My day is getting better:)

The girls are still cranky as is Mommy... but Max seems better and not only did we get an awesome hammock over the weekend (for free thanks to Papa)... but we now have our very own swingset, thanks to craigslist and making some room with our stuff (selling:P). Here is a pic from my phone... a big thunderstormed welcomed home our swing set:P

The hammock with the usual inhabitants


And our swing set:)

Another tough day....

Max was my very first baby... I got him at 6 weeks and he was TEENY... 8 oz!!!! He is now a full grown 8 year old Pom and has been doing great... other then looking scuffy from not getting groomed (hair and nails) in 6 months..due to lack of funds:(

Well... yesterday I noticed him licking his back foot a lot and today, when he came downstairs, he was not walking on his left back leg at all. So I took a look and was horrified to see that his first toe nail has grown into almost a circle and directly into his paw and his paw was HUGE and bleeding. So off to the vet we ween immediately. They had to sedate him to get the nail out of his paw, they also gave him two injections of penicillen, one injection of anti-inflamatory drugs and also some pain meds. The prognosis is what me.... they said they cannot garautee that the infection has not spread into the bone because of the severity of his foot... they said if I had not caught it today that his foot would have literally split open in a day or two.

So... he has a cone on his neck (Which his HATES) we have more antibiotics to give him twice a day for 14 days as welll as an injectable pain med. If the infection does not start to improve in a day or two, we might have to go back.... and they said the two worst scenerios are 1. he has to have a complete amputation of his leg or 2. if it is too bad, we have to put him down:( . I am still kinda in shock but hopeful for a full recovery!

His paw in the waiting room at the emergency vet


Max after the procedure... very doped and confused... and pissed at the cone:(



And then to make things more interesting, Kaiya has a horrendous diaper rash that came on yesterday and has spiraled as usual and now she has severe diarriah... to the point that I took her diaper off and let her run around outside on the deck.... and literally had to follow her around with a hose because the poop was everywhere and coming out every 5 minutes:( I am so ready for potty training! She just has no interest.

Ok... I think I will stop complaining now... sorry:) Just been a shitty day... pun INTENDED:)

Rough weekend....

I am not quite sure what is going on lately with my Kaiya..... but she has been acting like a completely different child. Over the course of the weekend she threw what I would consider mega temper tantrums over very minor things. She has always had her fits here and there, totally normal.... but these were so bad that she was impossible to control long enough to even calm her down. She also has been sobbing at bed time, begging me to rock her to sleep and grabbing onto to me when I put her to bed say "no Mommy, dont go Mommy, rock me, please". I have not rocked her to sleep since she was 10 months old. I had thought that maybe she was sick, but she is not, no fever, runny nose, cough... nothing. She also threw a fit today at Lowes and would not even show me her face since it was buried in my chest and stayed that way for at least 45 minutes and would not let me put her down and when we got to the car... she ran to the back and hid and Preston and I had to pry her out to get her into her car seat. She screamed all the way home. She also has had days that she has slept as late at 11am in the morning after going to bed 9 at night. She did that 3 times this week (once until 11, twice until 10). Of course everyone says "she is growing" or "she is just a toddler" and of course my Grandmother telling me I am too hard on her and that I am not bringing her up well... thanks Gigi- ouch.

And of course to add to it... my mid-back has been in spasm since Friday night.... I am sure from stress and trying to carry her when she is flailing.... I am still in a ton of pain and on the heating pad.

I have no idea what to do. Her behavior seems to have changed overnight. I am worried because I feel like someting is going on and I have no idea how to deal with her when she is like this. Dont get me wrong, she is a wonderful child, but when she starts these temper tantrums.... I cannot even get her attention. I have tried ignoring her and that seems to make it worse.... I really wish that kids came with an owners manual, because I feel lost about what to do. I am praying for good throughts tonight and praying that my back holds up tomorrow since Preston wont be home:(

Sorry, whine fest over.

I finally remembered my password!! Here are some pics:)

I could not for the life of me remember it to log onto Blogger... but my brain fog has officially cleared!! Here are some pics of my ladies from Innis Woods:)






I love this pic of the girls hugging... Cassie looks so surprised:P


And finally a pic stolen from Em on facebook... our fam and Miss Hannah... basically one of our kids too:)

Some random pics of our week, getting a fishy, loads of fun, birthday parties and general silliness

Happy Birthday my sweet long awaited child - Kaiya

When it comes to my daughter... her birthday will forever be attached to the story of the journey to have her. Her birthday is always very reflective and wonderful.

FLASHBACK... Here is Kaiya meeting the doctor that finally got us pregnant, Dr. Clements Grosskinsky, who is retired from Ohio Reproductive at the end of 2006.... I found this picture on my Blog from June 2006 when Kaiya was a month old:)



WHew.... I simply cannot believe that my first born daughter is turning three today. After trying for so long and hoping for so long... my "someday baby" became my Kaiya. 5 years after we decided we wanted to get pregnant, I was finally pregnant and staying pregnant and the day I gave birth to Kaiya still fills me with a lot of emotion and amazement. I swear the minute I saw her... every negative pregnancy test, every surgery, procedure... all the time we spent grieving losses and hoping for the future, it all made sense. My sister told me a long time ago... that God wanted to pick out the perfect baby for me... that is why it took so long... and I could not agree more. She amazes me everyday with how grown up she is and all of things she can do, yet through it all, she is still my baby that I never thought I would have and that makes her so special.

My sister wrote Preston and I's story on her blog in tribute to my birthday girl... and it sums up my long awaited child perfectly as it does our journey to get her. Please feel free to check it out... she writes beautifully - http://www.missemilylynnspeaks.blogspot.com/.

Kaiya... thank you for chosing me as your Mom and being the most amazing blessing any heart could ever wish for! I love you pumpkin and Happy 3rd Birthday!

Giving back and having fun....

Today was the Otterbein Relay for Life for Cancer, it began last night and is a 24 hour event to raise money and awareness of cancer research. Preston had to work, so the girls and I leached on to the Replogles to walk the track as much as we could! I was surprised the girls stayed in the jog stroller as long as they did... especially with all the way cool wrestling mats that were there. But they completed 3 1/2 miles (one half of a mile was on foot!!) and raised money and awareness for Cancer research:) Then we enjoyed some wild time on the mats that all the kids loved! Thanks to Em, Adam, Hannah, Charlie, Austin, Nolan and Riley for letting us join in and do something positive!