Happy Birthday Brody!!!!

Great time at the fish fry last night.  Good food, good company, makes for a great time!

My baby boy is 2 today.  I am shocked it's been two years since he came into this world.  It was such a rough 9 months getting him here.  5 months of bed rest, in and out of the hospital, many many trips to Peoria to the specialists, 3 days of a failed induced labor just to have to be cut open, have a c-section, and wake up to come to realize they are flying your precious baby to Peoria after all.

When Brody was born he came out healthy and full of spots.  Bad part of the whole deal was that within the 2 months before he was born, my entire family had contracted chicken pox.  My aunt Cara actually had the chicken pox during the 3 weeks that I was in the hospital waiting to have him.  So when he came out covered in spots, Dr. Lynch and Dr. Jones made the decision to ship him out.  Lung pox in an infant are deadly, so they weren't taking any chances.  I can remember this goopy gel crap in my eyes, and hearing Dena Schaller tell me to wake up and see my baby... she told me he was healthy, but he was getting flown to Peoria.  I was so confused and groggy.  Dr. Jones was standing there looking so stern and concerned.  It worried me.  I tried and tried to open my eyeballs.  They had vaseline stuff in them, and I just couldn't really focus.  I heard him cry.  They brouht him to me.  Bill was there.  He was talking to me and holding Brody up to me.  I was so scared.  I just kept kissing him.  I was still back in surgery at this point.  I was so foggy brained I just didn't quite get it.  I dozed back to sleep.  They rolled me down the hall back to my room.  When they woke me up to get me in my hospital bed and off the surgery cart I came to more.  I was so shocked.  EVERYONE was there.  Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Cole.  They were passing Brody around so everyone could get to hold him before the Air Evac came to get him.  They only had 45 precious minutes with him.  I was in and out of sleep.  I was so toxic from the pre eclampsia that I had to be put completely OUT for the section.  I was so jumpy and my nerves were all out of whack, so the Dr's decided it was best to put me out so I didn't startle during surgery. 

I remember laying there and having troube opening up my eyes.  I peeked out and saw Grandpa Dennis holding Brody and Cole was sitting right there beside him.  I heard Dennis say to Cole "what's wrong, buddy?" and Cole says to him "I don't want them to take my brother away, and my mom is so sick she can't even open up her eyeballs" he started crying.  My heart just melted.  Poor kid just didn't get it.  He was so upset.  I forced myself to open my eyeballs and keep them open from then on until they left.  OSF team got there and took Brody in the incubator to the helicopter.  Cole got taken outside to watch Brody fly away, then he brought in the camera to show me all the pictures he and Grandpa Dennis took, he also found me a pet rock from out in the parking lot to put with our pet rock collection!  I still have this rock, it's precious to me! He just didn't want them to take away his new brother.  Poor kid. 

I slept for a coupe hours and finally got myself to sit up by noon.  Brody was born at 9:17 a.m. and here it was noon and I was sitting with my legs dangling over the bed.  By 2 I was up and in the recliner.  Carla Rodeffer and Grandma Jean stayed with me for HOURS.  Mom was in Peoria with Brody and Bill went to the farm to finish up stuff so he could get me to Peoria the second they released me.  I was up walking by 4 that day.  I made it to the ob doors and back.  By Dr Jones 9 p.m. visit I was begging for my stockings to be removed and begging for my catheter to be removed.  He let me take off the stockings, but made me keep the cath in till morning. 

Morning came and I had made mysef get up and walk every two hours at least.  Bless Bill's heart, he was there holding me up every time I stood.  He walked with me all night long.  I begged Dr Jones to take out my cath first thing that morning.  He reluctantly agreed.  He usually likes to keep them in two days.  I got that out and used the potty for the first time by myself and was begging Dr Jones to release me to Peoria.  He just shook his head.  By 9 that night we had discovered that if Brody was going to be released before the  next weekend we had to have MY blood at Peoria to be tested BEFORE 9 a.m the next day.  The lab only does this one test on thursdays and here it was Sunday and if we had my blood there by 9 a.m. Monday morning they would run that test especially for us.  that test was a herpes test on me.  If I didn't go get this test done then they wouldn't release him to us.  They still didn't have an answer to why he broke out in all those spots.  By the end of Sunday most of the spots were gone.  Dr's up there we baffled, but couldn't release him until they ruled out all the possibilities of deadly spots that could kill him.  Herpes virus was the last one.  The specialist Dr told me they ran over 63 cultures on him and all sorts of labs and nothing showed up.  I didn't want my baby in Peoria clear to Thursday, so I called Dr Jones at home and BEGGED him at 9 p.m. to discharge me.  He came in and talked to me and he really didn't want to let me go.  He kept saying NO.  I was bawling and crying and so upset.  Hormonal nut job!  Finaly I used my last card with him... his wife was pregnant and due in a few weeks so I played my trump card and said "you're telling me if this was you wife, and if she's doing this good getting around and with pain control, and she was so far from her baby, you wouldn't want or let her go?"  he gave me a look and smiled and shook his head... I knew I had him!  He finally agreed that I could go at 5 a.m. not a minute sooner, but he PROMISED to have my lab drawn, and all my paperwork ready for me to walk out the doors at 5 a.m.  I was soooo EXCITED to see and meet my baby.  You got to realize I only got to see him with jelly filled eyeballs, blurry and a few camera phone pics from my mom at Peoria.  Bill went home to get the van and he loaded up all my crap that had accumulated from the last 3 weeks in the hospital.  He also went to see Cole and tell him the good news his brother was coming home soon, hopefully... unless I had herpes and didn't know about it!  Ha ha ha.

5 a.m. Bill and I were on the road to Peoria.  We ran into some traffic, had to make LOTS of stops to get out and walk.  Dr Jones didn't want me making that trip, but I begged and begged and he laid down LOTS of RULES for me.  He made Bill promise to follow them too.  I had to walk for 10 minutes every half hour, to prevent blood clots while traveling.  It was a 3 hour drive but it was so worth it when I finally got to snugge my baby in my arms.  I just scooped him up and he KNEW me!!! 

The hospital ran my blood which came out negative for Herpes, and all the other things they had to check for.  Thank goodness.  We had to watch three films before the would let us out.  One was about infant care, shaken baby, and car seat safety.  By 5 p.m. we were on our way home!  We still had to stop a lot and stop to feed Brody a time or two, but we were going HOME.  Realize this... I hadn't been HOME in a MONTH!  I was soooo HOMESICK!

We pulled in and Mom & Cole were there to greet us.  Cole was BEAMING!!!  Dennis grilled us some steaks we had a nice meal.  Keith, Bev, Joe, Jason, Mom, Dennis all stopped out to see us.  It was great to be HOME. 

I can't believe it's been TWO years.  It was rough getting him home,but he's ours and we love him to pieces.  Happy Birthday Brody Charles.

Time's a ticking...

I am just tired.  I have been spinning around here doing so much crap I can't keep my head straight sometimes.  I know I bring a lot of it on myself.  I volunteer to do things for people and sometimes I just need to step back and just deal with my own crap.  I take a lot on my plate every day and usually do end up getting it all done in the end, but my perfectionist in me makes me continue to want things done a certain way, and at a certain time. 

I've not been sleeping well this week.  I have a lot on my mind and a lot of things I've been stressing about.  I am just sleepy.  I would really like to have a good night of sleep.  I might have to take a sleeping pill tonight.  Last night I took Benadryl, but it didn't work well, just left me feeling hung over today.  Sluggish and groggy.  I am just pooped.

I did get my floors cleaned today.  I vacuumed all the bedroom rugs, and living and dining room.  I ran the wet jet on all the hard wood.  That job takes approx 2 1/2 hrs start to finish if you really do a good job and work straight through.  I feel better getting it done.  It's needed it and been bothering me bad lately.  It looks great and so once again I am happy.

Yesterday I took the morning and went to Old Settlers in Plymouth.  I do this every year with my aunt Carla.   We always have fun.  This year Tiffany came home and we all went out for breakfast and really enjoyed ourselves.  Parade was fun for the kids, then they got to bounce in the bouncy houses, and then we ate lunch and the kids played the kids games.  They all had fun.  The final event was the train ride and poor Brody was asleep before we even left Plymouth on the way home!  He was conked out. 

Tonight is the fish fry at Keith & Bevs for all the birthdays.  I am making Joeseph some fried pickles.  He loves them and while the grease is hot we might as well fry us up some pickles.  Yum.

This weeks going to be busy.  I have to clean my house top to bottom.  It really needs it.  Then Friday I am cooking a meal for Bill's Kruger Field Plot Luncheon.  Then Sunday is the boys & Audra's birthday party out here so we have to get the machine shed cleaned up, not that it's messy, just things put in place so that we can set up the bouncy house next Sunday. 

Well, Bill is here to help me organize some stuff.  I better go get busy again.  Time's a ticking. 

Veggie soup? Ha

Oh my crazy life.  I love it and wouldn't have it any other way, but geesh... could it just S-L-O-W down just a tad?

When I'm home I seem to be busting my butt cleaning, organizing, picking up after two ornery boys.  I love love love to cook.  I try to really cook a good meal or two a few nights a week, so that we can all eat like a family and eat something fresh.  I love knowing what I put into our bodies.  Here lately it's even more important, with my surgery and all.  I need to know the sugars and fat products in the food I eat.   If I happen to eat too much of those in hidden foods, I can get really sick.  I have had that happen twice with different juices, so I try to stay away from those. 

Bill is hosting a field plot luncheon on Friday the 2nd, and I volunteered to serve lunch to all the guys.  I am making homemade macaroni salad, which will be great cause I need that for the birthday party Sunday too, and then baked beans, which I am also having on Sunday, and then Potato salad.  I think that will go great with the burgers and brats that I am grilling up for the guys.   Hopefully he has a nice turnout and some men show up to see the plot. 

The boys birthday is coming right up.  Brody's is the 29th and my baby will be 2.  Cole's is the 8th and he will be 8.  It's his golden birthday and I am super duper excited to give him his present this year!  He will not know what to think!  Sunday the day before labor day we are having an evening cookout here and hosting the boys and Audras party together.  We are renting the kids a bouncy house so they can play and have a nice time.  Just keeping it simple.  None of them need anything. 

I am so busy.  Sunday is Keith and Bevs birthday fish fry.  I need to run to Sams to get supplies for the birthday party, and supplies for their fish fry and the field plot luncheon.  I got a lot of supplies to get. 

I am ready to get this show on the road.  We have a lot to get done between now and next weekend. 

On a plus note... I am doing good weight loss wise.  I am up to 145 lbs lost.  I feel fantastic and am so happy that I am doing so well.  Proud of myself.  Woot woot!

Getting back to school routine in check is not happening so well.  We just can't seem to get it no matter how hard we try!  Cole's in bed by 9:30 or so, but geesh.  It's crazy around here at night!  Poor kid is so rushed in the evenings. 

Old Settlers is Saturday.  I hope we can make the parade and go have a few hours of fun with the community.  My aunt Carla and I always go and love to look around and stuff. 

Time for me to go make some veggie soup with my leftovers from our swiss steak and fixings last night.  I am craving veggie soup.  Weird I know, especially when it was 100 degrees here yesterday.  What am I thinking?  Ha ha ha ...

First Day of SECOND Grade.

We've had a super busy weekend, but now it's time to get in a back to school routine.  Friday evening Cole had Megan spend the night for their final hoorah before back to school time.  He had complained of a head ache before bedtime, so I gave him Tylenol.  They had played hard all day and night and I just assumed he was sleepy and wore out.  He slept all night long no fusses. 

Saturday I worked around home all day long.  I got all the farm bills together, made out some checks, and just cleaned on the house some.  I then took a shower and got ready for Facefest at the Wood.  It's a tribute to a dear friend whom passed away a few years ago.  This is an annual event and this year I was honored to be asked to perform a song with my brothers band Delinquent.  We sang Seether feat. Amy Lee Broken.  It's a beautiful song that I am proud to say Face was alive to see us perform together. for the first time almost  5years ago.  The boys went to spend the night with Jennifer and I knew Cole had a headache and so I sent in the Tylenol for him and some Benadryl because he was acting like it might be a sinus thing?  He said his forehead hurt and was tender and was a bit dizzy when he stood up at times.  He played hard with Megan all day Saturday though, so I knew he wasn't on his death bed or anything, I just knew he didn't feel up to par all the time.  

After the Wood celebration we headed to Mom & Dennis's for breakfast.  It was 2 am, so we got busy cooking.  Biscuits and Gravy, Eggs, Bacon, toast... Dennis cooked it all.  Super yummy and just what we needed to get off to a good start to go home and sleep!  

Sunday morning I woke up early with Bill and went to the farm.  I hung out with him for a bit and then ended up going in to Bev's to visit with the girls.  Bev made an amazing roast for lunch and it was so tasty.  We all had dinner and then I paid farm bills with Bev and then Jenny brought me and the boys home while Bill went to Burnside to load up hay.   Cole and Brody both came home and took a nap for an hour or so, they played then Mom, Carla and Dennis came out and we headed to the pond fishing.  We didn't catch any fish, nothing was biting, but we did have fun sitting there for an hour or so casting and visiting.  Cole crawled in the back of the van and fell asleep right before we left.  We thought he was getting something out of the van and when we checked on him he was out like a light.  That's when I knew he wasn't feeling right.  When we got home he stumbled to his room and laid down.  I went in and took his temp and it was 103.  I gave him Tylenol and he slept while we cooked supper.  He got up and ate a bowl of chicken noodle soup, took a shower and watched a bit of TV with Bill and I and just went to bed.  Brody was out by 8:30 and Cole by 9.    

Today is the first  day of school.  They only go for a couple hours, so I am hoping I will wake him up, he will feel well enough to go and participate for a couple hours, and then hopefully Jeff can get him in to see him this morning?  I'm wondering now if it's inner ear, sinus infection or what?  We will see how he is when he wakes up this morning, but if his fever is high, I am not sending him.  I'd hate for him to miss his very first day, but he has no business going with a full blown fever, especially when I am not even too sure what is wrong, other than the headache and dizzy spells, and fever?  

We met his new teacher Thurs at open house and he loved her already.  She seems so sweet.  Mrs. Jefferson is her name.  I've been told she's pretty awesome.  That's a blessing after last year.  Well Cole just woke up, fevers down and he's ready to go to school, but his mouth is super dry from all the benadryl he's had the last two days.  Plan is go to school, me get him and take him to dr when school is over and we will see what's wrong?    

school supplies

Yesterday was just a taste of what I have been really needing.  I stayed home, cooked food, canned the last of the spaghetti sauce since I got more jars, did laundry, touched on the house a bit.  It felt so nice being able to get things put away around here.  We cleaned up Coles room, cleaned out the van from the vacation clutter, and it's back to looking good again.  Now my laundry area is a bit cluttered up and in need of attention tomorrow, so I will work on that, but for now I have some shopping to do today.

First off I have to go to the hospital and get my arm x-rayed.  Then I go see the surgeon and see if I can get my cast off yet or not?  After that appointment, I get to take mom to Quincy.  Her freezer got bumped and somehow the power shut off to it, so all her food got spoiled.  We have to go to Sams and get her re stocked up.  She lost everything.  I also have to pick up the rest of Coles school supplies.  Thursday night is his open house.  I am supposed to go with him and take in all his stuff on Thurs.  School starts on Monday.  The bus driver called last night, he will be here about 7 am again this year. 

Well I better get going.  I have a busy day of running and shopping.  I am praying that my arm is healing up okay and that it doesn't need anything else done to it.  Good vibes...

Branson

We took off first thing Monday morning, picked up Grandma Trone and headed out.  First stop was Mansfield, Mo for the Laura Ingalls Wilder home Museum & Tour.  It was really neat to see, but the tour guide was a tad too windy for our liking.  What should have taken about 30 minutes she stretched into an hour with her slow speach and rambling about stupid comments nobody on the tour cared about.  She thought she was funny, but was not.  The home was facinating and so tiny.  It was really neat to see.   We just could have done without the dragging dry humor of the tour guide. 

Next stop, Branson.  We went to Branson for Kruger.  Bill had meetings and trainings there.  The company paid for our trip.  It was an awesome hotel, the Radisson.  It had everything you could want, indoor/outdoor pool, weight room, fitness room, spa, sauna, hot tub, business center, lots of restaurants and the people were all super super nice.  We could have had a ball just staying at the hotel!  When we checked in we first went downstairs for cocktail hour with the fellow company members and their families.  We then had a nice supper.  They served BBQ chicken, BBQ Ribs, and Grilled Salmon.  They had different taters, different veggies, salad, and lots of desserts to choose from.  It was an awesome meal. 

After dinner we visited with the Potters, whom we met on the cruise last Feb.  They are awesome people.  We had lots of fun with them.  Bill and Grandma were tired, so was Brody.  We took them back to the room to sleep.  Cole wanted to swim, but the pool was closed because of severe storms, so we decided to head out up the road to the Hollywood Wax Museum.  It was a perfect little date just the two of us.

Cole had a ball there with all the different people to see and goof around with.  He enjoyed taking lots of silly pictures and seeing who was around the next bend!

The Castle of Chaos was another story.  He was a bit spooked out there and said he'd have felt safer if Daddy was there!  Guess I just don't have what it takes to keep him safe? 

He loved the mirror maze. That he went through three times.  Overall our first day was a success.  By midnight we were all tucked in tight in our sleep number beds and sawing logs!

Tuesday morning started out with a huge breakfast buffet with Kruger.  We had french toast, southern scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, donuts, fruit, toast, pastries, coffee, juice, milk, cereal too.  The boys were in heaven!  We got our bellies full and headed out for the day, Bill had a day of meetings till 2:30 so Grandma and I had some time to take the  boys out for some fun. 

First stop the Titanic Museum.  The boys loved it.  They gave you these hand held remotes with a speaker piece on the end of them to put up to your ear.  When you walk through the museum you will see numbers, type in the number you see, press the play button and hear a short description of the items you are seeing in the cases and hear some neat little facts and tid bits about the boat.  We got Brody a player too, so he enjoyed listening to the stories along with the rest of us.  When you boarded the ship you also got a boarding pass with a real ship member on it.  Crew or passenger.  Grandma and I were first class ladies, Cole was an 19 year old kitchen crew worker.  The object was to walk along the museum, try to find out clues to your "person"  we got to see Coles guy... he was in some photos.  At the very end you go to the memorial wall that has each and every 2,000+ person listed in alphabetical order, if your person was underlined you lived, if not, your person perished with the ship.  Grandma and I both being first class women, lived, but poor Cole his guy died.  He really enjoyed finding out that part.  They also had a part where you stuck your hand into 28 degree water to see how long you can stand it.  Cole lasted 43 seconds.  There was an ice burg wall that you touch too, to feel what the ice berg wall felt like.  There was the grand staircase, you could send out an SOS.  There was also a place to steer the ship and a room that was ice cold just like the out door of the ship was the night it sank.  It was well worth the money we spent going there and I'd pay to go back and see more that I'm sure we missed.  We spent over 2 hours there!  It was so fascinating. 

We still had some time to kill after the Titanic and decided to check out what the hype was all about the Butterfly Palace.  It was beautiful from the outside, but much much more amazing inside.  Brody made friends with a turtle right off the bat!

Cole really was mesmerized by all the butterflies everywhere & he even made a new friend that loved up on him for over a half hour he walked around with him!

Cole loved the millions of butterflies, we all did, but he made a little friend whom he carried around all day!

After all the butterfly excitement we were all STARVED.  We hit up the Olive Garden.  Grandma's favorite place to go eat soup, salad, & breadsticks!  Cole & I had spaghetti & salad and Brody had pizza or te-ta as he now calls it!  We got our carb overload and headed back to the hotel in a carb induced coma!  We were sleepy.  We all laid down for some quiet nap time.  I think we all dozed over an hour before Bill finally got out of his meetings and came in ready to hit the town again.  Grandma was beat so she stayed back at the hotel to rest up and Bill & I took the boys out to get our family photos taken.

Both the boys just giggled and giggled over playing dress up in the western costumes!  It was soooo cute and funny for us all. 

We got back into normal times and headed to Ripleys Museum.  Bill loved this place.  He's into all the fun weird facts like that.  He really enjoyed it a lot.  The boys had fun seeing new sights and Cole loved playing with the inventions. 

We got back to the hotel just in time to have a cocktail or two and get set to Ride the Ducks!  We all had a ball doing that!  Grandma isn't too fond of water, just like Bill, but they both had fun with our whacky tour guide.  He was singing and dancing and having a ball!!!  Brody was pooped out, so half way through he zonked out and slept till we got to the Dixie Stampede.  He was a tired feller. 
Not us though, we were having a quacky good time!

The Duck Tour took us straight to the Dixie stampede.  The whole event was fabulous.  Right down to Grandma totally mind baffled that you don't get any silverware.  You eat your entire 20 course meal with no utensils.  She had a ball!  No cameras allowed there, so no pictures darn it!  We each had a whole rotisserie chicken, soup, biscuit, pork loin, corn on the cob, seasoned tater, and a dessert like strudel.  Try eating all that with no forks.  The boys just dug right in and had a ball!  Brody stuck his whole fist into the soup trying to copy Bill and Cole dipping their biscuit!  It was all awesome,  but after eating Brody was ready for bed.  So were we all!  Long busy but fun day.

Wednesday morning I went to a meeting with Bill first thing, then went and got everyone for Breakfast.  Then we all went swimming before the long trip home.  After Bill got out of his meetings we all ate a farewell lunch with Kruger and loaded up and headed out for home.  The first half of the trip went fast, Grandma, Brody and  Cole slept.  The second half drug on.  We left Branson at 1 or shortly after and after stopping to eat in Hannibal at Cassinos Pizza & Subs got home at 8.  What a fun filled few days, but I think it was worth it!  I think everyone else agrees. 

Six months

Wow wow wow!  Thats all that Cole could say after looking at my pictures with me yesterday... here's me BEFORE

And NOW



I am down 135 lbs in 6 months.  He loves taking and looking at my before and after pics.  I think its fun too!

I am a bit shocked myself at my transformation!  It amazes me to walk past a mirror and see the difference in myself.  Things are changing so fast, and I am so happy with myself and my progress.  I don't really give a damn what anyone else thinks about it all, but I am sure proud of MYSELF!  I got asked today to do an interview for the local paper about the myths of weight loss surgery.  I think it's complete bull that some people think this is the "easy way out"  If they want to take a day and walk in my shoes before or after surgery they can, neither was easy, nor is it a way out.  It's my forever life right now, and it's keeping me alive longer, so I'll take it.  I really am happy with my success, but it's been hell getting to this point and I wouldn't wish this on the faint of heart.  My entire family and friends have been such a wonderful support system.  They have done more for me than I can list.  From keeping my kids, doing my laundry, dishes, house work, cooking, running errands, they've stepped up to the plate for me and done it all.  I couldn't have gotten this far without them all in my corner.  Not only has my life changed, but my entire families has also.  Mommy isn't the same mommy I was 6 months ago.  This mommy DOES.  I do the things I've always wanted to do.  I don't look back.  I am trying new things, attempting more, more active, more focused, more determined than ever.  I really hate having this broken arm.  It's keeping me down more than ever I hate it. 

I am not the same wife either.  I appreciate my husband now more than ever.  I know that this man loves me to the moon, he will truly be by my side forever.  He's my rock.  He loved me fat, and I think he's really loving me thinner!  Heck, I love myself more now.  How did I ever get to where I was?  When did I determine that it was just okay to give up on my life?  When and why did I ever allow myself to become so un involved in my own life?  How did that happen?  Bill and I have had so many talks lately about that.  How did we both just let me give up.  How come neither of us ever shook the shit out of me.  He's just too understanding for me.  He really let me get away with a lot of crap when I was fat.  I made fat excuses for everything.  I just threw in the towel.  I hated myself, I don't know how he didn't hate me too.  He tells me that he just loved me, and he knew the real "me" would surface again one day... well, here it is and I'm BACK.  Better than ever and I LOVE my life and all my people in it. 

6 months ago I never could have imagined THIS day.  I just could not ever put into words the amount of life and energy I have every day.  I NEVER had this before.  I never knew what I was missing out on till now, because I have never had this.  My only regret through this whole thing is I really wish my dad could see me now.  He would be soooo PROUD of me.