After the wedding...

Mid June Bryce and I traveled down to Fort Myers, Florida with my parents and GG (my grandmother). They own a townhouse down there and Bryce & I stayed with them for 3 1/2 weeks. We had a great time - although I was very out of breath, tired & noticed that my blood pressure was starting to go up. It didn't concern me too much though because I was past 28 (when my pre-eclampsia symptoms started with Bryce) and I wasn't swollen at all.

Oh yeah, but I should mention - I did spend 2 days in the hospital mid June because of some complications. One night at around 1:15 am I started bleeding... a lot. I called my in laws to come over and watch Bryce, went downstairs to tell Dave we were going to the ER (yup, we're night owls) and left once the in laws arrived. By 1:45 am I was admitted to Labor & Delivery and already receiving an IV. They did a sonogram and said that everything looked ok. They discharged me directly to my high risk dr after 2 days and had another extensive sonogram their. He said all seemed to be ok and they couldn't figure out where the blood had come from - but according to them it did not come from the placenta or the baby. Whew. I was sent home to rest and after the weekend I was told I could return to "normal" life. After a few weeks of no complications they released me to take my vacation! Thank goodness - granted, if I wasn't able to go... I wouldn't have... but I would have been pretty darn bummed about missing the beach for the whole summer!

Ok - so back to Fort Myers. We had a great time. We went to the beach everyday and Bryce had SO much fun playing in the sand and the water. The beach their is just glorious! After 2 1/2 weeks Daddy flew down to meet us. Bryce was thrilled to have Dad in Florida.

We spent most of our days looking for "sea creatures". There were tons of sea slugs, shrimp, baby clams and baby snails to collect in our buckets. We even got to see some sting rays in the water! Thank goodness we didn't step on any! I was very careful to shuffle in the water... we only saw 2 in the 3 weeks we were there... but I wasn't taking any chances!

Bryce had a GREAT time at the community pool. He finally got the courage to put his head under the water and really enjoyed the new freedom that it gave him. He was able to get his head wet which meant he could also splash around because the water didn't bother him so much if it got in his eyes. He watched the other kids jump in the pool and eventually tried it out himself. He was so proud to show off his cannonballs to the other kids!

We returned home mid July and while we had a great time down there - I was happy to be back in my house! The beach can be exhausting! Although... I am looking forward to returning over Spring Break in April!

The beach at dusk - red sky at night... sailor's delight!

Hide and Seek at Times Square, Fort Myers Beach

Bryce was a huge help with getting to the beach!

Sea Slug

Shrimp!

Bryce wore his goggles a lot because he didn't like the salt water in his eyes

Hawaiian Sundae at Love Boat Homemade Ice Cream (YUMMY!)

Mommy & Bryce

Daddy and Bryce playing Frisbee

Cannonball!

Underwater at the Pool

What I've been up to...

So after a long break I've decided to return to my blog. Now that Bryce is back in school and the new little one takes great naps in the morning... I have some time to type while I'm gulping down my morning cup o' joe.

So you ask - what have I been up to? Well... Bryce and I had a very interesting summer. After school ended in May we got ready for my sister in law's wedding. Bryce was the ring bearer and my hubby n I were both attendants. We had a blast and it was a gorgeous affair. The weather was spectacular and she ended up with some fantastic outdoor shots! Everything went smoothly (unlike my own wedding) and we all had a glorious day. My bridesmaid dress actually looked stunning - I was afraid of looking like a tent considering I was 7 months pregnant. I was very happy with the outcome of it.

My favorite part of the reception?... the yummy appetizers! I actually took a break from dinner to run back to the bridal suite to get me some more of the appetizers that were still set up! MMM mmm good!

Bryce was the most adorable ring bearer! He did a great job and was so proud!

Here are some pics of the wedding for now... the new little one is hungry right now so I've got to go feed him... I'll update some more tomorrow!

I've been away...

Well, I am on week 19 of my pregnancy. This morning we found out we're having another boy! I'm just hoping that this boy is a little calmer than the first! I love Bryce to pieces but I'm not sure I could handle 2 of them!

Also - in other news (sad news) - we put Emmi down on Friday. Emmi was our rescue dog. She was the sweet cuddly one that everyone loved. Well, towards the end her legs were getting so disfigured and crippled from her arthritis that she became pretty cranky (reasonably so!). While it was incredibly hard to do - we thought it would be best for everyone involved (us and her) to let her go.

I miss her tons... although I miss the old Emmi. The last year or so has been very hard with her and I think we were all a bit miserable. I miss the sweet cuddly Emmi that we had before the arthritis took over.

Blah

I feel like blah. This week started off so incredibly well. Monday I felt fantastic and Bryce and I had such a great day.... which was such a relief because 2009 started off pretty crappy with a sinus infection. Well, Tuesday rolled in along with rain for 2 days. Today I thought that since the sun was back that we'd actually get out of bed and do some things but I was wrong. I just wanted to sleep. Then I had lunch and spent the rest of the day wishing I could have my stomach pumped.

I guess I should explain a bit. On our way back from Florida I found out I was pregnant. Yes, literally on the way back... in the airport bathroom. I had my suspicions at the beginning of the week but I was not going to test because darn it... this was my vacation and I didn't want to hold anything back! 20 months of not being able to become pregnant after my miscarriage... 20 months of thinking maybe every month and gosh darnit... this was our vacation!!! I know that sounds selfish but this was truely our first family vacation by ourselves (well, without my parents or inlaws attending). Well, at the end of the week I just couldn't wonder anymore and the rest is history.

Yup, I'm pregnant. I was supposed to start the IUI process when we returned from our vacation but well.... don't need that! It's hard to believe... 20 months of not being able to become pregnant. I went through all of the infertility tests (and let me tell you... that HCG was not comfortable!) and well... I didn't need to do that.

I've had 2 sonograms now. The first one at 6 weeks at my dr's request because she saw something a little odd on her sonogram (just ended up being that her songram machine is old and blurry) and the 2nd one at my request because I had been cramping a little over Christmas. I was 8 weeks at that point and that is when the last pregnancy ended (although I was 10 weeks when I found out). At both the heartbeat was strong but I'm still not convinced. I go back to the dr. next Tuesday at 10 weeks and if I hear something then I'll feel a little more confident.

Anyhow - that brings me back to feeling blah. I'm SO tired. I can't wake up and when I am awake all I want to do is lay down. Yesterday I was cramping but I felt better when I relaxed so I stayed in bed all day with Bryce. Today I was just exhausted and after I ate lunch I just regretted it so I spent most of the day again in bed trying not to get sick. I've seen GI Joe enough times now to recite it in my sleep.

It really is depressing. I know that I'm depressed because I haven't left my room much this week, let alone my house! I need to get out! But I don't want to go out because I'm so tired and I'm afraid of feeling crappy while I'm out. It just circles around and around.

And poor Bryce.. I really did have so much planned for this week. Tuesday was Three Kings Day, Wednesday was Old Rock Day (but I forgot to dry the rock off so we couldn't paint it anyways) and today was English Toffee Day. I have all of the ingredients to make the toffee so I'm hoping we can do it on Sunday. Tomorrow is National Apricot Day and I'm hoping we can stamp with dried apricots and make apricot pancakes for dinner but I guess we'll have to see how I'm feeling. I didn't make dinner tonight because the thought of food just tossed my stomach so Bryce and Dave had McDonalds. Saturday is Milk Day and I'm hoping to make homemade milk paint to use.

Anyhows - I really should try and get to bed. Plus, I need to stop rambling. My dad says I ramble too much in my blog and I'm sure I do but I don't even stop to think about what I'm typing sometimes. I just type. If I could ever find my old diary I'm sure its the same way.

Well - goodnight for now and I'll blog ya later!

New Years Resolution

So this year my resolution is to spend more time with Bryce on a daily basis doing planned activities. Sure, we go out and do a lot and we play and such but I want to focus on a theme for the day and do activities/crafts that relate to that theme.

Yesterday was "National Bird Day." So after preschool we made cardboard bird binoculars, fed the birds, made chocolate nests with marshmallow eggs and listened to bird calls on the computer. We had a lot of fun!

Unfortunately, I left my camera at a family friends house this weekend (at the annual Epiphany Party) so I have no pictures of what we made. But - I found some examples online to give you an idea of what we did.

Bird Watching Binoculars

(picture from http://www.thriftyfun.com)

Chocolate Bird Nests (chow mein noodles & chocolate... we used mini marshmallows instead of jelly beans for the eggs)

(picture from http://teachers.net)

Bird Call Websites we visited
http://davenation.com/birds/
http://www.learnbirdsongs.com/

Today is "Three Kings Day" or Epiphany and I have some activities planned out for that today. I will share tomorrow. Happy Tuesday!

Disney World Vacation Pictures

So I've been away from blogger for a long time now. It's been pretty crazy here and I crashed big time after we returned from Disney. Then came the holidays and the whole family has been on again, off again sick since then. I'm hoping to return on a more normal basis from now on. Before I update everyone on what we've been doing I thought I'd share some pictures from Disney World!

Bryce with the red PowerRanger at Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios (Outside Star Tours Ride)

Magic Kingdom Main Street decorated for Christmas

The Castle at night - dripping with lights

Bryce and Peter Pan

M I C, K E Y, M O U S E... Micky Mouse!

Epcot at Night
Bryce's Favorite "Ride" - the Waste Management Booth at InnovationsBryce was in the "What's Your Problem" show in Epcot (sponsored by Velcro)... everything was supposed to be stacked on top of the blue cube with nothing touching the floor but he didn't quite get that.

Epcot

Bryce's Caricature done at Animal Kingdom

This was Bryce pretty much every night - he was exhausted after a full day!

Last day in Orlando! We went mini-golfing at Pirate's Cove and they gave the boys goodie bags with a bunch of stuff in it.

Well - now that I've shared our vacation I think I'm going to go downstairs and focus on getting dinner on the table! I'm starving! Be back soon!

Back from Disney!

So we just got back last night from Disney and I just checked my blog. Apparently the post I had left before we went on vacation did not get posted. Oops. Yup, so we've been away!

I'm busy doing laundry, getting the dogs and kid re-situated and trying to decorate for Christmas. Plus, uploading pictures... so I'll post more tomorrow on the vacation!

I'll leave you with this....