A Year Ago

So, let's forget dates for a second and just think about days....a year ago, tomorrow morning (It was Monday May 2, 2011) I got up for an early morning appointment with my OB/GYN. It was at 8:30am and it was going to be the last one before my scheduled c-section on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 12pm. Pat would fly in sometime that week and Friday at 10am we would head to the hospital...God's plan was AWESOMELY different.
At my appointment on Monday, I did my pee sample like I had done 2 times a week for the past two months. I then got weighed and noticed that I had gained 18lbs from the last Thursday (for a total of 30 lbs in only ONE WEEK).
I had noticed swelling all weekend and had had a headache on Saturday. I also noticed stretch marks for the first time that week (AGH-I had made it 37 weeks without them and then BANG they were there). The swelling was so bad, actually, that after going to a baseball game with my sister on Sunday, May 1, I had to wait 3 hours to take my "skinny" pregnancy jeans off because they wouldn't pull down my thighs and had to actually cut the seams by my ankles because they wouldn't fit over them still. But-despite all of the signs-I never thought about pre-eclampsia. However, my doctor knew EXACTLY what was going on (thank God she went to med-school, ya know?) At 9:08 am, Dr. Gregory walked in to the room where I was hooked up to the non-stress test monitoring Ryder's heart rate, and she asked, "are you ready to have a baby?"
SAY WHAT?!?!?!?!
No I wasn't ready-that's why we had scheduled a c-section, so we would know EXACTLY when my baby bear would be here. My husband wasn't here, my mommy wasn't here, my dad wasn't here!!!! I sent out a massive text saying "He'll be here by 4:30" and I think most people thought I was talking about Pat and not Ryder, but when they figured it out-I got calls...I called my mom right away and let her know and she made sure to get on the first available flight (which was difficult because of all of the red-cross workers flying to Alabama for the previous week's HORRIBLE tornado damage). I then called my sister crying. Thank God she was there with me through the whole process. She was walking into a meeting but she came to my rescue and waited in my room with me until the epidural and was then in the OR with me during the c-section, holding my hand and taking pictures. She was the very first person to see my baby, besides the doctors and I am so thankful that she could be there...It was a day I (hopefully) will never forget-EVER-not one detail.

Baby Fever...

In less than 1 month I will no longer have a baby...this past year has gone by so fast. I can't believe we have gone from this....

to this...

A few friends of mine are having babies soon and since I'm about to get a little boy as "my baby" turns 1, I have started getting baby fever again. I know we don't need another baby yet-I don't have time because of school- and we can't afford one...but, as excited as I am to have a 1 year old, it is bitter sweet...

If any of my friends having a baby soon would like to move to San Diego--I fully support you and that decision.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!

Today is my grandma's birthday and I want the world to know it!!!!! She has been an amazing grandmother to me these past 25 years and an amazing great-grandma to baby bear these past 8 1/2 months.
Grandma, we love you!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We're Finally Home...

Well, we are back home on the West Coast after a trip to see both of our families for Christmas and our birthdays. We had such a wonderful time!!! It was so hard to leave Orlando and then to leave Birmingham. I miss my parents desperately and I know Pat misses his family, too. It is so hard to be on the otherside of the country. We aren't exactly driving distance from them.
Pat gets out of the Navy in a little under 3 years. I know his family wants him to get out, he wants out, and my parents want us closer, but it's hard for me right now. I am torn. The benefits of the military are amazing. Don't get me wrong, it is extremely difficult to live a military life...not just for us, but for our families. If Pat were to stay in 3 more years, there is no gaurantee that we would be stationed where we are for those years. We COULD be stationed closer to our families like in Pensacola or Key West:)....OR we could be stationed farther away like Hawaii or Germany (though I have a feeling that if we were stationed in Hawaii we would have a lot of visitors haha) It would be devastating to be so far from everyone, but three years really does go by so quickly and I know we would be able to do it...I got through a pregnancy "alone" and we are establishing our lives out here with out our support system--we are building a new support system in our friends. We have been through so much worse.
Having Diabetes for 21 years means I go to a lot of doctors and I go multiple times throughout the year. Pat told me "You go to the doctor more than anyone I know...COMBINED!" lol. And it's true. To stay healthy, I have to make sure I see a bunch of different doctors. TriCare is AMAZING!!!! The military wives community is so amazing and helpful. It is a garunteed job and lord knows we could use the job security. I start nursing school this month and graduate in January of 2014. It would be nice to get a few years of experience under my belt before he gets out so that I can have a secure job and be the bread winner while Pat goes to school.
Whatever happens, where ever we end up, I know God will be in control.

ANYWAY...I have 619 pictures to go through from our trip before I post any (and Pat's mom took a bunch, too, so make sure you check out her blog.) Pat's mom also convinced me to start Project 365. For now, I will be posting them on my blog...I know, I know...I'm already 3 days behind, but I WILL catch up today. We got a 3-in-1 printer so I will eventually be printing out the pictures...I'm excited!!!!!

6 Months Gone By....

I cannot believe that at this time, 6 months ago, I was about to leave for my last OB appointment before my scheduled C-section on May 6. Little did I know, I would be admitted to the hospital for a week and would be leaving as a mommy. My DR appointment did not last very long. I stepped up on the scale, found out I was 32lbs heavier than only a week earlier (YES- 32lbs in ONE WEEK). I was then hooked up to the NST machine and the nurse took my BP. She then quickly left the room.... UH-OH... My Dr. came back in and asked how quickly my husband could make it in to town. She then gave me the option of a C-section at 4:30pm that day or early the next morning. I prayed hard that Pat could make it in and we could do it the next morning...but plans changed and the risk wasn't worth the wait so my sweet baby boy was delivered at 4:28 pm a healthy 8lbs 6oz and 20in long. His lungs were POWERFUL (they still are).
Pat, sadly, was unable to make it and neither did my mom. I will forever be grateful for my sister, who was there for me through it ALL. One of the first people to know, the first to come over and tell me it would be ok-that this was a miracle and we should all be excited, the first to go to a dr apt with me, and the first to be by my side the three times I was admitted into the hospital. She was the very first, besides the Drs to see Ryder. Thank you, Katie, for being an amazing supporter and for being there for me when I needed you most.
Here we are, 6 months later, and I have the sweetest baby in the world. I cannot believe that my newborn isn't here anymore, but when I look at this sweet baby sitting up, holding his bottle, rolling over, eating, and trying to pull up, I can't help but be amazed and in awe at how God has blessed me. If you know our story, you know it could have gone a completely different direction and we could be in a very different place today. But God knew the future. He had plans for Pat and me. I held on to Him-though it was hard at times-and I will forever be thankful for my family--my extended and my immediate.

Waiting for surgery with my sister, Katie.

Holding my sweet Ryder for the first time before he was taken to the NICU

Only mommy and daddy could touch him for a week

Daddy was the very first person to get to hold Ryder for any real length of time

6 months later....

Happy and smiling

sleeping blonde baby

Eating prunes....yummy

SURPRISE!!!!

I am soooo excited. My dad's birthday is October 8 and my mom's birthday was August 1...their anniversary was August 6 and we weren't able to do much for them with the move and new baby and everything else sucking up our funds...
I have the BIGGEST surprise in store for them!!! Stay tuned to find out what--It'll be the middle of October but everyone loves suspense, right?!

3 Months...Where Did It Go?

WOW! I cannot believe that 3 months have come and gone by already! Everyone said that time would go by quickly but it's amazing how fast it really does. My little angel bear has grown so much. He smiles and laughs all the time now and is trying soooo hard to roll over (he is almost there!!) He is starting to realize he is ticklish. He tries to talk to us and loves when his daddy holds him. He has started to realize that he can grab things on purpose and will reach for his toys now...He stares at all of his mobiles and laughs with them. He'll sit and watch tv now (he loves the show GLEE and hates Bea Arthur's voice lol) He is such a good baby. God has blessed me so much these past 3 months (and the 37 weeks 6 days I was pregnant for) and I cannot express how much I love this sweet baby boy...