New Candidate

I didn't know Aaron was our new candidate...

Smiles daily

This is our evening time together. He is always so sweet and calm for a couple hours. He's perking up and getting ready... Here's what I always wait for during our time!!!!

Nick, Joe, and Kevin Ahhhhhh

Erik, Ali, and her friend joined around 20,000-30,000 screaming pre-teen girls in a night of shear enjoyment (hearing loss may have occured for Erik) listening to the Jonas Brothers!!!!!! Erik said it was a great concert as concerts go, but not as good as our Jimmy!

Sorry for the blur, but here the brothers are doing their thing (as Ali put it).

They are posing with a security guard. All the little girls thought he was famous;)

Here are the girls leaving for school today! They couldn't wait until they got to school to tell everyone who didn't already know:)

Reggie and Will

Reggie is the second youngest out of seven, while I am the second oldest. He is now back in Iraq after a 2 week visit with us. My mother, another brother, and other sister came down, but I didn't get any pictures that day. We all enjoyed visiting with 2 of our brothers who live in Montana (green and striped shirts). My older sister, neice, and nephew were the hosts. I think Reggie was very nervous around Aiden! Love you guys!

Ali News

Ali is getting around like a speed demon. When she went to the ER and had anesthesia, she came out of it driving a race car. That's how she has been since she's gotten comfortable with the crutches. Tonight she gets to go see the Jonas Brothers in concert. Ali, a friend, and daddy have lawn seats. I cannot wait until they get home and I see the pictures!

Class and missing Aiden

Here is the natural progression that happened after I read him Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do You Hear

Tonight I had the first night of my last class for my gifted certification. 11 nights to go! It was difficult to leave him, but daddy took good care of him! When I came home he had been fed and was swinging in his swing. He was so good after his book. Then he wanted to eat again:)

Fitness Update

Yesterday I almost jogged 2 miles with walking in between. I did a 5k. I felt like my knees were going to buckle this morning. Late this morning, I finally got back on my bike for the first time in 9 months. It felt like seeing a friend after many years; very easy to catch up with and get to know the person again. I rode for 6 1/2 miles around Milner. It was wonderful and felt great!

Sad news for me, but

Great news for Aiden and the rest of the family! Aiden took a bottle of formula and downed 4 oz before Erik knew it! I finally gave in because he was nursing all of the time, except from 11pm-3 or 4 am. Now he is cooing and smiling at Erik. I'm still nursing but we'll supplement a little. I am very sad and happy all at once.

Jogging

Before Aiden was born, I decided that I wanted to run in the Buggy Days 5k. Well, last year, that was the first race I placed in. Now I just want to make it to the finish line!!!!! Since I gave birth, it has been a struggle to even walk a 5k! Nothing prevented me except being tired or maybe even lazy. I recovered fast and feel good. So, what's my problem I kept thinking. Well thank goodness for a great friend of mine, Carrie (miss her), because she sent me something to motivate me! I don't know how she knew that I needed just that: motivation! Here is the link

http://www.icechamber.com/videos/mgcomeback1.html

Now, after watching this, I realized that I was completely out of shape and beyond this mother. I didn't start out my pregnancy as in shape as she was, but I really hope to get into the best shape I can by Aiden's first birthday. To achieve this, I have been trying to jog JUST 1 mile without success! Last night I did it!!! I know that I had to walk some, but I jogged 1 mile and walked 2! Yeah!!! I feel accomplished in my task. Today, I hope to ride about 3-5 miles around my little town of Milner. Honk if you see me (I'm the one with the post-preggo shape;)

the little things

Two nights ago, we had a good bit of rain and bad weather. Our electricity went out. Well Aiden woke up and stayed awake from 3 til 6 am. We tried many things to get him to fall asleep or keep him occupied while we rested. One thing worked for 30 minutes-one of those little back massagers from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It glowed and vibrated in his bassinet while he made noises. We couldn't resist watching him when we heard the noises he was making!

Complaining

Normally, I do not report or call about bad service. I always say that I'm going to call about something (good and bad), but never do. Two days ago that changed when the UPS man ignored me. I was beyond angry! I would think that when you call out to him a couple of times that maybe he would stop and acknowledge you. Nope, not a thing. So, I emailed UPS and made a complaint that it was unacceptable and it should change.
Fast forward to today...he even said hello when he dropped off the package. Although that package was in shreds and I was trying to nurse Aiden. They sent me an entire crib for one damaged piece-4 months later. What great service I received today. It's not going to change me about complaining because I just don't have the time, but today I think I'll send a glowing email...maybe.

6 1/2

OMG...Aiden slept for 6 1/2 hours. I couldn't believe it. I feel bad that I didn't wake him, but it was so nice to get more sleep than I had before I was pregnant!!!! I feel very awake today! He was so pleasant getting his diaper changed and during his morning nursing! It was the best morning we've had!

5 1/2 hours

Aiden slept for 5 1/2 hours last night!!!!! Yeah!!! I am not under the illusion that he will do it again anytime soon, but thank goodness! The last 4 nights he has not slept very long between feedings. I have now cut out all caffeine, which is very sad for me. I even slept in my rocker/recliner while nursing and was very cranky all day yesterday. I feel more rested than I have in 4 weeks!

Finally

I finally got a pic that I'm happy with. I wish I was talented at this, but it's not my thing:) Maybe I'll take a class next summer...

I love when he is sleeping. Lately, he sighs and make little noises. Even last night, when he decided to change his sleeping habits, he was so adorable. I was so very tired! He wanted to "talk" to me and was very attentive.

First day of the last year!

Ali went to school today. It was her 1st day, but everyone elses 4th. It is her last year of elementary school. I am wondering where the time went. I feel like time has gone by swiftly and she was just in Pre-K.

She is managing the crutches a little better and was bored to be at home stuck in bed or on the couch. She has a thigh high beautiful neon pink cast. What a funny sight it was to see me try to bathe her. Finally, we set an appointment with our girl, Ms. Libby, to wash and fix her hair. I think it cheered her up!

We finally got the remaining school supplies and got her ready. She is a drama queen! She made a little fuss in Walmart and we resorted to the wheel chair. She was out of luck because she really wanted one of those scooters:) Alas, they were out of order! I miss her whining already, but I'll see her at 3:00 when I pick her up.

Little Munchkin

Some of my family came to visit. My brother flew in from Iraq (thank goodness) and my mother and a few of my 7 siblings flew in from Colorado.
Here is my niece (from GA) finally holding, oops, monopolizing Aiden.

My brother, Reggie the stud, trying to get over his aprehension of breaking little Aiden. I cannot wait until he is home from Iraq! His stryker was hit with an IED and he was among the ones who survived! Say a little prayer when you have the time! I am a firm supporter of our military people and why we are there! Especially since most of Erik's family and a good portion of mine have served or are serving!

My little one is sleeping in the couch cushions. Do you realize that he rarely sleeps out of his carseat or by himself. So, this 45 minute nap in between the cushions did have me a little worried. If you look closely, you can see his faux mohawk. He's starting to get a little chunky. There must be something in his milk:)...?

Heartbreak...

Friday Ali and her friend go to the High Falls Water Park. They always have so much fun together! Well, my phone started ringing and I finally get to it to answer it and it stopped. I didn't recognize the number and thought nothing of it until 20 seconds later it rings again with the same number. I pick it up and it's High Falls water park...my heart drops! I can barely understand the girl, but get the gist that Ali has broken her leg, ankle, foot, something. I promise Ali that I'll meet her at the hospital. No one tells me which one because no one knows. I have no experience with broken bones of any kind. I almost drop Aiden on the couch. I call for Aaron to hold him while I run around trying to gather his bag together again, find a blanket (of course I decided to wash them all at once 20 min before), get the most recent pumping of milk, my shoes, etc. I'm trying to be positive, pray, and not cry.

Ali informs the emt's that she needs to go to Spalding Regional and not Monroe Co. How funny she would think of convenience over her pain. I just love her. God knew I needed her in my life!!! I drive behind someone going 20 #### MPH! Gosh the speed limit is 45!!!! I take 2 spaces in the hospital parking lot and finally meet Erik at the ER. Her friend's mom and sisters stay with us when they arrive (thank goodness for them:). Ali arrives 10 minutes later and what a sight. The EMT's and the male nurses are wonderful, but the female nurses are not as wonderful (they are not as kind). They are not as wonderful as the women's center nurses that we were with 3 weeks ago.

One nurse tries to set it incorrectly, but thankfully the Dr. catches it and fusses at her! All the while poor Ali is bearing with the pain, screaming, crying, and telling them if she cusses-she's sorry. She tells one she might kick them and then apologizes later. Then we get moved to a real room to wait for the bone Dr. Ali is a trooper! They come to take more x-rays (this time there were no tears or screams). The Dr. has to re-set her ankle because of the break in her ankle (growth plate) and the other break tibula. All the while High Falls is calling us to check on her-boy, I'll have to let Erik speak to them because I might not be very tactful.

Before they re-set it, they give her a drug to knock her out! Boy does it work, but she still started screaming and that's when I started to cry and had to leave. After the doctor set it, more x-rays to see if we needed surgery to have pins inserted right then. I took Aiden to nurse and have some place to pray quietly and cry. We came back to a delusional Ali driving a race car. She told her nurse "Buh-bye Freckles" and "Whatever" after she said she had to leave for the night. I just love Ali! There's more, but it would take an hour to write it. We laughed and tried to calm her as she came out of the sedated fog. We're home, somewhat coherent, and waiting till Monday to schedule a Dr's appointment for the real cast.

On another note, I left the baby wipes, paci, and Aaron at home! What a great mom I am. We finally ate dinner around 9:30 after my visit to Rite-Aid where I basically had to beg to get her pain meds-I hate that girl! I got there at 8:50! It was 5 minutes after I left the hospital. The one on E. College was closed. Anyways, here's Ali...