Cox Chronicles

Missing the Burn

2012-01-24T10:37:00.003-07:00

Today I'm feeling good. I fed and changed Kimball and WORKED OUT all by 8:45 this morning. That's right, I started to exercise and I'm rather proud of myself. For the past month or so I've just been feeling so jiggly, wiggly, squishy, and gross since I've gained weight after having Kimball. Thanks to Pinterest, I've printed out some motivation pictures as well as work out routines and I've taped them up all over the exercise corner of my craft room. Surprisingly, I've really missed the feel of the burn. I hope I can keep this up!

Wet, Cold, Windy...No Thanks

2012-01-23T17:24:00.001-07:00

This is what it looks like outside.

So we're staying inside.

What A Goober

2012-01-23T17:22:00.001-07:00

The Many Faces of Sweet

2012-01-23T17:11:00.002-07:00

I love this picture because you can actually see his neck.

You can't really see it that well but here he scratched himself a mustache.

This Face Cracks. Me. Up.

2012-01-23T17:10:00.000-07:00

Chalkboard

2012-01-23T17:05:00.002-07:00

I finally finished the chalkboard for the mantle. I got the frame at the DI and painted/antiqued it to match my end tables I refinished last year. One of the easiest crafts ever, just spray paint the glass and you're done.

Ugh

2012-01-22T15:54:00.006-07:00

Today. A cold Sunday with gray skies and even colder wind. However, this morning I was all gunge-ho about going to church for the first time since I had Kimball. I had to meet with the bishopric before church to receive my new calling, I was even excited about that and the opportunity to serve again. I got us both ready for church and was even punctual for my meeting. It went great and I'm now a sunday school teacher. I was anxious and felt ready to accept a calling and go to all 3 hours of church. I fed and changed Kimball before church started so he'd sleep the entire time. Easy as pie.

Sacrament meeting wasn't too bad but I did hand him off to Lance eventually because he was fussy. Not like him. Sunday school came and he was still fussing. Odd, he's usually conked out after he eats so I thought I'd take advantage of sunday school and feed him again so I can listen to the RS lesson. He slept for about 5 minutes before starting to fuss again. I tried to get him to sleep but to no avail. I was done. Had it. I passed him off to Lance. I should have gone home instead of going back to RS. Then the meltdown started and I tried to suppress it but a few tears still leaked out. I was too upset to even listen to the lesson but I tried. As soon as church was over and I got into the car the flood gates opened.

I thought I could handle going back to church. Easy, right? He was fed and would sleep the whole time. Why didn't he? My excitement to listen and feel the spirit totally disappeared. I don't know what the heck I'm doing and its so frustrating! I feel so bad for Kimball because he has to have a mom like me that's totally clueless and can't even handle church. I look around and see tons of moms with 4-7 kids and a newborn to take care of. They can handle it so why can't I? To them the whole mothering thing comes with the snap of a finger and its as natural as the sun coming up every morning. They don't have stupid meltdowns like me and pass their kids off to their husbands. They can handle anything. I see tons of moms who are skinny and yet here I am gaining weight instead of losing which is a whole other problem in itself. I don't want to get any comments on here that I'm already so small and such and don't need to lose weight. That's incorrect. Every woman I know loses weight after having a baby. Not me, I've been gaining weight after having Kimball and even though I'm petite I still need to lose weight. I feel gross!

What's my problem? Why can't I figure any of this out like the other moms? Its so disheartening because I love being a mom but its so dang hard at the same time. I wouldn't trade Kimball for the world, he's my everything! I just wish other moms wouldn't make it look so easy. I'd like to see one of them have a meltdown. I'd like to see one of them pass off the baby to the husband. I'd like to see one of them call their maternity pants their skinny jeans after they had their baby. I'd like to see them in pajamas with no hair or makeup done and a tear stained face. I'd like to see them on the edge of upset and frustrated. Maybe I'd feel more sure about what I'm doing because I'm pretty sure they've been the #1 mom from the get-go.

Later on Kimball was ready for bed around 8:00 and I hadn't had a nap at all. Perfect, now is my time to catch up on sleep and time for Lance to visit his parents since he'd been helping me all day and needed a break too. Within two minutes I was just about to the land of bliss when Kimball started crying. Ugh, what?! He should be sleeping, why is he awake? Insert meltdown here. So I bawled and tried to sleep with him on the recliner. Well, Kimball slept but I didn't. In the meantime Hero Sir Lancelot came home to the rescue from his parent's house. I didn't want to burden him anymore so I just said I'd lay with Kimball a little longer while Lance cut his hair and showered. I finally put Kimball back in his crib and I crept off to join Lance in bed only to hear Kimball crying again once I laid my head down on the pillow. Insert meltdown here. So I fed Kimball and bawled the entire time. Surprisingly he ate quickly and I went to bed.

I don't know what's wrong with me today. I just couldn't couldn't do it, at all. Any attempt I made at trying was shot down. Maybe Kimball just wanted his dad, I don't know. Whatever reason it is, I'm SO SO thankful for Lance. Not only did he take care of Kimball, it was all the little things in between. He came outside and helped me into the house from church. He did the dishes and even washed all the big stuff by hand. He swept the kitchen. He even wiped down the counters which he doesn't do. He came home early from his parent's. He came into Kimball's room to check on me every time I had a meltdown.

I hate having all these meltdowns. I hate feeling jealous of all the moms and women out there who make it look so easy. I love Lance and I love Kimball. Today was just not my day and my Hero Sir Lancelot kept me sane.

My Most Special Gift

2012-01-17T22:12:00.003-07:00

This was part of a Facebook comment giving mothering advice to someone I knew in high school. It struck a cord with me and I have no idea who the person was.

"Children aren't inconveniences to be managed. They are gifts from heaven. A symbol of trust between you and the Father."

2012-01-17T01:34:00.001-07:00

"People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one."

-Unknown

Lunch Break

2012-01-17T00:29:00.002-07:00

This melted my heart right into my grilled cheese sandwich.

Getting Rounder

2012-01-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

First Owie

2012-01-17T00:25:00.001-07:00

Seriously, why are there corners on baby tubs?! Broke my heart when I saw the blood because I knew it shouldn't have happened. Sorry little man.

Going Private

2012-01-15T14:50:00.003-07:00

We were advised by the doctor to let Kimball air out a few times a day to prevent the bad diaper rashes he's been getting. Besides, he's got the cutest little bum!

As a side note, we are making our blog private so that I can create posts like this without having to worry. If you want to keep following our blog, email me at coxrebekah@gmail.com.

They Meet At Last

2012-01-15T14:30:00.004-07:00

Two months apart, they were finally able to meet. Isom was born on December 28 at 7.4 lbs and 18.5 inches long. Congrats Kempton and Bonnie! If Isom were to stretch out his little folded up frog legs, there wouldn't be much difference in size.

All Smiles

2012-01-15T14:19:00.004-07:00

He should hold a sign saying: Content If Fed. Sometimes his cheeks and double chin get the way and I love every inch of them! Although according to the doctor on Thursday, he's quite small for his age, in the 5%.

Meltdowns Galore

2012-01-15T13:24:00.007-07:00

This past week wasn't an easy one. For whatever reason I can't sleep. I'm limited on sleep anyway having to get up and feed Kimball through the night. But this week I just can't sleep. Sunday through Wednesday I averaged about 2 hours a night. Wednesday night through Friday I averaged 0 hours a night. That's right, no sleep for 2 days straight going off the 2 hours a night from the previous days. Not fun. In fact its stupid and makes me absolutely livid. The word frustrated and desperate doesn't even come close to how I was feeling.

We found out last minute that Lance had to get a body in Provo on Friday. Conveniently, Steph and Conrad were planning a trip down there for the weekend to see Kemp and Bonnie. So we took Kimball and drove down to Provo and I kept thinking to myself, this is going to be an awesome time to get 4 hours of sleep during the drive. Ha! What was I thinking? No such luck. We had a great time together with Steph and Kempton's family. It was awesome getting to see and meet Isom. We had a lovely dinner together at the Olive Garden and delicious ice cream afterwards.

Long story short, Lance drove back Kemp's truck and I drove back the van. Yes, I drove 4 hours home at 3am on no sleep in 2 days. Stupid. Idiotic. Foolish. It's a miracle I made it home.

Why didn't I stop to snooze for a bit? Well, I knew that once I did finally nap, I'd be in such a deep sleep that waking me might prove dangerous to Lance shaking me, and that I'd never fully wake up making it even more impossible to finish the drive home. Why did I need to drive home that night? Besides all the obvious answers, Lance needed to get Jane Doe to the mortuary. I just had to push through it.

NEVER doing it again.

During the entire drive I had a meltdown and just sobbed and sobbed and talked out loud to myself. I was about ready to admit myself to a hospital because I was so exhausted which was making my brain wig out. When we got home Lance let me get a few hours of sleep that night as he got up to feed Kimball. Unfortunately it wasn't enough. When I got up Saturday around 11am after getting 5 hours of sleep, it just wasn't enough and I had another meltdown. Last night Lance got up to feed Kimball every time so that I could sleep. I'm hoping that by the time I get a nap or get to bed early tonight, I'll be able to function normally again and my brain won't go crazy. Thank you Lance, I know you didn't want to sacrifice your last two nights but it was vital for me.

2011 in Review

2012-01-11T00:14:00.004-07:00

This past year was a whirlwind and being that I was pregnant for most of it, I'll try to remember everything I can.

Highlights:

Went on a memorable trip to Sun Valley for spring break. The trip wasn't anything spectacular or extraordinary and it was a great trip don't get me wrong, but it was when we made the final decision to buy our first house. We weren't even in the market to buy a house. At all. Not in the least bit. It was the fourth one we saw (we only looked to pretend to be grown ups and dream a little) and we instantly fell in love with the character, price, and income potential with the rental house included.
The day after we returned home from the spring break trip to Sun Valley was when I found out I was pregnant. I remember looking at the stick for results and couldn't quit grinning when I saw it was positive. I was home sick from church with a cold and I decided to start working on announcements and trying to think of how I was going to tell Lance.
Lance graduated from school with his second degree and completed all credits necessary to get his funeral director/mortician license.
Lance finished his apprenticeship and passed the state boards making his licensing official.
Lance was immediately offered a job as the Advanced Planning Specialist, specializing in pre-needs.
Kimball John Cox was born at 7:53am on October 26 weighing in at 5.7 lb and 18.5 inches long. He is our entire world.
I made a remarkably fast recovery from the c-section. I think it was because I was so sick and miserable during the pregnancy, the recovery from surgery was easy peasy.
I quit my job and became a stay at home mom, the job of my dreams.

Everything else that happened that I'm forgetting was probably due to me being stationed by the toilet while pregnant. Anything else I'm forgetting is because my brain went crazy during those 9 months. All in all, a very good and successful year for our little family.

My Handsome, Sweet Boy

2012-01-10T19:28:00.005-07:00

Sunday was a special day for our little family as Lance blessed Kimball at church. I was emotional all morning in anticipation of the blessing but when it came to the actual blessing itself I stayed together. Mom really came to the rescue for this day as she purchased the most adorable outfit and put on the entire meal for us. Funds are definitely tight right now and we're so lucky to have such supportive family. I'm so, so grateful for a wonderful husband who holds the priesthood. He protects us and is the father of our family. He would do anything in the world for us. I'm so thankful that both of our dad's were able to stand in, I could tell they were just beaming and so proud of Lance. We love our little boy so much! I'm amazed at how quick to tears I come in every aspect of his life. I cried when they poked his foot for the PKU test. I cried when he got his first shots. I BAWLED when I first physically saw that he was growing, it made me so, so sad! I cried when he got his first diaper rash. I still cry when he doesn't sleep, mostly because I'm extremely tired and can't find one more ounce of energy. This little boy is our whole world and we can't imagine life without him. He's so adorable and sweet. We're so blessed and happy that he's ours forever.Dad let me borrow this blanket for the blessing. His grandma, Kimball's Great Great Grandma Stockdale, made it years and years ago. All of my siblings were blessing in it and I'm so thankful we could borrow it for this special day.

R.I.P. Nubbins (By Lance)

2012-01-01T17:11:00.004-07:00

Nubbins (Cox), 3 years old, of Twin Falls and formerly of Boise, passed away New Year's Eve 2011 from complications resulting from a winter storm. He was our little buddy and super cute. He was spoiled thoroughly throughout his lifetime. Though he never married, he did have a love affair with Becky's slippers. He was admired by little kids and passers-by.

He was preceded in death by Heyward (our hamster) and is survived by his two loving owners, Lance and Becky Cox, and his new little friend, Kimball. We hope he is happy and well fed in Bunny Heaven and we love you, little bunny.

Trio of Trees

2012-01-01T12:15:00.003-07:00

I've had this unfinished craft for several years, it was from a craft day a long time ago. I think my mom also featured it at her ward's super saturday last year as well. Anyhow, I finally finished them. I painted the sides, stem, and trunk all black and mod podged the scrapbook paper on. I did one side as christmas trees and the other side as everyday trees.

These are the christmas trees.

And these are the everyday trees.

Summer Bunting

2012-01-01T01:22:00.002-07:00

This is my summer bunting which I put together in about 15 minutes. The cards came 6 to a sheet so I just cut along the lines, punched two little holes in the upper corners, and tied them together with jute. The paper is already so detailed I didn't add any embellishments to it. I think if I did then it would take away from the paper. I love the nostalgic and carefree feel of it which goes perfect with this Charleston picture of children playing by the pineapple fountain.

Spring Bunting

2012-01-01T01:14:00.002-07:00

Lately I've been back in the crafting mode. I've always wanted to make a bunting/garland/banner, whatever you want to call it, and this one I made from scrapbook paper. I had all the supplies already on hand so it didn't cost me anything and as usual, if I made another one exactly like this I'd do a few things different. But overall I like how it turned out, especially the birds. You can't read the word very well in the picture, it spells out sweet.

Mama Loves This Little Buddy!

2012-01-01T01:04:00.003-07:00

Two Months Old

2012-01-01T00:47:00.004-07:00

I can't believe my little koala bear is two months old already. At his check up he weighed 10 pounds and is 23 inches long. Length wise he has made up for his premature birth and is in the 50th percentile but weight and especially his head circumference he is still behind, in the 5th percentile. Dr. Jones said he will probably take after the Pettingill's since all the Pettingill's have little heads. We both cried when he got his shots and he cried even harder when I took the bandaids off his legs. Little guy crashed after his appointment. It gets harder and harder to remember how tiny he was, the last picture was him in the car seat going home from the NICU.

Merry Christmas

2012-01-01T00:31:00.004-07:00

I thought I had posted a picture of Kimball's hat before but I guess not. I love this hat Bonnie made for him and in the card she wrote that initially she made it tiny since he was going to be so small as a preemie but then she realized that Cox's have unusually large heads so she decided to make it bigger, haha! These pictures show how much he's grown in the last two months. The first picture was taken Christmas Eve and the last two pictures were taken the day after Kimball was discharged from the NICU.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-31T12:49:00.001-07:00

Meeting Great Grandma Pettingill

2011-12-31T12:24:00.002-07:00

About a month or so ago Grandma starting living in an assisted living home in Filer. Her mind has gotten too bad with Alzheimer's and its become increasingly more difficult for Grandpa to take care of her. When he has good days and feels good then he's all about taking care of her. But when he has bad days which is more often, then its almost impossible for him to take care of her as well as himself. Its been a hard adjustment for both of them and a hard decision for Grandpa as well as their children. I think Grandma gets pretty lonely and with the new baby, we decided she needed to meet Kimball. I knew it would make her day and bring such a joyful feeling. She loved holding him the entire time we were there and kept patting his little stomach and touching his soft skin. Kimball will probably never know it but his presence made all the difference in the world for her that day. She cried as we left but we will be back again soon to visit. We love you Grandma!

Melt My Heart

2011-12-21T10:54:00.005-07:00

About a month ago while we were waiting to be seen for tithing settlement, a member of our ward was asking general questions about Kimball and I since I haven't been back to church yet. He then turned to Lance and asked, "So, is it as good as you thought it would be?" (Implying fatherhood). Lance said, "No. It's better."

Filling Out

2011-12-15T13:55:00.003-07:00

Lance doesn't like to look at blogs that are plastered with people's kids because to him, he wants to read about his friends and what they're up to, not necessarily his friend's kids. He vowed we would never be one of those families that plastered photos of our kids and I slightly disagreed thinking there should be a good mix. So when I go back and review my blog and see that every little thing is about Kimball......oops. I'm sorry if any of you agree with Lance and can see we went against our own wishes. But thinking of the past few months, my entire waking life revolves around taking care of the little guy and we haven't done anything spectacular either. Lance goes to work and I stay home to take care of Kimball. December is typically a very busy month for families but since Kimball is still quite young and the weather is cold, we haven't gone to too many places or activities.

Kimball is starting to change. He's getting chubbier and starting to fill out. His face is much more round, his cheeks have doubled in size along with his double chin, his legs are rolly polly, and he's losing all those uber darling newborn characteristics, especially in his face. It really makes me sad to see him get bigger and I've bawled about three times over it.

He's Going to Be a Drooler, Like His Mama

2011-12-15T13:45:00.002-07:00

Kimball is the funniest little boy and we can't wait to see more of his personality. Of course we're also partial and biased! But the other day as I finished feeding him, I was just talking and playing with him while holding him up and all of a sudden he was out of it, dead asleep.

We Love Cuddles

2011-12-15T13:43:00.001-07:00

And partial smiles

Meeting Great Grandma Lance

2011-12-15T13:41:00.001-07:00

December Craft Day

2011-12-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

First Shopping Trip

2011-12-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Christmas Devotional

2011-12-15T13:34:00.002-07:00

Mom and Dad and I went down to visit Christine for the weekend since she's by her lonesome with Stephen gone to training. We got tickets to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional but they wouldn't let Kimball and I into the main conference center. So Christine and I went to a separate theater set aside for families with children and enjoyed ourselves. It was a great broadcast, one of my favorite parts of Christmas. Although we were both missing our husbands and wished they were with us.

Cozy With Grandpa Pettingill

2011-12-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Beauty

2011-12-15T13:24:00.001-07:00

This little boy loves sleeping with his arms up.

And he loves his little slippers.

A Good Mixture of Us Both

2011-12-07T21:11:00.005-07:00

Dirty but Happy

2011-12-07T20:33:00.003-07:00

I don't know how some mothers make it through the day. I have one little newborn who is a good baby for the most part but wakes up like clock work to eat every 2-3 hours. How do mothers do it when they already have 2, 3, 4, 5+ kids AND a newborn??? Holy cow, they amaze me! Welcome a not so welcome thing called sleep deprivation.

I love being a stay at home mom! I had pictured things a lot differently though. For one, I thought I'd have TONS of time to be productive and get things done around house. I fantasized about vacuuming everyday, not so much as a sock left in the laundry basket, no crumbs on the counter, no dishes in the sink, and a dust free house. Ha! What was I thinking? I have finally got into somewhat of a daily routine which includes: feeding #1, two precious hours to be productive, feeding #2, nap, feeding #3, cook dinner and get ready for Lance to come home to help with feedings and such. So during the day I have about two hours to accomplish a huge to-do list. The nap is crucially essential, no questions asked. The rest of the evening and into the night where normal people are sleeping, you'll find me up at all hours soothing and feeding my baby. Currently, you'll find 6 baskets full of clothes, towels, and sheets that need to be hung and folded (at least they're washed and dried), a sink full of dishes, a floor with who knows what that hasn't been vacuumed for a few weeks, what looks like a mound of dust all over, two bathrooms that desperately need scrubbed, and a mom who could really use a week to play catch-up. Totally gross. I know. (By the way, no need to mention the fact that I don't get dressed for the day or wear make up anymore, or do my hair. The only thing in check is a shower).

But on the other hand, Kimball has been going through a growth spurt and as Lance and I stayed up and talked the other night, I got teary eyed thinking about my little baby growing up. I want him to stay little AND sleep through the night which won't happen, I know. So while my house is so dirty, and I mean F-I-L-T-H-Y dirty, my baby is still a baby and I want to enjoy that while I can. The dishes and laundry can stay piled up and people can judge me as they wish when they walk into my house but I don't want to miss one minute of my precious little boy's life. I'll hopefully find time to fold and scrub and sanitize during that itty bitty two hour "productive" time, and if I don't then I'll know I was busy snuggling up to my squishy, comfy, warm, cute little guy.

Kimball & Mommy

2011-12-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

This Thanksgiving

2011-12-05T18:22:00.003-07:00

I'm thankful for my two boys...

...and this pilgrim child.

Comfy Grandpa Cox

2011-11-28T10:36:00.002-07:00

A (Sleep) Walk in My Shoes

2011-11-20T17:23:00.003-07:00

Lance had Friday off and offered to get up with Kimball on Thursday and Friday night. Of course, I still woke up every time he needed to be fed but at least I got to stay in bed and go back to sleep. Boy, I was spoiled! And Lance got to experience what its like to feed him every 2-3 hours and run on limited sleep. So it was good for both of us and he has a greater appreciation for what I do, not that he didn't before. Thanks Sweetie for that priceless gift!

First Bath

2011-11-16T19:25:00.003-07:00

We gave Kimball his first bath last week and he hated being so cold! He loved the warm water though and zonked right out when we put him in the swing for the first time directly after his bath.

Meeting Great Grandma and Grandpa Watson

2011-11-16T19:22:00.001-07:00

My Snuggle Bug

2011-11-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

My Early Christmas Present

2011-11-08T17:09:00.003-07:00

Grandma Cox had to get a few pictures of Kimball in the stocking she made him.

Life Fulfilled

2011-11-06T18:57:00.003-07:00

I have so much to be grateful for! I just know that Father in Heaven is so mindful of His children and that he knows exactly what we need, when we need it. I know that He answers my prayers and has heard every plea and whisper from myself and Lance. I'm so thankful for all that I've been blessed with and how everything has turned out. True, this pregnancy was quite difficult with the hyperemesis, multiple hospital stays, preterm labor and contractions, and the placenta previa. Given the previa is a complication in itself, I never once had a problem with it other than the actual existence of it. Things could have gone to worse or deadly in a matter of minutes but again, not once did I have any problems with it. I see the previa as a huge blessing because #1 I was able to go four weeks early which was awesome since being pregnant was so awful. #2 I was able to have a scheduled c-section and will probably opt for it again if there are any more children in the future. #3 I got to choose the doctors I wanted who were phenomenal.

I'm so thankful to have this beautiful baby boy who is just my own little buddy. He has added a whole new dimension and purpose to my life. Prior to his coming, I worked full time to pay the bills and put Lance through school. Sure I cooked dinner and cleaned and all that good wife stuff in the evenings. And it's true that I did all of that in preparation for our future. But now, my purpose has changed to being a wife and a mother. Everybody said that once I laid eyes on my baby it would be like Christmas morning times a million. Being honest, I didn't feel that way. I didn't have a chance to see Kimball until seven hours after surgery and when I first visited him in the NICU, it was different. I was meeting a stranger for the first time. A stranger that was my new responsibility and I didn't know what to do with him. Of course I loved him as I was carrying him, but it has been a gradual process and if its possible, every day I love him more and more. It's definitely been a day by day journey the past nine months and everyday I feel more and more fulfilled.

I'm so thankful for this sweet baby!!! I love his fuzzy brown hair and super soft skin. I love his warmth and innocence as a new spirit from Heavenly Father. I love his flailing arms and legs and utter wriggling at times he's not wrapped up. I love his beautiful navy eyes and the way they make his forehead wrinkle up 20 times like an old man when he's looking around. I love his little skinny body. I love his long fingers and toes and all their perfectness. I love his pointy elf ears - people have said they'll eventually round out and that it's common with preemies. I love his hilarious facial expressions, especially the way he smiles when he sleeps. I love the way he sticks out his bottom lip. I love his plump Cox cheeks. I love his sighing whimpers when he's sleeping. I love his sneezes, he's always got at least seven in a row. I love his sweetness and the way he always smells so good. Words are hard to find to describe the love I have for this precious little baby of mine. Every little inch of him is just so precious!

I love him because of the new purpose he has given me. I'm treasuring this short and precious time I have him as an infant because they grow up too fast. But at the same time I'm anxious to see his personality develop and watch him grow into a toddler and little boy. I'm so thankful for my new family of three and I'm cherishing every day, every moment I'm given.

Easy As Pie

2011-11-06T18:35:00.002-07:00

Because I'm so intolerant to pain I had planned on being down for at least 6 weeks after the c-section in writhing, uncomfortable pain. Turns out, recovery has been a breeze and I was right about one thing: nursing is far more painful than the surgery. I'm talking sharp, excruciating pain. That's all I'm going to say about that.

I was up and walking in no time at the hospital and because the NICU was a little jaunt down several hallways from my room, it made for good exercise and movement. Two things that made a huge difference for me was staying on top of the pain meds and being as prepared and informed as I could. I was given a book called The Essential C-Section Guide which goes through every aspect of the surgery and recovery, which I highly recommend reading if you have to have the surgery. Because of this I knew exactly what to expect and what was going on.

The pain hasn't been bad at all; not directly after the surgery, not recovering in my hospital room, and not at all since I've been home from the hospital. Staying on top of the pain meds was key and has made recovery a breeze. I'm talking easy as pie. They say no lifting anything heavier than the baby, no housework especially vacuuming, just rest. This wasn't an issue in my case because I recovered so quickly and it has been so nice! I know I haven't experienced regular labor, but for those that have fears of c-sections, I would do it again in a heartbeat over regular labor.

Tuckered Out

2011-11-06T18:27:00.002-07:00

Going Home

2011-11-03T15:36:00.002-06:00

Stamp This

2011-11-03T15:33:00.000-06:00

Sweet Halloween

2011-10-31T16:03:00.003-06:00

This is the first Halloween Lance and I aren't dressing up or hosting a party which is a bummer but our reason is so worth it. I mean, look at this little mummy of a man that the NICU nurses dressed him as. They made the onesie with actual gauze and little google eyes, so creative! Of course we had to get a picture with the cute bib that the ladies from the bank gave him even though its super big.

Little Old Man

2011-10-30T09:26:00.001-06:00

I love this picture because his mouth and cheeks and both chins look like an old man to me. But not just any old man, a very cute old man!

Daddy Time

2011-10-30T09:22:00.001-06:00

I wish I got a video of this but this snapshot was Dad singing and dancing for Kimball. It made me laugh.

First Family Photo

2011-10-30T09:21:00.000-06:00

Tiny Feet

2011-10-30T09:20:00.000-06:00

Early Treat

2011-10-30T09:18:00.002-06:00

One of the nurses brought in these little hats for all the NICU babies. They said they were going to do something special with them for Halloween tomorrow so I'm anxious to see what they're planning. The hat is quite big obviously but it's so cute!

Few Hours Old

2011-10-30T09:14:00.003-06:00

These pictures are from Lance's iphone taken in the NICU a few hours after Kimball was born.

2011-10-30T09:09:00.001-06:00

Bittersweet Parting

2011-10-29T19:51:00.003-06:00

Tonight we are going home from the hospital, leaving Kimball behind in the NICU. It will be so hard but we know he's in good hands, the nurses are awesome. They did disconnect his IV and his eating through the tube is consistent but his breathing remains the same on the cannula and his jaundice is worse so he's on the glow worm blanket. He's such a soft, cute little guy though!

Progress Report

2011-10-27T22:18:00.003-06:00

Kimball is in the NICU for his difficulty breathing. Yesterday they took him off the ventilator but kept the cannula in. I tried nursing a few times today but the little guy is just so tuckered out he slept. One of the nurses tried to give him a bottle which was too much, he choked a little and started having breathing problems again. Overall, he's doing great though. I assume I'll be able to go home tomorrow but I haven't heard yet and he'll stay in the NICU for a few more days at least.

Our First Meeting

2011-10-27T22:15:00.000-06:00

The C-Section at 36 Weeks

2011-10-27T20:55:00.007-06:00

5:15am heading for the hospital

6:00am ready for all the prep

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30am and had quite a chipper nurse which would have been awesome, but not so much at that early hour, I wasn't in the mood and didn't sleep at all the previous night. I was hoping to be poked only once for my IV since they are painful and I hate them but that didn't happen despite my attempts at being as hydrated as possible with Sir Lancelot as my water sergeant. Walking into the OR was weird, I thought I'd be wheeled in there but I had to pause at the door for a moment. That's when I became scared. Bright lights, doctors and nurses in scrubs standing and waiting for their patient, lots of machinery, lots of tools laid out in perfect rows, sterile everything. It kinda freaked me out and reality hit that I was about to have surgery. I sat up on the table and had to be poked a few times for the numbing medicine before the actual spinal block. That wasn't very pleasant and I was sad Lance wasn't in the room because I had two good zingers and he missed them both. I guess my joking was my own little way of dealing with the fear.

After that everything happened really fast but not fast enough to avoid the nausea and throwing up. Next thing I knew they were cutting into me and Lance was nowhere to be seen. I asked the nurse, where's Lance? She said she didn't know. Ten seconds pass by, where's Lance? She said he disappeared. Ten more seconds pass, where's Lance? She said she didn't know and that he had disappeared. I asked 20 times too many where Lance was and nobody seemed to know. I could feel the tugging and pulling and knew the baby was coming soon. Finally Lance walked in right as they pulled the baby out which he was quite happy about until he came to the other side of the drape where I was bawling. I was red faced, tear smeared, one heck of a hot mess. I was livid! My only source of comfort wasn't there when I needed him and no nurse would go find him. When he finally did show up he kept asking me why I was crying and what was wrong. The only thing I could say was everything, because it didn't matter at that time if he was there, my security blanket was gone and all the fear and anxiety and unknown seeped into my whole being. So for the remainder of the stitching up I bawled and bawled and nothing could settle me down.

Then the shakes started which I had read about but forgotten and it freaked out Lance. I got wheeled into the recovery room when I demanded from Lance what in the world happened and why he wasn't there. Turns out Lance was all dressed in scrubs ready to go, waited for 20 minutes and nobody called him in yet (this was the time the anesthesiologist poked me several times because it took him a few times to get it) and natures calls. He went to the restroom and was there for about a minute and a half. Nobody went to look for him, he walked in the OR just in time to see the doctor pull out the baby. Lance felt terribly guilty. I was so upset and still so livid, I just kept crying all through the recovery room and into the postpartum room. I wasn't mad at Lance, just the nurses. Why didn't anybody get him???

At this point I had been awake for 2 days so I was like a zombie who just underwent surgery. I tried to sleep but to no avail. I finally had the chance to see Kimball in the NICU and it was great for us to be a family of three for the first time. After visitors left and Lance went home home to sleep, I finally drifted off into a slumber. Of course I had to wake up several times for vitals and blood draws and the like but I was so relieved to sleep.

He's Here!

2011-10-26T18:17:00.002-06:00

Kimball John Cox was born this morning at 7:53 weighing in at 5 pounds 7 ounces and 18.5 inches long. His lungs are underdeveloped so he'll be in the nicu for 1-2 weeks. More details to come.

October Craft Day

2011-10-23T10:45:00.008-06:00

Of all the people I wanted to a baby shower, I really wanted my sister there. I don't know why, probably because she's the only sister I have. Even though she had to arrange her work schedule she made it and hosted an awesome family baby shower for me during October's craft day. Thanks so much to Christine, Mom, and all the sisters who helped, it was fantastic! (Charity was my photographer during craft day, thanks Charity)!

Whenever Peytin sees a camera, he's got his little grin ready!

This is a SUPER cute quilt my mom made me. It's all barnyard animals.....right up my alley. Love all the polka dots!

This little blanket mom made with Charity. Charity picked it all out and laid out the patterns and stuff for Grandma, she couldn't wait for me to open it and take a picture with her. Thank you Charity!

Quiet please, game time!

This super chic quilt Heidi made....I had no idea she even sewed and to top that off she said this is the first quilt she's ever made. I'm floored! I LOVE the colors!

9th Ward Rocks!

2011-10-23T10:31:00.006-06:00

My totally awesome (old) ward threw me a baby shower a few weeks ago. It felt SO GOOD to see everyone again, it was like being home. Thanks so much everyone, it was a blast and this little boy got spoiled! I have to give a special shout out to my fabulous YW, check out this blanket. We have got some uber creative people in 9th ward....each young woman and leader drew me a picture/saying and signed their name to create this beautiful quilt. I wish I had a picture with every single young woman and leader with the quilt but these were the few that were able to make it to the shower. You guys rock!

Yummy spread with Dianne's famous cinnamon rolls.

I love that in this picture Stephanie looks so entertained and thrilled to be there. She'll probably shoot me for posting it but I couldn't resist. :)

THANK YOU!!!

Thank You, Thank You!

2011-09-21T20:08:00.002-06:00

I just have to give a shout out to the world's best husband: my Lance. He's my rock in every way, he's my sunshine and my happiness. Through this whole pregnancy he's been such a trooper and a huge blessing. Whether it has been holding my hair back to throw up, pulling the blanket over my feet, making me dinner, nagging me about drinking water to avoid dehydration, keeping my arms warm in the hospital while I had iv fluids going, putting my socks on, wiping tears away as I sobbed in desperation because of pain or the lack of endurance and courage, he has been there through it all. All the ups and downs. All the good and the bad.

We've got 5 weeks to go and he'll be facing the most difficult part of it with me and I couldn't ask for any one else. He's been by my side this far and I literally couldn't do this without him. I love you so much Sweetie!

Birthday

2011-09-17T17:20:00.004-06:00

We finally got the call from the hospital confirming my c section date.

October 26

Only 5.5 more weeks!

Stomach Cramps or Contractions?

2011-09-17T17:12:00.004-06:00

Last Thursday as I was eating lunch at my desk at work I was feeling a little funny, kinda like the leftovers I was eating were too old. My stomach started to cramp up. I went home and tried to sleep it off but I couldn't sleep through the pain. I got out of bed around 3pm or so and the stomach cramping was higher instead of all over with sharper, more intermittent pain. I figured if the food I ate was bad then I would have thrown up by then which I hadn't although I was nauseous. I called Heather (who's also had Previa) to ask what contractions felt like. I always imagined them to be a lower pain/pressure which wasn't what I was experiencing.

I called the doctor and they recommended I go into labor and delivery just to be monitored and make sure they weren't contractions. I waited for Lance to come home from work and we headed to the hospital about 5:00.

The worst part was getting the IV in, it hurt worse than the contractions and you better believe I was yelling and wincing.....oh my that hurt so bad! The nurse confirmed that I was contracting and started me on IV fluids right away as I was dehydrated. Who knew dehydration caused contractions? I sure didn't. And I'll admit I'm the worst at drinking water because I'm never thirsty but you can believe Lance is now the water nazi. After starting the IV's I couldn't feel the contractions anymore which is funny because it turns out I've been having contractions for several weeks - I just never felt them.

My two nurses were awesome, the first one I grew up with in Jerome and the second one we both knew from the college ward so it was great seeing both of them. The doctor on call checked everything and the something-something test came back negative (to see if I was dilated or effaced). They finally released us and we went home at 2am with some meds to stop contractions.

Luckily no bleeding, otherwise they would have done the c section immediately. So I'm taking it easy resting up and hope this little guy stays in his little home for 6 more weeks.

Funny though. I was starving but they wouldn't let me eat while I was on the IV. Lance eventually left to get himself something to eat and I told him when he comes back to bring my big purse and sneak me some food to eat. Well, I forgot I was hiding my peanut butter m&ms in there and he found them. Boy that made his night! I felt terrible though because Lance was so bored to death and starving and came straight from work so it was a long day for him. Poor guy.

Early Bird

2011-08-30T13:47:00.004-06:00

Today at my doctor's appointment the ultrasound still confirmed that the placenta is low and covering the birth canal, AKA placenta praevia. If I were to go into labor or have contractions then I bleed to death and baby also dies. So bad news is I have to have a c-section. GREAT news is that my due date is moved to the end of October so I'll be pregnant 4 weeks less! YAY!!!!!! The baby is measuring and weighing in right where he should and is as healthy as we could expect. I loved the ultrasound today because we got to see more of his face......boy has he got the Cox cheeks! They're so round and plump and cute, I couldn't quit smiling.

We're down to the end, two months left and now I can mentally prepare for a c-section. I can't wait to meet this little baby and since we've shed off the last 4 weeks, I'm much more excited!

Ready or Not

2011-08-21T19:15:00.002-06:00

This week I'll be 27 weeks along, almost to the third trimester and less than 100 days to go. The past few weeks have been both up and down (mostly down) as I've had to deal with the sharp rib pain, uncomfortable pressure from the baby moving and having nowhere else to go, morning sickness for a week which turned out to be an infection, and starting to wear maternity shirts. Ahhhh maternity clothes, God bless you and your utmost comfort! I don't know why I put off wearing them for so long although I have yet to buy some pants because they're too dang expensive and I refuse to buy pants for $30 on sale and only wear them for a short while. Call me cheap but I call myself practical.

I am sick of being pregnant and especially on days where I don't feel good, just want to get the baby out. But ultimately, with only 3 months and 1 week left I've been trying to prepare myself mentally. I keep seeing all these moms who make it look so easy and effortless. Then I think to myself and ask the basic questions: Can I go grocery shopping by myself and my baby? How will I handle going into the mothers room to nurse with other women in there? What if I'm in public by myself and can't get the baby to quit crying and screaming? Do I know how to bathe a baby? What about all the newness and pain of nursing? How will I function on such little sleep? Some days I'm confident in myself and have no problem at all with the prospect of being a new mom. Other days I doubt myself and am scared to death with all the unknowns. I'm hoping that as a new mom I'll just know what to do hour by hour, day by day, and trust that Heavenly Father will guide me in taking care of this new spirit just sent to earth.

Ultimately........I'm excited! I get to start a new chapter in my life. I get to quit work and do all sorts of wife things that I never did before like pack a lunch for Lance, get the laundry done before noon, and have dinner on the table at 5:30. I'm sure it'll be the biggest adjustment of my life but ready or not it's coming. Mostly, I'm so excited to see Lance bond with his son for the first time. I'm excited to count all his fingers and toes, breath in that good fresh baby smell, give him kisses all over, feel his uber soft skin, cradle and sing him to sleep, and just stare at what a miracle he is.

Graduation Celebration

2011-08-21T19:11:00.002-06:00

Last night we had family, friends, and Lance's coworkers over for an ice cream sundae bar to celebrate Lance's graduation. He's got a few diplomas, certificates, and now the official license; he's completely done. I'm so proud of him! I wish I would have thought to take pictures of the evening but I was busy scooping ice cream. Thanks to everyone for all of their love and support through the years of this journey!

Photo Tour

2011-08-21T19:02:00.003-06:00

For those requesting pictures of our new and first house, here is the uber spacious kitchen. Obviously we need to paint and do a little cosmetic updates but it will come with time.

This is the formal living room. See the end tables I refinished?

Technically this is the dining room with french doors to the back yard. But there's just the two of us and plenty of room in the kitchen for our little table so we're using this as the living/tv room. Notice the original hardwood floors Lance refinished before we moved in?

My 26th Birthday: The Good, The Bad, and The Yuck

2011-08-21T18:45:00.002-06:00

A week before my birthday as my gift Lance took me on a surprise trip. We went to Boise to the Michael Buble concert! Luckily this is our second time going and it was just as FANTASTIC!!! That's the good part.

The bad part is that my morning sickness mysteriously appeared again out of nowhere. So I wasn't feeling too great for this trip.

Our seats were right in the middle of the row, about 15 chairs on either side of us. Luckily nobody was right beside us but it was still a trek to cross people to get to the stairs which lead up to the aisle/lobby area in the arena. About halfway through the concert I knew it was coming. I assessed my situation and quickly decided I didn't have time to cross all those people, hike the stairs, and then run to the nearest bathroom. I didn't want to cause a scene and certainly didn't want to throw up on anyone so I got my hospital barf bag out of my purse, told Lance to put his arm around me to cover me up, and put my head between my legs so nobody would see me. It was my only option, thank goodness for those handy hospital bags! Nobody heard a peep out of me because the music was so loud in there and nobody knew the wiser, I was quite discreet. Lance followed me up to the bathrooms after I was done and we sat in the back for the rest of the concert. I felt much better after that.

Unfortunately, it didn't stop there. I threw up in the car after the concert and again at his sister's house where we stayed for the night while they were out of town. (Don't worry J, I didn't miss the toilet and it's not contagious)!

Just us and me showing at 25 weeks.

23.5 Weeks

2011-08-01T22:26:00.002-06:00

This shirt isn't even maternity but it works. For some reason I was actually ok with my belly that day. It wasn't weirding me out like it usually does. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that I can have a child and witness this miracle that's squirming around. It's just so weird to look down and have this volleyball sticking straight out. Pregnancy is weird and I haven't quite come to terms with my belly yet, it's weird to look at myself. But on this day, I was ok with it and this is more for family that keeps asking about how big my belly is and what it looks like.

It's Been WAY Too Long!

2011-08-01T22:23:00.004-06:00

One of my best friends from Charleston was passing through to visit her folks in OR and she stopped by for a little picnic and chat. It's been far too long since we've seen each other and even though it was only 30 minutes or so, well worth it! Miss and love ya!!

House Progress

2011-07-28T20:47:00.004-06:00

The house is slowly coming along and we keep working on it a little bit here and there each night. The past few weeks we've been working on the porch which was enclosed and we've now taken out all the windows and window casings. It really opens things up and we can't wait to use it! Too bad we have no money for a patio set although I found a super cute black iron bistro set at Real Deals for $128. We just patched up the stucco tonight and will sometime need to paint but for now it's open and we've always wanted a large open porch.

I've also slowly been working on the flower beds. About 3 weeks ago I got the front all weeded with new perennials and the front flower boxes have flowers. Unfortunately nothing is doing too great. Between the hot sun and the bugs, I'm afraid they're dying. But I'm keeping them sprayed with bug stuff and soaking them on non-sprinkler days. The northwest side of the house I got 80% weeded with two new bushes planted and some flower seeds sewn. I'm sure it's too late in the year for the flowers to do much but they're planted nonetheless. I have big plans for my own little oasis out back by the kitchen window but that will have wait until next year at least. Landscaping costs a lot of money and I'm doing fine right now keeping everything weeded.

Now that we don't have company in the house I've started to finish unpacking again. For a while I had to shove all the non essentials and other boxes into the baby's room. Lance has been helping me getting things hung where I'd like so it's slowly getting there. Last weekend there was a huge yard sale down the road and I got an old child's school desk for $1 and a little three-legged side table for $5. I'm going to refinish these and use them as our nightstands.......I can't wait to get started, I really love refinishing furniture!

I know I need to post pictures of everything and I've been trying to keep before pictures just so appreciate the after. Pictures will come..........sometime.............

Quick Wit or Quick Disgust?

2011-07-20T10:18:00.004-06:00

Trish and the kids came over yesterday to visit and so I could store a few things while they're in the process of moving. The kids roamed all over the house and raided my snack drawer loving the fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, granola bars, crackers, popsicles, and whatever else they could find.

Charity took one look at my full kitchen sink and promptly asked, "Becky is your dish washer broken or something?" It made me smile and think to myself, " No, that is the only appliance that is working properly at the moment. I was just too tired to clean up dinner last night."

My Favorite Response

2011-07-20T10:14:00.002-06:00

Me: Lance, can you come here please?

Lance: Do I have to right now?

He made me laugh as I frantically wiped up the water from the washing machine that leaked all over. And yes, he did come right away.

Pettingill Clan

2011-07-17T13:19:00.001-06:00

All the Pettingill's minus Scott, Heidi, and Lance.

Just Us

2011-07-17T12:46:00.001-06:00

and me at 21 weeks.

Scott & Jerusha Baker

2011-07-17T12:38:00.002-06:00

Jerusha's wedding was practically perfect in every way! The weather was beautiful which made both outdoor receptions wonderful. Everything was just gorgeous and perfect and we are so excited to have Scott part of the Cox family.

Girls Night

2011-07-12T21:18:00.002-06:00

We threw a tiny bachelorette/girls night for Josie, which was a little odd since the engagement isn't totally official yet. But we had fun anyway! This is the first pregnant picture of me, I'm 19 weeks here and this was taken over the July 4th weekend.

Halle Turns 5

2011-07-12T17:28:00.009-06:00

Sally, Karen, and Christine came down for a few days which conveniently landed on Halle's birthday. Heather threw a water party for her which was a fun success although the kids were pretty sun burned. Here are a few snapshots:

Look close at Devin in this picture. See his gray boxer briefs? He got new swimming trunks which are a tad big. Big swimming trunks + water=more weight. What he couldn't tell was that his trunks were falling off so he ran around for a good 10 minutes like this before his mom cautioned him to pull them up.

Reupholstered Dining Chairs

2011-07-12T17:24:00.002-06:00

First of all, thanks to Jerusha for giving us the dining table and chairs. The oak and green weren't really mixing all that well for me so while Lance was out of town I took a trip to Joanne's for fabric, and reupholstered the chairs. Much more cheerful and bright!

BEFORE

AFTER

"New" Living Room End Tables

2011-07-12T17:19:00.003-06:00

I got these two tables from Paul's estate before they were sold at auction. I forgot to get a before picture but here's the after, initially they were spray painted a metallic gold. I put a few coats of paint on them and then applied an antiquing glaze. I LOVE them and they go perfect in our new living room.

The Little Guy

2011-07-07T11:29:00.003-06:00

Yesterday we had our 20 week ultrasound. It's a boy and we are thrilled!

Squirmy Wormy

2011-06-27T13:14:00.003-06:00

Saturday night I felt the baby move for the first time. I wasn't sure what it was, I assumed indigestion or something until I felt it again on Sunday during sacrament meeting. It's such a tiny little flutter, if I'm not paying attention I wouldn't have known what it was or what to look forward to since I knew I'd be feeling the baby soon. Lately there have been a lot of comments of how small I am so I've been paranoid and worried that the baby isn't growing or it's dead and I don't know it. I'm just so thankful for this extra little squirm that confirms everything is ok and the baby is alive! I don't know why I'm always worried the baby is floating around lifeless, I always look forward to hearing the heart beat at appointments just so I know everything is ok and he's still growing. Next week we will find out what it is, I'm pretty excited because I can start looking for baby things and thinking of names and officially refer to it as him or her instead of it or just baby.

My Norm

2011-06-21T12:22:00.003-06:00

(Just fyi, Blogger is being weird with all this extra spacing and I can't get rid of it).

There are a lot of common symptoms of pregnancy and just to be thorough in journal writing, here are some that are/aren't the norm according to what I've read. Is there a norm anyway? Probably not.

I got the whole morning sickness really bad getting down to 97 pounds. Week 15 was the magic number and since then I've felt much better. I have learned the hard way that even though I'm feeling better I still need to take Zofran no matter what. Otherwise the throwing up continues.

I don't get mood swings at all. No highs or lows, I just float in the middle along careless and go-with-the-flow which drives Lance crazy.

I always have problems staying asleep and get the best sleep between 7-10am.

At first I had zero headaches which was awesome. Now I get them all the time and the acetaminophen doesn't seem to ever kick in.

I'm never hot. In fact just the opposite, I'm cold ALL the time. Probably due in large to the fact that I lost so much weight but I'm always cold which is annoying.

I don't like people touching me. At all. No hugs or kid's slimy hands or a gentle hand on the shoulder from Lance. Just don't touch me. It's weird.

Unfortunately, chocolate isn't very appealing. At times it is but instead I'd prefer gummy or sour snacks which is weird. Peachies, gummy bears, sour worms, sour punch straws which are my fav, nut rolls (which turn out to have just as much protein and more calories than the protein shakes do), fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, all the kid snacks.

While I was sick I couldn't eat any meat or vegetables at all, the baby definitely didn't like that.

I sneeze a lot more. Weird.

To me I am showing, I have a little tiny bump. My belly gets a lot bigger at night which is weird because when I wake up in the morning its back to being flat with a tiny bulge. Nobody notices but me and regular acquaintances at the bank or hardware store don't believe me when I tell them I'm pregnant. One even told me to go to the ER asap because something must be wrong.

It's still very strange to me when I think about being pregnant and buying my first house. It's so surreal. We've waited 6 years and now all of a sudden to have so many changes at once and to mentally process it all, that's a lot to take in. When the baby comes I don't know what I'll do or how to act or what to say, it's just so different and I've never been through this before. It's weird. Weird is the best word to describe everything at this point. We find out the gender in 2 weeks which is exciting and nerve racking at the same time, that means I'm halfway done! I want a boy but essentially don't care as long as the baby gets out of me and we're both healthy. (Rude you say? Refer to the second bullet).

More On

2011-06-12T20:01:00.002-06:00

We moved! We debated and went back and forth on our moving date playing everything by ear. But we took the plunge and moved Friday and Saturday. Thanks so much to our awesome families that helped us, we couldn't have done it without you.

The unfortunate part is that our washer now has a leak and neither of the showers are usable (long story). That's got to get fixed asap. So we're still going back and forth to the old house using the washing machine and shower. Lucky for us it's only a few blocks away.

Everything is 90% out of the house, the rest is the office and electronics which is Lance's job to pack up. Again, HUGE thanks to everyone that helped! We have awesome family and we're so blessed to be surrounded by love and support, especially when we need it most.

There Is Hope

2011-06-03T18:14:00.002-06:00

I've made it a goal to move in our new house by next week. By then the wood floors should be done and everything cleaned....I'm crossing my fingers that next weekend I'll be typing in our new office instead of the living room couch surrounded by crap and clutter. Since I've been feeling better I've started to pack up...it feels good to be off the couch.

I'm 15 weeks now and actually feeling quite good. I haven't thrown up for a week and I haven't been nauseous for a week......we're making progress people! The best part? I can eat regular foods, you know, normal food that people have for dinner, I can eat. It's great! The only time I get a little queasy (so far) is when I wait too long to eat. I've even gone back to work part time. I'm barely starting to show but to most people I just look fat. I hope I'm not jinxing myself by talking about it.....I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays this way and only gets better!

No Rocks, No Picc Line

2011-05-26T11:17:00.002-06:00

Lance started his new job this week and so far has been kinda bored. He's been watching a lot of training videos but he got his licensing application sent off to the state board and his business cards are in. Yesterday he wrote up his first pre-need, woohoo! He's even got his own office shoved in the corner room with all the old pre-need files. It isn't anything special and there's terrible lighting but at least it's his own.

I had my follow up doctors appointment yesterday to determine if I need a picc line. It all went really well, I gained two pounds so no picc line for me! Which is odd because I threw up more this past week than I have for a while. Lance's comment, "What, did you shove rocks in your pockets?"

Lance has been diligently working on the house. On the rental he got the dry wall put up and we're ready for kitchen cabinets, kitchen sink, and then flooring. On our house we've got the two front doors primed and the inside front door painted red. I love the red, it looks awesome! I'm hoping we can move in about two weeks or so. But again, we're not in a hurry so whenever it all works out.

I'm really looking forward to the weekend because Jerusha and Steph are coming to town and I haven't seen them in a long time. And I LOVE the memorial day tradition that Donna and John do so I'm anxious for that. But go figure, memorial day weekend at the end of May and the temperatures are in the 50's.

Whirlwind of a Wedding

2011-05-21T12:34:00.002-06:00

13 Weeks

2011-05-18T18:18:00.003-06:00

I had my doctors appointment today, found out I have Hyperemesis and have lost about 15 pounds total. We got to listen to the heart beat and luckily there's only one. :) Twins run in the Watson side of the family and I don't think I could have dealt with the shock of twins at this point. I hope that doesn't sound bad but I was indeed relieved to hear ONE heart beat and that there WAS a heart beat. I'm always afraid the doctor won't find it and they'll tell me bad news.

I don't know how he could tell but he was very concerned with me and the baby getting enough nutrients particularly lipids and proteins. He gave me the ultimatum: I either start getting a lot of fats, proteins, and calories or I have to get a permanent iv picc line and go in often to get those nutrients. He said it's more than just a regular iv that I've had before and described it as chocolate milk. Lance asked if it's more important that I gain weight or get the calories and he said it'll take quite a while for me to gain weight and right now I need all the calories I can get. He recommended ice cream, things with lots of butter (music to my ears), any kind of high fat/protein/calorie foods I can get. Which most people wouldn't think would be that hard but being pregnant and trying to keep anything down is quite the challenge.

I think I am getting better.....I haven't gone in for iv fluids since Easter and the day after, and when I do throw up it's about once or twice a day, once a week. I maintain my weight and eat every 2-3 hours but I guess what I'm eating isn't good enough. I have one week to prove myself or I get the picc line.

After my appointment we stopped at Taco Time (see how determined I was to eat fats?) and after a few bites I thought I was going to throw up. You know, when the food doesn't settle at the bottom of the stomach, it seems to stay between the ribs. So I stopped and gave myself a few minutes. Lance is trying to convince me it's heartburn so when we got home I tried (for the first time in my life) a few Tums. I was quite surprised they weren't at all disgusting like I dreaded. The Tums didn't really help.

So here's my question to all you women: is it really heartburn and how do I get rid of it? The reason I don't think it is heartburn is because #1 it doesn't burn. Every now and then I'll get a little hiccup/burp come up and that's what hurts. It still doesn't burn it just feels like uncomfortable pressure behind my sternum for a few seconds. That's the only time it hurts. The little hiccup/burp I do get often but it's never hurt like it has today. Any advice out there? Is it heartburn? If so, is there something besides Tums I can try?

Lately

2011-05-16T11:26:00.003-06:00

Lance finished school last week. We closed on the house which is officially ours. I had a pretty good week feeling good but today I'm back to throwing up. Lance went to contest in WA with the chorus and they won Most Improved which was all Lance wanted and he had a great time. My little brother got married all of a sudden. Lots to blog about but I'm tired...

Scottie Boy

2011-05-08T11:12:00.002-06:00

Forgot to mention Scott's announcement's: he's engage to Heidi. I've met her once and she's a ginger as well, their kids are doomed to red hair and f.r.e.c.k.l.e.s. I think they've only dated for 2 weeks and he just left for OK to work for the summer (which is too bad because he never said good bye to me and I forgot that he was leaving. I'll blame it on the pregnancy brain). I think their wedding date is still sometime in October. Congrats Scottie Boy!!!

Cinco De Mayo 2011

2011-05-06T10:58:00.004-06:00

A date that will always be remembered for closing on our first house! Lots of people warned us how long it would take and the mountain of paperwork that we'd have to sign. But, surprisingly it didn't take that long at all, maybe 40 minutes, tops. The paperwork we had to sign was nothing compared to what we had to go through when we submitted an offer. I wasn't feeling well but I made it through the closing, thankfully.

As far as how I feel, I don't know why some days are better than others. Last week I had a good 4-5 consecutive days. For some reason the past few days have not been very good. Either vomiting or intense nausea which was painful. I'm 11 weeks now, almost out of the first trimester which is awesome and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the morning sickness will subside. I haven't lost anymore weight but I haven't gained any either, just being careful to avoid the vomiting trend to avoid losing more weight to avoid the hospital. For some reason when the vomiting is turned on I can't turn it off.

Weekending

2011-05-02T11:11:00.002-06:00

Much to my surprise Lance went to Pocatello Saturday to take his insurance exam. He didn't want to tell me but I finally got it out of him. He was so nervous, this course has been H.A.R.D. and it largely determines our future so kind of a huge deal.

He passed! I don't think he's ever been more relieved to have an exam out of the way as this one. When he got home he said, "Well, now what do I have to worry about now that this is all over?" My immediate thought was, "Hmmmm.....me. You could worry about me and all my misery." But how selfish is that? We're closing on our house this week so that will be a good place for him to focus his extra time and energy on.

Lance can now start his new position as soon as some documents are pushed around. YAY!

(No, he's not totally done yet. He's got to finish the semester which will be over in two weeks and after the state board meets in July to review his file, they will give him the go ahead to take the state boards in August. Once that is passed we'll be finished forever)!

Wiggle Worm

2011-04-26T08:20:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was another day spent in the hospital. I was scheduled for an ultrasound which was really neat to see the heart beat and it's little arms wiggling. But I've never thrown up so much, the vomiting continues. They summoned for the doctor who saw me last week and I got more iv fluids. I threw up 3 times while getting the fluids and I was glad they saw that because they knew it's not just in my head and it really is as bad as I say it is. They gave me more meds and released me with instructions to call first thing in the morning to make an appointment for......I can't remember what it's called......a permanent iv thing so they don't have to poke me anymore. Which means I'll be going in quite frequently for iv fluids.

Good news is as they measured the baby, I'm a week further along. I hope that means only 3 more weeks of this misery.