Good Bye 2011!

What a big year for us! 

Riley:  He's growing like a weed!  He went to Disney for the first time this year which he loved seeing Tinker Bell!  We had many trips to the zoo and had a great vacation up north over July.  I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring for him.  I love watching him grow and change and discover.

Dylan:  Dylan started preschool this year!!  He's doing great in school, but still has some learning delays.  At home, things are better, but not 100%.  We still have lots of tantrums and he will not potty train for us.  Though he does us the bathroom at school.  He's in speech thereapy at school and will probably need it into elementary school.  Jesse and I are starting to suspect he is on the autism spectrum, but that we'll have to talk to our doctor about.  I'm also looking into if my anti-depressant could be the cause of all this.  There is a lawsuit about birth defects and antidepressants.  One of them listed is the antidepressant I was on while pregnant with Dylan.  Autism is listed as well as "cranial defects".  Dylan's head shape is odd, not noticable to the eye, but if you fell it, it goes into a point at the top.  We've had a cranial sacral thereapist mention how odd it was.  So I need to look into that more.

Ashlyn:  Ashlyn is doing good in school and she's still in speech thereapy and will need an IEP for more therapy.  She's currently in Daisy's Girl Scout and loves it!  She is still very whining at home and fights with everyone.  She will be the death of me! LOL

Kailey:  Kailey is on the Honor Roll at school and doing very well!  She's in dance 3 days a week with 5 classes.  This February will be in a show with the DDP Company and she's really excited.  In March she will be going to the West Coast Dance Explosion convention again this year.

Ayden:  Ayden is also on the Honor Roll at school and he's ahead in math and reading.  I think he's bored.  He's doing well in hockey and proving to be a little Darren McCarty!

Me:  I started my apprenticeship with Kate in September.  I am loving it!  January is very slow, February has 1 mom due and then we're swamped from March - June.  I'm so excited!!  LOL  On top of that, I drive Kailey to dance and Ashlyn to girl scouts.  I am literally a taxi mom.

Jesse:  I don't think anything is new for him.

All of us:  We're building a house and moving to South Lyon!  See previous posts.  We just got back from Disney on the 28th and had a wonderful time.  Pictures and trip report coming soon!

We're really looking forward to 2012!

We picked a site!

Today Jesse and I picked a lot for our house!!!  We put money down on it on Monday and then "build" our house.  We'll be picking everything out for it.  So excited!!!!!

2 year ago today...

I was in labor with my Riley.  I can't believe it's been 2 years already.  Today I spent the day with Kate in Lansing lobbying for licensure for midwives.  My eye are also healing nicely from the PRK.  I drove today sans glasses.

December 1st!!

7 days until Riley's 2nd birthday!!!
15 days until we leave for Disney!!!
17 days until Ayden's 10th birthday and my 32nd birthday!!!
24 days until Christmas!!!

I don't even know how December got here so fast.

Tomorrow, PRK!!!

I'm so nervous and already tired of using the eye drops!  It will be so worth it when I don't need glasses anymore!

Saturday we pick out the stuff for our new house.

Such a bad, bad blogger!

Well, Thanksgiving has past.  We went to my Mom's and my Aunt Barb and Uncle Harvey came over as well.  It was odd Dad not being there, definitely felt people missing.

We're waiting on our pre-approval for our new house.  I hope we can go this weekend to design the interior, but I'm getting Lasik (PRK) on Friday, so I may not be able to see very well.  I don't know if I've mentioned the new house; we'll be building in South Lyon and I'll post pictures of the floor plan.  We all love it and can't wait to move!

http://www.lombardohomes.com/upload/641_2011593225.pdf

I like the "B" elevation and I'm shooting for all 3 bathrooms on the second floor, but it depends on the cost, obviously.  We'll be doing the guest bedroom and the guest bathroom on the 1st floor and will be adding french doors to the living room to make it a bedroom for now and then a scraproom when Ayden goes through the "dark teenage years". lol  Then he'll be transplanted into the basement which will have a finished room down there.  The thing I'm most excited about is the second floor laundry! lol  And the pantry!  I don't have a planty now and very little cabinet space.  I've started packing already, we have to get the house ready to rent it out. 
We're getting ready for Riley's 2nd birthday on the 8th, and Ayden's (((10th!!!))) birthday on the 18th.  I ordered him a birthday sign for our campsite at Disney.  I'm in the process of packing still too.  Too much to do, not enough time.

Lots of updates

I started working on September 28 with Kate and I LOVE it!!  On the 1st of October I attended my first birth with her.  I love working with pregnant moms. 

On October 13th, we discovered Dylan has the chicken pox and he should be back in school on Monday.

We are taking steps to build a house.  We're applying for a mortgage today and already having plans to lease the house.

It's been very busy with Kailey dancing M, T, and Th, and I work on Wednesday and Ayden has hockey 3 or 4 times a week.

Family Zoo Day!

Sunday we took the kids to the zoo and Uncle Mikey went with us.  The kids has a blast in the Dinosaur Trail.  The day before we had some storms roll through, so most of the zoo didn't have power, so we only saw the outside animals.  I'm hoping to be able to get some more trips n before it snows.  It's gotten really cold fast, we went from almost 100 degrees to below 60 in 2 days.  I'll post pictures soon.

Zoo!!

Last week I took the kids to the zoo for the first time this year.  Dylan did great!  My main goal was to get a picture with all 5 kiddos - and I did!!  Although Ayden looks like a total goof and Kailey's facial expression isn't much better.

Midwifery Picnic!

Yesterday was the midwifery picnic and I was able to to find out when I'll be starting with Kate.  September 28!!  I'm so excited.  Connie gave me some good information on what I should get for my apprenticeship.

I took the kids to the zoo on Friday.  Dylan did so good!  It was like I had another little boy who looked like Dylan, but didn't act like my Dylan! LOL  He held someone's or onto the stroller the entire time and didn't throw one tamtrum or fit!  We're only to try to go back this week.

Yesterday was a big day for Riley

Tuesday, bright and early while I was checking facebook, my girl friend Carrie asked me if Riley was doing anything Wednesday morning.  She needed a baby to talk about the safety of babywearing on the Fox 2 Morning show.  So yesterday morning Riley and I got up early and was heading to Southfield, we had to be at the studio at 8:30am.  I didn't get on the road until 8:00am.  At 8:15am I was almost to 9 Mile, our exit, and I was thinking to myself that I thought for sure we were going to be late.  But every light on Telegraph was green for me and I was making awesome time!  Then I heard Riley throw up!  Oh man, I called Carrie to see if there was a Target or anything by the studio and there wasn't.  So we played it by ear and hoped for the bed.  Luckily the car seat chest trap caught most of it and just the back of his pants were wet.  Riley also wasn't loving on Carrie like he normally does, so I had to wear him on camera instead of her.  So here's the clip!

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/mornings/how-to-properly-wear-your-baby-20110825-mr

10 Years

10 years ago on August 18th 2001 Jesse and I got married.  So we celebrated by going camping without the kids at River View Campground in Sterling.  We canoed down the Rifle River and had a blast!  I even tipped the canoe. LOL  We got home yesterday and really wish we could have stayed longer.

It's official!

I have drop in childcare!!  We met with Kasie and her fiance tonight and she's perfect and lives just outside our sub!  Now to get Dylan's stuff all squared away!

Oh how I hate days like today.

Jesse went to Indianapolis last night.  I couldn't sleep, so I only got a couple hours.  Before I went to bed, I cleaned the living room and vaccumed and had my homework in a pile.  Well, this morning, after begging them to leave me alone for a little bit to sleep, I woke up with a box of cereal all over the living room and laundry room.  My homework was all over the floor.  The neighbor is coming over today to look at our electrical situation to try to fix it.  So I was cleaning so we don't look like complete slobs.  I'm so ready for school to start and dreading next summer.

Kailey's 2011 Dance Pictures

Midwifery School

So after much thought and feedback I decided not to enroll in AAMI, it's expensive and I didn't think it was a good choice for me.  But today I enrolled in Midwife To Be which I believe will be a good way to light the fire under my ass to do book work and study.  It very reasonable, only 25.00 per unit and only 30 units and you pay as you go.  I'm pretty excited.

Ashlyn update:

Both ears are infected and pink eye in her right eye.  On a good note, this is our first case of pink eye!  With 5 kids, that's a miracle!  I suspect it won't be the last case, either.

Ashlyn

She has an ear infection and pink eye.  She'll be heading to urgent care when Jesse gets home.  Yay more medical bills...

Oh I haven't blogged about my ablation I had.  On the 21st I had a D&C with the Novasure ablation.  My periods were getting insanely heavy and lasting 10 days.  So far so good, healing is going well and hoping for extremely light periods now.

The pieces are coming together!

I found drop in childcare for Riley.  She is a SAHM and has 2 children, one of which may be in Dylan's class once he's potty trained.  She's okay that's it unpredictable, since she's home anyway.  She lives over by Jen and we'll meet her tomorrow.  I may have a problem when it comes to childcare through Dylan's school though.  They have to be potty trained unless it's stated in the IEP - I REALLY hope it was since that was one of our largest concerns.

On Tuesday Jesse and I met with Kate and went over what's expected and what I'll be doing.  I'll be starting just after Dylan starts school.  Prenatals are on Wednesday's and then the on-call life.  I need to talk to Courtenay about having an on-call schedule, so we can alternate time off.  I am so excited, nervous, scared, and WOW, it's really happening!

Today I signed up for Neonatal Resuscitation with Karen Strange in February just up the road from Aunt Barb and Uncle Harvey!  I'm also looking for a CPR class that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Dylan's preschool registration was this morning.  Talk about confusion since we don't qualify for the PEP program and since they never sent my IEP paperwork to me, no one really knew why Dylan should be.  It was mentioned WPSEE since he's not potty trained, then "there's this new program" or PEP.  I have no frickin' idea, and of course the people who did the IEP weren't there today.  Oy, what a pain.

Meeting with Kate tomorrow!

Tomorrow Jesse and I meet with Kate tomorrow about my apprenticeship.  I almost have childcare all lined up.  I'm very excited and ready to start working for her.

Update - this will probably be long. Erica this is for you!

First off, today is Jesse's birthday!  He's 34 today.  I met him when he was 21 and I was 19.  The kids gave Jesse 34 birthday spankings.  It was pretty funny.

We've been doing a lot of camping lately.  Last weekend was our first weekend home in July.  We don't have anything scheduled for next weekend either, but I think I may go camping with the kids.  We are loving our new camper!

Ashlyn turned 6 on June 11th, and she took her to PJ Hoffmaster state park for her birthday camping trip.  We also went to Silver Lake sand dunes where the kids saw their fist sand dunes.  Ashlyn is having a blast being 6, she's also learned how to ride her bike without training wheels and to swim in the pool in the back yard.

Kailey turned 8 on July 1st and we went to Mackinaw City for Independence Day like we do every year.  But this year, my Mom joined us!  She stayed in a hotel though.  We went to Traverse City for the Cherry Festival and was a little disappointed.  Just another fair, but it was cool to see the Blue Angels.  Then we decided to take the kids to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.  We were very upset when we got there because they charge 10.00 a car to walk up the sand dunes.  It never used to cost anything and since we had two cars, decided it wasn't worth it since Riley wouldn't be able to walk up them and Dylan may not remember it.  So we'll go again when they can all go up the dunes.  Climbing the Bear dunes is like a Michigan rite of passage, it's something I did as a kid and it cost nothing.  Anyhow, we went back to Mackinaw City and Mom bought us dinner.  The next day we crossed the Mackinac Bridge into the U.P. and went to the Mystery Spot.  The kids loved it.

Last weekend we went to Maumee Bay in Ohio to meet up with other camping lovers with a Forest River camper.  It was a lot of fun and the campground was very nice, not too much shade/trees, but very nice!  It was nice to meet other people with the same love for camping.

Since January I've been having some womanly issues.  So I had a special ultrasound in June and then decided to have a Novasure ablation.  The ablation was on the 21st.  I had a D&C and the ablation.  I had some cramping, but nothing too horrible.  Hopefully that will take care of the issues I've been having.  I go in for a check up in 3 weeks.

We also got a puppy!!  We got a chocolate female lab from my cousin's dog's litter.  Her name is Lola and she was born on March 18th and she's so stinkin' cute!  We got her on May 1st.  She does really good with camping and has finally stopped chewing!  She's doing really well and the kids love her.

Dylan has been going to see a cranial sacral therapist for three weeks now.  I'm not sure if I'm seeing much of a difference, but I'm going to give it more time.  I decided against seeing the behavior therapist because it was a three month waiting list for an appointment.  We'll just play it by ear, I guess.

I think that's it for now.

An update on Dylan

Dylan's behavior has been out of control since he was approximately 20 months old, just after he weaned we noticed a change. It was really bad this time last year and I eliminated dairy (for the most part) and saw a little bit of improvement. Once he turned 3 years old, things got better and I was able to handle his outburst, rage, and tantrums. Now it's gotten worse again. I called the school district and they met with him on April 15th at school. We had to fill out papers, "tests", and they evaluated him. He did okay until asked to follow a direction and he shut down.

On April 28th a social worker came to our house and watch him play and interact and throw fits and act out. It was embarrassing. She took my family history which contains alcoholism, suicide, depression, and more alcoholism. So she mentioned he could be bipolar, but since she would need to observe him more, she can't make that call. He also showed signs of sensory integration which I've suspected. He has a doctors appointment tomorrow with our family doctor to get him up to speed and talk about a game plan/time line.

Yesterday we met with the speech therapist, social worker, and someone else from the school, Dylan will start speech therapy in a couple weeks at the kids' school. He'll see the same therapist Ashlyn sees for her "R's". He will definitely be in preschool next year. The question is which one? Special Education because he refuses to potty train? None of the specialists want him there, but if he's not potty trained, that's the only option and he NEEDS to start school. If he is potty trained, he'll be in the PEP program. It's for those who can't afford the tuition based preschool (which A, K, & A went through) or have a "disability" if you will, and need special assistance; Dylan will have a special education come in and teach him some things where he's lacking. He's scores show he's 12 months behind in a couple areas. So that's where we stand now.

The Bathroom

I repainted the bathroom Sunday night and laid linoleum this morning. Now I need to fill some holes, sand and paint those areas. I couldn't sand before I put the linoleum down because of the dust. But it looks so good and now I need a new shower curtain, rugs, and toilet seat. I'll post pictures soon.

It's really over, but I don't like it!

I know that it will never happen and I agreed to it as well, but I am NOT doing having Children! This is so apparent to me when I see babies, pregnant moms, tiny clothing, no more baby toys, though I am looking forward to no more diapers. It doesn't help that my cycles are clock work, ovulation on CD 16-18 with a lot of fertility signs, and very painful ovulation pain. I feel like my body is screaming at me that I should be having another child. It's KILLING me! I actually told Jesse wanted a hysterectomy because I can't handle this every month. It's a reminder that I will no longer create life, feel baby kicks, hiccups, or birth another child. What am I going to do when the kids don't need me anymore? I know all this eventually comes to an end, but I guess I wasn't ready. I'm not even sure if I can be a doula or midwife because when I come home, the desire is all the think about.

Disney Picture

I was going through some Disney pictures and came across this one. I think it's pretty good. Boy, I can't wait to go back!

Photo's of our camper

It been awhile.

We signed on the camper a couple weeks ago. We pick it up on March 19th and our first trip is April 8th. Hopefully it will get warmer before then and we'll be able to go.

I'm pretty sure Riley is weaning, I'm not sure how I feel about it, really. Since Dad died, I we haven't been nursing a lot and my milk is almost gone. I'm not sure if I want to save this relationship or let it go. I really need to get Lasek (PRK) but can't while nursing since my eye sight is different than my current script. I'm also ready to lose weight which I can't seem to lose while nursing. Riley is 14 1/2 months old, that's something, right? I really wanted to go 2yrs with him, but I'm not in the right state of mind. Lots of stuff is starting to come to the surface, emotionally, that I don't want to deal with, so I'm with drawing myself. :( He's also cutting 2 or 3 molars which is so much fun! He has very little interest walking on his own and barely stands by himself - which he knows how to do! Very frustrating!

Dylan still have no interest in potty training. I don't know what to do with him. I feel like I did something wrong and that's why he's so behind other 3 1/2 year olds.

Kailey and Ashlyn are sick. Ashlyn's been acting up in school and at home. A little girl that they HAD been playing with was a complete potty mouthed brat and I think that's where Ashlyn picked up the attitude. Kailey's schedule is going to get busy with dance soon. Workshops and Adjudiction is coming up, then May is recitals.

Ayden has two tournaments coming up. He made honor roll again for straight A's. We're very proud of him.

Miwifery

So over the last week I decided to self study and not enroll into AAMI. Jesse also says I'm ready to start my apprenticeship with Kate. I'm pretty excited and nervous. Jesse and I will be meeting with Kate this week to get more details on the apprenticeship. I need to find childcare for Friday's and "on call" babysitters. That's going to be the hardest part.

Camper Stuff

Yesterday we towed the pop up down to the dealership to trade it in! And we got a better look at the travel trailer. We hadn't seen it with the dinnett slide out, and wow it has so much space and floor room!!! I debating with Jesse if we want them to store it for us until the spring, or bring it home. I want to bring it home to play in it! LOL We should close on it this week. Just waiting on the check from the bank and lean release for the pop up.

January 23, 2011

Saturday morning (22nd) I dropped Kailey off at dance and went to Big Boy for some breakfast. While waiting for my food, my client called me to tell me she had been contracting 20-30 minutes apart since 3am, but they just stopped at 9:45am. She told me she was going to walk about a local museum and I advised her to take a nap instead. She was showing signs that labor was going to start soon.

At 4:45pm I called her to see how she was doing and what was going on. She told me her contractions just started back up and were 20-25 minutes apart. I told her to give me a call when she was ready for me to come over. 8pm rolled around and I decided to try to go to sleep, at 10pm I was finally asleep.

At 12:30am I was woken up by a dream that D had called and was ready for me to come over. 20 minutes later the phone rang and her contractions were 8 minutes apart but stronger. So I headed over.

D was experiencing back labor so I did some tricks to help relieve the pain while in the birthing pool, but her contractions were pretty spaced out still. Her midwives' apprentice arrived shortly after I did, then followed about her midwife. Thing were a slow go...2cm at 4:45am, but 4 hours later she was 6cm and asked for her water to be broken. Her midwife asked her to wait because baby was high and she was making great progess. A few more hours later she was still at 6cm and her water was broken. - sort of. S (midwife) thinks she ruptured the out layer of the sac because there wasn't a big gush and D obviously had a lot of fluid. So D got back into the the glider and worked through a couple contractions and then got back into bed to try to rupture the sac. D layed down on the bed and her water broke on it's own. D went back to the glider and worked through more contractions. Once they were about 3 minutes apart, we put more hot water in the pool and D got in and relaxed. She labored through about 3 contractions and then went into the squatting postion and said "I have to push!" S ran downstairs to get D's husband and children. D pushed for almost an hour and finally her baby girl was born at 12:02pm on January 23, 2011 weighing 9lbs 4oz and 21 1/2" long. She is simply adorable!

Tonight is our post-partum appointment and I can't wait for some tiny baby snuggles!!!

Midwifery

I've decided to self study rather than enroll in AAMI.

Lazy Day - sorta

I need to get a handle on the laundry...it's not horrible, but anything over having to do two loads drives me insane. Yesterday I fixed the front closet doors and today I plan on starting Ayden's room. I'm also going to try to patch the drywall in the bathroom that's falling apart due to splashing from the kids. Should be interesting as I've never done anything like that before. I've already cleaned the living room and front room, so next up are the kids rooms.

Cleaning Day

Okay, so really, every day is cleaning day. LOL In addition to cleaning I need to start preping Ayden's room for paint. That what he wanted for his birthday, so that's what he got. He wanted a bright blue, but I talked him into two shades of a darker blue...I'm thinking teen years and I'm NOT painting that room again! I think when he gets into his teen years where anything dark colored is cool, these colors will still work for him.

The next project I think it going to be making Dylan a loft bed. I got plans from this site: HERE I think this would be perfect in Dylan's room. Ayden has a loft bed from IKEA, but it's so tall and really I wouldn't mind this for Ayden's room.

Dad's Obit

Willis Thomas Howard Of Wolverine Lake, passed away peacefully Christmas morning at the age of 57. He was born July 28, 1953 in Nankin Township (now Westland) Michigan. He was the fourth and youngest child of Chalmer and Mary Willis. Loving husband of 29 years to Beverly. Dear father of Kristina (Jesse) Murray and Michael Willis. Grandfather of Ayden, Kailey, Ashlyn, Dylan, and Riley Murray. Brother of Laura Ellen (Ted) Johnson, Barbara (Harvey) Fry and the late Chalmer "Buddy" Willis. Also survived by many nephews, nieces and cousins. Memorial Service at the Westland Free Methodist Church, 1421 S. Venoy Rd. January 8th, 1 :30 p.m. Inurnment in Commerce Memorial Cemetery in Commerce Twp.

Words that describe 2010

• Newborn
• Doula
• Certification
• Birth
• Cancer
• Death x3
• Baby
• Breastfeeding
• Midwifery
• School
• AAMI
• Virginia
• Family
• Friends
• Susan G Komen
• Walking
• Chicago
• Feet
• SORE!
• Camping
• Truck
• Apprenticeship
• Promotion
• PTO V.P.
• Love

Happy New Year. It can only be better, right?