Not Your Ordinary Page

imPRESS Press-on Manicure

2012-01-04T14:48:00.003-06:00

How cute are these imPRESS nails?! I love to try new nail products, mainly because mine are horrid and I need to hide them :P Plus, I bite my nails and putting pretty things on them helps to curb my addiction. So, press-on nails in general sounded a bit 80s to me, mainly because it has been awhile since I have tried any that did not require glue since then (by the way, the packaging on these is very cool, another way it pushes its way out of the 80s LOL). I was hopeful that over the years the product had improved. And they definitely have, but alas, they still had issues :( My nails are quite broad and ugly, and I think these are sometimes made for those who already have pretty nails. After a bit of back and forth, I did find enough out of the set to fit, mostly anyway. Some of my natural nail still showed but I have to admit, these are definitely the closest to natural I have ever used for press-ons. I love the shape and length - perfect for a mom of two who can't handle much more than that :) The pattern was a bit wild, but actually super cute on much to my surprise. My main issue/problem was that they fell off not more than a few hours later :( I am not sure if it is due to the shape of my nails or the quality of the product, but I was bummed. I think if they had stayed like they are advertised I would actually buy more. I might try them again anyway, just in case it was the application I did that caused them to come off. Till then, I'd give this product a B minus :)

*Note: I received a complimentary sample of this product from the Influenster Holiday Voxbox program.

NYC New York Color

2012-01-04T14:28:00.005-06:00

I have to apologize because this is a complete RAVE review, I could pretty much gush about NYC Liquid Lipshine. First off, it's cheap, which is always good in my book :) But really, it should cost more. This lipgloss actually stays on (even though my instincts tell me to reapply based on all the others I have used), it smells wonderful - like a warm sugar cookie, and the color is perfect. The shade I tried is called Nude York City(582), it is a pale shimmery nude shade that gives my lips the perfect "pop". The applicator is easy and soft and so are my lips!
Another funny - I went to grab it out of my purse to apply and almost freaked when I couldn't find it. Sad, but that is really how much I love this gloss. I can't wait to try more shades!

*Note: I received this product complimentary through the Influenster Holiday Voxbox program.

Holiday Voxbox!

2012-01-04T14:26:00.003-06:00

Recently, I was able to sign up and receive some samples to try and review from Influenster.com. So far this is a great program & I am having fun unlocking "badges"! The posts to come will highlight a few of the products they sent, so if you have any questions I welcome them!

Walmart Double Deals!

2011-10-02T11:56:00.004-06:00

Yay! The Bemidji Walmart has decided to double coupons when Kmart does! This is pretty awesome for savings (especially since they will double up to $1 coupons whereas Kmart only goes to $.99), but so much easier to do at Kmart. Kmart's registers do the doubling automatically. Walmart not so much. The cashier didn't know WTH I was talking about when I said they were doubling, but called a manager who came over and verified that I was correct and showed him how it is done. First you have to hand over coupons individually with each item, can't just scan them all at the end like normal. Before the cashier scans the item, he has to look to see what the coupon amt is, hit the price override button, scan the item and then input the price minus the coupon, then scan the coupon, ending in doubles. It seriously took forever, but I did leave with BAGS of groceries and some pretty awesome deals :)

My deals (IP = Internet Printable, MQ = Manufacturer Coupon)
Del Monte whole fresh pineapple: $2.98 - (.50 IP) = $1.98
Rhodes Rolls: $2.28 - (1.00 IP) = $.28
(2) Toaster Struedels: $2.37 x 2 - ($1/2 IP) = $1.27 ea
Pillsbury Breakfast sandwiches: $2.50 - ($1.00 IP) = $.50
Pillsbury Breakfast skillet: $2.50 - ($1.00 IP) = $.50
(2)Steamfresh veggies: $1.78 - ($.50 MQ) = $.87 ea
(2)Softpretzel boxes: $2.33 - ($1.00 IP) = $.33 ea
(4)Totinos Pizzas: $1.25 x 4 - ($1/4 IP) = $.75 ea
Ovaltine: $3.48 - ($1.00 MQ) = $1.48
Vlasic Baby Gherkins: $2.28 - ($.75 MQ) = $.78
Tobasco Buffalo Sauce: $2.43 - ($.75 MQ) = $.93
French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce: $1.97 - ($.75 MQ) = $.47
Hidden Valley Salad Mix: $2.50 - ($1 MQ) = $.50
(2) KCMasterpiece BBQ Sauce: $1.42 - ($.50 MQ) = $.42 ea
(2) Hungry Jack Potato mix: $.98 x 2 - ($1/2 MQ) = +.03
eggs = $1.04 (no coupon, needed eggs though :)
(2)Dole Real Fruit Bites: $2.98 - ($1 MQ) = $.98 ea
Hormel fresh Pork: $4.50 - ($1 MQ) = $2.50
(2) Hormel Compleats: $1.68 - ($1 MQ) = +$.32 ea
(2) Mrs. Dash: $2.64 - ($1 IP) = $.64 ea
Int'l Delight Creamer: $1.81 - ($.55 IP) = $.71
Country Crock: $2.18 - ($.75 MQ) = $.68
(2) Crescent Rolls: $1.98 x 2 - ($1/2 IP) = $.98 ea
Trop50 OJ: $2.98 - ($1.00 IP) = $.98
Welch's Grape Juice: $2.00 - ($.75 IP) = $.50
Langers Pineapple Juice: $2.68 - ($1.00 MQ) = $.68
(2) Sierra Mist 2L: $1.38 x 2 - ($1/2 IP) = $.38 ea
(2) Finish Quantum dish tabs: $2.97 - ($1.00 IP) = $.97 ea
Krunchers Kettle Chips: $2.68 - ($1.00 MQ) = $.68
Windex Wipes: $2.87 - ($1.00 MQ) = $.87
Jet Dry: $2.51 - ($.75 MQ) = $1.01
(2)Glade Decor Scents: $2.98 - ($1.00 MQ) = $.98 ea
Gerber Little Entrees: $2.00 - ($1.00 IP) = 0.00
(4)Beechnut baby food: .68 x 4 - ($1/4 IP) = $.18 ea
Gas X: $3.33 - ($1.00 IP) = $1.33
(4) Schick 12 ct razors: $1.97 - ($6/2 IP x 2) = +$4.03

Total was $31.34 plus tax, saved around $90! I love that you can get overage on coupons at Walmart (the ones in the list that have +) - every little bit helps :)

Even though the checkout took forever, they were really nice about it and it was definitely worth it. I could have gotten way more, too, but I was definitely past my normal 8:30 bedtime :P Happy shopping!

2011-10-02

2011-10-02T07:01:00.001-06:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

Freezer Runneth Over

2011-03-31T14:13:00.006-06:00

or almost runneth over anyway...

Had to take all the food out (except for the ice cream - our above-fridge freezer won't freeze ice cream well enough). Not really sure what I am going to do once it is completely full. Especially now that spring is coming, can't just put it outside ;) I need to buy stock in Lansinoh milk bags, too. Especially since I can't find any coupons for them!

Very thankful to have a good supply!

CLOSED! Purex Crystals Review & Giveaway

2011-03-25T18:33:00.011-06:00

Thanks to Purex (and as a Purex Insider), I was able to to try out their new fabric softener crystals.
Now 3 of you all can, too!

I'll be honest, I was skeptical, but I really like Purex Complete Crystals Softener! The smell is good & refreshing and the clothes were nice & soft coming out of the dryer, too.
Also, as a mom of two (including an infant with sensitive skin) I was very happy to read that Purex Crystals are 92% natural. I used it with the girls' clothes and haven't had any problems whatsoever and am still snuggling those baby soft cheeks :)
Check out the videos on their site if you have a chance. The video showing how liquid softener works definitely caught my eye!

I have to admit, it took me a few tries to realize I was supposed to put it in the washer BEFORE putting in clothes - ended up getting crystals all over when I poured it in on top of the clothes. Wouldn't have been an issue if our machine was a top loader (and if I had read the directions) :P
Overall, I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, great smell, affordable & soft :)

Now for the fun part! Purex sent me 3 coupons for a FREE bottle of Purex Complete Crystals Softener (max. value $5.50) to give to my blog readers. Post a comment here stating whether you use softener and if you do, what kind. I have to admit I am curious :)

I will allow comments until Tuesday @ 8PM CST & will use random.org to choose 3 winners, each receiving one coupon.
I'll announce the winners here and on FB shortly after (as long as I have a few minutes while baby sleeps) so don't forget to check back so I can get your mailing info if you win! I might throw in a few extra coupons, too!

***Congrats to Carren J & Heather P! I will mail your coupons asap :) Only 2 comments on here & FB so you both WIN :P

Picture Overload

2011-03-17T21:40:00.007-06:00

Speaking of sisters... My lovely & talented sister Emily took these gorgeous pics of the girls. I just love them! (the pics & the girls lol!)

You might also notice Elise's ticker no longer states gestational age - that's because her due date was yesterday :) She's also over 7lbs now!

Sisters

2011-03-07T20:30:00.003-06:00

Seeing my girls together is making me miss my sisters so much! I just love how sweet Keira is with her baby sister (who as of today is 6lbs 12oz!)... I know they will have their fights, but right now I am enjoying this perfect time and hope that they will be as great of friends as I am with my sisters!

The first pic was the morning after I brought Elise home, Keira was already asleep so she didn't get to meet her sister until morning. She saw her in the playard, smiled and said, "night, night sister!" It was adorable!

I'm a bad blogger!

2011-02-27T21:59:00.006-06:00

Life gets in the way sometimes I suppose :) Especially with trying to work as much from home (did I mention we are finally HOME as of Valentine's Day?? Yay!) as possible to extend my leave time and a zillion doctor's appointments. Aside from that, not much new in the Page household. Keira is finally to the age where she will smile for the camera and say cheese! She has her terrible twos moments (OMG she will be TWO in only a month!) but overall she is a good little girl. Strong as ever, a little climbing monkey, and a little too many "mines" that come out of her mouth, but my gosh she is so smart (she can count to almost twenty!) and is a great cuddler :)
And speaking of strong, little Elise is keeping up with her sister nicely, now weighs over 5lbs 12oz, holding her head up and then rolling out of the boppy today almost all by herself. Luckily we caught her :) I remember Keira rolling at 3 weeks old, and although Elise is now 6 weeks+, she still should be in my belly and is so close to doing just the same as her sister. Apparently we make babies of steel :P
As for me, I was able to get out for a few hours thanks to my loving husband so I could get a much needed haircut and highlight. I am now quite blonde! It has taken a bit to get used to, but overall I really like it :)

Here are some pics of our beautiful girls over the past few weeks:

One Month Old!

2011-02-13T08:47:00.003-06:00

And no more tube!!! We are set to "room-in" tonight, and then we can bring Elise HOME either Monday or Tuesday! What a wonderful Valentine's Day it will be :)

We also found out yesterday that Keira is a fan of SQUID! "More please, more please" over and over for the Calamari at Santa Lucia's. It was hilarious!

2 Months

2011-02-08T19:41:00.003-06:00

That is how long it has been since I have been home :( I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't missing everything there, but really, it is so worth it. It is such a short period in the grand picture and for the very best of reasons.
Also, tomorrow Elise will be 4 weeks old! It has gone so fast, feels like just yesterday I was walking into the hospital unaware that I was in active labor :P I keep wishing and hoping that today will be the day that they tell us to get ready to go home, and even though it hasn't happened yet I do still have hope that it will happen soon.
Only one hurdle left to break, and that is for Elise to be able to take all of her feedings either by breast or bottle for 48-72 hrs without needing the feeding tube. She has been improving for sure, she even went a full 24hrs with only one gavage feeding. The next 24hrs were pretty sleepy, but then today has been better. A bit of a roller coaster, but seeing improvement overall despite the down days is fantastic. She is also gaining weight steadily (now up to 4lbs 8oz), another awesome blessing.

Soon Keira will meet her sister and things will be back to normal chaos :) I can't wait :)

Progress!

2011-01-30T20:58:00.007-06:00

It's been a few days since my last post and a lot has happened in that short period of time! We are now situated nicely in Fargo (and loving the free parking!). Elise did great on the transfer, slept the whole way I am told :) Her days have been similar, she's mostly a feeder & a grower. Just today though, she is being weaned out of the isolette (and doing great keeping her temp regulated!), and now up to 2 breastfeeds/day and a few bottles. If this goes well, she will both be out in a regular crib and have her feeding tube taken out in about a day or two! They told us today that we can bring her carseat in at any time now, too! We are overjoyed by this, and so proud of our little girl :)

Keira has been visiting as well, and will be spending the week with us in Fargo while Daddy gets the house ready for our newest arrival. Keira is having a blast and I cannot thank Josh & Heather enough for their help. Bishop, too - him and Keira have so much fun together, I love it!

Hello World!

2011-01-24T14:52:00.000-06:00

Closer to Home!

2011-01-22T12:32:00.002-06:00

We found out last night that our insurance approved the transfer of Elise to Fargo! Two hrs less to drive makes quite a difference for us. Josh will be able to travel after work on Fridays to come see us and get more time to spend together. Less time in the car with Keira will be nice as well. She has handled it well so far, luckily, but I think this will help with the stress level trying to keep a toddler happy while driving :) I am pretty excited to see Boscoe soon as well :P
We checked with nurses and drs and they all say the transfer is completely safe (especially because Elise is doing so well) and one of her nurses will be traveling with her :)
We have been so lucky to have my sister here to allow us to stay and feel welcome. Now we are fortunate again that Josh's sister and our good friend, Josh M., are welcoming us to their home for as long as Elise is in Fargo :)
We love you all and cannot thank you enough!

Ten Days Old!

2011-01-22T12:23:00.002-06:00

Some pics from the past few days :)

A Little AW for Myself

2011-01-20T12:00:00.004-06:00

One week postpartum :) I haven't weighed myself, but I am pretty sure I am at or less than pre-pg weight. Recovery from an incredibly quick labor with no problems is also soooo much easier. Very little bleeding and no pain. I've said it before, but it's pretty surreal. Makes focusing on Elise my one and only job right now, which is perfect!

Little Fighter

2011-01-19T21:42:00.004-06:00

I just love this pic (taken by my great friend, Stacy) - Elise is showing off her guns :)
As you can see, she was back under the bili lights yesterday, but out again today. Today marks one week old! She spit up a little today, but I think that may have been because they could not find my frozen milk (even though it was there all along and definitely no shortage since I am now pumping over 24oz/day) so they gave her formula. Nothing wrong with getting formula in my eyes (we did both for K - breastmilk till 9 months, formula after that till whole milk at a year), but it seemed to be the only different factor so almost has to be the issue. It all but stopped after going back to BM as well.
A routine head ultrasound was also done today, something that is done with preemies at one week (sooner if there is reason). All looks great, no bleeds or abnormalities at all.
The nurses call her a little rockstar. I tend to agree :)

Keira seems to be doing better as well. Josh says her ear has much less draining. She has continued to be in good spirits, luckily this ruptured eardrum hasn't affected her too much!

I have to say a big Thank You to "Auntie" Stacy for visiting yesterday and today! It was so nice to see you :) I can't wait to be back home to see you and everyone else more! I'm super bummed to be missing Heather's baby shower tomorrow, too - I'll definitely be there in spirit, though!

Tuesday Update

2011-01-18T12:57:00.006-06:00

Things are going well, last night Elise's IV was removed and she was bumped up to full feedings (30ml), making only the feeding tube left :) She is really doing well sucking on a paci, waking to eat, etc so I am hoping that transitioning to breastfeeding/bottle feeding will go well, too. She was off the bili lights and put back under, but now back off again. It is likely she will go back under them a couple of times, it works almost like a weaning process. She lost a little weight after birth, but it was completely normal and has started gaining it back. My great friend Stacy is on her way down and should be here soon to go see little Elise. I am so excited! Here are some pics from the past few days :)

All in a Days Work

2011-01-15T17:03:00.004-06:00

It's good to know at least part of my body is working properly! Good thing, too. They upped Elise's milk intake again this morning :)

Friday Update

2011-01-14T18:28:00.005-06:00

Not much to report, Elise is doing great. Still under the bili lights till her levels go down, but hopefully soon. I spent a good amt of time doing more Kangaroo care with her this morning, and Josh was able to get some good snuggly daddy time before we left. We were discharged a bit after 3PM. It was tough leaving Elise there, but we know she is in good hands and we will be visiting often. Friends are helping get my car down here this weekend so I can go when I want to, then Josh and Keira will be back in Bemidji holding down the fort :)

Our Newest Addition!

2011-01-13T15:10:00.011-06:00

Baby girl #2, Elise Dorothy was born yesterday morning at 8:31 at 31 weeks gestation, weighing 3lbs 14oz and 18 inches in length!

Em took me in to the hospital around 7AM because I was having some pretty frequent contractions that the meds weren't stopping. Thinking they would be able to give me something stronger (as they had previously done at 26 weeks) and considering that the contractions weren't very painful, I was very surprised when they went to check my cervix and run another fFN test that I was dilated already to 8-9cm!
This pic is probably a bit TMI, but I find it to be a pretty funny visual :) Basically, 8-9cm is a "no turning back zone" LOL! Anyway, the dr was very surprised since I was so calm that I was so close to delivering a baby. They quickly wheeled me from the small triage room to an actual delivery room and luckily my water was not broken so that meant we had a little time to get the rest of the drs involved, alert the NICU to be ready for Elise, etc. They all came to the room (probably 7-8 drs, nurses, students) and instead of waiting for my water to break they decided they would break it since they were all ready for her to come. And come she did :) The dr had to tell me when a contraction was coming because still I really didn't have much pain even without an epidural or any other medication for that matter! A few pushes and she came out crying :) Which, by the way, is the best sound!
Auntie Stef had come over shortly before they had broke my water, so she was able to cut Elise's cord, I got to see her quickly and then the NICU took over to assess her and do what they need to do. Her apgars were 6 right at birth and 9 at 5 minutes. The drs then finished up the delivery (placenta, etc) and then Stef and I stayed in the delivery room for me to recover while Em and her camera followed Elise to the NICU. After a little bit, I was then brought down to the NICU to see Elise and moved to a postpartum room to wait for Josh to arrive. Unfortunately, since I wasn't in much pain I had told him not to get on the road to make it down from Bemidji for the birth. It worked out though, I had my wonderful sisters there to help, update family, and take PICTURES :)
Right from birth, Elise has been doing great! She is breathing on her own (something that a lot of babies at this age can't do), has 99-100% oxygen saturation in her blood, and x-rays of her lungs look good. She had a breathing tube until about 7PM, but it only was needed because of short bouts of apnea where she would forget to breathe. She also has an IV which they have used to give her glucose and caffeine, but today she also got some breastmilk I had pumped for her, given through a tube in her nose. She is currently getting some time under the bili lights for jaundice, but nothing to be too concerned about. Her only "acute" issue is her prematurity.

Although it happened much sooner than one could hope, we made it further than expected, her birth was quite easy and she is beating the odds. I expect there may be setbacks, but most likely she will be able to leave the cities in about 5-6 weeks, possibly sooner. We are so incredibly happy and blessed, our family of three is now our family of FOUR. Love and tears are abundant in this place right now, with so much support from nurses, drs, family, and friends. Josh and I are also so very lucky to have the jobs that we have because they have been nothing but helpful and accomodating. We could not ask for more!

Check out this fantastic slideshow Auntie Em created with photos she took during the surreal delivery (warning: tissues may be needed!)

And a few extra pics:

No Longer Nameless!

2011-01-07T19:16:00.004-06:00

Such a great week this week! Josh and I finally found (what we believe to be) the perfect name and we hit another 2 week milestone, now just over 30 weeks :)

Here is our beautiful baby, Elise Dorothy:

As of this morning, Elise is now 3lb 8oz (+ or - 10%), and like previous biophysical profiles we have had, passed with flying colors :) Along with the growth scan, they recheck for abnormalities that can show up as baby gets bigger (like defects in the heart, cleft, etc) and everything looks great there as well. She's definitely an overachiever, just like her sis who she looks just like :)
Another fantastic tidbit, my cervix at one point measured not much more than half a cm, and now looked to be more like 3.5cm (4cm is what is considered normal) according to the ultrasound measurements! The docs don't know how accurate it is because it is a different type of ultrasound, but I am still taking it as good news. Bedrest is not fun, but definitely working!

So thankful and hopeful, we could not ask for better!

Oh, almost forgot - a few belly pics... Don't mind the stretchmarks, they are in full force :p

Christmas from the Couch

2010-12-26T17:07:00.007-06:00

What an awesome Christmas! I am so incredibly lucky and so happy to be out of the hospital! I hope everyone had a great Christmas as well!

Released!

2010-12-23T10:06:00.006-06:00

Ultrasound yesterday (called a biophysical profile) was good! Baby girl was moving all around (you can kinda till from the pics even and the tech caught a bit of a smile :)), still practicing breathing, fluid levels stayed normal, and the flow of blood through the cord was back to normal. The perinatologist then checked my cervix and it has stayed at 1cm dilated, and the length seems to have actually gone up to 1.5cm! Bedrest, although pretty hard to deal with physically & emotionally, is definitely working!
Based on those results, and the fact that any contractions have been controlled with the nifedipine (procardia), she ok'd my release to continue strict bedrest at Em's house which is the closest to one of their hospitals with the high-level NICU. So as of yesterday (and a bit of a headache trying to get my prescription at Target on the way home) I am here until 34w or if something happens in the meantime then back to the hospital.
Our first goal was to make it to 28 weeks, because we didn't want to set our hopes too high, and 28w is another big milestone in terms of development and lesser complications for baby. Now I'm not sure what to set a goal at, because obviously our ultimate overall goal is 40w :) It seems impossible, but I have been reading many stories and it has definitely happened before :)
Back home, Josh and Keira have been sick this week :( I'm so glad K was feeling better so Josh could bring her to daycare today. Now hopefully he can get better himself! I am constantly thinking of them, being away and not able to help is torture I tell you. But of course, Josh is incredibly strong and resourceful, and manages to be superdad (not really anything new there, he has always been amazing) :)

I have to also say - Em, Jamie, & Anna are such awesome, gracious hosts. It is nice to have company, good food, and a warm bed. I can't thank them enough!

Update

2010-12-17T10:21:00.003-06:00

They ended up doing the ultrasound earlier than scheduled (another patient was running late and I was already here) - they didn't measure the baby because they said they like to do that every 3 weeks, but they had 8 different things they were looking for, the main 2 being the fluid level and whether they could see movement through the nasal passages (which indicates that she's practicing breathing). All were GREAT! Blood was flowing through the cord perfectly, she is head-down, fluid levels are back to normal, it was so cool to actually see the motion of her practicing breathing and such a good sign for when she is an outside baby. I love her so much and I am already such a proud mama!
It is also looking really good that I will be out of here Wed, just before Christmas! They didn't really check my cervix today because they already know it is short and funneling, but Wed I will have another u/s and as long as I don't have contractions and dilation has stayed at 1cm, then I can leave :) The poor Schnick family will have me to deal with, but it will be nice to hang out with them as well :)

"Sisters in Bedrest"

2010-12-15T12:08:00.003-06:00

That was how someone I have never met signed her note to me, enclosed in a care package made especially for women on bedrest. Incredibly humbling, to say the least (she sends these to all of the antepartum women at NMMC, even 11 years since she was here). Each item was labeled with a cute note on how that item helped her in her stay and well wishes throughout.
Here's a quote from the main note that brought tears:
"I hope for at least a minute or two as you open it up, you'll feel better. I hope, too, that you'll feel less alone. You are not alone! There are people pulling for you and praying for you. I am one of them."

I won't list all of the little inspiring notes, but I will share this pic:

It's amazing how something like this can really brighten a day :) I've experienced small acts like this daily - from the nurses here just to give you a hug, to the sweetest faraway friends who get you a gift card and make sure you use it on YOURSELF, and family/friends who stop in to make sure I am not alone and get some good food. And again, I see how many good people there are in this world, always there to lend a hand or an ear. Simply amazing.

(p.s. Sorry for all the mush, I'm a bottle of it nowadays :))

Visitors in the Snow

2010-12-11T19:32:00.006-06:00

I cannot believe the snow we are getting! And I can't believe how awesome my family is to drive right smack through it to come see me! Thank goodness they made it (and back) without getting stuck. It's definitely bad when you hear about all theplows that end up in the ditch :p
Here are a few pics from their visit:
Em drove, poor thing! Anna & Keira were little twins, giggling like crazy. Mom & Dad brought cookies, of which a few have definitely made it into my belly. Yum!
Keira was a little scared of the room (and my big mechanical bed) at first, but came around enough to give me a good squeeze :) Then got a bit comfy on the chair next to me - so cute!

As for my daily update - not a whole lot new today, still holding strong. Baby and I are being monitored twice a day for an hr each time, still taking the procardia every 6 hrs. We finally got some test results from Bemidji for the Group B Strep test and because that was negative, I am now IV-free! The next ultrasound to see if there is any change will be next Friday. Just hearing that they are scheduling that far out gives me more hope. We WILL make it there :)

Midmorning Update

2010-12-10T10:59:00.002-06:00

Had a good, quiet night, no contractions to worry about. I was wide awake at 3:30am though, figures!
However, this morning's ultrasound and meetings with doctors have brought many mixed emotions...
The good: baby looks great, heart, cord everything flowing the way it should, has my big nose ;p And best of all, baby is measuring at 1lb 14ozs, which is great for 26 weeks.
The bad: the fluid around the baby is fairly high, which can cause some issues for delivery and possibly be why my cervix is giving out from the pressure of it. The other major problem is that my cervix is now measuring 6.8mm.

The prognosis/plan as of now: I will be on strict hospital bedrest here until 28 weeks at least. In that time, they will switch the Procardia to another contraction med that also lowers fluid slightly and shouldn't lower my BP like that one did. After a few days on that, they will do another ultrasound to measure the fluid again. The risk for an emergency c-section is pretty high if I were to go into labor, since the baby moves around so much in that fluid she won't likely stay head-down like needed.

A lot of information to process, and it definitely makes my head spin. But I truly believe we are in a great place and we have a great support system down here with the doctors, numerous friends, and loving family. Thank you all again so very much, it means so much to us!

Scary Times

2010-12-09T08:22:00.010-06:00

Been a busy, life-changing week this week, thought it would be good to write it all out and keep updates here.

So here's the long of it...

So far this pregnancy has been uneventful, but fairly painful compared to the first time. I mentioned it to my dr and he checked things out and we both assumed it was normal, baby is low, etc. Well, flash-forward to Monday, a day before 26 weeks and I had a new issue - a small amt of bleeding and goo. From my first pregnancy, I knew that this can be a sign of imminent labor and to always call when it happens.
So my dr was able to see me right away in the AM, he checked to see that my cervix was closed and ran a test called Fetal Fibronectin which tests to see if there is evidence of fluid that usually only shows up if your body is gearing up for labor. He called back around 3PM and told me the test was positive and that we needed to get things checked out via ultrasound the next day. So the next day I had an appt at 1:45pm for that, they were mainly checking the length of my cervix. This is where the bad news came, it was very short meaning there wasn't much there to hold Baby girl inside. I was immediately sent to Labor & Delivery where they hooked up all kinds of monitors to make sure I wasn't in labor or having contractions.
My doctor, with all the info said baby would be coming anywhere from that day to 2 weeks from then. My heart dropped as well as the tears of course, this baby needs to keep cooking!

After a bit of observation, baby got steroids to help her develop faster, I got blood draws for more tests, it was showing that baby is great, moving a ton, with only a few sporadic contractions and what they called an irritable uterus/incompetent cervix (for those who care for specifics - it measured 12mm 40-50% effaced dilated 1cm with normal at 26 weeks being 40-50mm 0% effaced and no dilation). It was great to hear that the issues are all with me and not the baby, but of course I wouldn't be human if I didn't feel like there is something I did or didn't do to cause this. I'm trying not to focus on that and just be thankful that we are buying time daily and have so many people who care for us.

Anyway, that night I started contracting every 2-3 min, got the shakes/chills and it just felt all too familiar remembering labor with Keira. Thankfully, the wonderful drug called Terbutilane (sp?) worked to stop them and I felt fantastic after that. Wednesday, my doctor confirmed that I was going to need to be taken to a hospital with a higher level NICU that could take care of the baby since signs kept coming up. More quick tests and a check of my cervix showed that there was no change and I was stable enough to be transferred to the Cities (almost by helicopter which would have been insane!).

After the fun, bumpy ride in the ambulance (um yeah, I have never used a bedpan before, but they are not fun, especially in there!) I was settled in my new room and met by my wonderful sisters ready to help in any way they can. The perinatologist came in and couldn't really give any firm answers since my body is the main predictor, but that they see these situations daily and things look good in his eyes.

Last night was pretty good, I was finally able to sleep (especially knowing we were somewhere that was able to care for our baby), but i did have another early morning bout of random contractions that thankfully were not as bad and subsided. I was able to go back to sleep after even :) Today has been nice and calm, I was able to shower and Josh has been running everywhere to get what we forgot, waiting on me like the great man he is. Only issues so far is that the Procardia they put me on to help with contractions is also a blood pressure med and it made my BP go pretty low. That, and Baby girl (who we are working on names for :)) hates the monitor they put on my belly to check her heartrate. She is already incredibly strong like her sister and kicks the thing right off :p One of the nurses actually said at 26 weeks she usually can't feel those kicks that strong! Also means she probably can hear pretty well already. All such good things!

Just a taste of what I get to taste (looks good, but yeahhhh, not so tasty!)

Tomorrow we should know a bit more - ultrasound in the morning to measure baby and cervix, check fluids and just take a look to see if there may be any signs to WHY this is all happening. Either way, we will most likely be here at North Memorial for at least a week (we welcome visitors by the way, just know I look pretty ragged :)) and if I am stable they will let me leave and go to someone's home closeby for bedrest there. They want me within 20-30 min from here or one of their partnered hospitals until baby comes or until 34 weeks when Bemidji would be able to care for her without the need for the higher-level NICU. We will be ecstatic if we make it that far for sure and will do whatever we have to to make sure she is safe & healthy :)

I have sooooo many people to thank - it is overwhelming how many people offer help without hesitation (I want to list everyone but you all know who you are and I prefer to thank you profusely in person :)). We have received So many thoughts and prayers from all over the country, too. Amazing, really - so many good people out there.

Feeling Nostalgic

2010-11-17T11:49:00.001-06:00

I wonder if Baby Girl #2 will look like K did? :)

Click here to view this photo book larger

It's a....

2010-10-22T07:50:00.002-06:00

Baby GIRL! We are so excited for Keira to have a little sister :) I know from experience how awesome it is to have sisters, hopefully they will be best friends like I am with mine!

Baby girl is doing great, everything they checked looked good and her h/b was 141. Ten fingers and ten toes and already beautiful :) Poor thing is going to get a lot of hand-me-downs, but we'll make sure to get a few things she can call her own ;)

Amex Starwood Bzz

2010-10-05T08:35:00.002-06:00

I recently joined the Amex Starwood Preferred Guest Bzzcampaign through Bzzagent as well. Like many others, I definitely don't need any more credit cards, but was willing to learn about the card at least since none of the cards I have right now have any really great rewards to them. I also do not carry an Amex card.
The rewards look pretty good - you get pts you can use toward a stay at a Starwood hotel and bonus pts for signing up, room upgrades if you spend so much, etc. We like to travel so it sounds nice, unfortunately we have never stayed at a Starwood hotel and hadn't even heard of the brand before so I have decided not to apply for the card.

Elmers/Xacto Bzz

2010-10-04T10:47:00.002-06:00

As a Bzz agent, I am loving the new Bzz Campaign I was lucky to be chosen for!
Elmers has always had the best products for gluing and adhering items for craft projects, and now I have an excuse to try them out.
Last weekend happened to be Gram's 80th Bday party, so I decided what better to start with than a card, made primarily by me but decorated by Keira and her newfound coloring skills :)
So I made a trek to JoAnn Fabrics for some extra supplies (paper, stickers etc) and checked out the goods in the Bzzkit to see what items would work with our project. We ended up using the Elmers glue stick and a few glue spots, along with the Xacto scissors and corner rounder. The end product was super cute & Gram loved it! Keira of course loved adding the stickers and coloring all over it as well :)
Pics will be added soon!

18 Months & 16 Weeks

2010-09-28T17:34:00.009-06:00

I can't believe my baby is 1.5 yrs old! Here are her stats so far - 23.8 lbs, 34" tall, has 10 teeth! ~~8 teeth (I think, she won't let me check the back)~~, and says many many words (over 50!). Her favorite things are coloring, singing, and climbing. And before we know it she'll be driving!

As for Baby 2.0, I *think* I am finally feeling a bit better - it has been about a week since I last puked - yay! So far I am actually down a pound, despite the visible bump. I expect that to change as long as the nausea stays at bay. We were able to schedule the big ultrasound for Oct 18th and cannot wait to give Baby a name :)
Also, my belly button has officially popped :p

14 Weeks

2010-09-15T20:38:00.003-06:00

Ugggh - my mirror is streaked of course, but it is late and I am lazy LOL!
14 week appt today went well. I am down a lb (damn persistent m/s!), blood pressure is good (was a bit high with K), and we were able to find baby's heartbeat right away this time.
Big ultrasound is scheduled for Oct 18th! So soon, and we are so excited!
Fisher Price party this weekend - K is already enjoying a few of the toys of course :)

So Excited!

2010-08-26T16:51:00.003-06:00

I was chosen to host a Fisher Price House Party!

It looks like Christmas is coming early at the Page house :)

From the site - Here’s what you’re getting:

Package 1:

•Replacement batteries for the toys
•Gift bags and tissue
•Free shipping coupons
•Product guides
•1 pack of Fisher-Price Day and Night Diapers to use during party
•10 Fisher-Price Day and Night Diapers Sample Packs

Package 2:

•Five new Fisher-Price toys:
- Laugh & Learn™ Learn & Move Music Station™
- Laugh & Learn™ Learning Kitchen™
- Lil’ Zoomers™ Spinnin’ Sounds Speedway™
- Go Baby Go!™ Stride-to-Ride™ Dino
- Stack ‘n Surprise™ Blocks Musical Croc Block Wagon™
•10 Brilliant Basics™ Rock-a-Stack® toys

Back in June we hosted a Febreze party and got quite the loot with that party as well. House Party is a great way for brands to market their products, and it is so nice to get items for free!

168

2010-08-24T07:06:00.004-06:00

is the number of beats our baby's heart is beating per minute, and how many times he/she steals mine :)

Friday, August 20th was our first OB appointment. It went well, pretty standard stuff. Only issue was that he was not able to find Baby's heartbeat with the Doppler. So yesterday we were able to SEE the heartbeat instead :)
There are a few reasons why the Doppler did not work - the baby could have been moving too much, my uterus is slightly tilted after having K, and according to the ultrasound the placenta is forming toward the front making more padding for the machine to go through. Nothing that would be cause for alarm, thankfully.
A few notes - the bloat is down a bit - so I no longer look huge :P The morning sickness has not subsided and I am pretty miserable, but I'll take it. I'm thinking it will get better soon, right? :) One thing I completely forgot about with K that is hitting me HARD right now, is the ITCHING! It is insane. I would really like to tear my skin off some days (and nights, not fun!). I always attributed it to the weather, winter, dry skin, whatever. But now I really think it is a pregnancy thing because it came back :P

Anyway, enough of the complaining - we are so happy and blessed. All of the annoying things are things that also make me laugh and smile, because I know that there is a beautiful little baby snug and sound growing and kicking up a storm.

9 Weeks

2010-08-11T19:57:00.004-06:00

First trimester is hitting me pretty hard. I don't think I am throwing quite up as much as I did with K but it's close! It seems like I am a bit bigger, also. I expected that a bit just from what I have read. Still, it is surreal that 9 weeks have gone by. I am excited that our precious baby is growing, yet sad that everything happens so fast. Only a little over a week till our first Dr. appt - I can't wait to hear that super fast thump of a heartbeat!

16 Months Old!

2010-08-02T16:19:00.001-06:00

And cute as can be!

Couponing 7/26

2010-07-26T17:43:00.005-06:00

What a great trip to Target! Spent 14.64 on $65 worth of items & received a $5 Target card back!

News on the Homefront

2010-07-23T19:38:00.006-06:00

I put up a ticker a bit ago, and thought I would add a bit of info for anyone who may have noticed...

We are expecting Baby Page #2! He/she is due March 15th, 2011, just 2 weeks before K turns 2. We are so incredibly blessed and excited! A few family & friends have heard this news, but I thought I'd let my few readers in on it, too, since you all take the time to check my blog despite how bad I am about updating LOL!

Here's evidence to the "bigger the second time around" rumor I had heard about (i.e. bloat):

Couponing Finds

2010-06-20T20:49:00.003-06:00

Walgreens stop - spent $3.17 for $36 worth of items, got back $19 in Register Rewards toward my next purchase!

Target stop - spent 5.74 for $45.50 worth of items (used a GC to purchase though, so ZERO actually spent :)) and got back a $5 Target card!

Good times!

Covergirl/Olay Simply Ageless Bzzkit

2010-05-17T19:41:00.002-06:00

As a Bzzagent, I was invited to try out the Covergirl/Olay Simply Ageless concealer, corrector, foundation and blush. I tested them out tonight and here are my first thoughts:

- The bottles are impossible to open! Ok, maybe not impossible but apparently I am incredibly uncoordinated because I had issues. I also couldn't tell the top from the bottom. Hopefully it doesn't matter how I put them in the drawer!
- The blush & foundation came with sponge applicators, but not the concealer or corrector. I was confused and ended up using an extra brush I had to apply the two. There were no instructions really in the kit, just info about the product. Come to find out I can use my finger, I didn't think that would get both the makeup and the olay to mix together but maybe it does?
- I like the concealer and corrector, but they seem really similar. I think I would probably skip the corrector and just get the concealer for the cost.
- The foundation went on super smooth and was the perfect color.
- The blush was very dark and went on pretty dark. I think I put too much on the sponge trying to make sure that I got both the color and olay swirls to mix. It blended in well though and looks natural now.
- I really like that the products contain SPF (I can't remember exactly how much). I could have used it this past weekend while fishing!
- Makeup tends to cake around my mouth sometimes. So far so good with these products. Time will tell if it stays true.

Overall, I have found the products to be pretty worthwhile. This is my first Bzzcampaign and I am pleasantly surprised! Free, fun and interesting - check it out if you like:

Fishing Opener 2010

2010-05-17T07:40:00.002-06:00

Family, warm weather, big fish! Who could ask for more!

To Our Great Friends in Japan

2010-04-24T15:48:00.003-06:00

Thank you for the adorable dress! We miss you!

One Year Pics

2010-04-19T08:57:00.008-06:00

Thanks to my sweet sis, who rocks the camera :)

ONE YEAR OLD!!!

2010-03-30T09:57:00.004-06:00

Such a little sweetheart!

Running!

2010-03-25T20:18:00.000-06:00

Gigglepie

2010-03-04T20:44:00.001-06:00

Not sure why playing with a toy going vroom vroom was so funny, but apparently it is ROFLLMAO funny :)

Dreaming of Mexico

2010-03-02T09:41:00.008-06:00

Only 16 days before we will be relaxing in the sun in beautiful Puerto Morelos, Mexico!
Feast your eyes on these pics from our hotel:

I cannot wait! I can't help but check out the pics at least every couple days because I am so so excited :)

11 Months Old!

2010-03-01T20:06:00.011-06:00

Torturing the dog, as per usual :)

Such a silly silly girl :) No sign this month, I am out of ink as is Target :P Maybe tomorrow. Only ONE month till she is ONE!

Winter Fun!

2010-02-22T10:51:00.003-06:00

Anna and Keira had a blast this weekend. It is so much fun to watch them play together like sisters :)

So Proud!

2010-02-22T10:48:00.002-06:00

The day of surgery Keira seriously TOOK OFF with her walking :) She is doing great and I think the tubes are helping with her balance as well!

Walking Video!

2010-02-11T19:01:00.000-06:00

Don't mind the screaming mommy in the background :P

Snowshoes

2010-02-06T20:55:00.001-06:00

Little Monkey

2010-02-05T19:49:00.004-06:00

K is such a little monkey these days! She will climb in, over, wherever she can. I love it - her daddy is proud, too, being that he is a climber and used to teach it :)

In other news, after almost 4.5 months of constant ear infections & numerous different antibiotics, K still has infected ears & fluid in her ears :(
Thus, we are taking the plunge and tube surgery is scheduled for a week and a half from now. I'm scared and sad, but also very optimistic knowing how much tubes have helped others I know, including Josh. Hopefully this will be the answer for us!

Aerogarden @ 2 Months

2010-01-30T14:30:00.003-06:00

There are over 20 tomatoes now! And the grow light is at its highest point now...

10 Months Old!

2010-01-29T16:51:00.003-06:00

Ummm, where did the time go?? She's only 2 months away from ONE!

Of course Boscoe gave her some love, too :)

Our Little Tax Deduction :)

2010-01-28T18:36:00.001-06:00

She's the best!

Fun in the Snow

2010-01-25T16:18:00.002-06:00

Keira had a blast in the snow at Grandma & Grandpa's :)

First Tooth!

2010-01-08T19:00:00.001-06:00

Not the best pic, but it is so hard to get pics of such an active little girl! It started popping through on Christmas :)

Growth!

2010-01-07T18:37:00.004-06:00

I can't tell you why, but watching these plants grow so much is just amazing to me. Today the tomato plants that were planted approximately 1 month + 1 week ago sprouted its first blooms! They are still very easy to care for - they have been sucking up the water like crazy so I have to refill every other day and add nutrients every other week, but that is it! Not sure how they pollinate, but I will be getting out the book tonight to see if there is anything else to do now that there are blooms.
I can't wait to see actual tomatoes!

Check out those roots!

9 Months Already?!

2009-12-29T20:01:00.002-06:00

I am kinda surprised I was able to get her to smile - we had quite the interesting night last night. Probably 4-5 hrs of non-stop SCREAMING. At first we thought it was teeth (her first tooth started popping through on Christmas), but she was way too inconsolable for it to be teeth. Still not sure what was wrong, maybe her ears again (they are still infected, but haven't bothered her this much before) or maybe a tummy ache or night terrors according to the nurse. She is almost completely on formula now, but has been for a couple of weeks, so I thought she would have had a reaction by now but who knows. All we know is that tonight is going to be better, or we will be going into the dr's again tomorrow :(

The many faces of K:

Merry Christmas '09!

2009-12-19T16:39:00.003-06:00

Photos & design by Emily Schnick Photography, my sister :)

First "Words"

2009-12-10T21:15:00.002-06:00

She doesn't actually know what they mean at this point, but it is still cute!

She also learned her first baby sign about a week ago. She can now sign "milk", and uses it often!

Aerogarden

2009-12-03T21:28:00.007-06:00

For Christmas, one of the sweet gifts I received from Josh (yup we exchanged already - in record time I think) was an Aerogarden Classic. It came with an herb garden kit, and Josh also picked up a cherry tomato kit because he knows what I like :) I "planted" the tomatoes on 11/29. It was so easy, you just pop in the pods, fill with water and add the provided nutrients to the water. It then will tell you when the water is low, when to add more nutrients, etc. Pretty much fuss-free :) It claims sprouts in 4-7 days and they were right! The sprouts came up today, on day 4! It also claims harvest in a month, so we will see. I will add pics as they grow, should be neat to see how well it works and if it is worth the $$$ ;)

Day 1:

Day 4:

Day 10:

Day 20:

One Month:

8 Months!

2009-11-29T16:56:00.000-06:00

Hunting "Holiday"

2009-11-09T20:49:00.005-06:00

Like many up here in the north woods, deer opener has long been a fun weekend of hunting, family, & friends. A few of us don't hunt, but we still come for the fun :)
This year Em and I stuck around the house with the wee ones while the others were out in their stands. While they were sweating and squinting at the sight of the slightest movement in the woods, we were dressing up the girls in their hunting outfits (hey, they had to fit in, too right?) and took some super cute pics. Most of these were taken by Em with her amazing photog skills. Enjoy!

Our Stinker is Seven Months!

2009-10-30T07:31:00.003-06:00

It is soooo hard to take pictures of her - all she wants to do is steal the sign and nom nom on it :)

My Baby is Getting Too Big!

2009-10-20T19:16:00.002-06:00

Lightning fast crawling (not shown - crawling up and down the couple of stairs at daycare)!

And her newest feat - STANDING UP! Way to go Punkin!

First Snow

2009-10-10T07:26:00.005-06:00

It's strange how calming it is to see fresh snow. It lays there so soft & peaceful :) At first I was disappointed because I am not winter's biggest fan, but as I sit here with my hot cup of coffee and sleeping baby I am really getting into the season. All of the fun things ahead come to mind... Halloween... Thanksgiving... CHRISTMAS! All of these normal yearly activities will be so much more joyful with the addition of a perfect little girl.

We are still battling her first illness unfortunately, but I really believe that it is on its way out the door very soon! Three or four trips to the doctor for high fever, labored breathing, and inconsolable crying and we still don't know what it is/was. Last night was another long one, with wakeups every two hours and a stretch of whining for two hours straight (but NOT crying so I am seeing this night as a success, even if I am pretty tired myself). No fever all night, either. Now I think it is just a matter of her getting comfortable, a few long naps, and remembering how good it is to be a happy playful baby :)

I got a good cuddle shot of Keira with her daddy the other day. She really has become a big lover through this and I am liking it!

Picture Perfect

2009-10-06T13:24:00.002-06:00

I can't wait for Christmas! Thanks for taking pics, Em!

Half a Year!

2009-09-29T17:00:00.005-06:00

I cannot believe how time flies! Keira is now 6 whole months old! As of last week (when she was sick and we had to bring her in) she is 15lbs 6oz. We go in again on Friday for her checkup and more shots :( Will add new stats then :)

I am adding another of my new favorite photos - me and Anna at Holly's wedding this past weekend - of course Emily took the photo, you can always tell when they are this good it had to be her!

See Any Resemblance?

2009-09-15T18:51:00.002-06:00

Boscoe Baby Love

2009-09-12T18:02:00.001-06:00

Thanks Grandpa!

2009-09-02T16:38:00.003-06:00

Dad brought over the new bench for our kitchen table - it looks awesome! He surprised us with a rocking horse for Keira, as well :) She LOVES it - her time on it is limited since she is a bit small yet, but that doesn't phase her! Now to put on the finishing touches - paint a face & add some mane/tail :)
Hmmmmm - what colors to do...

Five Whole Months

2009-08-29T15:27:00.003-06:00

Holy Cow! She is getting so big, so fast. Makes me a bit teary!

Walking???

2009-08-27T16:55:00.002-06:00

Just kidding :) Although I probably could edit the video to make it look that way ;)

Our Lovebug

2009-08-26T17:28:00.003-06:00

She is so strong! I'm not sure when to call her a crawler, maybe an inchworm for now?!

Duluth Weekend

2009-08-18T17:28:00.010-06:00

Josh, Keira, & I drove to Duluth this past weekend to visit friends we haven't seen in way too long (and meet new ones, too!). We went to the zoo and had some great prime rib at Pickwick's on Saturday, then Sunday drove up to Gooseberry Falls & had lunch at the Rustic Inn. We had a blast and can't wait to see everyone again (especially baby Sawyer who is due to arrive in a few short weeks!)

So Close!

2009-08-09T20:35:00.001-06:00

Check out the legs! She continues to amaze us :)

Randomness

2009-08-08T06:43:00.010-06:00

This is how I found her one morning when I got her up for the day - her right arm was stuck in the sleeve of her sleeper, and somehow her right foot got out through the gaps in snaps on the side :) Goofy girl!

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I made this dipe/wipe holder using this pattern, it turned out great! But just a tad small for the gargantuan Pampers travel wipes. I found a smaller refillable hard case at the Family Dollar that is cute and fits much better :)
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Trying to get a cute pic of Keira and I (I was wearing a new outfit and felt like a rockstar :P). I know I should have someone take the pic for us, or use the timer on my camera, but that would be smart and I never claimed to be very smart :)

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Keira's latest fun thing to do when eating her cereal dinner. We were giving her cereal at 6PM and she would eat a few bites and get knocked out. Needless to say, we ended up changing the time she gets cereal :)
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Uncle Jim was in town this week and stopped for a visit. I just love how he scooped her right up and started playing with her - I don't know anyone who doesn't love Uncle Jim! He's the best!

Daddy & Baby

2009-08-01T20:36:00.002-06:00

Those eyes make me melt - on both of them :)

Baby Laughs

2009-07-30T18:54:00.004-06:00

Feeding daddy...

Then herself...

She loves to clap!

4 Months Old!

2009-07-30T15:02:00.002-06:00

Once again Keira did great at the clinic :) Other than wanting to roll over as soon as I set her on the examining table & a bit of a cry for her shots, she was perfect! Chattering with the nurses & smiling constantly.

Our pumpkin is now 13lbs 11oz & 25" long, which are 50% and 75%ile respectively. Doing great!

First Cereal (& more!)

2009-07-26T17:54:00.006-06:00

Another great weekend here!

First, Josh raced in the Paul Bunyan Triathlon. You wouldn't know it from the recorded times (Josh's time was over 10 hrs according to their clock, which would mean he started around midnight!) but he did very well! He swam, biked, & ran the long course this year and barely looked winded! I think I would have collapsed :)

Not long after the race, Josh, Heather, & Bishop came to visit. We had a great time bbqing, strolling around town, & playing a game of Munchkin (which I won, WOOT!).

After Josh, Heather, & Bishop headed home, we decided to give Keira a taste of cereal. We started with about 1.5 oz of milk & mixed in just a bit of cereal so it was still very close to the consistency of milk. She did really well!

She started by staring down the spoon for a few seconds...

Then went to town!

Too Cute

2009-07-22T07:07:00.004-06:00

Can you believe she is almost 4 months old???? Eeeeek!

More pics can be seen at Em's Photo blog - thanks again sis!

Stashed

2009-07-15T11:14:00.003-06:00

So this is what our deep freeze now looks like...

I am so happy to have a great supply of milk, but I am having trouble staying organized. Also, these milk bags are spendy! I get about 50 bags for $10, and go through about 4-5 per day... It was suggested by some good friends of mine to try more bins (there are 2 in there besides the upper baskets but you can barely tell because they are so full) and/or switch to mason jars. I am very interested in checking out the mason jar idea since it will be neater and easier to find the older milk to use up and rotate the stash. Any ideas where I can find lots of mason jars for cheap? Walmart maybe? Let me know if you think of anything else that may work, also, as I am really bad at organization :)

By the way, don't be alarmed if I start moo-ing soon ;)

What a Sunday!

2009-07-12T18:36:00.002-06:00

This is the last post of the day, I swear :) I just have to note (so that I don't forget) - that Keira LAUGHED today!!! I didn't see it because I was downstairs doing laundry, but it was so huge that I heard it that far away :) This has to be one of the best milestones ever!

Happy Birthday Love!

2009-07-12T07:51:00.011-06:00

28 Years Young :P

To celebrate, we invited some of Josh's coworkers/friends over for a BBQ in the back yard. Good times!

Hailey made Josh a cake - she's a hoot! Can't remember the back-story on it, but don't worry, it wasn't as bad as it may seem :)

Beanbag toss

Jenga fire - just a joke, we didn't actually try pulling any logs out!

Keira and I played under the sunshade.

Who knew college papasans made such good camp chairs :)

Me & the birthday boy <3

De-swaddled

2009-07-12T07:41:00.003-06:00

We were going to go cold turkey, but last night was a bit tough! Keira did well until about 3:30AM, then was up every hour after that. We are now thinking of reswaddling after the first wake-up at least for a transitioning phase. Since she can roll over both ways we knew the swaddle's lifespan was shortening - we would hate for her to roll over in it and not be able to get back if needed. This was confirmed last night when I laid her down on her back only for her to promptly roll to her belly, which is how she stayed until her first wake up. (Don't tell her pedi - he is a stickler for back sleeping, but I am ok with her doing what she wants to do :)) Hopefully the next few nights go well!

Keira's New Squeals

2009-07-12T07:24:00.003-06:00

It almost sounds like she is mad, but she does this all.day.long. It is hilarious!

Tumbleweed

2009-07-06T18:57:00.002-06:00

Keira at 3 weeks rolling belly to back:

And then at 13 weeks completing her quest by rolling back to belly:

No more letting her hang out on the floor while you grab some coffee. If we do that now she is halfway across the room! Makes me wish for more carpeting throughout our house. Hardwood floors are pretty, but not so great for babies ;P

Three Months Old!

2009-06-29T19:27:00.002-06:00

And full of milestones! This past weekend she rolled from back to belly, and seems to have started teething (not fun!) She also got her first exersaucer from Cayden and is loving it!
I've also noticed that her hair is starting to fall out. Not a ton as you can see from the pic but the baby brush was full of fine little hairs :(
Not a whole lot else going on here - I'm back at work and Keira is at daycare. Going well so far I think - we are lucky we found a great place!

Baby Birthday Wishes :)

2009-06-17T10:18:00.000-06:00

Fun @ Great Gram's

2009-06-15T12:55:00.010-06:00

K & I traveled to Brainerd to hang out with the Greats and the Schnicks this past weekend - we had a blast! I knew I needed to get out of the house once more before I go back to work and Keira goes to daycare (only one more week!)...

Anna and her hilarious personality :

Some pretty flowers (I was playing around with my camera):

More Cuteness!

2009-06-15T12:53:00.001-06:00

Thanks for taking some pics Em!

Perfect Little Doll

2009-06-14T18:49:00.002-06:00

I just love her :) She lets me play dress-up!

My Loves

2009-06-11T18:25:00.002-06:00

Keira definitely looks like her daddy :)