A BIRTH-day, Birthday and Anniversary

Monday morning I went to the hospital after contracting all through the night. By 8am I was so tired and miserable that I thought for sure something had to be going on. So, off to the hospital I went. After being put on the monitor and getting a bag of fluid it was chalked up to pre-labor and I was sent home and told to follow up in the office on Tuesday. 

SO... Tuesday I saw the doctor and after he checked me (I was still just one) he decided that because I was so miserable with back pain that I should probably go ahead with an induction since I was right at 39 weeks.  This was something that I really didn't want to do because after 2 inductions I decided that they were not my favorite thing to do and that I would have much rather labored at home and went in when the time was right. But doctors orders are doctors orders. 

Sometimes, we just have to listen to the little "pushes" that we get in life. I only prayed for a healthy baby and that God would place his hand on us. 

We got to the hospital Friday morning at 6am and they started on me right away. I was put on the monitor, checked (still only a 1) and the pitocin was started. I began the long process of laboring.... stuck in the bed... laboring. Dr. Brown came in and broke my water about 7 and then we waited... and waited .... and waited. 

OK, probably didn't wait that long but it seems like forever when you are hooked up to machines and you want to meet this little person that you have been "growing" for 9 months. 

8 hours later....

After pushing for 3 minutes, he entered the world.... nameless, but none the less, here. 

I love my doctor, he's so cool and calm and collected, but my experience in OB taught me that when the doctor starts talking to the nurses under his breath that something is out of the ordinary. Come to find out my sweet little boy had the cord wrapped around his neck 2 times. It was loose enough that it didn't cause him any distress but still .... scary to know. I keep thinking what would have happened had we waited. 

Eron and I have "debated" literally for months over a name. We thought that for sure we would have something figured out by the time that we had him. Well, 6 hours after he was born we still had NOTHING!! I am assuming that the more kids you have the harder it gets to name them.  That is the case with us for sure. 

As he was leaving the hospital I got a text from him and so our nameless "baby Omega" was properly named. :)

Introducing ... Alexander Blake Adkins

born June 14th 2013

at 3:15 pm

Weighing 7lbs 1.6oz

19 1/2 inches long

He is truly a blessing and in many ways a miracle. 

I am glad that I listened and that with the guidance of a MIGHTY GOD, he was born with no complications. 

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Friday was a big day in our house....  It was also our anniversary.... 10 YEARS!!!

It's so hard to believe that we have already been married 10 years, that we now have 4 beautiful children and that we have literally grown up as much as we have. 

SO, to the love of my life....Happy Anniversary and thanks for being such a wonderful, husband, father, provider and leader of our home. 

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AND... it was also my wonderful Mother-in-laws birthday. Through the years she has truly become one of my dearest friends. I love her so much and I am blessed to have her in my life. Thanks for sharing your day yet again mom, hope it was a wonderful birthday. 

We love you.

The proud big sister, the one and ONLY princess in this house. 

She looked down at him and said "we shall call you Peter Pan", she is so funny. 

She is spending a few days at Papaw and Nana's, she needed to get away from "stinky boy territory".

My Midnight Me Time

Midnight seems to be the only time any more that I have time to SIT and be alone. I wish it was a great time to have a cup of coffee but I'll settle for a little chamomile tea instead. 

Lately my "me time" is spent cleaning and trying to find a comfortable spot. But typically I try to catch up on my favorite blogs and throw in a blog of my own. I find myself talking to God and praying a lot more these days. I am trying to prepare myself for the little bundle of joy that is soon to greet us. 

This pregnancy has been about the most difficult one by far. While I have tried so very hard not to complain because I know that there are so many women that would love the chance to be pregnant but can't get that way. But I've been pregnant a total of 7 times and well I do believe that I'm tired.  

With each pregnancy the curve of my spine gets a little worse resulting in a little more pain than the last one. Walking is hard, breathing is extremely difficult most of the time and sleeping well that is something of the past. 

I truly can't wait to meet this little guy (who still has no name). I'm sure that "baby Omega" is going to bring so many wonderful and exciting new things to our crazy little family. 

I think the older 2 are going to be thrilled with the new baby but I think that my Cabby is going to have some serious issues. I believe that when a new baby is getting ready to come into the mix without even saying anything the other siblings know and some take the "excitement" a little better than others. 

I think that Cabby knows and he's having a little bit of a time saying "so long" to being the baby.

This boy truly cracks me up though. 

In other Adkins news, Braxton has said "so long" to preschool. It's a little bittersweet. I feel like suddenly my baby isn't such a baby anymore and I just don't know that I'm ready to send him off to Kindergarten all day by himself. He's a pistol most days, sassy and extremely independent but what do I do. He had to grow up before he was supposed to and now he's this big person trapped in this cute, pudgy little (almost) 6 year old body.

We had a fun morning at his preschool graduation picnic where he got to say goodbye to his teachers and play with his friends, most of whom will be at his school in the fall. I don't think he truly understands that preschool is no more and that now it's time for the big leagues. 

I want to finish this post with a quick plug for my friends over at Twinkle Belle. 

My sister in law and her sister in law have started this cutesy little girls shop and Zoe got to be in there photo shoot Monday. It was {crazy} but so much fun... 12 little girls all frilled up with their adorable "twinkling" accessories on. Sure to make any little girl feel like a princess. 

I'm pentecostal and we are known for BIG HAIR!!! It makes us.... us. Well, until our girls are able to have the big hair we give them big bows.... big beautiful bows. 

So if you need something to make your little lady shine check out this shop I'm sure that you will love there stuff. And I do believe that eventually they are hoping to start selling a few clothing items as well. I CAN'T WAIT!!! Zoe loves Aunt Stefs work and I'm sure you will as well. 

So that's my me time.... now "me" is going to attempt to hear from Mr. Sandman :)

Night Y'all

20 Weeks... oh my!!

It's hard to believe some days that we are having another baby. For me, I suppose it's surreal because when I look at Caleb he's still a baby himself. I find myself thinking (A LOT) "what have I gotten into". 

So many of my friends have said that this is Gods reward to our family for getting through Braxton's illness with minimal (I didn't say NO) complaining, I suppose now that it has all set in, that is a wonderful way to look at it. We have learned to trust in God for any and everything. 

He has never let us down whether it be with Braxton, or moving 500 miles away from everything we knew and starting over, to having another baby. 

I would be lying if I said, I was stoked from the beginning, that I took the test and jumped for joy. I actually took the test and cried for a spell. It's amazing all the things that go through your mind. The increase in bills, raising 2 so close in age, stress.... and not mention I thought where am I going to place another baby in our 3 bedroom home that we are so very quickly outgrowing.  I think too, being a cancer mom, the thought of a serious illness always lingers in my head. I know the chances of one of Braxton's siblings ever having Leukemia are slim but the chance is increased from the "average" child. The fact that the baby will be a boy is another increase in the slim probability. The fear that lies in a mothers heart, whether spoken and made known or not, is a very real thing for me at least. 

Now, the worry has worn off and the excitement has set in. I am now 20 weeks. Can you believe it 20 weeks? Already half way there. 

According to a website, the baby is the size and heirloom tomato. For me it's a little difficult to think of my baby is a garden vegetable. It's rather humorous for me. Seeing that my husband loves to garden ... lol

My kids are beyond elated and the fact that it's a boy makes it a little bit easier to get excited. I would have been happy for a girl, Zoe would have loved a sister but seriously this house is barely big enough for that Diva. I have tons of things to pass on to this new little one, again a plus. 

So now, at 20 weeks, we are ready to meet another Adkins baby. They are awfully cute :)

If we have learned anything as parents, it's life is not written out, things change and you just have to take the good with the bad. And that have done. 

Happy Thursday y'all

Halloween Fun!!!

I don't think I have ever had a busier, crazier Halloween in all my years!

We moved to Indiana a year ago and since then we have started new traditions. The pumpkin patch, Halloween and costumes!, we are going to even get a REAL tree from a place where you cut it down yourself!

Last year around the time for the holidays it seemed that Brac was so sick each time a major holiday came around. Brac did have a chance to go trick or treating last year with his cousins for the VERY first time, but for some reason (still a mystery to Eron and I) daddy was not with us. Maybe it's because it was a Sunday last year and daddy had something to do there ????

BUT.... this year, oh what fun they had. I loved getting the kids ready and watching there excitement grow as trick or treat time came. This was also Erons first time out as well. :) I think he had as much fun {if not more} as the kids. With every door they ran up to, Brac as Venom (the bad side of Spiderman) and Zoe as a fairy, they smiled, held out there little buckets and said "trick or treat", followed by a very sweet "thank you".

They got to enjoy the time with there cousins and all there little friends, and this is what makes the whole time worth it. As for all the candy, it was thoroughly "inspected" by mommy and daddy who took the giant risk of "testing" much of it for safety purposes, while they were fast asleep.

Earlier that day... I had to go for my glucose test at the hospital. I didn't realize that it would be a 2 hour test, but it really gave me a chance to read and just enjoy the moment ALONE. I guess you know you're a stay at home mom when you embrace every moment of alone time you get. {wink wink}

Immediately following the test, I had to rush home. Get both kids in the car with hubby and we were off to Indianapolis to have our follow up ultrasound to check the echogenic bowel that was spotted 6 weeks earlier. We give God all the glory. Sitting in the waiting room, I suddenly had this overwhelming since of peace that everything was fine. AND it was. The doctor came in and said that he believed that everything had cleared up. He stated that the bowel was not as "bright" as it had been and that there was still no real cause or reason why it was there in the beginning. But, oh my, what a relief.

He's a growing little boy, and judging by the 4D looks like his brother and sister. :) I can't believe that I only have 12 weeks left!! I am so very excited.

We had a busy day but it was adventurous and we made it home in time to get a little candy.

With the holidays quickly approaching we are making Christmas lists and making plans for trips to Papaw and Nana's. I love to see the excitement on there faces when we say we are going there. Before we know it the holidays will be over and we will be welcoming a new addition to the family and then we have our BIG TRIP TO DISNEY!!!  WOO HOO!!

We are praying that this year Brac can stay out of the hospital during all the major holidays. Last year, we spent Thanksgiving and Christmas there and let me just say it was not our favorite place to be. The doctor is determined to keep him well this year.

TTFN :)

The Natural Approach

First let me start off by saying that I am sooooo enjoying this rare moment, the hubby and both babies are sleeping. Yes, it's 10:30 at night but you just don't understand the rarity behind this.

Anywho... I have about 3 months left with my pregnancy.... 3 MONTHS!! So hard for me to grasp that. And then with the holidays fast approaching it is sure to fly by.

I have really been considering the natural child birth approach with this baby. I had 2 epidurals one that did not work wonderfully and one that was a dream.... until I got home and had to deal with the after affects. MISERABLE!! Thank God for good Mother's and Mother in Laws to help out.

I have a pretty severe case of Scoliosis. So it makes the end stage of pregnancy and labor and delivery, well, not so fun. Walking becomes quite a chore for me some days. But I did learn after having Brac that a natural child birth isn't all that bad. I did have Stadol {a pain med} and while that did take the "edge" off the pain, it made me feel like my head was in the clouds and then once the epidural was placed, I went so fast once they broke my water that, by the time I realized that it was not doing much {this didn't take very long} it was to late to replace it.

So I have been thinking about laboring as much as possible at home and then going all natural at the hospital. This truthfully scares me to death. I mean, who wants to hurt when they don't have to. I know that I manage pain very well, better than I ever thought I could. I am just wondering. I have been looking into the Bradley Childbirth method and the different positions. So maybe this is something that I can do. The Duggar mom, mother of 19, swears by it. But I guess I think that you have to be a little insane to have that many to begin with :)

Bradley Birth Method

Working in Labor and delivery for 2 years I have seen deliveries every way possible and I am open to trying anything, at least then I can say that I tried it. :)

So I guess that we shall see. 92 days and counting!!! WOO HOO!!

We go to have another US to look at the babies bowels again on the 31st. Praying for God's will and that all will be ok with the little guy.

Wanted to throw in some pics of my precious little family.

A couple of weeks ago we went to visit with some of my husbands family in Madison, Indiana. It's a quaint little town on the Ohio River. We also took the family out to the pumpkin patch to get everyone {baby to be included} pumpkins. Fun to actually walk out into the pumpkin patch and pick our perfect pumpkins. :)

They make me Happy... sooo sooo happy



Zoe loves her daddy



I can't wait to see his face when he meets the real deal in Disney

At the Pumpkin Patch soooo excited

Just a GREAT dad with his 2 munchkins down by the riverside :)

Where have I been lately??? :)

Ok so I know that it has been FOREVER since I last posted but I have been super super busy.

FIRST... WE CELEBRATED BRAXTON'S 4TH BIRTHDAY!!! OH WHAT FUN!! OH WHAT A BLESSING!

Braxton is our miracle and with every birthday that we share with him I count myself so so blessed. It's scary to think that we were so close to losing such a sweet angel.

We were so glad to have my mom and sister {Gammy and Aunt Ginny} come to stay with us for a couple of days. They drove for 10 hours with a special gift for Braxton. He now has a new friend ( a yellow lab) named Sammy. We welcomed Sammy with open arms and so far he's a good little pup.

On his actual birthday we went to the dreaded fantastic Chuck E Cheese and it must have been his lucky night because I have never seen Chuck E Cheese with less children. Brac and his cousins got to enjoy the place practically to themselves.

Friday night we took my mom and sis to downtown Indianapolis to see the "big city" and ate at the yummy "Spaghetti Factory". We walked and enjoyed the time together.

Not sure what everyone else has been feeling but Indiana was hot and dry for most of June and July. I prayed and prayed that the Saturday that we had his party that it would be nice. I figured if it rained that would be ok too they could still play outside {what kid doesn't like to play in the rain?} And you know what??? The day of the party, it was B-E-A-UTIFUL! About 85 all day and partly cloudy. We had his party in the evening, and there was a nice breeze blowing (I have to say that this is something that I like about Indiana). The kids played outside and enjoyed the kiddie pools, slippin' slide, water balloons and water guns. We ended up doing the cake and presents outside. All 30+ kids (that's right 30+!!!) had a blast. I didn't see Braxton from 5pm until about 9:30 when I had to drag him in and throw his muddy self into a bath. UGH!! Lots of fun there. He did have such a great time and the Superhero theme was so much fun. Thanks to everyone that helped to make his party a blast. Special Kudos to my brother in law JR for running that grill like a pro, best hotdogs I've ever had.

We had superhero capes that I made out of ...get this.... plastic table clothes {Thank goodness for the creators of you tube}

I modified it a little. Instead of the Superhero emblem I took a sharpy and wrote "Super ____"  and then I let them decorate them with stickers. They loved them!!! And an added plus they were water {mud} proof.

The look on all the kids faces made the organized chaos worth every moment.

I even whipped up a quick "batgirl" costume for Zoe. She was too cute fr words.

OK so she wasn't too happy in this pic :)

So all in all the party was a BLAST!!! All ready thinking about next year. :) Start saving honey :)

So fast forward about 2 weeks and here we are... Brac had chemo yesterday. Today he is just kind of hanging out. He plays and plays but the steroids and the chemo tend to make him a little grumpy. So this is the week that we sort of stay away from others, not because of the risk he might get sick but because he is ...ummmmm.... not so nice :)

In other news ***pregnancy stuff***



Baby #3 at 13 weeks :)



I am 17 weeks... so hard to believe. I am getting more and more excited and dying to know whether I have a lad or lassie awaiting the outside world :)

So frustrating because I knew with both of my other babies early ;) Patience is a virtue.

At least the holidays are coming up and I will be plenty busy with that and occupying my other 2 monkeys and that should make the end of the pregnancy fly by.

Oh and before I go I must take a moment and brag a little. I had the wonderful privelege of being there when the newest Adkins baby came into the world. On July 18th I became an Aunt again! My brother in law JR and his wife Stefanie, welcomed their 3rd child a beautiful... LITTLE GIRL!!! They choose not to disclose what they were having and then in the end we all get a big surprise. After having 2 boys, I don't believe Stef thought she was going to have a little girl. After a few moments the boys were embracing the pink ;)

TTFN

Amanda {The Sassy, pregger's, Southern Belle}