tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1094187188846581612024-03-16T03:08:03.447-04:00Brookie Boo & Molly MooJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-61507045877311407582014-07-07T18:56:00.001-04:002014-07-09T22:32:28.366-04:002 months, and then some....Soooo it's been awhile! I have so many good intentions for blogging, and then life gets in the way. Life gets in the way A LOT with three kids.<br />
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Paige is 2 months, and then some, now. We were at the doctor last week and she weighs 11lbs 9oz and is 23 inches long! She is growing, but not too fast. She is in 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers.<br />
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Paige is a great baby. She sleeps through the night, which is anywhere from 6-8 hours at night. She has started going longer and longer so I'm sure it won't be long until we are at 12 hour stretches. Last night I put her down at 9pm and she didn't get up to eat until 5:30am. Sleep makes all the difference around here! </div>
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She is super smiley and yesterday she was giggling up a storm at me. Dustin got out his phone to video tape her and she started crying. Of course. She is generally pretty content unless she is tired. That is the only time she'll let you hold her like a baby or against your chest, otherwise she wants to be facing out and watching what is going on around her.<br />
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Life is... busy.<br />
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Busy. Busy. Busy.<br />
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In fact, I just had to stop writing this to get a crying Paige from her room, and now she is eating. Speaking of, still breastfeeding, and she takes a bottle like a champ too, so if I need to go somewhere, D can be with all three.<br />
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Life.<br />
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Today was one of <i>those</i> days. You know, the kind where everyone is in tears when your husband walks in the door, including the dog.<br />
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Molly wasn't listening, as usual. She had a horrible morning at swim lessons and that just set the tone for the day. Actually, oversleeping set the tone for the day. Why do children ONLY sleep in when you need them to be up. Brooke was piggy backing off of Molly's shenanigans today. Paige was a little, immobile angel as usual, but taking care of her takes time. She eats every two hours.<br />
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The dishes were piled up, with fruit flies hovering over the pineapple from dinner last night. Yes, dinner <i>last night</i>. I can't even remember the last time I cooked a solid meal. It is generally something that can be thrown together in a minute and makes minimal dishes, like spaghetti or burgers. Or we have soup, sandwiches, cereal, chips, etc. In all honesty, most nights none of us eat together. The girls eat while I get things done. Dustin doesn't get home until between 6:30 and 7 and generally wants to do some yard work. I'll eat when I can fit some bites in between making the girls food and feeding Paige. It is my best time to do something around the house because by the time they are all ready for bed and sleeping, I am wiped.<br />
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The kitchen floor is covered in crumbs and bits of paper from who knows where. The carpet is in desperate need of vacuuming. Laundry needs done, and speaking of, there is a huge pile of clean laundry in my room that needs folded/hung up. My hanging flowers are all dead because I keep forgetting to water them. I <i>think</i> I fed the dog his breakfast. I also need to wash his bed because he threw up on it last night and it is still sitting in its spot. Did I shower today? I should probably finish my third book.<br />
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I've stopped expecting perfection from myself and my family. My house is lived in, not a show piece. Dishes in the sink, a pillow on the floor, and some crumbs in the corner is okay.<br />
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I wouldn't change this crazy life of mine. I am blessed beyond measure to be where I am with who I am with. But man are we busy... and tired. Blessed, busy, and tired.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-16110073310152190482014-05-12T13:01:00.003-04:002014-05-12T13:07:03.848-04:003 Weeks OldOne of these days I'll update with more than just weekly posts, but... survival mode man.<br />
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Paige -- or Punky as I call her -- is 3 weeks old today! My how time is flying. We had a Pediatrician appointment last Wednesday and she was 9 pounds 2 ounces, which means she has gained almost a pound and a half since her appointment at 3 days old. Miss. Piggy!<br />
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Paige does best when she is moving. So say we are running errands, she is blissfully asleep... until the carseat stops moving. :) She mainly likes to be held. The other day I had her in the carrier and she slept for hours, snuggled against my chest. Yesterday Dustin held her while we painted pottery and she just stared around the room while he walked, for over an hour. She startles really easily so if I put her in her rock and play sleeper to nap she doesn't last too long. At nice I put her in a swaddle pod, and that helps.</div>
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At night she goes about 4-5 hours for her first stretch, and then 2-3 for the others. The main problem is that I tend to fall asleep with her while she eats, so my recollection of her schedule is pretty fuzzy in the morning. During the day I try to feed her every 2 hours, no more than 3 hours.<br />
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She likes to look around the room if she is laying on her back. The ceiling fan is still her best friend, but she'll give the windows, decorations, and maybe the fake plant a second look. :)<br />
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She is very aware of people, well faces, and will stare and stare and stare while you speak to her.<br />
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We went for our first walk on Friday. It was super nice out [finally!] and I picture many more walks to come!<br />
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The girls are still enamored with her. They still fight over her. And they still ask me one million questions a night about her.</div>
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Happy 3 weeks Paige!</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-39651757569871722842014-05-06T21:05:00.003-04:002014-05-06T21:07:37.773-04:00Two Weeks Old: The AfterPaige is two weeks old! Well, she was yesterday but I didn't have any free hands. And 7pm is the first time I'm finding free hands to write today.<br />
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I'm not sure how much she weighs [we go to her appointment tomorrow morning] but I wouldn't be surprised if she is nearing 9 pounds with the way she eats. If you breastfeed, you know how attached babies can be to mama! I feel like I feed her all day sometimes. She has been in size 1 diapers and her newborn clothes are getting a little tight. I could cry!<br />
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She only goes 2-3 hours at night, which is rough but eventually she will space that out. I know from having two older ones that I WILL sleep again. I always see these parenting things that say <span style="color: #3d85c6;">"You won't sleep for 18 years."</span> I slept quite well from the time Molly slept through the night [which was before she turned one] until the uncomfortable portion of my pregnancy. Of course, there were phases where the girls would wake up and come into our room once or twice and we'd take them back to bed. And there are random nights they are up from a bad dream and such, but mainly, I slept. I know there is hope.<br />
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She gives me little smiles here and there, which are adorable. Nothing I can catch on camera though, mainly because I am too busy staring at her and talking to her as though she can understand me. She loves to lay on my chest and turn her head to look up at me.<br />
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We mainly spend our days in my bed, just hanging out and me napping when she naps. If I can get her comfy enough to sleep with me we can sleep for a good amount of time. If I put her in her rock and play sleeper she doesn't last long enough for me to feel rested.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>The After</b></span>. My shortened terminology for these two weeks after giving birth. I have already forgotten what it was like to be pregnant, which is amazing considering how uncomfortable the end was. It is amazing how all of that just straight up disappears after childbirth. Even using the restroom feels strange because you can't remember what it was like to have to pee every 5 seconds.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The After</span></b> is full of sleepless nights, roller coaster emotions, baby snuggles, and more that I can't think to name. I already miss my pregnant belly and cling to each moment I have with my baby girl, as I know all too well how fast they grow.<br />
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You spend 9 months of pregnancy planning and fantasizing about your baby. You count down the days until your due date, and sometimes it feels like your gestation is that of an elephants. LONG. Then your baby arrives and suddenly you realize there is no more countdown or waiting. Of course, you wait on each milestone and enjoy each stage in a child's life still. It is kind of daunting, sitting in bed late at night and thinking <span style="color: #3d85c6;">"what now?"</span> and realizing it is no longer <span style="color: #3d85c6;">go into labor</span> but <span style="color: #3d85c6;">life</span>.<br />
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I have a daily thought journal for Paige's first year of life. Some things I've written down...<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Your best friend is the ceiling fan.</b></span><br />
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Paige definitely knows her mama. It is easy to see when she is handed back to me or when I pick her up when she is fussing. But man, the ceiling fan gets an equal amount of interest through out the day. And it isn't even moving!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">You talk in your sleep.</span></b><br />
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Okay, babies can't really talk, but they have a wide range of noises they make. She makes the cutest newborn noises while she sleeps and sometimes it lasts for an hour. It isn't so great in the middle of the night when we are trying to sleep.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">You are SO alert.</span></b><br />
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Paige has been very alert from day one. She startles awake easily and doesn't nap for long. If you sit and talk to her she will just stare and stare for over an hour. She has also been able to life her head since day one.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-45296655882165624812014-04-28T13:04:00.001-04:002014-04-28T13:04:49.789-04:00HomePaige is now one week old! Well, she will be in a little under 3 hours. Isn't she cute?<br />
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Being home has gone well so far. The girls are still in school all day so it's just Paige and I until about 5:30. Today is the last day that Dustin will be picking them up from school for me [their school closes at 5:15 and he generally works until 6:30] so I'll have to manage going there, dragging Paige inside, and bringing them all out. We made the decision to keep the girls home this summer to save some money, and I have already concluded that outings with out Daddy will be few and far between!</div>
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Speaking of sisters... they sure do love baby Paige! A little too much. Since they've been in school all day they haven't really had too much time to spend with her. Brooke had dance on Thursday night and then on Friday night Dustin took them both to a baseball game. When they are around her they both kind of "fight" for her attention. They have yet to find a way to look at her that they both find equal. Even in the picture above you can see Molly pouting because Brooke was singing a lullaby and she wanted to sing hers.</div>
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Paige can be very alert. Just ask her newborn photographer, who has the patience of a saint and spent 5 hours with us yesterday trying to capture pictures. I am pretty positive that Paige slept for less than an hour of that, and it was all in spurts.</div>
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I've spent most of the first week just holding her and cuddling her. Since she is my last, and I already know just how quickly babies grow up, I've been trying to enjoy every moment. I did have to leave the house on Friday to take her to a Pediatrician appointment on my own, and it made me realize I still have some healing to do, so I've been taking it easy. One week olds don't really have a schedule but she does okay at night. Last night she went in 3-3.5 hour spurts before needing to eat, and I actually woke up feeling rested. The first few nights were pretty rough.</div>
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I can tell that the "hormonal slump" is starting to set in. The adrenaline from birth has worn off, and now the emotional roller coaster begins. I have been on anxiety medication since the beginning of my pregnancy, so I've been curious to see how everything goes. The nurse told me that I might need a higher dose for awhile since my body has adjusted to what I am on now. It is worse at night so I always look forward to going to be and waking up to a new day.</div>
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Happy One Week, Paige! You are the perfect addition to our family. </div>
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-29089294509991984622014-04-24T19:38:00.001-04:002014-04-24T21:54:28.887-04:00Paige Taylor | 4.21.14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Paige arrived on Monday, April 21st. She is currently sleeping away by my side, making those soft little baby sounds I love so much. On to the birth story... If you want to skip the lead up and such, skip to the picture.<br />
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I had an appointment last week on Thursday, and the OB I saw that day checked me. I had been checked at the appointment two weeks prior and I was almost 3cm and 50% effaced so I was curious to know what progress I had made. I had been having painful contractions all week but not enough to do anything. He told me that I was 4cm and almost 100% effaced and asked if I wanted to go on my own or be induced. I told him that we were fine with an induction so he left the room to see when my specific OB was on call. When I left the room he said she was on for Monday and he would have a nurse call me to schedule the induction if she was comfortable with it.<br />
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The nurse called that afternoon and started with, "I doubt you'll make it to Monday..." and said my doctor wanted to induce me and they planned to start at 7am, but I needed to call at 6am to see if they had a bed.<br />
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Being able to plan for her actual birthday was kind of strange. In one sense, it was great. We had everything ready to go, a plan for the girls that didn't include throwing their schedule off in the middle of the night, and I was able to have a spotless house to come home to. In another sense, it was a little more emotional. I kept thinking of all my lasts and how quickly it was all coming to an end. If I had just gone into labor on my own there wouldn't be much time to think or dwell on things, but I had a whole weekend. I willed my body to make it to Monday as well because I really didn't want to be in the hospital on Easter.<br />
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Sunday night we dropped the girls off at Dustin's parents. Monday morning arrived. I woke up to use the bathroom at 4:30am and was wide awake. I watched TV until 6am and called the hospital. They had pushed back my induction to 9am, which suddenly felt like days instead of two hours. Dustin was blissfully sleeping and I woke him up at 7am to start getting ready. He was so calm and collected and I was practically jumping on the bed yelling <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>"It's baby day!!"</b></span> We loaded the car, did a few last minute things, and we were off! Dustin mentioned that he needed to take something to the bank at 9 so I had him drop me off at the hospital to check in while he did that. It was so strange passing L&D triage and being taken directly to a room.<br />
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Everything seem to start off so slow. There was paperwork to go over, information to enter in the computer, an ugly hospital gown to put on. At 10am the nurse tried to put my IV in and blew my vein, so she put a call in to IV recovery hoping they could do it better. They didn't come up until 10:30 and she had to put it in my hand, which is where no one wanted it, but oh well. My OB decided they would do pitocin and break my water together and see if that got things moving quickly. The nurse hooked up a small dose of pitcoin at 10:45 and then got word that my doctor was headed back into a c-section so we would have to wait on breaking my water. We decided to walk the halls instead of just sitting in the bed for awhile, since it helps pass the time. I felt some stronger contractions but nothing that was truly painful. I could tell the pitocin was doing <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>something</b></span> though.<br />
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I passed my doctor around 11:45 and she said she was going to grab lunch real quick. I thought that was kind of funny but didn't say anything [now I know why, which I'll get to later]. We ended up back in the room at 12 thinking she'd be up soon. Did a few more laps, ate some ice chips. She came up at 12:45 to break my water. It was the first time I had been checked and she told me that I was almost 6cm and baby's head was low. She broke my water, which there was A LOT of, and that was an odd feeling. I texted our photographer my progress. I didn't want her to just have to sit in my room and do nothing!<br />
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The nurse was very adamant that if I wanted an epidural I needed to tell her right away. It was around this time that I got the idea they thought it would all go very fast, which was why my doctor went and ate lunch before breaking my water. It was also why the nurse had the entire room ready right before they broke my water. She had the delivery light down, the baby crib ready, and all of the equipment out. I didn't feel that way though since, surely, even if I was 10cm in five minutes I would push for hours like with Brooke and Molly. The contractions were almost immediate as soon as she broke my water. That did the trick! They were super painful so I made sure to tell the nurse to call the anesthesiologist and he came up at 1:15. My favorite person! Things went downhill from here. He did the numbing solution and then tried to put the epidural in but it was super uncomfortable and painful, which is normally isn't. It is so hard to describe the feeling of an epidural. Lots of pressure and nerve spasms! He kept asking where I felt it, left or right side, but it was so hard to decide. My pressure dropped to 60 something over 42 and I was sure I was going to pass out. The nurse was patting my face with a cold cloth and Dustin was holding a throw up pan in front of my face. He used more numbing solution and finally got the epidural in. My relief was short lived because it only numbed my left side.<br />
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My contractions felt almost worse now. My left side was numb but on the right I had extreme lower back pain and a sharp pain my pubic bone. My nurse, plus the charge nurse, came running in because baby's heart rate dropped with every contraction and they had to turn me. The charge nurse decided with my pain and her heart decelerations she must be sunny side up. I almost started crying. At 2:00 they had me push the button that administered more medicine into the epidural and they went to call him back up to fix it. He gave me a different medicine and I was numb in seconds. PHEW! Relief, finally. He left at 2:30 and they checked me.<br />
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7cm. Time to call our birth photographer in! She was already in the hospital so she was back in the room by 2:50. She put my wide angle lens on and we joked about keeping the windows wide open for the natural light [which we ended up doing]. In a minute or so I started feeling extreme pressure. My nurse was in checking on me because of the heart decelerations in baby and I told her. She said she doubted I was complete already but she'd check since I said it was so bad. She went to check me and her eyes got wide. She looked at me and said, <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>"I can't even get my fingers in! She is right there."</b></span><br />
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I asked, <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>"Does that mean I'm 10cm?"</b></span> And she laughed.<br />
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She told me to hold still and she would get my doctor. Our photographer, Heathyr, got back in the corner and got a chair to stand on. Dustin stood next to her and by my side. Everything felt so confusing. The baby nurse was in there, my doctor came in to scrub up. I kept thinking, <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"WHY are they in here? I have to push for an hour or two, and then the doctor comes in!"</span></b> They had my bed apart in seconds and my doctor was already asking me to push. It was hard to know when because my epidural had just been fixed so I was completely numb. I didn't even know if I was doing a good job. After three pushes she had me take a break. Then we started three more. During the third push she screamed at the nurse to get a vacuum. I didn't really have time to process that just that suddenly my doctor was telling me I needed to push again, and hard. She screamed that they needed the nurse back, and she came sprinting. Two more pushes and Paige was out. I think this was the number of pushes, but in all it was 10 minutes.<br />
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She was super purple. The doctor held her for maybe ten or fifteen seconds to see if they needed to put her on my chest or give her right to the nurses. She started crying and they handed her over to me. Later the doctor said that the cord was wrapped around her neck and she had stopped breathing, but I did a great job pushing her out quickly. I was still in shock that she was already here! AND she was face down. Another big surprise.<br />
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Our hospital does an hour of kangaroo care so Paige laid on my chest for that whole time, just hanging out. She kept sucking on her hands but I was in a horrible position for breastfeeding since I was on my back. I had a first degree tear, which is really nothing. The doctor worked on that. Heathyr came around to the other side and took pictures. Dustin came around to see her face. They put my bed up so that I could breastfeed her. Right at an hour they took her and did her measurements and such.<br />
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8lbs 1oz and 20.5 inches long. I thought she would be <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>much</b></span> bigger for some reason since we were almost to my due date.<br />
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They got her all bundled up and gave her to Dustin. Heathyr took a few more pictures and left, and then it was time for the nurse to get me up and cleaned and get my IV and epidural line out.<br />
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They couldn't bathe her until she had two temps about 98 degrees, and that didn't happen until about 6:15. We had thought the girls would be there by then but they hadn't arrived yet. Jena, Wes, and Bayleigh came around that time... just in time for her to be done! Grammy and the girls came a little while later. It was all chaos for awhile and then everyone left and the check ups slowed down and we were finally alone for the night.<br />
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The first night is generally peaceful so I tucked Paige onto my chest and cuddled and loved on her. She slept well at night but the nurses actually don't prefer that and woke me up to feed her. We had random visitors through out the day and Grammy brought the girls back so we could take some pictures and they could hold her more.<br />
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The second night was chaos, as expected. Paige wanted to be fed pretty consistently from 9pm to 3am. I had been awake for 22 hours by the end and was starting to hallucinate, so I didn't even want to hold her. I raised my bed up high and put my hand in her crib to calm her.<br />
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Wednesday we just sat around and relaxed and waited to go home. I <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LOVE</span></b> being in the hospital but by the end of 48 hours we were getting bored and were ready to get out of there. They did the 48 hour blood test at 3:30 and we left just before 5!<br />
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Welcome to the world Paige! You are oh so loved by mommy, daddy, and your big sisters!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-79901409093672940872014-04-10T14:54:00.003-04:002014-04-10T15:11:22.467-04:0038 Weeks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px;">Pregnancy:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> 38 weeks</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Weight Gain: </span>I still don't know EXCEPT when I went in yesterday she said I hadn't gained anything since the week before, so that is pretty good considering how much babies gain toward the end.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sleep:</span> The worst part of pregnancy at this point. With my SPD I generally wake up in pain and it is excruciating to get out of bed to use the bathroom. I also end up on my back every hour or so and that wakes me up.... on top of false labor contractions. I honestly think sleep deprivation with a newborn around is easier, haha<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gender: </span>Girl<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Name:</span> Paige Taylor<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Feeling:</span> Pretty good except for at night. My face is getting really puffy and my eyes are basically slits for parts of the day. It is getting harder to get around so I spent more time than usual sitting or laying down. My belly also gets in the way all the time now. I've lost all depth perception where it is concerned.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Health: </span>I've had several blood draws recently due to low platelets. IF they choose to not return to a normal number by delivery, I cannot have an epidural. EEK! I need to start mentally preparing for that now.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Belly: </span>Growing. :)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">What I am looking forward to:</span> Sleeping on my belly.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">What I miss:</span> Being able to bend forward with ease. Even using the restroom can be an issue.</div>
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Overall I feel pretty good and if she decides to stay in until her due date, I think the next two weeks will still FLY BY. The days sure have been recently. Brooke and Molly have been home this week which has been fun but, man, they keep me busy. My house is consistently a complete mess, my stress level is raised, and we are cooped up! They will be staying home with me this summer. HELP!<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-16269293188586652742014-04-04T14:05:00.001-04:002014-04-04T14:05:11.729-04:0037 Weeks + Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px;">Pregnancy:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> 37 weeks</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Weight Gain: </span>???</div>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sleep:</span> ROUGH. I wake up a lot. Sometimes it is before of pregnancy, and other times it is something like.... the dog wants to get on our bed even though he knows he isn't allowed, or the battery in the smoke alarm died, or a child feels the need to tell me they are using the potty.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gender: </span>Girl<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Name:</span> Paige Taylor<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Feeling:</span> Sore. Every time I walk I feel like she might fall out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Health:</span> Blood pressure is still up and down but we've been able to manage it, thankfully.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Belly: </span>I swear it grows a half inch a day. She dropped so it is also lower... and generally in the way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I am looking forward to:</span> Walking with out looking like I spent 9 hours straight on a horse.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I miss:</span> Feeling like myself. Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant, but toward the end a woman just wants some parts of her body back!</div>
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OKAY. Now on to some thoughts on labor. </div>
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Brooke came at 36w4d. Molly came at 37w1d. I am 37w1d today. Of course, a lot of people are starting to wonder if I've had the baby yet just because of my history. Sometimes I even wonder if I'm having this baby. ;)</div>
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The thing with the early births is that they both came in completely different ways, so there is no way for an OB to look at me and say I just happen to birth babies early. With Brooke my water broke and they had to use pitocin to start my labor. With Molly I went into actual labor and they broke my water at 10cm. </div>
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Either way, everything at the end is a mind game. It's like the beginning of pregnancy where you think you could be pregnant but you are not sure because the symptoms can also match the "time of the month" symptoms. At the end everything just feels uncomfortable. I've never gone past 37 weeks to know if the feelings are normal, or if they are signs that labor is imminent. Therefore I don't have much of an answer for when labor might start.</div>
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I do know that no matter what, she'll be here in less than a month. And if she does choose to stay nice and comfy inside of me until April 25th, time will still fly by. </div>
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I had an appointment yesterday and I am 3cm and 50% effaced, so that is less progress I have to make once labor does start. :internet high five:</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-38659181076497101752014-03-30T17:25:00.000-04:002014-03-30T17:27:19.610-04:0036 WeeksPutting this out there a little late! I wanted to wait until I had my maternity pictures to share AND I've been working on my health. When I got to the doctor on Friday my blood pressure was up and they had me lay down before taking it again. Thankfully it went back down. They did some blood work anyway and I go back tomorrow for another check up. If my blood pressure is still up I'll go twice a week, otherwise I can stick to once a week.<br />
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We also had an ultrasound sound. Check out those cheeks!<br />
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In other news, I'm 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. Whoa! I think maybe Miss. P wants to greet the world before her due date, just like her big sisters did. ;)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px;">Pregnancy:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> 36 weeks</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Weight Gain: </span>I've started getting on the scale backwards so who knows.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sleep:</span> Broken up as usual. I generally wake up 2-4 times to use the bathroom, and each time I switch which side I am laying on. My hips get so sore if I lay on one for too long. That makes me feel old.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gender: </span>Girl<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Name:</span> Paige Taylor<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Feeling:</span> Tired. Sore. Done.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Health:</span> Blood pressure has been up and down and up and down so that has been quite the mind game.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Belly: </span>Getting bigger! And more in the way. Sometimes I forget just where it is an get it caught or end up places too small for me, haha. I've learned that getting around the laundry room has quite the complication involved.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">What I am looking forward to:</span> Labor and delivery. I don't know why, but I love being up there!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">What I miss:</span> Sleep. Not that I'll be getting more of that any time soon.</div>
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Now for some more maternity pictures, taken by the ever amazing House of Harkless.</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-3434155751720843572014-03-26T09:35:00.001-04:002014-03-26T09:46:58.127-04:00NurseryThese are going to be cell phone pictures.<br />
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1. Getting out my professional camera, taking the pictures, uploading the the computer, etc etc etc will take too much effort.<br />
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2. I'd have some straightening up to do if I retook them. I have some outfits laid out and the hospital bags in the crib.<br />
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SO these are pictures I took with my phone a few weeks ago.<br />
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When I first got pregnant Dustin and I decided we would do a safari/jungle theme. We were at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago and the girls picked out a stuffed giraffe for the baby. Dustin picked out a rhino. Before finding out the gender I had a trip to IKEA and bought a green decorative leaf and a green light. As the theme began to evolve in my head, it solely became giraffe. I don't know how or why, but it did. We knew we wanted it to be neutral, for some reason. I have a few friends not finding out the gender of their babies before the birth and they were jealous I was working on a nursery. Well... really this would work for either gender!<br />
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The room was light blue before so I found the PERFECT cream color and Dustin painted the room for me. I fell in love with the idea of a pendant type light for the ceiling and thankfully Dustin was supportive and installed that as well. Everything else kind of fell together randomly. I feel like I have decorations and accents from ten different stores!<br />
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We bought a new crib and dresser this time around. I got AMAZING deals on them at Target. Our first set was falling apart so we decided to get something sturdier and different. I affectionately call the giraffe in the corner our "peeping giraffe". He has this tilt to his head that cracks me up. You walk in and he is all like, "Hey there!" I can tell you it took less than a week of having him in there for Dustin to sneak attack me while I was in the bathtub and pop the giraffe around the corner. ;)</div>
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It is hard to see in the picture but the frame almost looks like it has giraffe spots on it. Nothing special, just a frame from Hobby Lobby. Crazy!</div>
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I bought the letters at Michaels and painted them myself. The giraffe crib sheets and changing pad cover are Carters brand. I have a second set for when necessary. </div>
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The decoration above the changing table was an odd creation of mine. At first I was going to wrap canvas squares in fabric of some sort and hang the name above the crib from the bamboo. Then I found this set of mirrors on clearance at Target and this idea started to form. Dustin trimmed the bamboo for me and screwed it into the wall. We used twine to tie and hang the mirrors and this is what we came up with! I kind of love it. :)</div>
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The curtains and curtain rod are new. The old one was a cheapie from Walmart and Molly had pulled on the curtains and bent the rod down. The curtains were sheer for pictures in my old studio, and I needed black out ones for the baby.</div>
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So there it is! Our neutral giraffe nursery. I may have been more creative with paint color or patterns if we had smooth walls, but ours are textured. I can't even put wall vinyl up on them!<br />
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I am going to be 36 weeks on Thursday. WHOA! The pregnancy mind games have begun. I have cramp like contractions several times through out the day, sometimes more than 5 in an hour, but I've been-there-done-that and know they aren't the REAL thing yet. Just annoying. ;)Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-16196029812129402422014-03-20T19:44:00.001-04:002014-03-20T19:44:20.735-04:0035/35If you aren't familiar with pregnancy, once you reach 35 weeks of pregnancy, you also have 35 days left in the countdown to your due date. Hence: 35/35.<br />
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Here is a picture of just my belly. I am getting maternity pictures done Saturday so I'll have prettier ones to share soon.<br />
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I fell down the rabbit hole of old blog posts and found the pregnancy survey I used to do weekly.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px;">Pregnancy:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> 35 weeks</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Weight Gain: </span>20ish pounds, which is a little more than I wanted so I have to be good from here on out. Who am I kidding?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sleep:</span> Broken up as usual. I generally wake up 2-4 times to use the bathroom, and each time I switch which side I am laying on. My hips get so sore if I lay on one for too long. That makes me feel old.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gender: </span>Girl<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Name:</span> Paige Taylor<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Feeling:</span> Sick. I've had some blood pressure issues the past few days so I am pretty nauseous as well as short of breath and experiencing headaches. I also still have hip pain when walking so I have to minimize the length of my outings. Generally this means going out more in a week to get things done.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Health:</span> Like above, blood pressure has been wacky. It was up to 141/92 and then down to 98/60. So odd.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Belly: </span>Growing weekly it seems! My stretch marks are also growing. No news ones, just continuations to the old ones.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I am looking forward to:</span> Snuggling a new squishy.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I miss:</span> Sleeping on my belly. Taking walks.</div>
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SO more on the blood pressure. It's the reason I was headed down the rabbit hole before. We have to travel back to <a href="http://dustinandjess.blogspot.com/2010/06/friday-night-in-l.html" target="_blank">June of 2010</a>, 9 days before Molly was born. I was sent to labor and delivery for blood pressure issues, just a little after 35 weeks. I am exactly 35 weeks now so this is a little earlier, but around the same time. Interesting.</div>
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Anyway, I've had headaches and dizziness for three days now and have been using CVS blood pressure cuffs or a wrist cuff I borrowed from my father-in-law. The top number ranged from 132-141 and the bottom number ranged from 79-92. Not TOO high, compared to the numbers in my post with Molly, but definitely higher than preferred. After three days of this the OB sent me up to L&D to get some more in depth testing done. I was there for about two hours, not so bad. </div>
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I have orders to be lazy and stay hydrated. </div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-30664527142453730482014-03-18T18:46:00.000-04:002014-03-18T18:46:35.669-04:00Independence I think this is one of the only things I'm going to miss when the baby arrives. Okay, and maybe solid sleep but I've been there done that twice and know that they sleep eventually.<div>
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Brooke and Molly are at a great stage. I can let them out back to play with out having to go with them thanks to an open concept house that allows me to keep tabs on them. And the fact that they'll stay in the backyard and play. </div>
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They can get their own snacks and drinks after school.</div>
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They play SO well together and will play dolls and dress up for hours in the playroom. Or coloring. Or watching a movie on Netflix... which they can set up themselves.</div>
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They sort their dirty laundry into baskets with their names on it to make my life a bit easier.</div>
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They can dress themselves completely, down to snow pants, hats, and gloves if needed.</div>
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They can almost shower themselves. They know how to turn it on, and how to rinse their hair out, getting the shampoo and conditioner into it is another story.</div>
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I just snapped these with my cell phone real fast. They are currently outside helping D take the Christmas lights down. Yes, they are still up. Don't judge. Although you probably understand the winter this entire country has had. This is the first nice day + no snow that we've had since Thanksgiving.</div>
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I am really excited about this stage for having another baby. I've had a newborn with a toddler to take care of, and it was interesting. Totally doable, but interesting. I know there will be challenges surrounding having a new baby in the house, whether our kids are 2, 5, or 10, but I have faith it will go smoothly.</div>
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I know I'll miss the independence we've had with having older kids. Eating out has been a breeze. Going places has been a breeze. Heck, our Disney vacation was close to a breeze. They can swim in a pool with swimmies and I don't have to hold them every second. </div>
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We are definitely about to start a new adventure, but is sure is an exciting one!</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-22236497578013638732014-03-10T17:55:00.000-04:002014-03-10T18:03:25.841-04:0033 WeeksI was 33 weeks on Thursday.... Friday.... ???<br />
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Who keeps track of these things the third time around? ;)<br />
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The above picture was taken Saturday at my baby "sprinkle". My sister-in-law and two of my good friends threw me a diaper shower and it was wonderful and so much fun! There were fun activities and a headband making station. My friends and family sure spoiled me with diapers and some extra goodies.</div>
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The loot. Dustin and I counted 1,286 diapers and about 2000 wipes. </div>
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Obligatory shower picture.</div>
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I'm suddenly in "panic" mode*. But panicking for me doesn't really look any different than my laid back self except my calendar gets fuller. The hospital bag[s] are packed, and I am making a list of things that won't go in until <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>it's time</i></span> in case someone else needs to get the bag for me. The last two times we were fortunate enough to be home. Although with Brooke I was 36 weeks and had no idea what was going on so my sister-in-law ended up needing to bring everything I forgot.</div>
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*I know a lot of you are like "Um, you are 33.5 weeks" but if you haven't been here before, Brooke came at 36 weeks and Molly came at 37 weeks... so we have to be prepared!</div>
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I'm super uncomfortable. I know I shouldn't complain, but things are getting rough physically. My SPD has really prohibited me from moving about easily. This is probably the first pregnancy I've actually been waddling. Most days, I limp. So if you seen me in Target limping, I didn't injure my leg, my hip and pubic bones just don't want to cooperate. When I get out of bed my hip pops in and out of place, which is generally painful. I also have "omgsomuchpressure" down there. Some days I feel like I'm being ripped in half... which is more of a reason to spend extra time in bed. </div>
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I have lots of braxton hicks contractions through out the day. I can be sitting, walking, driving, standing, showering.... and they happen. Another new pregnancy ailment. Mostly they are just annoying. I've experienced real contractions twice and know the real pain will happen soon enough.</div>
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That sounds like a lot of complaints, but things have been wonderful too. The girls are getting really excited about their baby sister. Every time I leave the house with out them they ask, "Are you going to get the baby out now?" Which, by the way, we've been able to avoid the HOW the baby comes out explanation. Right now saying "The doctor will take her out" seems to hold them over. </div>
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I have a short list of things to get done before she comes. </div>
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1. Get a prenatal massage</div>
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2. Get a pedicure [after full-term for hopefully moving labor along]</div>
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3. Get the house professionally cleaned</div>
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4. Finish my book</div>
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5. Have some girls nights out with my friends. Convincing Dustin to stay home two nights a month with a newborn will be impossible. </div>
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Rough, huh?</div>
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My next post I need to do nursery pictures. And maybe some of her adorable outfits.</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-50933164321810733592014-03-05T09:49:00.000-05:002014-03-05T10:37:58.438-05:00I need those two weeks.This is going to be an opinion post, which means a percent of you [yet to be determined] will roll your eyes, side-eye me,<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <i>insert more disagreement actions here</i></span>.<br />
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I am adding this to my blogging journal as a place to remember my pregnancy hormone induced honesty.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>I am a selfish mommy. </b></span><br />
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This specific selfish moment has nothing to do with anything other than my newborn. I have anxiety induced feelings over this often, and it was all confirmed with the recent Facebook circulation of an article about a having your <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">last</span></b> baby. It brought up lots of emotions about this being our last <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>planned</i> </span>child.<br />
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I am already obsessing over the delivery and those precious moments after birth. I want to enjoy every moment --as long as L&D goes as well as the previous two-- and bask in those glorious moments that happen after the doctor and nurses finally take quiet steps out of the room. I can already smell that new baby smell!<br />
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I love seeing family and friends at some point after birth. It's nice to introduce the new bundle and feel the love surrounding our new family. Hospital visits are great when the momma is ready. There is a period of recovery and rest needed and then bring it on... with a text first. I've had friends have to wait in the waiting room while I feed or the baby gets tests done with the nurses. Don't be surprised if we take your picture with her, and if it ends up in a scrapbook somewhere. We are a bit crazy like that!<br />
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What's the point of all of this? I am a selfish mommy. I am a newborn hog. I don't <i><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">want</span></b></i> to share my newborn for more than five to ten minutes at a time. The newborn stage is the quickest stage in a child's life. They are only that <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>brand new</b></span> for such a short time. Now that I have been through this twice, I try to be conscious of this when I visit friends and their new babies. I wait for them to offer for me to hold the baby. If I do, I get in some snuggles and hand the baby back. Who doesn't love visiting a new baby?! I handle newborns as part of my job and I still can't get enough.<br />
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I want to enjoy their new baby, too. But I will never remember those moments the way that baby's mother will. She will remember the feel of the fuzz on their head, the coos and grunts they make at random, the way his/her body fit perfectly in her arms, the way their head settles perfectly on her chest. And all too soon that hair will be half way down their back, their coos and grunts will become words and sentences, and they won't want to be cradled in your arms anymore. Heck, they won't even fit!<br />
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My oldest, who I <i style="color: #3d85c6;">swear </i>was just born yesterday, is headed to Kindergarten this August!<br />
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And before anyone who knows me in real life starts to get worried... don't feel like you have to avoid me completely for two weeks. I don't mind visits from friends, and I don't mind you holding my baby. You've all been there, most of you recently. I can't really picture any of you settling into my house for hours upon hours to play baby hog while I run around "getting things done". Just don't expect me to look presentable, have a clean home, or have cookies cooling on the stove. Because I have those things normally, right?<br />
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I get anxiety over obligated gatherings with a newborn. It has nothing to do with germs. If you show up to a place where there is some sort of event, with a bunch of friends and family members, chances are you are going to be expected to play pass the baby. Someone is going to decide that it is their given right to snuggle your baby for an hour to give you a "break". Truthfully, I don't need a break from my baby. I need a break from the rest of life.<br />
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I'm not thinking... What can I do with this baby so I can do dishes? Cook. Fold clothes. Organize the linen closet.<br />
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I'm thinking... I wish I didn't have to do dishes right now. Cook. Fold clothes. Organize the linen closet.<br />
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For the first two weeks, I just want to <i><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">be</span></b></i> with my baby. I want to sit in bed and cuddle and bond. I want to listen to her noisy breathing as she sleeps on my chest. I want to catch the seldom awake moments where she looks around the room for the nearest point of light. I want to take it all in, because this is my last. I'll never get those moments again.<br />
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A mother's emotional state after birth is fragile at best. A bowl of blueberries could trigger a downpour of tears.<br />
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Everything else can wait. And it will wait. I don't expect anyone to come to my house and do chores. I don't really <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>want</b></span></i> them to. Even if someone is in my house for the sole purpose of aiding me in some way, I am going to feel some responsibility for their well being while here. It is part of the reason I will not be having family stay with me for at least two weeks.<br />
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I've always been very appreciative of the helpers who drop off meals, say hello for fifteen minutes or so, and then slip back out the door. The friends who let me know they are here to help if I <i>need</i> it. They see the baby, they check on the new momma, and they continue about their day.<br />
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At some point you have to move on from each phase of life, and soon it will be time for us to move on from this one. Until then I'll enjoy the last weeks of pregnancy, and I'll make the most of each day I get with each child I have. No day is promised to us, so can't I be a little selfish for the ones that I have?<br />
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So how many eye rolls were there? Horrified stares?!<br />
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That's fine. If I have to step on a few toes to make sure my emotional needs are taken care of, so be it.<br />
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<b style="color: #3d85c6;">I just need those two weeks </b>to be selfish.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-10600386849567504432014-02-24T19:53:00.000-05:002014-02-24T20:05:47.261-05:00Sweet BrookeBrooke is our oldest. She hit a full hand --five years old!-- this Fall and we took her to Disney World. She is headed to Kindergarten in the Fall and has already lost two teeth!<br />
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She is calm [for the most part], sweet, caring, and a big helper. As a baby she was always so chill and smiley. She liked to sleep and once she slept through the night in her crib, I could count on her to sleep until 10 or 11. She was seriously the cutest little thing. I mean... look....</div>
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Calm and collected as a newborn</div>
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I can always count on Brooke for a photo shoot and know she'll make a great model, especially if promised a lollipop at the end.</div>
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She is in her second year of dance and loves it. As a baby, she LOVED to dance. From the moment she could stand she was shaking her hips Shakira style. </div>
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She loves all things pink and purple. She wears fancy dressed on the weekend since she can't wear them to school during the week, and loves to pick out headbands and bows. She loves to have her nails painted and will pick at least two colors to alternate so they are "fancier". </div>
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BUT there are times that she likes to get dirty.</div>
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She absolutely LOVES being a big sister -- most days. By the end of a long weekend generally they are fighting over something silly and need to take a time out from each other, but what best friends don't? ;) They do everything together, as I said in Molly's post. Brooke also takes care of her little sister. In the past year she had really grown to be conscious of Molly's feelings. If they are playing with friends she always makes sure Molly is included, and if she isn't, she won't play. They are also really good at making trouble together. I know she cannot wait until Paige is here, and will be just as good as a big sister and helper.</div>
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Brooke is also a daddy's girl, and he is the first person she looks for the second she is up in the morning. She loves to help him make soup, which is their favorite food these days.</div>
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Brooke is my sensitive girl. I am always much more aware of her feelings than I am of Molly's, it seems. I am, of course, aware of both their feelings, but Brooke is much more apt to get upset. While Molly takes many things in stride, Brooke's little mouth turns down and she gets sobby. She can also get a little whiny. Okay, maybe a lot. She takes things very personal, especially when it comes to other kids. A few weeks ago she asked to play football instead of little league and I was just thinking of how she would handle getting hit by another kid. She is always willing to jump in and play with new friends, but if she feels rejected she gets shy really quick. It always breaks my hearts when she isn't accepted into new groups. I didn't prepare myself for that part of parenting!</div>
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Brooke will sit for hours and color and cut out shapes and tape them together. She amazes me with her cutting. She can cut out the thinnest and smallest shapes with precision. She also loves to send people mail. She will also sit through an entire movie, maybe even two or three, with out a peep. She loves to sleep in and every morning I have to drag her out of bed to get ready for school.</div>
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We love you Brookie, and we can't wait to watch you grow and learn!</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-78871702858836832732014-02-21T12:43:00.001-05:002014-02-21T12:45:20.539-05:00Molly Moo<br />
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Oh, Miss. Molly Moo...<br />
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There is so much to be said about you.<br />
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Molly is naughty. Plain and simple. I always say she lives by the motto "I just can't help myself". We used to call her five second Molly because that is about how long she would sit, or listen, at a time. You could tell her not to do something, and she would remember she shouldn't be doing it for, oh, five seconds, and then she would start again. Nothing phases her. Timeouts, getting yelled at, positive reinforcement, etc. If she wants to do it, she will.<br />
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Good thing we love her name, because we use it a lot.<br />
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Molly is wild, stubborn, free spirited, loud.<br />
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In the beginning of the "threenager" years, she would scream at us when told no and slam the door in our face. We do the 1-2-3 count as a start for discipline and she would yell, "STOP COUNTING AT ME!" She has a wicked mean face.<br />
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Molly is hilarious. And fun. And so so so sweet and loving. She will come up and rub your face, give you a hug, and tell you how much she loves you. When she was little I called her Lovey Loo for some reason. When I did, she would give me a big hug. Now if I ask for a hug she'll go, "A Lovey Loo hug, right Mommy?" and give me the biggest squeeze. She says and does the funniest things, and is pretty creative.<br />
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Brooke got a paper cut at school and got a pretty pink bandaid. When we got home Molly did the only rational thing she could think of to get her own bandaid, she gave herself a paper cut.<br />
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She wanted a pin that had Brooke's name on it so she wiped Brooke's name off and wrote her own.<br />
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Brooke had shots at the doctor and came home with more pretty bandaids, so Molly started fake coughing in hopes that she could go to the doctor and get a shot too.<br />
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Dustin fears for the day that Brooke breaks her arm and comes home with a pretty pink cast.<br />
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We went to Disney this Fall and attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. The girls dressed up as superheros and Molly would run around the park saying, "Hurry up Mommy, I have people to save!" and she would jump in the air and say, "Did you see me fly?"<br />
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She LOVES her big sister and has never ever ever wanted to be the baby. Anything Brooke does, she can do. Anything Brooke does, she will repeat. They go everywhere together.<br />
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Molly is anything but shy.<br />
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She has no concept of personal space.</div>
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She is 100% Daddy's girl. I've been hearing "Daddy do it!" since she could say all three words.</div>
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She loves to play dress up and cries if I don't let her wear the shoes she wants to wear to school. Every shirt she wears must be a "dress shirt" which means it can spin at the bottom with her. Despite this she is my rough and tumble girl. She tackles Brooke randomly and starts tickle fights. She has no problems getting dirty. She is loud.<br />
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The other day the girls asked me if they could take separate showers. I think they were over stimulated after a long weekend. Brooke was in our shower singing quietly and washing her bath dolls hair. Molly was in her shower singing --make that screaming-- a song about stomping and stomping her feet as loud as she could. She fills the rinse cup with water and throws it up in the air so it lands back down on her. If given the chance to take a bath, there is a possibility she will use that cup to throw water around and therefore flood the bathroom.<br />
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She has a raspy voice and speaks with what I call her Boston Lisp. A little bit Boston accent, a little bit lisp.<br />
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Molly will be four in June and we cannot wait to see her fun personality continue to develop and grow. I have a feel she'll be keeping us on our toes well into the teenage years.<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-9670410890107977652014-02-19T19:06:00.004-05:002014-02-19T19:44:47.008-05:0031 WeeksI don't even know what to say when I haven't blogged in almost a year, and before that, almost a year. I used to be so good about updating this blog. I go back and read posts about Brooke and Molly and wish I had kept with it, as sort of a journal for them. Time to try again. I'm going to start out this return with a pregnancy round-up.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Number Three!</span></div>
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We found out we were expecting number three in the second week of August, right after we got back from a friend's wedding in Michigan. In fact, I brought some pregnancy tests with me but it was still a little early to know. </div>
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I don't know if it is because this is number three, but many people go, "Was this planned?!" Super personal question, people. But yes, this one was planned. By planned I mean it went something like this....</div>
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Period has been gone for about ten days in July. I tell Dustin for the umpteenth time how much I want to have a third baby. I explain how hard I've worked over the past year on my books to pay off debt and get us in a better place financially so that a third is affordable. I explain how much I want to be pregnant soon. We decided to try and a few weeks later I had a positive test.</div>
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Soon after we announced, 11 weeks I believe</div>
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I am 31 weeks pregnant, tomorrow. I think this pregnancy has been my fastest. I remember at the beginning having friends that were delivering their babies and feeling like Spring would never come. That 2014 would never come. Now it is almost March and I am in the 30s! </div>
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To say this pregnancy has been different is an understatement.</div>
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To start off, I had a lot of nausea, and it lasted all day long. I was never sick with Brooke or Molly's pregnancies, and this time I was flat on my back. My anxiety kicked up, big time. I remember laying in bed around 10 weeks and staring at the ceiling fan. I thought, "Either they help me with medication, or they commit me." That is how bad it was. Thankfully, my doctor was very supportive with putting me on medication considering my history with anxiety and depression.</div>
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Because of how different this pregnancy had been, many people, including myself, thought that I would be having a boy. Nope! Another precious little girl. I am so so so excited. Of course, a boy would have been wonderful, but I feel like I am already in the swing of girl things.</div>
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Our ultrasound wasn't all sugar and spice and everything nice, though. The OB came in and told us that our baby girl had fluid around her chest, which was generally related to a more serious issue; genetic problems, heart failure, or even hydrops, which is fatal. All three could be fatal. They couldn't find any other issues beside the fluid and both the ultrasound tech and the OB were stumped because generally the fluid presents in another part of the body, not just the chest. She recommended that we do a QUAD screen and we decided to. We wanted to be prepared for all possibilities. They scheduled me for a follow up in four weeks and sent me home. Two days later I got a call that the QUAD screen came back normal.</div>
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Talk about nerve-wracking. No answers, no clues... the issue really hasn't been seen before in OUR OB office. I decided not to Google.</div>
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Fast forward four weeks and the fluid is still there, and there is more. They measured it at 4mm. A different OB was in the office this time and he was stumped, as well, and decided it would be best if I went and saw a Perinatal, a high risk pregnancy specialist.</div>
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More nerves. AND we had to wait another month.</div>
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Our ultrasound had been at Thanksgiving. We were supposed to travel out to Philly for the holiday but ended up not going with me still being sick [Yes, at 19 weeks!] and I had experienced some bleeding. Over the next month I would have several more episodes of bleeding, but nothing enough to warrant a trip to the hospital. The week of Christmas we, again, made the choice to stay in Indiana. We would spend Christmas at our home, and then head to Ohio to visit Dustin's family there, and his grand mom, who we had moved there in the Fall. {I promise this all has a point}. Well the Monday before Christmas, so the day before Christmas Eve, his grandma fell and hit her head really hard. By Tuesday afternoon she was being sent to hospice. We had planned to leave Thursday but left Wednesday {Christmas Day} after opening gifts.</div>
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The trip was stressful for many, many reasons, and again, I was bleeding. Dustin's grand mom died a few days after entering hospice. </div>
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The funeral was planned for the following Saturday, in Chicago. Everything went pretty well, despite a big snow storm rolling in at the end of the funeral. We all went out for pizza before heading back to Indiana, and as I was eating I just felt off. I knew something was different. I went to the bathroom and I was bleeding again. Except this was different than before, this was a bunch of bright red blood. Red blood is bad, I knew that much. I was also cramping really bad.</div>
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I called the on call OB and she asked that I come to the hospital. Of course, here I am in Chicago, about two hours from the hospital on a GOOD day. With the snow storm it took us three hours to get there. My in-laws met us in town and took the girls, and we went to triage. We spent the night in L&D, did tests, and had an ultrasound. The OB thought I might be in early labor but things checked out okay so we went home the following day.</div>
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Dustin and I are generally calm, laid back people. And I felt like we did a great job of holding it together in that moment, but with the addition of the fluid in her chest, and knowing we would be seeing a high risk OB in a few weeks, my mental state was a mess. I hide most of my emotions so while I was hanging out, looking calm, my mind was all over the place.</div>
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January 13th came. We were FINALLY going to the Perinatal! I was so nervous. I had no idea what to expect or what we were going to be told about our baby. We had an ultrasound scheduled first, and then we would meet with the Genetic Counselor after that. Just hearing the words "Genetic Counselor" scared me. The office was backed up and we spent an hour waiting for our appointment, which made my nerves worse. We were finally taken back for an ultrasound and the tech was really nice. She pointed out everything she saw and showed us the fluid on the baby's chest. She explained that the Perinatal would be coming in and not to be scared when she started to do her ultrasound, she liked to look around herself. The Perinatal found the fluid and measured it. It was at 2mm, which was less than it had been at my OB, but she didn't have those pictures so could not compare on her own. She said everything looked great and she didn't believe there was anything wrong with our baby. She cancelled our meeting with the Genetic Counselor and scheduled us for one more follow up.</div>
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Fast forward a month to February 11th. I brought in the pictures from my previous ultrasounds so the Perinatal could see what my OB office had seen. Our baby had her arm over her chest so it made it hard to see, but she believes that fluid is gone. She said that it could be that the baby caught a virus through me and that was her way of healing herself, and it was a good sign that the fluid had gone down. She did say that she believes I would be at a higher risk for a baby with genetic issues, but doesn't believe there are any. She said she went to literature and couldn't even find a case of a baby with just fluid on the chest.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Moving Forward</span></div>
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So now we wait! Things have been going pretty well. I've had some contractions but nothing close enough or strong enough to be a concern. My due date is almost two months away, and if this little girl decides to follow in her big sisters' footsteps, she could be here in 5-6 weeks. Whoa! The nursery is done {pictures to come}, baby gear is put together, and the hospital bag is half packed. Generally when I go into labor Dustin and I do a "throw and go" with our clothes and toiletries. </div>
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Right now all I can see is that I have 5-6 weeks to comfortably finish the third book in the Exceptional series.... also, maybe get my house organized.</div>
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Currently we are naming her Paige Taylor, but reserve the right to change our minds. ;)</div>
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Paige because we like it.</div>
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Taylor after Taylor University, where we went to school and met.<br />
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I've gained about 15 pounds this pregnancy, which is right around where I wanted to be so I better be careful from here on out. Before you go, "Wow, that is a lot less than your 40 pounds before!" I was 30 pounds heavier to start this time.</div>
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Kudos if you made it this far. Hopefully my updates for the next two months will be much more simple.</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-79659025763273047282013-05-30T17:22:00.002-04:002013-05-30T17:22:40.795-04:00Life & LemonsWell. Things are crazy.<br />
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If you don't know me, or haven't caught one of my rare "I WORK THREE JOBS AND I'M TIRED" status'.... here is the sitch.<br />
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Yes, I work three <i>jobs</i> and I classify jobs by something I get paid for. :)<br />
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We'll start with what starts first in my day, since I really can't put them in order of importance or any of that. I love them all.<br />
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I am a paraprofessional in an Elementary School. What do I do? I pull small groups out of class and work with them on reading and math, trying to get them up to grade level. It is the closest I can get to being a teacher, with out actually having my own classroom.<br />
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I am a photographer. I am pretty sure I graduated from momtography over a year ago. If you don't believe me, you can check me out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JessicaLynnPhotos" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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I am an author. That sounds way cooler than it is, because I'm not published or doing book tours or planning out the movie. I self-publish my own books but so far they've been doing pretty well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jess-Petosa/e/B007E020Z2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Here</a> is my Author Page on Amazon.<br />
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Anyway, this post is more about what is coming next. What now? School lets out on June 6th, which means we have FIVE days left. This summer will be different than any other I've had thus far. My girls will be staying in school and I'll be working from home. Photography keeps me plenty busy, for one, and I also need to work on the third book in my Exceptional series.<br />
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I also will not be going back to school in the Fall, at least full-time. I am going to be subbing 2-3 days a week and focusing on photography/writing/housework the other days. Right now I got to school from 9-3:30, get home with both girls around 4:30, and start up photography/book work until bedtime.<br />
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I am really looking forward to getting my work done during the day so that I can finally be a mom at night. I want to be able to cook dinner and play with my girls when they are home from school, not expect them to entertain themselves because I have work to do. I am looking forward to getting the cleaning done during the day so we are not scrambling on Saturday mornings. I am looking forward to being able to be more efficient in my other jobs, now that I will not be working full-time. Especially this summer, where I will have four whole days to work! I plan on keeping the girls home for Fun Fridays if I can. :)<br />
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This post has no pictures so it is boring, but I will have some of the girls coming up. Plus some party planning stuff for Molly's 3rd Birthday!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-10654748876119067942013-03-19T08:57:00.004-04:002013-03-19T08:59:48.763-04:00Early Release<div style="text-align: center;">
Rogue is now <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Exceptional-ebook/dp/B00BWG55KQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1363697860&sr=8-7&keywords=jess+petosa" target="_blank">available for Kindle</a>!</div>
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I know what you are thinking. What happened to March 22nd? Well, I was trying to make it available for Pre-Order and Amazon wasn't having it. Somehow it popped up as for sale this morning, so we are going with it.</div>
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SURPRISE for you!</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-43271129921332042542013-03-08T18:57:00.000-05:002013-03-08T18:57:08.790-05:00March MadnessAnd no,<i> </i>I'm not talking about the basketball brackets.<br />
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March is a really chaotic month for me this year. Not only am I booked solid with photo sessions and keeping busy at work, but I am also releasing my second book this month. It comes out on the 22nd so it is GO time with final edits and marketing.<br />
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I've also gotten the organization bug, so when I just CANNOT edit pictures or work on my book any longer, I end up in a closet or the pantry, moving things around. So far I am just managing to move stuff around, but the theme of this summer is PURGE!<br />
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SO I'm still here, just a little mad. Mad as in crazy.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-75826799688544324772013-02-21T17:39:00.001-05:002013-02-21T17:46:07.550-05:00Brookie BooI feel like it will take me weeks just to catch you up on my life!<br />
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Brooke turned 4 in October. 4!!! She is such a big girl now, no longer a toddler even. She goes to "school" which translates to preschool/daycare. She likes to pick out her own clothes and can often be seen with a skirt over her pants. She likes to wear pretty headbands and have her nails painted.<br />
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She is SO sweet and mothering and just loves Molly. She has her moments but for the most part is a good listener and stays out of trouble. Her biggest complaint is when we pick out her clothes [she doesn't think we make her pretty enough] or if we wake her up in the morning. I can already see the issues ahead with school in two years.</div>
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She is in ballet once a week and is getting super excited for her recital in May. She is going to be in the front row so I hope she performs. At her Christmas play she was in the front and just stared at the crowd with wide eyes.<br />
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She still has her sassy moments....</div>
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OH and right now she is in a Cutest Kid Contest so feel free to vote for her. You can vote 5 times from each device and browser, and the voting ends Monday!</div>
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<span style="color: #19334d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://michianafamilymagazine.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=82135&s=30768681&i=1" target="_blank">VOTE FOR BROOKE!</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #19334d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Brooke thanks you!</span></div>
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-27647868812862590292013-02-18T14:12:00.002-05:002013-02-18T14:12:18.579-05:00Maniac MollyP.S. I threw together a shoddy blog header with an update picture. I guess I'll make this place look pretty later.<br />
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Yes, I just started my post with a P.S.<br />
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This is probably going to be a new Monday series. I could also call it Good Golly, Miss Molly. Ohhhhh man is Molly naughty. It could be second child syndrome, or maybe it is the blonde hair... we aren't sure, but she is a little stinker. I've considering taking pictures of all the crap she destroys/does and making books out of them, so that one day I can show her future boyfriends so they know what they might be getting in to. When a man asked for her hand in marriage I can whip them out and say, "You know, there is a 50/50 chance you will have a child like THIS".<br />
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Maybe not. I was a child just like Molly and I turned out okay. At least I think.<br />
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SO let's talk about what Molly did last week. For starters, she left the house and ran down to our neighbors house. Don't worry, our dog went with her. By the time I realized it she was on her way back because "Mason wasn't home".<br />
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She really likes to destroy bags of food. If she can get a hold of a bag of chips, and she will go to any length to find one, she will jump on it until it opens, dump the contents on the carpet, and do chip angels. The same applies to boxes of cereal.<br />
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So far our tally is:<br />
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8 bags of chips wasted<br />
7 boxes of cereal wasted<br />
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I know what you are thinking. Surely NOT this sweet girl...<br />
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Oh yes, that sweet girl. She is a sweetie pie for everyone else, and about 10% of the time with me. She doesn't go on a tasmania devil reenactment unless left alone. If we have our eyes on her, she is normally pulling out the normal two year old antics. But leave her alone for two minutes and there goes your living room, bathroom, and half the kitchen.<br />
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I have to laugh the majority of the time. These days, she just puts herself in time. I find her there often saying, "I was bad, I'm tinkin' bout what I did".<br />
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Good Golly, Miss Molly.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-15058695264853898622013-02-17T21:38:00.000-05:002013-02-17T21:38:57.954-05:00SometimesSometimes<i> </i>I forget to blog for 8 months.<div>
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Sometimes I forget to clean my room and instead watch Brave with my little loves.</div>
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Sometimes I forget I'm on a diet and find a hidden pack of butterfinger bites.</div>
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Sometimes I want to do certain things to spite certain people.</div>
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Sometimes I complain about procrastinators when I am procrastinating on my own projects.</div>
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Sometimes I decide to come back to blogging. So here I am.</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-73519930273023943762012-04-26T11:08:00.000-04:002012-04-26T14:06:23.911-04:00Six Years: A RemembranceI've been wanting to write down my thoughts and memories from that night [and weeks to follow] for years now, and I haven't. A <a href="http://smamak.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-remembrance-april-26-2006.html">fellow TU friend</a> shared a post this morning, and that finalized it for me. The further I get from that date the less I recall, mainly the small details, and I've become content with the fact that the details don't matter. It is a day I will <i>never</i> forget as long as I live. I try to think about how many of those days I truly have. We can say we have great memories, but what days in your life pop up as so life changing that you can play through the full day and remember whether or not the sun was shining that day?<br />
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I have a few over the past decade. Our wedding day, the birth of our daughters, the loss of a housemate to suicide, and then six years ago, April 26th 2006.<br />
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I actually don't completely recall the morning or afternoon since it was just like any other, but I remember the evening and following days well. One of my best friends and I were over at an off-campus apartment doing some homework. Our boyfriends were on the baseball team together, and roommates, so we were having a double homework date of sorts. It had already started to grow dark by the time another baseball player stepped into the apartment and said, "There's been an accident. One of the banquet vans coming back from Ft. Wayne was hit by a semi-truck."<br />
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The news hit slowly, as if it weren't real. No no no. You only hear these things on the news, right? Not from the mouth of a fellow classmate. He rattled off at least one name he had heard and my stomach dropped to the floor. I feel like here is an appropriate time to add that Taylor University is a small school. A little over 1800 students at that time [I gave tours, they made me memorize it], and not only is it a small school, it is a tight-knit school.<br />
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<b>Taylor is a family. </b><br />
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<b>Taylor feels like home.</b><br />
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It isn't hard to know almost every one, either by face or name. In this case, I knew the sister of the girl mentioned. She lived on my floor. I took a deep breath. My friend's boyfriend was already at the computer looking for information, and we turned the news on the TV. All the information was jumbled and all you could see was a torn up white passenger van and horrified news anchors. News poured in randomly from other students and websites, saying that five people had been killed, and others were airlifted to Ft. Wayne. It was hard to know what was <i>really</i> happening.<br />
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More name rumors poured in, and my friend recognized the name of a lifelong friend. A friend she knew because both their parents had attended Taylor together. I remember her disappearing from the room for awhile. I remember turning off the TV, not wanting to know anymore. Students were gathering at the chapel that evening for information, and I remember not going. It was easier to pretend it wasn't happening. I didn't want to know <i>who</i>. I couldn't hear it yet. I called my parents and let them know that I was alive and well, since it wouldn't be long before news of the accident got out.<br />
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A campus service was held the next morning. I tried to wake my friend to go but she was in a <i>state</i>. She didn't really understand what I was telling her, and by the look on her face, I decided to let it go. I went with Dustin [my boyfriend at the time]. We were told the information the other students were told the night before. <i>Who</i> had died. <i>What</i> had happened. And an update about the one student who had survived and was being cared for in Ft. Wayne.<br />
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Classes were cancelled for the day.<br />
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I remember walking out of the chapel and thinking it unusually cruel just how beautiful it was outside. The sun was shining brightly, flowers were blooming on campus, and the temperature was perfect. I remember wishing it would rain, wishing that the weather would reflect the mood of our campus. It was hard to <i>not</i> be angry and upset, especially as more and more details about the accident poured in over the next few days. It felt like every morning and night there was a new piece of information, a new rumor, a new update.<br />
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A Casting Crown song arose.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I will praise you in this storm.</b></span></span></div>
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Condolences poured in from around the country, some from overseas. Banners arrived from other small schools around the country. They were hung in the chapel, filled with names of those praying for our school and with Bible verses filled with encouragement. Funeral and memorial services were planned for the deceased. A update blog was created for the surviving student. Classes restarted.<br />
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The sun continued to shine.<br />
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Details came out for one particular students funeral. Something along the lines of: <i>Wear bright colors, not black. We want to celebrate her life. We want to celebrate that she is rejoicing in Heaven with her Lord.</i><br />
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It struck me then. I don't know why it took so long. Death had not conquered, it had not won.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">“O death, where is your victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55 </b></span></div>
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Five beautiful people were celebrating their homecoming with their Lord and Savior, just earlier than anyone would have expected. God's plans are not our own. We were mourning below, hoping for just one downpour and clash of thunder. Our former classmates and brothers and sisters in Christ were celebrating up above. Their joy was shining down on us. It is hard to understand <i>why</i> certain things happen, but we don't have to understand. We have to have faith in Christ. He <i>knows</i> the plans he has for us. [Jer. 29:11]<br />
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The accident happened just weeks from the end of the year, so it wasn't long before finals were completed and we were all packing up our dorm rooms; filling our cars with boxes of clothes and personal items. The end of the year was always really bittersweet, and that year was no different. I was headed home to Philly for a short two weeks before packing up and heading back west, and into Michigan to work at a summer camp.<br />
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Those two weeks flew. I remember checking the update blog on the surviving student several times a day. The Taylor community rejoiced with each step forward she took, and with all the progress, no matter how little. She was starting to come around, starting to try and communicate.<br />
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I was driving my car somewhere in Ohio when I got the call from my [now] mother-in-law. The news was like another punch in the stomach. The student we had been praying and rooting for for the past five or so weeks, was dead. A student we had thought to be dead, was alive. They had been misidentified. Mistaken for one another.<br />
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More questions of <i>how</i> and <i>why</i>. <br />
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God's plans are not our own.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Isaiah 55:8</span></b></span></div>
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Many of you probably know where it goes from here. It made national news, there is a book, and you've most likely seen the families on popular talk shows. You've also hopefully seen the love and acceptance and hope pouring out of both families.<br />
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As my friend said in her <a href="http://smamak.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-remembrance-april-26-2006.html">blog</a>.<i>"Whenever and wherever this story is told around the world, the LORD's
name will always be praised."</i>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-87365420032096956212012-03-01T10:50:00.004-05:002012-03-01T10:58:16.683-05:00That time I wrote a book<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330562670l/13501974.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 463px;" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330562670l/13501974.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>So as I said in another post, I wrote a book! This has been over a year in the making. My story has evolved several times into different places and ideas with similar characters. I even took two long writing breaks when I felt like my mind couldn't take it anymore. But it is FINISHED and it has been e-published with Amazon. This means that you can get it for your Kindle or a Kindle App [Apple and Droid products].<br /><br />I would like to make it available for print by summer. There are a few spelling and grammar mistakes that me and my team of editors didn't manage to catch, so it is going through the ringer right now to be prepared for print.<br /><br />It will also be available for Nook starting in April.<br /><br />NOW I am choosing today to tell you this because for the next three days my book will be FREE! That's right, today through Saturday you can download and read it for free!<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Exceptional-Book-1-ebook/dp/B007D3SPYK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330617018&sr=8-1"><br />Exceptional</a> [this link will take you directly to Amazon!]<br /><br />Any reviews you leave will be much appreciated, and I would love to hear your comments and feedback. I made a blog especially for my books <a href="http://jesspetosa.blogspot.com/">http://jesspetosa.blogspot.com</a>. You can also email me at jesspetosabooks@gmail.com.<br /><br />Other links.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13501974-exceptional">Goodreads</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jess-Petosa/275336829206115">Facebook</a><br /><br />Twitter: @jess_petosaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109418718884658161.post-13558405547654177072012-02-28T16:03:00.002-05:002012-02-28T16:12:34.314-05:00A few picturesHere are a few pictures of the girls. Sorry if one or two has a watermark on it, I used them on my photography facebook page.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My little diva. She dressed herself for the pictures...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6793139764_57d7037c01_z.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 427px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6793139764_57d7037c01_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Miss. Molly | 19 months<br /><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6939251967_e8c22376ff_z.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 426px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6939251967_e8c22376ff_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Baby blues...<br /><br /><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/6793140934_332a08861c_z.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/6793140934_332a08861c_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Brooke Lynn | 3 years<br /><br /><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6793139954_6d74d80826_z.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 426px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6793139954_6d74d80826_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01469463146432631370noreply@blogger.com1