Click on the picture for Zoey and Carter Updates

(Go to How's Zoey on the side scroll bar)

 (PS...Several New updates and pictures on the above link)

Thursday June 26, 2008

Dear Diary,

I can't believe today is here.....it's our 9th wedding anniversary!

Honestly, it seems we've been married a couple of years...3 maybe....but 9! Wow.....it really seems like it just happened. And so much has happened in those 9 years.

I remember back to my single days. I had a poster by H.Jackson Brown...author of Life's Little Instruction Book. It was Rules for a Happy Life.  I had it hanging in my garage and everyday I would pull out of the garage I would read one of the "rules" and try to apply it in my life somehow.

When we moved a few months ago I took a look at it. One of the rules for a happy life was "Marry the right person. This will determine 90% of your happiness."

How lucky am I that I have 6'8" in my life......yes honey, you make me very happy....more like 140% happy.  :)

Love,

Kelly

Wednesday June 25, 2008

Dear Diary, 

Enough with the sadness.....dang....it's been hard to write with so much ...uhmm...sadness...kind of.....I feel like I've been plagued with it.....I need to focus on happy thoughts...like the fact that Carter is doing so much better!

I haven't been able to talk about it...I didn't want to get my hopes up....But as I step back and look....We are so lucky...

A local doctor told us about a specialist on the east coast. She travels around the country but she heard about our situation and agreed to see us on a weekend. For the past couple of weekends we've been taking him there to get treatments.

Unbelievable! !!!!Angels do exist. The doctor is now back to traveling around the country but we were so lucky to have had treatments these past few weekends.

The drive was over 7 hours coming back home on Sunday but the kids were troupers!

Here's where you know that things were meant to be.....Bob's lease was up on his Rendevous and we were already over our miles. We found a great lease on a Town & Country mini-van...Yep! We're officially a mini-van family!

We love it! And what an awesome vehicle to travel in! The timing couldn't have been better.

Did I mention my favorite new dealership is Bob and Chuck Eddy in Austintown? No haggling..It was the easiest car purchase we ever made. Their first price was better than other dealerships "final offer."  These past few weekends have been awesome to travel in comfort with two kids in tow. We LOVE our new Town & Country!

Again, angels do exist. Thank you everyone for your prayers.  :) Happy, happy days!

Love,

Kelly

Wednesday June 18th, 2008

Dear Diary,

This is hard to talk about......My heart has been aching for the past few weeks.....We've all been watching the footage of the tragedy in China....and another tragedy happened a few weeks ago that just ripped my heart out.

I'm sure many of you have signed on to Zoey's sight over the past two years. One of the songs that played was by Steven Curtis Chapman. He has adopted from China as well. I even have a link to his web site, Shaohannah's Hope, on the links section on the side of the Zoey page.

Well....his family has been faced with an unthinkable tradegy...

It happened at their family home, just hours before his sons graduation open house. His son (17) was backing a vehicle out of the family's drive-way and he ran over his little sister Maria (5) who was playing with other children in the yard.

It just makes my heart cry over and over again. Steven and his family have done so much good in the world and for them to face such grief is just incomprehensible.

I know it's been a few weeks and I haven't said anything....It's hard to write about...I just get all closed up....but I know they still need your prayers.
And thank you...for always being here for me.

Here's the complete story.

Love,

Kelly

http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/PageServer?pagename=maria_remembering

Here is one of the articles:
Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest child died Wednesday evening
after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the
driveway of the family's Williamson County home.

Maria, one of the Christian singer's six children, was taken by
LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death,
according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway
Patrol. 
The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she
said. Police did not give the driver's name.
The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the
rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in
the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before
the vehicle struck her, she said.
"It appears to be a terrible accident,'' McPherson said.
No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by
two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson
said.
 

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Thursday May 22, 2008

Dear Diary,

Monday May 12, 2008 

Dear Diary,

I am so blessed to have a wonderful mom. She sent my sister and me our own "letter from mom" on Mother's day. Here's an excerpt from mine that made me laugh and cry at the same time.

#############

Monday May 12, 2008

 Dear Diary,

 ###############

Sunday May 11, 2008

Dear Diary,

This is my first Mother's Day with both Zoey and Carter.

It's hard to believe that I'm a mommy! And to two wonderful babies! Okay, as old as they get....they will always be my babies.

I still pinch myself daily. I am the luckiest mama in the world.

Love,

Kelly

############

Monday April 28, 2008

Dear Diary,

I hate keeping a food journal. I told myself I would keep one this past week complete with calorie counts. 

 Ya' know what I found out?

I found out that an entire can of whipped topping in the spray can (the fat free kind) has a grand total of only 200 calories!!!! It's 5 calories per serving and 40 servings per can. You do the math. Plus no fat, and less than 1 gram of sugar. Only 200 calories for the entire can!!!!! Yes!!!!!

That makes it a pretty good diet/snack food....right? I mean that's less than the calorie equivalent of an entire bag of carrots...actually it has less sugar than an entire bag of short-cut carrots. I did the math for you... You're welcome.  :)

Now if I could just figure out why my # on the scale hasn't changed. Perhaps the batteries need replaced.

Love,

Kelly

Tuesday April 22, 2008

Okay, apologies first....Where have I been??? Good question. Not sure considering I have piles of laundry that need put away, a sink full of bottles that need washed, and goodness knows I could put a little more effort in my appearance...Quite frankly, I haven't put on shorts yet this season because I haven't even had time to shave my legs. 

But isn't that part of being a mom?

Can I rant for just a minute? It's Earth Day...and I am sick and tired of these ads that insist I use cloth diapers. They make you feel like you're single handedly ruining the world.

Yep, all of the destruction is because of me....because I use disposable diapers.

Listen here tree huggers. I'm a very "environmentally aware" person. I "go green"... I recycle newspapers, cardboard, cans, and plastic bottles. I reduce, reuse and recycle. I have energy saving bulbs throughout the house.

....but I will no way....no how....not ever...use a cloth diaper.

The people who suggest such things have obviously never changed one of Carters diapers.

I will use cloth diapers the way they were intended...as burp cloths and for wiping up spills.

Enough said....

Love,

Kelly

Wednesday April 2, 2008

Dear Diary,

Know what the BEST feeling in the world  is? It's hearing your babies say "mamma!"

Okay, it was more like mamamama-mamama....but still...it was mama in some form. LOL

Carter's had dad-dada-dada down for some time...finally, I get some due. Yep...he said it for at least 5 minutes straight....even when 6'8" picked him up....so I'm not sure he's got the association down yet but at least we've got the word.

"Mama"....what an awesome feeling.

Oh yeah, he's got 8 teeth now!

Love,

Kelly

Monday March 31, 2008

Dear Diary,

OMG...We're THAT Family!

Let me explain....

From the time we've started Zoey in day-care I've always seen the signs they hang up saying "We've been exposed to (Insert communicable disease here....roto-virus, strep, hand/mouth, etc)."

I used to read them and immediately get the heeby-jeeby's as I would think "Ewwww...I wonder who THAT family is."

Well, on Friday...we were THAT family. Thank goodness our daycare really cares and are very sharp about finding things early. Bob dropped Carter off and by the time he came past from taking Zoey to her class they had Carter sitting at the door ready to go home. Yep....PINK EYE!

Bob called me at work. We met at the doctors and got the little guy his Vigamox drops. Poor guy...what a week he's had.....he got 5 teeth in a week and half (he now has eight!), had the sniffles all week and now he has pink eye.

As we went to pick up Zoey that afternoon, I cringed as I saw the sign that said "We've been exposed to pink eye" and knew it was us.

BTW....We don't have cooties anymore.....after 24 hours on anti-biotics we're free and clear...we're clean, we're not contagious...we bathe regularly...and we use hand sanitizer all the time. Honest!

Dang, being THAT family makes you a bit defensive. Will we ever be invited for a playdate again?

But then you realize that every family gets their turn to be THAT family. And you know that you've just passed one of the hurdles. Being THAT family is one of the rights of passage of parenthood.

Love,

Kelly

Monday March 17th, 2008

Dear Diary,

Here's where being a parent can be confusing...I can see why there are so many books on parenting.  

So we're at the Easter Egg hunt at the church...it's story time and Zoey can't sit still. Instead, she stands up and starts to play duck-duck-goose by tapping some other kids on the head. 3 kids start to follow her....

Mayhem ensues...finally...all of the kids get back to their seats. Zoey looks like the cat that ate the bird.

Do you scold your child for getting up?....or praise her for her leadership skills?...I mean 3 other kids followed. Hmmmm...

I used it as a lesson about how we should be a good listener....hmmm...something tells me it's a lesson we'll need to review i the near future.

 Carter news.....okay the helmet is working good but he has restless nights. And he's still getting red marks on his head where the helmet is rubbling...sooo back to Akron we go to get it re-adjusted.

Now... I know I've joked about poopey diapers...but seriously...

 How bad is it when you pick up your child from day care and his care-givers use the words "massive" and "blow-out" to describe his day.

 Seldom does he come home in the same clothes...and he's in  size 4 diapers at the tender age of 7 months.

Do ya' think it's possible to have him potty trained by 12 months?

Love,

Kelly

Monday March 10, 2008

Dear Diary,

One of my peeps is having a birthday today! I can't believe my Zoey is 3! Wow...

Okay time to update the Zoey website....

Love,

Kelly

Sunday, March 9th, 2008

Dear Diary....

It's been 7 days of "no remote." Our TV remote disappeared last Sunday afternoon. 

I rounded up the usual suspects....

We asked Zoey if she'd seen the TV remote. She said no....I  believed her.....

Then our ceiling fan/light remote disappeared a few hours later...Hmmmm...2 remotes in one day.....Coincidence? I think not....

I've questioned her several different ways....

"Gee it would be nice to watch Dora right now...Where's that remote?  Zoey, have you seen the remote so we can watch Dora?" No response....   Hmmmmmm....

"Hey, let's have some fun with Ni Hao KaiLan....where's that remote so we can watch our favorite show?" Not a peep.

Now...I'm not convinced that she knows anything. We even asked our friend Li-Li (she was visiting last Sunday). Her face is as honest as they get. I'm convinced of her innocence as well.

So where could they be? I've searched every closet, drawer, and purse/back pack that we own. Nothing.....

As a last resort...and clearly for the sport of it....I spent Saturday night sifting through the garbage before it goes out to the curb. I sifted through egg shells, apple cores, dumped pancake mix, and...the worst....diapers. Carters diapers smell bad enough when you change him...but it's nothing in comparison to how they smell a week later. I couldn't take a long enough shower that night. Ugh. The things we do as parents......

So....I've given up on the remote...time to head to the cable company and buy a new one...It's not the price...it's the whole mystery of "WHERE could it possibly BE?"

As far as the ceiling fan/lights remote...I have no idea if they sell replacements and I'm so intimidated walking into Lowe's and Home Depot. Maybe we'll just do without for a while.

I just can't wait to see if these remotes EVER show up.......and WHERE!

Score:  Kids 1......Parents 0

Love,

Kelly

Tuesday March 4, 2008

Dear Diary,

Zoey is going through this clingy phase where she wants to be held...

And now her new favorite thing to do...and I have no idea why...when I pick her up she presses on my breasts and says "beep beep."

I've questioned her as to why she's doing that and she said "Those are your horns mama." My horns?

Okkkaaayyyyy, where did she get that? I mean...quite frankly....my entire life of being a size A...nearly a B....except when I was pregnant....and NO ONE has ever noticed my boobs!

Now, my two year old thinks they're a pair of car horns?

I quickly put her hands on my heart and said here's my horn....beep beep. Didn't work. She said  "No mama...they're here" at which point she went back to my boobs and beeped me again.

This should bring interesting looks next time we're in public.

Beep-beep.

Love,

Kelly

Friday February 29, 2008

Dear Diary,

Call me emotional but I just saw a cool clip on YouTube.

A friend of mine sent it to me....it's a low budget short film with a very cool message....kind of cheesy in places but it really touched me...to the point where I'm still thinking about it...and isn't that  what a good film does? Isn't that why we go to movies and read books...to inspire us!

I can't even imagine how many anniversaries 6'8" and I will celebrate...but this film clip makes you want to treasure each and every moment you spend together...and remember to live life in "moments" and making good memories.

Judging by the local references I can only assume this couple and the filmaker are from around here....and I LOVE the song at the end by a group from Pittsburgh.

Okay....it's leap day...and I feel like I made good use of my extra day that I've been given today.

Oh yea...here's a link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvXa6D3Tzfs

Love,

Kelly

Tuesday February 19, 2008

Dear Diary,

Where do I begin...I'm hoping to update pictures for the above link soon. There's just been no time.

We've been back and forth to Akron Children's Hospital doctors for Carter's helmet.

They had to re-do it and now we go back for more fittings as he has some red spots where it's really hurting him.

I get a headache thinking about having to wear something like that. All things considered....Carter is adjusting well.

We also went to two Chinese New Years parties. We want to always honor Zoey's culture and make it a family affair. I'll post the pics later today.

All of this plus we've all had colds lately. Why? Because you catch everything your kids get at daycare. Zoey has had several colds this year...mostly because she is still picking her nose. Germs! Yuck!

Don't they sell some stuff to keep you from biting your nails? Would that keep her from putting her fingers in her nose? Is it safe?

Has anyone tried that? Is there a better way to stop her from picking her nose? I'm fresh out of ideas...

I did discover a cold medicine for me....MucinexD cold remedy. You actually have to get it behind the pharmacy. It really works! I'm not feeling great but at least I can breathe again.

Okay, I need to go post some pictures.

Do they have a vitamin specially made for parents?...some super charged mega-vitamin...guaranteed to give you your energy back.

Well shouldn't someone invent one!

Ahhhh....ahhhhhh.....chhooooo!

Love,

Kelly

Monday February 11, 2008

Dear Diary,

You always seem to know when things are really bothering me.

The fact is...I haven't been telling you everything. I guess that's the reason for my infrequent updates lately.

One thing I've learned from being a mom is that you hurt when your kids hurt.....all you want is for them to be okay.

I had no idea that the broken chair accident in the studio last March would still be affecting me 10 months later but it is.

Carter didn't move a whole lot while I was on bed-rest. They used to worry at the doctors office...turns out some babies, when the mom is on bed-rest, have a condition known as Torti-collous. It means that they get too comfortable in one position and when mom isn't active they kind of  get stuck in one postion. 

That's what happened to us. Carter constantly turns his head to one side. We've been taking him to physical therapy since he was twelve weeks old. We do exercises at home and our day-care does them as well. So far nothing has worked.

The doctor referred us to a specialist in Akron. They decided there was nothing left to do at this point. The only thing we can do is stop further damage from occuring to his head. One side is really flattened and pushing on his ear.

Bottom line is we had to go get him fitted for a helmet to help correct it.

He got fitted near the Akron Children's Hospital. That was two weeks ago...we go back tonight to get it put on. He has to wear it 23 hours a day. He's cutting two more teeth right now so I'm pretty sure he won't be a happy camper.

I pray that he adjusts well. I feel so bad that he has to go through all of this. It's so sad to watch your children suffer.

Okay diary...I did it. I updated you...I' d like to say I feel better but this is only a temporary fix for the problem.  I'll let you know how things go tonight.
 

Love,

Kelly

_____________________________________________________

Wednesday February 6, 2008

Dear Diary,

I'm starting to get that overwhelmed feeling...too much stuff!

I need to have the biggest garage sale the area has ever seen!

Seriously...It's February....

Isn't this the time you're supposed to be cleaning stuff out and getting rid of things?

I swear I look at stuff and think..."Oh I may need that when Zoey is 5 so I guess I'll keep it."

I look in my closet and think "Oh that is too nice to get rid of."

Dear Diary...as of today...NO MORE!

That's it!

I'm not going to be one of those women you see on Oprah who need an intervention because they have stacks of stuff in their homes, pizza boxes laying everywhere and they just keep buying more stuff. Nope! I don't need that hassle.

I'm creating 3 piles...just like on that tv show on TLC....

Keep it, Pitch It, or Give It Away.

With two kids my life is just too compicated to have junk laying around.

Less is more ....right?

Okay..so I'm a little late in making my New Years Resolutions...but that's going to be it.

.2008 will be my year of Less is More.

Perhaps that will transfer to other areas of my life...my weight, my recently "lost" bust size (no more breastfeeding), less clutter, and less junk.

Hopefully this change will allow "more" of the good things in life.

And isn't that what we all really want?

Love,

Kelly

Monday February 4, 2008

Dear Diary,

(...yikes...I don't know why this didn't post...I'll try again later.)

Monday January 28, 2008

Dear Diary,

Great news!!!!

How happy am I????

Not as happy as Kaitee and her family. They found Tank! Yippeee!!

Here's the news from Kaitee and her mom.

(from Kaitee)

Kelly,
Just wanted to let you know that we found him. He is fine!! Covered in briars and I think he has been with the "ladies" lol. But he is home!

Thank you very much for being willing to help out. We had several people call and tell us they heard about it from you and asked if they could help! That really touched our hearts! Just knowing that someone cares and is willing to help made all the difference. When you wrote back and told me you would find a way to help, that gave me the hope to keep looking and believing that he would come home. Tank is such a big part of our family. We love him. I can't thank you enough. You deserve nothing but sunshine in your life =)
Kaitee M

(from kaitee's mom)
Kelly,
I am Kaitee's mom. I just wanted to personally Thank you for all the support and help you gave her. She was lost without Tank as were my husband and myself. I am not good with the digital camera but I managed to get them to hold still long enough so I could take one for her to send to you. Please enjoy! I haven't seen that smile in several days so I am holding on to this picture for a very long time. As a mom, I know you understand that it's the smiles that make our world go round! Once again, Thank you very much!!!!!!!

I m soooo happy for them. Yeaah Tank....Yeah Kaitee!

I love happy days

Love,

Kelly

Wednesday January 23, 2008

Dear Diary,

I was so touched by this girls e-mail that I just wanted to see if I could help.

I received an e-mail from Kaitie.

Her dog Tank disappeared on Monday off Ravine Drive in Liberty. Has anyone seen him?

Dear Kelly,
         Hello. Can you please help me? My name is Kaitee and I am 16. My dog, Tank disappeared on Monday 1/21/08 from our yard in Liberty. He is about 8 months old. He is a lab/husky mix. He is about 90 lbs. He does not have his collar on because when he jumped the fence it fell off. We put ads in the papers and we also passed out and hung up signs. We talked to the pounds and the police. We have searched every day by foot and car, calling his name. But we can't find him. Can you please look at the picture I sent and if you see him, let me know. Can you maybe put his picture on your website or just let your listeners know about him. A lot of the kids I go to school with listen to you and maybe that will help. I really appreciate anything you can do for us. Thank you very much,
Kaitee M

How sweet is Tank!

Kaitee, I hope you find him.  :)

Love,

Kelly

Tuesday January 15, 2007

Dear Diary,

I normally don't post e-mail forwards...but this one was soooo cool.....You try to be the perfect parent and then you realize there is no such thing....just daily moments that are true gifts.

        To My Child 
        Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face
and laugh when I feel like crying.
        Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to
wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.
        Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and
pick you up and take you to the park to play.
        Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and
let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.
        Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep
the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles..
        Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny
grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will
buy you one if he comes by.
        Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going
to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made
where you are concerned.
        Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies,
and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.
        Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy
us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys..
        Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you
a story about how you were born and how much I love you.
        Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not
get angry.
        Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit
on the porch and count all the stars.
        Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and
miss my favorite TV shows.
        Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as
you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest
gift ever given.
        I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching
for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting
their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and
fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer
senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.
        And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter,
a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask
him for nothing, except one more day...

Wow! How awesome is that!

Okay...I'm sure I'll still have days where I won't get the mom of the year award but I do love and treasure every moment I have with my sweet babies.

Love, Kelly

Wednesday January 9th, 2007

Dear Diary,

Here's something I haven't talked about much.....Potty Training.

Zoey has been using the potty for sometime now but she still has accidents. It hasn't been consistent. She understands...she just chooses not to. This was especially evident after we brought Carter home. We had expected some re-gression.

Sooo....We have been in a routine of "treats" when she does go. She gets a "special" (it's an M& M) or she gets a "potty gummy" (a gummy bear). 

I never thought potty training would provide so many funny moments in life...but it has.

The other night Zoey was really into getting the treats. In fact she wanted to eat nothing but the "potty treats." 

She would tell us every 10 minutes that she had to go.

Now, I know it's not possible to have to go that often but she insisted that she had to go again. She's sitting on the potty...and she's getting mad that she can't go again and get another treat.

She looks down into her potty and screams at herself "You come out of there right now!"

I thought I would pee MY pants right then and there.

I used to laugh when I'd hear mom's in public bathrooms with their kids. You'd hear the usual "Don't touch that...it's dirty."

Now, I'm sure that our conversations in the bathrooms are providing laughter for whoever happens to be in the stall next to us.

Public bathrooms are difficult because it's a juggling act to try to keep your child clean. You carefully line the seat with toilet paper so nothing touches them and pray that you get it done before an accident occurs.

You try to keep them from ducking under the wall and staring at the person in he next stall. 

And you have no control what your child will say.

Heres a montage of some of the things Zoey has said over the past few months of us going "drip-drop" at various bathrooms.

 Hear that mama? That lady tooted.

Mommy can I touch the pee.

Look mama, it's like a watermelon.

The water splashed me mama.

Look mama, it's a little garbage can. Can I open it?

(After I went) Yeah, mama, you get a potty gummy too.

She also had a meltdown the first time we used a potty with an automatic flusher because she wanted to flush. I think it scared her more than anything.

I don't know how my mom did this....and I don't even want to think ahead about the moments we'll have potty training a little boy.

I do know that I'm looking forward to more laughs however they get here.

Love,

Kelly

Wednesday January 2, 2008

Dear Diary,

Au Revoir, Adios, Ciao....I'm trying to find a way to say goodbye....so long...see ya'. Bye-   bye.

Why? Well, I'm no longer breastfeeding Carter so I'm trying to say goodbye to my  mommy boobs.

It was time to stop.... I was only producing a small snack size ounce and Carter just didn't want to be bothered. He wants his big 8oz Playtex bottle with the natural latch top.  

So after a few weeks of just pumping fruitlessly...I conceeded to Similac.

I guess I'm just trying to not be emotional about it....but the first week we stopped he caught a cold and of course I blamed myself thinking that it was because he wasn't getting enough of the immunities that breast milk provides...

Then I realized that it's silly to think that way. I did the best I could and that as a mom...that's all you can do. Right?

On the other hand....I was shocked to recently find out that my cousin spent the summer pumping breast milk and supplying a NICU ward through the La Leche League. They give donated/medically cleared breast milk to pre-mature and very sick babies. 

How awesome is that! And how is that possible?

How did I not get in line in that gene pool in our family?

Anyhow, I'm trying to have a sense of humor about it all.

And as far as my bra's....well, it's like watching a giant Macy's Day Balloon slowly deflate....fun to watch while it's in the air but now that the parade's over....what do you do with them?

Yes, I'm on my way back down froma C cup to an A cup...sometimes a "padded B" if I get the Miracle Bra at Victoria's Secret. They should be having a sale right about now...

It's time to go to the mall to make mommy feel pretty again.

Love, Kelly

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 

Dear Diary, 

So yesterday was Zoey's Christmas program at her daycare. The kids sing songs and we parents sit there waving, tyring to get our kids attention, using hand signals to communicate. We're all so proud of our kids and this is a moment in time we'll all cherish and bore our friends and family with as we make them watch our videos over the holidays. I think every family had a camera and/or dvd recorder rolling.

So there's 6'8" and I...the proud parents...watching our Zoey amongst her peers....Just then she starts....the finger goes to her nose and doesn't leave....I'm sitting there... uncomfortably trying to get her attention so I can mouth the words "no, that's dirty" and shake my head with disapproval. She doesn't look. I start to squirm in my chair as her finger goes deeper in her nose.

Just when I feel like life can't get worse, it does. She pulls the finger from her nose and sticks it in her mouth....all right there in front of every other parent.  I was torn between getting up out of my chair and stopping this situation or continuing my "mime" like approach to get her attention.

I was actually relieved when they passed out the jingle bells for the kids to ring....at least it kept her hands occupied.

Some family will probably submit it to Americas Funniest Videos and win $10,000 for submitting it. My real dilema...do I turn it in first?

Love,

Kelly

 

 

Monday December 17, 2007

Dear Diary,

Carter can do the Electric Slide!

Well, sort of....

You know that move in the Electric Slide where you kick your leg out and change directions? Well Sunday, he figured out how to turn over....and he did it over and over all afternoon.

He would kick his gigantic thigh in the air and the weight of that one leg causes his whole body to turn over. Even Zoey was laughing at how funny it looked.

Yep, a new milestone. Carter can turn over!

Now, let's just hope he doesn't pick up any moves from the Macarena.

 

Love,

Kelly

 

 

Tuesday December 11, 2007

Dear Diary,

A quick update...my butt is just as big today as it was yesterday...That being said...I'll move on.

So what just cracked me up last night? Just when I was wondering if Zoey "gets" the whole Christmas thing I realize that she understands more than I thought....

So I'm giving Zoey a bath. She gets out of the tub and I wrapped her up in a big fluffy towel and picked her up to take her in the bedroom to get jammies on...

She was covered head to toe in the towel. We walk past the bathroom mirror and she sees herself all wrapped up and says "Look mommy, I'm the baby Jesus."

Now that has made me laugh for at least the past 12 hours.

Love,

Kelly

Monday December 10, 2007

Dear Diary,

Okay...so I've been really good about not whining and complaining about this until now. But dang-it...I'm fed up.....

Everyone told me the weight would just melt off after the baby. Somehow, I secretly believed that.

Here I am....4 months after giving birth...and my stomach and thighs resemble a Shar-pei.

Even with breastfeeding for the past 4 months....nothing...not  a single pound. Plus, I think I've been in that "nurturing mode" because I've been breastfeeding... so, maybe unconsciously, I really wasn't ready. Is that true or just another excuse I keep telling myself?

I know that I lost a lot of muscle being on bed-rest and all....and muscle burns more calories than fat....

and I know it was a tough delivery...

and I know that my body is still recovering...but dang-it...I'm tired of being fat!

AC and I had our station pictures done last week...thank goodness they're cropping them into "head and shoulder" shots....Otherwise, the photographer would have had to break out the wide angle lens to get my butt in there.

So...how do you do it? What's the secret? I have an array of diet books....and I'm pretty sure that at one point I can honestly say that I've tried every diet out there...so what's a girl to do? Uhmm, beside buying more clothes in a bigger size.....

Show me the answer dear diary.

Love, Kelly

Wednesday December 5, 2007

Dear Diary,

Here's one more thing to add to my list of things I said I'd never do as a parent.

Again, last night, while I was trying to "alter" one of Zoey's behaviors, I found myself uttering the words "Santa wouldn't like that." 

I started to feel guilty as I knew I had her attention. She looked up at me. I then followed with "He's watching you ya' know." She looked around and sheepishly asked "Really mommy?"

"Yep" I replied, "and he knows if you're listening to your mommy and daddy." I knew I had her at this point.

Is it wrong? I mean leverage is essential as a parent, right? 

I don't know what I'll be able to use in January...I doubt the Easter Bunny will have the same impact....

So for now I am riding the wave known as "Twas the weeks before Christmas."........and please don't remind me that a few years ago I said "I can't believe parents use that stuff." Ha! How much I've learned!

Love,

Kelly

Friday November 30, 2007

Dear Diary,

I don't have a lot of time to write about this right now...but wow...do I feel great! I got a mini-makeover yesterday from a salon in New Wilmington. They did my hair and make-up. I'll tell you more about it later but the pictures are up.....

Go to the pictures section...and voila!

Kelly

Wednesday November 28, 2007

Dear Diary,

I'm still crying...I just got done reading this e-mail...yes, I know it's a "forward" and I usually don't read them...and I don't even know if it's true. AC's making fun of me because I'm sitting here crying over it....

But dang it...just like Santa Claus, you have to believe in order to see magic in the world.

Okay, here it is....

 

 

Angel in the Postal Service


This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced.
I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul
working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.


Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month.
The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was
crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.
She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when
Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that
I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday
and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy
that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and
to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her
you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.


We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it.
Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought he had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith" in an unfamiliar hand.
Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called,
"When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays
in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our
bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in,
so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and
have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for
helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother
you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God

 

Okay....Enough said...now grab some tissues....and thank you for the good cry.

We all need a good cry every once in a while.

 

Love,

Kelly
 

Tuesday November 27, 2007

Dear Diary,

How do you convince a 2 1/2 year old that picking their nose is not a good idea? Zoey is obsessed with it. I try to explain that there are germs on hands...that putting our fingers in our noses can make us sick....still she continues.

Is there some logic that I'm not using?

Is there a product out there that would make her stop...Booger Be Gone? Nose No More? Pickers R Us?

Her fascination with her nose has got to stop before we catch every cold germ in the universe. Help!

Love,

Kelly

Monday, November 26, 2007

Dear Diary,

How funny are kids? I'm telling you they are funnier than the funniest DVD you've ever rented.

The stuff they say and do. We went on a train ride and Santa passed out a small gift to each child. Zoey wanted nothing to do with the big guy last year....but when Santa passed out the toys then stopped to say hi to each child...she was mesmerized. As he started to walk away she said the cutest thing that just melted my heart. She said "Santa I love you!"  Now there's some real magic for the holidays.

Everyday I think of how lucky I am to be their mom.

Love,

Kelly

 Monday November 19, 2007

Dear Diary,

So here goes...it's been a running joke for AC for years...sometimes when people meet him and they didn't realize he is African American they always say something like "Well do you know so and so?"  Which is usually the only other African American person they may know...like he should know every other person who's African American. AC always makes the joke that "Yeah, we all meet on Thursdays." It's a funny bit that usually lightens the moment.

So when we adopted Zoey, people often ask "Well do you know so and so..they also adopted from China." I usually joke back that we all meet on Saturdays.

Now...don't laugh but we all are going to meet. My friend Sharyn is organizing it. So here's the deal, anyone who knows anyone who's adopted from China, please pass the word that we all are going to get together.

What a cool experience to be able to share with other families! It's just a one time thing but maybe we could open it up to play dates, language lessons, or a chance to help pave the way for other families who are trying to start the process and answer their questions. 

We belong to groups in Pittsburgh and Akron but there's so many families in this area that  we thought it would be neat to get everyone together....so if you could spread the word....send me an e-mail.....  We're all going to meet on a Saturday.  ;)

Thanks diary.

Love, Kelly

Monday November 12, 2007

 Dear Diary,

 File this under "What do you say?"

 So we're in line at Target, Zoey has he finger up her nose. I say "Honey, don't put your  finger in your nose. It's dirty."

She continues to dig and says "But mommy there's a booger in there."

The Target clerk is about on the floor laughing while I'm trying to maintain my parental  composure.

 I calmly say "Please stop. We'll get a tissue when we get to the car."

 Zoey replies as she holds up her finger with pride "That's okay mamma, I got it. See?"

 Is it wrong to just laugh out loud at those moments?

 Love,

 Kelly

Tuesday November 6, 2007

Dear Diary,

File this under "it only happens to me."

So it's no secret that we are quickly outgrowing our home. This morning was  one of the days where I looked around and felt like everything was in disaray....laundry piles everywhere, dirty dishes in the sink, and I'm going on 4 hours of sleep.

It was 4:30am and I couldn't find the clothes I wanted, I couldn't find my car keys and I realized that I was scrambling to leave the house on time.

I had just finished pumping breast milk for Carter and had it sitting on the counter. I turned to get a lid for it when I heard a noise. I turned around just in time to see that our kitty "Gabby" had knocked over the bottle of breastmilk. I quickly ran to the cupboard to get a towel to clean it up. By the time  I turned around again, there was Gabby lapping it up off the counter...and you know what? At that point I just didn't even care. I just started laughing. Then, I grabbed my purse and walked out the door. What else was there to do?

Some things you can control and some days you have to realize that you have no control whatsoever so you just go with it. Today is one of those days of being a mom that you have to have a sense of humor.

Love,

Kelly

Friday November 2, 2007

Dear Diary,

I can't believe it has already started....my goal is to let kids be kids...but noooo. So here's the deal.

AC is checking out the latest pictures of Zoey in her Princess halloween costume. She was so proud of herself and in her mind she WAS a princess. It was just a little hand-me-down tutu and a crown and wand from the dollar store but dangit she loved being a sleeping princess (something she saw on Dora). So there I was... beaming as AC was oohhhing and awwwing at how cute she looked.

Then he see's the picture of her with LiLi and Margaret at LiLi's birthday. LiLi was Aurora and Margaret was Snow White...I think...I'm still re-learning my Disney characters.)

Anyhow, AC starts to berate me about how bad Zoey's costume was in comparison. He proceeded to tell me that I need to step it up a notch in the parenting department...that our Zoey was getting her butt kicked in the costume department and that I need to start keeping up with the Jones's for Zoey's sake.

What!!!!????? Is this where it starts? The whole competition...this year it's Halloween costumes, next thing ya' know it's prom dresses and she'll want  designer purse!. For goodness sake....she's two and a half!!!!! Let's let kids be kids.

Uncle AC...from now on YOU can buy Zoey's costumes, Easter dresses, school clothes, and prom dresses.

Meanwhile, we'll take the hand-me-downs and Zoey won't know the difference.

Love,

Kelly

 Monday October 15, 2007

Dear Diary,

They say that necessity i the mother of invemtion. I think being a mother is the mother of invention. You find yourself doing things because you have to...like waht happened on the air last week when one of my neighbors called in to AC to report on my "crazy train" which really wasn't so crazy but now that I think about it...was probably more red-neck than anything. I'm determined to get some of this weight off so I wnated to walk around the block a few times. 6'8" had a meeting so there I was with two kids, one stroller, a wagon and a two year old who was determined to ride in her wagon. I pushed Carer int he stroller and grabbed a belt that I attached to the wagon handle as I proceeded to pull Zoey in the wagon. Zoey woul;d yell "faster mama" and I would zig-zag to keep her entertained. The wagon would buck when I would take off so I stopped back in our garage and strapped a gallon jug of water in the front of it foir balance. Okay, so the only thing missing from my red-neck travel system was some duck tape. But, hey, it did the job right?

It got me thinking about other things that I have thought about "inventing" since I became a mom.

Here's one....when I was pregnant someone asked me if I was going to get a belly cast done of my very pregnant belly. I remember thinking "why?" What would I possible do with it? Turn it over and serve Halloween candy out of it? I do however have an idea. Why not make a plaster cast of my arms, as if I'm holding a baby.....That way when Carter needs held and I need to help Zoey go drip-dropon the potty I could put him in the cast of my arms and he'd be fine. he might not even know I had put him down until it was time to eat...

Which leads me to my next invention.....When Carter breastfeeds he just stares at my chest. I feel like I should have something there for him to read kind of like how we always read the cereal box at breakfast.

Why not invent a nursing bra with E=MC squared on it? Or algebraic equations?Why not have the periodic table of elements, the ABC's, and multiplication tables right there to stimulate his little mind. Do you realize that we could help our kids learn as soon as their out of the womb? Ha, Little Einsteins and Baby Brilliant have nothing on this invention. I'm not sure what affect it would have on SAT scores but I invision Carter in chemistry class seeing the periodic table of elements and thinking to himself "I've seen this somewhere before."

Love,
Kelly

Dear Diary,

My name is Kelly and my daughter is an exhibitionist...at least that's how things might sound at a therapist office in a few years if Zoey doesn't grow out of this phase she's in.

Turn your head for a minute and Voila! she's naked! And so darn proud of it.

Gosh, I hope this is just a phase. 

Actually, it's kind of funny, except for when we have company and she comes streaking through the living room. Or when the UPS guy is at the door and she runs towards the door yelling "I get it mama, I get it."

Or like the other day when we spent an hour getting everyone dressed and ready to go....we're loading Carter into the car and I hear Zoey buckling herself in. I'm about to praise her for buckling all by herself...when I glance up and there she is all buckled in and stark naked!!!! Hello!

Is this just a phase?

How long does it last?

Will she outgrow it by the time she reaches college?

Love, Kelly

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

  Dear Diary,

  It's sad when even strangers notice how bad Carter's toot problem is.

  Yep, he's 10 weeks and sounds like a whoopppie cushion. Like father, like son.

  We've nicknamed him "Carter the #arter."

  Zoey's so funny...she calls them "toots" and whenever she does it she'll look 

  at you and say "Hear that? Hear that Mama?"

  She's wise to Bob...she'll laugh and say "daddy, that was you!"

  A proud family moment, eh?

  At least 6'8" can't blame the kitties anymore.

  Love, Kelly

Tuesday Oct. 2, 2007

Dear Diary,

And so continues the saga of the incredible growing baby.

Our little Carter Christian, who weighed only 8.1 at birth, is now a whopping 18 lbs. 8 oz!!!!!

He went from 21 inches at birth to 26 1/2 inches...all of this at 10 weeks of age. Just 10 weeks!

A lady with her newborn baby saw us at the park the other day and asked if he was cutting teeth yet. No, he's only 10 weeks....but I think that will be the sign that it's time to stop breastfeeding.

 

So this past weekend we ventured to Columbus as I had a conference dinner to emcee. On the way down we stopped at a drive-thru and I got a salad.

I will never eat another salad as long as I live.

A chocolate bar seems so much safer.

I posted a picture on the AC & Kelly page. www.hot101.com/mornings.shtml

 

No more salads...I don't care how much bigger my butt gets.

Notice I said "bigger." It's pretty big already...and now that salads are off the menu....hmmm.

Love,

Kelly

 

Friday Sept. 14, 2007

Dear Diary,

So what do you do in this situation?

I'm breastfeeding Carter. Zoey walks up and, in her natural 2 year old curiousity, asks "What you doin' mommy?" I reply "I'm feeding Baby Carter." She says "Can I have some?" I say "No this is just milk for little babies."

She wanders off to do something else. I'm all proud of myself becasue I think I've handled this situation so well...NOT! Later I find her touching her little ta-ta's saying "I have milk-ey, I have milk-ey." Then she takes her playset measuring cups, puts them on her chest and walks around the living room like she's attached to a breastpump.

 I told 6'8" we are in serious trouble when we find out she repeats these stories at daycare...although Bob reassured me that as teachers they've probably head just about everything.
Love,

Kelly

 

Thursday Sept. 13, 2007

Dear Diary,

I have come to the conclusion that I have boring breasts.

No, really, every time I try to breastfeed Carter he falls asleep.

 

Actually, it's kind of cute. He has this look on his face...like he's drunk and then he smacks his lips. It makes me laugh every time. 

 

After we bottle feed him he does the same and but then sighs like he's saying "I couldn't drink another drop." 

We're supplementing with formula because...well...in the breastfeeding realm of quarts, pints, and cups...I'm the small coffee creamers you get at Sheetz.

 

I'm just not producing enough milk. I'm doing all of these home remedies too. I'm eating oatmeal, drinking the Mother's Milk herbal tea, and taking Fenugreek. I don't know what else to do but I'm not giving up just yet...and aren't you supposed to lose the weight quickly if you breastfeed? Yeah, I'm still waiting for that to happen.

 

I've still only lost 12 of the 36 pounds I gained.

What's up with that?

It's not like I'm planning to wear a Britney Spears type black   bikini  anytime soon. I'd just like to have clothes that fit and be able to  wear something other than black pants with expandable waists.

I just want my underwear to fit.

Help!!!!!

Love,

Kelly

 

Monday September 10th, 2007

Dear Diary,

I finally had a chance to post some pictures from the past few weeks....

Carter's umbilical cord fell off the second week.

It made us very nervous....it was just hanging there by a thread and then one day it just fell off.

6'8" was worried it would fall off and we wouldn't know where and then one day we'd find the kitties batting it around and playing with it.....

 

And what exactly do you do with the umbilical cord?

We met some friends...okay, acquaintances, who had just had a baby and they kept their umbilical cord sealed in a baggy in their little girls baby book.

Hmmm... 6'8" is a teacher so he suggested we laminate it....cause he said that's what teachers love to do...laminate everything.  

I don't think so.......

 

I must say that having a baby boy has been interesting. It was around week #2 that 6'8" corrected me and showed me the light....the art of the diaper change.

Apparently I wasn't...uhm....maneuvering the boy parts the right way during diaper changes....who knew? Hey, I've taken care of girl parts my whole life. This was never a problem for us. I found out that there's this whole special way you handle things...move everything to one side and then the other.

Plus, I didn't know about the special technique for positioning boy parts "down" in the diaper but that explains a lot of wet onesies. LOL.

Love,

Kelly

 

 

Monday, September 3, 2007

Dear Diary,

 

I can't believe baby Carter is 6 weeks old. Wow!

Here's the wild part...he went from 8.1 lbs to 13.1 lbs and 21 inches to 24 1/2 inches. I know everyone says they grow fast but this is a growth spurt and a half!

This past weekend we went to the Canfield Fair....we only planned to spend a few hours but Zoey was having so much fun we stayed...

Dilema....where does one breastfeed at the fair? There's no private place..it's a fair! I thought about heading to the cow milking barns...at least they'd understand.

Zoey had a blast. She loved the Choo-Choo and the Merry Go Round. And we rode them over and over and over. Honestly, it was really fun and we loved it.

Carter slept through the whole thing. He woke up to be changed and to eat. Too bad he missed out on all of the great fair food. I ate my share and since I'm still breastfeeding maybe he'll get to taste the frozen banana on a stick, deep fried green beans, and Bistro Chicken sandwich, and lemonade shake indirectly. LOL

I'm posting the pictures on the Zoey page...including some of the now gigantuous baby Carter...BTW....Zoey now officially calls him Baby Carter. Don't know how long that will last. I'm thinking maybe she should switch it up before he gets to high school.

Love,

Kelly

Sunday,  August 19th, 2007

Dear Diary,

It hasn't happened yet...but I'm sure it will....and they'll be a special prize in a very warm place  for the first  person who says "So when are you due to have the baby?"

I keep waiting for my  tummy to go down a little bit...and compared to where it was...I guess it has gone down considerably.

Here are the numbers:
I gained 36 pounds total. Carter weighed 8.1 pounds.....I'm sure there was some other loss of fluids etc....

BUT I'm still baffled as to why Carter didn't weigh AT LEAST 20 pounds at birth?

I keep thinking they made a mistake when they weighed him. LOL

So far I've only lost 12 pounds of the 36 I gained. And the number on the scale hasn't changed much since that first week home. 12 pounds...that's it!

That's all I've lost. Hmm.

I really shouldn't complain as I haven't made a real effort to lose any weight...interpret that as..."I've been eating as much as I want whenever I want". And...I really haven't felt well enough to exercise...no really, this is the part that nobody tells you about having a baby....even walking still hurts. Besides, I think I lost every ounce of muscle tone that I had from being on bed-rest.

I think I hear my phone ringing...it's probably Jenny Craig calling.

Love,

Kelly

 

 

 

Hi.....

I'm kelly's sister (Debi----the one who lives in Utah).  I wanted to give a quick update since kell's still in the hospital.

My new nephew is Carter Christian. He was born at 3:27am on Saturday July 21st.

Carter weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz..

It was a complicated birth so he is in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit. I'm sure she'll update everything as soon as she's able.

Okay, cool..that was easy....my first entry in my sister's diary...oh the irony. If you only knew how many times she used to read my diary when we were growing up. Ha!

Okay....that's all for now....Debi

 

 

Okay...since I'm still getting e-mails asking for those funny pregnancy photos...adjust your computer screens to the wide setting...LOL and click on the Journey to Zoey site.

I think they're under "Mid July"...warning....I'm very large!

www.journeytozoey.com and click under How's Zoey......

Thursday July 19, 2007

Dear Diary,

I thought I’d take a minute to respond to some of the most commonly asked questions from the e-mails I’ve received…and I also have to share some of the funny stories.

You all have kept me so entertained with your funny stories and sweet e-mails. You’ve kept me laughing and you’ve shared your stories of bed-rest and helped me survive this ordeal with a positive attitude.I  can't thank all of you enough.

You’ve also given me suggestions on how to keep Zoey active in all of this too. Some of you may never have written but I know you’ve been there and I thank you.

Make sure you read the story at the end of this. It made me laugh out loud. You’ll see why I couldn’t talk about it “on” the air.

 

So…here goes the FAQ’s from Kelly’s Diary…

How much weight have you gained?

Uhmmm…okay as of this morning it’s now 35 lbs….but I deserve the last few I’ve gained. When the mini-contractions hit I’ve been heading right for the comfort food. I’ve been really good but this week, while dealing with pain, all bets are off…bring on the ice cream, pizza, etc..

 

How do you do the show from your house?

Well first of all we have a great engineer and IT guy (Wes and Rick) who busted their butts to get this set up for me. It’s the same way we broadcast from local businesses and the Canfield Fair….I just get to sit in a recliner with my laptop next to me (it doesn’t fit on my lap anymore). LOL.

I also have to give big props to Doug and Krista from Armstrong Cable. They installed a Zoom internet line so I can monitor the studio and be connected with what’s on the air….they also installed a cable phone so I can talk back and forth with AC when we’re not on the air.

 

What have you been doing when you’re not on the air?

Ha! That’s a good one. LOL

When I’m not on the air, I also do commercials for our corporate radio dept. and TV stations in other cities across the country.

I’ve kept up with the diary and community events pages…and just the usual show prep that I would do even if I was at the station. Honestly, I haven't really had a ton of free time to just sit and do nothing, perhaps that's the secret. LOL Plus being a mom to a 26 month old has kept me busy.

We’ve also been trying to potty train Zoey…although with the baby pressing on my bladder 24/7 I think I’m the one who needs the potty training.

I’ve also had to be on the baby monitor for two hours each day, plus all the medical shots, changing the vials of contraction medicine, doctors appts., etc....Blah….I’ve also been trying to read as much as I can about this whole process that’s happening. I’m amazed I’ve made it this far in life and didn’t know most of this stuff. Bob laughs because he says guys just assume that we women all know this stuff.

Whaat’s been the hardest thing you’ve been though?

Hmmmm…I can’t even begin to say. Like most women say, you just try to forget the pains and think about the positives…although lately just getting out of bed in the middle of the night to tinkle has been quite the chore. I’ve asked 6’8’ to kind of push me off as I get to the side of the bed.. This goes on all night. LOL

 

Are you going to breastfeed?

Yes, I’m hoping to because I’ve heard so much about how good it is for the baby

Besides, I’m kind of used to these “new, larger” size breasts! Hey I’ve been an “A” cup my entire life. This is still a novelty to me ever time I look in the mirror. I think I’m actually the size I dreamed of back when I was in 7^th grade and I stuffed my bra full of Kleenex.

 

Okay, here’s one story about breastfeeding that had me rolling on the floor. Names have been omitted to protect the innocent.

 

Dear Kelly,

I had decided to breast feed, but my milk wasn't coming out. So the nurse came in and explained to my husband and myself that he would need to massage my breast to stimulate the glands to allow the milk to come out.  Then she attempted to show him how, using my breast.  He, being the jokester that he is, said I think I can handle the breast a little better.

So the nurse left to allow us time to try this. So picture it , Youngstown...1995.... me attempting to sit up in a recliner with a zipper cut  C-Section and nothing except the beautiful hospital gown and socks on, with a crying baby on my lap, holding him like a football on my left side.....my husband is behind me reaching around and massaging my breast.....suddenly the nun comes in......she froze in place, and turned on her heels and quickly vanished out the door.  All my husband and I could do was laugh.....needless to say my son had to be bottle fed.

 

That’s enough for now diary. I’m afraid too much laughing will put me into labor early.

Love,

Kelly

Monday, July 16th, 2007

Dear Diary,

Good news, good news, and more good news, and bad news. Which would you like first?

Good news....The doctor took me off the terbutaline pump. Wooo-whooo!

That is something to celebrate! That thing was such a pain, beeping at all hours of the day, but it did keep the contractions down and keep us from delivering too early.  I also say bye-bye to the two hour daily monitoring sessions and constant calls from the monitoring service that were checking on our contractions.

The doctor also said they are lifting many of my restrictions...

I get to go to the store! Yipppeee!

Bad news is I can't walk that far or the contractions start and I double over in pain.

We did make it to Babies R Us, as they have wheel chairs available. It gives you a new perspective on how hard things are for people in wheel chairs. We take so much for granted.

It is difficult to do alot of things since I haven't been able to do much for the last few months and now that I've gained 33 pounds it's not any easier. LOL

The doctor also said moving may be difficult because the baby has moved "into position"...... uhm...that would be head down and "in the shute" as the doctor so eloquently put it.

I'm not complaining about any of this...just being "real" with the process.

Our sweet baby boy weighs over 8 lbs. Delivery should be uhmm...painful and interesting to say the least.

Oh yeah, I now have to have two shots per day in the belly instead of one...

I'm just one big beached whale pin-cushion.

Zoey has been so helpful...she wants to be included in everything so we've given her the job of opening the alcohol prep wipes and she places them on my belly. Then she does the countdown for Bob "Ready daddy?.....3....2....1" and then she looks at the grimace on my face, tilts her head to the side and says "Hurt mama? Shot hurt?"  Perhaps she'll have a career in the medical field from all of this.

Oh yeah, and whoever put "one size fits most" on the packages of maternity underwear apparently never made it to the 9th month of pregnancy.

One size definitely doesn't fit "most" of anything on my body right now..

Kelly

 

 Thursday, July 12, 2007

Dear Diary,

When is a woman dangerous? When she hasn't had a haircut and is in desperate need of a makeover. When I got out of the shower today and looked at my hair I picked up the scissors and started to trim. It could have been disasterous but I only took the ends off. I know it's time to see if I can get permission from the doctor to go to the salon. I'm sure he'll make me promise to sit in a reclined postion, etc. I think at this point he's just trying to torture me. If a woman ever needed a makeover in her life it would occur right about now....as she resembles the beached whale but still wants to look like a "pretty" beached whale.

The doctor did lighten some of my restrictions but honestly, at this point I couldn't do those things if I wanted. oh, and I've officially gained 31 pounds.

Okay, so I've been getting these baby/pregnancy updates each week via e-mail from babycenter. Are you ready for this weeks update?

All men stop reading here.......

They said that at this point I may notice that my breasts will start to leak pretty much any day now.

For real????

So.......if I do go out anywhere......

I'll end up looking like I'm entering a maternity wet t-shirt contest. Nice......

See, this is the stuff no one talks about with pregnancy.

Love,

Kelly

 

PS...I just found out my e-mail from the web isn't working right (I feel badly for the lady from South Carolina who has been getting my e-mail. Yikes!).

You can still e-mail me but just cut and paste this address until we get it figured out.

Kellywhot@aol.com

So sorry to those of you who have written...but I guess now we've