Only 20 credits to go!

Until I apply to the University of Michigan!! I want a BSN and can't get that at OCC and for just an RN would have to apply to get into the nursing program which usually has a 2 year waiting list. So Jesse and I were talking and since I have to transfer to a university anyway, and I would LOVE to go to UofM, we figured that's what I'll try to do! I need 32 credits before I can apply as a sophomore which is UofM requirement. Please don't pinch me just in case I'm dreaming... I just registered for 2 classes at OCC...so after the winter semester 14!!

School

So I went to register for Microbiology - FULL or during times I couldn't make it. Ok, so I thought I would look for other classes I need and the same - FULL! I was so pissed, I've never had issues getting classes I wanted. So I decided yesterday to transfer from OCC to Oakland University or University of Michigan. I would LOVE to go to UofM!!!!!! Jesse knows that's where I really want to go, but he's worried about the drive, it's 45 minutes or so. If I would get 2-3 classes in a day, I would only have to drive out there once a week. Then I could just hang out on campus in between classes. Jesse said we'll talk about it more tonight,

Happy Dance!!!

Dylan and I have been nursing for 10 months!!! Yahoo!!! It's funny though, some days I would like to be done, but know I really don't want to stop until he's ready. Other days I'm thankful that he hasn't weaned yet.

A pretty good start to the day!

Well, Kailey woke me up crying because Ashlyn's new "dresser" is prettier than her's. I bought Ashlyn a two drawer storage thing for her room. She needed something for her undies and pj's and to put her Tinker Bell light on. Oh well, she'll get over it. The house is for the most part already clean which is nice!! I'm going to run up to LM to get my order I placed last night.

Yesterday

I welcomed a new brother in law, neice, nephew, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, and Grandmother into my family. Talk about an emotion whirl wind yesterday. I came home last night emotionally drained and exhausted.

I met my Father for the first time since I was 6 months old. That was different. Then I met my Grandmother (who didn't know I never met my Dad) who has cancer and is extreamly weak, but I'm glad I could meet her. She just loved seeing photo's of her great grand children. My Aunt and Uncle were also there, my Dad's sister Donna. Just very strange for me and I really needed a drink to take the edge off, but was unable to find a Chili's or something on the way to the reception.

My Dad seems nice enough and would really like to see me again. We've been chatting online since 2002. Just very strange...

Cool Mail!

I just got an invitation to a picnic with my Midwife Kate on the 3rd! I'm so excited to see her!! I feel like my homebirth was so long ago and I'm trying so hard to hold on to it, but it's just slipping away. I really regret not having the other kids at home. I feel like a bad mom for my hospital births...I know, weird. It was just unnecessary for a healthy mom carrying healthy babies to give birth in a place for sick people.

The Usual

I'm trying to get the house clean and organized and that's not really happening. I feel like I just keep moving crap around. We got a table off of craiglist the other day that we're not too impressed with. It looked bigger in the photo, but only paid 100.00 for it. The good thing about it though, it makes our kitchen look bigger. Well back to moving crap around...

Just joined Weight Watchers!

I would really like to lose some weight before my 10 year reunion in October. So I'm trying Weight Watchers! Seems easy enough to follow, hopefully it will work. I tried on a summer dress yesterday at Old Navy and felt like a huge cow, so I have to do something!

Saturday - My sisters wedding

So Saturday my half sister is getting married to this great guy Toby. Our Dad, whom I've never met is walking her down the aisle. So now I'm feeling all this pressure. Not only is my step mom's family going to be there, but now my bio Dad, my bio Grandmother, and bio Aunt. My Dad is freaking out as well since I was 6 months old the last time he saw me. I wasn't going to take the kids, but now I think I should so they can meet their Papa. That's what I told him my kids are going to call him becuase they already have Grandpa's. He was ok with that. I wasn't too concerned with what I was going to wear until he confirmed he was coming. Atleast MY Uncle Ron and Aunt Linda will be at the wedding to protect me. LOL I'm just so nervous.

Had the baby #5 talk

After Jesse had a "few" beers and it wasn't nice. So he is completely against having another and I'm not. He was brutily honest (thanks to the beer) and I'm very hurt, upset, and sad.

What I did last week...

• Tuesday went to pick up Caitlyn to watch the kids on Wednesday. On the way home got a call from Jen, she had scored free VIP Cruefest tickets...which included BUCKCHERRY!!!
• Wednesday Jesse and I had an appointment to go to and then went to lunch childless. It was very stange! Got home, Caitlyn and I went to get our eyebrows waxed. Then dropped Ayden off with Jen so I could go get my tattoo!!!

The tattoo hurt like hell, but Chris did an awesome job taking what I created and included the new wings Jesse found in one of their books. It looks awesome!! Next tattoo is the one on my ankle for Grandpa, Bryan, and Grandma.

• Thursday I took Caitlyn back home and took the kids for a play date with Brenna and Keith.
• Saturday I went back to Taylor to get Caitlyn, hit Once Upon A Child, and Old Navy for more shirts. Then we met up with Chris, Jen, Chantel, and Jr for the Kid Rock concert!! We started the night at the Sharks Club for dinner, which was SO yummy!! Then headed to DTE for the concert. We got there as Uncle Cracker was finishing, then waited for what seemed like every for Kid Rock to come on. The concert was great and we had a blast. He always puts on a great show.
• Sunday Jesse was hung over and luckily his mom came up to get Caitlyn since I was smacked in the face with the cleaning bug. I went to Target got the kids some school supplies, a printer, scanner, combo. It's a Canon, and it prints awesome photos! I printed the photo I took of Dylan when he was born and finally hung it up.

It's been nuts around here. Things are getting clean, laundry is done and almost put away. Just need to get the cradle into Ayden's closet so I can have that space back in the living room.

Busy Week!

It's been nuts. I'll be back later to update.

The Joys of Teething

Dylan had just started sleeping through the night in a 6-7 hour stretch. Hey that's sleeping through night in this house! So Saturday Dylan start cutting a tooth and is up a lot! Sunday fevers all day and night 100.3 and higher. He cut his front tooth, but the one next to it is coming next. More fevers even higher - 101.9. Poor kiddo has been sleeping most of the day and nursing. I forgot how bad teething those top teeth were! On top of that, I think I may have an ear infection or two. I haven't been feel all that great, I told Jesse is felt like my equalibrium was off and now my ears hurt. Luckily I have some antibodics left from my foot surgery and lots of yogurt to ward off thrush.

Jesse and I have been talking...

...a little about the vow renewal. Thinking instead of Disney, doing something here with all of our family and friends and then going to Italy ( thanks Morgan! ;) ) or Hawaii for a honeymoon since I took Jesse to St. Louis for our honeymoon to see the St. Louis Cardinals and Mark McQwire. I'm not sure though, the whole Disney Fairy Tale Vow Renewal still sounds so awesome!

Vow Renewal on my Brain!

Jesse and I are planning on a Disney Fairy Tale Vow Renewal in 2011. I hope we can do it sooner though. So yesterday I was looking at dresses. A year ago or so I found the one I wanted, but it isn't be produced anymore. We had originally planned on doing it in 2008, but since we were trying to have another baby, we just decided 2011 was better and it would be our 10 year. I really don't want to wait that long though. Maybe I'll hit the lotto?

My Tattoo

I just finished drawing it, it's not perfect but it's mine and I know no one else will have it. I just need to call Chris, get an appt and possibily drop my sketch off touch it up and clean it up.

Fall Classes

It's time for me to take a class in the fall semester. Looks like either Microbiology or American Government. Since it's an election year, I think Microbiology sounds better! LOL

Our Holiday Weekend

We went up to Mackinaw City Thursday afternoon. Didn't take too long to get there, traffic wasn't bad at all! Looked like most people started their vacation on Wednesday. After the camper was set up we headed to the restaurant for dinner and their homemade pie!! They have the best pie so it's the highlight of the trip.

Dylan has the hardest time getting settled while we're camping. This weekend he was having the worst time with constipation and the hardest bm's he's ever hard. He was straining so bad and would let out the worst screams. Then he kept biting me, I almost gave up nursing on Saturday, I was so frustrated. He wouldn't do anything by himself and only wanted to be held. By Sunday morning he was finally adjusted.

We saw the fireworks from the campground. Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, and St. Ignace had theirs going at the same time. But nothing compares to Disney fireworks, so the kids were bored. They just wanted to go back and have a camp fire.

During the weekend, I think I managed to talk Jesse into upgraded to a travel trailer. Only problem now, we need a bigger tow vehicle. It never ends. lol

We're back from up north!

And exhausted! The weather was beautiful, Ashlyn only had 1 potty accident and Dylan was crabby and was biting me. Other than that, not too shabby.

Ok, so 9 months later, my FULL birth story of Dylan

The Home Waterbirth of Dylan Andrew

It was 2 days after my "due date", I was awoken by contracts coming every 2-4 minutes. I woke my husband Jesse up and told him I thought he should call our midwife Kate and let her know to bring all her stuff with her for our 40 week appointment. While he called her I got into the bath tub to relax and gather my thoughts. Jesse had instructions to start filling the pool. Half way through he ran out of hot water.

Once I felt composed and ready for my labor day I got out and began to fold some laundry and vacuum. The contractions were getting more intense and I had to stop to breath through them now. I had Jesse call Kate to let her know things were getting more intense and she was packing up her car and would be there soon. Then Jesse called his mom to come watch the kids. I wanted our 3 other children there to see the birth of their brother.

Meanwhile I was posting on my forums and talking with friends over instant messages. I would stop during contractions and lean back and breath through them, then continue on with my conversations. Then the kids woke up and we told them I was having the baby that day and they were so excited!

Kate got here a half hour later and she immediately wanted to check me to see how fast I was going. To my surprise I was 7cm and 100% effaced! I was so excited because I didn't have to walk around for hours like with my previous hospital births, or have that dreaded pitocin. Kate then started setting up her stuff, Jesse finished filling the pool. I wasn't ready to get in yet though, I was still feeling pretty good.

I then called my best friend Jen to come over. She answered her phone and I told her today was the day and asked her if she could come over. Her reply, "well, I'm going to take the girls to the zoo real quick and then be over". I told her I was 7cm and 100% effaced... "OH, I'll be right over!" She was too funny. Jen and my Mother-In-Law, Dianna arrived at the same time. I told Jesse that Dianna had sit on the steps and stay out of the way until I called her and the kids over. Dianna did a great job with the kids and kept creeping up the stairs to see what was going on. She was like a little kid trying to sneak a piece of candy or something.

I decided it was time to get into the pool because I was starting to feel some pressure. The pool was so great! I got in and it was instant relief, just amazing! There I become one with my body. My water broke shortly after getting into the pool. It was my first spontaneous rupture and I was so proud of my body. My waters were stained with meconium and that's when Jen freaked out a little. So while contracting I told her it was normal for post term babies to have meconium. Kate then checked Dylan's heart rate and it was perfect, and doing great.

I started feeling the urge to push and I could feel Dylan's head come down a little. I said "I feel like I have to push" and Kate said "go ahead if you need to". I could feel that Dylan's head was too high and didn't want to waste my energy and said "I'm not ready to yet". I got a little chuckle from the crowd. So I let my body push a little while I hummed through the contraction.
I felt his head come down some more and then Kate checked me and I just had a small anterior lip and she asked me if I wanted to feel his head, so I did. Then my urge to push was overwhelming and couldn't control it anymore. I had Dianna bring the kids up to watch. Ashlyn, my 3 year old said "Mommy, quit your whining!"

12 minutes later at 11:48 AM on September 29th, 2007, Dylan Andrew was born gently into water. He was 8lbs 13oz and 22" long. The experience was truly amazing and my only regrets are that I didn't give birth to all my children at home in the water.

Stats!!

Dylan - 16lbs (off the chart), 28" long Dr. Cheryl wants him to gain some weight, but I think all is well, he's just a peanut. Other than that, he's doing great!

Ashlyn - 35lbs 3oz and 36 3/4" long She is so stubborn and would only talk to Dr. Cheryl about what she wanted to talk about and told Dr. Cheryl NO to all of her questions. It was too funny.

Kailey - 38lbs 5oz and 40 1/2" long She is doing wonderfully and again I was told not to worry about her writing and ready because "she's not Ayden". lol

Dylan goes back a 1yr, Kailey 6yrs, Ashlyn 4yrs, and Ayden 7 years.

Oy vey!

I feel like I'm talking to the walls today! The kids are so crazy today with excitement about this weekend that I can't get them to do anything! I think I'm going to have to pull out the big guns and threaten them with not going at all.

Today Kailey, Ashlyn, and Dylan have well baby visits and I'm worried about getting them out the door on time. They love going to see Dr. Cheryl though and she gets excited when she see our files.