snap shots

Ryder and Addison... bff's



My sweet sleeping baby




Ryder and Uncle Daniel (my brother)






cutie patooty

need out

The last couple of days I have been in such a funk. Nothing happened per say I just dont feel like doing anything but staring at the wall or sleeping. Nothing bad happened at work but I hate going. Everyone is so nice and helpful and I like working with them but I dont fit yet. Im like a 1st grader trying to fit into and be like college students. NOT going to happen. I have to go through every grade, study, learn, make mistakes, make improvements, strive for perfection, and graduate to the next grade only to do it all again. I have successfully passed pre-school and kindergarden but 1st grade is scary. On my drive to work I pray so hard that I dont kill anyone. Apparently that is a normal prayer of a nurse. comforting isn't it? Even the most experienced nurses tell me that, which makes me feel normal but isn't encouraging. I couldnt imagine doing anything other then labor and delivery. Its the best job. one would think the happiest. BUT, I think one of the saddest too. Last week, I was able to walk through a very difficult exerpience with my pt. I will keep it short so as to not violate any privacy. 2 weeks shy of being full term my pt comes via ambulance. Her water broke. She said she had felt the baby move all day but we couldnt find any heart tones. The MD did a sono and it showed no heart beat. This was devistating the her and her family. So many questions all of which had no answer. So much heart ache that no medicine could take away. After a long night of labor she delivered a beautiful baby boy. He was perfect. The baby had a cord around the neck and the MD and charge nurse believe when her water broke somehow the cord got to tight and strangled the baby. This was very difficult to accept. So many little ones are born with cords around the neck and body etc and they survieve... why him? It was very emotional for everyone in the room. Experiences like that I wouldnt wish on even my worst enemy but they really make one appreciate life. I went home and didnt want to let go of my precious Ryder. I am so thankful for him.

To continue in my funk mood. I love my church but my job makes it difficult to go and get involved. I dont have a set schedule and working nights really throws me off sometimes. Its hard to get involved in home groups when I cant promise attendence. Also, having a 1 1/2 year old also makes it difficult. I miss that fellowship and encouragement. My heart is yearning for God but feel so distant from him. I need accountability, encouragement and Bible studies with other families but dont know how to do that when every week is so different. I dont even know what to change to make it happen outside of quitting my job which I cant do b/c of our finances. We are finially stable then something happens. 2 steps forward 1 step back, 2 steps forward 2 steps back. I'm greatful for the forwards but the steps back are very discouraging. We had officially stopped using credit cards as of a few months ago. YAY us! cut up and thrown out. Then Jeremiah skidded on the ice and ruined his passenger side tires and rims. $1100's later, thats fixed but its on credit. NOOOOOOO!!! That was like 3 steps back. about $100,000 in school debt alone makes me want the throw up. Im greatful for my Education but really? Growing up is fun but I hate is just the same. I love playing with Ryder and wouldnt trade any minute of it. I try so hard to tell myself the dishes, laundry, vaccuming, cleaning, etc can wait until Ryder is down for a nap but as soon as he goes down, I usually crash too. Sometimes life is just so overwhelming and is just doesnt slow down. I'm so tired but have a difficult time sleeping. I want so bad when I wake up and cant go back to sleep to read scripture but cant seem to move. I hope this is just a mood that will pass. I need some sort of divine intervention and guidence.

The few things that bring a smile to my face. Listening to Ryder laugh and talk, his hugs and never ending kisses. His goofy smile when he gets embarressed, watching him dance to veggie tales, Jeremiah coming home from work and being able to spend time a little together. Buddy always being excited to see me and never turing away a good hug. And Ryder's new thing, dumping all the colored pencils out of the box then putting them back in the box, over and over and over again.

Whoever reads this, please pray that my heart conitues to yearn for times with Christ. Pray that a fire continues grows in Jeremiah too. We want so bad to be Godly parents for Ryder. Please pray for guidance as to what to do as far as Godly fellowship with other families. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

bluck

Monday night it just hit me.... I feel really sick. I tried to tough it out in hopes that I could just sleep it off. No such luck. around 1130 I had to run to the bathroom where I spent the next 6 plus hours getting well aquainted with our toilet. (sorry, gross I know) I totally cleaned out all of my inners from top to bottom from the top and bottom. not cool. This blog post I am writing to Jeremiah. He was wonderful. Finially around 330 I called him into the bathroom and he brought me some Ice and something to quench my thirst, which I very quickly threw back up. Around 430, as Im curled over the toilet, he says "this looks familiar" (thinking she's gotta be pregnant!). For those who dont remember or didn't know me then, I spent all 38 weeks and 6 days next to any potty or sink I could find. I was pretty sure one of those times I was going to throw Ryder up. Anyway, I was quick to correct him and assure him this is a different kind of sick. He then, without complaining or saying a word, ran to 7/11 and got me some 7up, gatorade, and pepto yuck. The 7up was great the other 2, came up quicker than they went down. Although, the thought of pepto-bismal is enough to make me gag but I was desperate to get some releif. I was finially able to lay down about 530 as he was getting up and leaving to go workout. He kissed me on the check and out I went.

733 Ryder starts saying "mama....mama... out, mama, MAMA, MAMA OUT" I could hardly move I was still so sick and dehydrated. I managed to get myself out of bed, thank God the walls were there for me to catch myself from passing out. I was shaking so bad and was so weak I almost dropped Ryder =( I put him down and crawled back to the bathroom. Gagged a little grabbed my phone and Called Jeremiah. Without a complaint or anything he said "ok, I'll be right there". He ended up calling in to work and took care of Me and Ryder and cleaned the apartment! He was great. I love him so much and really didnt know he had it in him. Well, Iknew he did but bodily fluids aren't really his thing but he helped me so much. Thanks Jeremiah!

So today, Ryder and I drew him a picture.. see my little artist!! ( and all the poor baby acne from all his drool thanks to teething)

lets see, does it write on me?

"He-aw. Colaw." Translation: here, color.

say "Cheese"

All done! Great Job Rydes!

pictures speak a 1000 words

Before......


After......

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.