The Misadventures of Kaia (and Cole!)

2008-05-09T16:34:00.003-04:00

Kaia-Spring 2008 Age:4
Cole-Spring 2008 Age: 2

Fall...

2006-08-20T20:57:00.001-04:00

It's nearing the end of August. And the end of summer.The days are starting to cool. The air in the evening has a certain smell to it. A nip that wasn't there before. Tonight as I watched my kids play outside, Kaia yelling in her little voice for Cole to come and get her, and him moving his chubby little thighs as fast as he could with a huge grin on his face as he crawled. I felt myself feeling like I was going to cry. Another season is gone and my children are just a little older. I wished I could freeze frame this moment in my mind forever. This image of Kaia with a huge smile on her face and laughing and Cole grining in his sweet baby way. Kaia will be three in a few months and Cole one. I wonder if they will remember these little moments. Somewhere in the deepest part of their minds,their souls even. It might be vague just a rememberence of a laugh or a smile. The way the air smelled. Or a feeling. But I hope this will stay with them. This golden perfect evening when all was right with the world. Just us enjoying one another and the beautiful night. Not the times of frustration over something that in the scheme of things is nothing at all. Or the constant nagging when we are late. Any one of the billion moments when its so easy to forget that they won't be this age forever one day they will move away from me. They won't have chubby thighs and laughs that echo in the evening. They won't run to me for kisses. They'll grow up and become adults with their own busy lives. Childhood really is fleeting. I hope I can remember that and stop more and forget the other things and just enjoy my children as they are now. They won't be this way forever.

Update..it's been a long time coming!!!

2006-08-19T09:05:00.000-04:00

Wow. Ok. So I haven't posted in an incredibly long time. I just couldn't do it. I thought about it many times. But my family and Nates family started reading my blog. Or at least they knew about it. I started feeling so constricted. I couldn't really post about what I wanted too. Then life just got in the way of life for me. It was too hard. I was feeling alot of feelings that were too hard to express. All sorts of things that I wonder if they even matter now. I did start keeping a mini My*space blog. Then the thought occurred to me. That I was blocking the public from reading it. But the people I was most worried about on this blog. Could all read that one. So I stopped caring. And here I am. I'm not too sure if this all makes sense. I doubt anyone still reads this. But thats ok. I 'm ready. I'm ready to put myself out there again and just do it. This time for me, and no one else. I may not write that well, my grammar may be horrible. But at least I'm finally fully there and ready to express myself. Hopefully I can stop feeling so pent up. Hopefully.

To catch myself back up I'll be copying my myspace blogs here over the course of the next few days. For now enjoy some pics.

Kaia is almost three!

Cole is almost one!!

I've moved...

2006-03-10T12:57:00.000-05:00

sorta.

I started a new more private blog. Leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you the link. I'll still post here and put up pictures of the kids. But the other blog will allow me some more freedom to really write about what I want.Therfore allow me to post more often. Hopefully someone out theree still reads this and they'll want it.....

2006-03-01T14:58:00.000-05:00

I realized the other day I haven't posted any recent pictures of Cole. Can you believe he's four months old already? I do have to thank to the blogosphere for telling me about the Bumbo seat. I never would have heard of them if people on several blogs hadn't mentioned them. This is the only thing that allows me to ever have use of my hands. Because this child if not being held is in this bumbo seat and thats the only time he's really happy for long periods of time (unless hes sleeping).New private blog coming soon. I'll let you know when it's up and running. In the meantime leave me a comment if you want a link to it. Don't forget to give me your address to email it...

2006-02-23T12:34:00.000-05:00

So I have this problem, I neglect this site too much. Mainly because I have family who read this site, and it really limits what I can write about. So I've been looking to trying to find a way to have certain posts password protected. But I don't think it can be done on blogger. So does anyone else know of other sites that are free or cheap? Let me know and hopefully I can start blogging the way I really want...

Oh and I just realized ..today's my birthday..Happy Bday to me!

SPF-Stuff Portrait Friday

2006-02-17T11:59:00.000-05:00

This week I actually got over my fear of total dorkiness sucked it up and played with the cool kids. If you don't know what SPF is go on over to Kristine's site and check it out.

Under my bed: Suprisingly not much just some hangers and clothes. Because I am not that skilled at taking pics I couldnt get a decent shot of everything. So heres the the best shot I could get.
My Stereo: I just use Jet Audio on my computer. Not to interesting.
My Pots and Pans: Since I can't cook they mostly sit in the big ass drawers in my kitchen since I have no other cabinet space.

2006-02-17T01:33:00.000-05:00

Kaia playing her guitar at Great-Grandma's house. There's nothing that she loves more to do then sing and dance and play music. I'll be updating and posting more soon I have been super busy with getting ready for yet another move, more details on this later. In the meantime I'll keep posting cute pics!

Daniel

2006-02-03T00:10:00.000-05:00

Hi all. Once again I'm posting to introduce you to a new person in the world! This is Daniel Thomas. He's my sister in law Aimees son. Poor kid had a really rough start in life. He was born by emergency c-section at 37 weeks and weighed barely 5lbs. He was doing better but is back in the hospital this week for the second time with RSV. No matter what religon you guys are please give this little man (and his tired parents) some thoughts and prayers, I'm sure he could use them!

Go Steelers!!!

2006-01-16T22:37:00.000-05:00

The happy faces of two pint sized Steelers fans.......doesn't Kaia look so content?

Somebody give me a good title for this post!

2006-01-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

Thought you might like to see some recent pics of my little chubby chunkers as I like to call him. This is him on Christmas. The pic of Kai is her grumpy because we kept taking pictures of her! Also go check out my friend Willows new site.

Cole's Birth Story

2005-12-31T12:06:00.000-05:00

Cole's birth story isn't all that unique. Compared to Kaias birth his was the easiest ever. His pregnacy was NOT.In order for me to really tell his story I have to give you the rundown on my last few weeks that I was pregnant with him. I had been having horrible migraines, to the point where I couldn't see in a lighted room and couldn't feel part of my hand. The first time I had a migraine I had no clue what it was! My Ob had to tell me. I'd never had one before. They are horrible. I couldn't sleep because of hip pain, the position Cole was in put extreme pressure on one of my hips and he would NOT be moved. There was nothing the chiropractor could do.So I was pretty miserable, I was in pain from migraines and hip pain. I couldn't sleep more than two hours at a time (getting up to pee only being able to sleep on one side bc of my hip and etc.) and had a two year old to deal with during the day. I was VERY stressed out and ready to have the baby. Then on the 26th the morning of my midwife's appointment I found out my husband was being transferred to another branch of the company that was in another part of the state. And we had about 3 weeks to move. I was not happy, and went to my midwives feeling very frustrated and anxious. We started talking and in the end we decided it would be best for everyone to induce the baby, I had already been 2 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced for a few days with no sign of progress. So it was just a mutual decision that it was best to induce. I know many people would not agree with my decision and that's ok. I did what was best for me and there were many other factors involved in my decision that I don't wish to talk about here. So my induction was scheduled for the 28th just two days away! I couldn't wait.

That Friday morning I went to the hospital at 7 a.m. and got all settled in. I hadn't made any progress. So the pitocin was started around 8 a.m. I had a few visitors throughout that morning. But nothing special happened. They slowly increased my pitocin and my contractions got stronger and stronger. Around 12:30 I was in a lot of pain and decided that I wanted an epidural. I was committed to having this baby vaginally and to have the best experience possible and for me that meant being coherent and not focused on pain but on the baby and enjoying the experience. My midwives were great. They came in and checked on me throughout the day and even ones who were not on call stopped by on their lunch break. (The practice that my midwives are in have 4 different midwives and they rotate days). The anethesiologist came in about 1:30 by this time I was more than ready for my epidural. I hate needles though and getting it was extremely hard for me. They had me sit up on the edge of the bed which wasn't easy with the contractions I was having. I sat there and leaned forward resting my head on Nate and just tried to breathe through the pain. It took about ten minutes before he was done and once he was finished I had a large needle taped down in my back so they epidural could be sent in through the IV. But once that epidural kicked in it was great. It worked wonderful on me I was completely numb from the waist down and couldn't feel even the most major contractions. My midwives came in shortly after I have the epidural to check me again and I had made some progress but not much.(Up until the epidural being checked was excruciating for me but once I had it..it didn't even make me flinch). I tried to nap a little bit but the excitement was too much and I ended up watching t.v most of the afternoon,Nate was extremely excited and was getting impatient so I sent him across the street from the hospital to get some dinner with his father. Around 630-645 my midwives changed their shift and I had my most favorite one of all Kathleen. Kathleen and I got along great and she was everything about a midwife that I loved. Quiet, gentle, almost motherlyish in the way she treated her patients. She checked me again and said that I was 9 centimeters but we still had a little bit of a wait and couldn't start pushing until I fully ten centimeters. She said she had another patient to check on and that she would be back in a few minutes and hopefully I would be ten and could start pushing. We called Nate to come back just to be on the safe side. We didn't want him to miss anything. He was back in about three minutes flat. He ran all the way from the restaurant back to the hospital. A few minutes after that I informed my mother that I had to use the restroom. She asked me if it was because I had to pee or if I felt like I had to poop(Hope you don't mind but this is really what was said!). When I told her I had to poop she went and got the nurse and the checked me again and I was fully dilated and Cole was on his way! Everyone left the room to wait in the hallway, and my mother held one leg up and Nate took the other. My friend A, stood behind my head holding my hand and rubbing my back. Everytime I felt a contraction start I pushed (I didn't actually feel any pain just had a very strong sense that I needed to push). They brought in a mirror and I was able to watch his progress with each push. It was amazing, I got to stop and feel his little head and watch as he came out. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. After only a half an hour of pushing I got to meet my little boy. I think I'll stop here for now. I'll write more later.

2005-12-29T12:26:00.000-05:00

This one is my favorite of all his hospital pictures.

2005-12-29T12:21:00.000-05:00

She looked huge next to him!

2005-12-29T12:19:00.000-05:00

I'm back for good this time here are some long awaited pics of Cole. This one is the first time Kaia ever met him.

No Worries.

2005-12-13T19:29:00.000-05:00

I 'm alive. Very busy though. In the past 6 weeks I have:

Had a baby.
Had TWO birthday parties for my now 2 yr old daughter.
Been in the hospital for three days over Thanksgiving with my then three-week old.
Visited with family from out of town also over Thanksgiving.
Moved to the other side of the state the day after Thanksgiving.
Moved again 10 days later.
Am now in dispute with previous landlord over the BLACK MOLD we discovered in our newly rented house.

Am now unpacking in our new mold free house.

More details to come and hopefully a site redesign to come soon. I'll try to write before Christmas, but we currently have no internet in our house and have no idea when it'll be hooked up. Sometime within the next week. WE HOPE. Best wishes for the holiday season if I can't post before hand. :)

2005-11-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

Pics of Cole and birth story to come soon. For now here is one of my favorite pics of Kaia we took a few weeks ago at the pumpkin patch. They had a bunch of blow up play gym thingy's that she loved(what are those things called anyway?)

Announcing,,

2005-10-30T14:47:00.000-05:00

Cole-Anthony Robert Lastname
7lbs 5oz. 19in.
Born at 7:38 p.m Oct 28,2005

Pics to come later....

10.. 9... 8... 7... 6... 5.. 4......

2005-10-26T19:40:00.000-04:00

2 centimeters, 80% effaced, head is at zero station..anytime now.... by the weekend ...yaay!!!

2005-10-22T14:23:00.000-04:00

I know I promised the story of how Nate and I got together, but lately I can't seem to muster up the energy to think that far back and go into all the details. It is a long and complicated story involving not just Nate and myself. So I think before I write it, I need to talk to the other people involved and see if they are ok with my putting it out there on the Internet.

Instead I will talk about my total lack of posting and why. Lately I have nothing really good to say. I am tired I am bloated. Kaia is growing and developing faster then my 9 month pregnant self can keep up with. I am crabby and tired. While I am so grateful for this experience of having a normal pregnancy and not having to constantly worry that I'm going to go into labor too early, I am past that point now, and it is killing me. The constant kidney shots by this big boy. The lack of sleep from being up every hour to pee or to roll over (I can no longer roll over without effort). This is all new territory for me and often times after only getting 3 or 4 hours of sleep, it seems like all I am capable of is making sure Kaia, dressed and the house is clean. Nate has been wonderful and supportive. I love him for it. But I am ready for this baby to come out now!!!

Did I mention the constant worry? I worry by nature, about EVERYTHING. People tell me to relax but I just can't. I worry that something terrible will happen with the umbilical cord (if it can happen on ER it can happen right??). I worry that if I lift something that is too heavy I'll do something to him. I worry when Kaia and I lay on the bed together and play and she'll suddenly kick out at me. It's never very hard but what if she kicks the baby? I need to see him. I need to know he's ok and to hold him in my arms and reassure myself that he has ten fingers and toes and that he is developed the way he should be. I need to meet this little creature who has taken over my body. It's always there in the back of my head that if something happened I wouldn't know immediately and even if I did, would I be able to do anything about it? I can pick Kaia up after a fall and kiss her "ouchie" and make it all better. I can reassure myself when the fears creep up at 3am by simply going into her room and making sure she is still breathing and is safe and sound. I can't do that with him. All I can do is lie there and wait for a kick or a slight movement. Since he is getting bigger the kicks and moving have been a little less then usual and scares me to death. All this is going through my mind and at times it is very hard to write. I don't want this blog to be something negative to become a list of all my complaints and worries. So I have been avoiding it, waiting for him to make his appearance and hoping that the fears will go away. But then I realized what better place to get all this out then here. What other place am I free to post anything I want? To say anything I need to. So here it is.

Bad blogger!!!

2005-10-11T19:30:00.000-04:00

I have been a very bad blogger lately. Pregnancy and dealing with a toddler and sick family members and family visits, preparing for the baby has just gotten in the way. My thoughts have been too jumbled and a mess to coherently put into words. So after some down time and relaxation and now that everything is settled all I have to do for the next three weeks is wait for my second little punkin to make an appearance. I am sincerely hoping for an October baby. October is one of my favorite times of the yeah and I cannot wait to meet this little person inside me.

Kaia has been alternating between being the smartest, sweetest, cutest little peanut, and being the world’s worst terror. Having tantrums that I would not wish on my worst enemy. But slowly we are getting through it. I’m sure it doesn’t help that I am in this endless state of tiredness and am cranky most of the time. I am working on a requested post of the story of Nate and I, it will be posted later tonight or tomorrow. Pictures coming soon. In the meantime does anyone have any ideas on how I should redo my blog? Colors, new names and etc?

2005-09-18T04:03:00.000-04:00

My internet has been freaking me out for the past day or so, it won't let me access other blogger sites telling me:

You are not authorized to view this page
You might not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials you supplied.
If you believe you should be able to view this directory or page, please try to contact the Web site by using any e-mail address or phone number that may be listed on the *homepage address here* home page.
You can click Search to look for information on the Internet.
HTTP Error 403 - Forbidden Internet Explorer

These are sites I go to everyday and up until now I have never had any problems with..If anyone out there has any clue why this is happening please let me know! I am hopelessly pathetic when it comes to fixing compy problems so any advice would be appreciated. It eventually will let me access the site after I retry like ten times..it's all very strange....and it's only other blogger sites, as far as I know I haven't broken any blogger rules I almost never comment on other sites I mostly just lurk and read.....could this be yet another annoying blogger quirk?

Katrina....

2005-09-03T14:04:00.000-04:00

I have no words to describe what I feel when I look at the images of destruction in New Orleans, I think the Aitch described exactly what I'm feeling when she wrote her post on it. I also have many questions about the way things happened with the evacuation, I think Michael Moore sums it up perfectly in his letter to President Bush. So much has been said and written about Katrina in this past week and many people said it far better then I ever can.

Here are some links:

Cecily - Put many things that are going on in New Orleans into perspective to me.

What Kristine is doing to help over at her site is awesome!

Beth at CrazyUs has posted a million ways to help, go check it out.

I wish I had more links but there are too many to count. These are just my favorites. My prayers are with everyone in New Orleans and surrounding areas.

2005-08-31T22:02:00.000-04:00

I'm still here....just taking a much needed break to think about myself and the direction I want to take this blog, In the meantime look at that belly! For me this seems huge, (I'm 31 weeks). I can't imagine getting much bigger....

2005-07-23T10:25:00.000-04:00

My weekend in a nutshell, messy hair and pizza crust.....wish I looked this cute while eating it,lol!