a Monday, that I went to my Dr. appointment and was told that I would be getting induced the following day. I had know that for some time I would likely be induced before my due date, as I had high blood pressure starting around 30 weeks and in my first pregnancy I had also had high blood pressure which progressively got worse and worse which also lead to a induction! The weeks between 30 and 38 were pretty rocky and rough more times than not. I spent a majority of that time driving down to my Dr to be checked out, brief stays in the hospital, eventually daily visits from a home health nurse, and lots, lots, LOTS of laying around! This was definitely a tough pill to swallow considering I had a precious 2 and half year old who depended on her mommy all day long, but I also knew it was what was best for Hoyt and for me and looking back now I had so much one on one and cherished times alone with my princess that I wouldn't have traded those days and weeks for anything! Those weeks had lots of ups and downs, relaxation and stressed moments, but definitely lots of love from many people. I would lay there many days and night and just pray that this little man would stay inside me for as close to 37 weeks as possible and that him and I would continue to be stay healthy and safe and thrive! Going back even a couple of weeks before that I had a big "tough" moment when I checked my blood pressure at a local wal-mart, thinking it would be high but still in an "okay" range for me and about passed out when I saw the screen read 180/110! I immediately called my Dr and was told I needed to head to the ER and they would check me there and send me to labor and delivery. I remember rushing home as fast as we could and having my wonderful mom meet us there to stay with the princess as the boss man took me to the hospital. When we finally arrived at the hospital my BP had come down some but was still high and they were concerned because I had a terrible headache that wasn't going away or getting better with medication. After a few hours of observation and no real improvement it was then decided that I would stay the night and be monitored and see how things looked in the morning. Over the course of that night I was given a few different kinds of medication hoping that one of them would help with the headache and FINALLY they gave me a shot and I wish for the life of me I knew what it was called because let me say it was a LIFESAVER! I was finally able to rest and did just that after kissing my husband good-bye as he works yucky 3rd shift and had to be off to work. I woke up the next day and the medication was wearing off and that darn ole headache was creeping back up and my blood pressure was still borderline so I was crushed when they told me I would probably be there most the day and possibly that night, all I wanted was to be home with my princess and have her with me. Once again cue my wonderful mother as she took care of her all day and brought her to the hospital to see me and let me tell you seeing her beautiful face, Gracyn's and my moms, lifted my spirits immediately! I was given a few more of the oh-my-gosh-I-love-this-shot-can-I-please-have-more shot throughout the day and once again was upset when I was told that my BP was still high and would have to stay. I cried that night a whole bunch thinking that my precious baby was going to have to be delivered early and that scared the life right out of me! I was relieved when the following day they did an ultrasound and told me that little man was 6 lbs 2 oz and would more than likely be completely fine with little to no assistance if he were to be born soon, but to be on the safe side they gave me a shot of betamethasone to help mature the lungs and decided to send me home with another one of those shots for the headaches. Fast forward back to May 11Th- I was so happy laying on the Dr table and hearing that our little man was going to be here tomorrow sometime and that we would finally be able to hold him and have him on the outside where we knew he was safe. That night seemed like a rushed and blurry couple of hours as I was a little less then fully ready for the arrival of our baby, keep in mind I had been on bed rest for the previous six some weeks and thought I had two more weeks to finish washing the clothes, getting the diapers out and ready, bassinet ready and oh a million other things. It makes me smile thinking back to early in the pregnancy my mom would tell me how she was so sad and cried and cried the night before she had me thinking she would never love anyone as much as she loved my older sister and was devastated leaving her the morning she heading to hospital knowing Jamie would no longer be her only baby and I would just laugh thinking that that wouldn't be me! Weellllll let me tell you that night the water works were in full swing as I honestly contemplated keeping Gracyn up til I went to bed and having her sleep with me and just holding her all night long for one last time before there was another little one who needed mommy's attention and love. I let the better side of me win though and knew it wouldn't make for a fun Gracyn, or Granny for that matter, the next day with a tired and cranky girl and put her to bed reminding her how much I loved her and how special she was to me and her daddy! I think I slept about 3 hours that night and had so many thoughts running through my head that I thought I might go crazy from anticipation of the next day. Finally my husband arrived home around 4:00 am to catch a couple hours of sleep before heading to the hospital and it was at that point that I was able to feel relaxed and sleep. Then came 6:15 and the alarm went off, we got ready, grabbed our bags, and made our way to the place we would meet our second born child and the completion of our family!

I had ever intention of writing this in one post, but my little fingers are tired and there is just to much I want to write and remember for one post and I didn't even get to this birthday celebration we had today! ha!

Today is your 1st birthday little Hoyt and I want you to know that you are loved beyond words! You are such a fun free spirited person and I crave that first moment in the morning when our eyes meet and that huge toothy grin spreads across your face. You are so lucky that you have the big sister you do, I've never physically seen so much love on someones face as I do hers when she sees you, her face instantly lights up and there's a sparkle in her eyes! I love how I pick her up from preschool and her first words are always wondering where you are and if we can go see you. You also have a daddy who lives to love you, and does just that so very well! My heart always melts when we stand at the front door waiting for daddy to get home from work and your little eyes first spot him pull up and then he gets out and your instantly bouncing like a little wild thing in my arms with excitement for him, and then your just happy as ever when he takes you into his arms! Thank you for making me a mommy of two and showing me that I truly do have way more love inside of me than I ever knew! You always make me smile and you never fail to make me laugh a hundred times a day, you will never truly know how much happiness you put into my heart and soul and I can't wait til you have kids someday and fill that love as well!

Part II to come tomorrow!

Mother's Day!

Today was such a great day! Usually on this day we are busy busy running everywhere to see everyone and make sure we get time in with everyone, but today we decided to spend the morning and afternoon at home, just the four of us! Today was my first mothers day as a mom to two wonderful children. I can remember my first mothers day and how special it was. At the time my little Gracyn was only 6 months old but I remember looking at her that day and feeling such a strong and unconditionally love that I had never knew existed, it hurt my heart so much because of the overwhelming love that had grown in it for her. This mothers day I have two precious children to celebrate it with and I still have that "heart hurting" love for Gracyn and now my little Hoyt man. I cannot begin to put into words the feelings that I have when I see my children and the amount of love I have in my heart and soul for them! It's so easy to love them like I do when they listen and play well together and we have good days, but it's the rough days when nothing is going right and all day is a struggle that I can feel the love for them and the love they have for me. It would be so easy to get angry and holler, which occasionally happens, but I know there is a reason for those rough days and that we are all relying on one another to get through them and our love will always see us through!

On this day I cant help but think about my mother as well. When I think about my mother I always think about how strong and loving of a person she is. Growing up she was always there for every event me and my three sister's had and always encouraging and cheering us on. I now know how much she had to sacrifice for us and how much love she poured into us each and everyday, I never knew the true sacrifices until I was a mother myself, and I wish I knew it back then and would have thanked her each and every day for all she did. I can say with 100% honesty in my heart that I would have never, never made it for the three years that I've been a mother without her, she has been a constant strength and source of encouragement for me with every passing day. Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a strong, courageous, loving, and supporting mother for me to have, she has become one of my best friend and I am forever thankful to You for her!

On mother's day I also thank my mother-in-law. My MIL did such a great job raising her children and teaching them of the Lord and his promise to us! It is because of her that I have the wonderful husband that I do and I could not thank her enough for shaping him into the man he is today to me and to our children!

As a gift for mother's day I received the book Heart of my Heart and so far it has truly touched mine! It is so easy to feel forgotten as a mother or to feel as though all the millions of things that you do in a day are not seen or always appreciated but always remember He sees each and everything that we do, big or small, and He appreciates our time and efforts!

Whoever can be trusted with little, can also be trusted with much.

Luke 16:10

Thank you Lord for entrusting me to your precious children and being faithful in me and my husband to raise them in our earthly lives! I love them because you loved first!

Preschool Day!

Friday I got to go and help teach at my daughters preschool, talk about EXHAUSTING! We had such a good time though and I cannot wait to go back soon! It just amazed me at how fun and free spirited they all were! I felt so blessed to be able to spend the afternoon with them and see what all it is that my daughter does there. The preschool she goes to is an in-home one with an amazing teacher who has such a big heart and absolutely loves the children and being able to teach them! Up until the start of this school year I had stayed home with miss Gracyn and the boss man and I were getting a little concerned with how she would transition into kindergarten in a few years with not being exposed to a daycare/preschool setting before. I'll be honest the first few days were really shaky and I wasn't sure she...or maybe me...was going to be able to make it, but after a few rough days she started doing amazing! I cant even being to describe how much she has grown, not only mentally and educationally, but also socially she has definitely turned into a social butterfly now! :) It was tough on my party being as I had spent every single day with her since she was in my belly and having to let her go was tough but now that we've come this far I know that it was the best decision we could have made for her. I feel like I've grown so much as well in the last year with her being there, I've learned that its okay to let her go and expose her to situation that are going to challenge her and that she will come out stronger and smarter in the end. I'm for sure looking forward to a nice long summer with both of my children home and many great memories together!

Here are some pictures from our fun day at school and some of Gracyn's friends!

3rd Times the Charm! :)

Happy Cinco de Mayo ( a day late :))

So, here I am again trying to start my family blog, my computer has just got back from the computer dr and is all better and we are/should be ready to go! I have so many things I want to write down since my last post which was oh forever ago! First I just want to share that I cannot believe that in less than a week my little baby boy will be one year old, where did this year go? I would love to rewind time and go back to exactly a year ago and do it all over ago but I have loved this last year so much and have grown and learned an enormous amount and I wouldn't want to change a thing! I felt so much calmer and relaxed as a parent this first year with Hoyt than the first time around that in a way I felt it was easier to enjoy parenting but thats not to say that I didnt absolutely love my first year with my princess! :) I sit here tonight and can't wrap my mind around the fact that so many changes are happening, in three short weeks Gracyn will be done with her first year of preschool, my younger sister will be graduating high school, and in a few months after that my wonderful father will be turning 50! I can't help but feel completely blessed when I think about all the wonderful things that are going on and that I'm here and get to take part in them. Here's to hoping that no unexpected computer sicknesses or anything else comes up so this blog of mine can just keep on flowing and I can have a place to write down all the millions of things changing and all the memories that are taking place!! Wish me luck!!