Brax is One!

It has been a while since I did a blog post and a lot has happened, but the biggest most exciting news is Braxton turned 1 on Sunday! I had been trying to prep myself for the emotional roller coaster I was about to go through, but instead I did a lot of reflecting on this past year ( which was an emotional roller coaster as well!) I just can't believe my sweet little tiny baby that used to sit so still and sleep is now this little monster that crawls faster than I can run and gets into everything! Don't get me wrong, I love this little boy more than life itself, but it is exhausting...I wouldn't change any part of it though.  On Sunday I was laying in bed thinking about where I was a year ago ( in the hospital about to ring everyone's necks cause nothing was working medicine wise) and I thought about how amazing it is to have the privilege to be a mom. I remember waking up the morning after I had brax and feeling so confused and lost (I blame the magnesium). Thoughts like "wow I feel so incredibly sore! Wait a second, I had my baby last night. Where's my baby!!" Ran through my head. So I paged my nurse and asked her where he was and that I wanted to see him right away.  Because brax was born 4 weeks and a day early, they considered him premature and had to take many precautions with him. One being he had to stay in the NICU. His glucose levels were a little low so they also were working on getting those up. After they took me off the magnesium I was allowed to go see him. Unfortunately, I couldn't walk because of the effects of the magnesium so they wheeled me down In a wheelchair. I remember being so nervous so meet this precious little baby, that soon would call me mom. It was a very scary moment. When they handed him to me I felt very disconnected to him.  It was so unreal to be holding MY baby. The baby that had been in my tummy for the past 8 months! The vision i had been creating in my head of meeting brax for the first time did not go as I thought it would. I thought instantly I would feel a bond between us and that I the realization of "I'm a mom!" would instantly come- but it didn't. I went back to my room in shock and horror. The only realization I had was "holy crap what did I get myself into."

The next morning I pushed myself to get out of bed and walk down to the NICU. It may have taken me 15 minutes and a heart attack to my nurse when she saw me walk out of my room alone, but I did it. I just had to see my little creature again. When I walked into his room and saw my sweet baby boy all swaddled up in a blanket and sound asleep, that's when it hit me. This is MY baby. MY baby that I took care of all by myself for the past 8 months. MY baby that I get to take home and have forever. MY sweet, sweet little baby. Tears began to stroll down my face as I began to realize it all. I hadn't ever had an experience more amazing than that. I held that little baby in my arms for an hour, just watching him sleep. He was my miracle baby. A baby that would grow big and strong and not be so small to where I can cuddle him in my arms.

To my surprise, just after a year, he's not that easy to cuddle with in my arms. I thought I'd have a little bit longer but my little baby is a little man already! And when I say little, I mean big haha. He has taught me so many things in just a year. Things like, patience. Which I didn't develop until he came, seriously. Also little quirky things like- never assume the diaper is going to hold the whole mess. If there's too much, it'll leak and leak and get everywhere. And do I mean EVERYWHERE.  It doesn't matter if you're in public or at home, it's gonna happen. I've also learned boys are gross. They fart and poop and spit and itch themselves in unknown places. Their is no manners when it comes to them- they just do it when they want and wherever they want. Coming from a family of all girls, I got to learn this the hard way. Oh well, I'm mean what can you do, right? It doesn't matter to me though, I love my little baby whether he's poopy or not. He's more than I could ever deserve and I'm so glad He chose me and his daddy to raise him in this crazy world.  He has been a blessing to brennen and I and I'm so grateful that we can be sealed as a family for eternity :)

Got Nutrition?

Brennen and I have recently become part of a company that promotes nutritional drinks.  So we thought we'd pass along the information to see if anyone would like to try it!  They have 4 different drinks, but the main drink I was interested in is called Vemma.  You just drink 2oz a day and you have consumed tons of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants you need to form a solid nutritional foundation.  It takes:

2 oranges to equal the amount of Vitamin C

9 avocados to equal the amount of Vitamin E

3 stalks of broccoli to equal the amount of Iron

55 eggs to equal the amount of Vitamin D

1 cup of spinach to equal the amount of Vitamin A

3 cups of peas to equal the amount of Thiamin

19 medium bananas to equal the amount of Riboflavin

62 oz of cheddar cheese to equal the amount of Vitamin B-12

5 large potatoes to equal the amount of Niacin

61 cups of tomatoes to equal the amount of Folate

2 large watermelons to equal the amount of Vitamin B-6

17 oz of cherries to equal the ORAC Value

37 medium mushrooms to equal the amount of Pantothenic Acid

to equal the amount found in this drink! Amazing right?! One of the best things about this drink is that they have one available for kids as well ages 2 and up.  I know how hard it is to get our kids to eat all of the nutrients they need for the day, but give them this drink and they're good to go.

Brennen and I were at an informational meeting about the company a couple nights ago and a gentleman told us about how his wife had cancer and was suggested to try Vemma.  With the treatments she was receiving, she just had no energy to do anything throughout the day, which is totally understandable knowing all the nutrients that it sucks from your body to get rid of those cancer cells.  So, she drank (2) 2oz bottles a day and finally had the energy to do things around the house! After drinking Vemma for just 3 weeks, she went to her doctor appointment and the doctor said "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it!" She is now free of cancer.  Im not saying this is the cure, cause it's not.  But, it helps replenish those nutrients that the cancer treatments are taking away from the body!

The drink my husband likes is the all natural energy drink, Verve.  It has the same vitamins and minerals as the Vemma does, but it was made into an energy drink with natural caffine.  Let me tell you, it works! Haha!  Brennen has work at 4am everyday and he has THE HARDEST time getting up to get ready and get out the door.  So, we had him try it and he said he felt so good!  He was awake and had the energy he needed throughout his whole 10 hour day of work! The best thing about this drink is because it's all natural, there's no crash at the end like there is with regular energy drinks.  The amount of sugar thats in it is the same as you would get if you ate an apple.  Pretty awesome, ay?  Another cool fact is that Verve is the Sun's (the basketball team ya know, ya know?) energy drink, so that should tell ya something about the product!

So...check it out! let us know if you'd like to try it or better yet, would like to become part of our team.  To read more about the products go to www.vemma.com 

Shot day

Today, Braxton had his first shots :( My poor baby, I think I was more nervous for him than he was! When we walked into the clinic, all I could hear was screaming kids and my heart sank for all of them.  But, Once it was Braxton's turn I thought I was gonna cry.  He was being so cute and smiling and then the needle goes in and at first he gave me the most concerned look like "mama that hurts, what's happening!" and then he broke loose and started to cry!  It was the first time I felt completely helpless while my child was in pain.  The worst part was that he had to get three of them, so just when he settled down they'd gave him another one and there he goes again.  Worst day ever!!  But he was such a big boy about it and only cried for a second.  I couldn't help but feeling like the worst mom ever for making my baby feel that pain, but he needs those shots! Next time, daddy's taking him.  This mama can't handle that anymore.  I mean look at this precious face

I love this baby so much.  Every morning when he gets up he greets me with this adorable smile, am I the luckiest mama or what?

Memorial Day Weekend Get-A-Way!

This past weekend my family and I went up to my grandparents house in Pinedale (just about an hour and a half outside payson) to celebrate my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.  This picture was taken right after I had the baby (can ya tell by how tiny he was!) as a anniversary gift to them with all 4 generations!  

 Being able to escape from the heat was one of the best parts! So, to prepare for Braxtons first road trip, we packed up Braxton's things the night before we left so I could make sure we had everything.  But, since this is the first road trip with him and this whole "having a baby" is still new to me, I had no idea what he would go through and what I would need to bring! So, naturally, I went a little overboard, haha.  My trunk was pack full to the point that we had to slam it real hard to close it.  It's crazy how having a baby really does change everything, including the amount of luggage you bring on vacation!  While we were up their Braxton got to meet his one and only great great grandma phyllis, she's 92 years old and still kickin' it, can you believe it?

Brennen was so excited to have some man time while we were up their, so he jumped on board when they decided to go shooting.

But the best part wasn't just the cool weather, or the family, or the shooting, but that braxton SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! Yep, that's right, my two month old slept throught the night on vacation.  He had been doing it the 2 previous nights before we left and then continued the two nights we were there.  I was shocked, but so excited to know we finally figured out the trick.  Wanna know our secret?? Well get ready to hear it, you may wanna sit down for this one....night time=bigger diapers.  Every night since my son was just a couple weeks old, I am woken up by a baby in wet clothes and sheets.  I couldn't figure out why he kept peeing through his diaper when he'd only be down for about 4-5 hours.  I kept thinking, "this baby is so tiny, how can he pee that much!"  So, I just got used to changing him and his outfit every night.  But then, just last week I came up with the brillant idea to put him in a bigger diaper right before he went down.  He usually wear a size two, but he's slowly growing out of them and probably within the next couple weeks they'll be too small.  So, I figured why not give it a try.  And guess what! It worked! Now I know the only reason he was getting up in the night was because his wet clothes would wake him up! Boy was I a happy mama when that was discovered.  Overall the trip was a great time, and we've learned Braxton's a great travel baby, so we will definitely be taking more trips this summer! 

Livin' The Good Life!

Brennen and I just celebrated our first year anniversary yesterday! It's so crazy how fast it goes by.  It seems like just yesterday he was knocking on my door to come home teach me.  Little did we know, 6 months later we'd be getting married and a year from then we'd be celebrating our anniversary with our 2 month old baby!  I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

When Brennen and I decided to add this little munchkin to our family, i'll admit, i was TERRIFIED! I didn't feel ready and to be honest, I wasn't sure if i was ready to be called "mommy". But, I knew it was the right thing to do, which made me a little excited for this new adventure.  When I went into the doctor, she told me it would take 3 months for the birth control to get out of my system once I stopped taking it.  I was relived to hear I would have a little more time with my hott husband before I got pregnant, but to our surprise, I got pregnant 10 days after stopping the birth control.  Shocked? Yes, we were too!  In fact, I remember bawling my eyes out all night because I didn't know how to raise a baby.  I could hardly keep my husband under control and now we're adding another little one to the picture!  But, it wasn't soon after I became very excited.  In those 9 months our family was extremely blessed.  Brennen got a new job that paid well enough to allow me to stay at home once the baby came,  medical bills were excused, Brennen got a new car, we got a little puppy named Sadie

and best of all, we got a house!  Things were going wonderfully and all falling into place until Braxton decided to arrive a month early.  We weren't into our new place yet so my amazing friends and family moved all of our stuff over as well as painted and decorated Braxton's room (pictures will come once it's all finally decorated) while I was in the hospital.  I had to be induced because I had preeclampsia, which has something to do with the placenta detaching from the uterus and it's very serious.  My platelet level is supposed to be 150,000-300,000 and at this point, when i was admitted, I was at 80,000.  The doctor told me I wouldn't be able to have any anesthesia because I was below 100,000.  My first thought was "no pain killers? Oh my gosh i'm gonna die!".  One problem with having preeclampsia is the doctors have to worry about you having seizures, so it wasn't too long before I was put on magnesium to prevent them.  Let me tell you, worst medicine EVER!  I haven't ever felt so distant from my body before.  After 32 miserable hours the doctors decided to do an emergency c-section because my platelet level had dropped to 30,000 and I wasn't progressing labor wise.  I had to get 2 blood transfusions to get my platelet level higher, but they had to knock me out because they were still too low for anesthesia which also meant Brennen couldn't be in the room with me during surgery.  It wasn't too long before our little baby was finally here.  On March 10, 2012 at 9:54 my little man arrived and weighed in at 6lbs 1oz and 19 inches long.  Once I woke up, I was able to hold him for about 5 minutes before they had to take him to intensive care in the nursery.  He was born a day short of 36 weeks so he was considered premature even though everything was developed and he was a perfect healthy baby boy!  The doctor came in my room after they took Braxton back and said the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and had a knot in it.  A longer pregnancy or vaginal birth could've been fatal.  Braxton was a miracle baby :)  We love that baby so much.  Each and every day he keeps growing and growing!  Being a mom is the most rewarding experience.  After all those little kicks, he's finally he in person (and definitely still kicking!).  It took me a few days before it finally sank in that I was not just a wife, but a mommy too!