Christmas time is coming and I am sad. I am still hoping that Jake gets a job and we are able to be back in the mainland for Christmas.
Christmas is just not the same without family around. Now that we have kids it is even harder. We would love to be surrounded by all our family and for our kids to have that amazing experience.
I decided to listen to Christmas music yesterday for the first time this year. I usually wait until Thanksgiving but I was curious what the girls thought about the music. We ended up listening to it for a few hours, they loved it.
The songs brought a lot of emotions for me though. I just really want to be with family for Christmas. I miss you all.
Jake has some job opportunities still open out there and if he was to be offered a good one then he would have to be there probably within 4-5 weeks from accepting. Christmas is 5&1/2 weeks away so that is cutting it close.
Plane tickets are ridiculous during the holidays so it just isn't a smart thing to do right now.
We know that we are supposed to move. When we first learned it was time we didn't even really want to leave Hawaii, we love it here, at least not yet. Then we were just ok with leaving about 4-5 months later. We still weren't thrilled but we were ok with it. Now we are extremely ready. We have a plan to get back ASAP. We really feel like it is time.
We are doing our part now we are just waiting for God to do his part. We are trying our best to be patient.
Patience is hard knowing Christmas is coming. We have been living in limbo for almost a year now. We want to get the girls lots of things for Christmas but if we move we can't afford to bring them. I mean if you buy a toy for $20 and it costs you $10-15 to ship it a month later what is the point, it is smart to just wait to buy it after the move. But we have been waiting for almost a year now.
For the girls birthdays we bought them some fun things but they are all small things we can move with easily.
I have been holding off on potty training Aleigh because I don't want to buy all the equipment just to turn around and have to buy it a 2nd time a month later.
Also, Christmas decorations. We sold all our decorations when we thought we were moving to Salt Lake City. All we have left is some handmade or personalized ornaments and a homemade Christmas tree skirt. I don't want to celebrate the season without decorations, but I don't feel like it is smart to buy them all over again just to sell them shortly after for next to nothing. Plus who is going to want to buy used Christmas decorations right after Christmas? I doubt anybody.
Please just keep us in your prayers that a job works out soon. It would mean so much to our family to be back on the mainland for Christmas.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Friday, November 7, 2014
Aleigh's birth story
Almost nothing goes as planned with 2 little ones. I am a planner and I can say that the girls have changed me. I still try to plan the day out but I now am very good at going with the flow when it doesn't work out. For example here I am writing this at 4am. Kea our dog decided through the night she needed to go outside 2 times now and is again letting me know the same. My 1 year old was also awake for an hour in the middle of the night. Thankfully this never happens anymore and I always get a full night uninterrupted amount of sleep.
Once I wake several times in the night it is really hard for me to go back to sleep. Today is Aleigh's 2nd birthday! To celebrate her day of birth I figured I would share her birth story with everyone as I don't believe I have done that yet. It is a funny story really.
Jake worked nights around the time Aleigh was born. I get a phone call at 5am from his work phone. I answer and get no response. This happens 3 times. I started to get annoyed as I am a pregnant woman who needs her sleep and why is my husband playing with me at 5am. Then finally I get a response. It was Jake moaning saying he was in so much pain laying on the floor in a fetal position while puking nonstop. He was saying he needs to go to the hospital. My husband never says things like this, so I jump out of bed. I rush in and wake up my mother-in-law, who was staying with us. She talked to Jake and it sounded like a possible ruptured appendix. We immediately tell him to call an ambulance.
We only have one car and he had it at work with him. His boss picks us up at home to take us to get the car so we can meet Jake at the hospital. It took us 2 hours to get to the hospital.
Since Jake called around 5am shortly after that my contractions started. I must have been so worried and stressed about Jake that it put me into labor. By the time I got to the hospital Jake was at my contractions were strong enough I knew this was it. But I did not want to deliver at this hospital, so I didn't tell anybody.
Finally the pain became readable on my face. The Dr. who was attending Jake looks over at me and back at Jake and says OK I know what is wrong with you, what is wrong with her? I tell him I am in labor.
Thankfully that Dr. told me I need to leave and make my way to the hospital I want to deliver at. Being in labor that also rushed them at getting Jake out of the hospital. He found out he had 2 kidney stones he was passing one of them.
Pam and I leave but I wasn't in my right mind at the moment and she didn't know her way around Hawaii as she was just visiting. I told her the on ramp to take us home instead of to the hospital. It takes us 15 minutes to turn around and go the right direction. By that time Jake called and was being released. We decided to go pick him up since we were at that exit and we have the only car.
Finally after awhile we were on the way to the hospital and once again Hawaii traffic didn't disappoint. It took maybe another hour to drive 15 miles! We arrived at 10am to Kapiolani Medical Center. They check me and I was at 5cm.
I waited two hours. At noon I was in too much pain so the Dr. checks and I was still at 5-6 cm. I decided to go ahead and get some type of IV pain medicine right after they moved me from the triage to the delivery room. Those wore off after an hour. It was then 1:30 and I was in so much pain I decided to try a hot shower. That was the best pain relief. It took my pain from a 10 to a 5. I stayed in the shower for 30 minutes. As soon as I got out the pain was immediately a 10 again.
I started to feel a ton of pressure so the nurse checks and I was at 8cm! I asked for more IV meds. It took them at least 30 minutes to get them to me because for some reason they couldn't get ahold of my Dr. Finally I get the drugs. They look again and it was time for Aleigh to be born! An hour later she was born at 4:18 pm.
The doctor gives Jake a hug and then asks him ok so what happened to you? Jake had a hospital bracelet on and his arm was bandaged from taking blood. He looked exhausted and almost sick. Jake told him he just passed a kidney stone and was taken to the hospital. The Dr. was laughing so hard. He said I always heard of sympathy pains from the father. Now you are taking it to a whole new level. I just love my OBGYN.
After 1 stitch, an hour of manually trying to get the placenta out with the doctors arm and lots and lots pain. The Dr. had to do a D&C . After losing lots of blood I was able to relax. They took Aleigh away though because my bleeding was a risk. I then didn't get to see her for another 4 hours. I was so thankful to be able to hold her for about 10 minutes before that. That moment was simply amazing and I won't even try to describe it. It is a moment that I will just remember and keep private for the rest of my life.
Aleigh is so healthy and happy. Jake was rushed to the hospital, gave birth to a kidney stone while I was rushed to a different hospital to give birth to a baby all within 11 hours. Jake and I are incredibly happy to be raising a beautiful baby girl named Aleigh Grace Madison.
The last 2 years have been so much fun with her. She is a sweet, silly, adorable, caring hard headed little girl. In my eyes she is just perfect. Happy Birthday Aleigh.
Once I wake several times in the night it is really hard for me to go back to sleep. Today is Aleigh's 2nd birthday! To celebrate her day of birth I figured I would share her birth story with everyone as I don't believe I have done that yet. It is a funny story really.
Jake worked nights around the time Aleigh was born. I get a phone call at 5am from his work phone. I answer and get no response. This happens 3 times. I started to get annoyed as I am a pregnant woman who needs her sleep and why is my husband playing with me at 5am. Then finally I get a response. It was Jake moaning saying he was in so much pain laying on the floor in a fetal position while puking nonstop. He was saying he needs to go to the hospital. My husband never says things like this, so I jump out of bed. I rush in and wake up my mother-in-law, who was staying with us. She talked to Jake and it sounded like a possible ruptured appendix. We immediately tell him to call an ambulance.
We only have one car and he had it at work with him. His boss picks us up at home to take us to get the car so we can meet Jake at the hospital. It took us 2 hours to get to the hospital.
Since Jake called around 5am shortly after that my contractions started. I must have been so worried and stressed about Jake that it put me into labor. By the time I got to the hospital Jake was at my contractions were strong enough I knew this was it. But I did not want to deliver at this hospital, so I didn't tell anybody.
Finally the pain became readable on my face. The Dr. who was attending Jake looks over at me and back at Jake and says OK I know what is wrong with you, what is wrong with her? I tell him I am in labor.
Thankfully that Dr. told me I need to leave and make my way to the hospital I want to deliver at. Being in labor that also rushed them at getting Jake out of the hospital. He found out he had 2 kidney stones he was passing one of them.
Pam and I leave but I wasn't in my right mind at the moment and she didn't know her way around Hawaii as she was just visiting. I told her the on ramp to take us home instead of to the hospital. It takes us 15 minutes to turn around and go the right direction. By that time Jake called and was being released. We decided to go pick him up since we were at that exit and we have the only car.
Finally after awhile we were on the way to the hospital and once again Hawaii traffic didn't disappoint. It took maybe another hour to drive 15 miles! We arrived at 10am to Kapiolani Medical Center. They check me and I was at 5cm.
I waited two hours. At noon I was in too much pain so the Dr. checks and I was still at 5-6 cm. I decided to go ahead and get some type of IV pain medicine right after they moved me from the triage to the delivery room. Those wore off after an hour. It was then 1:30 and I was in so much pain I decided to try a hot shower. That was the best pain relief. It took my pain from a 10 to a 5. I stayed in the shower for 30 minutes. As soon as I got out the pain was immediately a 10 again.
I started to feel a ton of pressure so the nurse checks and I was at 8cm! I asked for more IV meds. It took them at least 30 minutes to get them to me because for some reason they couldn't get ahold of my Dr. Finally I get the drugs. They look again and it was time for Aleigh to be born! An hour later she was born at 4:18 pm.
The doctor gives Jake a hug and then asks him ok so what happened to you? Jake had a hospital bracelet on and his arm was bandaged from taking blood. He looked exhausted and almost sick. Jake told him he just passed a kidney stone and was taken to the hospital. The Dr. was laughing so hard. He said I always heard of sympathy pains from the father. Now you are taking it to a whole new level. I just love my OBGYN.
After 1 stitch, an hour of manually trying to get the placenta out with the doctors arm and lots and lots pain. The Dr. had to do a D&C . After losing lots of blood I was able to relax. They took Aleigh away though because my bleeding was a risk. I then didn't get to see her for another 4 hours. I was so thankful to be able to hold her for about 10 minutes before that. That moment was simply amazing and I won't even try to describe it. It is a moment that I will just remember and keep private for the rest of my life.
Aleigh is so healthy and happy. Jake was rushed to the hospital, gave birth to a kidney stone while I was rushed to a different hospital to give birth to a baby all within 11 hours. Jake and I are incredibly happy to be raising a beautiful baby girl named Aleigh Grace Madison.
The last 2 years have been so much fun with her. She is a sweet, silly, adorable, caring hard headed little girl. In my eyes she is just perfect. Happy Birthday Aleigh.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Birthday week.
Amelia's birthday is Wednesday and will be 1. Aleigh's birthday is Friday and she will be 2. This means I will have 2 one year olds for two days!!
We will celebrate on Thursday and Friday. I will make Amelia a cake on her birthday and watch/take pictures of her smashing into it. So far we know we will go to the zoo Thursday morning then to a show at Jake's work Thursday night, its like a luau minus the food and is free if he can get a pass from work. Friday we are going back to Jake's work to do the Character breakfast with Mickey mouse and Minnie mouse. The girls will wear their Thing 1, Thing 2 outfits all day as Amelia is 1, and Aleigh 2 I just thought that would be too cute. After breakfast we will try to go to the beach if the weather is nice and after nap time eat dinner out, go to a new playground and have cupcakes at our church group's house. We should have a fun time!
These are some of the things I think I will miss most about our babies growing up;
The look on Aleigh's face as soon as the introduction song to the Lion King comes on, which is the only movie or show she likes right now. She wants to watch it multiple times a day if I let her, which I have a few times just to watch her face light up.
Going for a walk with the girls in the stroller. It is usually a peaceful time and we all quietly take in the nature around us. We go for a 45 minute-1 hour walk daily in the stroller.
Feeding Amelia solids and seeing her reactions to the things she likes and doesn't like.
Watching Amelia play with her food, with a look on her face like she just won the jackpot, while she flings food all over the floor. The dog then runs to get it as if she also just won the jackpot.
Aleigh's face when she sees an animal she likes. She gets nervous but really excited at the same time.
Reading the same books 20 times just to make the girls happy. I know I will miss "Brown bear, Brown bear", "Hush little baby" and the "spot" books as those have always been the favorite among Aleigh.
Washing 8 bottles a day. The girls are both on whole milk now and Amelia has been off the bottle for almost a month. At one time when Amelia was first born I was washing about 10 bottles/cups a day between the 2 of them. I already miss those moments of bottle feeding my tiny little newborn while she cuddles in my arms. My wallet says thank you, my heart says can't you stay a baby!
Amelia's baby chub. Amelia is a tiny little thing. She didn't have nearly the amount of baby chub Aleigh had, but my oh my she does have those chubby cheeks. I just want to squeeze and kiss them all day long. I learned with Aleigh that they practically went away over night and I am not making that mistake again. Those cheeks are getting a lot of attention, whether Amelia likes it or not.
I will miss seeing Aleigh just randomly walk over and hug Amelia. Thank God that will probably last awhile longer, but I know eventually I will miss those extra sweet moments.
I will miss seeing Amelia's cute little baby walk. She kicks those legs straight out while holding her hands straight down with her fingers pointed out, it reminds me of how penguins walk. She is just too cute.
I will miss all the laughter when they are both exhausted. This is Jake's favorite time of the day. When they are really tired they will just giggle at the smallest things and Jake loves to get them going. I will miss just sitting back watching those moments.
I will miss the baby babbling. Neither of the girls are really talking right now but they are getting so close. It is adorable when Amelia goes "mama mama MAMA" she only does this when she is upset for some reason. Haha when she is happy she says everything else.
I will miss those moments of holding your baby while they sleep. Let's face it, I haven't held either one while they slept in months. They got bigger and have since grown out of it. I miss those sweet moments.
I will miss those silly faces Aleigh makes. She has so many expressions. When she is learning something new and I say "no we shouldn't so that because of ____." She will tilt her head to the side scrunch one eye closed give her mouth a half grin and say "eh" as if she says that's ok, oh well.
I will miss those early morning and bedtime cuddles. I know they will eventually fade away. I just pray they last at least 1 more year.
I will miss changing diapers. I am sure I will somehow miss those moments of holding down a baby to change their diaper when they squeal, giggle, sometimes cry because all they want to do is crawl, walk or play. At the moment those times can be annoying. Now looking back I am already laughing because they are just really silly.
I will miss those playful moments when Amelia thinks it is funny to sit on your head, eat your nose, pull your hair or fall on top of you. She just wants to play with ME and I am the most blessed person.
I will miss the moments when they are obsessed with one thing for weeks because they are learning to do it themselves. Aleigh has always loved going up and down stairs. She can now do it on her own. She went through several phases where she wanted to go up and down them way too many times. This meant I had to carry Amelia up and down them. It was quite the workout really. But it was so worth it to see her excited face when she did it all by herself for the first time. Right now it is an obsession with door handles and we have to open and close them over and over and make sure little sis doesn't get hurt each time as she wants to be right there in the action too.
I will miss rocking/holding a baby to sleep. With Aleigh I did this every nap time and every bedtime until she was 18 months. While it became stressful doing this I now miss those moments and wish I would have enjoyed them a little more. Amelia has never wanted to be held to sleep. She has always wanted room to move and be more independent. I remember she went through a phase at about 3-6 months old where she wanted to be held and finally, for the first time I was able to hold her to sleep, I cried little tears as I loved that moment. Before and after those few months all she would want was our hand on her back letting her know we were there. I know I will miss those times too.
I will miss their firsts. The first smile, the first tooth that pops through, their first step, the first time they clap their hands, their first solids, their first time rolling over, the first time playing pat-a-cake, their first shoes, their first babble, their first giggle. The list could go on and on.
I just loved every minute of having a baby, and I will miss each and every moment big or small. I have to say though I am really looking forward to watching them grow up together. I hope they will be best friends. Here is to having a 1 year old and 2 year old!
Cheers, Jennifer.
We will celebrate on Thursday and Friday. I will make Amelia a cake on her birthday and watch/take pictures of her smashing into it. So far we know we will go to the zoo Thursday morning then to a show at Jake's work Thursday night, its like a luau minus the food and is free if he can get a pass from work. Friday we are going back to Jake's work to do the Character breakfast with Mickey mouse and Minnie mouse. The girls will wear their Thing 1, Thing 2 outfits all day as Amelia is 1, and Aleigh 2 I just thought that would be too cute. After breakfast we will try to go to the beach if the weather is nice and after nap time eat dinner out, go to a new playground and have cupcakes at our church group's house. We should have a fun time!
These are some of the things I think I will miss most about our babies growing up;
The look on Aleigh's face as soon as the introduction song to the Lion King comes on, which is the only movie or show she likes right now. She wants to watch it multiple times a day if I let her, which I have a few times just to watch her face light up.
Going for a walk with the girls in the stroller. It is usually a peaceful time and we all quietly take in the nature around us. We go for a 45 minute-1 hour walk daily in the stroller.
Feeding Amelia solids and seeing her reactions to the things she likes and doesn't like.
Watching Amelia play with her food, with a look on her face like she just won the jackpot, while she flings food all over the floor. The dog then runs to get it as if she also just won the jackpot.
Aleigh's face when she sees an animal she likes. She gets nervous but really excited at the same time.
Reading the same books 20 times just to make the girls happy. I know I will miss "Brown bear, Brown bear", "Hush little baby" and the "spot" books as those have always been the favorite among Aleigh.
Washing 8 bottles a day. The girls are both on whole milk now and Amelia has been off the bottle for almost a month. At one time when Amelia was first born I was washing about 10 bottles/cups a day between the 2 of them. I already miss those moments of bottle feeding my tiny little newborn while she cuddles in my arms. My wallet says thank you, my heart says can't you stay a baby!
Amelia's baby chub. Amelia is a tiny little thing. She didn't have nearly the amount of baby chub Aleigh had, but my oh my she does have those chubby cheeks. I just want to squeeze and kiss them all day long. I learned with Aleigh that they practically went away over night and I am not making that mistake again. Those cheeks are getting a lot of attention, whether Amelia likes it or not.
I will miss seeing Aleigh just randomly walk over and hug Amelia. Thank God that will probably last awhile longer, but I know eventually I will miss those extra sweet moments.
I will miss seeing Amelia's cute little baby walk. She kicks those legs straight out while holding her hands straight down with her fingers pointed out, it reminds me of how penguins walk. She is just too cute.
I will miss all the laughter when they are both exhausted. This is Jake's favorite time of the day. When they are really tired they will just giggle at the smallest things and Jake loves to get them going. I will miss just sitting back watching those moments.
I will miss the baby babbling. Neither of the girls are really talking right now but they are getting so close. It is adorable when Amelia goes "mama mama MAMA" she only does this when she is upset for some reason. Haha when she is happy she says everything else.
I will miss those moments of holding your baby while they sleep. Let's face it, I haven't held either one while they slept in months. They got bigger and have since grown out of it. I miss those sweet moments.
I will miss those silly faces Aleigh makes. She has so many expressions. When she is learning something new and I say "no we shouldn't so that because of ____." She will tilt her head to the side scrunch one eye closed give her mouth a half grin and say "eh" as if she says that's ok, oh well.
I will miss those early morning and bedtime cuddles. I know they will eventually fade away. I just pray they last at least 1 more year.
I will miss changing diapers. I am sure I will somehow miss those moments of holding down a baby to change their diaper when they squeal, giggle, sometimes cry because all they want to do is crawl, walk or play. At the moment those times can be annoying. Now looking back I am already laughing because they are just really silly.
I will miss those playful moments when Amelia thinks it is funny to sit on your head, eat your nose, pull your hair or fall on top of you. She just wants to play with ME and I am the most blessed person.
I will miss the moments when they are obsessed with one thing for weeks because they are learning to do it themselves. Aleigh has always loved going up and down stairs. She can now do it on her own. She went through several phases where she wanted to go up and down them way too many times. This meant I had to carry Amelia up and down them. It was quite the workout really. But it was so worth it to see her excited face when she did it all by herself for the first time. Right now it is an obsession with door handles and we have to open and close them over and over and make sure little sis doesn't get hurt each time as she wants to be right there in the action too.
I will miss rocking/holding a baby to sleep. With Aleigh I did this every nap time and every bedtime until she was 18 months. While it became stressful doing this I now miss those moments and wish I would have enjoyed them a little more. Amelia has never wanted to be held to sleep. She has always wanted room to move and be more independent. I remember she went through a phase at about 3-6 months old where she wanted to be held and finally, for the first time I was able to hold her to sleep, I cried little tears as I loved that moment. Before and after those few months all she would want was our hand on her back letting her know we were there. I know I will miss those times too.
I will miss their firsts. The first smile, the first tooth that pops through, their first step, the first time they clap their hands, their first solids, their first time rolling over, the first time playing pat-a-cake, their first shoes, their first babble, their first giggle. The list could go on and on.
I just loved every minute of having a baby, and I will miss each and every moment big or small. I have to say though I am really looking forward to watching them grow up together. I hope they will be best friends. Here is to having a 1 year old and 2 year old!
Cheers, Jennifer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)