Can you say OUCH?

This week I haven’t been feeling great. I’ve had some pain on the right side of my back. Well, normally I would have automatically thought UTI or Kidney Infection. However, with this pregnancy I have had lots of back pain so I just ignored it. I mean I have been dealing with this and going to a chiropractor for almost all of the pregnancy. Not only that, I went to the ER back in my first trimester thinking it was a terrible UTI and it was something with my back that led to the chiropractor visits.

Anyway, back to this week. I haven’t felt great and Jay has been out of town so I have just been hanging out with Jayci. Yesterday, the right side of my back was killing me and I just drank some extra water and chalked it up to nothing. Until this morning….I woke up to see my urine this very DARK RED color and just was feeling crampy. Again, at this point I called my OB’s office and I’m not really concerned. I’m totally convinced it’s a UTI at this point. However, my doctor is out today so after explaining my symptoms to his nurse she wanted me to go to the labor and delivery unit. Mainly because of the cramping part.

Long story short they think I have a kidney stone. I am to stay hydrated and just wait for it to pass. I mean what kind of crap is that? Just wait for this pain to come. I am a little nervous because I have heard terrible stories of people passing kidney stones. I get that I have labor and a baby coming up but I have heard that they are even worse then labor. Anyway, I’m a little nervous about passing this thing to say the least.

Okay well my husband is home tonight and I couldn’t be happier. I love him so much and so happy that he got to come home a little early. And just for fun here is a picture of my Jayci girl. I edited it on photoshop express which was a free app for my iPhone. I love her little profile!

Hope you all have a great weekend! I have to work Friday and Saturday night then have a shower on Sunday to look forward to. OH and the possibility of passing a kidney stone. HA

~Kristen

Shower Time

This past Sunday was my family shower hosted by my sister and my step-mom. It was so much fun and well Korbyn racked up on some good stuff!

This is the cake my sister made. She is so talented! It’s hard to believe that she taught herself how to do all this and the fact that she is just 21.

 

My sister, Carrie, and I

Jayci of course came and helped open presents. She was definitely excited to be seeing things for K.

A shirt from my MIL.

A quilt that one of Jay’s grandma’s made. She makes all the grandkids one. Jayci has one that is yellow and pink. I love gifts like these because they are so special and can be kept forever.

Jay’s favorite gift. A box of camo clothes and accessories.

 

A baby shower wouldn’t be complete without a baby. This is my little cousin, Nash. He was born in December. He is such a sweet baby and Jayci couldn’t get enough of him.

My dad told her to let him know if she got tired of holding him and she said, “oh I won’t get tired of holding him.” However, my aunt said he’s getting awfully red in the face I bet he is pooping. Then Jayci all of a sudden was really tired of holding him. HA!

I can’t wait to see her as a big sister.

So all is good with Korbyn. He is growing and moving like crazy. His room is almost complete. We are just waiting on a few details and then I will post the final pictures on here. I am so excited and so in love with his room! Well, I hope all of you have a good week. I am off for the next 8 days and then I start working every weekend. Which I realize will get old but it works for our family and I am super excited about it.

~Kristen

Encouragement…

or should I say discouragement. I don’t really know at this point.

Anyway, I had my routine 31 week check up today. All is going great with baby K. Heart rate was in the 140’s. I am measuring at the right week. He is moving like CRAZY! Which is good since yesterday I was so busy and got a little nervous because I hadn’t felt him move. No worries, I did kick counts last night and today he is totally making up for it.

So on to the encouraging/discouraging parts. With our daughter I had a c-section. I went into labor on my own, went complete on my own, and then BAM my doctor said you are not going to be able to have her you need a c-section. I think he got impatient (because I know his reputation now) and didn’t want to wait.

Anyway, this go around I am attempting to VBAC which means vaginal birth after cesarean. Okay yea so one would this all would be easy with this plan. Well, know doctors don’t really love to do these. However, we have found a great OB that is willing. Oh but there is more…Not only are we doing a VBAC, I am attempting to do this whole thing all natural. No pain meds, no epidural, just some good old fashioned natural birthing. But there are road blocks with hospital policies and doctors and all the red tape. To be honest it all just SUCKS! It makes me want to throw my hands in the air and just say forget it I’ll do another c-section. Only this time it will be scheduled.

I am in no way throwing my hands in the air at this moment. I have a great support system…my husband, friends, some of my family, a doula (which if you don’t know what that is or don’t have one, research it, mine has been so fantastic). I just want it to be easier. I want to present my birth plan and my doctor just say okay sounds great but there will probably some editing and negotiating to be done. I also do not look forward to any arguments or fights that may come along while I labor if my doctor is not the one on call that day. I can see why people just give in and listen to whatever their physician tells them. But not me…no way that would be to easy. I am hard headed and like things to go my way and as long as me and baby are fine and doing good I see no reason that goal cannot be met. You know just my opinion.

I just have to add that I know things may not go “my way.” I know I am not in control of this process. I completely realize that God is in control so really it will go “His” way. Which is fine with me, I just don’t want it to be all the doctors decisions and what they say goes.

Anyway, that is my rant for the day. I had a wonderful shower yesterday that my sister threw me. I will post pictures on here eventually. My camera is still in the car and I think I am going to take a nap so I can work my last full week of work. Starting next week I will be part time. Woo-hoo! Hope you all have a fantastic week ahead of you!!!

~Kristen

Day in pictures

I figured it was time for a little update. The day started with a doctor appointment and my glucose test. Hopefully, I passed. I really don't want to have to do the 3 hour test. Jayci went with me to the doctors. This was the first time I took her but since I was off work tonight I thought it would be fun to spend the day together. I have to say I have the best doctor. He let Jayci help with Doppler and she was so excited. By the way the heart beat was 140 and I am now 27 weeks. Only 13 weeks to go!


This was Jayci while we were waiting to get my blood drawn at the doctors office.



Yes she was doing circles. Don't worry nobody was around and this was out in the lab part.

After this we ran to the Destination Maternity to get me a maternity belt for when I work. My pelvis has been hurting so bad it makes me feel like I can't walk after I work. That's probably TMI. Sorry.

Next we met up with Jay and went to the Clinton Library. It was a free admission day and they have a Dr. Suess exhibit. Here they are with The Grinch. It was kind of fun and interesting but I'm glad it was free.


Afterward, we went to Heifer International Village (which was also free). I didn't take any pictures there because we were to busy playing. They have a fun exhibit hunt there. It was so nice watching Jayci learn how other children live around the world. I don't know that she really got it but we like to instill little pieces at a time so hopefully when she gets older she will understand more.

The end of our outing it started poring down rain so we had to run (walk really fast because I had flip flops on plus I don't run for much anyway) to the car. I think this was Jayci's favorite part of the day. It was so fun watching her run in the rain and laugh. I think it was my favorite part of the day too. Here she is after we got in the car.



We had a really good day! I was so glad that Jay got half of a day off to spend the day with us. We got home and rested and then had a Fashion show with some of the clothes I bought this weekend at a big consignment sale.

I love days like this. It makes me really sad that I won't be able to really spend time with my family until Saturday because I have to work. But in exactly one month I will be working my last full time week and will begin working part time! I am so excited about this change. However, I'm going to have to find lots of free stuff to do. I am not a stay and sit at home kind of gal.

Well I hope all of you had a great Monday and President's Day.

~Kristen

Being Less “Worldly”

This is a post that has been on my mind for a while now. I just have not had the guts to write it. Mainly because if I write it I have to do something about it.

I want to know what it looks like to be less “worldly.” Jay and I were having this discussion at dinner last night and we just came up with the conclusion that we have no idea. We have great friends that are challenging us and themselves to accomplish this task. We watch them do great things and achieve their goals of becoming less worldly. However, I want to know what that looks like for us.

I catch myself thinking (and even saying aloud to Jay) that I just want to be content. I just graduated nursing school, Jay and I are both making decent money, we are about to have another baby, and Jayci is going to start Kindergarten this year. I just want to live contently and enjoy having more money (and enjoy spending it). But what if Jesus had said, “I just want to be content in my life. I just want to have fun with my friends and maybe one day I will get around to healing people and dying on the cross for their sins.” Yea, that didn’t happen and quite frankly I’m really glad it didn’t. I know in my heart that we are being challenged by God. That our hearts are feeling the pressure to do something more in this life time. We are not told to work hard just so we can live life how we want to. We are called to give to the poor and needy, to help the orphans and widows, and most importantly to live like Jesus.

So what does this step look like for us? I’m not sure. I know that we have some challenges ahead of us to get to where we want to be. I also am aware that this process does not happen over  night. We will have to be continuous in our prayers and seeking challenges as they come to us.

So for our first challenge….One of our friends in our house church this past week challenged everyone to do something different for Valentines day. Instead of going to buy chocolates and useless gifts for each other to try to do something more meaningful for someone else. I know Jay loves me. I don’t need a box of chocolates for him to prove that. Although, I was hoping for a nice message. Ha! But what I think we both need right now is to show how much we love God and appreciate everything he has blessed us with. We have not decided what we will do with our challenge but big or small we want to start somewhere and think this is a great place to begin.

I hope that all of you have a very blessed weekend!

~Kristen

5 Years Olds

5 years ago today I was waking up to a day that would be one of the best days of my life. I woke up that morning and just wasn’t feeling great. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I called EVERYONE (even friends without kids, which really doesn’t make since. Ha) to see what the signs of labor were. I finally decided I was in labor and called my husband to come home from work at about 10 or so. I’m not going to tell my whole birth story but I do remember having to stop and get gas on the way to the hospital. HA. Well, at 7 o’clock that night I was blessed with a beautiful baby girl.

Now 5 years later she is not a baby anymore. She is a little girl. A girl that loves being girly. She loves all things pink and purple, her friends, playing dress-up, playing Barbie’s, having sleepovers, helping her mommy and daddy, and just life in general.

Jayci ~ There are days you act like I have never taught you how to behave or obey. But then there are those days where you are the sweetest most precious girl ever. You have a huge heart and like to help other people. You have never argued when I tell you it’s time to go through your toys and give some to kids that need them more. You even surprise me by giving away things I never thought you would.

You love your friends. You are always wanting someone to come over and spend the night. And you do pretty good sharing your toys and letting your friends play with your stuff. I will say that in the mornings you are kind of like your mommy. You like to sit and watch cartoons for at least 30minutes to a hour before going to play. You just need time to yourself and to wake up. I totally understand it!

 

I asked you the other day what you thought you would learn this year. Some things that we talked about doing were; learning to read, riding a bicycle without training wheels, and being a good big sister. I think you will be a wonderful big sister. You have started talking to Korbyn through my belly and tell him how much you love him. You even call him Korby sometimes. I think it is sweet you have a  nickname for him.

I could list some of the rotten things you are up to but I think I will leave them out. No need to remember those down the road. :) I love you so much. I am loving how much you are growing and turning into such a girl. You are the best thing that could have happened to your daddy and I.

Love, Mommy

Okay also I want to tell one of the funny stories she has said recently.  Honestly, I can’t remember more than this one. HA!

When we moved into our new house we told Jayci that she could pick what room she wanted. Well, the other day she was talking to Jay and asked him why her bedroom didn’t have a bathroom in it. His answer was simply that it just didn’t and that only Mommy and Daddy’s room had a bathroom in it. She replied, “Well, y’all said I could pick my room and I picked the wrong room!” She then proceeded to talk about how we could remodel and just build her a bathroom onto her bedroom and while we were at it she needed a bigger closet. Oh I think I am in trouble later on in life!

   

There are so many things she asks or says on a daily basis that I really should keep a small journal of them all. I honestly never know what she is going to ask.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a bright, beautiful little girl!!

~Kristen

Little Diva

Jayci doing her runway walk (notice the pressed lips) and making up a song for us.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com