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.

This Week

Well, I started classes last week. The first 5 days were an introduction to the school, how to study, the stresses of nursing classes and basically, how not to fail out. Yesterday was my first day of Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology I. It's definitely going to be hard for me. I have to stay on top of reading and studying because sciences never came as easily to me as other courses. But, I am so excited about nursing school!!!!! (yes, I know you're not supposed to start a sentence with the word 'but'.)
Today was a pajama day for Ryder and mommy. He started daycare last Wednesday and though he only goes on days I have class, I still feel very torn about leaving him with someone else. I know he's having fun and is in very good, very capable hands but I still feel like I'm the one who should be home with him. I mean, I'm his mommy. If I had stuck with nursing at Samford, I might be able to stay home more with him now. Then again, if I had stuck with nursing, I might not be where I am now-and I LOVE where I am now. As we were playing tonight, Ryder put my finger in his mouth to chew on. PEOPLE--- WE HAVE A THIRD TOOTH!!!! He hasn't been too fussy so I didn't think about it. But, then again, he's been in daycare and I haven't really seen him during the day. I am soooo excited and sad at the same time. My baby is growing up. He isn't the same little boy I brought home almost 9 months ago.
Anyway, I'm going back to bed...it's 1:30 and I have to be able to function tomorrow. Ryder is pretty demanding ;)

How my baby calls out to me to come get him in the morning...

PS-he's fighting off a pretty big cold right now-from being in daycare and getting a tooth-so if you want to send up a quick, little prayer for him, we would all appreciate it. :)

Project 365-Day 7 and Day 8

January 7, 2012

So for day 7, I took a picture of Ryder's new, 3-in-1 car seat. We had 2 infant travel systems, one Chicco and one Baby Trend. Well, we never used the Chicco one. We tried to return it to get a giftcard, but the color is "discontinued", so they wouldn't take it back. We "sold" it to some friends in Virginia who are expecting a baby girl this year...SOOO EXCITED FOR THEM... I went to Babies R Us with Ryder tonight and got him one I can use from now until he is 100 lbs in a booster...I'll keep this one in my car (YES- I FINALLY have my car and I am able to drive it!! woot woot) and Pat will keep the BabyTrend in his truck for the days when he picks Ryder up from daycare.

Well, while mommy and baby went shopping, daddy went shopping, too!!! Look what I came home to!!

January 8, 2012

Today, Ryder and I went and tried a new church. It is called Coastline Church and is in Carlsbad, CA. It is a little bit of a drive but so worth it! It is connected with ARC, a program for establishing churches that Church of the Highlands started. It is the only church that, when I walked into it, I didn't compare it to COTH. It was a lot smaller, but everyone knew everyone. Ryder did GREAT in the childcare. There were only 4 babies there and he was the only one who didn't cry. I was so proud.
These are pictures of daddy getting Ryder ready for church.

Santa! I KNOW HIM!!!!!!

I've been in the gym 5 of 7 days this week...lost inches but no lbs....soooo frustrating.
Ryder has been doing an army crawl from one side of my parent's family room to another. It is so funny to watch him. If he sees a toy he wants, he will do anything to get to it-when he gets frustrated, he simply cries and his Grammy comes running to the rescue.
We went to the Millenia Mall here to see Santa. We got such a cute picture of the REAL Santa. I was so excited...it was just another stranger to Ryder haha.

Grammy and Ryder playing while we waited to see Santa

The REAL Santa

Christmas Time 2011

Well-We made it safe and sound to Orlando. Everyone was so excited to see Ryder and we was excited to see anyone else besides his mama who held him still on an airplane for 6 hours haha.We got in at 9pm and went straight to my parent's house. Ryder stil has NOT adjusted to the time change and I am running on very little sleep.
We have spent a lot of time with my grandparents and I am looking forward to my cousins and sister coming into town (as well as Kori's husband, my brother in law and MY HUSBAND). My brother came in early from school, too. He'll tell you it is so he could hunt but it's actually so he could spend more time with Ryder.

Yesterday, my grandmother took me and Ryder to get his christmas pictures taken. There were some cute ones...The above pics are some of my favorites

Dear Ryder

I want you to know how much I love you. I hope you know how proud I am of you-how proud I am to call you my son. Know that my love for you is unconditional and it is forever. There is nothing you could ever do that could change the way that I feel for you, that would change how much I love you. My life started the day you were born. I loved you from the moment I knew I was going to have you but I never knew how much I could love someone until you were born and in my arms. You are my everything and I love you more and more every day. Your smile makes my day-EVERY DAY. When you reach out to me, my heart smiles. When I hear you say "mama", my heart melts. Watching you grow and learn is what I live for. Feeling your soft, sweet hand around my finger is the reason I get up.
Ryder Patrick Fry-I love you more than you will ever know. You are my life and my world and I will never give up on you and I will always protect you and keep you safe.

"No one will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like on the inside."

Doctors and Nurses

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...
I GOT IN TO NURSING SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 6:04 pm this evening, my nursing school adviser called me to inform me that I had been accepted into the nursing associates degree program. She told me I was the first person they called and the very first person they had accepted and I was 1 of 2 students who the director wanted in the program 110% and who she would personally help ensure our spots were saved and all of our i's were dotted and t's were crossed. (I wish I had done better at FSU so I could have done it at Samford and not wasted my parents time and money, but then I might not have met Pat and would not have Ryder....so this is definitely the way it was supposed to happen)
I have a meeting tomorrow to fill out remaining paperwork, start financial aid process...again... (not looking forward to filling out another FASFA), start my background check, register for AHA CPR,  get paper work to fill out for my shot records, and get information on where to go to get my drug test done. WOOT! A lot of stuff!
The hard part starts in January (15). I don't have to take many classes the first semester or 2 because I already have my bachelor's degree. However, I have a baby this go around. Even though I worked full time hours during a lot of college...a baby is a completely different ballgame. Ryder is my number 1 priority and if nursing school isn't working out "for him" then I am out. I need to make sure I spend time with him and still make time to study and pass my classes. I am afraid of taking him and leaving him at a day care, even if it is just a few hours at first. But when the real heavy work starts and I have to leave him all day when I am at school, it is going to completely tear me apart. I have been praying for God's strength in this.
Pat will be leaving for a long deployment within the next year (no details...sorry...per the US Government) and I am dreading that as well. If I could make it through my pregnancy alone, I can do this alone. It's amazing how strong you can be when you don't have any other choice.
I met up with a friend today from my childhood, Kelli. Her dad is working out here and I think her husband had some meetings out here, too. She was leaving to go back home to the East Coast this evening so I met up with her this afternoon at a really good bakery that is about 20 min from us, after Ryder's 6 month dr apt. It was so good to see her (after 8 YEARS!!!) and catch up. She is absolutely beautiful, inside and out, and I am so glad I got to spend some time with her.
Ryder did have his 6 month dr appointment today and weighed 17 lbs. and is 26 in long. He is in the 25% for length and weight but is in the 90% for head circumference...my baby has a big head lol. He had 3 shots today (including a flu shot) and some oral medication. I completely forgot to give him tylenol before we left so his legs are still a little sore. His only nap was between the dr and meeting up with Kelli. Afterward, I had to run by CVS to pick up some medicine for Ryder and got this quick picture of him...

My baby bear was pooped

That is a little of what we did today...I will let you all know how tomorrow goes...thank you for following me and praying about nursing school.

A Day at the Park

Sleepy Baby

Grabbing his tosies

Yesterday, my friend, Kaye, came over with her sweet little boy who is just a little younger than Ryder. Her husband works with Pat and, sadly, was deployed when their baby was only 2 weeks old. We went to the park by my house and I was able to take some pictures of Ryder and some of Kaye and her sweet baby. I edited some on our other computer and those look a little bit better but I wanted to share some of our fun day.