Merry Christmas!

Holiday Traditions Festival

Another holiday tradition is the opening of gifts. We do ours a little early since we have a blended family. Jeremy usually spends Christmas with his dad, and Christopher and Anthony will be with their mom. So we opened a couple gifts Thursday night, and the rest were opened Friday morning. We had originally planned on opening them all on Saturday morning, but Ryan wanted to be able to spend the time while the kids were here playing with their goodies. Plus, he said we should have it separate from Preston’s birthday. So that is why we moved it up. I only took a few pictures of the gift openings. So, here they are:

Here is Jeremy opening one of the few gifts that he couldn’t guess what it was. It was actually kind of a gag gift. You see, Jeremy goes crazy over the limited edition Mountain Dew Game Fuel. He was stocking up on them when they were out to promote some game that I cannot remember the name of. Eventually, they stopped selling them, and he was having withdrawals. Ryan ran across them recently. Either they came back out or this particular store just had some left over. Ryan packed 4- 2 liter bottles of them in a diaper box. Jeremy was ecstatic to get this gift. Yeah, he was ecstatic over the $4.00 gift. Go figure!

This was a gift for all the boys (well except Preston). Ryan had to search long for this one. We thought we had it once earlier this month, and then we got an email saying our order was cancelled because it was on back order. Most eBayers had it selling for way too much money, but eventually, Ryan won one auction for a reasonable amount. So, what is this gift? See the next picture for the answer.

It’s Parker Brother’s new game Monopoly Here and Now Electronic edition. We have played this multiple times as a family since then, and it is so much better without the paper money!

This is Gabi sitting next to Papa opening her 1st gift! We were so afraid of this gift talking if anyone bumped it while we waited for the day to open them. It would have been a dead giveaway since it would have been Shrek’s voice!

I love this picture because I captured the joy in her face as she realized just what she had opened. Gabi is a Shrek fanatic, and watches every Shrek that has been made multiple times. Sometimes multiple times in one day!

A hug for Shrek.

Preston in his antlers.

Gabi in her antlers. I know she looks like I was torturing her in this picture by making her wear them. She really did love it, but lately trying to get her to smile on command is close to impossible.

All of our kids left to right is Christopher, Gabriella, Anthony, and Jeremy holding Preston. I really thought I would get this picture only after threatening kids to wear the Christmas garb, but they actually did it voluntarily.

And I had to add one more of Preston with his cute cheesy grin before I ended this post.

Well let’s not forget that Christmas cards is another holiday tradition that we do around here. I have sent out soooo many cards this year. I had participated in a Christmas card exchange, so 50-60 cards were mailed to some of our Trisomy 21 online community friends. Then I sent out another batch to family and other friends. And last night, I sent out an ecard to a huge group. I tried to send one to my readers that I had addresses for. Most likely, if you didn’t get one and you frequent here, it was because your comment is sent with a no reply email address. So, if you didn’t get yours… please view it at the link below:

click here to view our Merry Christmas eCard

Birthday Montage

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Preston had a great 1st birthday. At first, Preston didn’t know what to think about the cake. Once he tasted it though he was eating it until he was gagging. Poor baby! Maybe we shouldn’t have tried giving him the cake so close to the big meal we had. We did our Christmas meal on Preston’s birthday as well. Of course, Gabi had to have the Sesame Street decorations on the cake. Watch the video montage. It really worth the time!

Happy 1st Birthday, Preston!

I had already posted how I found out I was pregnant with Preston in this post, but I never really told his birth story.

Throughout my pregnancy, we had planned on a December 22nd birth. I had a doctor who liked to schedule inductions, but wouldn’t if the mom was against it. Being that both Jeremy and Gabi had to be evicted from the womb, I figured why not schedule the eviction and plan for it. My parents were coming in on the 20th, and I worked up until the 19th. My last OBGYN appointment was on the 18th, and to my surprise, she wanted to move the induction up 1 day. Okay, so I guess we will be having a baby on the 21st instead. She checked his placement with a quick ultrasound and he was head down and ready. We had discussed previously that if Preston didn’t turn that I just wanted to do a c-section. I was too afraid of him becoming entangled in his cord by manipulating him into position. In all honesty, I was afraid of the pain of it, too, but no need to worry since he did in fact turn and is ready.

The 21st arrives, and I get a call from Dr. Dunn’s office telling me not to head to the hospital just yet. There were no beds available in the labor unit. “Just hold tight and we will call you as soon as there is a bed.” Hours went by and I had started developing a migraine from not eating as I was instructed. So, I call the doctor’s office and ask if they can check on the bed situation, and that if there isn’t one can I go ahead and eat something. I got a call back telling me to go ahead and eat. I think that was the best taco salad I ever had.

They call me just about an hour after I ate and instructed me to head over to the hospital now. When I got there, I got the last bed and patients in labor were being put on diversion to another hospital after me. Whew! I made it just in time.

I was brought up to the labor department or should I say Ryan was wheeled up to the labor department while I walked. It was the funniest thing ever to these nurses to see the husband being wheeled in while the very pregnant wife walked. Of course, Ryan had a broken ankle which I told about in this post. My IV was started and blood was drawn. I was placed on a fetal monitor and the pitocin drip was started.

About an hour into the pitocin infusion, I was starting to get some contractions. Dr. Dunn (whom I adore by the way) came in and said she was going to do an internal exam, break my waters and place an internal fetal monitor on Preston to monitor him better. The exam was far more painful than I had remembered from my previous two deliveries. I remember telling my doctor, “I am getting way to old for this! My pain threshold is zero now!” The internal exam revealed that I was only a fingertip dilated, but the real problem was that it didn’t feel like a head there anymore. So she ordered the nurse to get her an ultrasound machine to be sure. The ultrasound revealed Preston’s head just below my ribs on my right side. I turn to my husband and say “I knew it! Didn’t I tell you the other day that it felt like he had completely turned around?” Dr. Dunn again went through my options at this point (external manipulation or c-section). I quickly said “C-section, and let’s go ahead and tie my tubes so I won’t have to come back in January to do them.”

Dr. Dunn had a few other deliveries that were getting close. So, I had to wait for those deliveries before I could go in for my c-section. It was getting late by this point. I tried to sleep, but I just couldn’t. Preston was constantly moving, and it was just so uncomfortable. Finally, at about 5 am December 22nd (my originally scheduled delivery date) my nurse asks if I want to shower quickly before my c-section since Dr. Dunn was almost ready for me. I showered and boarded the narrow stretcher that waited for me.

I was wheeled into the Operating Room and the anesthesiologist was waiting for me. I had to get a spinal block done in order for Ryan to be able to see Preston’s birth. I told this story just last week in this post.

After my spinal block was done, I immediately started vomiting. What a horrible feeling to not be able to move my arms or legs. I had to rely on someone else to hold a basin up for me. And the spinal block made it even hard for me to breath. My husband came in dressed in O.R. garb from head to toe. He asked how I was feeling to which I forced the words “It’s…so hard…to breathe.” Then the nausea hit again.

Dr. Dunn enters and in true Dr. Dunn fashion explains to me every detail of what is going on and what she is going to do. “You’ll feel some tugging, but nothing should hurt.” The smell of the cauterizer was not kind to my nausea, either. Burning flesh has a pretty nasty smell to begin with, but to think of it as your own is far worse! I felt plenty of tugging, and for some reason, I knew it was taking longer than they had anticipated. Dr Dunn informs me that Preston is going to keep me busy since the little sneak had turned himself completely back around since we had checked about 8 hours ago. He was back in position for delivery! The real surprising part was when they tried to pull him from my uterus and he went back in. They actually had to get the vacuum to get him out. I have heard of them resorting to a vacuum for a vaginal delivery, but not for a c-section! Then, we praised God for having us do the c-section since Preston had a “very tight cord wrapped around his neck” as Dr. Dunn described it. He would have certainly had restricted oxygen or no oxygen had we tried to deliver him vaginally.

Preston was born Friday, December 22nd, 2006 at 6:53 am via Cesarean section weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 inches long.

After Preston was delivered and checked out, he was brought over to me and placed in front of my face. I swear, I couldn’t see him. My vision was so blurry. I even told Ryan later in the recovery room, “You could’ve handed me any baby at this point and I wouldn’t have known the difference since I couldn’t see him. I’ll have to trust you that this one’s ours!

And since I am discussing this, let me add this funny story. It was VERY important to me to get my tubes tied. I did not want to have anymore children. Not that I don’t love kids, I just knew we couldn’t afford more than the 5 we support right now! Dr. Dunn and I had endless conversations about tying my tubes over the previous 9 months. She preferred to wait until January to do them if I delivered vaginally, but agreed to do them right away if I had a c-section for whatever reason.

After Preston was born and my husband left to be with Preston in the nursery, my anesthesiologist gave me 2 drugs, Phenergan for my nausea and Versed which is a sedative and amnesiac medication. The 1st thing I remember after that was being wheeled out of the O.R. and my nurse explaining, “You may not remember everything we have told you since you had Versed.” I, then asked, “Did she tie my tubes?” To which they laughed and said, “That must be really important to you!” It was at that time that I realized I had been asking that same question over and over.

Happy 1st birthday, baby boy!

Baby Wearing

Much More Than A Mom is giving away a baby sling. I used to use a baby carrier for Preston, but he outgrew it. The great things about slings is they can hold babies of all sizes and toddlers, too. If your interested in entering, click on the image above to be redirected to the contest details.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Gabi is loving her time with Nana and Papa being here. She is constantly sitting right between the two of them making sure she keeps both of their attention. My mom even tried to ask Gabi if she could give Preston a hug or a kiss just to see what she would say, and her response was of course “No!”

Ryan has been saying for two days now that I am so spoiled. He says my mom is always buying me anything I want. I am not trying to get her to. She just does. If I even take a second look at something, she wants to buy it for me.

Today is the last day of school for all of the kids. We will be going to pick up Christopher and Anthony and bring them back here. The kids don’t know it yet, but we are going to let them open their presents tonight. Ryan said since he has to bring Christopher and Anthony back on Sunday and Jeremy leaves Sunday to go see his dad, then this would allow them all a chance to play before then. Truth be told, I think Ryan is the one who wants to play.

Preston is getting really bad about wanting to be with me and me only. He cries anytime anyone takes him away from me. And he has actually pulled himself up to stand and let go a few times. It’s amazing how quickly he has gone from milestone to milestone. He still isn’t exactly on track yet, but he’s getting close. I know Jeremy was walking by his 1st birthday, and he was doing it well.

Here are some pictures of Preston. He is cracking us up lately with his forced smile everytime he sees the camera.

Wednesday’s Weekly Weigh-In

I have a confession to make. Well, actually confessions. I cheated this week. I gave in to so many temptations. There was the pizza we ordered one night because I was too tired to cook, the pizza I ate the next morning because there was some left over, the french fries that I just had to have with my sandwich when we went out to eat while Christmas shopping, and the baskets of food that people brought to work containing cheese, crackers, summer sausages, and chocolates. Yeah, it was big time cheating.

But I do have to say that I have been doing a little more exercise than before, and I certainly haven’t given up. I am determined to see this through. I just had this set back. But was it really a set back?

Here is what the scales said this morning:

Lost 1.5 pounds!
Total lost to date is 17 pounds!

I was not deserving of this for sure, but I am thrilled to see these results. Now, I know that I cannot continue that type of splurging and expect results.

This week coming is full of temptations, too. Preston’s 1st Birthday is this Saturday and then there is Christmas, too. But I have a plan! I am going to have cake, but I will have 1 piece only. And I will have Christmas dinner in moderation.

And let me add that we went to Applebee’s this week, and I had the Onion Soup au Gratin for 3 points, and the Steak and Portabello meal for 7 points. And it was delicious!

Here’s hoping to see less of you and me next week!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Preston Santa

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Time Travel Tuedsay ~ Fraidy Cat Edition

Travel back to the last time you were really scared!
Were you afraid to look under the bed when you were little, or even now?
When is the last time you remember being very scared?
A couple of times, I have posted about some frightening things that I have experienced in my life. I blogged how my father used to scare me as a child and about my experience going through Hurricane Andrew. But Annie asked about the last time we were really scared.

I would have to say the last time I was really scared was around this time last year. Preston was born December 22nd of last year and just two days after his birth (Christmas Eve), I woke with a horrendous headache. Really it was only horrendous when I was upright. When I was lying down, it was bearable. With my nursing experience, I knew what it was, but I didn’t want it to be true. My fears became more real when the aide came in to do my vital signs. As I sat my bed up, I grabbed my head in excruciating pain. When the aide seen me, she said exactly what I was trying to deny, “You look like your having a spinal headache.”

You see, Preston was born via Cesarean section, and I had a spinal block for his birth. The anesthesiologist had some difficulty getting the spinal block done. He made multiple attempts to get the needle placed properly. I beared through it knowing that if they had to use general anesthesia, then Ryan wouldn’t get to see our son being born. They had already told us that he wouldn’t be allowed to come in if I was under general anesthesia and intubated. I was very close to asking them to do the general anesthesia when the anesthesiologist finally got the needle placed.

Now, two days later, I was having spinal headaches from a CSF (Cerebral Spinal Fluid) leak from my spinal block. The headaches were so intense that my nurse was treating me with IV narcotics to dull the pain, and the vomiting wasn’t helping either. My OBGYN came in my room hoping to discharge me so we could spend Christmas at home. When she seen what was going on, she said, “Those are spinal headaches you are having, and I am going to have to call the anesthesiologist back in to do a blood patch.” I was so afraid that I started to cry. Of course, it was incredibly painful to even cry. To have to go through the poking in my back again, just two days later, had me terrified.

A few hours later, the anesthesiologist came and did my blood patch, and no, he didn’t get it on the first, second, or even the third try AGAIN! But finally, it was done! He told me to lie down to rest for an hour and he would be back to see if it was successful. With all of the IV narcotics and the emotional stress, I fell right asleep. He came back an hour later and asked me to get up and walk. I did and only had a dull headache at that point. A few hours later, I was discharged home to spend Christmas with my family and our new little arrival.

Christmas Tour & Holiday Traditions Festival

Of course, tradition around our home is like much of everyone else’s. We decorate our home for Christmas. While, I am not fond of the actual decorating and putting it all away, I do love to see it all. This year, I was spared of having to do the decorating since my husband and the kids all decorated while I slept after coming home from work one day. They did it ALL while I slept. Whew! So now, I just have to sit back and enjoy the view. Last year, my parents had to take all of our decorations down for us since my husband and I were both laid up. Ryan with a broken ankle and me with a unexpected c-section. Speaking of my parents, they fly in tomorrow! Yay!!

So, what are we waiting for? On to the decorations:

This is our star on top of our tree.
This is our tree. Yeah, it has an unlit area in it. Those darn pre-lit trees!
Here is our outside Christmas lights. This was taken Saturday night after some rain had washed away some of our snow. You can’t tell in this picture, but our icicle lights are red and white like candy canes.
Our Nativity is displayed on top of our television. Gabi was watching Shrek The Halls at the time.
Here is a closer look at our Nativity.
This is our dining room table.
This is our wreath on our front door. My mom made it.
This is our other wreath on the inside of our front door. My mom made this one, too.
This is our fiber optic tree that we have decorating our pass-through between our kitchen and our dining room.

We even have our coat rack shelf decorated by our front door.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of our home decorations. I can’t wait to see everyone else’s. Head over and check out the rest by clicking on the two buttons at the top of this post.

Merry Christmas!