Ethan's 1 year pics-take 2

All of Ethan's 1 year pics are now available at:

http://www.meredithraephotography.com

Click on "clients" in the bottom right corner, and type "ethan" as the password. Meredith, what you can do with a camera is such a special gift, and I'm so glad to have you recording these memories for us. These pics brought me to tears! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Ethan's 1 year pics

Today we met Meredith, Jackson, Wyatt, and Logan at Missouri Town for Ethan's 1 year old photo shoot. As always, Mere does an awesome job, and although she won't have all the pics edited for a few days, you can see a preview at:

http://www.meredithraephotography.blogspot.com

Also, AS ALWAYS, Mere you do an awesome job. You have such an artistic and creative talent. I can't wait to see the rest of them. My baby boy is starting to seem all grown up!!

Cancun

Last week Dillon and I, along with our friends Kendra and Todd, took a MUCH needed vacation, and headed to Mexico (Yes, we did brave the swine flu, and believe me it was worth it)!!

This was the view from our shuttle after a 10 minute drive from the airport.

The water is such an amazing shade of torquoise.

This is my friend Kendra and I in the Dallas airport waiting for our flight to Cancun.

We requested a top floor corner suite so we basically had panoramic view and both sunrise and sunset. This was the view South from our balcony.


The sunset over the lagoon.
Testing the waters for the first time. The water was pretty choppy most of the time, but that never stopped us.

Enjoying the sunset on the patio in the 24 hour lounge...

...and drinks in the lobby bar.

We ate lunch one day at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. They had great food and the coldest beer we could find, plus is was right across the street from our resort.

Another great sunset.

We went on a pirate cruise one night with Kendra and Todd. Steak, lobster, unlimited drinks and a great show.

We obviously had a great time, and we will definitely being going back to Mexico again and again!

BAD, BAD, BAD Mommy!!

YES!! I know I haven't done any blogging in awhile (and then awhile before that), but with full time school, work, and parenting I haven't even really thought about blogging. I have taken some really cute pics of Ethan mostly, because Ava thinks she is camera shy, unless of course it's a professional photographer, and then she's a ham! So if it seems like I never put any pics of Ava on here, it's because she won't let us!!

Ethan helping Daddy put together equipment for the lawnmower. He loves playing with tools and boy toys! He is definitely ALL boy!

Just a cute pic :-) Look at all my teeth, Mom!

He just loves climbing around and exploring things. We can't keep him out of the kitchen cabinets for anything.

Yet again, climbing on, in, up on things he knows he not supposed to be in!!

And...we started climbing up the stairs a few weeks ago. I ran up to the kitchen to grab something, and when I turned around to go back downstairs, he was already two steps from the top of the stairs!!! Of course, my heart stopped beating, but he thought it was the best thing ever!! Since then, we have broken out the baby gates, and now he just stands up, holds onto the baby gate, and shakes it back and forth very annoyingly until we let him climb the stairs. Lord, he is getting so big! Now I know why people have so many babies. They grow up too darn fast!!!

Just a few randoms...

I feel like I haven't had anything blog worthy in a while, so here's a few random pics of the kids we've taken over the past week:

Ethan and Maddy (she was one of our kids, before we had kids).

See my teeth mom!!

Would you please let me get that camera?!

I love his little Mohawk, but Dillon's been wanting to shave it off for awhile now. I know before long I'm going to have to cave in and let him do it, but it's so cute!

Everything in our mouth...

and a little on our nose!

Ava and Bailey...she loves getting the dogs to lay down on the rugs in her room while she plays. If we let her she would have them sleep in her bed! Boxers are so good with kids. Well, I guess they can just tolerate a lot of pulling ears, tails, collars, being ridden like a pony, and used as a step stool up to the couch, but I really don't think they mind. They would be lost without each other.

Pizza night!!

Ava playing in the tub. She is obsessed with organizing, stacking, and lining things up, and she spends many hours "having tea" in the tub.

Ava walking around in mommy's heels...Lord knows I haven't been able to use them recently! On Friday I was finally cleared to go back to work with no restrictions...YEAH! Although, I will probably have to wear a brace to prevent re-injury for many more months. At least now I have all the prosthetic devices I will ever need if, and when I sprain it again.

On the bright side I did complete all my courses 3 weeks early, which will give me about a month to work some major overtime before next term.

The 1st of many to come...I'm sure of it!

Yesterday, we were all downstairs in the family room just hanging out, and Ava runs up to Dillon and I while we were watching John & Kate + 8 (on a bad day, this show makes me realize that my two energetic kids aren't really that bad), and states, "Ethan is getting my colors!" Right then and there I knew this was a life changing moment. For the next few decades I will repeatedly hear the words "Mom! (blank) did this to me!" or "Mom! (blank) took/stole/broke/has possession of my (blank)!" Maybe Dillon really does have something with the idea of keeping it to just two kids:)

Tendinitis!!

Okay, so I go back to the ortho after wearing this lovely boot religiously for two weeks, and now I have developed tendonitis in my ankle from the immobilization caused by the boot...which I thought was the whole point in wearing the thing. So, now they tell me to take the boot off a few times a day and do excercises to decrease the inflammation. I may be crazy, but you would have thought they would have told me that the day they fit me for the boot. Maybe something like:

"By the way, you should take the boot off several times a day and do full range-of-motion exercises so you don't develop tendinitis in this ankle from the immobilization."

That would have made too much sense, I suppose, so I'm now delayed in getting back to work, starting PT, and being NORMAL again. Thank you, Cheryl, for making me realize that this is God's way of making me realize that I really don't hate my job, and I really do want to work this next year until I start clinicals.

Yes, more time off work sounds like a blessing with me being in school, but with no PTO or disability (b/c I have only been back from maternity leave for 5 months), and the amount in our savings account falling quickly, I NEED to work. Not only for financial reasons, but also for my sanity. I miss all you girlie's and hopefully I can get Dr. Blake to let me come back at the end of the week!! and, if not, maybe a second opinion...

9 Years...and counting

On Valentine's Day Dillon and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary. I know, it's not our wedding anniversary, but since it falls on V-day we celebrate it anyways...plus, doing anything for 9 years deserves to be recognized. Just in case none of you know how Dillon and I got together here it is:

I had broken up with a guy about 1 month before Valentine's Day 2000 (my senior year of high school), and Dillon and I had been close friends my whole high-school career. He sent me a dozen roses on V-Day, something he used to do for his best girl friends and his mom, which I thought was very sweet and maybe he was just doing it to brighten my day since I was without a Valentine of my own. 2 days later he sent me another dozen roses, and I knew he had "other" interests than just brightening my day...the rest is history.

These are engagement pics from 2006...it must have been 103 degrees by 0800 that day.

The Wedding: October 7, 2006 at Crown Center, KC

Our honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico at the Excellence Riviera Maya. If anyone plans to travel to Mexico anytime soon this resort was outstanding. If there's one word to describe it it's excellent!!! We will definitely be back for an anniversary sometime.

Deep sea fishing! I guess I didn't learn on our first trip in Florida that I should take Dramamine before these excursions because I was so sick by the end of the 6 hour fishing trip. Although, it was fun fighting those damn fish!!

Just after our scuba diving trip in Cozymel. This must have been one of the most amazing experiences, and I can't wait to be able to go again!!

Family pics we had taken this year...mainly for the kids, but Meredith (our outstanding photographer and friend) grabbed some cute pics of just us.






Our real wedding anniversary is in October, but I can't help myself from recognizing our first anniversary.

P.S. We took a recommendation from the valet attendant at the downtown Marriott that we stayed at Saturday night, and went to a place called Nara's at 16th and Main. If you like sushi, which has become an addiction of mine since we first had it on our honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, this place is a must. Hands down, the best sushi and atmosphere in KC, and no wait on V-Day. We will definitely be returning.

Ankle Update

I finally had an MRI of my ankle last Thursday and found out that I had full thickness tears of the talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments, which I'm definitely not happy about, but at least it explains all the pain and swelling weeks after. An ortho appointment of Friday landed me with the prognosis of: hot pink cast for two weeks, upon which they would remove the cast with hopes of applying an air cast and Lord knows how much PT.

After showing off the new fluorescent accessory to a few friends in the Birthing Center, I went home and took off the walking shoe they had given me to discover the cast wasn't dry when I was sent out of the office and had buckled under the pressure of walking. By 2:30p.m. I was back in the ortho's office having the first cast cut off (with basically a big Dremel with a blade the nurse assured me wasn't going to cut my leg off and "would just tickle a bit"). Dr Blake said "second times a charm I guess", and I decided on neon green for the second cast. After waiting a good 10 minutes to make sure this cast was completely dry I stood up to try and walk on it and it was wrapped too far up on my toes so it cut into me with every step. Second time wasn't a charm, and back to the chopping block I went and a third cast was put on (I stayed with the green). After waiting for adequate dry time I stood up and it fit as well as a cast could fit, I suppose.

For any of you out there who have ever had to were a cast for any period of time, you deserve a gold star. I tend to be a bit on the claustrophobic side anyways, and after not being able to bend my ankle in any direction for about 5 hours I truly thought I was going to lose my mind. They should really prescribe Valium along with a cast...I could have used some! I couldn't sleep, the only way it was comfortable was when I was standing, and what a person has to go through to shower with a cast on. I can't believe some people wear them for up to a year.

God must have been looking out for my mental health, because the silly thing started cracking along the side where my foot would bend to walk, and every time I took a step it would pinch me. So, a few prayers, a much smaller version of the ortho's cast saw that Dillon had in the garage, and about 15 minutes later I was again a free woman...well, at least my ankle. For some reason I never took any pics with it on, but I'll have to dig it out of the trash and post one later.

Today I went back to see Dr. Blake, and since I seem to have the worst luck with casts, he prescribed a walking boot that pretty much does the same thing except: I can shower, move my foot, and I have my sanity back! Still can't work for two weeks because he thinks it will never heal with me up walking on it for hours at a time, but I am feeling much better, and have plans to finish at least one of my classes while I'm off.

And Jamie, don't worry, I promise I'll be back to help Aubrey arrive into this world. I can't wait!!

8 Months Old

My baby has officially grown up!! Ethan turned 8 months yesterday, and is doing all sorts of amazing stuff. It's so hard to imagine that eight months ago I was labored with him for 5 hours (active labor), and my dream of having a home birth came true. I can still look back on it and say that it was the most amazing, connective, empowering experience I have ever gone through.

Okay, enough with the emotional stuff. Ethan started crawling about 1 month ago, which we knew would come a little sooner than Ava since he has someone to chase around. We are close to refusing to eat any type of baby food. It seems that he likes the texture of table food better, and if we're eating dinner he has to eat what we eat. There is no amount of persuading or coercing in the world that will make him down the pureed mush.

His newest accomplishment he discovered today. He was able to get a knee up on the fireplace, and it was all over after that. He quickly discovered how easily he could climb up onto it, and I'm sure he will attempt to conquer the stairs tomorrow.

He has three teeth (all on the bottom), and four more coming soon (all on the top). How weird!

He still thinks Ava is IT, and will follow her anywhere. He loves to have us carry him around while we chase her around the dining room table, and will laugh hysterically the entire time.

This past week he acquired his first ear infection, and Dr Mac said that he actually had a blister on his eardrum. And we thought all that crying was his teeth coming in:(

Overall, he's on the move, into everything, and we always said we were in trouble with Ethan because Ava was such a perfect baby...and it is definitely true, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. My children provide me with the kind of happiness only a mother can explain, and they amaze me everyday!!

One Week Later

So...it's been 1 week today, and unfortunately I'm still not back to normal. My ankle aches all day, and even though I can walk a lot better, if I do it puffs up like a marshmallow!! After sleeping all night the swelling improves, but by 9 or 10a.m. it looks about the same as it did the night I sprained it. This pic was taken first thing this morning before I had been up walking around on it so even though all the bruising looks nasty, it's not AS swollen.

I'm really wondering if I did break it in some way...maybe a hairline fracture or something, but I still can't justify the $100 ER co-pay just for them to tell me "Yep, it's broke. Now keep doing the same things you've been doing the last week...rest, ice, elevate." If it's really broken I don't think I would really be able to put pressure on it (which I am); however, with the swelling being just as bad as last week, and the pain still prominent, I wonder. Any thoughts?

My stupid freakin' ankle!!

Last night I went out for some quality time with my older sister Tammy. We has some dinner and drinks at this new country bar outside Raymore (it was somewhere in the middle of both of our houses. Some of you may know I have a thing for high-heeled shoes when I go out, and normally they don't bother me. I have no trouble walking or dancing in them for hours, and there's something to be said about a great pair of heels with perfect fitting jeans. However, my heels did not like me last night because about 11:00 p.m. I got up from the table to go use the restroom and twisted my right ankle.....yes, AGAIN. We finally got our new camera this week, and I figure I probably need some proof of my repeat injury since this is the second time in two months I've sprained it.

This is about thirty minutes after it happened.

800mg of Motrin and elevation overnight...

The bruising is just starting to set in, and walking was a lot easier last night when I was "under the influence". Today, walking is not an option. I can get back and forth to the bathroom and kitchen by hobbling or hopping; however, most of my day has been spent in the recliner with it elevated. Luckily this was not my weekend to work, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to work by Tuesday. Do you think I could get an ankle replacement? I think this one's had it's day!!

Middle Range Theory...ugh!

So, we all know I'm back in school full-time, and am working on my second term as of last week. So this term I have the joy of taking a class on nursing theory, specifically, Middle Range Theory. We all know that everything we do as health care practitioners somehow ties back to one of those theories that we learned about ages ago, but could really care less to ever think about again. Unfortunately, I thought that I was done covering theory in undergrad, but here I am again, and believe me when I say undergrad was definitely better. I am reading the most poorly written textbook I have ever read in my educational career, which is long running. I know this book is technically written in English, however, it seems like a foreign language.

I tend to think of myself as an intelligent person that analyzes everything, and am constantly thinking about the evidence and practicality behind what I do as a LDRP nurse, and most people I work with could describe me as a sort of devil's advocate in the Birthing Center; however, they continue to support my education, and sometimes my ideas about pregnancy and birth as a whole. So to all of you who have been in contact with me the last few weeks, this class has increased my stress level and here's why"

"The paradigm debate remains unresolved. Without the emergence of a single dominant paradigm, nursing is left with multiple paradigms that are either competing or complementary or the need to develop an integrated paradigm that dialectically combines the perspectives of multiple paradigms. With this state of paradigm confusion, it would be helpful for nurse theorists to identify the paradigmatic perspective from which the theory is developed and nurse researchers to identify the paradigmatic perspective from which the research questions were posed and the research methods chosen." (Peterson & Bredow, 2009, p.14)

Peterson, S. and Bredow, T. (2009). Middle Range Theories: Application to Nursing Research (2nd ed.) (p. 4). Philedelphia: Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins.

This paragraph was in the first chapter about 4 pages in, and if you can imagine the entire rest of the book was written in the same glorious style that makes me want to blow my head off while reading it. If any of you are able to ingest, digest, and spit back up the previous paragraph in a way that makes sense without the urge of suicide then you deserve a gold star...or possibly the Noble Peace Prize.

So, point of the story:
1) Don't go back to school for an advanced practice degree, and
2) If you do, also get a script for Zanax

No New Pics

Our camera got broken on New Year's. We're really not sure what happened, but I went to get it out of my purse and the screen was broken. Ironically, I had been begging to get a D-SLR for Christmas, and Santa must not have gotten my letter because there was no camera under the tree for me:( However, he must have really wanted me to have one because our old one did break somehow. So, i got to order my new Canon D-SLR, and it's in the mail right now. We got a great deal off e-bay on a brand new camera with all four lens's, four filters, the flash, two tripods, a bag, and a case. I am so excited to get it and start practicing my photography, which has turned into an addiction since I started blogging. They take such higher quality photos, and soon you will see some of my beginner's work!

We're on a roll! 7 Months old

Last month Ethan got his first two teeth, and is awfully proud of all his work getting them here (as you can see from all his pictures he likes to show them off). The last few days he's been really grumpy, and upon a thorough inspection of his mouth yesterday, he's getting yet another tooth right next to his bottom front right. I'm sure Aunt Val could tell us the exact name of this tooth, but to Ethan it's been the "worst tooth ever"! and he's been letting us know about it too. Thanks to Hyland's natural teething tablets, and a combination of Tylenol, Motrin, and Orajel we've been able to keep our sanity...so far. It's so frustrating when he is hurting so bad, and nothing that we do makes it any better, and of course the nurse in me just wants to make it all better and take his pain away. We knew we were a little too lucky with Ava when she would just wake up with four new teeth and we never heard a lick about it. If I remember correctly she had a whole mouthful by her first birthday. I've also heard that the younger a baby gets their teeth the more problems they have with them later in life. I'm not sure how much of this I believe, and since I still have never had a cavity I'm hoping our kids will follow in my genetic footsteps!

Ethan is also about to conquer his next major developmental milestone.....CRAWLING!! So far he has not just taking off across the floor; however, he will get up on his hands and knees, move his hands forward (like normal crawling) but instead of moving his legs forward individually, he'll drag them both forward as if he was army crawling on his belly. Just a bit ago, for the first time he got up on his hands and tippy toes, and stuck his butt way up in the air like he was making a bridge for someone to crawl under.

Overall, he's getting so big, and I can't believe it's already been 7 months. He's eating anything you'll put into his mouth (especially table food), can get from one end of the living room to another by a combination of army crawling, Ethan's style of "crawling", and rolling. He can pull himself up on things, and today we are moving the crib down to the lowest lever before he takes a long, hard dive out onto the hardwood floor. We still love nursing, and usually sleeps about 9 hours at night without having to nurse. (Yeah!!!) I'm not ready for him to grow any bigger, and since we're not sure if he is our last, I'm cherishing every minute of him as a baby.