An Adventure called Life

175,680 Minutes (Or 5 Months) !!

2012-01-24T22:40:00.000-06:00

"I'm 5 months old!"

Birth Stats                 5 Month Stats
6lbs. 5.9oz                  15lbs. 01oz
19 inches long            26 inches long

We should have realized that getting up only 1 time per night was too good to be true. Paisley hit the 5 month mark and suddenly it was party time at mid-night and again at 2:00am. This makes for a ROUGH night of sleep!!!

In general, the 5 month mark has been a bit rough all around. Besides the sleep issue (or lack there of I should say) we also have spotted 2 bottom teeth pushing through. They haven't popped out of the gums yet, but they are visible. They are awfully cute but causing havoc with our little guy.

"Mom, why didn't this come with motor?"

I'm not sure if sore throats come hand in hand with teething, but little Dumplin also had his first sore throat this month. We noticed he wasn't eating as much, grimacing when he did he eat, and swallowing very hard. Our pediatrician confirmed it was a sore throat. Poor little guy!

We officially have a roller! The second we lay him on his back he rolls to his belly. At night, after he rolls he scoots his knees underneath him and sleeps with his bottom up in the air. I'm not sure how comfortable it is, but it is awfully cute. When we lay him on the floor he rolls to his stomach and uses his legs to scoot around. He's determined to get from point A to point B. Once he figures how to coordinate his arms with his legs, our baby proofing skills will be put to the test.

A few firsts we got to experience this month;
-Christmas
-New Years Eve (our little guy went to two parties! And we didn't get home until the New Year!)
-First time bowling
-First hockey game (Paisley enjoyed the view from a suite in the Ford Center)
-First time eating cereal (He got the hang of the spoon pretty quick and acted like he was eating peanut butter)

"MMmmmmm....cereal"

A few of his favorite things;
-Being read to! I had know idea a 5 month old could be so attentive!
-Bouncing in his Jumperoo
-Knocking over his cloth blocks
-His Leap Frog Dog Scout
-Listening to Scott and I talk
-Hearing his mom or dad sing
-Laying on his changing table naked and kicking
-Bath time

"What Mom? I'm just playing with Scout."

A few of his least favorite things;
-Being laid down for bed
-Not being in the same room as mom & dad
-Being woken up before he is ready

We've almost made it to the 6 month mark of being exclusively breastfed. That is a huge feat and we are so thankful for everyday we can say that. We're crossing our fingers the next month brings a better sleep cycle and baby teeth that clear the gum line.

Until next month.....

Does this diaper make my belly look big?

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A Final Look Back on 2011

2012-01-14T12:31:00.000-06:00

January-We rang in 2011 at Rhea and Greg's Murder Mystery party. Me with my pin curls and Scott with his pipe...I think we made a striking pair. A few days later we got a positive sign that changed our lives in an instant. It became "our" secret that we only shared with one another for quite sometime. Talk about starting the new year with a bang!

February-Pregnant or not, we had already planned a ski trip to Lake Tahoe. I stayed off the black slopes and took my spiced cider without the spice. We had a sneaking suspicion this may be our last ski trip without a baby for some time! We had our first Dr. appointment! Sure enough, we got to see our little gummy bear! We welcomed our first nephew to the family, Cameron James!

March-I headed to French Lick with the girls to catch a Kenny Rogers concert. Believe it or not, it was really good! I'm pretty sure my girlfriends suspected something was up when I wasn't up for a wine tasting! Scott and I spent the last weekend of the month in Brown County. We figured we could use a getaway! In hindsight it was perfect timing because two months later...my list of acceptable activities became non-existent!

April-The gender reveal party! It's a ......BOY!!!! Now the shopping and nursery preparations can begin!

May-My first Mother's Day (I figured I was close enough!) Maybe I was a little too excited because I ended up in the hospital that very night. We had an ultrasound that showed our little jumping bean was just fine. I think he just wanted to say "Happy Mother's Day!" A few days later I was put on full blown bed rest.

June-Spending my days watching Today, painting, reading, and chatting with my numerous visitors. Being flat on your back all day everyday is tiring!! I sent my birthday boy off on a surprise trip to Nashville to drive a race car. Even on bed rest I'm still the coolest wife ever!

July-Celebrated 4th of July on the couch listening to fireworks. On the 7th, Scott and I went to IHOP for breakfast and then checked me into St. Mary's for the duration of my pregnancy. We spent our first anniversary with Biaggi's carryout and the top layer of our wedding cake. It was perfect!

August-Welcome to the world Paisley Andrew!!! It was the most mind blowing, scary, rush of emotion filled day of our lives. We finally got to meet our son and it was pure heaven. I was finally off bed rest and I got to return home after 8 weeks in the hospital. Life is good!

September-Enjoying getting to know our son and already watching him change. Time really does fly. My wonderful friends and loving sister threw me a shower to welcome Baby P to the world. I also celebrated my birthday!

October-Baby P got to experience a night under the stars! We went camping with some family and friends in New Harmony State Park. Our first camping trip with a baby was a success! It also came time for me to return to work. It was hard and there were tears, but we all survived. Dumplin celebrated his first Halloween! He was the cutest little monster I'd ever seen.

November-A flight to Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving brought many more "firsts" into the life of our boy. He got to see the ocean and dig his toes in the sand. I baked my first turkey and Scott and I enjoyed an adult only evening at my company Christmas party.

December-A trip to the tree farm led us to the perfect blue spruce that took up residence in our home for the next month. The rest of the days were filled with shopping, decorating and a trip to see Santa. The holidays were upon us and we crammed them full of tidings and good cheer. We visited with family and made new memories. We sent 2011 out the door while our family of 3 partied with friends.

2011 by the numbers:

We were pregnant 223 days

I was on bed rest 85 days

41 of those were in the hospital

On Dec. 31, our son was 136 days old

Time to start the clock all over! Cheers!

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Happy 2012!!

2012-01-11T10:26:00.000-06:00

Baby New Year

Turning the calendar at the beginning of each month is exciting. Not just a little exciting, but my heart rate increases, my lips form a smile, and I can’t quite turn the page fast enough. A whole new month…empty boxes that I can fill with lunches, parties, trips, and the unknown events that will pleasantly present themselves. Imagine the thrill of opening a new calendar, a New Year with untouched pages. Twelve months, silently waiting, filled with unlimited opportunities. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

New Year’s Eve has long been one of my favorite holidays. It gives you the chance to reflect on the past year, to remember the good, the bad, and the unexpected. A time to welcome in the changes you wish to see in the New Year. It’s the time to reinvent yourself and set goals. It's a time to shake off the dust that has taken residence on your shoulders. It's a time to go somewhere, anywhere. Follow a map, or a leaf blowing in the wind, or even the random car in front of you. Just go.

Scott and I made 1 resolution as the clock struck midnight. One night a month we are going to leave Baby Boy in the loving hands of family while we go out. We are bound and determined to keep the "crazy in love" in our relationship and not allow that to get lost now that we are parents. It might be something as simple as grabbing G.D. Ritzy's and heading down to the river to watch the sunset, but so be it. Plus spending 1 evening doing nothing but loving on that man is so much better than making a resolution to lose weight.

Besides the monthly date with my husband, there will be trips, there will concerts, there will be nights spent under the star filled sky. There will be days filled with showing our boy the world and a year full of giving that baby boy more love then this world has seen. We’re ready. Welcome 2012…the Fisher Family has been waiting for you.

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Trick Photography!

2012-01-10T10:48:00.000-06:00

My sister is in the white sweater. She is not a big-oogie.

I always grew up in the shadow of my sister. Literally…she was taller than I am. She has also been thinner than I for a majority of our lives. Recently I posted some pictures from Christmas and one particular photo depicted my sister and I sitting on my father’s lap. However, the body attached to my sister’s head did not look like my sister’s body…but the body of a big-oogie (big-oogie-a large person). Because I love my sister and would hate for her to seek revenge, I wanted to post another photo taken that same day, showing that my sister isn’t really a big-oogie. You’re welcome Rhea…I love you! :)

Thank You

2011-12-30T15:45:00.000-06:00

The end of the year brings with it a look back on the past 365 days. This year will go down in our family history book as being one heck of a roller coaster ride. From surprise to elation, to excitement and fear, to dread and anticipation, to hope and relief. Some of you have been with us from the beginning. For you, I write this blog…

This year has been a learning experience. To name a few; I learned how to be a stronger person, how to be a better friend, and how to support the ones you love, and I learned these lessons from some of you.

When complications from my pregnancy first arose;

-For those of you that met me at Starbucks and helped quiet my fears

-For those at you that would come into my cube and pray with me for health and peace

-For those of you that brought fruit to my desk “just because”

-For those of you that dropped your work to sit with me when I couldn’t stop crying

THANK YOU

During my six week of bed rest at home;
-For those of you that stopped by just to say “hi”
-For those of you that brought a meal or snacks
-For those of you that did laundry and cleaned my house
-For those of you that sent a card or package

THANK YOU

During my 6 weeks in the hospital;
-For those of you that came to my room for a visit
-For those of you that called, sent an e-mail or text
-For those of you who brought lunch or a treat
-For those of you that sent goodies to the hospital
-For those of you that took wonderful care of me and my growing family

THANK YOU

Throughout it all;
-For those of you that answered my plea for prayers
-For those of you that never gave up hope
-For those of you that encouraged me that all would be fine
-For those of you that I’ve never met, yet joined us on this journey

THANK YOU

The depth of my gratitude is not describable in words. I appreciate you. I am thankful for you. This journey was better because you were on it with us. And you have made me want to be more like you; to support those in need.

Difficulties in life sometimes bring out the best in people, and I have seen the best in many of you.
Thank you

Merry Christmas Baby!!

2011-12-30T06:59:00.000-06:00

He loves his blocks!

My favorite gift wasn’t wrapped in a beautiful package or nestled down in the toe of my red fuzzy stocking. It was found in my bed, snuggled between his father and me, breathing deeply, with arms stretched out. Watching the rise and fall of his chest beneath his soft polar fleece sleeper was mesmerizing. A little further across the sheets was a larger version of my tiny sleeping angel (minus the polar fleece sleeper). My two boys, breathing in unison, completely at peace, safe and sound and within arm’s reach…this is all I need or want…better than any gift that can be purchased in a store.

I whispered Merry Christmas to my husband and the littlest angel’s eyes flew open as if he had been patiently waiting for us to wake up. Morning hugs and kisses followed before we gathered around the Christmas tree. As P’s eyes fell on his colorful blocks, I put him down and his hands immediately went to work grabbing at them. I sat him on his push-n-ride and pushed him around the living room. I was more interested in showing P his new gifts and going through his stocking than I was with my own. Watching his eyes drink in the colorful books and balls, his hands didn’t know what to grab next. Scott and I took turns going through our stockings and gifts and enjoying the Christmas spirit that is so strong on Christmas morning.

Under our tree sat a Nativity. The Nativity belonged to my great-grandmother and has been on display every Christmas since I can remember. When I was younger the nativity was home to my Christmas elves that ran between the packages beneath the tree, accidently ripping open a gift or two. A small present was hidden behind the Nativity…the tag said “To: Mom, Love: Paisley.” Although I shouldn’t be surprised, I was touched that my husband would get a gift for Paisley to give to me. The gift was a mother and child necklace that has a diamond and Paisley’s birthstone in the shape of a heart. It was thoughtful, it was heartfelt, and it was from our son to me.

Christmas at the Fisher's

Our family of 3 headed to Scott’s parents for breakfast. Paisley got to interact with his cousins and we opened more gifts. Dumplin decided he needed some down time so he laid on a blanket next to his Momma and watched as we opened gifts.

Daddy with his girls

As the clock crept closer to lunch, it was off to my parent’s house for more Christmas cheer. After a delicious lunch of breakfast brunch items, we gathered in the living room and opened the beautiful red glittery packages. We learned that red glittery packages end up getting glitter everywhere! I found glitter in P’s diaper later that night! We had a surprise visit from my Aunt that I hadn’t seen in far too long. It is always good to see her as she is one of the funniest, most loving, and giving people I have ever met.

We received some fabulous gifts and Dumplin got a Little People Airplane that became his favorite gift that evening. My sister had cross stitched a dark haired girl and a blonde haired boy holding a baby with “The Fisher’s” stitched below it. It was framed in a beautiful wood frame and I can’t wait to hang it in P’s room. It was a priceless gift that touched the heart of my husband and I.

We chatted, we laughed, we passed the baby and drank coffee. There weren’t enough hours in the day to spend as much time with my family as I would have liked. It’s nice to love and be loved. It’s nice to have a group of people that love my baby and he loves them. It’s nice to walk into the house and feel like “I’m home,” even if it’s not the place I rest my head every night. Their company and love warmed my soul and I was so happy to share that with Paisley this year.

Paisley with his great-grandmother and cousins

As the evening nipped at our heels, we headed to Scott’s grandmother’s house for dinner. Paisley is so blessed that he got to spend Christmas not only with both sets of grandparents, but also with 2 great-grandmothers and a great-grandfather. Dumplin enjoyed laying in front of her Christmas tree and rolling around. There were more gifts and plenty of food, and entertaining little ones. As my eyes grew heavy and baby boy fussed for his bed, we packed up our car and headed home for the night.

We tucked our little dumplin in under the twinkling lights of his Christmas tree. I whispered Merry Christmas once more and we closed his bedroom door. Scott and I headed outside to enjoy the last few hours of Christmas in the warmth of our hot tub. The air was brisk and the clear sky was dark as coal. The stars twinkled brightly as if someone above had strung white Christmas lights throughout the sky. We breathed deeply and reflected on the activity of the day. Last Christmas as we wound down the evening, we had no idea we would be celebrating this Christmas with a little one. Now we couldn’t imagine a Christmas without him.

As I laid my head on Scott’s chest in bed that night, I prayed Paisley’s dreams were filled with images of the little baby in the manger, the faces of his family and a guy in a big red suit bringing him gifts. And I prayed each member of my family was safely tucked away in their beds, filled with the spirit of the season, and knowing they are loved and appreciated. Love is the greatest gift to give and receive. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

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Twas the Night Before Christmas and all through the House...

2011-12-29T20:45:00.000-06:00

Sometime during that Christmas Eve night, a jolly
little man brought gifts for all.

Christmas Eve has always been the most magical night of the year. Growing up, every Christmas Eve we would drive through Lincoln State Park on the way to my Grandparents house. Perhaps it was coincidence or something more, but we would always spot enough deer in the woods to make up Santa’s team of reindeer.

Their long driveway took us past their Christmas tree farm and up the hill to their home. It doesn’t get much more Christmas-y then owning a Christmas tree farm. My grandfather would always put Christmas lights around the pine tree in their front yard. We would burst into their home and be greeted with hugs and kisses and a variety of 12 different Christmas desserts.
My cousins would arrive and we would eat like kings and queens. There were H'orderves of every type, my favorite being my mother’s little chicken salad sandwiches. In the family room they had a large sliding glass door that I would stand at and look into the star filled sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa’s sleigh. The fireplace would be roaring and the clock on their mantle would tick-tock the seconds away. It was safe and warm and filled with people that I love so much.
We would open gifts and the cousins would play. As the evening grew darker, my grandfather would play his harmonica as we all gathered around him. One Christmas while living in Wyoming, I was unable to make it home for Christmas. That year my mom held the phone next to my grandfather while he played so I could still be a part of that tradition. I missed my family more at that moment than any other.

The 45 minute drive home from their house was filled with much anticipation. One year our car didn’t have headlights so my father tied a flash light to the grill of his truck to guide us home. My favorite times were the evenings it would snow. With my face pressed against the cool glass, I watched the ground accept the soft white blanket. At home, we opened 1 gift, it was always pajamas. When my sister and I were younger they were matching. As we got older, we were able to pick out whatever pajamas we wanted. Then it was off to mid-night mass, which was never really at mid-night, but 9pm. I loved to hear the choir sing and smell the incense hanging in the air. As I crawled into bed that night, I was too excited to fall right to sleep. I would strain my ears to listen for the sound of hooves of our roof. I wondered what would be waiting under the tree in the morning. I wondered how Santa could make it all over the world and hoped he had received my letter asking for the pogo stick, boom box, Holiday Barbie, etc. He always received my letters.

A few of the grandkids with our grandparents

Grandparents get older, harmonica’s lose their tune, and homes with the tree farm get sold. I wish my son could have experienced one Christmas Eve in the house on the hill. With this being our son’s first Christmas, we have a clean slate to start new traditions. I want to fill his head with memories that when he is 30 years old, he will look back upon and smile.
This year on Christmas Eve our family of 3 headed to Christmas Lake Village (a very appropriate place to spend Christmas Eve) to my Aunt and Uncle’s home. Not all of the cousins were there, but we were with family, and there was food, and there was love. We got to spend time with those we don’t get to see very often and got to meet the girlfriend of one of my favorite cousins. We took pictures and laughed and I was thankful that our car had headlights to guide us home. I was nervous to take our little bundle to mid-night mass…he could very well be louder than the choir of 15 adults and I didn’t want to upstage them. So home we went. I read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to Paisley and tucked him into his crib. Scott and I left the Christmas tree lights on all night because we wanted to make sure Santa could find our house.

A tired Momma and a happy Christmas Eve baby

I crawled into bed as anxious as I did when I was little girl. I was excited for our boy to experience Christmas Day and to feel the spirit and love that I had growing up. I didn’t have quite as much trouble falling asleep as I am a bit more sleep deprived these days than I was 10 or so years ago. With fingers crossed, I hoped Santa would find our house and that we can make a memory or two for our little fish.

…Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

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My Wish for You

2011-12-28T13:24:00.000-06:00

Image courtesy of Google

May today there be peace within

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith

May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow you to be at peace

It is there for each and every one of us

*The author of this piece is unknown. I felt compelled to share it as it is uplifting, hopeful, and true. May it touch each of you.

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Quickest 4 Months Ever...

2011-12-27T10:05:00.000-06:00

Great Scott! I'm 4 months old!

Didn't I just write about our boy turning 3 months? As quickly as the month has gone, we have squeezed a ton of activity and life into those days! There has been more growth in our boy in the past month than any previous month. In just 4 months, he went from a 6lb. baby that had zero idea of the world around him to an almost 14lb. baby that loves talking and actively tries to be a part of this world.

Birth Stats              4 Month Stats
6lbs. 5.9oz               13lbs. 15oz (25%)
19 inches long          26 inches long (89%)

This month, Paisley has;
Had his first slumber party! Scott went out of town for work so P and I packed our bags and off to grandmother's house we went. P slept like an angel in his pack-n-play and enjoyed the time with his Nana. I didn't mind the extra time with my Momma either.

P flew to Florida and behaved like an experienced traveler as we went through security and boarded the plane. Thank goodness he is a good traveler because his journeys have only just begun. Along with flying to Florida, P got to put his feet in the sand (which made his toes promptly curl) and listened to the crash of the waves as we laid beneath a cabana.

He said his first word..."good" this month. Why would a baby say the word "good" you ask? Because both grandmothers spend the entire day, everyday, saying "You're good!" and "Are you good?" Every conversation we have with P, he makes sure to mention that he is good. I've instructed both of them to start working on "Momma."

Besides saying good, he tries to talk in sentances. Sometimes it is just the word "good" over and over again, but he uses different tones and varies the loudness. Sometimes he enjoys talking VERY loud. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he gets that from me.

We have a rolling baby! He's always rolled from his stomach to his back but he now rolls from his back to his stomach. We have yet to actually witness this event, but every night we put him to bed on his back and by morning he is on his stomach. He also enjoys rotating throughout the night. He goes to bed with his head facing north but when I go in to feed him in the morning his head is facing south.

Playtime is becomming more and more fun! Paisley will now hold (and throw) his toys. He likes knocking over his stacking cups after I have stacked them up. He loves sitting in his Bumbo and looking at everything around him.

The wonderful world of teething has begun. We noticed our boy was drooling more that a dog sitting 2ft away from a t-bone steak. Then the chewing on his hands started. Then he just seemed cranky. After a quick trip to Google we decided our pumpkin was working on some teeth. They haven't broke through the gums yet...but I have a feeling they will make an appearance sooner than later.

No more 3 month size clothes for our boy. He is comfortably wearing 6-9 month. It makes me smile while tugging at my heart a bit as I put away his outgrown clothing. They look so tiny.

P joined his mom and dad on the annual Christmas tree cutting excursion. We bundeled up our Dumplin and off we went (Griswald style) to cut down a tree. We crossed our fingers that Paisley didn't have any allergies to pine and/or sap (he does not). It was a wee bit cold so we quickly went to work finding the perfect tree and cutting it down.

Paisley got to meet Santa! Of course Paisley told him he was "good" and enjoyed sitting on the big guys lap. I hope as Paisley gets older he is always that happy and relaxed when talking to Santa.

Dumplin continues to be exclusively breastfed. At his 4 month appointment his pediatrition did recommend we start feeding him cereal. That should lead to some very cute pictures and a potential mess or two.

I'm very pleased with P's sleep schedule. He will go down anywhere from 8-9:30 and wake up one time throughout the night to eat. It is usually around 4:00. Then he gets up with me at 5:30 to start our day. It is amazing how much better I feel only getting up one time verses when we were getting up twice.

P's Loves:
Being read to
Playing in his Jumperoo
Snuggling
Putting soft objects in his mouth
Splashing around in his bath tub

Dislikes:
Getting in his car seat
Laying flat on his back (he has a world to watch!)
Getting out of the bath tub

Every month it's the same thing...
you sit me in this chair and take picture after picture. BORING!

As we say good bye to 3 months we anxiously look forward to seeing what our 4 month old has in store for us!
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Baby Boy lives it up in Florida

2011-12-18T17:42:00.000-06:00

Pictures tell a better story than words...here is our vacation:

Baby Boy gets his Wings!

2011-12-18T17:10:00.001-06:00

Some passengers looked at us with pride while others prayed we wouldn't be seated near them. I admit, prior to my days as a Momma, I dreaded flights that contained children under the age of 15. Now, here were my husband and I...holding the infant in 32D on a flight from Louisville to Atlanta.

We thought about this trip long and hard. Do we travel with our 3 month old or sit this vacation out? It had become a tradition to spend every other Thanksgiving in Florida. If we decided on going, do we drive or do we fly? So much to think about and with the price of airfare rising by the second, we purchased our airfare and prayed Baby P enjoyed the trip.

The drive to Louisville wasn't bad. P slept the entire way. As we got comfortable in our seats on the plane, I quickly pulled out my Hooter Hider and let P enjoy a mid-morning snack. My plan was to do whatever it took to not have a screaming baby. Down the runway we went and soon enough we were air born. The flight was a little under a hour which was fantastic. We had about 20 minutes to go when P started working on a fuss. You know a fuss is coming when his entire head turns bright red and he squeezes his lips together to form a tight line. I quickly learned what the fuss was for as he opened his mouth and shot projectile milk all over me. Let me clarify; I was sitting next to the window and milk got on the window, on my shirt, on my scarf, in my hair, on my pants, soaked through to my underwear, on my cowboy boots, and last but not least, the purse that was nestled between my feet. And suddenly baby was happy again. I on the other hand now smelled like a rotten dairy farm. Thank goodness we were landing soon.

As we got comfortable in Atlanta waiting on our flight to Tampa, I took the opportunity to clean up and Scott got Paisley down for a nap. Who needs a pack-n-play when you have a carry on suitcase full of clothes? It was the perfect bed for Dumplin!

The flight to Tampa was less eventful which I was thankful for. We touched down and welcomed our babe to the Sunshine State. We hopped in our rental and hurried off to meet up with my family. After all, it was Thanksgiving and we had a seafood dinner to eat!!

Happy Thanksgiving from Florida!!

My first Turkey!

2011-12-18T16:31:00.000-06:00

An 18lb. turkey is probably a bit much for 2 adults and an infant, but who doesn’t love a leftover turkey sandwich?

It was a bit nerve wracking baking my first turkey because I didn’t want to waste a perfectly good bird. I threw on my apron and threw caution into the wind. I was bound and determined to start some traditions for our babe and having his Momma bake a turkey was going to be one of those traditions.

Here is the step by step process I took to bake our delicious Thanksgiving bird

-I removed our 18lb. bird from the freezer and let it thaw in our refrigerator for 3 days.

-The night before he went into the oven, I stuck him in the sink and gave him a bath. At this time, I removed the packet of gizzards and giblets that were stuffed inside him. After drying off the clean bird, I rubbed olive oil over the body. I sprinkled Black Pepper and Garlic Powder over the bird. My rubber gloved hands massaged the oil and seasoning into the birds skin. (I tossed the packet of innards in the trash as I was not interested in using those parts of the bird). Back into the fridge the bird went for the night with the seasonings soaking into his skin.

-The next morning, I put a stick of butter into the cavity of the bird, poured a can of chicken broth over the body, and draped an aluminum foil tent over the turkey breast. Into the pre-heated oven at 325 degrees it went. Since there was not stuffing inside our bird, I set the timer for 3 hours.

-As the bird cooked, the skin went from pasty white to a golden honey color. At exactly 3 hours, I pulled out the bird and inserted the thermometer. The red line hit the section that said “Poultry” and our bird was done!

Not to pat my own chef’s hat, but the turkey was darn good. Scott was shocked that my first attempt at baking a turkey was so easy and the results far surpassed our expectations. We took the extra meat (and there was plenty) and placed it in freezer bags in our deep freeze. I will use this recipe again next year!

A few key facts I learned:

-Turkeys, especially 18lb. turkeys, take time to thaw. By time, I mean days.

-Baking and roasting a turkey is basically the same thing.

-The turkey needs to bake/roast in a roasting pan, not a baking sheet.

-Leave the oven door closed while you bake. No opening and closing and opening and closing.

-Once you pull the turkey out of the oven, it is going to be hot and steamy. Don’t burn yourself.

-Your roasting pan will have some discolored stains in it. Nothing you do will get the pan clean.

Until next year!

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Our Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

2011-12-02T06:50:00.001-06:00

What does my little turkey say? Gobble Gobble!!

Thanksgiving was around the corner and a large turkey was sitting in our freezer. I had never had a turkey in our freezer before and I was contemplating what exactly I should do with it. The Fisher family had plans to spend Thanksgiving in Florida, but I wanted to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal before we headed south. Scott was out of town for a few days and I thought it would be nice for him to come home to a pre-Thanksgiving feast. With that thought, I removed the turkey from the freezer, popped it in the refrigerator and headed to bed.

The next morning while dropping Dumplin off at his Grammies, I casually mentioned to my father-in-law that I would be baking a turkey that night.

Me: I'm going to bake my first turkey tonight!

FIL: Did you already thaw your turkey?

Me: Yeah! I took it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge last night.

FIL: That turkey isn't even close to thawed. Did you pull the insides of the turkey out?

Me: Pull the insides of the turkey out???

FIL: You better consult a recipe book on cooking turkeys before you do anything else.

I took his advice and researched how to cook a turkey. It was then I learned that it takes days to thaw a 18lb. turkey, not just 1 night. I also learned a baking sheet is not what one uses when baking a turkey, but a special pan. As I picked up Dumplin that afternoon, I borrowed a special turkey cooking pan as well as some rubber gloves (I wasn't about to stick a bare hand inside that bird) from my mother-in-law. I found a recipe on the Internet that I knew I could handle and I was ready to bake us a turkey (recipe to come in another blog).

Our turkey carver!

After another 2 days of thawing my turkey was ready to go into the oven. I put the baby in his Jumperoo, put some finishing touches on the bird, and into the oven it went. As the bird was on its final hour, Scott got home from the airport. He was greeted with a Thanksgiving feast for 3 (although only 2 of us actually eat real food). It was a delicious pre-Thanksgiving feast that was a great way to kick off our holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving from our table to yours!

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Quarter of a Year Birthday!!!

2011-11-20T07:52:00.000-06:00

Another month of growing, learning, loving, and laughing has filled the Fisher home. As well as the occasional tantrum...

I wanted to wear the blue diaper....Waaaaaaaaa

Birth Stats                                                3 Month Stats
6lbs. 5.9oz                                               12lbs. 15oz
19 inches long                                         23 inches long

This Month Paisley has:
Been Talking More (favorite word is Ahh-Goo (translation "I'm good")
Opens mouth and attempts to put things in it
Sucessful at getting his fist in his mouth and sucking on it
Enjoys time in his jumperoo
Sits in his Bumbo
Discovered his hands and is amazed by them
Giggles while dreaming
Smiles while having his hair washed
Enjoys playing Peek-A-Boo

Little Dumplin has consistenly been sleeping through the night. He goes to bed around 9:30 and will not wake up until 3:40-4am. Then he will go back to sleep until it is time to get up at 6am. Mom and Dad are loving this new routine!!

Our little guy gives lots of smiles and will tell anyone who listens that he "is good." He's a snuggle bug that buries his head into your chest or neck to get close. He's really good about grabbing a fistful of shirt and not letting you go.

While he continues to get better at supporting his neck while sitting, he gets a litle lazy in his Bumbo and leans to one side. His legs are getting stronger and he loves to "stand up" while assisted by mom or dad.

Paisley enjoyed his first Halloween! The Fisher family went to a Halloween party on Saturday night and spent Halloween night passing out candy. Paisley was very happy with his green monster costume. Scott and I enjoyed the candy he received from his grammy and Papa Bob. Paisley got a visit from the "Black Kitty" and the Black Kitty's boyfriend "Mr. Tomkat" (my parents). He received a chatter phone from them.

"Hello Black Kitty? Thanks for the phone!"

Strangely enough, this month Paisley decided that he hates his carseat. Prior to now, we could put him in and go. These days as soon as his bottom goes down he howls like someone is pinching him. We've examined the seat to make sure nothing is poking him and nope, he just isn't happy in his seat. I hope this phase passes soon!

Until next month.....

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Happy Halloween!!

2011-11-17T12:40:00.000-06:00

Another free photo collage by Smilebox

1 Girl, 3 Hats, and a Messy House!

2011-11-15T09:03:00.000-06:00

Please don't go back to work Mommy

Maternity leave ended much to quickly. One day I'm having a baby and the next I'm trying to figure out which pair of black work pants I can squeeze myself in to. In all reality, I was off 20 weeks total. 12 weeks pre-baby and 8 weeks post baby. I wish it could have been the other way around but I'm just thankful I have a healthy baby in my arms.

As my first day at work drew near, I began to have every worry under the sun. What if something happened to him while I was at work? What if he refused to eat? What if my supply dried up and we had to switch to formula. I began taking more time putting him back to bed after his 2AM feeding. I held him and stared at his chubby little face...hoping he wouldn't think I was abandoning him. Mentally, I made returning back to work worse than it actually was.

As I walked thru the doors of my office building, I was transported back to that day 5 months ago when I left the building to attend a Drs. appointment. Who knew that I wouldn't be returning until now. So much had changed in the past 5 months. I had changed, my husband had changed, we now held the title of "Parents" and our family of 2 had become a party of 3. Life as we knew it was drastically different. Not to mention sleep was an old friend that I longed to catch up with.

Sleep when the baby sleeps? I'd rather snuggle him.

My desk had been decorated with baby confetti, a "Welcome Back Fish" sign, pictures of Baby P that had been printed off Facebook, a "Mommy & Me" frame, a bouquet of flowers, and a gift card to Starbucks. It's safe to say that I was missed. I appreciated it. I needed it. Only 45 minutes before I had dropped my baby boy off at his Grandma's. And while he is in loving, capable hands, they aren't my hands. And I missed him.

My Boys

It was easy to pick up where I had left off at the office. It was great to see the faces of my co-workers and I didn't mind everyone asking, "how is the baby?" I welcomed the chance to talk about him. It brought a smile to my face every time. As 5 o'clock hit I was out the door and heading home. Waiting for me was the most precious baby boy and husband I had ever come home to. I scooped up P and my husband held us both. Finally…we were all home together.

As the week trucked on, I came down with a respiratory virus that didn't want to loosen its grip. Between being sick, lacking sleep, and now working a 40 hour work week, I quickly became a disheveled, even more tired, sick, not-so-fun-to-be-around momma/wife/friend. I would wake up at 5:30 to feed the babe and get myself ready for work. I was out the door at 7, home by 5:30, trying to get dinner on the table, while bonding/feeding P, while asking my husband how his day was, while washing cloth diapers, trying to get lunches packed for the following day, while feeding the baby again, and surviving on 4 hours of sleep to do it all over again. I asked my friends how they did it. Their response- they listened as I cried about how hard it was to raise a baby and maintain a house and be a good wife and put in 40+ hours at work. Then they made us dinners. Every other night a casserole, meatloaf, plate of ribs, or pasta dish appeared. Preparing dinner was done and that was one less task this Momma had to deal with. They have no idea how much that helped those first couple of weeks of me being back at work. It allowed me to focus on my boys.

Scott was a trooper during this transitional period. He would help by throwing in the laundry, heating up dinners, etc. But I couldn't shake from my mind that those are my tasks. I'm the one that should be taking care of the laundry and making sure everyone is fed. I felt like by asking for help, I was failing at my motherly/wife duties. Of course I now realize those darn pregnancy hormones hadn't completely exited my system and there isn't anything wrong with asking for help. Had he not helped, had my friends not made us dinner, I may have had a post-partum meltdown of enormous proportions. That wouldn't have been good for anyone.

I have a newfound respect for working women that have small children. I've learned that my house isn't going to be clean like it used to be, and I'm ok with that. My husband and I can still have our nightly chats about the events of our day, but now we postpone those talks until after the little one has been fed. Dinner may not be cooking on the stove every night, but the occasional pizza from the Silver Bell isn't going to kill us. We knew cloth diapers would cause us more work, but when we look at the big picture, we wouldn't change that decision.

Single parents are another group that I have a newfound respect for. I can't imagine how they do it. I struggle, but I have a husband that shares those struggles with me. After being awakened 2-3 times a night, I crawl back into bed next to a guy that kisses my face and tells me he loves me and his boy. I need that. I need a partner during this time. And all the time. Sometimes Scott will say "I don't know how you do it," referring to me functioning (I use that term loosely) on so little sleep and going about my daily business. I tell him it's because I have to. I guess that same rule applies to single parents. They do it because they have to.

I don't know if the future gets easier or if we get used to our new life. Either way, I'll put a smile on my face and continue to be the best wife, mother, and employee I can be. I can smile because the 3 of us are doing this together. And together we can survive anything.

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My Mother's Hands

2011-10-25T20:37:00.000-05:00

Long fingers that looked like she should have taken piano lessons at some point in her life. Fair skin that required loads of sunscreen for anytime spent outdoors. Cool skin that always felt wonderful on a feverish head. Slightly bitten nails she would try to hide from others. These are my mother’s hands.

My mother’s hands are a direct extension of her heart. These hands held me when I was little. They shooshed me when I was upset. They held my hands tight keeping me safe. They would pull me away from danger or give a gentle push when I needed encouragement. They helped me hold books and handed me toys. They cleaned me and fed me. They would write me notes that found their way into my lunch box. They braided my hair and helped me tie my shoes. They wiped away tears and applauded me when I had done something good. They taught me to make clover chains and how to hand over a credit card.

These hands that raised me are now caring for the hands that raised them. Those hands now take care of my grandmothers silver hair. Those hands help my grandfather when he can’t get the batteries back into his remote. Those hands prepare their meals and do all of their shopping. Those hands help them do laundry and drive them to appointments. Those hands take care of their medicine and bills. Those hands care for my grandparents in the same loving manner they cared for me.

My son is lucky that he gets to feel the love of my Mother’s Hands. I watch them gently pick him up and caress his chubby cheek. I watch those hands gently pat his back and tickle his toes. I watch him fall in love with the owner of those hands, just as I did as a baby.

I hope one day my son will affectionately remember my hands as I remember my mothers. And should the day come that my hands have to take care of the hands that raised me, that they deliver the same love and care that they deserve.

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October 17, 2011 = 2 Months of Life!!

2011-10-24T20:50:00.001-05:00

2 Month Old Paisley Andrew

Another month has already come and gone. If anyone has found the secret to keeping their little ones little, now would be a great time to let me in on the secret. In some ways, it seems like it was just yesterday I was on the operating table waiting to hear that first little cry. In other ways, it feels like P has been a part of our lives forever. But, in all reality, the little guy is 2 months old. 2 months....
Stats at birth:      Stats at 1 month:        Stats at 2 month:

6lbs. 5.9oz           8lbs. 12oz                     11lbs.

19 inches long      21 inches long               22 inches long

He continues to dine exclusively on breastmilk. Our goal is to get to 6 months before we introduce him to anything else (cereal, etc.) and if we can make it 6 months without an issue, we may push for a full year of nothing but exclusively breastfeeding. *fingers crossed*

He has slept through an entire night on 2 different occasions. Just a few nights ago, I put him down at 9:22 and he didn't get up until 4:15! It was the best nights rest I'd had in a long time! He is also a crib sleeper! Previously he had been sleeping in his bassinett, but we have since moved him to his crib. Even if he isn't completely asleep, I'll put him in his crib between 9-10pm and he will put himself to sleep. We are still swaddleing him however he always works his little hands out so he can put them by his face.

Our sleeping angel

He has had a few firsts during his second month of life!
-Went on his first camping trip (success!).
-Attended the West Side Fall Festival.
-Giggeled at his daddy on purpose.
-Smiled at both daddy and I on purpose.
-Made flirty eyes and smirked at both his Nana and I.
-He tries to talk and makes sounds like "Noooo" "Hiiiiiii" and "Ewwwww."
-Grabs Momma's hair with no desire to let go.
-Makes eye contact and holds it.

He continues to roll over from his stomach to back. We can barely get him to do any tummy time because he rolls right to his back. He has been rolling since he was 2 weeks old, but he does it much more frequently now.

He has started spending his days with his grandparents while his Mom and Dad are at work. He spends most days with his paternal grandparents but if they are busy he goes to his maternal grandparents house.

He is getting really close to holding his head up full time. He can do it for awhile but then gets tired and needs a little support.

He has outgrown all newborn clothing and fits nicely in 0-3 months!

He's outgrown all of his newborn onesies!

With him changing more and more each day I can't wait to see what 3 months will bring!!

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Anything Like Me

2011-10-10T14:01:00.000-05:00

Scott & Little Scott

It's been awhile since I posted a song that summed up our lives. The song below could bring tears to my eyes during pregnancy. These days when I hear it, I can only smile. Here is our song to our baby boy...

Anything Like Me
By Brad Paisley

I remember sayin' I don't care either way

Just as long as he or she is healthy, I'm okay
And then the doctor pointed to the corner of the screen
And said, "You see that thing right there? Well, you know what that means"
I started wondering who he was going to be
And I thought heaven help us if he's anything like me
He'll probably climb a tree too tall and ride his bike too fast
End up every summer wearin' something in a cast

He's gonna throw a ball and break some glass
In a window down the street
He's gonna get in trouble, oh, he's gonna get in fights
I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep
It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback
If he's anything like me

I can see him right now, knees all skinned up
With a magnifying glass tryin' to melt a Tonka truck
Won't he be a sight with his football helmet on?
That'll be his first love 'til his first love comes along

He'll get his heart broke by the time he's in his teens
And heaven help him if he's anything like me
He'll probably stay out too late and drive his car too fast
Get a speeding ticket, he'll pay for mowing grass
He's gonna get caught skippin' class
And be grounded for a week

He's gonna get into trouble, we're gonna get in fights
I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep
It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback
If he's anything like me

He's gonna love me
And hate me along the way
The years are gonna fly by
And I already dread the day

He's gonna hug his mama, he's gonna shake my hand
He's gonna act like he can't wait to leave
But as he drives out he'll cry his eyes out
If he's anything like me

There's worst folks to be like, oh, he'll be alright
If he's anything like me

The male-version of me :)

*Note-No, we did not name our baby after Brad Paisley. :)

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What I've learned since becoming a Mother

2011-10-10T13:40:00.000-05:00

The moment I heard the first scream come out of my sons lungs, my life was forever changed. Along the journey of becoming pregnant, I read a few books, cruised a few webpages, and spoke to other Moms about having a baby. Inevitably, there are things that no one tells you. There are things you simply must learn as you go. Here are a few of the things I've learned in the past 7 weeks 5 days;

1. You can and will spend entire days doing nothing but staring into the face of your child. And that's ok.

2. People say "Sleep when the baby sleeps." Sometimes that's possible, sometimes you've got to get up and do laundry.

3. Sleep deprivation is a real thing....and it makes you a little crazy. And forgetful.

4. 2 A.M. is a little lonely, but also very peaceful.

5. When you try to think of a lullaby to sing, they all escape you. It's alright to substitute popular hits from the 80's and 90's.

6. If you have a boy, when changing his diaper, point his penis down.

7. Poop can be projectile...as in it can clear a 2-3 foot distance. This is normal (so they say).

8. Getting pooped or peed on isn't ideal but when it's your own kid, it isn't a big deal.

9. You're suddenly more concerned with where people's hands have been prior to touching your baby. Buy hand sanitizer.

10. Everyone loves a baby! Men, Women, and teenagers will talk to you about your baby from the cashier at Target to the Sandwich artist at Subway.

11. Those sweet little toothless, all gum smiles will make your eyes fill with tears and heart skip a beat.

12. You will be hormonal. Sometimes it's because your overwhelmed with love, sometimes it's because there isn't any apple juice left in the fridge.

13. The sound of him breathing is better than any song on your IPOD.

14. His hands may be tiny but they have a hold of your entire heart.

15. Sometimes the baby is going to cry and NOTHING will quiet him.

16. He may be tiny, but he can scream louder than a grown woman.

17. Some babies do not like pacifiers.

18. You may take 576456 pictures of him that you won't ever print off. Take them anyway.

19. Your heavy right foot just got a little lighter on the pedal.

20. You will probably go overboard when packing the diaper bag....8 extra onesie's and 12 back up diapers for a trip to the grocery is a little overkill. But, better to be over prepared than under...

21. You can still do the activities you and your spouse love (camping, traveling, etc.) but they just take a little more planning these days.

22. He may have a ton of cute clothes, but somedays he just wants to sport a diaper.

23. You thought adult socks disappeared in the dryer, wait until you dry infant socks.

24. The 9 months of pregnancy didn't exactly fly by....but the first 7 weeks of life sure do.

25. You never understood why parents told their childs age in weeks instead of months. Now you understand.

26. You know that no one is perfect...but your own child is pretty darn close.

27. That tiny little c-section scar makes you smile.

28. Your life didn't feel like you were missing anything pre-baby....but now you just feel....complete.

29. You may have thought you couldn't love your spouse any more. You were wrong.

30. They say the moment you hold your baby you forget all the pain and tears it took to get him here. This is true.

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Our Happy Little Camper

2011-10-04T21:13:00.002-05:00

Some probably thought the idea was a little crazy...I mean how many people take their 6 week old camping? Pre-Paisley, Scott and I made a promise to one another that just because we were becoming parents did not mean we had to stop going on adventures and experiencing life in various ways.

With our favorite time of the year upon us, Scott and I decided there was no time like the present to introduce Paisley to the great outdoors. Packing to take an infant camping was a little more time consuming than if just Scott and I were going, but the end results were completely worth it.

Our biggest dilemma was where P would sleep. Scott and I have spent the last couple of years camping under his camper shell on a mattress, but we couldn't just let P curl up next to us. We experimented with putting him in a large shoe box, a plastic tote (without the lid obviously), and finally figured we would take the top portion of his bassinet and let him sleep in that beside us on the mattress. Problem solved. Scott also picked up a small heater that we could put under the camper shell to help keep our little dumpling warm. With plenty of diapers, wipes and his cold weather bear suit, we were ready.

Our camping companions for the trip were his Nana & Papaw (my parents) and our fantastic friends Kenneth and Michelle. They were all warned pre-trip that there was a chance P would be an unhappy camper and cry the entire time. With an infant, you just never know. They were all up for the challenge.

The first evening, we gathered around the fire, roasted s'mores, and listened to the leaves rustle around us. The park wasn't crowded at all and we were able to hear every sound Mother Nature played on her sound track. Paisley took in the change of scenery and enjoyed curling up on his Nana's lap. The temperature dipped but the chilly night air was welcomed.

As our party of 3 climbed into Tacoma Hotel, we were nervous how P would sleep. Our worry was in vain as that baby slept better than he had ever slept. Scott would wake up and put his ear to P's mouth just to make sure the little guy was still breathing. Changing a dirty diaper under the camper shell by the light of a headlamp wasn't ideal, but it worked and I didn't even get pee'd on.

On Saturday morning, Paisley was happy to spend the morning snuggling with his grandparents. Breakfast was made and while 1/2 the group hit the mountain bike trails, we took P for a walk/stroller ride. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and it was the perfect temp for polar fleece. It really doesn't get much better than that. Mom made coffee which was the icing on the cake.

Campgrounds are so peaceful. Paisley stared up into the sky and happily coo'd as the trees swayed with the wind. For dinner the boy smoked ribs and Scott made a peach cobbler in the dutch oven. Funny how food always tastes better when cooked and served in the great outdoors. We happily surrounded the campfire and talked about how stuffed we were as the moon peeked down at us from above the trees.

The second night wasn't quite as smooth as the first night. Maybe it was because Paisley was having such a good time camping or maybe he just wanted his Papaw to hold him, but come 3AM Paisley was WIDE awake. Scott and I took turns shooshing and patting his bottom. We watched the sun come up together as a family which was nice but I don't want it to become a habit. It made for an early morning but if I'm going to be up that early, there is not two other people I would rather be with.

After another fantastic breakfast under a beautiful sky, we packed our belongings to head home. Will we take Paisley camping again? Absolutely! We already talked about getting out at least one more time before winter wraps it's fingers around us. Would we recommend camping with a newborn to another set of first time parents? Yes! With a few things to keep in mind....

1. The trip won't be perfect! Be prepared for the little one to have a meltdown. It may or not happen, but knowing that it could helps.
2. Take a flashlight! We had completely forgotten any sort of light and changing his diaper in the dark was going to be tricky. Luckily Papaw had a spare light that made diaper changing smoother!
3. Pack extra diapers and wipes. We didn't have a blow out, but we were prepared just in case.
4. Bundle up that baby! His little blue bear suit kept him snuggly warm.
5. Be prepared for bugs! Scott bought an infant mosquito net from Campmor to put over his car seat/stroller. The bugs weren't bad at all, but if they would have been, we were prepared.
6. Take extra hands! Scott and I would have went camping with just the 3 of us, but it was so much easier having extra hands to help hold Paisley and give the parents a little break (Thanks everyone!).

Until our next adventure...

Happy Campers

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Parenting Naked

2011-09-23T15:16:00.001-05:00

So the pictures that accompany this posting have nothing to do with the content. As you read on, you will understand why. But, I couldn't resist posting a few shots of one of the loves of my life.

Getting dressed post pregnancy is depressing. Shirts are tight and pants don't zip. Socks are about the only item of clothing that still fit. However, leaving the house in socks only is clearly not an option.

Yesterday we had a funeral to attend. I put on a black dress that fit. It practically fit like it did pre-pregnancy which immediately meant I was wearing this dress! As we ventured out of the house and arrived at the cemetery, Baby P decided it was time to eat. It was only then I realized that there was not an access route for P to get to his food. The only way for this baby to eat was for this dress to come off. Completely off. Clearly, I am a novice at dressing for breastfeeding.

Since taking my dress off at the cemetery or even in a car at the cemetery was not an option, we had to wait until we all gathered at a family members house, at which time I asked for a room in which I could undress to feed P. Now I find the situation humorous and I learned a valuable lesson; When getting dressed, make sure there is easy access to my breasts.

Later that same night as our family of 3 was preparing for bed, I was sitting on the couch feeding P. I was dressed in my pajamas and P was in his sleep sack. Scott kissed us both good night and said he would see me shortly as P was almost done feeding. About 5 minutes later, P finished and suddenly his little mouth opened and erupted like Old Faithful. Not just a little spit up came out, it surged. And then it surged again. And then it surged about two more times. My shirt, my bra, my shorts and underwear were soaked. P's face, hair, and sleep sack were also covered. Here it was 10:15 at night and my baby and I were not only covered in milk puke but we smelled like milk puke.

My first thought was to holler for Scott but then I figured, your a big girl Kara, you can take care of this. So I laid P down and stripped off all of my clothes. Once I was stripped down, I stripped our son down. I picked him up to carry him into the kitchen for a bath when suddenly our bedroom door opened. Scott emerged to see his naked wife holding his naked son in the glow of the television screen. I had to laugh because I know he was thinking "What in God's name is going on?" Not to mention the look on his face was priceless. This was not the sight he expected to see. I explained the situation and he assisted in cleaning up the milky mess. He thought it was even more humorous than I did. Probably because he wasn't the naked one covered in a gallon of spit up.

I'm still contemplating if I should wear clothes today.

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September 17, 2011 = One Month of Life for Baby P

2011-09-20T19:36:00.002-05:00

My happy little glow worm

Happy 1 month birthday Paisley!! This past month has been the quickest month out of the past 9, funny how that works! So our little P monster has been growing and changing on a daily basis.

His stats at birth:
6lbs. 5.9oz
19 inches long

His stats at 1 month:
8lbs. 12oz
21 inches long

My one month old (complete with Buddah belly)!

He continues to be exclusively breastfed which you can tell by his weight gain is working out quite nicely. During the night he typically goes down between 9-10pm. He will wake us between 1-2am to eat and again between 4-5am. Then he sleeps until 8ish. It appears he currently favors his Momma but that's probably because I'm his source of food. Here are a few of his other favorite things;

-Having Mom or Dad sing to him
-His musical frog
-His Neptune play mat
-Having his bottom patted while being rocked
-Bath time
-Riding in the car
-Staring at semi-bright lights

A few of his dislikes;
-Being left alone
-Having clothes pulled over his head
-Pacifiers
-Dirty diapers
-A stroller ride on a rocky surface

Getting a little love from his favorites

He's given us plenty of smiles since we've had him, but I don't think he realizes what he is doing. He's also rolled from his stomach to his back 6 times, but once again, I don't think he realizes what he is doing. He has a love/hate relationship with tummy time, but it's so cute to watch him hold his head up. He has been out to dinner with us a few times, the Nisbet Inn being his first restaurant. He's also enjoyed his first evening around a campfire. He spent most of the evening staring at the full moon, but I'm sure he enjoyed the fire too!

One month in, a lifetime to go! I think we'll keep him.

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Life with "P"

2011-09-16T18:44:00.001-05:00

The days that followed P's birth were a peaceful whirlwind of activity. After 24 hours, I was allowed to move from my hospital bed into the queen size bed with my husband. I will forever be amazed that this sweet husband of mine slept for 36 nights on an air mattress at the foot of my hospital bed. Not once did he complain or mention going home and sleeping in our bed. I think it's safe to say my husband loves me.

My incision healed nicely but hurt like crazy when I would get up from laying down. P stayed in our room 90% of the time, only leaving when the nursery needed to take vitals or his Dr. was making her rounds. Holding him in my arms made time stand still. I could not drink in his features quick enough. Each sound he made would melt my heart. Every time he would wrinkle his forehead and stretch I wanted to squeeze him close and never let go. I was amazed. And sleep deprived.

During the night, every sound he made caused Scott and I to jump up and rush to his side. We quickly learned our baby was subject to frequently getting the hiccups, which he hated. There isn't much you can do for a baby with hiccups. We also learned he loved to pee the moment his diaper was removed. In the middle of the night, it is quite the shock to feel a warm stream of pee shoot you in chest. P also makes noises all night long. He alternates between purring like a baby cub and growling like a hungry bear.

When P was 1 day old, we learned (at 3am) that he passed his hearing test! Yeah! That day we also had a "Birth" day party for him complete with cake and gifts. Family and friends filtered in over the next couple of days. The nurses continued to come in every few hours to check my vitals and the incision. I was ecstatic when they said I was able to shower!

Scott was at our side every moment. When I wasn't feeding P, he would take a turn holding our boy and telling him how much he loved him. It was a sight that made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. My Dr. said she would let us leave the hospital on Friday if we wanted or we could leave Sat., our choice. Scott and I figured we would let the professionals look over P for another 24 hours, then we would venture home on Saturday.

The night before our departure, P had to take the car seat challenge where he had to sit in his car seat in the nursery for 2 hours. I guess some infants have trouble breathing in that position, so they make sure babies can handle it before sending them home. I was so happy P passed the test. I was ready to get our son home.

Saturday came and we anxiously waited to be released. I was dressed in my own clothes which was a nice change from the hospital gowns. We put P in a onesie that said "Handsome Like Daddy." The pants and jacket that went with the outfit were entirely too big for his tiny body, so he left in just his onesie, hat, and socks. Once my wheelchair arrived, we loaded up and I was pushed outside. It was with excitement and a little bit of nervousness that I climbed into our car. Nervous that we were taking our tiny infant son home and I didn't know what exactly to do once we got there.

On the drive home, I felt free. It was a blue sky day with a warm breeze. I hadn't been in a car in 6.5 weeks. We stopped at Subway to get lunch. I sat in the backseat with P because I was afraid he would feel lonely back there by himself. Lady Gaga was singing "Standing on the Edge of Glory" and somehow that felt like a very appropriate song. Scott drove more cautiously than he had ever driven in his life.

Once we were home, I settled in on the couch with P while Scott brought in our items from living in the hospital. We sat on the couch and held our baby. It's safe to say we sat there for hours, staring at this miracle that we had been given. As night fell, I attempted to read P the book, "Guess How Much I Love You." I barely made it past the first half of the book before I was a sobbing mess. I was overcome with love and emotion. As Scott embraced us and asked why I was so upset, I explained; throughout this entire pregnancy, we were on this roller coaster of emotion. I tried to stay strong and often held my feelings in. I was scared to think too far ahead because we lived under the fear that P may or may not make it into this world. Now, here I was holding our perfectly healthy baby boy and every emotion I had suppressed for the previous 7 months came flooding out of me. I didn't have to try and be strong anymore. It was tears of relief that poured out of me. Not to mention, here I was trying to read a book to our baby about how much I love him and the words were so inadequate.

The first few nights we had to wake P up every 3 hours to feed him. There weren't too many times that he let us wake him up, often waking us up and letting us know it was time to feed. It was also more tiring than I ever imagined, getting up numerous times to feed him. Scott nor I had ever been this sleep deprived, not even in college!

Scott took off a week and half so we could adjust to our new "normal." Slowly but surely that's exactly what we did. Our newest adventure had begun...

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Birth-Day!!

2011-08-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ready or not...here he comes!

As Dr. Schroeder predicted, around midnight my nurses Heather and Tara showed up to start my IV. Surprisingly, Scott and I had managed to get a little sleep prior to that. At this time I have had the needle in place in my wrist for about a week. This is the first time it has actually been hooked up to a drip bag. I also watched them throw away my cup of water. It’s amazing how when you can’t have anything to drink, you suddenly feel like you've been walking in the desert for days. I was able to fall back asleep once they got me drip bag hooked up. At 2 A.M. they returned to put me on the monitor and watch how baby was doing. I stayed awake for the entire hour watching and listening to the monitor. As much as I’ve disliked being hooked up to the monitor everyday for “x” amount of hours, I have enjoyed every second of hearing Paisley’s heartbeat. As I watched it for the final hour, I thought to myself this would be the last night I would be on the monitor with this baby. Surgery time was getting closer and closer and my brain just kept thinking “we’re about to have a baby.”

At 3 A.M. my nurses returned to take me off the monitor stating baby looked beautiful. They said they would return around 5 to finish getting me ready for my date with the operating room. As they left I decided to wheel my IV pole to the restroom. This is the moment my world stood still and yet everything went into overdrive all in an instant. I was bleeding. For the past 6 weeks, I have been in the hospital praying I wouldn’t start bleeding. The reason I was admitted was for my Dr. to have the ability to take the baby immediately should I start. Here it was 3.5 hours until our scheduled C-Section and I was bleeding. I hurried back to my bed as quick I could drag my IV across the room. I hit the call light and waited. I said to Scott, who was sleeping so peacefully at my feet on the air mattress, “Baby?” After saying it a few times he stirred and looked at me. “I’m bleeding,” I said. Within seconds he was at my side, eyes as wide as they would go. Tara answered my call light and once again I uttered those 2 words, “I’m bleeding.”

The nurses were there instantly, asking me about the amount of blood and putting me back on the monitor. One of the girls disappeared to call Dr. Schroeder and the other went to work finishing up my surgery prep. Tara told me that everything was going to happen the way we had previously discussed, only we were going to be doing everything a little sooner.

It seemed like seconds later the anesthesiologist was at my side. I had never met Dr. Boger but was completely at ease with him. He was very soft spoken and had a relaxed demeanor. He explained that since things were progressing in a different way than our original plan, he thought it would be best to completely knock me out, as opposed to giving me the spinal that had been part of the original plan. Since we were unsure how bad the bleed is or where exactly it was coming from, he said the sooner they can get him out, the better. He began explaining the process of putting a pipe down my throat and the potential of it chipping teeth. I wanted to assure him that I had a good dentist but didn’t think it was the time or place for humor.

By this time, Scott had dressed in his scrubs and anxiously hung on to every word the nurses and Dr. Boger were saying. I was trying to listen and quiet my brain which had went into a tailspin over the fact I was minutes away from having this baby out of me all while hoping it was not him that was bleeding. They began moving my bed towards the OR and Scott was at my side. I remember smelling coffee brewing in the hall and how silent the hospital was at this hour. They told Scott to kiss me bye because at this point, they didn’t figure he would be going into the room with me as spouses are not allowed in the operating room if the patient is completely sedated. It was a quick kiss good-bye but I remember seeing fear in his eyes. It was the first time I ever saw that look. We left him in a rocking chair outside the OR doors.

As we entered the OR, it was as if I was viewing the situation in a dream-like state. The room was stark white and the sounds seemed muted. It was cold. I was transferred from my bed onto the operating table. My arms were put on boards that went straight out to the side. I was hooked up to the monitor and was happy to hear that baby was still doing great. His little heartbeat showed he wasn’t being affected by the blood loss or whatever was happening inside my body. Warm blankets were quickly put on my chest and I remember thinking how good they felt. Dr. Schroeder appeared at my side and I was so happy to see her. She had told me from day one she would deliver this baby whenever he came, and here she was, scrubbed in and ready to go at 3 in the morning. She checked the amount of blood I was currently losing which was not a continuous or large amount and informed the anesthesiologist that we would administer the spinal as previously planned. I was grateful that I would not be knocked out and Scott would be allowed in the OR. I was sat up and told to lean over the side of the bed, into the arms of Nurse Heather. With my head on her shoulder, I was instructed to push my spine out as far as I could. It was not easy with a big belly, but the Dr. was able to insert the spinal. I felt the stick and a burning sensation. I was gently laid back on the table and they slowly begin poking me with a needle to see how numb I was. They had administered the highest dosage of the numbing agent as they were hoping it would work quickly. Naturally my body tried fighting it and the Dr. tilted my bed with my head towards the floor in an effort to make the medicine move through my system quicker. Eventually they said I was numb enough and Dr. Schroeder told one of the nurses to grab Scott because we were starting.

He is born!!

I was so happy to see Scott and he sat down right next to my head. The anesthesiologist was on the other side of me asking me how I was feeling and monitoring my vitals. Scott also would ask how I was feeling and would tell me how good I was doing. I felt no pain and then the Dr. told me I would feel some tugging and pulling. Sure enough I could feel my body being moved about but I never felt any pain. The Dr. announced she could see his face and Scott stood up to watch the finale. Soon after I heard this growl/scream sound and I asked if that was our baby. I heard someone say “yes,” and I let myself exhale for the first time in months. 90% of my body was numb but I remember smiling. It may have been the biggest smile I have ever had in my life. The Dr. brought him to me and I was able to kiss his face. It was the most beautiful sight. He scrunched his face up and pushed out his lips. The tiny face I had only seen in ultra sound pictures was right in front of me. There were a million things I wanted to say to him, but all I could do was breath, smile, and thank God that this moment was happening. I didn’t know if we would ever make it to this point, but here we were. My husband was standing next to me, and our son was inches from my face, acting like a perfect newborn. It was a moment and a feeling that I can’t put into words, nor will I ever forget it. It seems I only got to kiss him and stare into his face a few seconds before the nurse whisked him away to take care of him. As the nurse cleaned him off, I heard her laugh and say she just got peed on. That’s our son.

My first look at our son

Scott got to hold him a few minutes before Paisley was taken to the nursery for observation. The nurses and Dr. asked if we would finally say what Baby P’s name was and Scott and I happily announced “Paisley Andrew.” After 6 weeks of taking care of me and Baby P, the nurses were happy to finally know his name.

Dr. Schroeder went to work putting me back together and Scott stayed with me while that happened. He is writing his own account of the morning’s events. We both agreed that the entire surgery felt like an out of body experience. We feel like we were able to witness the surgery, but it was as though we were spectators and not an actual part of it. Once Humpty Dumpty was repaired, Scott headed to the nursery to check on our son. I was taken back to my room to recover.

At this point the day’s events are murky and spotty. I was coherent enough throughout the rest of the day that I remember seeing my parents and sister for the first time after they saw Paisley. My sister was crying and my parents were smiling ear to ear. Scott was going back and forth between the nursery and my recovery room. I wanted more than anything to be able to join him in the nursery, but I still couldn’t feel my legs at the time.

The nurses and Dr. Schroeder were continually checking my incision, take my blood pressure and temperature. After an hour or so in recovery, they moved us to our new post-partum room. The room had a hospital bed as well as a queen sized bed. I had to stay in the hospital bed for 24 hrs post surgery but I was so happy that Scott would be in a real bed and not on an air mattress.

Paisley was wheeled into our room a short time later. They couldn’t put him in my arms fast enough. I stared into his little face and covered him in kisses. The lactation consults showed up and assisted in teaching me how to get Paisley to latch and how nursing works in general.

Happy Birth Day baby!

Throughout the day we had visitors however I can’t recall what was said or who all showed up. I was still on a pain medication that kept me pain-free but also living in a bit of a fog. The baby was taken from our room to the nursery throughout the day to alternate between me feeding him and being monitored by the nursery. Each time they took him, I felt sad that he wasn’t with me. I remember telling Scott that I didn’t like my arms being empty. Each time he was wheeled back into our room, my heart would leap and all I could think about was hugging our boy.

I loved watching Scott hold our little man and at one point, the 3 of us were snuggled up in my bed together. It felt perfect and comfortable. Even though we had never held our baby until now, the 3 of us bonded as if we had all been together our entire lives. It had been a long hard road, but here we were standing at the end of this journey. I had not allowed myself to even imagine that it would end with such beauty, amazement, and more love than our hearts had known.

My boys

That night, I watched my husband comfortably slip into his new role as Dad. When Paisley would cry, it was Scott that changed every diaper. When Paisley was hungry, Scott would bring him to my hospital bed so I could feed him. I wasn’t allowed out of bed for 24 hours, so Scott continued to carry the load of mobile parent, as he had for the past 12 weeks. I had always thought it would be impossible for me to love Scott anymore, but having Paisley has allowed my heart more room to love, both for him and his Daddy.

I closed my eyes listening to the sound of our newborn son cooing from his bed, the sound of my husband shuffling around the dark room taking care of his wife and baby, and I finally let myself relax. Paisley was here. The Fisher family was safe and sound and ready for the next chapter.

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The Day Before...

2011-08-30T08:55:00.001-05:00

Monitor time with one of my favorites!!

As Scott got ready for work, it was hard not to notice the excitement and nervous energy in the room. This was our last “normal” day as we knew it. As 7:30 rolled around, I pointed out to Scott that within 24 hrs. we would have our baby. As he headed off to work, I began my day as I had the previous 6 weeks. My nurse showed up around 8 to take vitals and put me on the monitor. I ordered my breakfast of fruit loops with skim milk, pears, and apple juice. My Dr. came in for our daily chat and excitement was all over her face. After taking care of us, worrying about us, and praying for us (she told me the day before she had added our family to her prayer list), she was as excited to deliver this baby as we were. Having Dr. Schroeder in our lives has been miraculous. She is caring and compassionate and everything one could hope for in a Dr. She pulled up a chair and sat next to my bed, explaining everything that would happen tomorrow at 7:30a.m. She said that my night nurse would get an IV started around midnight tonight to get me hydrated. I was not to have anything to eat or drink after midnight, even sips of water. Around 5:30 a.m., the nurse would begin prepping me for surgery. By 7:30, I would be in the operating room and the anesthesiologist would administer the spinal. Once that was complete, Scott would be allowed in the O.R. We would both be dressed as meat packers complete with hair nets. With that, she said “see you in the morning” and she was off to do her rounds.

Various nurses stopped in throughout the day to wish me luck as did my favorite housekeeper Pat and food delivery workers Rose and Mary. It was nice to have so many people rooting for us and telling us they would miss us when we were gone. Scott sent me cute texts throughout the day saying things like, “tomorrow at this time we will be holding our son.” Reading that sentence was mind-blowing. Around 11:30 as Mid-Day with Mike came on the news Scott showed up to have lunch with me. I admitted to him that I would miss “this.” This being the uninterrupted quiet time that Scott and I have gotten to spend together over the past 12 weeks. Although we wish the circumstances were a little different we have been able to have some quality time together during this time frame.

After Scott returned to work, mom and dad came to visit and helped make the afternoon pass. Mom and I played cards, we took a final wheelchair ride, and discussed the events of the following day. Scott picked up dinner on his way home as we felt like celebrating my final night of hospital bed-rest. Since Turoni’s has a special meaning to us, we found it only fitting to have Turoni’s as our final pre-baby meal. As mom and dad were leaving, dad asked Scott if they should get a hotel room in town. Scott assured them that most likely nothing was going to happen, and even if it did, they wouldn’t even have time to get here from a hotel before I would already on the operating table. Momma was debating what time to come in the morning because she wanted to see me before they wheeled me back. She decided on 7am, kissed me good-bye, and her and poppa headed home.

Our final night in #3536. The baby bed is ready to go!

Scott crawled into bed with me and our night nurses, Tara and Heather came in. Call it good fortune, but these two are a couple of my favorite nurses. They have been so sweet and caring to Scott, Paisley and I during the stay here. It only seems fitting that they are here for our last evening. After I have Paisley tomorrow, I will be moved to the post-partum section with different nurses. Of course I wish I could just stay here in Labor and Delivery, but that isn’t how the system works. Scott stepped out of the room to get a cup of ice and there was the baby bed outside our door. Scott looked back at me and we couldn’t help but smile. Tomorrow night at this time our son will be in that little bed. The bed was #10, which seemed perfect for our perfect “10” baby.

Scott and I wrote out our prayers to put in our prayer box. As we turned out the lights to go to sleep, we talked about this being the last night we would go to bed without a little one needing us. That was a very surreal feeling. I felt like it was Christmas Eve, the night before a big vacation, and the first day of school all rolled into one moment. The anticipation was indescribable. How many people get the opportunity to lie in bed at night and know that they will be holding their son in just a few hours.

Dear Baby-See you in the morning. Please have a safe trip. Love, Mom

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The Long and Winding Road

2011-08-02T10:29:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of Google

This blog is as much a place for information for family and friends as it is a reminder to Scott and I of the places we’ve been and the experiences we’ve had. This pregnancy hasn’t been easy. There have been moments that have downright sucked, but after every dark night came a bright morning. My timeline below may be a week or so off, but I want to remember and to always be thankful for all that we have been through to get to where we are now.

The beginning of this pregnancy was a cake walk. My cravings were easy to satisfy and I never got sick. At our first ultrasound we saw our little gummy bear. The heartbeat was perfect and all was well. My Dr. said she didn’t see anything that caused concern, but due to our history if we wanted a follow-up 4D ultrasound with a specialist just to ease our fears, she would make it happen. We jumped at the chance.

While doing the 4D ultrasound there was an obvious black hole appearing in my uterus. The tech brought the specialist in and after silently moving the wand over my stomach; she admitted that she had never seen anything like it before. Her concern was that it was a cyst on the umbilical cord, which is fatal to the fetus. After further review, she determined that it wasn’t on the umbilical cord and that she needed to consult her medical books before giving us any additional information. While she consulted her books, Scott and I prepared ourselves for the worse. We prayed and tried to hold it together. When she returned, relief could physically be seen on her face. It was a secondary yolk sac. There weren’t signs that there was ever a second fetus in my stomach, but for whatever reason a secondary yolk sac was present. She said eventually it would be absorbed by my body and it would not affect our baby. Our first round of worry was over.

The specialist asked us to come back in 4 weeks to make sure the yolk sac was gone and follow-up on everything, so we returned. At that appointment the tech brought the Dr. in and while silently moving the wand over my belly, the Dr. told us the baby had an echogenic bowel. This means the intestines were showing up light colored as if they were bone, which is a soft marker for downs. This news was followed up with an offering of an amino. As Scott and I had previously agreed, we wanted to know as much information as possible about our baby, whether that information was good or bad. We agreed to the amino and within minutes the needle was inserted into my stomach. It didn’t hurt and it didn’t last long. The fear we felt overshadowed all other pain.

After 3 days of waiting, the results of our amino were returned. The baby was fine. We almost couldn’t believe it. We didn’t know if we should allow ourselves to feel relief and comfort or if we should keep our hearts guarded. With our chins held high, we continued on our journey. Our second round of worry was (temporarily) over.

Mother’s Day night the bleeding began. I called the hospital and they told me to come in quickly. It wasn’t just a spot or two of blood, but enough that I thought our baby was gone. The drive to the hospital was the longest drive of our lives. Scott and I held hands but couldn’t discuss what was happening. At the hospital, we had an ultra-sound and there dancing on the screen, healthy as can be, was our little guy. He was fine. After an examination, the blood was not coming from our baby and perhaps my uterus was just irritated. They could not give an exact reason for the bleeding. After 4-5 hours in the hospital I was released. A follow-up appointment was scheduled with the specialist later that week to make sure everything was still ok.

At this appointment the specialist officially diagnosed me with Vasa Previa. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, this diagnoses is fatal to the fetus if it is not caught before the mother goes into labor. In the simplest terms, the baby’s blood supply/lifeline has planted itself right on top of the birthing canal. Should my water bust or the membranes rupture during labor, the baby would bleed out in a matter of minutes. If not treated immediately, the mother would also require a blood transfusion. Clearly not an ideal situation but we were assured that since this was caught, we have a 99% chance of delivering (via C-Section) a perfectly healthy baby.

At this point we knew hospitalization was imminent once we hit week 30. At week 28, we had a follow-up appointment with the specialist. It was at this appointment I was informed that not only was my cervix shortening but I was also having contractions. This led to immediate hospitalization because going into labor was not an option for me or baby. Steroids were immediately administered and then we waited. After 24 hours and orders of bedrest going forward, I was released to return home.

Roughly 6 weeks of bedrest at home followed. It was hard not to be in constant fear of going into labor and losing the baby before we had time to get to the hospital. But, we knew the road before us was already laid out and we just needed to continue walking down it. So we did.

On July 7, it was with relief and peace that we entered the hospital at 30 weeks. Under constant supervision by the Dr., we marked days off the calendar and celebrated each week. Constant monitoring is a blessing and a curse all at the same time. We have watched my blood pressure soar and dip. This led to the 24 urinalysis test for pre-eclampsia. Luckily, pre-e was not in the cards for us. We have also watched the heartbeat of our baby soar and dip. While the Dr. says for the most part it is normal, it is still cold-sweat inducing watching the baby’s heartbeat slow down.

We’ve cried tears of joy and tears of the unknown. At this point, we are in the homestretch. At 34 weeks, we have what the NICU considers an “easy baby.” Our Dr. told us yesterday we have roughly 2 weeks before she takes the baby. Two weeks. After everything that we have endured, taking this baby home and raising it feels like a piece of cake. Without everything we have been through, I’m not sure I would have fully recognized the miracle of creating a life. I didn’t expect pregnancy would be this difficult, but no one ever said it would be easy either. All I know is that every second has been worth it.

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You're Invited!!

2011-07-28T11:05:00.000-05:00

What-A Dance Party

Where-P's Womb (my uterus)

When-Every night

Time-4AM until ??

I'm worried that baby P may come out with glow-sticks in hand as it feels like I have a little raver in here.

Ticking Time Bombs, Vampires, and Starvation...Oh My!

2011-07-25T14:06:00.000-05:00

32 weeks!

As of today, we hit the 33 week mark of being pregnant!!!

-9 of those weeks have been spent flat on my back.

-3 of those weeks have been spent in the hospital.

Baby P should weigh between 4.5 and 5 lbs. I continue to have some pretty aggressive heartburn which in my mind means he is just getting more and more hair!

I have not gone stir crazy! As mentioned previously, I am reading books and magazines, working Sudoku puzzles, and I've begun working on a braided rug for P's room. I also continue to have the most loving friends and family. Between visits, calls, e-mails, and packages, I am 100% entertained and taken care of. Each interaction means the world to me and I hope each of these people that send a card or stop by know that their prayers, thoughts, love and friendship have helped get us to where we are today!

That being said...I may have had a mini meltdown last week. I managed to have it without anyone else being around. I call it the day that contained a series of misfortunate events that led me to host my very own pity-party. This is how it went;

-Each day, I am put on a monitor at 3 different times a day for roughly an hour each time. On this particular day, I got put on the monitor and they left me on there for 2 hours. (My nurse forgot about me) While on the monitor, I developed a VERY full bladder. One way to make me cranky, make me hold my bladder for an hour.

-The 2 hours just happened to fall over lunch. I can't order food while on the monitor, which meant I laid there starving. If you haven't been pregnant, I can't describe how serious hunger is to a pregnant girl. After I was off the monitor I had to wait 45 minutes for the cafeteria to make my food and deliver it. Another way to make me cranky, starve me.

-While waiting for food, I decided to have a piece of banana bread that my mom had brought me. As I go to cut me a piece, I realize that housekeeping must have taken my knife. So unless I wanted to eat directly off the loaf, there was no way to cut the bread.

So I sulked. I curled up and pulled my blankets over my head. I listened to my stomach growl and hoped I wasn't starving our baby. Eventually, lunch showed up and after I gobbled it down, I slowly returned to my nice self.

As one would imagine, being in a hospital for 3 weeks I have met a lot of the nurses and Dr's. This past weekend, the Dr. on call came to meet me. As he walked in he said, "You're the one I've heard all about." As I questioned what he meant by this he said, "You're the ticking time bomb of labor and delivery." While I am thankful he knows about my condition should he need to assist in the future, I wasn't sure how to feel about him viewing my uterus as a ticking time bomb? I guess there are worse things I could be known for, right?

I'll end this blog with my least favorite part of my entire hospital stay as well as a happy thought. My least favorite part....the Vampires. In case you weren't aware, there are these people called phlembotonists that lurk in the hallways. Every 3rd day they slip into my room before the sun comes up and take blood. Every 3 days. I dread those days.

My happy thought...3 more weeks and I'll hit 36 weeks! This is the absolute last day my Dr. will let me carry this baby. Which means I'm 21 days or less from seeing my son. A year ago I never even thought about kids. Today I can't put into words how much I love this boy that I've never met.

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One Year Ago....

2011-07-25T10:42:00.000-05:00

I woke with a feeling of calm and excitement I had never known. The day had come that I would marry the man that I didn't want to spend another second of my life without.

Exactly one year later, we didn't have the luxury anniversary trip that we had previously planned on, but our celebration was still one to remember.

Even though these days I get all my meals served to me in bed, it was nice to have Scott next to me as we had an anniversary breakfast in bed. He surprised me with beautiful flowers that contained the same types of flowers and color scheme as the flowers I carried on our wedding day. He also gave me a very precious gift that brought tears to my eyes.

He brought the top layer of our wedding cake to the hospital and together as we ate it, we remembered all the details of our big day. We laughed about things that happened and agreed that we wouldn't change a single thing about our day. The cake still tasted good after a year!

The nurses and on-call Dr. helped make our day special by making us a card and stopping in to wish us Happy Anniversary. Instead of hospital food, Scott brought in Italian that tasted so good.

It's fun to think ahead a year to where we will be and what we will be doing as we celebrate our 2nd anniversary. While we never dreamt a year ago that we would spend our first anniversary in the hospital, we realized the most important part of our day was that we were together. And even in a hospital, that made the day perfect.

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Life in Labor and Delivery

2011-07-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

The location of P's upcoming (first) vacation...St. Petersburg, FL

You know how the night before vacation, you have a hard time sleeping because you think of everything you need to do/pack and you are so bloody excited? Well the night before checking into the hospital for a long term stay is kind of the same way, minus the surge of excitement.

I laid in bed and watched the sun stream through the window as my husband silently snoozed next to me. Alone with my thoughts, I realized that this would be the last time I would wake up in our bed without a baby in the next room. I then had a mini moment of panic. All this time, I had been so focused on P's health, keeping him in there, and just getting through one day at a time that I hadn't taken the time to think about post-delivery. Once I have this baby...we will have a baby! Cripes! That thought scared the daylights out of me. Obviously I knew we were having a baby, but there has been so many other issues that I had to process first that I am just now realizing that soon, very soon, bouncing baby boy is going to take up residence out of my womb and in our spare room! What if he doesn't like me? Or what if I don't hear him wake up in the middle of the night and he starves before morning? How do we raise him so he doesn't become a serial killer? Yes, those are all thoughts that ran through my mind before 7am.

Image courtesy of Google

I may have taken the longest shower ever that morning. Knowing that long showers won't be a common occurrence once P is here, I used every drop of hot water we had. I conditioned, shaved, loofahed and used every other bath product our home contained. It was wonderful. As Scott woke up and we finished packing, we had one final pre-baby date. He took me to IHOP for pancakes. I have craved and enjoyed pancakes this entire pregnancy. That morning was no exception. I smothered my warm cakes in warm maple syrup and savored every second of our date. It ended far too soon and before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of the hospital.

The check in process was very quick and smooth. I was put in the same room I had previously been in during our overnight in May. Scott went to work getting our toiletries put in the bathroom and unpacking our bag. Soon enough we had transformed our hospital room into a make shift studio apartment. The room is a nice size and I have 1 wall that is all windows facing the west. While it's not ideal to hang out in a hospital room for 5+ weeks, the set-up makes it a lot easier to swallow.

Image courtesy of Google

The first few days flew by! There are several privileges I am allowed that are quite enjoyable! From 10pm-8am, my Dr has asked the nurses not to disturb us so we get to have quiet nights together and have uninterrupted sleep! Since I'm not monitored at night I leave my hospital bed and curl up with Scott on the queen size air mattress (Thank you Cori!). One night on the fold out couch was all it took for Scott to realize we needed a different sleeping arrangement. Luckily our sweet friend quickly supplied us with an air mattress.

Everyday I am allowed a 1 hr wheelchair ride that I look so forward to! Scott will take me towards the end of the day and we'll go outside for some fresh air. At that time of the day the heat isn't so bad. Scott would argue that statement as he's pushing around his non-size 4 wife and he usually breaks into a little sweat.

Image courtesy of Google

I am very fortunate to have the sweetest nurses. They are all so good to Scott and I and take wonderful care of me and my little bump. One even confessed to Scott (while I was in the bathroom) that I was the favorite patient on this floor. The cleaning lady told me the other day that I was the happiest patient she had seen in a long time. Mentally, I am at peace knowing I am exactly where I need to be. It is comforting to know my Dr is close by and everyone is kind of on stand by waiting for P to make a move. The situation is literally re-examined day by day to see how P is doing and if my uterus is wanting to evict its tenant.

As of last Friday, P was measuring 3lbs 8oz. Yesterday we celebrated his 31wks in utero. This week he should hit 4lbs based on how his weight has been trending. We continue to hope he wants to have his birthday in August!!

Thank you again for the prayers and thoughts. We'll keep you updated as we continue our adventure towards parenthood one day at a time.

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When I said "I Do"

2011-06-28T19:41:00.001-05:00

As I wrote my wedding vows, I let my heart guide my pen. I wanted to stress that this union was the one the past 29 years had prepared me for. Through sunny skies and gloomy days we would walk through all of them, together. His handwritten vows were a mirror to mine.

As we spoke those words, there was no way to predict that within a year we would deal with sickness, pain, and loss. We rode out those stormy days by leaning on each other and keeping our eyes on the horizon that glows bright. Our vows were more than words recited at our wedding, they are our way of life.

This song could not have said it better;

"When I Said I Do"

These times are troubled and these times are good
And they're always gonna be, they rise and they fall
We take 'em all the way that we should
Together you and me forsaking them all
Deep in the night and by the light of day
It always looks the same, true love always does

And here by your side, or a million miles away
Nothin's ever gonna change the way that I feel,
The way it is, is the way that it was

When I said I do, I meant that I will 'til the end of all time
Be faithful and true, devoted to you
That's what I had in mind when I said I do

Well this old world keeps changin', and the world stays the same
For all who came before, and it goes hand and hand
Only you and I can undo all that we became
That makes us so much more, than a woman and a man

And after everything that comes and goes around
Has only passed us by, here alone in our dreams
I know there's a lonely heart in every lost and found
But forever you and I will be the ones
Who found out what forever means

When I said I do, I meant that I will 'til the end of all time
Be faithful and true, devoted to you
That's what I had in mind when I said I do
Truer than true, you know that I'll always be there for you
That's what I had in mind, that's what I had in mind,
When I said I do

Artist: Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black

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29 Weeks and Counting!!

2011-06-28T19:16:00.000-05:00

We had an appointment yesterday and there are all kinds of big things happening in my BIG belly! Here are baby P's latest tricks;

-He opens his eyes and looks around. Yesterday while we were watching the ultrasound, he was looking from side to side and blinking.

-He sticks his tongue out. He gave us a little tongue peep show while we were watching.

-He has hair! It's just a little fuzz now, but the tech anticipates it to grow grow grow before we have him. Maybe the old wives tale about having heartburn really is true!!

-His toes are ticklish. He was stretched out with his feet planted on my side, but when she would run the wand over the bottoms, he would curl up in a ball until she quit.

-He's practicing his breathing! She could feel and see him trying to expand his lungs to prepare them for life on the outside. I felt the same sensation the night before and just thought he was moving like crazy. Now I know what it feels like when he practices breathing!!

-I passed my gestational diabetes test!! Meaning I don't have to be put on a strict diet and I don't have to take the 3 hour test!

-P's feet are measuring over 2 inches long! This baby really may come out taller than his daddy and I!
My cervix is a nice 3.8 length. We'll take it! When I was admitted into the hospital previously, it was at 2.2. That shows you how a little bed rest can really help a cervix out! :)

Keep the prayers coming!!! 3 more weeks until goal #2 is met!!!

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Grow Baby Grow!!!

2011-06-24T11:07:00.000-05:00

Happy 28 weeks!!!

It's been a busy couple of weeks around the couch!!! This past Monday we hit 28 weeks! This is the first date our Dr. told us to aim for. A sigh of relief could be heard for miles as we marked that day off the calendar. Next goal...32 weeks!

Yesterday we had an appointment so I could take the Glucola test. This test is administered for all pregnancies to detect gestational diabetes. I will get the results Mon. or Tues. of next week. Fingers crossed, it comes back negative! Baby P's heartbeat was perfect and my stomach is measuring right on target. Nothing is as reassuring as having a good appointment!

This week we celebrated my Poppa's birthday! Since my activity is limited my family had a "surround the couch" birthday party. My dad smoked ribs and brought them over while my sweet husband cooked up sweet potatoes and made homemade ice cream. It was bizarre laying on the couch while my husband prepared food for my family. He never once complained and he later put his finger over my lips as I thanked him for taking care of everything.

My Daddy!

On Sunday we celebrated Father's Day. My sweet parents came over to spend some time with us. I got to love on my Daddy and I showered my Father-to-Be with all the love and affection a girl on the couch can administer. I think both "Daddies" had a great day!!

The previous week I told Scott we were going out to dinner. His birthday is at the end of June and since we were unsure of when my Dr. would want me admitted to the hospital, I figured we better celebrate while we could! With the Dr's. approval, we went out to dinner! I felt like a puppy with my head hanging out the window as I was so excited to be out of the house. Scott and I realized this could very well be the last time we eat out pre-baby! After dinner we made a quick stop at Dairy Queen for a blizzard. The baby wanted it.

Date night with the hottest guy I know!

Our friends and family have made our time on bed rest easier than we imagined. My parents visit at least once a week. Momma will bake up something delicious, do the dishes and laundry, and spend time talking to her grandson. My Poppa entertains Scott and fixes up items around the house from loose and broken spindles on our deck to painting a little table for the nursery. My in-laws visit once a week to bring us dinner and catch up on appointments. And my friends... They come over to keep me company, do my toenails, bring us dinner, send cards, and continually call/e-mail/text to check on us. Each interaction makes me smile and boost any spirits that may have taken a dip. i knew how wonderful my friends were before...but I didn't know the depth of their compassion and love. For these friends, my family and in-laws, we appreciate you, we are so happy to have you in our lives, and we love you!

So 28 weeks brings along the title of 3rd and final trimester!! We are so happy to enter this time frame. For the first time in 30 years I have begun to experience heartburn. I've heard this means we are going to have a baby with a headful of hair. We shall see!! I've also started to feel tired more. Maybe it's because I lay on the couch all day or maybe it's because baby is roughly 3lbs. and busier than ever, but I'm starting to revert back to my Sleeperella days.

Two more weeks at home than off to my stay in the hospital! The change of scenery will be nice as well as the peace of mind knowing that if baby tries to make an exit, they can get him out within 10 minutes. I'll keep the updates coming and ask you to keep us in your thoughts and prayers!!

The Fisher Two...soon to be The Fisher Three

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Bed Rest-Day 12

2011-06-06T21:44:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of Google.

Greetings from the plaid couch in Southern Indiana. Who would have thought that laying on the couch each and everyday could be such a rollar coaster ride? Sometimes it's a roller coaster that tickles my stomach and makes me laugh, but other times it's a ride that makes me want to bury my head in my hands and not look ahead.
Our last two appointments have been filled with positive news and lots of hope. Today we learned that our little fish has hit 2lbs. I've never been so happy with any 2lb. part of my body before now. He also hit the 26 week mark today. That means that we are 2 weeks away from hitting our first "goal" (28 wks). We are 6 weeks away from goal #2 (32 wks), and we are 9 weeks away from our ideal delivery date (35 wks). Each and everyday is critical to the development of his little body. Every morning I am so thankful that it is another day towards our goals.

Image courtesy of Google

So how does one spend 12 days of bedrest...I've been very lucky to have many visits from family and friends. I've also been the lucky recipient of many cards, texts and e-mails. It's nice to hear from the outside world as sometimes laying here, I feel like the rest of the world is passing me by while I'm stuck in "pause" mode. I've worked numerous sudoku puzzles, finished 1 novel, started watching the True Blood season 3 series, colored (yes, and I have to admit I enjoy color by number pages!!) watched a handful of movies, read over 30 magazines from Shape (not recommended for someone who is confined to the couch) to Better Homes & Gardens, and played a few games of Solitare. I am limiting my time on the computer and watching television as I don't think it's good to stare at a screen all day. I try to have "music" time with baby daily because I think he's a huge fan of my singing! He gets most excited when I sing Fleetwood Mac and Ray Lamontagne.

I've realized there are a few spa type activities I can participate in from the horizontal position. I can do face peels, paint my toes (with the help of a lot of pillows) and use moisturizing mittens on my hands. I try to keep a routine each day and so far there has only been 1 day that I stayed in my pajamas the entire day. Before Scott gets home, I spruce myself up just a bit (just because I lay on the couch all day doesn't mean I want to look like a lay on the couch all day).

Image courtesy of Google

I just started reading a book that my momma brought me, it's the Second Edition of "Preemies." I would recommend this book for anyone that knows they are going to be delivering early. The book explains what the baby will look like once born depending on what week he makes his arrival as well as which moniters and devices may be hooked up to him depending on his health at birth. It's a great way to prepare us for what we will be dealing with in the near future. The book has also helped explain some of the ups and downs that I've had as well as comfort me to know that it is normal to have some of the feelings I have had. Not very often, but some days I just don't feel like talking to anyone. I just want to curl myself up on this couch and disappear from the rest of the world. The other 6 days of the week I am focused on the fact that this temporary situation directly impacts our long term lives. That makes it easy to watch the lint balls roll across the kitchen floor (ok not easy, but I don't get up and sweep them away).

12 days down, atleast 14 more days at home on bed rest prior to being admitted between 28-30 wks for constant monitoring. I would much rather stay at home on bed rest so hopefully we can make it to 30 wks (July 4th) without them admitting me.

Without a doubt, I know the prayers that have been said for our family have made a difference. I can't help but think of the verse Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” I am forever grateful to each one of you that has joined us in praying for our baby as well as Scott and I. Please continue to think of us as we move through the next few weeks. Our next appointment is one week from today. Fingers crossed, we have a 3rd positive appointment!

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That was a Contraction?

2011-05-27T18:49:00.001-05:00

Image courtesy of Google

Our latest appointment started like any other appointment; How are you feeling, is the baby kicking, etc. We had our ultrasound and got to see our beautiful boy. He looks more like a real baby than I expected. Even the tech said he has really filled out in the face. He has precious chubby cheeks, pouty lips, and a perfectly chiseled chin. He is just a picture perfect baby. Yes, I have already become the insanely bias momma that ~~thinks~~ knows she has the most beautiful, perfect, smart baby in the world. I used to swear that if I had kids, I would not become one of those delusional women...yet here I am in full delusional glory.

As the Dr. measured my cervix and snapped various ultra-sound shots she asked, "Is there anything you need to tell me?" In a confused voice I said, "I don't think so?" This is when she informed me that I was having contractions. As in, my body had started the process of going into labor. Suddenly I had movie scenes flashing before my eyes of women going into labor and screaming bloody murder as they felt a contraction.  I didn't feel so much as a tickle, cramp, or gas pain. Yet here I am on the table and the Dr. is telling me my body is contracting. Not only was I contracting, but the length of my cervix has already shortened meaning baby was closer to the outside world than ever been. My cervix had also begun to funnel as it was making room for the baby to pass through. Immediately I was administered a steroid injection to prepare for Baby P to join this world. The specialist said she was admitting me to labor and delivery and with that, we were headed upstairs.

On a side note, the steroid shot burned just a little, but it was over in seconds. I was thankful it was quick! They dressed me in a lovely hospital gown and hooked me up to various monitors.  One monitor watched my contractions and the other monitor watched to make sure Baby P was doing OK.  Let me stress, we were not prepared to be put into the hospital on this evening. We thought it would be a normal appointment and then we would both head back at work for the day. I didn't so much have a toothbrush or hairbrush with me.

As word got out that I had been admitted, my door quickly flew open to find Momma and sister standing there. After the shock of learning that P was making his way out and I was being put into the hospital, seeing them was the most normal moment I could have had. I convinced Scott to get some fresh air and he ran to Kipplees to pick us up a Strom-B-Que. I wasn't ready to enter the world of hospital food yet.  Scott also decided since I had company he was going to run home and get us our toiletries as well as pick up clothes for him to wear to work the next day. I tried to convince him he didn't need to come back, but he refused to even listen to that suggestion.

Image courtesy of Google

The nursing staff was so nice and checked my monitors frequently for updates. My contractions continued to come in about 3 an hour and they continued to ask me, "Are you sure you aren't feeling anything?" It was like they thought I was either lying to them or in denial that I could possibly be having a baby, but seriously, if I was in pain, they would be the first people I tell.

As the night wore on, Scott and I ate our Stromboli and momma and sister headed home. Scott and I talked about our situation and realized that it is completely out of our hands right now. It is very hard to give up that feeling of having control of a situation, but it was the only way we could keep our minds from driving us crazy. Our room was a very nice size and had a couch that pulled into a bed. Scott curled up on that and I was in the hospital bed. I wanted to lay in his bed so bad...but the cords from my monitors wouldn't reach that far.

Throughout the night, the nurses would come in and check on me. I didn't get to sleep much...maybe 3 hours. I had too many thoughts running rampant in my mind. I was secretly happy to see the sun starting to peek through the windows. It meant that we had all survived the night and a new day was upon us. Scott's alarm went off and with a heavy heart, he headed off to work. I convinced him that it was pointless to take a day off when I was in the best hands possible and there would be days down the road that will be more critical for him to be with me.

My Dr. showed up bright and early to check my monitors. With a happy tone she said the contractions were on a drastic decline and that baby was doing great. His heartbeat had maintained a very steady rate throughout the night and was showing zero signs of stress. She said I would get my 2nd steroid shot this evening at 5 and as long as everything remains on the up and up, I would be home before nightfall. Those were great words to hear.

Shortly after, my sweet friend Alice and her daughter showed up to help pass the time. They brought snacks of every kind, DVDs, a beautiful African violet, and entertained me with stories and happy thoughts. It was much needed and so appreciated. I couldn't escape the weird feeling of just laying in a hospital bed...it was my first overnight in a hospital and it was just a helpless/bizarre feeling. I was thankful that Alice's visit helped get my mind off that.

Image courtesy of Google

I had to bite the bullet and experience hospital food. It wasn't awful...but it wasn't exactly great. The breakfast was good but lunch left a lot to be desired. I was happy that one of the snacks Alice brought was a plate of fresh baked brownies. Now that is a way to make a confined girl feel good!!

As the evening closed in and Alice headed home, Scott showed after work. He had checked in numerous times throughout the day and knew there was a good chance we would be going home shortly. The 2nd shot was administered and they confirmed my contractions had stopped completely. GREAT News!!!!! I was put on strict bed rest with bathroom/shower breaks being the only time I could get out of bed or off the couch.

Carefully, we packed up our items and I was discharged. An appointment had been set up for Fri. morning which meant I got at least the next 2 nights in my own bed, at my own house, with our stuff. They instructed me to come back if I started having "more intense contractions." Since I haven't felt a single twinge of contractions thus far....I'm not sure how successful I'll be at noticing future contractions?

Getting in the car and going home felt great. Scott got me settled at home and he reiterated what the Dr. said-No unnecessary movement. There truly is no place like home.

While Scott and I were relieved to be home, our hearts were heavy and nervous as we didn't know how much time we actually had before P continued his pursuit to the outside world. We asked our friends and family for prayers because we don't know what else to do. At this point, our next step will depend on the appointment Fri. morning. If cervix shortening continues, I will be admitted until P is born. If shortening has stopped completely, I will be monitored on a weekly basis to make sure we catch the moment when the labor process starts again.

Our goals are as follows; We must get the baby to 28 weeks in utero. This is a critical time frame as the mortality and morbidity rate decline drastically. If we can make it to 28 weeks, we will push for 32 weeks. Every week on top of 32 is icing on the cake. We will do whatever it takes to make it to our first goal and then whatever it takes to make it to 32.

Thank you for following us on this journey and keeping us close to your hearts and in your prayers. Please continue to do. I look forward to the day I can announce we are welcoming our little boy into the world and that he is healthy and we are headed home as the Fisher Family of 3. As much as I want that day to be here, I hope it isn't for at least another 10 weeks!!

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A Long Way to go and a Short Time to Get There!

2011-05-26T10:36:00.000-05:00

Happy 24 weeks to our precious papaya sized Baby P! The weeks are literally flying past our eyes which is a good and bad thing.

23 wks and completely dressed in maternity wear!

The most important update is that our little guy is doing extremely well. As of May 10th, he was 1lb 2oz. He has long fingers and toes and is very active. I told Scott we either have a piano player or a quarterback. Scott wishes for the latter. I’ve learned the little guy’s schedule. He isn’t much of a morning baby other than he must be fed between 6-8am. He prefers chocolate milk with pancakes or a bowl of chocolate Cheerios. After breakfast he is fairly quiet until around noon. I’m convinced that he has karate class at this time because I get served with some serious kicks and punches. After karate is over he quiets down until I get home from work. I’ll lie on the couch as Scott and I catch up on our day and discuss dinner options. I am 100% convinced P loves listening to us talk because he goes crazy. Scott can visibly watch our baby appear to swim from one side of his womb to the other. This will go on about 25 minutes before he gets all worn out and falls back asleep. Then he’s fairly quiet until it’s my bedtime. Night after night Scott can feel little kicks as I sleep with my stomach against Scott’s back. There is no doubt we have a very strong and active baby.

Our timeline of events has drastically changed over the past couple of weeks. At our last appointment the Dr. diagnosed me with Vasa Previa. Basically this means my placenta is directly over the birthing canal and has no intention of moving to a more convenient spot. The umbilical cord is also attached in this same location and not protected from the baby smashing it as he gets heavier and therefore cutting off his own blood/oxygen/lifeline. Due to the large amount of blood that is contained in the membrane covering the birthing canal, if Vasa Previa is not detected prior to the start of labor, it is 100% fatal due to the amount of blood that would be lost at a rapid pace. If caught early, there is a 95%-100% chance that everything will be fine.

Looking exhausted at 24 wks

For the Fisher family, this means the following; I am being monitored by our perientologist every two weeks. Between 28-30 weeks, I will be admitted into the hospital for monitoring. The only reason they would admit me prior to 28 weeks would be if my body decides to naturally begin the labor process. Fingers crossed, it does not. Once in the hospital, they will begin administering steroids to get our little guys lungs ready for the real world. I will have a planned C-Section between weeks 35-36. The only way my C-Section would be bumped up is if our little guy tries to come early. Hopefully he stays put and we can make it to 36 weeks. At that point, we deliver our little guy.

This was not ideal news for us to learn, however, we are dealing with it. As the Dr. was delivering the news, my only concern was that our baby is thriving, which he is. I think the medical difficulties that Scott and I have faced for the past 9 months have prepared us for this moment. Had our lives been smooth and bump free, I may have a case of the “why-me’s.” Since we have seen dark days, we are in a mental place that as long as the baby is fine, we can keep going forward. That being said, this entire process is mind-numbing and scary. I worry about going into labor prior to being admitted into the hospital. I worry about the time spent in the hospital and my poor husband feeling helpless as I’m “confined” for 5 weeks. I worry about the C-section and if we will be able to make it to week 35. I worry about Baby P coming early and what long-term effects could come as a result. I worry about my husband and all that he has experienced in the past year. Physically, I am feeling fine and getting bigger by the day. Mentally I have my good days and bad days. 9 days out of 10, I can look at this in a positive light and just thank God that this was discovered when it was.

In the meantime, my nesting instincts have hit me full force. When Scott and I learned of my upcoming vacation in the local hospital, we didn’t have anything close to a nursery in our home. Since then, we have ordered and received a crib & mattress. We have completely emptied out our spare bedroom and bought paint and a new ceiling fan. And all the baby clothes that we have received from friends and family have been washed and folded (Thanks Momma!). We have a busy few weeks ahead of us as we paint walls, shampoo carpets, and mentally get ready to have a baby before fall. I say “we” however my activity is limited to as little movement as possible. I told Scott I’m the contractor of this job because I lay on the couch and tell him what to do and how to do it. I’m very good at being a contractor and he is very good at being a laborer.

Due to the short time we have had to prepare for baby and the exact date of our hospital stay being up in the air my sweet friends and sister are planning a post-baby shower in early September. This way out-of-town family/friends have time to make plans to attend as well as ensure that I won’t be cooped up in a hospital bed on the day the shower happens. And hoping all goes well with Baby P and his time in the NICU is limited; he will be able to briefly join us at the shower.

If you’re reading this blog, I have 2 favors to ask of you;

1. Pray. Pray for Scott and I to keep the strength and positive attitude we need to get through this time. Pray Baby P continues to thrive and stays in his apartment until he hits 35 weeks. Pray the Drs. are able to perform a successful C-section that leads to the healthy (and quick) recovery for me and delivery of Baby P. Pray that after all this is over, Scott and I get to take the most wonderful prize on earth home…a healthy baby boy.

2. Recommend a book, DVD, website, or another way to pass the time while I am in the hospital. I am hoping those 5 weeks go by quickly but I’m also a little worried about developing ~~cabin~~ hospital fever. If you had 5 weeks to do nothing but think (and you weren’t on a beach) how would you pass the time?

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Holy Emotions!

2011-05-20T21:45:00.000-05:00

I'm sure it's a combination of a crazy Drs. appointment on Tuesday, Scott being out of town all week, and a sprinkle of pregnancy hormones, but I just lost it. Sitting at my desk, warm tears streaming down my cheeks like they've got somewhere to be, and the inability to make it stop.

The song "Anyway" by Martina McBride just came on my IPOD. I listened to the words closely for the first time ever and they hit me like a ton of bricks. The chorus could be our theme for our experience with being pregnant. With tissue in hand, I give you the lyrics...

You can spend your whole life buildin'
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yeah - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea, sing it anyway
Yeah, yeah!

I sing
I dream
I love
anyway

Cinco de Mayo!

2011-05-05T11:41:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of Google

Recently I blogged about Scott and my first date 4 years ago. However, we must confess that not all of our dates were always fluffy clouds and pink fuzzy bunnies. One such date happened 4 years ago today, Cinco de Mayo.

I was at my sister’s house waiting for Scott to pick me up and Rhea decided she wanted to meet him. It was only our 2nd date and I knew the chances of Rhea embarrassing me were high. There wasn’t a snowballs chance in Mexico that I was going to let that happen.

As Scott’s truck pulled into the drive, I launched myself out the door quick as could be. Both Scott and my sister (who was now standing at the door looking out) were surprised by my quick move. Due to the puzzled expression on Scott’s face as I jumped into the passenger side and slammed the door, I felt the need to explain that my sister was a little goofy and he could meet her later. *Note: we’re all a little goofy. I just wasn’t ready for Scott to meet the family yet.

As we drove to a local Mexican restaurant, the conversation was good and I was happy to be out with this fantastic person. At dinner, I enjoyed 1 margarita. It was good and I felt completely fine post-margarita. After dinner, Scott mentioned heading to a friend’s house as it was his birthday and he was throwing a party.

Photo courtesy of Google

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a little ankle-biting dog. Except, this dog didn’t just bite ankles, it got a hold of Scott’s nose. Yes, the dog bit Scott’s nose and drew blood. Not to mention, I have a small fear of dogs anyway, so it was just an awkward situation. Throw in the fact that this is our second date and I was meeting a room full of people I had never met before in my life.

Scott’s friend, (the birthday boy) offered to make me a drink. “Sure!” I replied. Famous last words as it must have been the strongest White Russian in the history of White Russian’s. After finishing the drink (not forgetting the 1 margarita I had with dinner) I sat down on the couch and the world was slowly spinning. As the world spun, I sank lower and lower into the cushions as my world went dark.

Photo courtesy of Google

I woke up much later to an empty apartment except for Scott sitting next to me on the couch watching tv. Apparently the two drinks were more than I could handle and I had passed out cold on the couch. The party had decided to head into town to some of the local establishments to continue on with their festivities. Sweet Scott, not wanting to leave his passed out date, stayed with me while I slept off my 2 beverages. After slowly coming back to reality, Scott drove me back to my sister’s house. I was mortified and Scott had teeth marks on his nose. Not the best night for either of us.

A couple crucial factors were realized by both of us that night:

1. I am not allowed more than 1 adult beverage ever again.

2. Scott will keep his face out of biting distance from canines.

3. Should I ever pass out again, I know that Scott will be at my side when I wake up.

4. Even though the date sucked at the time, we can now look back on it and laugh.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

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Half Baked!

2011-05-03T21:51:00.000-05:00

20 weeks down!
(or should I say Out)

Baby Fish is 20 weeks through his 40 week lease on his 1 bedwomb/1 bathwomb unit. (No pregnancy didn't make me this cheesy, I've always been this cheesy!) He's about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (A super cute and squirmy banana)

Currently Baby Fish is in LOVE with bologna sandwiches. Now this isn't completely strange because I've always enjoyed a bologna, mustard and cheese sandwich. BUT, now I actually want them more than once throughout the day. I've found the best local place to get a German Bologna sandwich is the Nisbet Inn. While their slogan is "Coldest Beer in the World," it should be "Pregnant girls LOVE our Bologna!" There is not much better than having a craving, eating the item, and it being everything you wanted it to be!

Mmmm....

Does the moon and pull of the tide have any say in the gender of a baby at conception? These days…I’m starting to believe that it just may. My reason for this is Scott and I are due September 12 and are having a boy. I have one friend that is due the exact same day and she is also having a boy. I have another friend that is due September 9, and she is also having a boy. While this is only 3 people, it is the only 3 people I know due right around that time meaning we all conceived right around the same time. And now…we are all having boys. So, does the moon and tides have influence on if we have a boy or girl?
As I mentioned previously, we have a night owl among us. He's still good about only waking me up once a night, but sometimes once I'm awake, I'm really awake. The mistake happened the other night that I let my brain turn on for just a few minutes. Those few minutes stretched into about 45 minutes. What you may ask could I possibly think of at 2:15 in the morning that would keep me up until 3? Life with Baby P after my maternity leave is over. We have yet to finalize any sort of daycare or work arrangements that includes our little guy. Scott and I have discussed every possibility under the sun and thus far, we haven't decided what option is the best for us. It's such a huge decision and we want to make sure we are doing what is best for the 3 of us. We just haven't figured out what that is yet. Until we do…that is what keeps me up at night.

Photo courtesy of Google

I think this will be the last week that I will "Just Say No" to maternity clothes. I'm just about ready to wear pants with a soft and flexible mid-section. Dear God, please don't let this be the last time I ever wear my pre-pregnancy clothes. Just because I am sacrificing body for baby does not mean I am destined to have a mommy-figure post baby, right? I admit that I am nervous about my expanding bust and mid-section.

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Eating Cake and Other Happenings

2011-04-27T19:04:00.003-05:00

"Gender Party Reveal"

Revealing the gender to my parents needed to be an event. After all, this is the FIRST grandbaby they will ever hold. As Scott and I let the word “Boy” soak into our head, we began to plan a small dessert party for our parents and siblings that very Saturday. Little did they know, the cake they would be eating would be color coded-pink for girl or blue for boy.

Poppa-to-Be with Grandparents-to-Be

As they arrived, they could see a chocolate cake sitting on the table. The plates and napkins didn’t give it away as we used pink, blue and green. My momma showed up with both a pink gift bag and a blue gift bag in hand. She’s always prepared. At our request, both Scott's mom and my mom took a hold of the cake knife. We told them the inside of the cake would reveal the gender of the newest edition to the family. Both of our fathers leaned in close to get a view. My sister-in-law was on her tippy toes trying to see what the cake would reveal. As the thick chocolate icing parted, a blue angel food cake was revealed. Gasps and squeals filled the air as smiles were on every face.

The cake is cut!

Momma promptly handed me the blue bag and Baby P (with my help) opened his first gift! He got a cute little hat that will come in handy during the summer months as well as an adorable little sleeper. Scott’s dad quickly headed back to a wedding reception happening nearby to tell the North Posey football coach that there would be two Fisher boys coming through the high school football program in the years to come. Images of our little boy zooming through our yard on a little 4-wheeler filled all our heads.

It's a BOY!!!

After the cake was devoured and final rounds of “Congratulations” were spoken, our families headed off. Scott and I were finally able to relax knowing that our secret was out. While my family has zero experience with little boys, it’s safe to say they were all very excited with our reveal.

Besides revealing the gender of our baby, we are enjoying week 19 with the little one. It’s hard to believe we are 1 week away from being ½ way through this experience. My hunger has kicked up a notch, so much so that one day this week I ate my girlfriend’s lunch. You know you have a true friend in someone when they give you their lunch because they know you are starving and that you already consumed your own. (She had plans to eat out that day anyway)

I am still in my own clothes! Sure there are a few tops that I’ve had to retire because for some unknown reason they look like midriff tops on me, but for the most part I am wearing 90% of my pre-pregnancy clothing. So, if I make it one more week without having to breakdown and start wearing the maternity clothes, I’ll be pretty dang pleased with myself.

19 week and growing!

Whooo…..Whooo…goes the night owl that lives in my stomach. It’s true. This baby sleeps on and off throughout the day, but come night fall he is ready to party. The other night as Scott and I were in bed, I couldn’t quit laughing because Baby P was running in place. Scott has been lucky enough to feel him move quite a bit. I love that he is able to experience that. Most of the time, it is a jab here and jab there, but other times it feels like the baby is trying to launch himself straight out of my stomach. It’s such a bizarre feeling and I know I am going to miss it when P is in my arms and out of my belly. But, no need to think about that yet, right?

And the worst part of our week…during our anatomy scan, the color of P’s intestines were enough to cause some alarm in our Perinatologist. She gave us the rundown of what it could mean, none of which were positive. Scott and I are very pragmatic people and if there is a chance of issues arising in the future, we want to have as much knowledge and be prepared for whatever may come. With that being said, when she said the only way to know for sure what we were looking at was to have an amniocentesis performed, Scott and I looked at each other and said let’s do it.

The nurse quickly prepped me for the needle and with my arm covering my eyes, they began removing fluid. The needle didn’t hurt really bad, but it did feel like I was pulling a muscle in my stomach which was a weird sensation. Later that night Scott and I confessed to one another that we prayed harder during that 10-15 minutes then we had ever prayed in our lives. The nurse told Scott that his wife was pretty tough because I didn’t even flinch when the needle went in. I overheard Scott tell her that I was stronger than him in more ways than one.

My view from above! Hello toes...

After it was over, they gave me orders to take it very easy over the next couple days. That night I took P’s blanket that his great-grandma made him and covered up with it on the couch. Scott and I were worried, upset, stressed, and basically at a loss. We already know that the two of us can handle anything that God throws at us, but we wish He would slow down with the road blocks.

Those couple days it took for the test results to come back felt like an eternity. When St. Mary’s number showed up on my cell phone during work one day, I didn’t know if I could answer it or not (of course I did!). As the nurse began to speak, all I could hear was that each and every test they ran came back negative. At the end, she confirmed that it was VERY good news and we had ourselves a chromosomally perfect little boy. My hands were shaking as I quickly called Scott.

Needless to say, it was a rough couple days, but we made it. Our baby made it.

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April 27

2011-04-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

In the beginning-Austin City Limits Festival 2007

Four years ago today, I met this blonde haired, blue eyed guy in cargo shorts. I was instantly drawn in by his cute smile, positive attitude, charming ways, funny stories and his hot body didn't hurt either. I would even swear I heard trumpets playing from the heavens above as his eyes locked with mine. He charmed me over coffee, took me out for pizza, and I never wanted the night to end. I gave him my number and drove away with my heart set on hearing from him in the near future.

Bonnaroo! 2008

Three years ago today, that same boy whisked me away to St. Louis for our year anniversary. We stayed at the Millennium which is one of my favorite hotels! We had a great view of Cardinal stadium and spent the weekend walking around the parks, zoo, shopping, and enjoying being together. As we cozied up in the room that evening, a knock came on our hotel door. There was a white jewelry box on a silver tray. Inside was a beautiful heart shaped diamond necklace. It was officially the best year of my life.

Two years ago today, Scott made reservations for us at the Red Geranium, in New Harmony, IN. When we arrived he wanted to go into the roofless church. I had never been there before and was happy to explore it. As we walked in a light mist started to fall. Scott and I walked under a grove of trees and started talking. A week earlier, Scott and I had been wrestling and he had broken a hair clip of mine. I didn't care, but he made a point of telling me he would get me a new one.

Yellowstone National Park 2009

Now, under the grove of trees, he says, "I have something for you." He pulled out a hair clip that looked exactly like the clip he had broken. I laughed and told him he didn't have to do that, but it was sweet of him. Then, he said, "I have something else for you." I figured it would be the 2nd clip because they always come in packs of 2! At that point, he got on one knee and said, "Kara Elizabeth, will you marry me?" The shock I felt at that moment was unlike anything I've ever experienced! I thought he was kidding! I stared at the very sparkly ring he was holding in front of him. I asked if he was kidding a few hundred times...at which point he asked if I was going to answer him. As I said "YES!" my arms wrapped around him and his around me. We laughed and maybe even shed a tear or 10. We eventually made it to dinner that night and even later he gave me the 2nd clip. Not only had he given me an amazing two years, but here was his promise for an amazing future as well.

Winter Park Colorado 2009

One year ago today, we were in full wedding mode as we were 3 months away from walking down the aisle in Grand Teton National Park. We revisited the Red Geranium and the roofless church, standing in the same spot we had stood in exactly 1 year prior. As we stood there reminiscing on the past 3 years, we couldn't believe not only how quickly time had passed, but how much life we had squeezed into 3 years. We talked about our future and dreamt of where we would be one year from that moment. We daydreamed about the events of our wedding day and couldn't wait to say our "I Do's."

Today….we are less than 20 weeks away from giving birth to our first child. The past 4 years have brought us together, shown us love like we have never known, joined our lives together forever in the most beautiful ceremony I've evern known, and created a new life. It's funny to think back to that first year anniversary. As he fastened the necklace around my neck, I couldn't imagine loving him more than I did at that very minute. Today, the love I have in my heart for him is immeasurable. I can remember exactly how I felt the moment I first saw him…as if my world stopped revolving and all that mattered was the smile on his face. Had you told me than that I was looking at the face of my future husband, father to my children, I would have laughed and wondered if I could be so lucky. Today, I can't imagine any other life than the one I live with him. I can not wait to see what the next 4 years will bring…

Grand Teton National Park 2010

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The GREAT Gender Reveal!!!!

2011-04-20T19:29:00.000-05:00

What started out as a normal appointment turned into anything but normal. I've told Scott there isn't any point in him taking off work to go to the appointments without an ultrasound because all that happens is I talk to the Dr. and the Dr. listens to the heartbeat. No big deal.

My sweet Momma refuses to let her baby (that would be me) attend a Dr. appointment solo, so she came with me. As the Dr. walked into the room, with excitement in her voice, she asked if we learned the gender of the baby yet. With a confused look on my face, my response was "no?" She then just looked at me and smiled. She then goes on to say that the results were on the blood test that I had recently taken. While she sat there with a smirk on her face, I asked, "Do you know what we're having?" And with a smile she said, "Yes!" I immediately told her not to tell me since Scott wasn't with me. There was no way I was going to know the gender of our baby before him.  She came up with the idea of writing it on piece of paper and sending that information home with me in a sealed envelope. That was a plan I was super excited about.

As she stepped out of the room, my mom looked at me with tears in her eyes and couldn't believe we were about to get this wonderful information.  My heart soared as I thought about our evening ahead and that we would know life altering information in such a short time. As the Dr. came back in with wide eyes, she said, "You are going to kill me." Turns out, the test results didn't have the gender listed as she had previously thought. She felt so bad for getting my hopes up that she said she would do an ultrasound immediately and I WOULD be going home with the gender results today.  Not one to argue, I was quickly on the u/s table with goo on my belly.

This was the first ultrasound my mother had seen in 30 years.  Needless to say, she was pretty impressed with the improvement in technology. She got to see her little grandbaby.  It was laying facedown so we got a great view of its perfect little spinal cord. You could see each vertebrate. Amazing! The baby was moving its little arms about and more tears sprang to mommas eyes as she watched the little one move around. The tech told us to turn our heads as she was traveling south and didn't want us to the babes goods.

She found what she was looking for, printed off a picture, and sent us on our way with a sealed envelope that said "Surprise" on the outside. Mom was as excited as I was and even though I knew she wished she could find out immediately what the picture revealed, she didn't even try to get me to open the envelope or let her sneak a peek. She's so good!

As I got in the car, I excitedly called Scott and told him I had our babes gender in my hands.  He couldn't believe the events that had just taken place and that the gender mystery would come to an end that very night. I think he may have hurried home quicker than ever before.

As I drove home, I said silent prayers that I wouldn't get in a wreck and the precious envelope would fly out the window. I made it home safe and sound and patiently waited for Scott to pull up. As he came in the door, we hugged and laughed and sat down on the couch. He jokingly asked if I wanted to wait a few more days. Then he ripped open the envelope and there it was....a picture of our PERFECT baby BOY!!!!!!!

Weekend Getaway to Brown County!!

2011-04-14T20:36:00.005-05:00

I mentioned to dear husband, "Husband, I really think we need to plan a getaway." And with that sentence, he booked us a weekend at the Cornerstone Inn, in Brown County! I was more than happy with that plan.

(Image courtesy of http://www.cornerstoneinn.com/)

I hadn't been to Brown County in years, so I was so excited to see the area. We left Friday afternoon and checked into the Cornerstone Inn about 8pm. Scott has a co-worker that recommended this Bed & Breakfast, so we had high expectations!! Upon our arrival, the friendly desk clerk told us there were evening snacks in the kitchen area. Not one to miss out on snacks, Scott and I headed downstairs to the kitchen area. We were greeted with brownies, Pumpkin cheesecake bars, and cookie bars. After snacking, we loaded up a plate with extra goodies for later, and headed to our room to check out our home for the next few days.

(Image courtesy of http://www.cornerstoneinn.com/)

Our room was a small walk from the Main Inn. It was a two story condo that was complete with a balcony, fireplace, and one of the most awesome beds I've ever seen. It had a small kitchen area and a gliding couch, yes, a gliding couch. I didn't even know they made couches that moved. Everything in the room was so new! The bathroom was breathtaking! The garden tub was so big that Scott and I could both lay down in it, side by side, and not be the slightest bit crowded. Yes, we tried it out. :)

Love this bed...

We were starving by this time (9pm) so we ventured out into the little town to find some dinner. We quickly noticed the streets were dead! As in, we had the entire place to ourself.

We stuck our head into various restaurants, but were continually greeted with a "closed" sign. We figured out it must be off-season for the touristy town because nothing was open at 9pm on a Friday night.

Luckily we stumbled upon a place called Harvest Moon. It was a pizza joint and the place was dead. They were still open, so we grabbed a table. The pizza was warm and filled our stomachs, but Scott made the comment that the pizza wasn't as good as my homeade pizza. Smart boy!!!

Happy & Relaxed parents to be!

The nice thing about our Bed and Breakfast is that it is within walking distance from everything! So after we finished eating, we had a nice little stroll back to our room. As we climbed into bed, we brought our plate full of snacks to bed with us. He knows how to keep his pregnant wife happy!

We slept in the next morning until about 9. The bed was so comfortable and sheets were some of the softest sheets we had ever slept in! They were so smooth and soft and it felt like sleeping on butter. We headed back to the main Inn to grab breakfast. We weren't disappointed with the biscuits and gravy, eggs, potatoes, and homemade sticky rolls. Everything tasted so good!!

We strolled through the town and looked in the cozy little shops. Some of the cottages were made of stone and covered in ivy. This gave the area a very fairytale like feel. I loved it! We stopped into a little coffee shop so Scott could get a drink. (Yes, I will admit that I took a few sips of the warm cup of happiness). It was here the barista (a middle-aged man) asked if I was pregnant! This was the first random person that has asked me! I was so excited that someone noticed my bump and didn’t think I was just pudgy! Scott said I should have told the man “no,” but I just couldn’t hide my excitement that someone noticed our baby!

After we explored the town, we headed to the state park to hike the trails. We did two different trails and ended up walking around 4 miles of somewhat steep terrain. It still looked very fall-ish, but the sun was out and it felt so good for us to be out in the fresh air. The park wasn't crowded so we had the trails to ourselves. After a few hours of exercise, we headed back to town to grab dinner.

We parked ourselves at the Big Woods Brewing Company. Who would have thought BBQ nachos would taste so delicious? It was a great dinner and Scott and I made sure to save room for the desserts that were sure to be waiting for us in the main inn. We weren't disappointed that evening as we saw the angel food cake, pecan pie squares, and cherry cheesecake. Scott recommeded we head back to the room for the evening, open up the balcony door to get some fresh air, start the fireplace, and find a movie on tv. Those were magic words to my ears.

Morning came to soon and Scott and I left the comfort of the softest sheets ever. Luckily the pancakes and breakfast casserole made the departure a little easier. We bid farewell to our weekend getaway and headed back to Evansville.

For those of you following along for the pregnancy updates, fret not, here is your update;

This week we are 17 weeks along. I can’t believe we are almost to the ½ way point!!! Scott and I are going to be changing diapers and listening to cooing noises before we know it. It’s so crazy because sometimes I don’t feel pregnant at all. The second trimester really is the “golden period.” I just feel like I’ve simply put on some weight, not that I am growing another human being. I’m not going to lie, I am absolutely loving this phase.

I’ve already started looking back on the first 17 weeks. So far, life as a pregnant girl hasn’t changed too many things. Obviously I have cut back on my caffeine. From 3-4 cups a week to a cup maybe every 2 weeks. I have also cut (as much as possible ) high fructose corn syrup out of our diet. This means reading the labels on everything from yogurt, BBQ sauce, fruit juice, and anything else you can imagine. While HFCS isn’t completely awful, one of the books I’ve been reading says we should steer clear of it. While I know it is impossible to completely cut it out, if there are items that we can easily replace that contain it, we go that route. I also know that there are a million different things that people say are good vs. bad while pregnant. For whatever reason, this is one of those things that I can easily abide by, so why not. Also, I’ve read that Aspartame isn’t exactly great for a fetus. So this means all of my flavored water drink mixes that I love so much have now been put on the top shelf until I birth this baby.

Between work, growing a baby, and weekend getaways, we are keeping ourselves pretty busy. This is such an exciting time in our lives and we are trying to soak in every moment!

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Pregnant and Happy

2011-04-05T19:55:00.003-05:00

The Fisher bump at 16 wks!

March 28 (16 wks) The funny thing about pregnancy is at the beginning, as you watch the fetus grow from the size of a poppy seed to an orange, those weeks pass so slowly. Maybe it’s because we just wanted to make it to the safety of the 2nd trimester or maybe it was because we were keeping Baby P a secret, but it seemed like every day just dragged by. Now, at 16 weeks, time is flying. I kind of wish it would slow down just a bit. I have begun feeling baby flutter about in my stomach. It's usually right after I eat and is comparable to feeling like I swallowed a little bird that's in there flapping its wings. It also feels like my stomach is the epicenter of a tiny earthquake and I feel little trembles that spread throughout my entire stomach. It’s awesome. A little strange at first…but I love it.

Thank goodness for belly bands, they may be the greatest invention ever! I wear one every day. I have a black one and a nude one. My tops are all still fitting like normal and since my pants are still able to be worn (with the help of the belly band), I have yet to dive into the world of maternity clothes. To the average stranger on the street, you would never know I was pregnant. To those that know me, I’ve got a round little belly. Thus far, I’ve put on about 8lbs. I have no idea if this is normal or not, but it’s all in my boobs and belly, so I’m ok with it.

We have had a blast telling people about the baby. After we had our 13 week appointment, we begun telling the world. I started with my girlfriends either giving them a call or seeing them in person. Some had noticed I had gotten a little rounder in the middle but others were completely shocked. We told Scott’s friends over dinner and they were fairly surprised as well. Everyone was so congratulatory and happy. I also announced via Facebook that we were expecting and loved watching the comments add up. By this point, we had already told both of our immediate families. They are all happy we are expanding our Fisher family.

My love/hate with food continues. I still don’t want anything to do with vegetables but will take a piece of fruit anyday/anytime. I still drink chocolate milk nightly. Sleeping has already become a small issue. I’ve heard friends say that your body starts preparing you to function on little sleep and I think that is where I’m at. I can fall asleep so easily, but it’s staying asleep that is the issue. I am averaging 1 bathroom break in the middle of the night. Aside from going to the bathroom, I am constantly rotating from side to side. I use to be a belly sleeper, but obviously that is out of the question at this point. I have a huge 4 ft long pillow that I’ve been sleeping with “man pillow” that I’ve been using to help me keep from unknowingly rolling onto my stomach at night. Scott thinks man pillow takes up most of the bed and threatens to kick out man pillow, but he knows better.

My co-workers have been great with the pregnancy and I love when they ask me how the baby is doing. I am trying to make an effort not to be one of those people that force their pregnancy/kids down the throat of others. But, if they ask me about it, then I feel like they are asking to hear me talk about it for next few minutes. :) I also don’t mind when people I know touch the baby bump! While some people may be weirded out about it, I don’t mind at all. Now, if some random person in Wal-Mart came up to me and touched the belly, then I might feel a little weird about that. But if I know you, feel free to pat the bump.

Our next appointment is April 7th. This is just a normal appointment and we will hear the heartbeat. Then the following week on April 12th is the big gender reveal. I have been saying this entire time, I think it’s a boy. My reasons; I haven’t been that nauseous. When I hear about other people and their morning sickness, mine was a piece of cake compared to theirs. And since the old wives tale says girls cause nausea, I am thinking I have me a bundle of boy in there. AND…I have begun having dreams about baby. As in I have seen and held our future baby boy. He is chubby as can be, has long blonde hair with a bit of curl, and the biggest blue eyes you’ve ever seen. Yes, I’m dreaming that baby looks like Scott did when he was little. Not sure if that means anything, but I just have a strong feeling that it is a boy!

Scott and I will be taking the baby on its first adventure to Florida over Thanksgiving. Yes, we are aware that taking a 2 month old on a plane may be less than relaxing, but the baby needs to learn to travel at some point. And, since the baby is going to be spending time in Florida every year for probably at least the next 18 years, it might as well get used to the area. We are so excited about that vacation!!

In the meantime, we have plans to spend the upcoming weekend in Brown County at a sweet little bed and breakfast. We are going to spend some time hiking in the state park, maybe do some canoeing depending on the weather, and overall relaxing! Other plans for this summer include a surprise getaway weekend for Scotts birthday. I have something super cool planned for him, but I am not telling him where we are going or what we are doing until the night before we leave. Once August 6th hits, we will be remaining in Vanderburgh County for the rest of my pregnancy. I would hate to start having contractions anywhere outside the tri-state area.

And that catches you up with the Fisher family of 2 ½ .

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Unsolicited Advice, It has Begun...

2011-03-31T13:49:00.001-05:00

As Obama would say..."Let me be Clear...."

I welcome pregnancy stories and advice from friends and family. I welcome pregnancy stories and advice from other females that have experienced the joys of pregnancy. I enjoy reading blogs containing advice from people I have never laid eyes on that relate to pregnancy and child birth. I do NOT welcome unsolicited advice from random 68 year old men that I do not have any sort of personal relationship with.

The unsolicited advice has begun....see my conversation mentioned above with the Old Man (OM).

OM: (Walks into my cube and says) When is your next trip out of the country?

K: (smiling) My husband and I are expecting and don't have plans to leave the country until after the baby is born.

OM: I hope you aren't putting off international travel because of your pregnancy?

K: (Still smiling) I don't think flying 8 hours sounds like a relaxing time, so I would rather wait until after the baby is born before traveling internationally.

OM: Well I think it's sad your letting pregnancy be an excuse to not travel.

K: (No longer smiling) I didn't say we weren't traveling…just not traveling outside the country. Have you sat 8 hours in a plane while being pregnant?

OM: I just can't believe you are letting pregnancy decide your travel plans.

My bewildered look caused OM to turn and walk away. Not once did he congratulate us, nor did he say anything positive about the wonderful miracle taking place inside my body. Instead, he played the part of a grumpy old man who has a negative outlook on life. Wow...why in the world would he feel compelled to "share" his thoughts/feelings on traveling while pregnant with me? Unless he was a woman in his earlier years, I'm not sure how or why he feels qualified to "share."

Now that my blood pressure has lowered, I can look at the conversation and smile while shaking my head. Let's hope OM doesn't decide to grace me with anymore of his wisdom over the next 5 months!

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Belly Bands, Baby Pictures and Lack of Caffine

2011-03-30T20:42:00.001-05:00

One of the greatest inventions EVER! The belly band.
(Image from Google)

March 7 (13 wks) Today is the first day I am actually wearing my belly band. Yes, I’ve made it 13 weeks wearing my normal pants, but no longer. Happily, the belly band continues to allow me to wear my very own pants which is comforting. Now I just have to make sure my tops are all long enough to cover the belly band so people don’t suspect. We’ve had 2 appointments since I last blogged. The first was another ultrasound where we got to see our precious peach sized baby. The heartbeat is great and baby is a very wiggly little thing. We were able to see that baby P has very long (and skinny) arms and legs which is a little odd since Scott and I are relatively shorter people. I also had blood drawn for the sequential blood screening. I didn’t pass out.

Look at the lips on our baby @ 12wks! A little Angelina Jolie??

At our second appointment, they were just going to listen to the heartbeat and make sure I was doing ok, so I told Scott he could sit this appointment out. My momma however wasn’t about to let her baby go to an appointment without someone to lean on. So off momma and I went to my appointment and for the first time ever, she got to hear her grandbabies heartbeat. She also got to meet my Dr.

I’m feeling pretty good 90% of the time. There are still some foods that sound awful to me (anything green except for salad) and I crave burgers and chocolate. I have purchased a few tops in bigger sizes that can hopefully cover my growing belly. I’ve been sleeping pretty good at night which is awesome. Scott continues to play the part of wonderful husband/father to be. He loves rubbing my stomach and talking to our little baby. I get to see a side of him that is completely new to me and I love it.

Baby P chilling with legs propped up on my uterus. He/She looks pretty
comfy in there....

I have given up my white chocolate mocha’s at Starbucks for caffeine free beverages. I’ve also given up the idea of skydiving this summer. The things a pregnant girl must give up… :) Things Scott and I won't be giving up...traveling, camping, and various other activities that we enjoy throughout the summer months. Yes, this summer I will be the pregnant girl in a bikini at the river. I can't wait. :)

(This delicious image is from Google)

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Narcolepsy, A Side Effect of Pregnancy

2011-03-22T20:29:00.000-05:00

Cat Nap? Yes Please!! (Image courtsey of Google)

February 23 (11wks) My clothes still fit for the most part which is nice. I did already buy a belly band which will allow me to continue to wear most my pants without zipping/buttoning them. It’s a little bit weird to think about walking around work with my pants undone, but the belly band will keep anything from showing and my pants from falling down. My exhaustion has mostly passed which is nice. If you haven’t been pregnant, let me explain pregnancy exhaustion. During the day, it’s not that I think, “Man I’m tired…wish I could take a nap.” It’s more along the lines of, “Must find somewhere to lay head…eyelids closing.” Now I don’t feel quite so narcoleptic, I just feel I’d like to catch a quick cat nap here and there.

Now my nausea on the other hand, it hasn’t quite let up. While I have made it almost through the first trimester without puking, there have been many times I felt the chunks rising up in my throat. So instead of feeling like a narcoleptic that’s constantly ready to sleep and puke, I just feel a little queasy in the stomach. I can handle that! This week, egg salad is high on my list of foods that sound and taste wonderful.

We have managed to keep Baby P a secret from everyone but my parents (and my dentist and the x-ray lady at the airport) thus far. It’s a huge secret to keep, but Scott feels very strongly about waiting to our appointment at 13 weeks. Only 2 weeks away and we can let the world know about this precious lime sized baby. My dad has already asked if he could hold the baby in our family Christmas card picture. Should I be concerned that my child could possibly be kidnapped by its own grandfather?

Last week, we did experience some light spotting that was mildly stressing. Ok, it was more than mildly stressing, it became so mind consuming that I couldn’t focus on anything else. I called the Dr. and she assured me that as long as it was light and there weren’t stomach pains accompanying the spotting, I shouldn’t worry about a thing. Maybe I just needed some relaxation or maybe Baby P just wanted to hear the smooth voice of Kenny Rogers, but after a weekend at French Lick with some of my girls and a Kenny Rogers concert, the spotting completely stopped and everything seems fine. I did read somewhere that sometimes spotting is sign that the body is adjusting for twins. While there was only one visible babe in the ultrasound, is it possible another one was hiding somewhere…hmm…. To be continued…

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Our baby looks like a Gummy Bear

2011-03-22T20:20:00.001-05:00

Baby P at 8 wks 4 days

February 15 (10 weeks)- Scott and I had our first Drs. Appointment last week and we got to see little P! If I had to compare it something, I would say it looked like a gummy bear with little nubkin arms and legs. No, it didn’t have ears like a gummy bear, but everything else looked very gummy bear-ish. The heartbeat was strong, 170-something beats per minute. The little arms also looked like P may be taking a boxing class. I was just so happy to see a healthy looking baby and hear a healthy heartbeat. Our u/s tech was so nice and caring. It was a relief to have the appointment go so well. While it was a relief, it is so hard to just let all the worries go out the door. There are still a million more things that are going to happen to this baby before P is ready to come into the world. Fingers crossed and with a dose of faith, those million things will go smoothly!!!

P continues to dominant areas of my life such as what I eat and when I sleep. I can tell my clothes are already tighter than normal and I worry that people at work will think I am just letting myself go! It’s probably from P or it could be from the daily bagel and cream cheese I had while on vacation? I am trying to get out and walk every day that the weather lets me. I also got a good dose of exercise while in Tahoe, and that felt great! I did break down and buy a Belly-band to wear around my pants when the time comes. I am going to try and hold off as long as I can before wearing it though. I don’t know when other ladies with bumps switch to belly-banding her pants but 10 weeks just seems too early for this girl!

Our next appointment is March 7. They won’t be doing an u/s unless we request it, so we won’t get to see our little gummy bear again for awhile. In other news, one of our groomsmen called and told Scott his wife was expecting September 8! That’s 4 days before our due date! I was wondering if there was going to be someone that was due around the same time we are. I like to know there will be someone else going through this experience at the same time I am.

I am feeling pretty good (besides the pudgy factor). Morning sickness was never an issue, but evening sickness has become a regular in my life. Right around 5pm, I will get so hungry, yet nothing sounds good and the thought of food makes me want to vomit. It’s the strangest/ickiest feeling ever. I am good about making myself eat and I have yet to throw up. But still, it’s just an awful feeling that I look forward to putting behind me!

P’s favorite things; Juice, chocolate milk, grapes, sugar free crème wafers.

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What do a dentist and airport security have in common?

2011-03-16T20:06:00.001-05:00

Well hello bump of 9 weeks!

February 8 (9 weeks)-While pregnant, do not let your dentist x-ray your teeth. This is how my dentist became the second person to know I was pregnant. Also, at the airport, do not let them put you in the x-ray machine. This is how a nice airport security woman became the 3^rd person to know I was pregnant.

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Cravings of a Pregnant Girl

2011-03-16T19:31:00.000-05:00

January 27-I am officially over roast beef sandwiches. As in, I never want to see one again. Nothing against you Arby's, you've been very good to us. But it's time to move on.

Root Beer however sounds wonderful. Now where to find a root beer float....

Food & Sleep! These are a few of my favorite things!

2011-03-16T19:22:00.001-05:00

January 26 (7 weeks)- After craving a Strom-B-Que from Kipplees for the last half of the day, my sweet husband took me on an impromptu dinner date. After we got home about 6:30, I wanted to read the newest copy of Allure, baby wanted me to sleep. Baby won. I slept on the couch from 6:30-9:45. Husband tried to carry me to bed, but I had to be let down to pee. We crawled into bed and I slept ever so soundly until 6:45 the next morning. My husband now refers to me as the beautiful Sleeperella.

Thank you Google for the image

A few of babies favorite activities; Sleeping; Eating; Frequent trips to the bathroom.

Babies favorite foods; Salad, roast beef sandwiches, combos, and a Nestle Crunch Bar. I keep thinking about shrimp cocktail, but probably won’t let baby have that.

If this baby is this demanding at 7 weeks, I can't imagine what it will be like when Baby P is 2 years old and crawling all over!

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6 Weeks in and Having Cravings!

2011-03-16T19:14:00.001-05:00

My 6 week old bump!

January 18 - The baby threw its first fit today. For the past 24 hours I have had a roast beef sandwich on the brain. As it got closer to lunch, my homemade chili sounded less appealing and I knew I must have an Arby’s Beef & Cheddar. As I was placing my order, Baby P threw a huge tantrum demanding I send down a chocolate milk shake with the Beef & Cheddar. This child already has me wrapped because I quickly ordered a small chocolate milk shake. Baby gets what baby wants.

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A little postive = BIG changes!!

2011-03-16T18:55:00.000-05:00

1/6/2011

There was absolutely no reason for me to think I wouldn’t start my period. I went through my day of moodiness which I chalked up as my impending monthly visitor. I felt a little bloated. So here I was, within a day of starting and I figured, why not just pee on a home pregnancy test (HPT). I had the test sitting there and I guess I just wanted to pee on it. So I did. Instantly, the pregnancy line came into view. I sat there and laughed. I thought I better get out of the bathroom and tell Scott that we were about to embark on a wild ride. He was fixing a hamburger and as he looked at my face, he said, “What’s wrong?” I told him he needed to come into the bathroom with me. He said hundreds of thoughts were running through his mind, but he had no idea I was about to show him a positive HPT. As his eyes saw the positive sign they quickly looked up into my eyes. With a giggle I said something along the lines of, “you know what that means, right?” He quickly forgot about his hamburger and we sat on the couch, hugging, laughing, and saying “Holy S%*T!”

As the night worn on and a stiff drink was made (for him, not me), we began living under the mantra “cautious optimism.” We were excited and wanted to tell everyone right then, but at the same time, this isn’t our first time around the block. We know how delicate the situation is and that our happiness can take a turn and spiral us into the opposite direction in a matter of minutes. While we aren’t ready to discuss the details of our previous downward spiral with the blogging world, it is an experience that we went through. It is an experience that had it not happened, we would not be expecting this little baby fish that is currently growing inside me. So what has this baby fish been up to? Currently at four weeks and 2 days, the baby is the size of an apple seed. The most precious apple seed in the world. This week the tiny little organs are starting to form and the heart will start beating. Amazing thinking all that is happening in something so tiny!

I feel amazing! I’ve noticed I’m hungrier than normal, but maybe that’s because it’s winter and my body is burning up that fuel trying to stay warm? I’ve also noticed my new cleavage! (So has Scott!) It’s amazing what a few weeks of pregnancy will do to an A cup! And believe it or not, I have tiniest of a baby bump. Scott can barely tell a difference, but I notice my swollen belly that feels a little firmer than normal. Knock on wood, thus far I haven’t been nauseous. And I’m a little sleepier than normal. Nothing drastic, but by the evening, I am ready to curl up on the couch with Scott and rest!

Our first appointment is scheduled for Feb. 8. At that time, we will have an ultra sound as well as our first appointment with our Dr. This appointment is critical. This is the appointment that will tell us if the baby currently has any visible issues with retaining water along the spine. We will also (hopefully) be able to hear the heartbeat which will become one of my favorite sounds in the world. On a side note, Scott and I have already named the baby. Regardless of its gender, its name will begin with the letter “P.” Going forward, we will refer to the baby as Baby P.

So, between Feb. 2-6, Scott and I have already booked a skiing trip to Tahoe. Yes, Scott and I have read every issue Drs have with downhill skiing while pregnant. However, we have decided that if I stay on the greens (beginner runs) only, my chance of falling is low to non-existent. I’m not an expert skier, but I can make my way down almost any blue (intermediate runs) without an issue, so I’m going to be cautious and stick to the greens. Now you are asking, “why risk it.” Simple. Scott and I are strong believers that if something is going to happen, it’s going to happen regardless of our attempts to avoid it. Up until now, Scott and I had always played by the rules, yet life still handed us a box of crap at one point. This time, we are leaning on a little faith, hope, and luck. Risky, yes, but it’s our decision and we are comfortable with it.

ps. The skiing trip was perfect and accident free! Read previous posts for a recap of the trip!

pss. This blog was actually written on 1/6/11, but we wanted to wait until we were safely out of the first trimester before letting the world in on our perfect little secret! Now that we are in the clear, let the baby blogs begin!

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French Lick and a dose of Kenny Rogers

2011-03-09T08:56:00.001-06:00

Why the photo of The Gambler? Read on to find out!

My first overnight away from the husband since our wedding had finally come upon us. Emily, Ashley and I headed to French Lick on a Saturday for girls night. We headed up mid-morning and arrived at French Lick right around lunchtime. After checking into our room at the hotel, one of the fabulous hotel workers offered to drive us to the winery for lunch. The best part of the drive was that he drove us in a Ford Model A.

Ashley and I sat in the jump seat while Emily took the passenger seat. I had never seen a jump seat before, much less sat in one. Our driver basically pulled open what I thought was the trunk to reveal a little bucket seat. Luckily, we were having an unseasonably warm day and the sun felt great on our sun starved faces.

Once we arrived at the winery, we happily dove into our pasta dishes. Emily hit the wine samples while Ashley and I let our food digest. We love coming to the winery and the food is so good!

Ash and I in the back of Model A

After lunch, it was back to the hotel to hit the spa. Ashley had a scrub which she loved so much that I am now convinced that I must have a scrub. Emily had a massage which left her relaxed and ready to nap. I decided to have my first manicure ever. Normally I chew on my fingers and pick my nails to the point that I never wanted to spend money on a manicure that I would promptly chew off (gross, I know). However, I am doing better about keeping my fingers out of my mouth so I figured I would reward myself with a manicure. I was so glad I did!

My manicurist started out massaging my arms with a pomegranate scrub. Oh my gosh...I never knew how good it could feel to have someone else use a body scrub on my forearms. I never wanted her to stop. After a quick rinse off she massaged pomegranate lotion into my arms. Once again, my toes were curled with delight. After all that pampering, she started working on my nails. I chose a pale pink color for my nails and before I knew it, I was under the dryer with pretty hands. A perfect hour of pampering.

I met up with Ashley and Emily and started getting ready for our evening. Since none of us are gamblers, you may ask what 3 girls would do at a casino? Kenny Rogers just happened to be performing at the French Lick casino that very night. Ashley's father was nice enough to score us really good seats in the 4th row. Now why you ask would 3 girls under the age of 40 have any desire to see Kenny Rogers....One reason..He's a legend!

The one, the only, Kenny Rogers

When he first walked on stage, I admit, I wouldn't have recognized him if I had passed him on the streets. I had an image in my head of what he looked like and he didn't look anything like that image. I'd heard about all the plastic surgery mishaps he had, so I guess I was expecting his face to look like a melted candle. I never would have looked at him and thought he had a botched face lift, but I also never would have looked at him and thought he was Kenny Rogers. But anyway, here he was in front of us and I was happy to see him.

I didn't expect to know many of his songs, so imagine my surprise when I actually did! Apparently some newer country artists cover his songs so I was able to sing along with a few. Kenny engaged the audience by joking how many men were in the audience on their own free will vs. how many of their wives made them come. A few of the songs he sang;
-Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition)
-The Gambler
-Daytime Friends
-Buy Me A Rose
-Lucille
-Islands In The Stream

At the end of the concert, he said he was too old to go hide behind the curtain and wait for us to applaud him for 3 minutes before coming out and singing a couple more songs. He told us what he was going to sing a couple more songs then he was going to walk off the stage and not come back. And that's what he did.

I was super impressed with his caliber of performance. He is truly a performer and he has a really good voice. After the concert was over, we headed to "Scoops" the ice cream parlor to have our night cap. Mine was in the form of a chocolate shake. I drifted off to sleep listening to Emily cry into her pillow as she watched the movie Titanic. I loved my time with my girls and Kenny Rogers.

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Hello Lake Tahoe!

2011-02-23T22:15:00.005-06:00

After a stress filled 24 hours worrying that 17 people would not be able to fly out of the mid-west during the snow storm of the century to our vacation destination of Lake Tahoe, we let out a collective cheer as the airplane carrying our crew ascended into the snow filled skies.

The group minus one guy who was face down on an air mattress

It was late by the time we all arrived at the house. I'm talking 1am kind of late. After a day of traveling in horrid weather, all this girl wanted to do was figure out which room was hers and crash. The home had 6 bedrooms, 4 of which had either a queen or king, the other 2 rooms had either 4 bunks or 2 queens. One of the single guys thought he should have his own room with a single bed because he thought/hoped he would romantically link his world with one of my single girlfriends. I had to inwardly chuckle when she told him, "Not a chance" at 3am and chose the room with 4 bunk beds that she would rather share with 3 other guys. He got the hint and went to the other room.

Tahoe hadn't received much snow in a few days and we were worried about the condition of the slopes. As our group piled into the rentals and made our way to Heavenly Ski Resort, we were more than happy with the conditions. Not only were the runs nicely groomed and had plenty of snow, we had blue skies and sunshine. Much better weather than we had been having back home.

It was my friend Kristen's second time on skis and Scott and I stayed with her to coach her along. She did amazing for being on a crazy big mountain and only having done this one other time. We were so proud of her and her upbeat attitude. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they react when rolling down a mountain and getting snow in their pants, face, etc. She stayed with us the entire day and made her way down every blue we led her down.

The views from the top of the mountain could not be beat. I've skiied from Switzerland to Italy, and every trail in Jackson Hole, but being surrounded by snow capped mountains with a crystal blue lake in the very center, shining like someone spilled thousands of diamonds in it is by far the most beautiful view I've ever had while skiing.

By the end of the day, we were all very happy to stop at Fire & Ice, a bar at the bottom of the mountain. They had these great outdoor fire pits that felt like perfection after a full day of skiing. We met up with the rest of our crew who had also spent the day soaring down the mountainside.

That evening the group set down and had a home cooked dinner together like family. It's pretty humorous to shove 17 people in a house and see what happens. Some of us knew each other pretty well, others were meeting for the first time. That night we ventured out into the nightlife of Lake Tahoe. None of us are gamblers, so our options were really limited. When I say really limited, I mean after we spent a little time in two different casinos, Scott and I were ready to call it a night.

Day two on the slopes was a little windier than day one, but having the sun shine down on your face can make just about anything seem close to perfect. It was a little cloudier, but the view was still perfect. I would find myself stopping while skiing because I wanetd to take in the views. The mountain wasn't crowded, mostly due to skiing on a Thursday and Friday and avoiding the weekend crowd. Scott and I skiied by ourselves for half the day. We skiied from California to Nevada which just sounds fun to say (or type). Watching him ski is so amazing because he does it so effortlessly while flying so quickly down the mountain, he's almost a blur. I love to watch him.

We met up with the group and the girls and I headed off to ski at a slower pace than the boys. It's always fun to ski with the girls because there is never a competition as to who can ski down the mountain the fastest or who can knock the other girl over. That's just the difference between guys and girls I guess.

At the end of the day, it was back to Fire & Ice to soak in a little heat from the fire pit. Back home Scott and I decided to head out into town and grab pizza at a local place. This is one of those times when the "group think" mentality made me want to jump off a mountain. We had 4 rental cars and 17 people. The group was planning on cooking dinner and hanging around the house until later that night. So, Scott and I were going to take a car to grab dinner, then come home afterwards. We announced we were going to go, and some people said they wanted to go, but they wouldn't be ready for a while. We had some people say that they wanted pizza, but they didn't want to go, so could we bring it back? And there was one in our group that had severe food allergies (not kidding) so he couldn't have pizza and wanted to go somewhere else.

Poor Scott being the people pleaser that he is, tried to figure out a way to accomodate everyone. I, on the other hand, not being a people pleaser thinks everyone else should put on their big boy/girl panties and take care of themselves. I announced the car was rolling out in X-minutes, we were going to X-place, and people could either come or go. That's how you have to make decisions in a large crowd. It ended up being Scott, myself and our frined James. James has accompanied us on every ski trip Scott and I have taken together. I adore James and last year when Scott and I had to share a room with one of the other guys, I picked James to share our room. He's just one of those guys that is so incredibly easy to get along with and he is kind and considerate.

We asked a local where the best pizza place was and she told us about a place called the Blue Dog. Atleast I think that is what it was called. Anyway, we walk in and the first person I see is a very old friend (I'm talking from 10 years ago) that I used to go dancing with in Wyoming. My brain couldn't decide if it was her or not, so when I was close enough, I said her name and low and behold she turned around. How bizarre that out of all the bars in the world, I walked into the one with an old friend. It was so great to see her and catch up. Old friends bring back great memories.

The pizza was amazing and before we knew it we were back at the house. The group got a game of "Things" going, which turned out pretty crude and hilarious. That's what happens when you get a group of crazy kids playing a game and a pint of whisky is involved. Some of the crew wanted to go out after that, I wanted to curl up in bed and read a book. So that is what I did.

Day 3. My body refused another day of skiing. Being in Southern Indiana, I don't get a chance to use my ski muscles very often. So after 2 days of strenuous use, I was ready to call it good. A large group actually decided to do the same and we went sightseeing. We drove down to the beach and walked out to the lake. The view was breathtaking. The cold air blowing off the lake was also breathtaking. We got some great pictures and spent a little time hanging out in bar on the beach. Numerous times throughout the day my body thanked me for not making it go skiing again.

That evening we settled in for our final home cooked group dinner. By this point everyone was pretty worn out and not ready to go home. One of the guys realized about 9pm that he hadn't bought his wife anything, so off he went to do some shopping. Lucky for him he found something she ended up loving. Another round of "Things" was played and with that, it was time to pack up our bags and get ready for an early start the following day.

There was a beautiful sunrise over the lake as we drove to the airport the next morning. It was SuperBowl Sunday and a lot of travelers were sporting their jersey's. As we landed in St. Louis, we stopped in TGI Friday's to have dinner and watch some of the game. Another ice storm was hitting the mid-west, so we headed home after finishing our meal. It wasn't until about 10:30 that Scott and I walked in our back door and collapsed.

Overall it was a great ski trip; the house we stayed in was good, we had amazing weather, ski conditions weren't anything to complain about, and we had our own bedroom. Next time, there are a few changes we will probably make prior to signing up for a group trip. Possible couples only (excluding my friend Kristen because she's awsome) because otherwise they complain (daily) they should have a single room over one of the couples, not joining a group larger than 8 because it is too chaotic when trying to figure out lodging/rental cars, etc., and taking an additional day off when we return home so we can recoup prior to returning to work.

Until our next vacation, where ever that may be ...

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Storm of the Century

2011-02-01T14:24:00.001-06:00

As the mid-west gets rocked by blizzard-like conditions, our group of 15 continues to search for a flight out of town. Tahoe-bound...we wish.

Pity Party for One

2011-01-20T14:39:00.001-06:00

It’s official, I am pitiful. What started out as a scratchy throat on Monday has turned into some sort of full blown crud. For the past two nights, my dear husband has been kept awake by my coughing, sneezing, gagging, tossing and turning. Breathing through my nose has become impossible, so I have become a mouth breather. Last night a hot shower didn’t clear me up, nor did the humidifier, nor did Vicks. My husband said he was going to pick up a neti pot after work. I’ve never used one, so it should be interesting. Tomorrow I have already decided to take the day off and rest. That’s one thing I know I haven’t been getting enough of this week. It’s just so hard to sleep when you can’t breathe.

This is a Neti Pot. I will call ours Auntie Nettie

In brighter news, we have a vacation coming up! Scott and I are headed to Lake Tahoe next month on our annual ski trip. This year there are about 15 people going. I’ve never skied Tahoe so I’m pretty excited to try out the runs.

And last but not least, the dear husband that I have been keeping up at night with my coughing, sneezing, gagging, etc., I also rear-ended his truck the other day with my car. As we were veering onto a highway, I thought he was on his gas, however, he was not. I ended up on his bumper. More damage to my car than his, but I should be thankful it wasn’t worse. Scott’s just thankful that I don’t follow him in a separate vehicle more often.

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Marry Me Today and Every Day

2011-01-12T09:49:00.002-06:00

Music has the amazing ability to stir up an old memory, put goose bumps on your arms, or maybe even bring a tear to your eye. Recently while driving home from work, I had that very thing happen. I had never heard the song before, but it basically summed up the story of a guy and girl that met in a café. Sounds like the story of a guy named Scott and a girl named Kara to me. Here’s the song;

Forever can never be long enough for me

Feel like I've had long enough with you

Forget the world now we won't let them see

But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted

Love has surely shifted my way

Marry Me

Today and every day

Marry Me

If I ever get the nerve to say

Hello in this cafe

Say you will

Say you will

Together can never be close enough for me

Feel like I am close enough to you

You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love

And you're beautiful

Now that the wait is over

And love and has finally shown her my way

Marry me

Today and every day

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe

Say you will

Say you will

Promise me

You'll always be

Happy by my side

I promise to

Sing to you

When all the music dies

And marry me

Today and everyday

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe

Say you will

Say you will

Marry me

As most of you know, Scott (thankfully) had the nerve to say hello in that cafe. He even bought my coffee that life altering day. It’s been almost six months since our wedding and I still want to marry him every day.

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Bucket List for 2011

2011-01-02T12:39:00.004-06:00

New Years bring a clean slate, a chance to start anew with limitless possibilities.   This list is in no particular order nor is it an all encompassing list. Its purpose is to be a reminder that it's the little moments throughout the year that make for a memorable one.  I hope this list inspires you to make the most of your little moments. Happy 2011!

1.   Take a class.
2.   Travel to 6-12 of the various state parks in Indiana.
3.   Visit 1 of the 3 states I haven't been to.
4.   Spend our 1 year wedding anniversary outside the continental United States.
5.   Camp on the sand bar.
6.   Finish renovating 2 more rooms in our home.
7.   Blog at least once a month.
8.   Get serious about writing my book and WRITE!
9.   Paint more.
10. Finish our wedding album.
11. Finish our 2007 photo album.
12. Throw at least 1 awesome dinner party.
13. Complete the ancestry section of our family Bible.
14. Pray more.
15. Spend more time in our garden.
16. Send a card/letter once a month to someone I'm thinking of.
17. Bake cookies for the homeless shelter.
18. Volunteer.
19. Take a nap in our hammock.
20. Take more photos.

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2010-Our Year End Review

2010-12-31T13:31:00.005-06:00

January-Our annual ski trip took 15 friends to Park City, Utah! We had record snowfalls that resulted in a couple great days of skiing. We spent the 3rd day driving snowmobiles in blizzard like conditions and outrunning avalanches!

February-A fabulous photographer and even more fabulous person, Nicole Neff, took our engagement photos! What better place to have photos of two snow loving people than on the slopes of Paoli Peaks! After a day of skiing, we changed out of our ski gear and had Nicole snap shot after shot. I have to say rosy cheeks are a good look in photos! Happy Engagement indeed!

March-I ran my first race! Years ago, for some reason I told Scott I wanted to run in a race. He became my trainer as we prepared for my first 7k. I know that isn’t much, but when you’re a girl who has only ran to escape wildlife, running a 7k is a feat! Scott was with me step by step. I felt so great (and exhausted) as we crossed the finish line together!

April-After a visit from the Easter Bunny, Scott and I headed to St. Louis to spend the weekend with friends. We attended the longest Cardinals game in the history of all Cardinal games. By the 20th inning, we were done! We also attended a Super Cross event which I really enjoy!!! Who knew watching a motorcycle race could be so entertaining?

May-This month brought lots of wedding activities! I had the most perfect and beautiful bridal shower at Rhea’s house. My beautiful bridesmaids did a wonderful job and I was so happy to have the people I care about all together. Scott and I took a quick trip to Cincinnati to help our friend Michelle move back to Evansville. Mom, Rhea & I packed our bags and headed to VEGAS!!! We took in all the sights, saw “O,” shopped till we dropped, and visited a club or two.

June-We loaded up Hotel Tacoma and headed to Bonnaroo!! Kenneth and Michelle joined us and despite the heat, we had a fabulous time! We learned that KOL isn't that great live, but Jay-Z and Stevie Wonder are amazing performers! This year, Blazing Saddles beat out Jackie's Oar House and took the first place trophy at the annual Dragon Boats on the Ohio event. This month was also my final dress fitting! The next time I put the dress on, it will be our wedding day!!!!

July-The Hemenway's headed to Jackson Hole, our favorite place on earth! Scott and his boys met us out there shortly after. We spent the week hiking through the Tetons, Yellowstone, and throwing a fabulous rehearsal dinner. That Friday, 7/16/2010, Scott and I got married!!!! I'm sure I'm a little biased, but it was the most beautiful, personalized, relaxed, fun wedding I have EVER been to! The most important thing, our friends and family were there to celebrate with us.

August-I officially moved my belongings into "our" home!!! The month was spent setteling in as man and wife and celebrating our first month of marriage. Scott also took a new job! Nothing like throwing a couple life changing events in a few short months!

September-My birthday!! Scott and my family helped celebrate my 30th birthday with a week of events. We also headed to Missouri to enjoy a long weekend of camping and floating down the Huzzah.

October-A month of visits to the Dr. and unexplainable medical issues. The worst month of the year (or our lives) by far. Also the point where Scott and I realized the fragility of life and that anything can happen. I also realized (yet again) that I married a very supportive and loving man.

November-Scott surprised me with a much needed weekend getaway to Nashville! We watched Ben Folds play with the Nashville Symphony. It was beautiful!!! Mom and I also headed to Indy for a little girl time and shopping. We celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving with our families and gave thanks for everything we have.

December-Merry Christmas!!! A month of good food, wrapping paper, and ribbons flew by. Scott and I cut down our Christmas tree and spent our first Christmas as husband and wife.  We plan on bringing in the new year dressed as a 1930's showgirl and her professional chess player of a boyfriend. Pictures to be posted soon!

Good-bye 2010! You have been an incredible year that will be remembered in a variety of ways. We look forward to meeting 2011 and seeing all the happiness and excitment it has in store for us. To all of our friends and family, we love and appreciate each of you.  Thank you for joining us on the ride of our lives in 2010. We look forward to spending time in the new year with you. May we each have the health, happiness and love that we each deserve!  Until next year...
Love, The Fishers

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Hooray for Boobies!!

2010-12-06T21:25:00.002-06:00

Today I had the opportunity to have my first mammogram. For those not of the female species, a mammogram is a digital or x-ray picture of the breast to check for breast cancer. Here's how my mammogram went;

Nurse: Hi Kara, go ahead and remove your top and bra. Please put this gown on leaving your chest area uncovered.
Me: Ok
Nurse: Do you have small ones?
Me: Yes
Nurse: How many?
Me: Wait, what did you ask me?
Nurse: Do you have any kids?
Me: Oh! No I don't. I thought you were asking about something else.
Not kidding. I turned 3 lovely shades of red and didn't say much the rest of the time.

An Abundance of Thanks

2010-12-02T21:07:00.000-06:00

Waking up on Thanksgiving morning, a sleepy smile could be found on my face. We were lucky enough to sleep in a few hours before beginning the festivities. Scott and I had been up until midnight the night before baking and preparing dishes for Thanksgiving lunch and dinner. My pumpkin roll which typically looks less than edible turned out perfectly for the first time ever.

As we drove the 45 minutes to my parent’s house in Boonville, Scott and I took the opportunity to reminisce on our past four months of marriage. Our wedding day and week to follow will forever be one of the highest points in our life. In the couple months that followed, we hit the opposite end of the spectrum as we dealt with medical issues and a loss. We weathered the ups and downs and came out more educated on topics we wish we weren’t. We leaned and supported one another and learned that time and love is the best medicine for pain. I am thankful to have this husband that can provide for me in all ways; mentally, physically, and emotionally.

As we arrived at my parents, we were greeted with hugs and kisses. Both Scott and I are very lucky to have been raised in homes with a loving and supportive mom and dad. At the age of 30, we are still able to go in our childhood homes and be welcomed with open arms by both our parents. Those tight family bonds created the daughter, sister and wife I have become today.

It was a smaller gathering than normal as Rhea is at the other end of the world and gram and gramps are at my uncle's house. Even though my grandparents weren't seated at the table with us this year, they weren't far from my mind. I am so thankful for the minutes I am given with them. Growing up, it was my grandparents that took us to Florida every year. My grandmother would sit under an umbrella on the beach while my grandfather fished for dinner.

Every Sunday, we drove 45 minutes to Lincoln City to have lunch with them. As time passed and my grandparents became older, they moved to Boonville to live in an apartment close to my parent’s house. These days it’s mom that prepares the Sunday lunches that gram used to make. While I don't make it to lunch every Sunday, I stop in as often as I can. A few weeks ago as the fall leaves were at their peak, I was driving grandpa to church. As I drove down the road, I didn't push the gas pedal as hard as normal. If you know my grandpa, you understand why. He appreciates life more than anyone I've ever know. Every leaf, from the bright golden to the crumbled up brown, he comments on each of their beauty. I wanted him to have as much time on that bright, beautiful fall day to soak in the scenery. Hearing him talk about his appreciation for life and all things in it, makes me appreciate those same items even more. I could write another blog dedicated to those two precious grandparents of mine....they are my most valuable antiques ever.

Mom has never prepared a meal that was less than amazing and today was no different. The turkey, dressing, sweet potato fries, and corn...it was all perfect. I'm thankful that my family is able to cook such a meal and sit in a cozy home filled with memories and enjoy the feast. Some of my happiest memories seem to be surrounding the dinner table with my family. Adding Scott to this family and having him join us around the table only adds to my happiness.

All too quickly, the dinner dishes were cleared and leftovers were packed away. Scott and I hopped in the car and headed towards our next event at the Fisher family home. I am very thankful to have the in-laws I do. They warmly greeted Scott and me as we walked in. My mother-in-law quickly put a pot of coffee on while making me feel as though I've been a part of the family forever. I've always felt very welcome and comfortable in their home and am so thankful to have that relationship with them. My brother and sister-in-law as well as my adorable niece joined the party. Any meal that includes that little 3 year old is quite comical as you never know what she is going to say or do.

Surprisingly, Scott and I found room to add more food to our already full stomachs. As the sun set and the temperature dropped, ice and rain began to fall. Scott and I gave our thanks to his parents for having us over and cooking such a wonderful meal. Driving back home, his eyes on the road and my head on his shoulder, we continued our conversation from earlier.

We each have good jobs that allow us time off and a paycheck to spend on things we enjoy. We have family that loves and supports us and we enjoy spending time with them. We have friends that might as well be family because they also show us the same love and support. Finally, we have one another and a beautiful life laid out before us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween!!!

2010-10-28T21:17:00.001-05:00

Peter Peter

Pumpkin Eater

Who doesn't love couple costumes?

Here comes the Bride

2010-10-27T21:26:00.001-05:00

One by one, I watched as Scotts groomsmen took the bridesmaids outside and across the terrace. With mom and dad on either side of me, I began taking long, deep breaths. I had never been so excited and anxious in my life. I was ready to sprint across the lawn and see Scott. As quickly as the day had flown by, it felt like I hadn’t seen or talked to Scott in days.

Everything had come together. I was dressed with hair and make-up exactly the way I had hoped it would be. The groomsmen were all perfectly dressed down to their argyle socks, and my bridesmaids were glowing and looked as though they had stepped out of Brides Magazines. My parents each had an ecstatic expression on their face as our wedding planner told us it was our turn. With a final squeeze by both mom and dad, we walked outside into the beautiful sunshine.

I glanced up ahead and saw our wonderful guests turning to watch our entrance. I could see each of my bridesmaids smiling at me from their spot. Scott had his back to us, which I was thankful for. I wanted to be close enough to lock eyes with him when he finally saw me. Guests of the lodge lined the stairs down to the lawn and continued to murmur encouraging words and compliments. They were so nice and respectful of the event they were witnessing. I’m not sure if mom and dad were supporting me as we crossed the lawn, or I was supporting them. I had never been happier to have them on either side of me. I remember we laughed as we walked across the lawn, but to this day I can’t tell you what in the world we were laughing about. I could hear Phil and his guitar as we got closer, and the melody of Canon D filled my ears.

As we hit the scattered rose petals, Scott turned and finally, our eyes met. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I wanted to yell, “I’m here!!” But, clearly from the look in his eyes, he knew. I didn’t notice our guests as we walked down the aisle. All I could focus on was this beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed boy, waiting to marry me. As emotion was clear on his face, I felt my anxiousness melt away. I was instantly as relaxed as I was when I first woke up this morning. As my parents and I came to stop in front of our minister, Patricia, Scott and I couldn’t take our eyes off one another.

As Patricia asked who was giving me to Scott, my parents answered “We do.” After several hugs between my parents and Scott and I, I stepped up face to face with him as he took my hands. As Patricia began reading the words that Scott and I had carefully chosen over the past year, I felt as though I could burst with glee. In my mind, phrases like, “this is perfect” and “this is really happening” kept running though my mind.

As Scott began reading his handwritten vows, I fell in love with him all over again. It’s one thing to have someone tell you how they feel. But to be standing in a place that feels like pure magic, surrounded by the most important people in your life, and hearing words that fill every corner of your heart, it is the most unreal moment ever. I wanted to pause time. I also wanted to throw my arms around him and cover him in kisses. I figured there would be enough time for that later.

I sent up another quick prayer that my voice would not quiver as I began reading my vows to Scott. I spoke them with sureness like I had never spoken before. My mind will forever hold the image of Scott, taking in my lifetime of promises to him.

Rings were slid onto each of our fingers. We laughed throughout the ceremony, there were moments we both had tears in our eyes, and then it was our time to kiss. I wanted to ask Patricia if we could do it again, just because I enjoyed each second of the ceremony so much. Instead, I kissed my husband. As we pulled away, I am pretty sure I squealed in delight. I will have to watch the wedding video to find out for sure. After we went in for another quick kiss, we headed down the aisle towards our party.

Phil began playing “So Happy Together” by the Turtles. It was perfect. A waiter quickly served the wedding party mojitos. I figured that would be one drink that if spilled on my dress, wouldn’t be a big deal. Kisa quickly went to work getting group photos taken and photos of me and my husband. We walked to an area called Lunch Tree Hill. There are breathtaking views of the Tetons and a beautiful woodsy area that gives off a fairy-tale feel.

Our guests enjoyed music by Phil as cocktail hour went into full swing. Hor’dourves were passed and within 45 minutes, Scott and I were ready to join the party. His brother Sean did a fantastic job announcing the wedding party as we walked in. Scott and I went straight into our first dance. It was “You are the Best Thing,” by Ray Lamontagne. Scott and I first heard this song the previous summer while on a road trip. It’s not a typical slow and sappy song, but a more upbeat lively tune. We instantly agreed it would be the perfect first dance song.

During our dance, it was the first time Scott and I were able to really talk about everything that had happened thus far. I learned Scott had slept in his truck the night before as there were too many people in the hotel room and he knew he wouldn’t get any sleep if he stayed there. I also learned that his groomsman Daniel had taken the spot of his personal assistant for the day, ironing Scott’s clothes and cutting his hair. (Thank you Daniel!)

Scott and I both laughed that we had pulled everything off. We couldn’t believe that we were already finishing up our first dance and getting ready to eat. As we made our way through the food line, I was so happy I could barely touch my food! Every step I took was another familiar face that I wanted to speak with and thank for coming. As Scott and I were seated with our food, my cousin Roger gave the blessing. He spoke of accomplishing everything you set out to accomplish. It was a perfect prayer and I don’t think I could have squeezed Scott’s hand any tighter. The little bit of food I was able to eat tasted amazing!

As we finished dinner, the toasts began. My sister gave a wonderful speech about the love Scott and I have for one another. Sean gave a speech about the dependability of my husband and that he will forever be devoted. Poppa finished out the speeches by thanking everyone for coming. We couldn’t thank our guests enough.

Dad and I went into our dance, “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. I can’t remember the last time I slow danced with my father, but this time I will never forget. He seemed to be having a ball and I can’t remember the last time I had seen him so happy. Our song was over too quickly. Scott and his mom took the floor next and danced to “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel. I loved watching my husband dance with his mom.

As the night passed way too quickly, Scott and I quickly learned how to cut a wedding cake. As the banquet manager handed us the knife, I looked at Scott and asked how in the world do you cut this? He put his hand on mine and we just started slicing. We had agreed prior to the wedding there would be zero cake smashing on the face or up the nose. I’m happy to report we both followed that rule and ate sweetly from one another’s fork.

The bar was set up outside on the terrace, so our guests floated between the ballroom and the terrace. Phil continued playing some of Scott and my favorites. The dinner dishes were cleared, the cake was passed, and the coffee bar and dessert table were in full swing. Despite not being able to eat much dinner, I did manage to get a plate of smores soufflé drizzled in hot chocolate sauce and a cup of coffee.

Scott and I made an effort to stop at each reception table and speak to our guests. With 59 guests, it was easy to make time for each and every person. As Phil finished playing and the IPOD took over, the dance floor filled up as we did Rocky Top and other wedding favorites. Scott and I snuck outside to stand in the exact spot where hours ago we had said “I do.” We laughed and hugged and couldn’t get our minds around the fact that here we were, husband and wife. We looked at the mountains and gave thanks for all the happiness and love we were filled with. A couple of guests from the lodge walked over to Scott and I and said they had been married in the exact same spot 10 years before. They wished us a lifetime of happiness and wished we could spend our 10 year anniversary as they were currently doing.

As they walked away, Scott and I watched nightfall on the mountains and the elk started bugling. We headed back into the reception and slowly our guests were telling us good-bye and thanking us for the wonderful time. Scott and I were both in shock the day had passed so quickly! Tables were being cleared and the number of guests kept getting smaller and smaller. As Scott and I were heading out to find out wedding night suite, a game of pass the wine bottle broke out with some of the older crowd! Now that was a sight I’m sorry I missed!

I wouldn’t change a single detail about our day. Everyone said it would go by fast, and they were right. We were given very good advice to make time during the busiest part of the reception to sneak away and just be alone together, watching the events of the reception play out. We made sure not to lose touch of each other throughout the reception. We were side by side, eating, dancing, talking, and thanking our guests. After all, they came all that way to spend the day with Scott and I.

A few moments that will forever make me smile;

-The week before the wedding. I loved hiking with family and friends and showing them a place on this earth that I am absolutely in love with. I have no doubt they saw why the area is so special to Scott and I.

-My sister decided at the last minute to wrap Scott’s band in animal fur and carry it down the aisle. I thought it was a little weird, but whatever makes her happy.

-Scott and I discussed during the reception how lucky we are to have the friends and family we have. Not just anyone would travel 1500 to see a wedding. Each and every person that made the voyage did it because of the love they have for Scott and I. That is very touching and is something that will never be forgotten.

-Wedding vendors can make or break the wedding. We had absolutely WONDERFUL vendors. From my beautiful hair stylist friend Katie James that made the trip west, to our musician Phil Round, our minister Patricia Hatfield, our wedding planner Emily Claassen, our fun photographer Kisa Koenig, our hard working videographer Eusebio Romero, the staff at Jackson Lake Lodge…Everyone deserved a HUGE thank you. They helped make the day perfect.

-Scott and I had prepared for anything that could possibly go wrong. We were so prepared, that when small mishaps did happen, we barely flinched. I did not let stress come anywhere close to me on the day. I even heard from a couple vendors that I was one of the least-stressed brides they had ever seen. Mission accomplished.

-There are not a ton of events in life where people are genuinely happy. To see my parents dancing, Scott’s grandma dancing with a groomsman, to watch our friends interacting with one another and having a great time, and looking at the love of my life and knowing this entire day happened all because the two of us fell in love…it was as close to a perfect moment as there will ever be.