The most wonderful time of the year!

I am so excited! You wanna know why? ok...I recently learned from my friend and fellow blogger Shannon that Shutterfly.com is giving away 50 free (seriously, no lie, completely FREE) christmas cards to bloggers! I LOVE Christmas...the.end! I was so excited about this news so naturally I had to join in on the fun!

Here's my favorite (and the one I plan on using!):

 Sooo cute! The cards are personalized, and this one personalizes your initial on it!! Click here to see more photo cards. They also have calendars, personalized mugs (my fav), and several other products that I just love!

I have used shutterfly on several occasions, and they do a great job. I first received a gift card in the hospital after having M for some free personalized birth announcements. They were great!I really am not just saying this as part of the contest (thats not required lol), but I know several people that use and love them too.

So are you a fellow blogger? Would you love some free Christmas cards? Then click here to enter fro your chance to win! I can't wait to order mine and show off my hansome boys to all of our family and friends this year:) Don't you just think they would look great on this Christmas card?

On another note...we are ready for Christmas around here! M and J helped decorate the tree yesterday. M sang "Oh Christmas tree" the whole time...it.was.so.cute! The bottom of the tree is full of candy canes while the top has all the ornaments:) It looks funny but I love it because my boys helped do it!!! M can't wait for Santa...thats all he talks about these days:)

LOVE,
Krista!

Krista Neal LPNA

So I know it has been literally forever since I blogged...I mean I have been on here, but I just do.not.have.time! This has been one busy semester! This is the end of the LPN side of our program. What does that mean? This first year of school has given us the skills and knowledge to to the LPN boards exam. After this semester ends, we can all go apply for boards, become LPNApplicants, take that test, and practice as LPN's. Will I? I don't really have time to work while I finish up school, so I probably wont. I WILL however have my diploma in practical nursing! This marks the half way point for my degree...two more semesters and I will be Krista Neal, RN!! I can't wait!

So how is school going? Well...I made the dean's list last semester, and this semester I have an A. We took our final today (which I hope I kept my A!), and now we are required to finish 120hours of practicum! I start tomorrow. I will be working at a nursing home as an LPN with a mentor. I am PUMPED:) I am also taking an English class that is pretty easy, but still requires some effort "/. After this semester, I am technically done with my Gen Ed for this program, but I am considering taking one more humanities type class that will transfer back to WKU with me when I finish my BSN. Next semester is supposed to be the hardest, but I hope I can do it! I just really want all my GEN ED for WKU to be done too, ya know? I transfered from WKU so my Gen ED is all done except that one class, and I know I will finish my BSN, so why not? OK...got that?

How's home life? Great! M is potty trained!!! He has been for a couple months! J is talking away, counting to 5, and naming colors! Yep, he's not even 1 1/2:). Derek practically broke his ankle, and it looks terrible. I am helping his nurse it back to normal though! M has been sick now for a week, and they can't seem to fix him...We thought both the boys had a sinus infection, so their ped put them on antibiotics only different kinds. You see M has been on so many antibiotics before in his little life that he couldn't be on the basic amoxillin. J got better, but M did not! Now I had to take M back to the doctor because I suspected a UTI...he's never had one, but he showed all the signs. Now being a nursing student, I know a little too much medical stuff, so I was all freaked out that this was all from a strep infection(which is going around) and he know has something called glomerulonephritis...it's a kidney disorder caused from an untreated/mistreated strep infection! He has most of the signs, well all the ones that I am able to look for. We dont get the results from his testing until TOMORROW! I took his yesterday, so that is two days of freaking out waiting! Well all else is good, and what a better way to tell you then pictures?





Feel free to comment on how edible my babies are;)

LOVE,
Krista

Raising a Kid With Allergies

This is not something to take lightly. Many think whoop-di-do everyone has allergies. The fact is that (as stated my our pediatrician) people too often blame runny noses and such on allergies when it could be a nuber of other things. But..if you are raising a kid with allergies/asthma (yes they can go hand in hand) you truly understand how challenging it can be at times. If you remember awhile back I had to take M to see an allergist because he was having HORRIBLE hive breakouts. Some signs that his allergist pointed out that could be indicators from birth that your child will have allergies were:

• Chronic ear infections (check M had to get tubes put in when he was 8.5mths old)
• Eczema (Check, double check)
• Constant congestion (I'm seeing a trend)
• Intolerant to Cow's Milk (Check...but he did outgrow this)

There were some more that I don't remember, but these were some of the bigger ones. So how does having a child with allergies become challenging? Well in our case...M is allergic to EVERYTHING! From dust to mold to grass! We can't have pets that pose alot of pet dander or we have to spray a special spray on them. He has to have special pads on hs bed to trap dust mites. We have to have air purifiers/humidifiers. I have to constantly check the pollen and mold counts,and if they are too high, am supposed to keep him inside. I have to use a expensive special kind of laundry detergent...Yes Dreft was OK for him as a baby, we had to use a special kind as well since he would touch our clothing and bed linens. So... we just switched all together to ALL Free & Clear. We had to trial and error on bath wash/shampoo before we found one that wouldn't irratate his skin (that was a miserable process). NO lotions except the approved Eucerin unscented. Daily medication...started with Zyrtec, then went to Claritin, and now he might have to take Singulair. M's biggest allergy is mold. He is SEVERELY allergic to it, and it grows in very humid environments...like good ol' Kentucky! Also when I wash the boys' clothes they have to be immediately removed from the washer; they can not sit in there at all, or they have to be re-washed!

Now with J, he has food allergies, so I have to constantly check food labels for ingredients that he can't have. J is not old enough to see an allergist (they won't see anyone under 24mth unless an emergency, but even then they have to be 20mths). I was hoping J would outgrow his milk protein allergy, but not so good so far. Looking back, while breastfeeding J, I had to cut out dairy from my diet because he was having breakouts. At that time, we chalked it up to baby acne (yes, there is such things), but now we realize that it was a milk protein sensitivity.

We have gotten pretty used to our new lifestyle, and while it can be challenging, we wouldn't change one thing about our children :) But now I must go get ready for J's 1year pictures...yeah I've been putting then off, but better late than never!

I'm So Proud of Myself!

For what you ask...This weekend I did not eat out one time! I cooked good meals at home all weekend long. It's typical of me during the week to cook, but when the weekend comes along, we usually are on the go all day so we just pick something up. Well we are trying to save money anyway we can to help us survive on one income during the upcoming holidays! Also I am trying to lose all the baby weight from the kiddos...I guess I finally realized that it wasn't gong away on its own:) I mean I only gained 28lbs with Maddox, and 18lbs with Jakk and lost most of it afterwords, but it is like I have extra skin and weight has been distributed differently. I can tell that I am losing weight...not sure how much, but I have had to buy new clothes this summer and they are smaller!
Before Derek and I started TTC I was a size 2. Once we started, I had to take some fertility meds and such and I gained a little (which I didn't mind sine I knew I'd be gaining alot more when I got preggo)...So then I was a size 4 before I got preggo with M. After I had M I was a size 6. I mean I actually had hips and such now..haha. Ok so then we surprisingly get preggo with Jakk (no time to lose much weight) and afer I had him I was a size 8 at first...ten a 6. So I was back where I started. NOW when I was shopping for some clothes this summer, I bought a pair of shorts from Old Navy, and you know what size they were? A 3/4!!! I am excited about that! Derek says he can rally tell a difference, and many of his friends say the same! I haven't yet weighed myself yet, but I know I am losing inches atleast. My goal is to lose 25-30lbs. Here's my plan:
School starts back in 2weeks...I get my wisdom teeth out in one week! (That should help some!)...Anyway back to school...Once school starts I am joining the gym that Derek goes to. No, I am not going to be weight lifting, but I am going to be on the aerobics plan. One Tuesday and Thursday nights they have a Zumba class. I have heard great things about this Zumba thing! I do wish that I had somone to go with me so I don't feel so stupid, but I guess I will be ok...
Along with Zumba, I will being "dieting". I am just going to eat healthy, and being in school should help me to eat less since I am going to be in class/clinicals from 8am-3pm M-Th!
I am excited about losing weight because I can feel like my body is not only a mommy body anymore:)

Well that is all...I must run since as I am typing J is blowing his little nose on my leg:)

Gender Swaying

This post is just for fun. As we all know there is really no way to 100% determine the sex of your unborn child (Except PGD but we won't go there), but it is very interesting to hear of the different ways you could help sway the gender of your preconceived child!  As you all are aware, I am a HUGE fan of BabyCenter...like addicted! Well I came upon a board called Determining Sex. I thought it would be fun to join this groupjust to see what it was all about, and to get some info for when we try for baby #3 (Not any time soon of course) I am really wanting a baby girl next time around, so I thought it would be fun to try these swaying techniques:) Here's the site with all the info.

There are 7 Factors that make up swaying: pH, ions, minerals, diet, hormones, supplments and timeing. You can't just count on one to work. If you only do timeing that is only 1/7th of a sway. Here is more info: 7 factors


“GIRL DIET”
Lots of calcium (milk, yogurt, etc.)
Low salt intake
No caffeine
For the GIRL diet the ranges are:
(salt) Na++ 700-1000 mg
(Potassium) K+ 2,500-3,500 mg
(calcium) Ca 1,200-1,800 mg
(Magnesium) Mg 200-300 mg
Girl cook book:
http://www.in-gender.com/cs/forums/t/49300.aspx

Supplements are to decrease cervical mucus pH. Studies show that low pH favors girl conceptions. The goal of the girl diet is to increase calcium and magnesium in the cm and to change pH; the goal of supplements is to change pH and make creamy CM. Here are all the supplements that I have heard of for ttc a girl. Granted there may be more. They key here is for you to find the right 'recipe' to make low pH with creamy cm with calicum mixed in- this is the goal. Remember.. it is better to take supplements in liquid form if you can find that because it is more easily absorbed by the body. The full list of vitamins are on the website.

pH: It has apparently been proven that girl sperm(X) thrive better in an acidic environment. And boy sperm(Y) thrive better in more basic environments...actually acidic environments tend to freeze the Y sperm's tail off! So a little basic knowledge is that the mucus in the vagina is acidic whereas semen tends to be basic. Several ways to lower pH for a girl or higher pH for a boy are also listed on the website.

As for timing...they say that it is best when swaying for a girl that the male abstain 7days prior to the day of ovulation for the women. They claim that most boy sperm will die by then leaving mostly girl spermy. Also I have read that since Y sperm prefer more basic environments that it is best to release nearer the cervix for a boy and further away for a girl. You see the X spermy can make it the whole distance, while the Y tend to "give up"

There you have it...again its just for fun! But I can't help but think about it. I mean wouldn't it be soooo awesome for me to have a little girl:) Think of how spoiled she would be...considering there are NO girls/granddaughters on either side of our families! I can dream right? :)

I Miss The Days When...

I miss the days when...

I could leave the room and not be followed and when I came back the kids were right where I left them!
I could go pee with out someone climbing into my lap...
The kids were just fine laying down under their gym and playing for hours
My house was clean for more than a few minutes!
My boys took a nap at the same time....this almost never happens anymore
I could walk into the other room and NOT hear J cry because M is aggrevating him AGAIN!
M knew that J was a baby NOT a wrestling opponent...

I guess what I am trying to say is I miss the days when I was not raising two TODDLERS! No, but really it is so much more challenging now then when J was just a baby...Now it's double trouble all the time. J has started walking and is into everything, and M has gotten to where he strongly believes it is his duty in life to aggrevate his little brother. I mean I wanted them to walk so bad, but now that they do...oh man I WANT MY BABIES BACK! I guess I have kind of adapted to it though...I have two toddler boys, so my house is a mess, I am constantly refereeing wrestling matches, and having mini camp-outs in the living room. It may be a crazy life, but hey...it's our life!

We've had a pretty eventful week this week, and I feel I have accomplished nothing. But actually I have...Today, while J was napping, M climbed up in my lap for what I thought was to have me read him a book. Instead, he begins reading to me! No it wasn't exactly what the book said, but it was a good story he told:) He then grabbed his ABC book and told me EVERY letter in that book. (I only had to help remind him of a few) Then we worked on reading...I was teaching him what sound each letter made, and then how to sound words out. He did pretty good! I know he's only 2, but it was pretty neat to hear him sound out the word L-E-T-T-E-R!

That's all for now, but I am working on a post about gender swaying...sound interesting??

I Have TWO Kids!

As I postedon Facebook yesterday, Maddox tried to cut Jakk's finger off! Well not really, but he did! You see Maddox has been on this cutting kick. Well we don't actually let him use scissors, but he has been pretending to cut Jakk's hair with his pretend scissors(his fingers). I keep telling him "We don't cut people." Well the boys were having snack yesterday and I went to switch out laundry in the utility room. That's when I hear it..."Ohhh I cut him!" "Mommy!" I was thinking "What?" Then I heard Jakk cry. I flew around the corner, and M had climbed up in a chair and got my kitchen scissors ouof the holder and was pretending to cut Jakk...ok he really did cut Jakk. Ok so hold it right there....Most people I have talked to were like "I would have beat/whipped M" Really? What good would that have done? I had a baby sitting in his high chair bleeding profusely, I think that was priority. People may think I am a bad mom for not "disiplining" my oldest for hurting his baby brother, but I DON'T CARE! I have TWO kids! M was traumatized by this too...I mean he is ONLY 2, he doesn't quite grasp the concept of cause and effect for everything yet. How was he to know that scissors would do that to his bubby's finger? It isn't like we go around cutting ourselves with scissors to teach our kids what happens...I mean we've said "No, don't play with mommy's scissors they wil cut/hurt you" But again he is two! Don't get me wrong I didn't get stern with M and had a talk with him, but I'll say it again he is only two, he didn't know what he was doing! I have a friend that even went on to say "If that was mine I may not have whipped them right when it happened, but when we got home..." Really? M had totally forgotten what had happened when we got back from the hospital. I am the MOM it is MY responsibility to make sure it doesn't happen again, not my 2yr old son...He does however understand that he hurt his baby J and that scissors really do hurt someone! LESSON LEARNED!
My lessons learned:
Out of sight is NOT always out of mind!
Baby's really do bleed alot more over alot less...
Even when one of my children hurts the other, I can not even be mad at them....Truly only a mother's love:)

Jakk is doing ok though...We went to the ER and and the PA(Physicians Assistant) tried glue(liquid stitches) instead of "a needle and thread" so not to further traumatize my baby! Thank You! Should be good to go a week! J did so good though...didnt even cry while we are at the ER:) I wanted to take a picture to show how bad it was but well my iphone is broken at the moment and still havent got a new camera...

Oops!

o I am pretty straight forward about my kids...I mean I have a way I want them raised, and I don't really "care" if others agree with me or not. I was on my favorite site that I am addicted to I love called BabyCenter the other day, and there was a question a mom asked about being naked around your child. The question was if your child ever sees you naked and if so, when will you stop letting your LO see you naked. I had never thought of this before...I mean my boys sometimes take showers with me because it is so much easier/quicker! I never considered it to be weird like some people commented on the post. I don't want my kids to be ashamed of "nakedness" and i am sure there will come a time that they will be too old to take showers with me  or for me to go around naked in fromt of them...but not because we think "nakedness" is shameful or because we think it will "expose" them to sexuality too early, but because they will come to a time in their development where they want privacy! I was shocked at how many people thought that being naked around your child would expose them to sexuality too early. Sheesh! Anyway since I am on a parenting note I thought I'd share a funny yet serious story about M...
Ok a little background...My dear friend, Christine's parents had this thing against their girls saying the word "butt"...we all used to poke fun (not in a mean way) about it, but now that I have my own children, I have implimented that same rule into our family. I don't know what it is, but when I hear a child (any child) say butt, I think it just doesn't sound good. I can't explain it, but that's how I feel. So at our house we use the word "bottom"...Got it! :) With that being said, M absolutely LOVES wrestling...remember I said Derek was a professional wrestler...well I wasn't kidding! Sometimes I take the boys to watch their Daddy wrestle, and they absolutely love it!* Most shows I take them to are family oriented, but occasionally they might hear a crazy fan say something that I don't want my kids to hear. So M is very verbal now, and he has started this thing that he says during times while he is play wrestling...He stands up ready to jump on his wrestling buddy** and he says "Here is comes!" He then jumps up and says...are you ready for it?..."I'm gonna KICK ASS!" Yep! That's my boy...not really...this has become a real problem..I have explained to him not to say that word and that it is bad, but without really saying the word I am talking about I don't think he really gets which word is bad. I don't know what else I can do...I've even tried ignoring it, but that is no help either...I'd even rather hear him say but then the A word!  I mean what if he says something like that at church"/ I know he didn't get that word from home, but still how do you protect your children from what others say out in public???
Well on a good note...the boys are growing like crazy and developing even faster. J can stand on his own without pulling up, and he even takes some steps too. He's just hasn't completely taken off yet, but any day now he will. M is talking so well now, and he is doing really well with is ABC's...no not the song...he is actually able to identify letters that I write down for him. He is has almost the entire alphabet down. J is actually talking...no not jibberish...actual words...We are working on colors and numbers right now, and he is doing really well! He can say red, blue, yellow, and pink really well. Also if I am counting with him, I say "One," he'll say "Two!", then I say "Three," and he'll say "Three," :) Hey atleast he knows 2 comes after 1! And atleast he can say his numbers at all...I mean he is only 13mths! I really am proud of my boys, and now that I am home with them for the summer, I am able to work on things like this with them. I hope that doesn't make me a boring mommy ;-)

* A video for proof

** Here he is with his buddy: (It was taken on my phone, so it's kinda blurry)

And here's one just for fun!

Something about you...

All this time I have been blogging and I haven't really talked much about you...
1. YOU are a remarkable man
2. YOU are a remarkable husband AND father.
3. YOU allowed me to quit working and stay at home with the kids while I finish school...as most people might say "He's not the boss of you" (haha that made be laugh saying that out loud!), but in reality God puts the husband as the head of the house hold. Even though a man should not be a dictator, he is, in the end, held accountable for the decisions made within HIS family...so I say the husband should have some say (as long as it is by God's word) over the decisions made for our family.
4. YOU work very hard for our family, so that our children can have everything they need and more. Also so we can have a home to call our own with a yard for our children.
5. YOU always tell me how beautiful I am even though we all know I am not that size 00 I used to be when we first met.
6. YOU juggle working long hours (sometimes 13.5hrs), the gym, wrestling, and family...all while having a very debilitating disorder. (Narcolepsy)
7. YOU take so much interest in your children's lives and how they will be raised.
Most importantly YOU love us, and you are doing this as a 24 year old young man! Most men that age would never dream of doing the things or giving up the things you have for a family:) You were 20 and I was 19 when we got married, and people doubted that two people so young could make it work...well guess what? Four years, and two babies later, here we are still together, and most importantly, STILL IN LOVE:)

WE LOVE YOU!

(Taken back in March 2010)

20 Things

So I have been blogging for almost a year now, I think, and I haven't really told you all much about me. I mean yeah I have talked about the kind of Mother I am and such, but not much about me a a person. So here it is:

1. I was born on December 3, 1986
2. I live and was raised in Kentucky, but...
3. I was born in Granite City, IL
4. My family moved to KY when I was 3
5. My favorite colors are pink and salmon/coral...oh and purple too.
6. I CANNOT stand the sound of nail clippers
7. I still remember the exact date of my first kiss...really I do! (June 12,1998)
8. With that being said, I am great with dates...one's that already happened, not future appointments. I suck at remembering those. :)
9. I went to Rich Pond Elementary, Drakes Creek Middle, and then Greenwood High
10. I graduated with honors from high school
11. I went to WKU and then transfered to BGTC when I got accepted into the Nursing program.
12. I met the man of my dreams on December 31, 2004 (there's those dates again)
13. I love to scrapbook
14. I love children
15. I love my family, my God, and I try to live for them everyday!
16. I can flare my nostrils, which totally freaks my husband out
17. I had at one time 7 pierced whole in my body...now I don't put jewlery in any of them.
18. My favorite food is popcicles...not a food? Ok its homemade tacos:)
19. I used to play tuba in marching band
20. I love  helping people, and always put others before my own needs...it make me happy:)

There you have it...I must go now before Jakk climbs out of his high chair. BTW if you see alot of typos, it is my key board. Something is wrong and it keeps leaving letters out!

New Discovery and where I have been...

Let me start off by saying that I didn't forget to blog, nor did I not have the time to...you see the reason I haven't blogged is that the day after J's first birthday party my camera got stolen misplaced. Yep I hadn't had time to put the pics up on my computer yet, and I lost them all! I was extremely upset about it because having pictures of things like that are very important to me, and now I have nothing! So what does that have to do with blogging? Well everytime I got on here to blog about his party, it tore me up inside to even think about it! Now I got good news that Derek's granny took lots of pictures of the party and she has made me copies, so I feel a little better about it...well enough to get on here atleast!

Ok, so now to my new discovery!

I am sure these have been aound for some time, but this is the first time I have found them! They are perfect for my little munchkins:) What are they you ask? Here I will show you:

They are called Tummy Ticklers! They are just so cute, and my boys LOVE them! I have only been able to find the small ones at the Walmart I go to, but I think I saw the big ones at the other Walmart in town. I have saved all of the characters, and now I buy the packs of them and just reuse the caps. The boys think it is fun to get to pick out which one they want to drink with each day! So far we have Woody, Buzz, Clifford, Thomas the Train, Dinosaur, Mickey, Bob the Builder, and I think that may be it! The caps are also SPILL PROOF! Yep you heard me, SPILL PROOF! Perfect for in the car or on the go. They are 100% Healthy and 100% Fun! I got so excited about them I forgot to even tell you what is in them... it's apple juice, but not just any ordinary apple juice. The juice is made from all natural ingredients mixed with purified water! Yumm!:) Just thought I'd share that healthy information with fellow moms! Feel free to share any healthy things like this with me...I love to help M & J make healthy choices:) After all, it is the choices I help them make while they are small that stick with them forever!

5/25 A Birth Story

Jakk's birthday got me thinking, and I didn't have my blog while I was preggo, so I didn't get to share my birth story!
Back story: I had a C-Section with M 2/20/08 due to placenta previa, and got pregnant again with in seven months. They normally suggest waiting at the least 18mths between pregnancies to have a VBAC. So we had to go with a repeat C-Section since my LO's were due to be 16mths apart...J's due date was June 19th!

May 19, 2009: I left work early because I wasn't feeling good...Later that night I felt my belly getting really tight and staying that way for about 30sec. I timed it and it seemed to be every 4mins....I was thinking..I still have a whole month left..well we dropped M off with my parents and headed to the hospital. When I got there they hooked me up and quickly realized that I WAS contracting and they were every 2minutes at this point. I wasn't dialated though, but was 50% effaced. At this point the contractions were peaking at 75-100 on the monitor, but all I was feeling was tightening...uncomfortable, but not painful! They kept me overnight and gave me meds to stop my labor since I was only 35wks and needed a section. I was sent home the next day on BED REST!!!
I took the next couple of days to spend quality time with M since I knew the day was nearing.
May 22, 2009: I had a normal check up with Dr. Gass and he was a little concerned, and so was I, that the baby wasn't moving much at all. He sent me back up to the hospital to do a NST and BPD ultrasound. During the NST we got a little worried because he really was NOT moving at all. Just before the ultrasound tech came up to get me, my nurse had me drink a soda, and once we got down to US my little man was moving all over! Thank God!! Finally I got to go home, but Dr. Gass explained to me that at this point I was 36wks so if I went in to labor he would not stop it. He said that the meds used to stop labor can only be useful up to a certain point.
May 25th, 2009:Memorial Day I had been contracting all day, but I definitely didn't want to go to the hospital just to get sent back home. So I dealt with it, after all it wasn't really that painful just uncomfortable. We went to the park with M and then gopt a bite to eat at Wendy's since we had had an early dinner that day. While at Wendy's I kept rushing to the bathroom because I felt like I had to go...so much pressure, but again not painful. Then as we were leaving I started to feel like my stomach was staying tight, so I told Derek I think we needed to go to the hospital. We again drop M off with my parents (we left no car seat because we figured we'd be right back) We got to the hospital(7:30pm) and my contractions were again every 2minutes, and I was dialated 1-2 and 75-80% effaced...Yep I was in active labor since I had dialated and effaced since my appointment on May 22nd. The nurse came back in after calling the doctor and she had a familiar brown cup in her hand...it was the stuff you drink before a C-Section! So I knew it was time! She said that Dr. Gass felt it was time to do the section if it was ok with me..I said sure, what time? I wanted to call and get everyone there...she said "in about an HOUR!" What??? Derek rushed to get everyone there as the nuring team got me prepped and ready to go. Everyone was nice except my scrub nurse..go figure the one that was going to stay with me during surgery...she was getting irritated because I told her I didn't want my foley catheter inserted until after I got my spinal. That is my choice you know, and those things are not comfortable at all!!! Well this section was a little different because they gave me a spinal instead of an epidural(there is a difference), they did my spinal in the OR instead of the LD room, and with a spinal you can still feel things...I promise it actually kind of hurt. I told the anesthesiologist that I could feel him cutting and you know what he said? "Trust me it's not as bad as if you weren't numbed at all!" What? I just dealt with it...and trust me with M I didn't feel anything! So at 8:40pm (only 1hr 10mins after arrival) Jakkson Alaxandar was born weighing 6lbs 6.5oz and 19.75 inches long! They showed him to me and he was beautiful...perfect! His Apgar scores were 8 and 9! Everyone made it as Derek was carrying him out!
Derek left the OR with him and I was sewed up and taken to recovery...I must have fell asleep during that part because I just remember waking up in recovery...haha I wonder what the OR team thought about that:)
So while I was in recovery I was just counting down that hour until I got to see my new baby boy! When they took me to my room, everyone was looking atme weird, but no one would say anything...I was starting to get freaked out. Then Derek tells me that J is in the NICU becaus he was having trouble breathing and his sugar kept dropping...I immediately called the NICU to find out what was going on...they had him on an IV of antibiotics, and were running tests. I told them I was breast feeding and I knew it would help his sugar level if I could just feed him, so they brougth me a pump and I pumped for him...they fed him with droppers like a sick puppy:( I felt useless because I still couldn't move my legs. With an epidural you get feeling and movement back very quickly, but with a spinal it takes up to 8hrs!!! So yep it was the next morning before I even got to see my new baby! I spent my whole time almost in the NICU, and J's nurse was amazing..she encouraged skin-to-skin and told me I was a pro Breastfeeder haha...J got out of the NICU that Wednesday, so I was able to have a normal experience with him that last night at the hospital!

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed!

Happy Birthday Jakkson Alaxandar!!

Jakk,

One year has passed since you were born! You truly were a blessing to our family. God sculpted you perfectly to make you a match in the Neal family! You look just like Uncle Rickey Mommy, and your smile could melt the sun:) You were born 6lbs 6.5oz and were 19.75 inches long...Daddy's little football! You are truly amazing! You were so anxious to come into this world that you forgot that you were supposed to be a June baby! I like to say you wanted to make it to the Memorial Day party;) Yep you were born 4 weeks early on May 25th, 2009...Memorial Day! You were born at 8:40pm, only 1hr and 10minutes after arrival at the hospital!! Since that day, my world has turned upside down! (In a good way) Your older brother Maddox was only 15mths old when you were born. He couldn't even walk yet! But...he was so excited from you arrival, and wanted to be able to teach you things and help take care of you, that...he started walking that day after we came home from the hospital with you!! He loves on you and smothers you with kisses. And now that he is two and you are one, he "toughens you up" and wants you near him all the time. From the time we wake up until we go to bed, he wants you there...you are the ONLY one he will share with:) Consider yourself very lucky! Some things you have accomplished by your first bday:

You rolled over for the first time when you were 2mths old...you can sit, and stand, and you have even taken 2steps by yourself! You can climb anything...you can even climb out of your high chair! You can say Momma, Dada, bubba, NO!, dog, what?, yeah, and hey! You can pretty much eat with a spoon, you don't take a bottle or binky, but you do suck your thumb! You smile all the time, and have been giving hugs since your were 4-5mths old! I mean real hugs squeezing and all! It makes me sad to see you "all grown up" and not a baby anymore, but it makes me proud to see the little boy you have become! I love you and so does Daddy and Maddox. This last year has been amazing, but now my baby is 1! I hope you enjoy your first birthday!

Love Always,

Mommy!

New Wardrobe

I know I have been neglecting my blog, but to be fair I have started Microbiology this past week! Anyway, if you remember I tlked about how I sold off almost all of my baby stuff. Well, with that money ( I considered it the boys money. After all it was their stuff) I went yard sale-ing and got all kinds of things for the boys! Name brand stuff...Gap, Childrens Place, Old Navy, Polo...you name it! You see while the boys are going to school (day care) these 6weeks, I wanted to get them some good play clothes. Have I mentioned I LOVE YARD SALES! You can get stuff next to nothing that is still in really good condition...especially kids stuff! So..I took or tried to take a picture of all the stuff I got

Jakk: 14 single shirts, 5 outfits, 3 pairs of shoes, 1 shorts, 1 blue khakis, 2 overalls, and more...

Maddox: 7 single shirts, 7 outfits, 1 pair shoes, Gap Jacket,  Swim Trunks, and more...

Some of Jakks stuff...three views to get a better view of it!

Some of Maddox's stuff...take a look at those shoes. Can't see? Well here:

Yep M got a cute little pair of Sperry's for $1!!!

Here is some more of their stuff! Matching dress shirts:)

That's M's Gap jacket and J's overalls!

Well there you have it! That's all the cool stuff I got the boys to destroy play in while at daycare for the next few weeks! I mostly did this so my mom could see what I was talking about now that she lives a bazillion miles away!

Oh...also J's Bday shirt came in!!!! I took a picture on my phone so it's not the best picture but here it is!

Isn't it just the cutest thing you've EVER seen??? :)

I found a pair of babylegs that matched perfectly on Targets website..so...I thought I'd check the store first to save on shipping...yeah I should have known that we wouldn't have such cute things here in BG :/! Now it's too late to order them, oh well..J will just have to show his bare legs :)

LOVE

Teeth Are Important Too!

Soo..back in January (you know when I was negligent to my blog) I took M to the dentist for the first time! I had originally planned on taking him last summer, but with the new baby it was kind of hard to get around to it. Anyway I found a GREAT pediatric dentist to take him too. You see I was terrified to take him to a regular general dentist because, well...I'll just say it...M was a biter! Yep, he sure was. I mean I wasn't too concerned over the summer with taking him because he had never bitten anyone but me, Derek, and my dad. BUT....since I couldn't get around to it this summer, his allergy appointment had to come first. This is when I realized that it might not be a good time in his little life to take him to the dentist. When M was at his allergy appointment, he bit his nurse! You probably remember me blogging about that back in October. Well come January I decided to put aside my fear and just take him to the dentist! After all it wasn't me he was going to bite! it could have been a one time incident! Well...his dentist appointment went great (no biting!!!), and he even got his picture made and a report card! The dentist office was like the coolest office EVER! M enjoyed plaing on the pirate, yes I said pirate, ship and playing video games while we waited. The actually room was a huge room where there were several chairs, and the walls were painted with cute ocean scenes! How adorable!

My teeth are all pretty and clean! NO CAVITIES!!!

 

My report card! I got an A!!! That's for healthy teeth, no cavities!

Yay Maddox! His next appointment is this July, and I am planning on taking J for his first check up then! I am excited to see how that goes! Since his appointment M brushes his teeth (with some assistance from mommy or daddy) twice a day and flosses, yes flosses, 1-2 times a day. We have started this with J as well, and the boys have so much fun lining up in their bathroom in the morning and before bed to brush and floss their teeth! M's new thing is spitting out the tooth paste. That is a big accomplushment considering he was sneak off with the tube of tooth past (flouride free of course) and we would find him eating it like candy! I found a kind now though that tingles, and I think that makes him want to spit it out. I'm not sure if that's why he spits it (although I'm pretty sure it is because I always test thing befor ei give them to my kiddos), but all I know is the very first time we used it he spit in in my face :) J loves brushing his teeth too! After I brush both the top, bottom, and the gums in the back, I say "Let mommy see", and he grins REALLY big to show me all six of his. Too cute! You see dental check ups are just as important as doctor check ups. Dental health is a really important factor in a persons over all health. So practice good oral health bloggy friends!

LOVE!

Brotherly Love

This morning M wakes up and climbs in bed with me. Daddy is already gone to work, so just the two of us, M and I, lay there snuggling and tickling. It was great. It brought back memories of when it used to be just the two of us every morning, and we would stay in bed and tickle and snuggle until we really HAD to get up! Then M stops...he hears something..."JAKK!" he say. You would think that hearing his brother would ruin the moment for him. You would think that he would beg me to stay with him in bed instead of going to get his little brother. Nope! Off the bed he flew calling behind him "Jakk, I have to go get him" "Jakk, I'm coming" You know, M really loves his little brother. He really wants him there beside him at all times. He tries so hard to tote him around wherever he goes (as much as a two year old can pack a soon-to-be one year old). There are forever friends! When I found out I was preggo again after only 7mths of being a new mommy, I was of course worried how M would take it. People said it would be hard that he would be jealous...Well!, let me tell you they were WRONG! M barely showed any signs of jealousy. He shared kisses and hugs, and as soon as he could say his name, he says it all  the time! Yeah, sure, sometimes M tends to "beat up on Jakk (Jakk usually laughs and goes along with it) but I don't think he does it out of jealousy but rather out of being a BIG BROTHER! So...after seeing how much M truely cares for J this morning, I found this poem that fits so perfect for Maddox!

Big Brother / Little Brother

I brought him home today

you’re now a big brother, waiting to play

but soon he'll grow, and you will see

just how much fun, being a big brother can be.

Soon he'll follow you everyday

and he'll repeat whatever you say,

he will always be your friend

his love for you will never end.

There's no greater bond of friendship here

than that of brothers who's love is dear.

So please be patient, very soon he'll grow

there's so much, he needs to know

how you came first, to lead the way

and at his side, you'll always stay.

All about the right things to do

you know he will be watching you.

This is the best way for you to see

how much you really mean to me.

When you can see that love can grow,

it's only then, that you could know.

 

 

 

So there you have it hope you enjoyed!

Love!

More on J's BDAY!

As Jakk's birthday is nearing and nearing (2wks from today, party is 2wks from Saturday!) I have started really getting anxious. I have so much to do, and really all I have actually done is plan :/ This weekend is when I am really getting down to business though! I have however found the most perfect first bday outfit! Like I mentioned before, I wanted to find a Mickey costume to put him in when guests are arriving. Well, I have found his actual birthday outfit to wear the rest of the party...and it is to die for ;)

Of course it will say Jakkson instead of Hunter...But isn't this just the cutest little thing ever! I found it on Etsy and it is extremely cheap!

Put it with a pair of babylegs and Tada!

I think it will be perfect!!! What do you think?

 So I have some bitter sweet news today...I have officially sold M's baby bed, the travel system I had, and I am selling M's baby bedding this afternoon. It's good news because I have no use for these things anymore, and I made the boys some money while I was at it! But...it is so hard to depart with those memories that are attached to those things. I have people that ask me "What about when you get preggo again? You have sold just about all of your baby stuff!" Well to answer your question...Derek and I don't plan on having any children until I am done with nursing school, and am out in the work force. We then want to have a house built for our growing family...THEN if we feel the need to expand our little family, we will. By that time, we will be financially stable enough to start over in a sense and get new baby stuff.! How exciting will that be? The munchkins will be old enough to help pick things out and our house willl be able to accommodate a party of five! So it will be awhile, but I do have names picked out that I am keeping secret because I have had my names stolen WAY too many times! Also with my third pregnancy we will NOT be finding out the gender! YIKES! I think I can do it, or atleast I hope I can! I know you get the same surprise at 20wks you get at birth, but we've gone that route...there were no surprises with our first (too much excitement), we kept the name a surprise with our second (It was so neat to see everyone surprised at the hospital), and now when the next one rolls around(haha) we will keep the gender a surprise!

Oh before I go...I have to do this

Here's M at his first Bday party! That was his bday outfit! Precious!

Look at those gorgeous eyes!!!

Ok that's all!


LOVE!

Who I Am As A Mommy

Some things have got me thinking lately about what kind of mommy I really am. You see I come from a family that was born and raised in the NORTH, but I was being raised in good 'ole Kentucky! What my family was used to when it came to parenting was quite different than here in the south. When I was little I had a friend who's mom had just had a baby...and...she breastfed! *Gasps* Yep to me as a a five year old that was weird, but what was more weird is that he was still breastfeeding when he was 3! How sad is that...no NOT that he was still breastfeeding, but that I thought that was weird!!! Well it's a good thing that I came around when it was my turn to have children :) Yes like I've said before I did breastfeed and I am a huge advocate for BF! It is not only good for the baby, but the bond you develop with your little one is just unmeasureable! It isn't that my family was unsupportive (they actually adjusted quite well to my odd decision), but they just were thrown aback that I had made the decision to BF when I had never been around that kind of parenting. My sister used formula with my nephew which is totally her choice, and I guess it was expected that I would too. Now to the issue of the 3yr old BF...for those of you that aren't aware of this style of parenting it is called crunchy and this form of "crunchiness" is called self-weaning. This is where you let your LO(little one) have complete control over when (s)he decides to wean off the breast. I actually chose to do this. I would have let my children BF until they were 1.5-2 if thats when they weaned. Unfortunately, I was only able to exculsively BF Maddox until he was 4mths and then I stopped all together when he was 7mths when I found out I was preggo with Jakk. I would have kept on BF, but I wasn't too sure how that worked (because BF causes uterine contractions) and I was SO sick that I don't think I could have anyway! With Jakk I was able to BF exclusively for 8mths! I feel that to be an accomplishment. I then tried to supplement with formula, he then had an allergic reaction to cow's milk, so since he was almost 1 by this time, I just starting him on soy milk. J barely took a bottle which means he was so easy to break from one (he didn't even really know what he was missing). So you think I'm kind of weird yet? I don't really know about letting my munchkins BF until they were 5, but yesterday I was holding M and I was like "I could handle BF a 2 year old!" I used to not be able to imagine that, but once you have kiddos, your views seem to change alot!

SPANKING: Have you ever seen those children and thought "Man, that kid need a spanking"? I know I have I used to babysit a couple of them!
I know, I know big controversy...but... here I go!
I have always said "I was spanked as a child, and I turned out just fine!" Cliche, I know! Well I have stuck by this even after having children. Neither of my boys are really a spanking age, but I have had to swat M a time or two, and swat J's hand to show them not to do something when NO just simply didn't work. BUT.....I have found that since having J I have really kind of started a new form of discipline. I know my boys are still babies, but I have found this more effective than spanking. For example, when M is doing something he shouldn't, I simply say "M, look at me" then (it's so cute because he will look straight into my eyes, which makes me not want to discipline at all!) when I have his attention I explain (in toddler language) why he should not do what he's doing, and then offer an alternate idea. Lately, we have found this to work GREAT! Now don't get me wrong he IS 2, so there are times thatwe still need to use spanking or time out as a punishment, but lately this has really worked for us!!!

There you have it...2 ways that we have gone "against the grain" so to speak when it comes to parenting. But what I always say is "I am the BEST mom there is for MY children" :)

I am slowly but surely sculpting into a mommy all her own. I have different beliefs than most, but I don't care because I want what is best for my children. I have had two C-Sections that I DO NOT regret, but know that in those situations I had really no choice. I do know however that when we decide to have another baby, I will be going all natural. Derek is all for it and totally supportive, and if I can't find a provider that will let me VBA2C I will labor at home until I know it is time to push! They will then have no other choice once I get to the hospital :) That is a whole different post though ;)

LOVE!

A Week and a Half Break!

Today is the beginning of my week and a half break. I can't say it's the beginning of summer for me sadly because I am taking two summer classes this year. I have decided to take Microbiology so I don't have to take that night mare with nursing! I am also taking Spanish. You don't have to have that for my program, but I thought it would be useful in the nursing field. I mean it has been like 8 years or something since I have taken Spanish in high school, and the only Spanish I have used since then is restraunt Spanish at Chick-fil-A grand openings. !Sandwich con lechuga y tomate! Yeah not very helpful in nursing;)

So I am happy to anounce that my first grade from this semester has posted and I got....an A in my first nursing class of the program!!!!!! Yay! You see the grading system is a little wack, so I was scared that I wouldn't technically get an A. To get an A you have to have a 92%! But I did it Yay!! My anatomy grade hasn't posted yet...leave it to her to be lagging behind ;) Butttt...* if I got an A on the final, I got an A in the class...fingers crossed! I know I have high hopes, but that's just me. When I was at WKU, I felt like I could never make a good grade, but now at BGTC I am doing so well, and I am shooting for a 4.0!!!
One semester down....three more to go! Next semester though I only go like half a semester then I have to do my first semester of practicum. That means no class, but free labor with a mentor at a facility of our choice. We do learn OB next semester though, so I will get to work in the Maternity unit at T.J. Samson! I  get to help deliver babies!!!!! (or clean up afterward...but hopefully help with delivery!)

*I had to stop right there because M had taken off his pull up in the kitchen...what a big boy right? Well yeah, if only he hadn't taken off a poopy one! Yep poop in the kitchen floor at 8:30 in the morning is not...well it's not really anything unusual in this house:)

Well that's all for now! Ohhhh before I go, I wanted to let you all know that my friend Christine had planned on taking some fun pictures of the boys the same day M got admitted to the hospital. Whoops! But she gladly rescheduled for May 14th! We are so excited. Check out her photo blog! http://playfulprintsbychristine.blogspot.com/! Enjoy!

Jakk is about to turn 1!!!

Two posts in one day! WOW! Well I thought I would let you in on what I have been planning for Jakk's birthday coming up later this month. His first birthday is on May 25th, but we will be having his party May 29th (Memorial Day weekend). SOooo we were going to have it at the park, but I cancelled my reservations and decided to have it at home in our back yard! We will cook out put up kiddy pools and such and have a good ole' time!
Ok so the theme of his bday is going to be Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Perfect for my little man!
I am making the cake (as I did for both of Mado's bdays). I love making cakes and am getting pretty good at it;) I have been practicing for this one on the back of a cookie sheet:

I just draw it on with black icing...

And make tiny little stars all over in the appropriate spot with the appropriate colors!

Pretty good I think!!!

This is the party stuff I am planning on getting

It will be a party full of fun!

I can't wait some other ideas I have but am still just thinking about are:

Putting mickey mouse and friends figurines in the punch and have them just floating around in the bowl.
Dressing Jakk in a mickey costume (just at first because it will get hot!)

I think he will be just a doll in this little costume!!!

I just can not wait until his party!!! If you have any other unique ideas that are MMCH themed PLEASE let me know. Just comment below I really would like some help!!!!

LOVE!