New Day Drive

We offically have a new address! We closed on our lot on the 22nd and things are underway. This week we have fill dirt delivered and forms. Next comes the rough plumbing, electrical and then our slab can be poured. We are hoping that happens by the end of next week. our builder said that once the foundation is poured we have roughly 75 days and that things will move quickly! We picked our brick last weekend and then we will pick out the stone and tile. I'm so excited! I really just want to be able to walk our house so that I can get a good feel for the rooms and layout. This past weekend, we went furniture shopping and I got a great deal on a new table and chairs. I also found several options for living room furniture, just need to decide on if we want a sectional or couch and chairs.

For my memory: the brick is called Port Edwards by Master brick

Brody turns 4

I cannot believe my first born is 4! He turned four Feb. 20th and we just celebrated at home this year. We really want to get the boys a playset at our new house so we decided to skip the party this year and put the money we would of spent towards the playset. We had cake, ice cream and decorations at my parent's house and this past Sunday we celebrate his and daddy's birthday over at my in-laws. We still owe him a day at the bounce house place during Spring Break :) hard to believe he was ever this small! We went to Dr Jones that Friday and he did great on his eye test but would not do his hearing! He's 40lbs and 49 inches tall(I think!) 90th percentile in both!

Back in the saddle!

This is the longest blog break I've ever taken! I love blogging but life has been so busy!

There are so many things that have gone on and I know one day I will want to look back and refer to these things. So, I will definitely be blogging more often from this point forward (fingers crossed)

September - I went back to work from maternity leave at my new job! #1 reason why blogging took a backseat. My schedule during the day is crazy, busy and I've had to work more on the weekends just to prepare for hectic weeks. I love my job, even though it is the same grade, it is completely different dynamics and way of doing things.

October - Jaxson turned TWO! We had a party at the bounce place, which both boys loved!
Brody finally started playing soccer vs. just sitting on the sidelines. He is so shy that it is painful! He warmed up and got use to it and towards the end of the season he played on the field. His favorite position was definitely goalie.

November - Was a great month! Brandon and I started thinking about a bigger house. We found a great deal on a HUD home which prompted us to put our house on the market. We missed out on the HUD home but got an offer on our house (the day after the HUD bids closed!). Our house was on the market for 9 days during the Thanksgiving week and we sold and had to be out by Jan. 4th!

December - was completely crazy with the holiday and moving. We all ended up getting sick over Christmas (2nd time I've been sick during Christmas in the past 3 years) and ended up just staying at home recovering. Then it was mad trying to get everything moved and in order with 3 kids. We moved into my parent's house until we figured out what we were doing (buying vs. building).

January - was spent looking a various houses and looking into building. We found our dream neighborhood and started working with an amazing builder. To our surprise, everything worked out on paper for us to go ahead and start the building process of this amazing home! We are so excited and feel so blessed for this opportunity. It is a one story, 2640 sq ft. 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom plus a gameroom. It is literally my dream home.

Brody - is about to be 4 in a week and is Mr. I can do everything and tell everyone what to do. He's so loving towards his 2 younger brothers! He is still into trains and building things and recently loves the IPAD and Legos.

Jaxson - Mr. Indepedent and has come into the "MINE" attitude, which I don't blame him. He loves Fireman Sam, has a ferious love for his daddy and is so loving towards his baby brudder. He is into everything and is one to watch out for.

Landry - is 7 months. STARTED CRAWLING this past week! His FIRST TOOTH came into just today and loves to smile. He is such a cuddle bug. He's had some anemia issues so we have had to go back to the hematlogist and we are in the middle of running some genetic test to see if it is Alpha Thallassemia.

Here are some pictures of the past 4 months and some pictures of a house that will be like the one we will build but different colors.

Brody starts soccer

We have been waiting for this day since he was first born! B and I both played sports growing up and know what a positive influence it can be for kids of all ages. So we were very excited to sign him up this fall. Brody also loves to play soccer around the house.

He, on the other hand was a little overwhelmed at practice! It didn't help that he didn't have a nap. He wouldn't do anything!! And was so intimidated and shy :( it was hard on momma! He's always been one to take his time adjusting to new things and new people, so I know he will get there ! I just hope it's sooner rather than later! Love my sweet boy

Landry: 2 months

Cannot believe a month has flown by! I barely have time to keep up with my house let alone blog :( But here we are, Landry turned 2 months today. We went to his doctor and he is looking good. He is now 7 lbs 11 oz. and 20 inches long! He gained 2 lbs in one month. The doctor checked his platelets and red blood cells before giving him his immunizations and his platelets were 233k (highest they've ever been) so we are safe to assume his platelet issue is resolved. But now his red blood cells are low and he is anemic. His red blood cells have been enlarged since birth and we aren't sure why but we were hoping it would be nothing. We will continue to watch his red blood cell production and go back to the hemotalogist on the 20th for a recheck.
He also favors his right side so has a slight flat spot that we will be working on to get rid of. The zantac that he is on for reflex is working wonders and helps a great deal!

He is sleeping pretty well at night. Usually goes to sleep around 9 pm and wakes around 2-3am to sleep. I'd be a smart momma if I went to bed when he does but that's when I get stuff done around the house or just relax from the days activities. I'm assuming I will be going to bed around that time when I return to work!

He is in newborn clothes still but is almost getting too long for them and is wearing a size 1 diaper. He nurses every 2 hours during the day and longest stretch is above and then will wake again around 6am to begin the every 2 hour feeds.

He started smiling this week and I absolutely adore it. It isn't the I'm filling my pants smile either :) he also absolutely loves his carrier! I can put him in it and he will zonk out for hours! I return to work on Monday and I'm dreading not having my 3 little sidekicks with me! I'm going to miss them so much even though work might be a vacation compared to taking care of 3 kiddos so close in age!

Landry: 1 month

I'm a week late with Landry's 1 month update but hey, at least I'm getting it done now :)

We took him to the doctor this past Tuesday and he was 5 lbs 11 ounces and 18 1/4" long. He gained almost 1 lbs in 2 weeks which is great and also grew another inch, 2 inches since birth!

Dr. Jones looked him over and gave him a great bill of health. I had a concern because he only turns his head to one side, prefers to eat on one side and sleeps with his head one side. I was worried he'd get a stiff neck from it or a flat head. His right side is a little more flat but nothing to be concerned over yet. Dr. J gave us some exercises to try. He's so stubborn about it that I will swaddle him and turn him on the other side only to find him turn to his preferred side.

We also had the Early Childhood Intervention consultant that day. Any child who is behind in development because they were born early or were small for gestational age qualifies for these services. We will get monitored to see if Landry falls behind in any development and if so then he can have therapy to catch up. It went well, he failed in all his areas just because of his weight, gestational age, birth history, etc. I'm not concerned, I think he will catch up with time in all the areas he needs to be at. But until then we will monitor him.

On Thursday we went to the hematologist and his platelets were 139, down from 2 weeks prior but there were also several clumps that the machine didn't count so we think the number is higher. His red blood cells are still enlarged so we will monitor and go again in 2 weeks

My friend Mandy came out and took some AMAZING pictures of Landry. I'm so thrilled with the shots she captured. With Jaxson, he was awake the entire time, Brody was too young to get any pictures with and we only got a few really good shots. With Landry, he was awake as well (little stinker) but zonked out towards the end to let Mandy do her work. We got a ton of really good pics. My house and work is going to be covered in wonderful memories! Thanks again Mandy! You are so talented.

Life as a family of 5 & Csection recovery

We have settled into a new routine as a family of 5. Landry has been with us for 5 weeks now and it's as if he was a missing piece to the puzzle. The boys absolutely adore him and going from 2 to 3 kids has been a lot easier than from 1 to 2. I think it is because Brody and Jaxson have each other to play with and entertain one another, where before I was Brody's playmate and then couldn't play with him as much once I had Jax.

Logistically it is harder. Getting 3 kids ready to go, finding shoes, packing bags, getting them in the car is exhausting just to go for a drive or over to the parents house. I haven't ventured out by myself with all 3 yet except to go to my parents. Even just running an errand I ask if someone will go with me and then they sit in car with kids while I run into store. I can't imagine going by myself into the store with all 3 or going out to dinner, that might have to wait a few years :) It's a lot of work but it is definitely worth every ounce of sweat and tears, lol.

My recovery is going slowly which is extremely frustrating. With the 2 older boys I was fine after a week or two, could lift, clean and do all the things I like to do just fine. Here I am 5 weeks out and I'm still in some pain in one area of my incision (I think I have a stitch sticking out still that didn't dissolve! yuck ) and still can't do the things I want to do. If I lift Jax out of his crib or help Brody onto the potty I pay for it later in the day and am in pain around my incision site or my muscles around my pelvis are sending sharp pains throughout. I don't know if this is normal or if I've done too much from the beginning that has slowed my recovery but it's not fun. I can't not pick up my kids or do things around the house! I go back to the doctor the 24th so hopefully I will get some reassurance that it is normal and will just take time.