Are we married?

Reef has been super lovey and curious lately. He has told me a couple times while we are snuggling in bed for his bedtime routine that he wishes he was the mommy and I was the baby so he could take care of me! I told him that he will be a super big brother when we have another baby and then he said, can it be baby Jesus? :) We've been talking about the Christmas story lately and that just made me smile!

Another day he asked "Are me married?" It took me awhile to think of what he was talking about. I told him, no, daddy and mommy are married, but you can marry one of your friends like Claire, Renae, Bailey, Sarah, etc. and he said, No. I guess I'll marry Callin. He really does love his neighbor Cal!

Out of the mouths of babes!

Giving Thanks

On this eve of Thanksgiving I am thankful for many things. If you are my facebook friend, you have seen 23 things I'm thankful so far (I've been doing one a day, if you aren't.)

I am excited to go to Omaha tomorrow to be with Rick's side of the family and eat yummy food (especially Aunt Patty's rolls!)

Tomorrow night starts black friday shopping. I am not sure I am going this year, as we really don't have too much to get. I am still debating on my Christmas list and the Canon Rebel tops my list (Thanks alot Erica and Jenn!) I am trying to take up photography and might possibly take a class at SCC to make myself better and maybe even do some side jobs! I am really feeling my artistic side come out and you will see my newest venture in a future post...and you will see another reason I want the camera~

Friday brings the HUSKERS last home game and as a tradition, we go to Dan and Courtney Landon's for this game and they fry up a turkey and we have yet another holiday type meal. It's so nice to have such close friends to hang out with and watch our kids grow up together.

Saturday we head down to Crete to hang out with both my mom and dad's sides. This is a little more relaxed food-wise. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I will put on a couple more LB's this day, too, but it's not the traditional holiday meal fare. Sometimes it's sandwiches, sometimes appetizers, you just never know what mom has up her sleeve!

Sunday will be a relaxing day at home and hopefully putting up the rest of the Christmas lights and decorating for December!

Can't wait!!!

Grieving...a process

As many of you may or may not know, I found out I was pregnant on October 21. We were so excited and couldn't wait to tell people. So, the next day I called many friends to share the exciting news that around July 2, Reef would be a big brother! We were discussing ways to tell our parents, and we had planned on taking wall paper down in our kitchen, living room and bathroom and repainting, so it was the perfect guise to get them all there at one time.

The date was set for Oct 28, just one week after we found out the good news. They came and I put Reef in his new Big Bro shirt I had purchased at Kohl's that week. I handed him a I'm a big brother book to ask the grandparents to read. My mom was the first to see it and she had the biggest grin on her face. Next Reef went to Grammy and Pop Pop. They were shocked! We had a good time talking and getting ready to paint the next day.

Saturday morning arrives and I start prepping the walls for painting and getting the small section of the kitchen painted quickly. Breanna's 30th birthday was today so we were having her kick a$$ 80's party tonight. (the next section is graphic)

We got a lot done and around 3 o'clock I went down stairs to take a shower (usually I'm upstairs, but we had just painted.) As I undressed I noticed I had a large blood stain in my underwear. I immediately thought the worst, but kept a good spirit because of the party this evening. As I monitored my bleeding throughout the evening, it was staying the same and was still scaring me because I didn't bleed at all with Reef.

Sunday morning I noticed a decrease in the amount of bleeding so my hopes rose just a tiny bit. We went on as normal, but I tried to keep my feet up and relax as much as possible.

Monday morning I called the doctor as soon as they opened and told my nurse the situation. I went in to get a HCG blood test done and then a repeat test on Wednesday. Even less blood today that turned brownish.

Tuesday went by and still had the same brownish blood. As I buckled Reef into his car seat, my phone rang. It said PRIVATE, so I knew it had to be from my Dr. I was curious as to why I didn't get a call yesterday with the results, but "no news is good news" right? My nurse asked me if I had gotten the results from the HCG test and of course I answered no...was I supposed to call them? Her voice kind of faltered and said that my HCG levels were at 0 when they tested, so I had, in fact, lost the baby. It didn't hit me as hard as I thought it would, at first. But, that didn't last long. As I started driving down "D" street on the way back home, I dialed up my mom's cell. When she answered all I could squeeze out was Mom. Tears started flowing and they didn't stop until I went to bed Tuesday night. I was able to tell my in-laws, dad and Jared via the phone, but everyone else got a text message because I just couldn't bear to say those dreaded words, "I had a miscarriage."

It has now been almost 3 weeks since first blood was sighted and as I think to myself, I should be almost 8 weeks pregnant instead of wondering when we will conceive again. I have found comfort in talking to friends whom have gone through this and turning to the internet for answers how my feelings correspond to others. I know everyone grieves a different way, but I am confused in how to think about this baby that we lost. Am I a mother of 2? When we get pregnant again will it be baby #3? I know that will confuse people if I tell them I'm expecting #3, but I feel since I have been pregnant 2 times, even though the second time ended around 5 weeks, in God's eyes (and mine) he or she was a person. Jeremiah 1:5 confirms this and is comforting. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."

I'm sure this confuses some, but it was my time to get this off my chest and be at peace.

Stripping/Painting

I know that got your attention! WE are finally going to start stripping the wallpaper in the bathroom and boarders in the kitchen and living room to repaint! I am super excited and thankful that our parents are going to help us out in this chore. We are not getting too crazy, as I thought maybe I would, but we are sticking to neutral tones in the living room, white in the kitchen and a tan in the bathroom. Bedroom painting will be coming in the months ahead, so wait for fun pics!

*We did get this done and it looks fabulous. Once I get things back on the wall and get some new decorative items, I will post pictures!

4 weeks

So the past week I have been super tired, make that exhausted, by the end of the day and it isn't from working! I only worked on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Don't get me wrong, I was busy.

Monday was LPS' fall break and my papa's 56th birthday so Reef and I headed down to Crete to celebrate. Reef woke up from nap on Sunday with an upset tummy and it was still going on. He put himself to bed around 7:30 both Sunday and Monday night.

Tuesday I worked at McPhee the whole day and it was quite busy with the 5th graders.

Wednesday I had planned on taking a "me" day and getting stuff done around the house since I have been working every day for the past 7 1/2 weeks, but it seems like my plans weren't exactly working out this week. I got a phone call around 7:30 from our good friends Joe & Ivy and their son's daycare provider's son was sick, so they were without childcare. I graciously offered to watch the 6 month old cutie and had a busy day, even busier after I picked up Reef and got to feel what it will be like with 2 kids!

Thursday was at Brownell with 5th graders and I had forgotten how nice it is to sub at a "regular" school in Lincoln. I have been working at low-income schools for so long and rarely have a class that follows most of the directions the first time.

Friday brought doctor's appointments for Reef and myself. Mine was for the balance/dizziness inner ear problem I have had going on the past 3 weeks - it turns out it is a virus on its way out and Reef's was for the tummy problems he's been having off and on the past week. - the doctor diagnosed it as constipation, as I had suspected, but Friday afternoon and Saturday evening brought more stomach pains as well as Sunday afternoon a low-grade fever as well. Friday also brought on a series of pregnancy tests, as I'm a compulsive test taker! I had bought a pack of 25 off Amazon.com and have been using them the past 4 months. The test was negative, but I have been feeling slightly nauseus and my chest has been a little sore and the tiredness sent up warning bells in my mind, so I ran to CVS during the Taco Inn run and snatched up a 3 pack of mid-level tests. I was still 2 days away from projected cycle beginning, but I had a feeling and I knew there was going to be copious amounts of alcohol consumed this weekend. Sure enough, a faint second line popped up on the test!!! Needless to say, I had a large ice water cocktail during the neighborhood bonfire tonight!

Saturday brought another test and still faint, but a smidge darker, second line. It still hasn't sunk in even though most of my gals got told today. I know it's early, but I have been wanting this for the past year or so! (Only trying for about 6 months.) We had a good day and enjoyed the 2nd half of the Husker/Minnesota football game over at the Landon's.

Sunday (today) was a productive day as Jared was able to scrape/paint the trim on the house and stain the deck as it was 75 degrees today! I was ready to start getting the basement ready to construct our new master bedroom so the kids' rooms can be upstairs. I carried up most of my teacher stuff to the garage to be stored in the storage area. It feels like I'm in nesting mode and I've only found out!

Projected due date: July 2, 2012

Back to the subbing world

So my long term job was pretty good. I had MANY ADD/ADHD kids in my class, and it was definitely a learning experience. I learned how to do so much more paperwork and online documents than I ever have in the past.

Now, it is back to the regular subbing world for the remainder of the year. I have a possible long term later on, but the one I was planning on in January slipped through the cracks at the principal's misunderstanding. Oh well. I guess it's in the plan. Ever since that fateful day back in 2008 when my one year contract didn't get renewed, I have a better attitude on things that don't go the way I see it.

Just because it's my plan, doesn't mean it's God's plan. Always remember that. I have met some amazing people from subbing the past 3 years and can work pretty much everyday through these friendships. God is good and he knows what we are supposed to do when and where! I have been reading an amazing series by auther Karen Kingsbury that reiterates this message thanks to one of my former co-workers, Kim Hardwig. I cannot get enough of the Baxter family!

Baby Watch

I know what you are thinking, but unfortunately, no, I'm not expecting, YET. I am going to be doing my friend Laura Deans maternity leave teaching 3rd grade at Belmont Elementary. She was due on Saturday, Aug. 20th, so by this time next week I will be teaching full time again for about 7-8 weeks! I am super excited and can't wait to meet Jeff and Laura's new baby!

Hopefully sometime in the next couple of months we will be on Baby countdown for me!

Budding Photographer

Reef grabbed my camera this morning and wanted to take pictures. He has never shown an interest in taking photos before, so I said, what the heck, and taught him how to hold it and push the button to take the picture. He was pretty pleased with himself and gave Jared and I some props (hats) to wear in our photos!

He even got a good one of Enzo!

Lazy...Busy...

So, I know it's been too long...but as many of you know, buying a house and getting settled takes time, especially with a child!

It has now been almost a year since we bought our house and we have done lots to it, and still have lots to go.

Some of the home improvements have been to build a fence to enclose the yard, move the garden fence to just enclose the vegetable garden, transplant most of the flowers from the flower garden to elsewhere around the house, paint one wall in the master bedroom, touch up paint in Reef's room, yard work, yard work, yard work, etc.

I still want to do/NEED TO DO: build new room in basement (when baby #2 is finally conceived and on it's way), take down hideous borders in kitchen, living room and upstairs bathroom and re-paint. Paint current master bedroom for Reef's new room, organise basement and garage, and whatever else arises!

WE just got back from another week in Florida at the timeshare in Daytona, and it was lovely as always. I will try my best to keep up with the weeks as they continue to fly by.

Here is a little play by play of the last year:

August/September: I filled in for a long-term sub who was not doing her job and subsequently got herself fired.

October: Reef started his new daycare at the BIG BLUE HOUSE and we LOVE, Love, LOVE this place!

November: WE hosted thanksgiving here at the new house.

December: We hosted a new years party for many of our friends

January: I celebrated my birthday...Last year in my 20's.... Jared started his new job at John Henry's and he loves it!

February: Not much going on here besides snow...

March: We took a trip to the beach cottage with Rick & Cyndi and it was gorgeous as always

April/May: I did Ivy Johnson's long term @ Sacred Heart when she had Wyatt and had a great time working with 6th, 7th, & 8th graders.

June: Reef turned 3!!! Jared turned 31...and Enzo is now 7 years old.

July: Here we are, July again, we celebrated 6 years of marriage and in a few days we will have lived in this house for 1 year~

Time flies when you're having fun!

Party at Children's Museum

We had Reef's first "friend" party at the Lincoln Children's Museum. I had bought this party from the Lincoln Journal Star's deal of the day and it was only $30 for a party valued at $140!

WE had a good time with friends and had delicious cake and ice cream and hours of fun at the museum.

Happy 3rd birthday!!!

Reef turned 3 on Father's Day this year and it was soooo nice to have my parents, grandma's and brother & sis-in-law over along with Jared's parents!

Reef was so excited to see Grammy, Pop pop, grandma Dawn and Poppa Doug and he played really hard with his new toys he was too excited to settle down for a nap!

Here are just a few photos from the day.

Bethany's Bachelorette

Fun times in Ogallala! We met in the middle for a 27 dresses theme for Bethany's bachelorette party! It was a crazy weekend that started out with a mild blizzard as we trekked west in the big green van (Pat & Breanna's.)

We started out on the interstate, but since we were in a 12 passenger van pulling a boat with ice forming and minimal visibility, we decided the hwy was the best. We had to make a pit stop to drop off Breanna & Pat's kiddos in Kearney and then the driving conditions were better!

We stopped in Paxton to eat at Ole's and meet T. Scott (Pat & Breanna's friend) before getting to Ogallala! Breanna, Pat, Aaron and I were glad the trip was coming to its destination because we were still tense from the ride out.

Bethany was waiting at the hotel when we got there and we slammed a drink (that we deserved after that trip) and headed out to scope out the town. We found a cute little small town bar and settled there for the evening.

Saturday brought sun and melted nearly all the snow from the previous day's fury. We had a great time all day and then the fun really started as our guests started arriving for the girls night! The night couldn't have been more perfect! Here's to fun with CU gals!

Check us out in our old prom/bridesmaid dresses!!! Bethany was also the pool queen on her special night as she was killing the regulars at their game!

Beach Cottage '11

WE had another wonderful week at North Captiva Island over Spring Break! We swam in the pool, waded in the ocean and dug in the sand all week long. As tradition, we had to pose Reef by the weathered log/branch that has been close to the house since Reef's first visit, and I hope I can find the pictures from his first and second visits by it just to see the changes! It's always interesting to see if the beach has worn away or if the ocean has replenished the sand from the previous year!



We also got creative and took a family picture that turned out amazing! Rick manned my camera which was set to black and white while Cyndi had hers on regular setting. You can't beat the colors of the ocean, so I think color wins out on these photos!
You can see the color ones from a previous post and the heading of the blog!

Fun at the beach cottage

Just a few fun name and date photos with Reef for future browsing!