Christmas Day

Unfortunately for me but fortunatly for all the laboring women, the job I chose never closes... even on holidays. So lucky me I got to work Christmas eve. A very crazy Chrismas eve. Wanna hear what happened? Well, with out providing too many details we had 2 STAT c-sections (thankfully both moms an baby's were ok) 1 really really sick mom.We a baby that was not doing well at delivery, the docotor ended up using a vacuum to help get the baby out but the baby wasnt breathing and they called a code so NICU had to run out of the OR where they were about to do an emergent c-secion on a 23 weeker to this other pts room until another NICU team got there. That baby ended up in NICU then they called another code in the OR so more NICU ppl came down and that baby ended up in the NICU. It was an intense night. One of the things I love about my job. you never know what is going to happen and things can change within less that a second. Pretty cool.
Anyway,When I got home Christmas morning, we did presents with Ryder then I went to bed. My awesome husband got me/us tickets to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra! How cool! The only problem is that I'm scheduled to work that night so I am frantically trying to find someone to switch shifts with me. I slept for all of 3 hours and 45 minutes (NOT enough time) then we headed over to my inlaws to do Christmas with them and all the nieces and nephews. I totally would have enjoyed it more had I not been so sleepy but it was fun to see Ryder actually get a little more involved in the excitment this year. Last year, he turned 5 months on Christmas so he was pretty much just a blob but this year... ohhhh man, those boxes were awesome. He loved tearing the wrapping (After we started it of course) then once it was unwrapped, he just wanted to sit on the box or push it around. Didn't care much for what was in it but seriously loved the box. it was cute. Overall it was fun, a little too much yelling if you ask me, stresses me out a little along with some other things that I wont add but, another fun exciting Christmas with memories to last forever!!!!! It was hard not being with my family for the 2nd year in a row but we will have Christmas with them when they get back from Kansas. Im equally excited! =)


Ryder with Daddy



the neices and nephews and a very sleepy Ryder who's hair matches the couch (lol)



Ryder and Alyssa escaping with a unopened box

Christmas with Beth!

My dear friend Beth, whom I've known since 7 th grade (eep!) Has become one of Ryders adopted aunts...and she SPOILS him! a few nights ago I get a text from her saying I have something for Ryder, will ya'll be home tonight? I'm thinking she's so sweet, she got him a little toy!HAHA. She and her roomie and her mom and dad all bought him some gifts and it took them 2 trips to bring everything in. MERRY CHRISTMAS RYDER. We have truely been blessed with amazing friends and I'm so greatful that Ryder gets to have all of them involved in his life!

Ryder and Beth

Ryder, Beth and Ashley

Gotta do what daddy's doing.... So cute!

Thansk Beth!

Poor Baby Ryder

The bone scan showed a hot spot on his right leg so the MD ordered more x-rays. So, off we went for more tests. FINIALLY an answer. The x-rays showed a nice broken bone. His little fibula (the smaller of the 2 lower leg bones) was broken. They said it showed on this x-ray b/c his little bone was already calcifying and thats what we were seeing. personally, I think they missed it. It was a little frustraiting having to go through all the other tests but I am relieved they found out what it was and it wasn't anything more serious. Dont know how he managed to do this. We have some ideas but really aren't sure.We went back to the orthopedic doctor and he put a boot on his leg. He has to wear it for 4 weeks. It pretty much the cuttest/ saddest thing. He has adapted well to this new addition. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

still waiting

I am so proud of my baby Ryder. He did so good today. It boke my heart this morning when I watched him walk into the kitchen and go over to the pantry and say "peas!" fully expecting me to walk over and make him some oatmeal. oh it was sad. We did lots of distraction today. He FINIALLY got something to eat at 445 today. shew!!! He did excellent. He did a lot of sleeping. He has never just fallen asleep anywhere b/c he was tired. Usually he fights and fights and becomes a little monster but today... he fell asleep a few times. Between my mom and I we probably walked at least 5 miles around the halls waiting before and inbetween procedures. See pictures below of our walks. He eventually gave up and just laid back and enjoyed the ride and eventually fell asleep. oh and the red on his hands is from the wagon, not blood. His doctor called and said he would get the results in the morning and he'd call me then.... so, we wait........... patiently. and my mom drove me nuts like I suspected but I was still greatful that she was there.



FINIALLY!!!!! SLEEEEP



IV bandage =(

the plan

Rydes kick'n back with some kix

So, monday morning rolls around and Ryder's limp definately hasn't improved but might have worsened a little. I paged the pedi this morning and we now have his bone scans scheduled for tomorrow. Its going to be a looooong day. He cant eat any solid food after 6am, the clear liquids must stop at 10 (when we arrive at the hospital). We will get checked in an his first scan is at 1200. They will take us to radiology, put Ryder to sleep, start his IV and inject the dye, then go for the first scan. After, he will go to recovery where we will be until 200, when we will go back to radiology, he will get put back to sleep and the second scan will be done. Please pray that I would have patience with Ryder. I know he will be scarred, tired, hungry, maybe in pain etc and all those on a normal day try my patience. Im not sure what outcome I'm praying for either. I dont know what would be better. Them finding something and treating it or not finding something and we leave not know why Ryder is still limping. :/ Please pray that somehow Ryder will understand what is going on too. Jeremiah cant come tomorrow b/c of work so my mom will be coming with us. I REALLY need patience with her. Right now, she is on my last nerve. I know she is my mom and I am glad she is coming but I could really go with out her comments and opinions about the matter. Anyway, I'll let you know what happens.

Ryder see.....Ryder do:

Update on Ryders limping =(

Started limping on Saturday. Jeremiah took him to the MD on Monday. They orded x-rays and labs. Everything came back normal. He is still limping. Doc ordered more labs today. Still came back normal. So now he said, If he is still limping by Sunday night, page him Monday morning and they are going to ADMIT him and do a bone scan. a little scary. They think he either has an infection in his bone or swelling in his hip joint. I pray its nothing more than that. He's been through so much in his 1 year of life. I wish I could trade places with him so he could stop hurting. Poor baby he's a hard stick too and they stuck him a few times b4 they got blood return and he was just screaming. It was so hard to watch them hurting him for his own good. my heart ached. I'll try to keep things updated on here as I find them out. We are just watching him now to see if anything gets better. Please pray that he starts improving. Admtting him to the hospital and keeping him just wont be good.
I took this after his Bath on Tuesday morning. You can kind of see him limping. Its worse now =(

Life needs to SLOOOOW down.

It feels like last Thanksgiving and Christmas was forever ago but somehow time just flew by. It doesnt make sense but it makes perfect sense. So much has happened since last holidays I just cant believe it. Ryder turned 5 months on Christmas day. He is now 16 months and such a little toddler. I love him so so much that words just can't explain it. He and Buddy play all the time. I found out the other day at work that the dog we found 16 months ago, Buddy, is worth a crap load of money and is one of the best dogs for kids. God is good.

Best Bud's

Work is going well, I think. More often than not I am very overwhelmed and "just run" goes across my thoughts but God has blessed me with absolutely AMAZING coworkers. They are so helpful and I hope someday soon I can be like them. I've been able to experience everything from good'ol natual childbirth, Emergency hysterectomys, uterine ruptures, uterine inversions, Fetal demies's, pregnant 14 year olds, ppl comeing in who are 35plus weeks and just found out they were pregnant (I had lots of questions for this individual. I dont understand how you don't know know your pregnant but oh well.) I have delivered 3 babies with my hands without a doctor. My favorite was when the lady came in at 509 and delivered at 511. we barly got her in the bed. it was a little intense. I have a few breech babies that had to go back for "urgent" c-sections. Many of my pts have told me I'm their favorite nurse and that helps so much. I love being able to bond with some of them and really be apart of their babies delivery. Last month they said we delivered 500 babies and that was sort of low. my eyes got a little big b/c I thought we were pretty busy. Shows how much I know. There are now 11 nurses that are pregant... must be in the water or something. DONT DRINK THE WATER!! j/k.

Grandpa and Grandma

After having lunch with Luke and Noah (see post below) Ryder and I made a stop at my dads offfice to say hi then to the house to say hi to my mom.

My dad works on the 12th floor of the big white building on the Right on 75south just after going under 635. He has a great view! my dad is an Avation Attorney and had tons of little airplanes all over his office and of course, Ryder wants to hold all of them. My dad held him and Ryder pointed out all the cars and the birds that flew by and flew an airplane all over the window. cute cute.

Off to the house to say hi to mom....

Picking up acorns... yay!

CRASHED after a busy day

Luke and Noah!

I used to nanny for a family in Highland park while I was in nursing school... their dad is the owner of 106.1 Kiss FM. AWESOME family. I learned a lot being with them and went through a really rough part of my life with them. They were with me through our wedding, my entire prengancy, Nursing school, some of Jeremiah's hospitalizations and just some tough times. Looking back at those times they sort of became my escape from life. Those boys sort of became like my boys/brothers b/c I was with them so so much. I just love them. They made me laugh so hard and in 2 seconds flat could make me so irritated. I started working for them about 2 months after I found out I was preggo. They got to see Ryder grow. When I got bigger they would love to feel Ryder move and would almost fight to feel. Noah, the youngest talked to Ryder through my mouth every day. It was so sweet. He would say. "Kristina, get down" so I'd go to my knees. " open your mouth" he would say so I would. He would then say very seriously " You are not an alien, you are human. This is Noah, I'm your friend. you are in your mommy's tummy here on earth. Do you know my voice? this is NOOAHHHH. OK" then he would pat my belly and run off. EVERY time I came over, that was the routine. I went back to work for them 2 weeks after Ryder was born so he basically spent the first 10 plus months over there. They were great with him. Totally protective and loved to show him off to their friends occationally calling him their "adopted" little brother. I had to explain nursing to them both too.. ugh. Luke, the oldest figured it out quickly, thought it was kind of gross but Noah, poor Noah couldn't really grasp it. Didnt understand why all Ryders wanted was milk and why he could drink form a sippy cup. He told me " When I was a baby, my mom didn't just give me milk. She had milk on one side and orange juice on the other." OHHHH I nearly peed myself when he told me that.

I really miss them. I have been keeping in touch with their mom and we decided that today, Ryder and I would suprise the boys for lunch at ST. Marks. It was so good to see them. I only got a picture of Luke and Christine (their mom) b/c I forgot I had my camera during Noahs lunch =( (the smear on Ryder's cheek is chocolate)

this is The Handy's .. my second family =) Cute aren't they??

Poo poo in the potty

Ryder pooped in the potty!!!!! I was giving Ryder a bath the other day and he stared that grunting red face i'm beginning to poop face. I was like "ohhhhh no your not, not in there!" so I quickly picked him up and sat him on the toilet. He looked at me a little scared but he continued to push then he pooped in the potty!!! A little gross but he fussed a little when it was about let go like he was afraid to not feel it or something but ohhh was I excited. I got him down and we said bye bye as it flushed. As I was drying him off I was praising him and being really happy but I dont think he realize what he did. 15 months and pooped in the potty. YAY Ryder!!!! It was totally a one time thing but still. I'm proud =)

Christmas Tree

This year, instead of doing halloween we went and got our christmas tree and put it up! It was pretty exciting. Ihave never in my life put up anything Christmas until after Thanksgiving but this year, we didn't have anywhere to put the tree but up, so thats what we did. I had to go in to work at 11pm so we shopped fast and put it up quickly. Ryder did what he could to help. It is a prelight tree so as we put it together I would say "look at the Rydes, pretty". After that, he would lean into the tree and stare really close and hard at one of the lights, so close his eyes would almost go crossed and say "pitty.... pitty". It was pretty funny. I think it turned out great. see...

"teeee"

"ights"

"pitty"

He's trying to help me "fluff" the tree

Finished product: Pretty

Any Suggestions?

so. Its after 100am. nope, I'm not at work. UGGGGGHHHH! I just cant sleep. I can't even really blame my body for this, I think it's doing pretty good trying to keep up with my crazy new cycles. Although right now, it thinks that I should be awake even though I am telling it, its wrong. I am so desperately tired and very much so want to be asleep like Jeremiah, Ryder and Buddy but, here I sit. I laid in bed for quite some time tossing and turning, listening to Buddy snore and Jeremiah sleeping while periodically checking the clock hoping that it would reveal that I accidentally fell asleep but... no such luck. I decided to get up so as to not wake J by my tossing and turning and occasional sighs of frustration. (I've been wanting to put more pictures up but I'm having issues with the camera. It takes pictures fine but wont put them on the computer.)
I remember when I was younger and still in middle school and high school waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or something and hearing my mom's radio on or stumbling across her in the living room. When I would ask her the next morning why she was still up she would always say that her body was tired but her mind would never slow down. I never understood that until recently. It could be perfect sleeping conditions but the minute I lay down its like chaos in my brain. Does this make any sense? Does this happen to anyone else? any solutions? I start thinking about work and get myself all stressed out and worried, then while continuing to play out bad scenarios I wonder to Ryder and If I'm being a good mom and raising him like I should, then to buddy and the lack of attention he has been getting, then to Jeremiah and how I could be a better wife and support him and how much I miss him and I hate debt then back to work, then to what to get ppl for Christmas then to my bad eating habits and lack of exercise, then about one of my dear Friends over seas, etc... you see the trend. It just never stops and there is always something to think about. Ive tried counting, reading, praying, guided imagery, watching a movie or TV etc. Sometimes one of them will work but now that I'm on nights... really its so hit or miss. I really don't want to revert to taking sleeping pills but I'm almost out of options. SUGGESTIONS??? I sort of miss being in the dorms b/c there was always someone up that I could go hang out with until I thought I could fall asleep. So anyway, this is where I'm at now.... help

RYDER'S VIDEO!
I tried to post this on here but the file was too big or something so here is the you tube link. It Ryder talking on our balcony. Please ignore my ramblings throughout... I Had been up for 36 hours on only 4 hours of sleep. What do you think? he's big isn't he? Oh and sorry for the boxy look, not sure what that's about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqTAWd5xPzo

I cant post a blog without some sort of picture so here are some older ones...

Our first picture as a couple =)

Just having fun!