My baby, my baby....my baby and me!

Well, let's see...My friend Julie left on the first and we had a really great time! I miss her already! She got to see Lawrence, KS for the first time...she loved the town! While we were in Lawrence I got to see my best friend, Kim while we were there also...it was fun!

On a sadder note...my mom found out that she has breast cancer. The good news is, she has low grade cancer and it is non-agressive. They caught it super early and they are going to take care of it with either a mastectomy or a lumpectomy & radiation. Either choice, the doctor said, has the same success rate so hopefully all will be ok.

Anyway, to make this a "not-so-depressing" blog, I am attaching some cute photos of my baby to brighten the mood! :-)


Look at that face, I mean how do you not want to squish those cheeks?! You can't tell that grandma loves him at all can you? :-)

What fun!

My sister stayed with me last week and we had a really good time. She loved hanging out with Decovin...I don't think she wanted to leave him...:-(

Now my friend from San Diego is visiting me until the 1st and so far we are having a jolly ol' time! She currently lives in Savannah, GA and hates it...she can't wait to move back to SD. I hope she finds a job back there so she can go home...she misses her family lots!

Decovin is getting more adventurous...he rolls everywhere and he is getting VERY good at sitting up on his own for longer periods of time. He has also discovered the joy of splashing in the tub! And when I say splashing I should say SOAKING! He gets me, the wall, the floor and anything else in splashing distance wet as can be! It is crazy how he can get his foot going!

Anyway...that is all I have for now...I don't have any new photos b/c Aunt Christy took them all...will have to wait for her to post some! :-)

6 months!

I can't believe my baby is 6 months old! It just seems like yesterday he was born! Where has the time gone?

So Decovin's new thing is rolling over and over again but only in one direction so he then makes one big circle...so I guess this is his method of "getting around" the house! I definitely have to pay a lot more attention to him especially if I have to leave the room for a minute to go cook or use the restroom...I guess we need to dig out the baby gate! It's all happening so fast!

We also got Decovin's 6 month pics taken...most of you have probably seen them on Kodakgallery, but I will share them here also. Enjoy!

Bandaids are cool!

Decovin had his 6 month shots on Monday and he got really cool Spiderman bandaids! His very first shots he received snoopy bandaids...as you can see, he's very grown up now...

You know what Decovin needs? A glass of water!

Sorry Mom, had to tease you...we FINALLY let Decovin have his first taste of water the other day and we got it on camera...just for you! ;-)
The first attempt he hit it with his hands and soaked daddy...it was pretty funny...we went out and bought him a sippy cup yesterday and hopefully he will like it...I tried today but he only took a couple sips and he was done...we shall see. Tomorrow he gets his 6 month shots and check-up...poor guy...I know he will fight this one...well, until then...ttfn!

Swim, Swim, Swim

So we took Decovin swimming for the very first time this weekend. It was a little cold yet and he didn't like the initial dunk in the water. He gave us the OH MY GOSH IT'S COLD face and then he cried for a minute and then he seemed very mellow the remainder of the time in the pool. We tried taking him under water for just a second but he didn't like that and choked on the water a little. Poor guy. We did take him back again a day later and he seemed to like it a lot more the second time. It had a couple of days for the water to warm up a little...he splashed in the water the second time, he had lots of fun! Just needed to warm up I guess.

On a different note: He is acting like he wants to crawl, he will hike his feet up and push on the ground but he hasn't figured out how to actually move his body forward. He just turns in circles. It is quite humorous. I expect crawling any day now. I thought for a little while he would skip the crawling and go straight to walking but I think he has changed his mind! This should be fun...time to baby proof the house! Any suggestions from mothers about baby proofing besides the obvious of covering up electrical outlets and locking cabinets and blocking stairways? Any ideas are better to hear about instead of experiencing them negatively...

Colon what?!

So today I had to have the dreadful colonoscopy! As most of you know, I have what is called Ulcerative Proctitis (basically, little ulcers in the last 6" of my colon) since I was in 5th grade...fun, fun! So anyway, my doctor has advised that I get a colonoscopy every 7-10 years since my grandpa had colon cancer and recently my cousin had it also. So as a precautionary, I get it checked out regularly. Anyway, all was well...he actually only saw 2" of concern and he thinks it is due to having a baby (take a guess). So anyway...I am ok and glad to report nothing severely is wrong or gotten worse...it actually has gotten better. I have to check in with the G.I. doc again in 8 weeks for a follow-up. So, fun, fun in the Plummer house! How was your day?

Yeah!

3 days before he turns 5 months and he rolled over from his back to his tummy today! It was so awesome! I had the video camera in my hands and turned on but he did it to quick for me to catch it on camera...**dang it** happens everytime! Oh well!

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Bob came out of his surgery ok. It was less invasive this time as it was done through 3 holes they made instead of cutting him open like they did last time...basically he had a c-section procedure before. This time he was up and walking right after surgery, no problem. He would have been released sooner but they won't release you until you pee and he couldn't due to the anesthesia (the nurses said it happens sometimes) so they ended up having to put a catheter (sp?) in him....OUCH! Poor guy, but all is well...he is pretty sore today but doing well.

Third Times a Charm...

So we can't seem to get our decorative wall to stay put...it keeps getting washed away with a good rain...this is the third time it has happened too...it runs all across our driveway and the stupid part is, the actual retaining part of the wall is staying put so that part is fine...any ideas?

On a positive note: Our grass is FINALLY growing and it actually looks nice...we still have some patchy places but we will fix those this fall.

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On a different note: Bob has to have surgery on Monday. They found another hernia (or to be exact, an idirect inguinal hernia)...this time on his right side. He went in initially to have them look at his left side b/c it had been bothering him recently...so the doctor was checking around and found the one on the right side...anyway...she is going to patch the one on the right and then take a look at the left side patch to see if it has torn or whatever. If it has, she will fix it up then, if it is not she would suggest that he might have to go through Pain Management, in other words...shots into the nerve directly. If after the series of shots do not work then they will have to go in and kill the nerve all together. Fun, fun. So he will be out of commission for the next two weeks at minimum...I think he will be fine though after 2 weeks, only b/c she is going to do lapriscopic (sp?) surgery instead of like last time where they just cut him open like a c-section...they did do it on the ship, so what do you expect...anyway...gotta run!

Just a few of my favorites...

Family, Family, Family!

So for the first time in 6 1/2 years we are all together at the same time in the same house! Crazy that it took this long but it was always bad timing in the past for one or more of the members of the family. It is nice to see my brother and his wife and baby girl (who isn't a baby anymore...she is 2 1/2 and has a mind of her own...she is so big and talks in sentences and loves to sing and dance). It is so cute to see her around Decovin too, which she likes to call "Covin", she will hug and kiss him and try to entertain him...she will be a good big sister! Good thing too, b/c she will have a little sister in August! :-)

Anyway, I will try to post some pictures later of everyone when we upload them...we are getting a family portrait taken on Thursday...should be interesting with 9 people...TTFN!

4 months

So Decovin is offically 4 months old today! I can't believe it! He is already eating cereal (still learning a bit) and soon will start veggies. We will hold off on the fruit so to make sure he eats the stuff that is good for him first. Sweet stuff comes later. CRAZINESS!

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Sunday was Mother's Day and it was a great day. Bob gave me the "day off", if-you-will and got up with Decovin and fed him so I got to sleep in a bit...then I got to scrapbook all day while he watched him. I didn't have to change one diaper all day! It was awesome! He made me breakfast too! He wanted to do "breakfast-in-bed" but I woke up too soon. **oops!** Well anyway, we went to dinner that night also and had steak and shrimp, it was really yummy! So for a first M-Day, it was pretty great. Oh and did I mention that Decovin got me a card?! :-) It was so cute!

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Also, Grey's Anantomy ROCKED! I can't believe the season is over, but I won't say anything in case some of you missed it...but let me just say...WOW!

Cinco De Mayo

So, this past weekend was fun. Mandy, Stacy, Ruthie, Judy, Nathan and Abby all came by for a visit. We had Enchiladas (American Style, I'm sure! haha!) and Spanish Rice and Guacamole and SALSA! It was a true Cinco De Mayo...well for us anyway! It was fun and we also semi-celebrated Amanda's 26th B-day too! There was no cake but Snickerdoodles were present!

Today, Decovin went to the pediatrician for his 4 month well-baby visit and got some more immunizations. It went well. He is now 15lbs. 8 oz. and is 25 1/2" tall. He was in the 75th percentile for his height (this shocked us b/c we are both so short), 30th percentile for his weight (surprised both of us b/c he likes his food) and 50th percentile for his noggin. :-) Lots of brain matter I suppose...
Anyway, he is healthy and we like to hear that. She said we could start him on rice cereal and in two weeks add fruits and veggies...I can't believe he is ready to eat food! Where did the time go? He also has a bit of dry skin she called something like Pseriosis, but different...can't remember the name...anyway, it is on his ear and above his eyes and she prescriped some hydrocortazone (sp?) to put on it twice a day...hopefully this works...
Well, this is all I have to report at this time.

My New Favorite Pictures

Isn't he cute? I just want to squish him all the time! :-) He's my little guy and I love him!

Weekend Update

This past weekend we headed south for my grandparent's 25th wedding anniversary party. It was fun to see family on her side that I haven't seen in almost a decade! Anyway, we also bought a new Digital Video camera that records on the mini dvd's...it is AWESOME and we already have filled up one disk! It is so light and compact, easy to use and awesome quality! We are still trying to get Decovin to roll over on camera...it's like he knows it is there and freezes up! He will get it soon enough! Well, anyway...enough of me rambling...nothing real exciting to tell.

Roll over, good boy!

So today for the very first time, Decovin rolled over from his front to his back like it was no big deal. I, of course, squealed in excitement causing my husband to jump straight out of bed to see what was the matter! It was so cute...now I need to finish baby proofing the house...oy vay!

3 Months

Well, on Easter day, Decovin turned 3 months old. On that very same day, he started to semi-grip things...it was like he knew it was a milestone month so he better get on the ball! It was hilarious and awesome at the same time. He is also getting VERY close to rolling over from his tummy to his back...you can tell he wants to and he gets real mad, but can't quite figure out how to get his shoulders to move out of the way...it is quite cute really...minus the frustration cry!

Easter was fun though, I am sure you all saw the pictures...it will be more fun when he can hunt for the eggs though! Can't wait for that! Abby looked like she had fun Stacy! Anyway...

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On a completely different note...we are attempting to fix our yard...if any of you remember...last summer I was in my first trimester and usually trying to find the nearest restroom to yack in! Sooooo, the yard was put on the back burner and it died...so now we have to till and lay top soil down and seed the whole thing...**sigh** What a pain the @$$! Well, it would be nice to get this done, and we could probably wack it out over a weekend or two, the problem is, Bob hasn't had a Saturday off in FOREVER!!! Stupid recruiters aren't making their goals nationwide so they all have to suffer! HELLO, who wants to join the military right now?! It is becoming obnoxious and I think I saw him more when he was on the ship and out to sea! Ridiculous! Anyway...just wanted to vent...I am better now...gotta go feed the little man!

Baby Fat

Well, I am getting closer to my pre-pregnancy weight and I can't believe it! I put on a pair of pants that I haven't worn since July of last year! I was totally stoked when I slipped them on and they were comfortable, and not tight! YEAH! A few more pounds to go and I will be back in my jeans! I can't wait for that! Hopefully before summer hits!

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Decovin is still gaining weight, I am not sure exactly what he weighs right now, but I am gathering close to 14 pounds or so...he's my little eater. I dread the day he starts eating cereal! YIKES!

Toe Discovery 101

Decovin found his toes/feet today...he stared at them like he is in the picture for at least 5 minutes and kept moving his toes and kicking his feet...it just cracked me up...Oh the wonders of the anatomy! I'm just not looking forward to when he discovers his you-know-what...**groan**

Spongy

My son is already addicted to TV! He LOVES to watch Baby Einstein and surprisingly will sit in the living room by himself for about 30 minutes w/o a peep...just staring intently at the TV. Amazing what they must be learning...I wish my brain was still a sponge.






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Milemarker!!!

Today, Decovin lifted his head for the first time unassisted with his arms! He held it for quite a little bit too, as I had to scramble around for the camera just to get this shot! I am so proud! :-)

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On a different note, can I just say how much I was disappointed that Grey's Anatomy was a repeat on Sunday?! I am glad next week will be new...but what a waste of a Sunday...they should be new every Sunday! Geesh...the agony of waiting to find out what is going to happen with Meredith and Dr. McDreamy...come on!!! I'm pathetic...haha!

We are breaking records here!

Last night my baby boy slept for 9 hours!!! I felt like doing a conga line! It was awesome! Well, he is up now so I have to go and tend to the boy...YEAH!

First day of Spring or was it winter?!

HELLO! We had snow fall in Warrensburg on the first day of Spring! Blasphemy! What is that all about?!?!

Cousins, Cousins, everywhere

We had a good time this weekend. We got to see my cousins Amanda & Stacy! We also got to see our 2nd cousins and so on and so forth. We had a really good time!

Here is Nathan & Decovin in their bug outfits from cousin Amanda! Aren't they cute?! :-)**********************************************************************
Here is Amanda and I looking H.O.T.! :-)

Milk Coma

This is Decovin hittin' the hard stuff: **Do not try this at home**









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Current Musician Obsession: Kate Havnevik
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=31073649&MyToken=6E21D632-1236-1470-3362802DF0C8179C18105188

Recent place you might have heard her music: Grey's Anatomy episode 17 "As We Know It", during the Code Black at the end when Meredith has her hand on the ticking time bomb! So GOOD! The song is entitled "Unlike Me"--

2 month well baby visit

Well, I am happy to report we have a healthy boy still! :-) He is now weighing in at a whopping 12 lbs. 8 oz. and is almost 23 inches long. He had his DTaP, Hib-Hep B, IPV, and Pneumococcal Conjugate shots ...now what all of these are, I am not sure...Mandy? Anyway...he started crying before the shots began b/c he didn't like being held down and one of them gushed blood pretty bad but stopped almost immediately after the guy put gauze on it. After the shots were done, he calmed right down and actually fell asleep. I did give him Tylenol 1 hour before hand so that might have helped. I am also happy to report he received his first bandaids also...Snoopy! :-) Oh and he slept for 7 1/2 hours straight last night as well...maybe getting shots is a good thing for him...just kidding! Well, that is all for now.

Smiles!

Decovin is finally smiling consistently when played with! I love it! Especially his gummy smiles like the picture shown! Don't you just want to squish him! **squish**

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Pampered Chef is going well, so far I have two shows under my belt and I have one to do tomorrow and another on Sunday...With each show, I know it will become more like second nature! I am so glad I got into it now! Fun way to earn money!

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Still dreading Friday as Decovin has to get his first set of shots...I hope he doesn't cry, but I know that is wishful thinking! Well, time to go tend to the boy...

Pampered Chef 101

I have my first show tomorrow and I am a little nervous. Mostly nervous about my show and tell presentation of the food. I am not the greatest cook in the world so this should be interesting. Anyway, wish me luck! And if anyone is interested in hosting a show, let me know! **wink, wink**

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Decovin is getting bigger and bigger and he goes in for his first set of shots on Friday. I hope he doesn't cry too much! That will make me sad!

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Today we got to chat online with Jeff (my brother) and Marianne and their daughter Katrina on the webcam. Katrina is 2 years old now and is looking more and more like a little girl instead of a baby. I can't believe how much she has grown up. She saw Decovin on the 'pooter' (computer) and said..."BABY!" and tried to kiss him on the screen...then she grabbed one her baby bottles and put it up to the screen to try and feed him...it was so cute!

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My little prison inmate...:-)

Isn't this outfit cute?! I just put it on him today for the first time. It is courtesy of cousin Amanda! Thanks lady! He looks so cute in it! I just want to squish him all the time! :-) **squishes**

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P.S. Secretly: I can't get over the hat, I want to put it on him everyday...he is going to hate me when he is a teenager isn't he?! haha!

Our little baby is growing up...

So Decovin is already starting to grow out of his newborn clothes and it is sad to me that he is getting that big! I wanted him to stay small forever...he is so cute and I just love watching him develop. He is starting to smile when you play with him a bit...not always but sometimes...it is so adorable when he does! The cooing is SLOWLY coming around...occassionally we will hear him coo but nothing consistant. It's hard to believe that 5 weeks ago I had him...seems like yesterday!

I go in for my 6 week check up next Monday and hopefully I will be good to go! (In more ways than one! haha) I am still having to wear, for the most part, my maternity pants and some shirts...I wish the weather was warmer, as I was enjoying taking walks with Decovin, but since it got bitter cold recently we have been house bound for the most part and I am not motivated enough to pop in an exercise video and work out! I just want to sleep still. When will the state of exhaustion pass? I miss sleep, a lot! However, I can't complain too much. Decovin is starting to sleep for 5 or so hours at a time and for that I am GREATFUL! I am hoping that soon he will be closer to 6-7 hours! Wouldn't that be a dream?! Well, Bob just put short stack to sleep so now I too must go to bed!

Sorry for the delay in post and sorry I haven't sent more pictures. Our computer has a virus of some sort and Bob is trying to destroy it without killing our computer completely...anyway...

Oh and did I mention that I am now a Pampered Chef Consultant? Anyone want to host a party? Let me know!

Our First Outing!

So this weekend was Decovin's first outing (and mine since he was born)! We went to Grandma and Grandpa Plummer's house. They live near the city so we figured if we forgot something or ran out of something they would be the closest to the a 24 hour shopping facility. Good thing we went there b/c we did end up running out of baby wipes!!! At least that was all we ran out of. I packed enough clothes for him for a week! Our car was full of all his stuff...babies require lots of things! I always knew this, but you never REALLY know until you have to pack it all! Geesh!

Anyway...we had a good time and Decovin got to meet a bunch of his relatives. He was all tuckered out by the end of the trip on Sunday. He slept and slept and slept! I was so thankful too b/c he had previously been really cranky and gassy so this was a relief for Bob and I. He slept so good through the night Sunday night that I couldn't have been any happier! :-)

Here is a 4 generation photo of Decovin, Bob, Bob's dad, and Bob's grandpa:

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Oh and I got a new haircut...Bob now says I look like a mom! haha!

2 weeks old!

I can't believe it has already been 2 weeks. He already looks different and is getting a personality all his own. He makes the funniest faces, which means he will be a lot like his dad!

He lost his umbilical cord on Saturday and he has the cutest little belly button! Now we just need his little parts to heal and he can have a real bath instead of a sponge one! He hates being cold and naked (I mean who does right?!) but it just seems worse to keep him exposed out of the water instead of submerged in it partially...We shall see...so far the boy hates being naked period!

Snip, Snip...

So yesterday was "D-Day" for Decovin. He was snipped and clipped below the waist! Poor guy...we didn't stay in the room for the procedure and surprisingly I only cried a little. When they brought him out to us he was calm but every once in awhile would wince and cry. Made me sad. She said we could give him Tylenol every 4-6 hours and to put gauze with vasoline on it for 5-7 days. So far it hasn't been TOO terrible, but it has caused for horrible diaper leaks since we can't put his pee-pee downward like we were doing. So needless to say we have been going through a lot of clothes and blankets! He goes back to his pediatrician on the 2nd to have it looked at and to make sure everything is A-OK. Anyway, thought I would give ya an update.

Here is a picture of my little Punky!

Breastfeeding Update...

Ok, so now we are doing MUCH better!! After getting some prescription ointment for the cracked skin (yes, it cracks and bleeds folks!!) they are healing up nicely and Decovin doesn't feel like he is ripping them off of my chest now! He still has some work to do on the initial "latch on" process but other than that, he and I are doing great! I am so thrilled I stuck it out because I wasn't looking forward to the thought of having to buy formula already and have to wash and clean bottles all the time! So this is a good thing! (I feel like Martha Stuart saying that...haha)

Anyway, if you are pregnant and are thinking about breastfeeding, know this, IT CAN BE HARD TO DO! No one tells you these things, and you think all will be hunky dorey! Just stick out the pain and you will succeed! I promise! :-)

Isn't he squishy! :-)

Exhaustion, Frustration, & Insurance...

So he is 1 week old today. Our growing little bundle of joy has been so much fun to learn yet has also brought on an emotional roller coaster for me that I can't describe other than tagging it as "the baby blues."

I was hoping not to be one of "those moms" that can't control her emotions after birth, but I have just been an emotional wreck and I think that there are things that aided in this that were out of anyone's hands...

1st: Breastfeeding is not easy, so whoever said it was, is wrong. It is a "learned" skill that baby has to learn, no one tells you this and you safely assume they will just latch on and boom, everything is hunky dory! Well, not for me. The beginning was good...he took a bit to latch on but when he did, he ate really really well. Then we were sent home and my milk came in the next day...can we say "ENGORGEMENT MUCH?!" OUCH! My boobs would make Pamela Anderson jealous! Seriously! With this came frustration of getting Decovin to latch on at all...I was so engorged that he couldn't get a good grip (if you will). So I struggled with then having to "prep" my breast for him to eat. This included a very painful use of a breast pump just to get the nipple supple for him. Yeah, not cool! On top of ALL of this, I have dry/cracked nipples which started to bleed even with the use of nipple ointment...it got so bad, I had to get a prescription for a special steroid ointment specifically for this. They are feeling better but still hurt when he first latches on. I am happy to report that we no longer need the breast pump to prepare the nipple and he is getting much better at latching on. This is where knowing that this is a "learned" process would have been useful. I wouldn't have gotten so frustrated with myself and him and tried to relax more. I was so tense that he sensed it and he then became frustrated and wouldn't latch on for his life! This too shall pass.

2nd: Insurance is a bitch! Excuse my french, but it is. The rules are just enough to make you want to punch someone. For example:

We were told that our insurance would not cover his circumcision on the day of our releasement from the hospital (which is when it was set up to be done). They tell us this AFTER the fact...so we have to pack up and leave w/o having the procedure done and they tell us to contact Whiteman Airforce Base and set it up with them to do it there. (I am thinking, ok whatever, they must have to tell military families this all the time so they know what they are talking about). We go home, and I call them the next day (Thursday) to set up the procedure only to find out that, no, they in fact DO NOT do the procedures on base and now that we have been released will need a referral to have someone else do it. So some doctor at the base in the Pediatrician department informs me that b/c it wasn't done in the hospital, now he will have to wait until he is 6 months old to do the procedure!!! So of course, I freak out and cry so much I make myself almost sick. Then the phone calls went back and forth between the Insurance company (of whom tell me that they would have in fact paid for the procedure on the day of our releasement and were apalled that we were told otherwise), the Pediatrician office, my Primary Care Physicians office on base, my pre-natal doctor's office, and the hospital. Until FINALLY on Friday afternoon at around 5pm, I speak with a nice nurse who was kind enough to help me through my hysterical phone call to her...she said that one of the doctor's in the office would do them up until they were 1 month old so we should be able to get this done next week no problem. Sooooo....

She called me back Monday morning and we have his appointment set up for this Thursday at 9am with my pre-natal doctor in her office. **sigh of relief** I am really dredding the trip though as I know he will be in a lot of pain and I am worried this will throw him off his awesome sleep schedule. He currently is eating every 2-3 hours and sleeps in between some and at night sleeps for 5-6 hours before waking up again! He is awesome and I hope this doesn't traumatize him. I know I will be traumatized for a few days and I am sure my emotions will overcome me for a few days after that as well. So be thinking of my son and me when this happens, I am sure I will cry the whole day.

Enough rambling for now. Enjoy this photo of me and my son:

He is FINALLY here!

Welcome Decovin Joseph Plummer, Born: January 16, 2006 at 1:13pm weighing in at 7lbs 9oz and 20 1/2 inches long!




It was an eventful day for all of us. After posting my last blog, I thought the day would never come, little did I know it would be a few hours away from "starting!" At 1:45am my water broke. I woke up to go to the bathroom, like I always do and when I got up from the toilet more fluid continued to come out...I was like..."What is going on?!" Then it started coming out a lot more rapidly and I knew it was on like Donkey Kong!

So I called the hospital and they confirmed that I should come in to be checked out. We arrived at the hospital about 2:15am and sure enough, I was already dialated to 3 cm and 50% efaced. So then we were admitted. We called the grandparents to be and then got settled into the hospital. I had solid contractions from the time I got there until he was born and they were consistently about 2-4 minutes apart. Around 5am I finally could not take the pain anymore and requested an epidural. I was at 6-7 cm dialated and 100% efaced at this poing. Epidurals are a beautiful thing! After that was in place I took a nap and felt much better.

I didn't start pushing until a little after 11:00am and so I pushed and pushed and around 1pm the nurse was finally ready to call the doctor, she said "After this next push, I am going to call the doctor in so we can deliver this baby!" Well I pushed and apparently with all my might b/c I couldn't even wait for the doctor to arrive...they tried to make me stop pushing but that lasted all of about 2-4 minutes and I couldn't take it anymore...one more small push and his head came out and then next thing I knew he was laying on my belly in all his glory! It was AWESOME!

He had a hard time breathing at first and had to take him back to the nursery to give him extra oxygen but within 5-10 minutes of being back there he was up to 100% and so they brought him back to us! It was so awesome and I can't describe it other than amazing! I got to watch the whole thing with the aid of a ceiling mirror! Bob didn't get grossed out either in case some of you were wondering and my mom got to be there also. It was truly helpful to have the extra support that I thought I wasn't wanting or going to need.

For those of you with a weak stomach, do not continue to read this blog...

The afterbirth was a bit painful but not as bad as I thought, the only time it really hurt was when the doctor kept pulling on the remaining umbilical cord to try to get it out. I was like...hey, if you want, I can still push ya know! But I am sure there was some reason she was doing it...anyway, it was cool to see. Bob said, ewww, it looks like a liver! HAHA! It did kinda look like one though!

I only tore a little but did require stitches. They said it was a 2nd degree tear and that that was no big deal...After the epidural wore off completely, you might say I disagreed with the "no big deal" statement! I was up and walking about 30 minutes after he arrived and that was painful in and of itself. But, I am doing much better now...still a bit sore, but what can ya do?!

Anyway, all and all, I have to say it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but it wasn't the most pleasant thing either. But man, are they worth every pain you get!

39 weeks

So here I am at 39 weeks and due in 5 days. He has still showed NO sign of wanting to head out. I have had MINIMAL contractions if you want to call them that...I am not even sure if they were a contraction as I felt virtually no pain...a little cramping, but nothing to get worked up about. I have another doctor's appointment on Wednesday and I am hoping to find out more details as far as when they will induce if he decides to wait too long...I am hoping that doesn't happen as I hear that is much more painful than it just happening naturally. Anyway, I feel gargantuan
and awkward and I tend to waddle more than walk. Every time I stand up from a sitting position I instantly must pee and it is always a disappointing "tinkle" with no real relief. It is fun to feel him move around in there and kick and roll, I think it weirds out my husband when he sees my stomach actually move. All-in-all, I may sound like I am complaining a lot, but really it is just because at this point in the pregnancy I think most women in their right mind are just ready to be done. That's all, just to be done and meet this person that you have been carrying inside you for weeks! It is a marvel what are bodies can do to procreate. I just wish the men had to FEEL some of it. :-) They mostly just have to put up with our whining...which I am thankful for but just once I would love for my husband to know what it feels like to carry all this extra weight around for weeks and see how he feels. ;-) Gotta love 'em for trying empathy though! :-) Well, I will stop rambling for now. Hopefully my next post will be that of some progress happening. We shall see after Wednesday's doctor's appointment. Until then...ciao!

Fire Department and Hospital Tour

Last week I went to the Fire Department here in town and they installed our baby seat for us. It is a free service and I am so glad we did it because our particular baby seat wasn't high enough to create the 45 degree angle needed to position the seat due to our deep seats. So they actually cut up a nerf noodle that you use in a pool to prop it up. The firefighter that assisted me was extremely nice and even offered to show us how to properly strap in baby after he arrives. He gave me some pointers that I would have never thought of like until the baby starts getting more meaty in the bum area, we should roll up a receiving blanket and put it between him and the crotch belt b/c they tend to sit so far back in the seat...this makes them more secure. I thought it was a very helpful tip and was thankful for his assistance. I also got to pull right into the garage where the fire trucks were, it was really cool! I am so easy to entertain, I swear! :-)

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Last night Bob and I did a tour of the Obstetrics area at the hospital. We got to see the laboring/birthing rooms. They are quite nice and they come standard with a jacuzzi tub so I can labor in there if I wish. The nurse that gave us the tour was SUPER nice and I am hoping she is there when I go into labor...Anyway, we should be all prepared to make a dash to the hospital and know exactly where to go. I just hope it is soon! Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Here I sit, STILL!

Well, here I am at 39 weeks and still, NOTHING! I just went to the doctor again today and she measured me and listened to his heart rate, but no actual exam. I haven't lost my mucas plug or had my "bloody show" (sorry in advance if this grosses anyone out, but it is birth we are talking about)...he is still really active and he likes to push on nerves that stop me dead in my tracks. I am getting more and more anxious to meet him! I just hope he doesn't want to stay in there too much longer!

38 weeks

Here is my updated belly shot...ignore my "road map" on the lower portion of my belly...**sigh** I was not one of the "lucky ones."

Disappointed, Party of One

So I am 38 weeks this week and I had my weekly check up with the doctor. I was really excited b/c today was the day she was supposed to tell me I was progressing (well, hoped is a better word I guess). Well, NOTHING is happening. I am like a sitting duck that can't move. Needless-to-say, I was a bit disappointed. I was hoping she was going to say, you are 1 cm dialated or SOMETHING! Nope, nothing, nada! So here I sit, VERY pregnant and barely mobile these days. I keep wondering...how much longer?!

Strep B Test: Negative

I went to the doctor today and my test for Strep B came back negative. YEAH...but the highlight of my visit was when my doctor told me I could take Zantac for my heartburn instead of just TUMS! YEAH! That made me the most happy!

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, I know Bob and I did. We spent the weekend with his side of the family for the most part and finished up with my dad's side of the family for a light lunch before heading back to Warrensburg. We also stopped and visited with my cousin, Mandy, who was recently involved in the car wrecked (mentioned in previous blog). It was so good to see her and my aunt. She looks really good and I she seems to be recovering nicely. She still has a couple surgeries to go through, but she seemed in high spirits! Anyway, we visited and went out to eat at Applebee's, where we proceeded to wait for our food for over an hour b/c the waitress "forgot" to put in our order...SOOOO...we ate for free thank's to Mandy! All we had to pay for was the drinks and so it made for a very inexpensive meal with awesome company. Did I mention that it was also Bob and I's sixth anniversary? :-) Crazy huh?

Well, that is all I have for now. Keep in touch!

This is me and my cousin, Mandy:

Strep B test complete...

Yesterday, I went to the doctor to have a Strep B test done. Basically, it is performed in pregnant moms-to-be at or around 36 weeks to see if you carry this particular bacteria. It is safe in a non-pregnant state but if you are pregnant it can be harmful for baby during delivery and could cause infections, etc. So if you DO have it, they put you on antibiotics to kick it before delivery time! I won't know until next week if I have it or not. I will tell you this, the test is not that bad, but never-the-less, it is not something I would want done everyday mind you! :-)

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I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season and if you are traveling, take extra care! I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted...seems like time flys when the holidays arrive!

Oh Yeah!!!

Yesterday it snowed for the first time this season! It did it just for me on my birthday! It was a great gift, however, I forgot how much I dislike driving in it...:-( That was a tad bit stressful!

34 weeks

I am now 34 weeks and I have one more visit to the doctor in two weeks and then I will be seeing her weekly! My next appointment sounds fun...vaginal exam to test for a bacteria that can harm baby if not taken care of pre-birth...some women have it and some don't ...it is no big deal if you have it when you are not pregnant apparently but if you do have it while you are, they put you on an antibiotic to reduce the chances of spreading to baby. Fun, fun!
Overall, I think I am just ready to be done. My doctor informed me that as long as you reach 35 weeks and then start labor, they won't do anything to try and stop it...so after next week, I think I will start wishing for him to come EARLY! :-) (as long as he is healthy of course).

My cousin is due any second now...she has had contractions on and off but baby can't make up its mind...crossing my fingers for her that he comes soon!

My other cousin was in a car wreck and scared us all half to death. She was hit head on by an older man who swerved into her lane. She is doing ok, but has suffered two broken bones--one in her pinky finger and one in her big toe and also a dislocated hip, of which they had to knock her out just to put it back into place! OUCH! Needless-to-say she is in quite a bit of pain still and I am thinking about her constantly and hoping she has a speedy recovery. Worst is, she is in Chicago and none of her family can be there with her. She has a family friend that is with her but still...Missing her bunches right now!

Thanksgiving Success!

Well, Thanksgiving was a hit and I think everyone generally had a good time. It was fun but I paid for it the next day. Bob and I went to bed around 11:30 that night and I ended up having to get up at around 1:30 for bathroom trip #1 of the evening and I seriously thought I was going to have to wake up Bob to assist me there because I was in THAT much pain. So a couple Tylenol later and some more R&R and I felt better by Saturday. It was great to have everybody there though! Good to see all the family...well most of them anyway.

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We put up our tree on Saturday evening. It is a 9 foot pre-lit tree and it looks AWESOME! I LOVE IT! I just love Christmas decorations.
Here is our tree:



















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Here is my updated belly shot...I am currently 33 weeks:

Hiccups

So I went to the doctor yesterday for another check up and when she was checking his heart rate we noticed he had the hiccups! It was so cute! Thought I would share.

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Getting ready for Thanksgiving, doing a lot of last minute shopping for groceries, preparing the house for 16 guests (not including Bob or I) and trying not to doddle...speaking of, I gotta get to work...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner...

So I have decided to have Thanksgiving at my house, as most of you already know, and I am starting to feel a TINY bit overwhelmed. Not b/c I can't handle it, but b/c I feel bad that I can't help Bob really clean the house and get it ready for everyone. I will be mostly concerned with having enough room in my fridge for everything and making sure I have everything I need to prepare a Turkey Dinner. My parents are coming up the night before and mom and I will start preparing some of the cuisine then. I am really looking forward to them coming. They haven't been here in a couple of months...so they haven't seen the nursery yet with all its furniture and decorations, etc.
Of course the family members that cannot come will be missed greatly and we are all bummed they can't be here to join us. I am worried about Stacy traveling so close to her due date...regardless if it is only a 2 hour drive or not! Sure we have a hospital here in Warrensburg, but I don't really want to have and "emergency" during the holidays! So be careful Ms. Stace...:-)

30 Weeks...

10 more weeks to go...
Went to the doctor's today and everything is good. My gestational diabetes test came back all clear! :-) I really had no worries about that though. Decovin is doing well, his head is down, but he hasn't dropped yet so he COULD potentially move all around still, which is what I think he does ALL day and night to drive me crazy! LOL! But I do enjoy it at the same time, kind of cool to know he is just sitting in there, chilling! :-)
This may be T.M.I. (Too Much Info) but I have been having pains in my pubic bone/groin region and the doctor tells me that this is very normal. She explained that the cartilage at the base of the pubic bone naturally gets thinner or something like that and that eventually my pelvic bone will adjust in some fashion when he drops that will cause the infamous "pregnancy waddle" in some women. Anyway, it hurts and I don't like it and I am not looking forward to the drop stage...
We almost have the nursery squared away, we just need the bedding and a glider and we are all set! ;-) His parents so graciously bought us a new crib and it is FABULOUS! I love it! We purchased the matching changing table also and it now looks like an actual nursery...I have already pre-washed a good chunk of his clothes and anticipate a few more loads after baby shower #2 and baby shower #3. :-)
For those of you who didn't see my progression shots already...this is what I currently look like:

We all fall down...

So I went in for my latest doctor's appointment last Thursday to do my scheduled test for Gestational Diabetes. This is standard procedure and they request that you eat or drink nothing with sugar in it before the blood draw...soooo, I got up in the morning, ate one piece of bacon, one piece of toast and one egg. I usually have my snack around 10am but I had to go in at 10am to drink this AWFUL sugar filled drink that has to sit in your system 1 hour before they draw your blood, and once you drink it you cannot eat anything until then...so when I came back an hour later, I was feeling shaky and ready to eat...but I had to have my blood drawn first. They sit me in the chair and begin the painstaking process of finding a vein (after two pokes usually they find one)...so normally I have NO problem AFTER they poke me looking at the blood coming out into the tube...except for this time! I looked at it and became VERY woozy and almost passed out...I thought I was going to throw up or something. The nurses got me some water and a cold wash cloth for my head and some animal crackers to snack on. After about 5 minutes, I was all better. I have never been that close to passing out in my life...it was kind of scary. The doctor said it was b/c I had all that sugar in my system from that drink...I was just glad it was over so I could go and eat something substantial! :-) I won't find out about the results for a bit, but I am sure I do not have it.

Oh and I also start going to the doctor every two weeks now...it's getting closer to Decovin time! :-)

Uncomfortable Much?!

I am now starting to get into the uncomfortable phase of my pregnancy and I still have a WAYS to go! My back is increasingly in pain along with my butt bone and my feet keep swelling no matter how I much I watch my sodium intake!! I'm doomed...I got a massage yesterday...that was AWESOME, but it just made me realize how much I need one more often...I hope Santa gets me one of those again for Christmas! I am even considering hiring this lady to be my Doula, it is expensive but not as expensive as I thought, plus then I wouldn't have to have Bob keep "attempting" to rub what hurts during my contractions, etc...I'm tossing it around anyway...Bob hasn't said one way or the other about it...he just says..."oh yeah?" I'll keep trying...

Anyway...I have a busy week set up for the Halloween festivities...two parties and a pig roast...should be fun...I will take pictures of my costumes for everyone to laugh at! :-)

I've put in my notice at my job and I will continue to work full time up until the 14th of November and then I will go to part time (10-2) up until the 9th of December. Then I am done...I will use this time to prepare for Decovin's arrival...anxiously, nervously, painstakingly, etc...I can't wait to be done with work though...I know a lot of my pains come from sitting in a crappy chair and typing all day...I try to get up and around as much as possible but work still has to get done...we shall see how much more I can TRULY put up with!

So, I think I have decided that after I have Decovin and get settled into a "routine" if-you-will, I am going to look into becoming a Pampered Chef Consultant...So if you want anything, you know where to go! :-)

Mandy, it would be so great to hear from you again...I know you are uber busy, but we miss you in the BLOG world!

26 Weeks...

So I am now officially in my 3rd trimester! WHOO HOO! And now I am starting to feel uncomfortable...my back hurts a lot more often, my belly feels stretched to the max and I keep getting cramps that the doctors have now informed me are due to Decovin's growth spurt...and that this will likely continue as my pelvic bones start to separate in preparation for birth...YIPPEE!!! Aren't us women lucky! Why don't they teach this to you in health class?! Well anyway...enjoy the buddah belly!

Baby Shower #1

This was very successful, 30 people were in attendance and we received tons of gifts! It was a lot of fun and my sister-in-laws did a great job of throwing the party! There was good food and good company! I have to admit my favorite gift from this shower had to by the rocking horse my sister gave us...SO CUTE! She even bought him a cowboy hat so he can role play! How fun is that?! Thanks Aunt Christy! But a very close 2nd was the Jeep Renegade walker that his mom bought us. As most of you know Bob is obsessed with his Jeep and Jeeps in general so this just adds to Bob's excitement as he plots to make his son just like him. :-) Thanks to all that came!

Pre-Natal Class=BORING!!!

So Bob and I started our prenatal classes a couple of weeks ago and so far we have learned absolutely nothing! It is like reliving high school health class where everyone starts snickering the moment the instructor says words like: perineum, anus, vagina, or penis. It's ridiculous, yet I laugh too! Our instructor is an older lady...I would say in her late 50s early 60s and she is VERY monotone! Makes for a long 2 hours! Plus the chairs they give pregnant women to sit in are HORRIBLE! Can we say "back support" people! COME ON! We get a break about half way through but sometimes that just doesn't cut it. Next week should be interesting though...lamaze...we shall see...

Miscellaneous

Ok, seriously...be thankful you don't have to sit by people with extra gastricjuices that brew all day and have no shame of letting them rip with people in ear shot...maybe she is just used to my co-worker's deafness...HELLO!! GROSS!!!

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So we went to my parents house this weekend for a bit of a family reunion...it was a blast and I forgot how much I missed outdoor cooking and camp fires! We all ate so much food it wasn't even funny! We all got to meet my Aunt Mendy's "in-laws" from Australia and they were the most delightful couple. I think they enjoyed the cookout too!

I also got to pick pecans, haven't done that in years. They are just starting to fall now from my parents trees and I had fun hunting for them in the grass. Bob got to go 4-wheelin' on my Aunt and Uncles toy and he had a blast too! It was an eventful weekend and the weather was perfect too!

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My cousin, Stacy, is having a hard time with her hubby being deployed. This is his second go-round to the middle East and this time he will be gone in total for about a year and a half! They have a 2 1/2 year old little girl and she is pregnant with their 2nd child and due in December. She is starting to feel the pains of separation and having to deal with being a single mother yet again and having to deliver her child without her husband anywhere near! He won't get to meet his new baby until it is over a year old if my calculations are correct. I do not envy her but I think of her often and hope she is doing well. I love you Stacy! Hang in there!

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Mandy, you still alive? You haven't posted a blog since September 30?! Miss your funnies girl!

Dry Mouth/Bad Breath Syndrome

AKA: halitosis...Seriously people there is help out there! Find it! Remember the "walking farting lady" I referred to in one of my previous posts? Well, she also has this horrible syndrome to boot! Being anywhere within earshot is dreadful...the constant smacking of her tongue against the roof of her dry mouth is enough to make you want to punch something...it's like nails on a chalk board...it gives me the chivels just thinking about it...even worse if you are in smelling shot...her breath is worse than taking a big ol' whiff of cow manure! GROSS!!! Ok, I'm done venting...

Weekend Work

So this past weekend Bob decided to take on the HUGE challenge of building a retaining wall in our front yard by our stairs...he got started and it is LOOKING AWESOME...I can't wait to show you all pictures, but he is at a stopping point right now b/c our stairs have a crack in them and we are waiting on the builder to come and look at them before we go any further otherwise we will just be ripping the wall right back out. After this is all done (stairs and wall) we will then proceed to work on our grass...as it is DEAD! Our neighbors must really love us. Oh well, we are trying.

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I am looking forward to this weekend at my parents house. Bob hasn't even been to my parents house since we have been back...he has seen my folks, but just hasn't been to the house! Can you believe that?! We have just had a crazy summer...too many weddings! But I am looking forward to the cookout like no one else can imagine...I have been craving a weenie roast since I left the Midwest!!! Cast Iron skillet cooking here I come! I am also thrilled to see my Aunt Mendy and Uncle Jim and his parents. YEAH! Fun for me!!! :-) HURRY UP FRIDAY! I think Saturday is the craft festival so I am also looking forward to going to that too!

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On the baby note, Decovin is a kicking away and just have a grand ol' time in my belly! :-) I had a check up last Thursday and his heart rate was good and so was everything else...I have one more visit in 4 weeks and then it goes to every 2 weeks until 36 weeks...I am getting excited. Bob and I start a PreNatal Class tomorrow that last for 6 weeks...I am also looking forward to it, but I don't think Bob is...LOL!

Mail Box go boom...

So I get a call from my neighbor today during work hours...she proceeds to tell me that some little old lady in a JAGUAR (go figure!) hit our mail box today and flipped it all around and it is all out of whack...she got the nice little old lady's phone number and she also gave the nice little old lady my number. The nice little old lady called me also at work and left me a voice mail apologizing profusely and offering to pay for the "fixing" of the post that is now mangled below ground...Poor Bob...just one more thing to add to his "Honey Do" list...**Sigh**

Fetal Brain Drain in action!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I forgot to mention this already!!! Bob finally felt Decovin kick on Monday night during football...I think he is going to be a sports fan! Bob was like "Weird, I can't tell if that's you or him!" I told him it was Decovin cuz I can't make my stomach do that normally...HELLO! I was excited he got to feel him though! WHOO HOO! GO DADDY!

How pregnant am I?

So my mom and I got into a discussion last night about how pregnant I was...I told her I was just about 24 weeks along and she was like...no you are only 5 months along...it took us awhile to figure out that some months only have 4 weeks and other have 5...plus you should really count weeks b/c it is more accurate and the normal gestation period is 40 weeks long...SOOO...I'll leave it up to you to calculate how pregnant I am...lol! I am tired just thinking about it...