Happy Birthday, Little Man

 

Can't believe it's been a whole year, but it was the best year ever. Thanks for filling our lives with so much joy, Jimmy! We love you so much!

Home, Home on the Lake...

And that, my friends, is the exact view from our deck. Does it not make your heart go pitter patter? Quite soothing, I must say.

Signing on to Say

I'm signing out for a couple weeks it looks like. Some big things happening in our lives these days, mainly that we are relocating in two weeks. God has blessed us greatly with a home on the lake and we are so excited to be moving. Now it's time to reorganize our little life here and place neatly into cardboard boxes...

Our Baby

James Teagon
Born on Friday, October 29, 2010
Weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces
19 1\2 inches long

We couldn't be happier.

Sometime I'll tell you the details of a whirlwind labor and delivery, but for now I'm just going to go cuddle my little guy some more.

What I Didn't Anticipate

From the moment that second line appeared on the pregnancy test, I knew I was going to love and cherish every moment of pregnancy; even the discomforts. After my last pregnancy ended so abruptly, I actually missed every little bit of misery I felt and the other various aches and pains and complications I never had the opportunity to feel. I had a hard time not resenting the pregnant women who seemed to view their pregnancies as a drudgery. I ached to be in their shoes.

This pregnancy shaped out to be a dream of an experience. Yes, I spent the first trimester on the couch wondering if I would ever feel awake again. But I know that I am among the lucky who only had to surrender to the porcelain bowl once. Knowing my discomfort meant that my baby was well I embraced it with joy.

My second trimester was a breeze. Feeling my baby growing inside of me was an experience I wondered if I would be willing to give up at 40 weeks. But towards the end of that period I learned that my cervix had softened prematurely and started to dilate. Up until that point I had been trying to remain active--exercising regularly and keeping up a schedule filled with social and work activities. Now I needed to take it easy. I was constantly worried about my baby. I laid off the brisk walks and cut back on my calendar of events. I didn't like that my toned legs began to get squishy, and not being able to move furniture around or lift heavy objects made me feel like an invalid. But I gladly did it for the sake of my baby.

As I hit this third trimester I settled into a routine of better understanding my body. I knew where the boundaries of over-doing it were, and the premature labor threat level began to drop. Meanwhile, Baby continues to grow. I'm starting to feel like a big unattractive beach ball, but I try to believe my husband when he tells me otherwise. While dreading what those feet in my ribs were going to feel like at 39 weeks, I was still loving every minute of being pregnant. I knew I was having a dream of a pregnancy and really did have very little to complain of--except for that outie of course. I considered myself blessed beyond measure, especially since I was still willing to fully embrace all the aches and pains and stretch marks and other discomforts that are normal for this stage of pregnancy.

And then It hit.

It being a breakout in a hives-like raised rash all over my lower torso and legs. It was so bad that at times I writhed in agony of the burning, itching, on-fire inflammation that was creeping all over my body. At first they thought that perhaps I was having an allergic reaction to something. When it continued to worsen no matter what I did or tried my midwife sent me to the doctor. The verdict was not what I wanted it to be.
"Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy" also known [or more easily pronounced] as PUPPP.

If you're like me and had never heard of such a thing, that's because less than 1% of pregnant women are afflicted with this ailment. Of those less-than-1%, it usually occurs in a first pregnancy or women pregnant with twins. And oddly enough, 70% of that less-than-1% are carrying boys.

Nobody really knows what causes PUPPP. Skin stretching and therefore become irritated, male DNA in the baby acting as a skin irritant and fluctuating hormones are among the various reasons that studies have so far been able to come up with.

There is no cure for it. There are methods of relief (I have spent probably 75% or more of my days on ice packs, no lie), and when it becomes as severe as mine (I wasn't sleeping at night, my skin was on fire, and it got to the point where ice packs could barely take the edge off) there are prescriptions for oral antihistamines and topical steroid cream.

PUPPP indicates no underlying condition, nor does it put your baby at risk. It goes away all on it's own... After your darling baby is born.

So as you can imagine, this is one preggo malady I wasn't anticipating and certainly was not eager to embrace. I felt like a horrible mommy as sweet visions of induction pleasantly flitted through my rash-deranged mind. I was already feeling like a horrible wife as I accomplished 100% of nothing and my sweetheart's very touch sent fiery itchy tingles racing through my body. If I could just have this baby all would be well!! Well, not really well seeing his first weeks of life would be spent living the life of a preemie while I could adjust to my new life of comfortable skin and feeling human again.

Ugh. What a selfish person I am.

I am happy to say that while normal is a long ways down the road (like 8 weeks, give or take) the medication has kicked some comfort in. I can get a half-way decent night's rest, I am able to accomplish things (the whole nesting thing is delish!) even if I have to take breaks frequently to apply ice packs, and my baby continues to warm my heart with his delightful kicks and uncomfortable feet-in-my-ribs maneuvers. My brain has lifted from the fog of PUPPP mayhem and I am more than willing to carry to term.

I am so grateful that I have a healthy active bouncing baby boy. I'm finally starting to adjust to the idea of learning how to joyfully cope with this condition knowing all is well with him.

(On the other hand, I'm not so sure I'm eager to experience him being one of those 42-weekers.)

It's A...

...BOY!

I'm Pregnant.

I wake up every morning and think that thought and it makes me smile. I'm pregnant! We are going to have a BABY. Fact of the matter is, I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around such a miracle.

Here I am, pushing 17 weeks, starting to get the baby bump, feeling the little wiggles in my tummy and I'm still in awe that there's a baby in there. My man likes to put his hand on my tummy and remind me... "That's our baby..."

The stats on our little peachykins is "he's" due November 7th, which puts me at over 16 1/2 weeks. We've heard the heartbeat twice now, and I must say, that in itself is a miracle and the most beautiful sound I have ever heard! I'm feeling and doing great. Once past the first trimester, my energy returned and I can now actually light candles without wanting to gag!

We're so happy and excited...

On New Cars and a Guy Just Like My Brother

I used to hope that someday I could marry somebody like my brother. Somebody who could always, without fail, make me laugh, who would tease me mercilessly (why that's such a plus I'm sure I don't know) and be a brat in an adorable, lovable way. Without boring you with the details of how it came about, let's just suffice it to say, I got what I wanted.... and a little more than I bargained for.

Gabe and Andy just so happened to join the army the same year, they deployed together, they both came home in January, we now live in identical apartment buildings across the parking lot from each other, they work at the same place, are enrolled in the same school (and ironically enough, happen to have identical class schedules), they bought flat-screen TV's in the same week, wear black leather jackets, gel their hair, grow cute little goatees, have the same kind of guns and randomly sing in unison "Every Kiss begins with Kay" when the jeweler commercial comes on.

Don't get me wrong, they don't try to be alike. They just are. They really weren't aware of the other's existence when they signed up for the army nor when they purchased their respective leather jackets...

(And before I commence with my story, I will have you know that Gabe signed a lease for his apartment after he saw ours, and bought a flat screen TV after we showed him ours...)

Then came the day when Gabe's fiancee's car was really not safe for her to drive anymore and they decided to invest in a new one. So they did... A Chevy Impala. And it's a pretty sweet ride.

Their purchase just so happened to occur at the same time Andy and I were realizing that our one car was bound to present a problem when our schedules clashed. We were ready for something a hair more reliable anyway. So we shopped around and found a really good deal in town. Wouldn't you know, it was a Chevy Impala, the only difference to Gabe's being one year and it was black (a hair more snazzy).

We had a look at it, we fell in love with it... But Andy wasn't quite ready to make the purchase. We checked out many other deals in town, even test drove a really cool Jaguar. Surely he wouldn't have to be just like Gabe with his car too, right?! But none of the other offers nearly measured up to the specs of the Impala for the price it was at.

So as fate would once again have it, there's a pair of Impala's out in the parking lot now.

(from one Impala to another)
But that's ok. I fell in love with a guy who reminds me of my brother more and more... And I really don't mind. The only difference being he's sweeter and somehow more lovable.

Happily Ever After...

(...Is Just Around The Corner)

[So (ahem) that was an impromptu blogger hiatus you just saw happen.]

It is with great joy I get to announce that the official rumor is that Andy's return date is set for January! We are so excited as the two-digit numbers are growing smaller and smaller. Part of me wishes I had done a better job at blogging my thoughts and documented the roller coaster that has gotten us to this point after a very long 2009... The other part of me is glad I can forget it. Because when it comes to matters of importance, I am going to be wrapped up in my husband's arms where all the time, loneliness, heartache and tears will totally melt away... And that blessed event is a matter of weeks away. I'm so happy.

Right now we're in that phase where time can't go fast enough. I'm so grateful to have a lot I want to get done before he gets home. Time goes faster that way. It only drags, as opposed to totally drags. One of my experienced military-wife friends told me that with deployment, the first months drag, and then you get semi-used to it, and every day is not so agonizingly long... And then you get to the count-down phase, and once again, time is dragging. She was right. There have been days in more recent weeks where the countdown in my head was reduced twice. Oops.

But we're almost there!!!

[Sorry, this is among the most dis-jointed blog posts I've ever had the opportunity to write. You understand that with all the excitement, brain cells have greatly deteriorated, don't you??]

When I Think of You, I Think of Home

Dedicated To the Love of My Life,

I miss you, I love you and "I’ll bring you all my heart and soul, my love, my hugs and kisses." This song reminded me of you so much. You are my hero, and I am so excited to get to spend the rest of ever after happily together.... you ♥ me.....

♥

Can't wait to celebrate Christmas with my hero in January!
Photos from throughout the 2009 deployment.

The Last Goodbye

A storm blew in from the North last night. Temperatures outside have dipped into the 50's and there's a bone-chilling wind. Normally I greet the Autumn weather with a bit of trepidation. Colorful trees,warm, cozy fireplaces and snuggly knit sweaters hold the initial charm of season's changing. But as the temperatures steadily drop you know that it won't be long before the roads are glazed in ice and snowstorms will dictate your ability to make plans and keep them. Plus, I have zero tolerance for cold... I. Do. Not. Like. To. Be. Cold.

However, this year the shivers down the spine from the first chill outside holds a bit of a thrill. By the next time warm weather sets in, Andy will be home. Never have I so anticipated winter. Ever! BRING IT ON.

After being apart for 135 days, Andy finally got to come home for 15 blissfully wonderful and horrifically fast days together before we had yet another tearful goodbye for another approximately 130-some, give or take, days apart.

Our one-year anniversary was on the 30th of August. Andy came home on the 4th of September and we celebrated in style, re-visiting our honeymoon location on the Carribbean beach of Mexico.



It was an absolutely beautiful time making memories together we'll always cherish. We spent 8 nights in Mexico, and then returned home for the small remainder of time that was left. Every day we were together I was reminded over and over again of how wonderful my husband is and how much I love to be with him and how great it will be when we never have to say goodbye like this again (not that I ever doubted the above-stated facts).
It was especially special this time around because for the first time we had a home of our own for him to come home to. A real home! And we loved every minute of our own space and our own time. He was so cute about how much he liked it... *grin*
(Cutting our wedding cake... and yes, this time it ended up all over my face. But naturally he didn't get away with it)

And then it was time again to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes! But the only good thing about this one was... it would be the last one. It is a relief now that we are in the home stretch... Sitting at the wretched airport wishing the clock would just stop for once, I felt a slight tinge of happiness (as much happiness as the moment would allow considering the circumstances) when it hit me that we would never have to do this again.

For now, of course I still feel every hour that drags by. I'm all for skipping October, November and December this year. But next time I kiss him hello, I will be kissing goodbyes goodbye!

The Footprints Our Baby Made

How very softly
you tiptoed into our world.

Almost silently,
only a moment you stayed.

But what an imprint
your footsteps have left
upon our hearts.

(Dorothy Ferguson)

In loving memory of our precious baby whose life was a beautiful gift from God, given to us to love and cherish for but a short time. Our little angel touched our lives in a way no one ever has. We grieve, but not as those who have no hope; because there's a Father in heaven who's taking good care of our treasure... And while he romps on streets of gold, we can imagine just how much more wonderful heaven will be.

The 10 Week Baby Bump

A Peek at Our Li'l Peanut

And now it's time to show off our baby's first portrait... taken at the age of 8 weeks gestation on the 20th of February.

I was really happy that I could schedule my first prenatal appointment while Andy was still home--most likely the only appointment he would get to be in on. Because the gestational age was still so young, hearing the heart beat was not going to be an option. The sweet nurse thought it necessary though for the daddy to get to have some sort of remembrance of his baby to carry with him to Iraq, so she brought in the ultra sound machine. I'm not sure what was more fun for me... Seeing our teeny little baby for the first time and watching his heart beating, or seeing how fascinated and proud my husband was as he watched his baby on the monitor. It was really a very special occasion, I can assure you. "His baby's pictures" were one of the last things tucked safely into his ruck sack the day before he left.

In other news, for those of you who might just so happen to be wondering, the pregnancy--at 9 1/2 weeks--is going really well and I'm feeling great. It's a very thrilling thought to think that I have Andy's baby growing inside of me. I find a lot of comfort in his absence with this special little gift that God surprised us with.

Announcing...

...a new addition to our little family...
...due October 1st, 2009...

One of Those Incriments... Coming Right Up!

Okay people. I happen to be very happy about a sweet little factor occuring in my life in the near future. Guess what? I am going to be able to look into those smashingly handsome blue eyes (the ones that have totally dissolved my heart) and hear those words (that make my heart completely skip a beat) coming from that voice I love to hear so much--"I love you."

My man is coming home!

The truth of the matter is, I'm not even allowing myself to think that it is but a short visit, but am going to totally live in the moment of his return. Those moments of being together are so numbered now that I can't afford to waste a single one.

So guess what? Five more days! That makes it a total of, let's see here... 120 hours from now. Oh, darnnit! 120 is a huge number.

....oh to be able to control the clock.....

Cold Reality

I don't know why I find it so difficult to put into words the announcement that Andy's orders have begun and he is currently far away. Maybe it's because I like to retain a reputation of some strong insanely spiritual saint that can go through periods of intense loneliness with nothing but the best of attitudes, and it's hard for me to talk about Andy being gone without the obvious not seeping through. I feel as though I have just waken up, wondering if all that beauty I had just so blissfully experienced was just a dream. Reality is as cold as the 30-below windchill outside. It fills me with dread to think Andy and I have but a few short increments of time together before he goes overseas. But how grateful I am for the 4 months we have spent together, loving each other and cherishing each others presence. Now if only something could happen to disintegrate the agonizing times of separation and life really would be good.

2010 Wedding Bells

My brother called me last night to tell me that his girlfriend got engaged. "We're actually both engaged," he informed me. I am ecstatic.

I love helplessly romantic soldier guys and the way they just steal the hearts of the girls they love. I am really thrilled to be getting another sweet sister and am glad we'll have lots of fun and detailed plans to make to occupy our loneliness while our guys are overseas.

Congratulations, Gabe & Anna!!