Funny

Last night we were playing the OH so fun "where's Tatum game?"

She was running around "I runnnnin" the house.

When she would put the bag on her head she would stop dead in her tracks ... 

We would all say "where's Tatum?' 

You all know the game -

Each time she removed the bag we would say "There's Tatum" 

okay so here is the funny - 

After about the 3rd time of me saying "there's Tatum" 

she would pull the bag off her head and say "thre she is" 

the next time she would say "I fnd her" 

It was so funny I almost peed my pants! 

She also got to the point where she would have the bag on her own head and say "were tata."

She is amazing me with all that she is saying now! 

PS I tried to video it, but every time I tried she would stop. 

Gotta get her used to the camera - when you pull it out she says "picher cheeeesss" and pauses for you to take her picture - she doesn't get that we are trying to take video! hahaha   

Whisper

Whisper

I am whispering this post ...

I am afraid if I say it out loud it will all change ...

The BOY ... the Hell Pest ... the one I haven't been enjoying ...

He has turned the corner!

He is human!

He still has his moments, he still spits up a few times a day.

He still requires being rocked to sleep.

BUT ...

He is sleeping so well!

He is NOT crying near like he was!

He is smiling a lot!
FINALLY at 8.5 months he is giggling.

That is the best sound ever ... I never thought I would hear him laugh!

But yep he is ... he is giggling, and he is too too cute!
Thank God he is so cute or I wouldn't have gotten to see this part of him! hahah

Please keep praying for us ... I hope this post doesn't bite me in the ass!

PS he has been doing better for about 3 weeks ... I was scared to write about it before now! haha!

Me and My BE otches

We call ourselves the SnowBE's.

We all went to college together.

As the years have passed we have all be there for each other!
This weekend was just another one of those weekends.

It was Lisa's Bachlorette Party.

She is finally getting a middle name!!!

I had fun, and it was so nice to get away from the babies and the hubby.
But to tell you the TRUTH ... I missed them so so much!

It was almost like a panic would just take over me.

I would be sitting there laughing having a ball then BAMM I would be crying.

It is SO overwhelming to be away from them.

I love my girls, I LOVED my time with them,

but I hope that leaving my babies will get easier soon!

I will see them all again soon ... we have Lisa's wedding in July.

Naji bachlorette party in August, and her wedding in November.

I love you all ... I had a blast!

No words

I am in a rut ... I don't have much to say other than WHEN?!

Wont you all pray that the courts will hurry UP and get us in to hear our case.

Oh wait ... have I told you?! Do you know what I am talking about?!

Work -

My work sucks right now. We are on the brink of bankruptcy.

2 weeks we have had to hold off payroll and my dad and I have had to wait 2 weeks for our pay.

We have a $451,000 lien on a job. Not to bore you ... the contractor bonded it off.

So the job was able to get the CO (certificate of occupancy) and now we just wait.

The Lawyer said it could be MONTHS ... Months ... are you serious?!
We wont make it months.

So you add that to having 2 babies under 2, a workaholic husband and the fact that my dad is 63 and does not deserve this ... you can say I am a mess! Yep a mess!

Pray for me!

Great day

So yesterday was the ABSOLUTE best day EVER with Bowden.

He was an angle ... I don't think he cried all day ... matter of fact I know he didn't!

He took 3 naps ... 2 20 minutes and 1 that was almost 45.

He played and smiled all day! He was so much fun!

However ... Tatum was SICK! She ran a fever on and off all day! Runny nose and bad cough!

Today Bowden was back to his same old ways ... cried all day and didn't sleep at all.

He now is sick and has the fever and cough. It is horrible!

I am glad that I had yesterday with him ... makes all of the bad days worth it!

Easter

Sorry it is late - here is our Easter in Pictures!

Tatum is taking her Bubbie down the slide with her ...

This my friends is why I have not given him away yet ...

isn't he just adorable!
HAHA this is what they would say if they spoke adult language:
Bowden - "why is she yelling like a cheetah?"
Tatum - "OMG give me my basket!"
Bowden - "Hell no - not until you quit hitting me in the head!"

Did you guys know she could wear something other than pink?!

My gosh we make pretty babies!

In honor of Madeline

Madeline Alice Spohr

I am so confused, scared and concerned for this family.

I have been a lurker of their blog for a long time.

I never really commented ... I didn't want them to see me complain about my baby boy, when they had real problems. So when I went to the site and it said that she was in the hospital I started to pray. I don't know what happened or why. I have no words to express just how horrible I feel for them. I have no thoughts or ideas on how to make them feel better. I AM going to donate, but really will that help?!

I will be praying, praying for them to find comfort within each other, in God and with the fact that little Maddie touched us all. I am so glad that they had the chance to know her, to live with her, but WHY WHY did she have to go?! I didn't even get a chance to meet her and I just want to lash out and yell at the top off all mountains ... BRING HER BACK! Love to you all and my you find peace with this some way or another!

Camping ... but not in the rough

My company (I am part owner of the construction company I work at) did SO bad last year that I got HUGE taxes back. Now ... since we did do so bad I offered that money back to my company. I offered it up, and my dad told me NO! (I love you daddy, haha hehe can you tell I am spoiled) Said company pays my taxes every year, but when I tried to give it back my dad said we deserve a break ... to go and buy something we want, but would NEVER finance or buy ourselves. SO ... we did it ... we bought a Travel Trailer!

It is 30' with 2 slide outs ... one in the living area/kitchen table and one in the kids bedroom.

We bought it 2 weekends ago (C*raigs List) and didn't waste anytime taking it camping ... We went to a local campground, Ocean Lakes. It was awesome! My Parents have a RV ... 36' 3 slide outs and yes it is very very NICE. Nicer than some people's homes. We usually go with them, but when we went on the last trip it was hard with 4 adults, 2 kids and a dog ... so Andy and I started looking at Travel Trailers. Knowing it was just a dream until our other house sold ... but when my DADDY gave me back my taxes we JUMPED on it!

The inside of the camper ... living area
Master bed room ... not much room on either side of the bed, but we just jump on it and go night night!


The back bedroom ... it has bunks and a entertainment area ... we used it as the diaper changer ... haha has just enough room for the pack-n-play!


We put a baby gate in the door way ... I heard very bad things about the doors not latching well ... Bowden loved the camper, he didn't sleep well at all! (not unusual) but he was happy the rest of the time.



Tatum enjoying a snack on her rocking chair. She loves the RV ... she has been in my parents too many times to count and she LOVES ours - she can't wait to sleep on the bunks ... we are trying to make something to make sure she can not fall out of. Also because Bowden still doesn't sleep well she slept in a pack-n-play in my parents camper.
OF course the campground was on the BEACH ... I can't wait for consistently warm weather!

Bowden's first hand full of sand!

He is going to be walking very very soon!

Me and my babies. Even though being a mommy to Bowden is by far the hardest job I have ever taken on I do love them both dearly! Thank you God for my beautiful babies!

My Family!!!

Different Dr

Well I have been doing some research ... and some asking around ... it seems that some mommies SWEAR by they chiropractor to help with Acid Reflux. SO .... today my friends I took my 7 month old son to the chiropractor! I was so so scared, however when we got there it was easy as pie. NO crying, NO whining, and really it went all too well. NOW ... wait and see if it helps at all. We were asked to come back tomorrow, I guess to make sure that he is still in line. The Dr showed me the 4 trigger points on the body that effect Acid Reflux and all 4 trigger points were "out of line." I hope that this works. - Best part of all of it ... IT WAS FREE!!!! Our Chiropractor doesn't charge on children until the age of 18. OMG why didn't I try earlier?! He had mentioned to my mom that we should take him in, I was just scared. Our 10 days of meds is up, we will be going back to the Dr. this week and getting a referral to a specialist ... maybe the Chiro will fix it all?!

Stay tuned tomorrow I am posting on our first family camping trip ... we bought a travel trailer and we went to a local camp ground. We had a blast, the babies did well ... all except for baby Bowden and his sleeping. OH Well one day he will sleep ... I just pray it is soon!

Distant

I am here, I am alive, I am sorry that I am/have been distant.

I haven't been leaving comments, but I have been reading.

I know that one of my blog goals was to one day have 50 comments.

I know I WILL NEVER have 50 comments if I am not posting or commenting myself.

But really ... why do I want those 50 comments?!

What would that prove or mean?!
I can not spell, I am not good at expressing myself and mostly I write about boring baby stuff.

So why is it that I want 50 comments?!
I dunno - just did.

Today right now I am letting that GO!

I am GOOD with letting it go!

I am over wanting 50 comments.

I am still having problems "loving" my son.

He is getting better, So many more times a day I do love him.

He still has very bad days, but they are only about 1 time in a week.

He is so darn cute I could kiss him to death.

(lucky for us and him he is cute, I don't know how I would love him if not, haha)

Then he starts screaming, Tatum starts screaming and it is a mad house.

I really think Tatum starts screaming to get more attention than him ... even though she is SPOILED ROTTEN and gets SO MUCH attention!

But with that being said ... blogging is on my back burner, I do read ... I read my blog roll everyday! I am sorry I have not commented ... I am here with you all!

Love you - miss you all and I am praying for all of you! Please pray for me too!

This week we went BACK to the Dr with Bowden. We tried the 5th formula, and then the 6th. The 5th he was allergic to ... that stopped after bottle 2 ... we are also on a new "spasm" med. Also back on the Axid ... which I think does not help his sleeping, but I really think he is in pain ... and the ONLY pain the Dr thinks it can be is acid reflux. SO ... trial and error again ... we are now on a soy formula. Can't tell if it is working yet! Tatum was a extremely happy baby I do not and CAN not expect Bowden to be that happy but I can PRAY for him to be comfortable. I fear every am, afternoon and evening that there is SOMETHING wrong that we are missing!

Night Night for now ... I am open for some hugs, kisses and prayers!

Pictures

I had a few requests for some before pictures of me ... so here ya go

This is Labor Day of 2007 ... Tatum was 3 months and I was not yet preggo with Bowden!

This is October of 08 ... Bowden was born in August of 08

I think this was my heaviest. (210lbs)

This is January 09 ... just before the "life change diet" started!

Now ... much lighter and feeling better ...

I am now at 180 ... my goal weight was 175 for Naji wedding ...

I just readjusted that to 167. (I know weird #, but I didn't want to push too much and I wanted to be realistic!)

In the picture below ... I LOVE, LOVE how big my pants are!

Sucks to have to buy all new, but that is a great problem to have!

Andy took this Monday AM ... it was Bowden's first day of Day Care ... I will blog about that tomorrow!

So are you changing your life? Are you working out?! Eating Different?! Share with me! I will hit a flat point soon!

My Weight Secrete

I got several e-mails and several comments telling me how HOT I looked ... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I thought maybe since most of us have at one point or time struggled with our weight that I would share with you my secrete.

A few things:

It was NOT my sickness! I was sick with a head and chest cold ... not a tummy cold.

I have not been HUNGRY at all!

I have been eating 4 - 5 times a day!

Step 1 ... Get a support team. The hubby and I joined our local rec center ... Choose to Loose ... it is like the Biggest Looser, only local. Our support team is our family! (Well his family) they are all on our team! We are very open and honest, we all weight infront of each other, we measure in front of each other and we tell ALL!

Step 2 ... We bought smaller plates. Smaller plates = smaller portions!

Step 3 ... get rid of all good things in your pantry ... yep the girl scout cookies you just bought ... donate them to the day care, or your childs school!

Step 4 ... Go shopping ... buy all YUCKY things ... just kidding! Really we bought all low fat or NO FAT! Really it was hard for a few days, but now it is EASY! It really doesn't taste bad! We switched to only wheat pasta, no sugar (Splenda only), no fried food, wheat bread! Instead of YUMMY fattening snacks we are eating fruit! Also ... lots and lots of chicken and turkey. Turkey ground in things instead of ground beef is really good!

Step 5 ... eat breakfast! Something small and with fruit!

Step 6 ... I am eating out everyday at lunch the same I was before, but now I am leaving 1/2 of all the serving on my plate! That is the RULE leave 1/2 of what the restaurant gives you!

Step 7 ... know that you are HUMAN and you will fumble!

Step 8 ... I promise that if you stick with the good for you food, you will just like it. We went out of town last week and both of us by day 4 had upset stomach from the food we ate!

This is a change of life ... not a diet, not counting or watching what you eat ... just changing what or how you eat it! My friends this is what I did ... we have been doing it since February I have lost 14 lbs, went from a size 22 to a 16. My hubby has lost 31 lbs and has went from a 42 pant to a 38. Today 4 guys at work asked me how much weight I have lost ... NO THEY DO NOT READ my blog! They saw it ... it made me cry! I am proud of my self ... the next step is starting to work out! That will be a little while ... with the babies it has been VERY hard to find anytime, but I will very SOON!

So good luck to you all!

ALIVE

I am sure you are ALL very sick of seeing that title, but I am here! I am Alive! My baby boy turns 7 months old tomorrow ... and I really have missed it ALL! I have been having a rough time ... with being sick and Bowden still not sleeping well to be honest, I have started to slip. Slip mentally that is. I have not been happy. It has been very very hard. I NEVER imagined it would be like this. The BOY REQUIRES constant and I mean CONSTANT attention. He cries so much. I made ANOTHER appointment to see the Dr. I really think something is wrong with him. It has been hard and I HATE IT! I have missed so so much of his life because honestly I am mad at him. As much as I have tried to push that away and fully love him the way I should and I have tried to ignore his needyness, ( not sure if that is a real word, but I am using it!) but seriously it has been so so HARD! Now I do have to admit things are starting to get better ... I FINALLY have been having at least 2 moments a day that I just want to kiss him to death and love him ... but with Tatum that was constant ... with Bowden it is very minimal ... but at least it has started! I was really starting to worry! I have talked to my Dr. it is not me, I am not depressed with me, him or my family. I do not have PPD he is just difficult. While I haven't enjoyed him, I have never thought of hurting him or myself. I am not in a depression ... I wish I were, or at least I wish my Dr had said I was ... haha for now a very very small *Zanix when I get overwhelmed is helping.

On a good note ... he is smiling a lot more now. I think he will be crawling by Friday ... he has got it down pat, but only for 4 moves and then he spazzes out. He has started eating "graduates" the little melt in your mouth finger food things ... that makes our dinner much more enjoyable! For the most part he has started to sleep more ... 2 day naps around 1 hour each and night time waking up once. He has been eating food and likes homemade better than canned. (He likes it thicker) He is wearing 6-9 month clothes. He LOVES a bath and I can't wait to start bathing him and Tatum together! It will be so much fun! Still no hair, but neither did Tatum! He is starting school on Monday next week, I am hoping that will calm some of his needyness. With us he gets constant attention because we can't stand to hear him cry ... maybe they will help us break that.

Thank you all ... all 3 of you who still read me ... thank you for your Prayers ... I know you all pray for me, cause I pray for you!

We did go for a small camping trip ... last week we went to Atlanta to the races (sorry Chris we didn't have a car and I didn't want to burden you with coming to see me ... I know you JUST as busy as I) We left for ATL on Tuesday ... 4 Adults, 2 kids, and 1 dog in a RV from Tuesday - Monday. Bowden DID NOT SLEEP AT ALL! Tatum did well and I really had a hard time with them ... from 9 am - 3 pm one of them was asleep so that meant that one of us had to stay in the camper with them ... something we have NEVER had to do ... one of us missed a lot! It was sad for me! But we did have fun too ...

Tatum and Bowden playing with the etch a sketch!

He may be a pain, but he is adorable!

After 4 hours in their car seats, we let them out of them to look out the window for 10 minutes ... they did really well going back into them after diaper changes! I was surprised!

Tatum in her P*epsi hat!

My Hubby and I with Bobby Allison ... yes we got HOT passes from a friend! Spent 3 days in the Pits ... best thing EVER!!! PS ... can you tell how much weight I have lost?!

GOing back

YEP - we are going BACK to the Dr. I am still green and snotty ... Bowden is still green and very coughy. Tatum seems to be the only one that is doing somewhat better ... are you praying for us?! I mean geeze can we get a break already?!
In the mean time ... Bowden is on all 4's ... he is thinking about it, but just not moving yet ...

We tried to give him his first Mohawk ... however he is missing the most important thing ... HAIR!

I can't leave Tatum out ... so here ya go ...

Last but not least ... Check out my new ride ...

I am alive, but barely!

Well so far I have been to the Dr 4 times in 2 weeks.

Bowden has been 3 times in 2 weeks.

Tatum has been 3 times in 2 weeks.

Tatum is on her 3rd round of PINK EYE!

We have bleached and bleached everything I can see, I just can't figure out where it is coming from!

Bowden is on his 2nd antibiotic and still green as all get out, but he didn't show any signs of pink eye today!

I am now on my 3rd antibiotic, a steroid (yes I admit it too!) and I had a cortisone shot on Friday.

I am starting to feel a little better, but my ear is still very nasty. Oozing all kinds of pretty green, bloody stuff! If it is not significantly better by Tuesday I go to a ENT.

Andy still to this minute is not sick and has fought most of it off. 2 nights he was in bed by the time I was done bathing Tatum. However besides needing extra sleep which may be from picking up my slack is all he has.

I am worn out, very exhausted and today I decided it would do us all some good to get out of the house, by the time I showered and got my hair dried I had to sit down for 5 minutes.

I am hoping and praying this goes away soon!

The last 8 days ...

Starting last Tuesday I took Tatum to the Dr. she had a upper respiratory infection, and pink eye. We only got eye drops for her pink eye. Dr said the cold was Viral "It is viral, no meds it will play it's course."

Wednesday I took Bowden to the Dr. he had a HIGH FEVER, upper respiratory infection, pink eye. Got drops for his eyes. Dr said the cold was Viral "It is viral, no meds it will play it's course."

Thursday was Bowden's 6 month appointment, we went to the Dr AGAIN. Said his chest was still clear, no meds and he got shots.

Saturday I woke up sick as can be, went to the Dr. I has strep throat, ear infection and upper respiratory infection. Of course I got meds.

Saturday later in the day, I took Bowden back to the Dr ... he was having a hard time breathing. Dr said I am going to give you a antibiotic, but don't want him to have it until Monday ... I filled it that day and gave it to him. He was still very green and nasty ... still had pink eye.

This Monday I took Tatum back to the Dr. She had a fever, and stuff oozing out of her ears ... I guess it just comes out with tubes. We got ear drops and were told to continue the drops for her pink eye.

Wednesday (today) I went back to the doctor my antibiotic isn't working. Well my ear infection got so bad, I blew my ear drum. I have pink eye in both eyes and was put on a Z Pak.

Wednesday (today) called the Dr for Tatum ... told then she is still sick, still running a fever and her ears are nasty still. They FINALLY called in a antibiotic, and some stronger ear drops.

So dear Internet will you pray for us?! I need all the help I can get. Playing mommy with sick babies and sick myself is harder than I ever imagined. I am needing all the prayers you can spare me!

Happy Valentine!

Happy Valentine from US to all of YOU!!!PS Make sure your sound is up - she is too cute!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

No more smiles

Well BOTH ... yes BOTH babies are sick!

I am so tired I can't see, I can barely breath.

My body hurts, and my head hurts so bad!

Tatum has PINK EYE and a horrible cough.

Bowden has HORRIBLE upper respiratory infection.

And you guessed it - neither is sleeping!

Which in turn means we are not sleeping either!

We took 3 steps forward with Bowden and his sleeping ...

but this cold has sent us 8 steps back!

I am on edge and going to bed - love you all dear Internet!
One day I will be back!

All Smiles

This past week with Bowden has been a HUGE change. I am not sure what happened, but he has been happier in the day and sleeping so much better at night. We still have some work to do but he seems to be on a 2 day schedule ... sleeps 2 nights 12 hours then wakes the 3rd night for about 1.5-2 hours around 1am. Then sleeps again for 2 nights. Guess what ... I WILL TAKE IT!

He has been napping well every 3rd day. That is usually the day he wakes at night. The other 2 days he is only taking 3 very small 20 min naps. I can't even get the toilets cleaned in 20 minutes so I can tell you all that our house is suffering.

It is not near as clean as I am used to it being ... and part of that is because we had to let our house keeper go. She was not doing as good a job as I was paying her for and when I confronted her can you believe she was a bitch about it. Seriously ... she came every other week ... we cleaned up all toys and "junk" before each cleaning ... I picked up all the rugs, and made sure there were NO objects on the floors for easier vacuuming and moping. We made sure there was NOTHING on the counters so wipe down could be done quickly. Oh yeah and I caught her using our products which was not part of the "deal." Even left her a very nice Christmas Present and can you believe the letter she wrote that day said "Andy, have to raise the price ... I expect the increase next cleaning" didn't even say thanks ... So I called her that minute and said "______, did you get our gift?" "Oh yes Miss Kim, thank you so much it was lovely" ME: "okay, well about the increase if you are using our products, we are picking up the majority of the house and all you are doing is the bathrooms and floors why are you increasing?" Her: "Times are tough" Me: "No shit, you should be glad that we are still using you." Her: yes mama I am, but my husband lost his job" Me:"well we stay at our price or you wont have a job here either." Her"well I need the extra money." Me: It was nice having you work with us, I wish you luck in the future, but I don't think we will be using you any longer." I hung up ... we have 2 companies scheduled to give us a quote this week ... it has been 3 weeks since the other lady was here.

Wow - sorry about that ... I was posting about my good babies and just went off there ...

Hope you are still with me ... cause I wanted to show you the smiles at our house the last 2 days!

Tatum is a WATER BUG -

Bowden boy has been getting more and more "smiley!" I just say his name and he is all smiles! I love it - this is what it is supposed to be! What ever corner he has turned I am glad we made it without killing each other! I know it is not over, but the smiles and the little better sleep makes life so MUCH more FUN!

Project Cry it Out: FAILED

Last night was NO GOOD! Something about Tuesday Nights. That is when Andy Bowls.

Bowden must know his Daddy is not home and take advantage of me.

He started to cry around 8:45 - I did the every 15 minute thing for about 1.5 hours.

He was asleep around 10:15 then he woke again at midnight.

He was up from Midnight - 2am. (Andy usually gets home around 11:45)

Andy asked if I wanted him to go in and get him, I told him NO he is going to cry.

I let him cry until 2 (going in every 15 minutes, patting him, paci in mouth and even sucked his nose a few times)

Finally at 2 I gave in, changed his diaper, sucked his nose, gave him some Zyrtec (he couldn't breath through the snot) and gave him a bottle.

He passed out of exhaustion during his bottle. I put him back to bed.

Crawled in my own bed and as soon as I started to fall asleep he started screaming again.

I was PISSED!

I got up, grabbed the boppie and put him in our bed - propped up so he could breath better!

He slept until 7:15.

AACK! What is it about Tuesday?!