Georgia Wildfires = Asthmatic Bronchitis

Unfortunately, I woke up last Thursday morning with a really bad sore throat. On Friday, I really did not feel all that well and ended up being worked in at the doctor's office. He quickly identified that I was actually having trouble breathing. Apparently all of the smoke from the Georgia Wildfires had somehow caused my chest wall to become inflamed, making it difficult to breathe. I was given a breathing treatment, a prescription for 2 inhalers, and a prescription for an antibiotic.

On Saturday, it was pretty much the same thing, only I ended up with a slight fever and chills. We called my OB since one of the "call me anytime this happens" was a fever with chills. He ordered me to go to the ER and get checked out. We dropped the kids off at our friend's house and headed over to the ER. It took forever! Everything checked out okay and I was given another breathing treatment and some pain medication for the night. I slept very well that night (which was a relief, since the previous night I was up every hour).

I went back to the doctor today and was given another breathing treatment, along with a lovely and very painful shot. On Wednesday, I will have to begin a Prednisone treatment for a week. They also set me up with a home breathing machine. My doctor is afraid that I might actually have asthma (something that we will have to look into after the birth of the baby).

I already feel so much better this evening. I have taken 4 breathing treatments, a shot, an inhaler and 2 antibiotics. Hopefully this will all be under control by next week.

36 Weeks

Wow! I can hardly believe that I am actually 36 weeks pregnant. I am so excited and happy for making it this far in my pregnancy. We have definitely had our ups and downs. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of this precious baby that God has graciously blessed us with. After having 2 NICU babies, I am looking forward to holding the baby after recovery. I will not be told that I can only hold my baby for 5 minutes at a time (only after the baby is 3 days old). I will not be told that I am being discharged, but will have to leave my baby in the hands of the nurses at the hospital. I will not have to "scrub down and suit up" everytime I want to see my baby. I will be able to hold my baby. My baby will be allowed to stay in the room with me. The baby will be able to come home with me. I am really looking forward to doing everything the way that it should be.

We are scheduled to have our C-Section at 8:30 on Monday, June 11, 2007. I am still 50% efaced and have now dilated to 1 cm. The doctor is now performing 2 NST (non-stress tests) on me a week. I will be able to stop taking the Brethine next Friday (I can hardly wait)!

Joshua and Abby Kate are getting so excited about the baby. They have started telling me that the baby will "cry a lot" and "scream". I know that they will be a great big brother and big sister. We are just all so excited and can hardly wait for the baby to get here!

To The Couple Waiting Ever So Impatiently In Line Behind Me at Marble Slab

There are 8 other people in line in front of me.

You are beginning to invade my personal space.

If the person in front of me scoots up closer to the person in front of him, I am under no obligation to move 2 steps forward to be on his heels.

I can hear you talking about me not moving forward.

There are only 2 workers getting everyone's orders.

You can look up at the menu to see the flavors of ice cream that Marble Slab is offering tonight (you don't have to crain your neck around my body to see what is being offered).

I could care less that you are in a "fruity" mood.

Yes, two people checked out, I still don't have to move forward. What's the point? It's not like we are going anywhere anytime soon.

(To the guy out on the date) Please do us all a favor and invest in a bottle of deodorant. If I can smell your body odor, so can your date.

Please give me my personal space!!!!

Confessions of My Obsession

I have a confession to make...

I am obsessed with my pillow!
When I was in the fourth grade, my family built a new house and we moved in before the school year began. My grandmother bought my new bedroom furniture and linens. One of the things that she bought with the bed linens was a new pillow. I did not realize it, but this was no ordinary pillow. It was a latex, foam pillow. I fell in love with my new pillow and became very possessive. This pillow lasted me through my elementary, junior high, high school and college years. My pillow even made it through 5 years of marriage.

I did not realize that I had a problem with my pillow until I took it away with me to college. One thing that my roommates and I loved doing was hanging out in the dorm room talking. To them, there were no boundaries. They would sit on my bed (with their shoes on) or even lay their heads down on my pillow. I quickly realized that I had a problem! I could not stand for them to touch my pillow, let alone lay their heads on it. I found myself changing my pillow cases frequently and they soon caught on! From that point forward, they knew what pushed my buttons. Somehow I survived and they began leaving my pillow alone!

When Jason and I got married, we each had our own pillows (that we brought into the marriage). One day Jason decided that he would snuggle up beside me and he put his head on my pillow. (Now, I know that this sounds romantic and all, but I could not get past the fact that he had his head on my pillow.) Little did he know what this would do to me. Over the years, we have worked out the pillow issue and he knows to let me be.

A couple of years ago, I was watching Oprah and she aired a segment on dust mites and unseen creatures that live in our beds and even our pillows. (For those of you that do not know, I am an extreme germophob.) I was totally grossed out and knew that I needed to get rid of the pillow that I had been treasuring for 15+ years. I threw away my pillow and was stuck buying the cheap pillows from Walmart for the next few years. I could not find another latex foam pillow and my heart and head ached for a replacement.

That is until...

The other day, Abby Kate and I were headed back home from a birthday party and I decided to run into Linens 'n Things and take a look around (I have been looking for some new curtain rods). Abby Kate pushed her little buggy through the store and followed me back to the pillows. I decided that it was time to find another cheap pillow that would not give me the support I was looking for. I noticed the pillows that were on sale and became somewhat interested. Before making my final decision, I took a look at the other pillows. I could not believe what I saw in front of me! A Simmons Latex Foam Pillow! This was a dream come true. I did not care that I was about to spend $35 on a pillow! Abby Kate and I made our way to the checkout lane and I purchased my new pillow.

I love my new pillow! I am still very protective of my pillows, but this new one will be carefully guarded!

New Baby Pic!

The other day Jason and I had a 33 week ultrasound. We were so happy about getting to see this little bundle of joy. (We really did not enjoy the last ultrasound since we were so anxious about the genetic screening and counseling). Our baby is thriving and growing quickly. The ultrasound measurement was right on 33 weeks gestation and it calculated the baby's weight at 4# 9oz. We were thrilled! At this same point in my pregnancy last time, Abby Kate's weight was 5#3oz and Joshua's weight was 3# (of course, that is a little more than what they actaully weighed in at birth). This little baby has hair and chubby cheeks. We were able to really see the mouth and nose (I think that this baby has Jason's big plump lips). The baby had its foot over its head (I don't see how that can be really comfortable). Dr. Bailey told us that next week we should be able to schedule our C-Section.

On Friday, I will be 34 weeks along in this pregnancy. Abby Kate and Joshua made it to 33 weeks and 2 days gestation. This is uncharted territory for us. We are so pleased with the progress that we have made in this pregnancy. Dr. Bailey was so proud of me for making it this far. Our time to meet this little baby is getting closer each and every day. We are so excited about this little life that God has blessed us with. Joshua and Abby Kate love talking about the baby in mommy's belly button. I'm sure that they will be a great big brother and big sister!

32 Weeks

"...Sunny Bybee would be a sitting duck!"

That's right! "A sitting duck!" That's the way one of our local tv news reporters described me on the local news last week.

Wednesday afternoon as I was driving home from picking up the kids from Mayfair, I saw that my gas gauge was approaching empty. I pulled into the Kangaroo Gas Station and proceeded to pump my gas so that I could get home. That's when the fun began.

While I was pumping my gas, I was quickly approached by Janine Reyes from NewsChannel 19. She asked if she could ask me a quick question and I said sure. To my surprise, she darted off and came back in a couple of seconds with a man holding a news video camera. As he started taping, she informed me of a woman that had her purse stolen right out of her passenger seat as she was pumping gas that morning. She asked me if I usually kept my purse in my passenger seat and if I locked my doors when I filled up my van with gas. I told her that usually my purse was not in the front seat and that I always locked my doors. She then proceeded with her camera man around the passenger side of my van to uncover the truth.

My driver's side door was still open and I looked through my van to the other side and was shocked to see my purse sitting out and open in my passenger seat and that my doors were unlocked. (I honestly thought about locking them before Janine made it around, but realized that she would hear the automatic locks if I pushed the button). So, I just stood there while the camera man zoomed in on my unlocked passenger door van with my purse sitting in the seat! I was busted! The news lady had proved me wrong. She then interviewed me and asked for my name. I was so humiliated! After she left, I pumped my gas and left totally embarrassed.

At 6:00 on the NewsChannel 19 news, my interview aired. To my surprise, I was the ONLY woman that they had interviewed that day that had left my door unlocked and my purse in the passenger seat! I was proven wrong and was called "a sitting duck".

I hope you learn from my mistake. Don't be guilty of being a "sitting duck". You never know when a criminal might strike (or when a news lady with a camera will embarrass you!)

Happy Easter

We all enjoyed our Easter Sunday this year. We decided to take it easy and had our own easter egg hunt on Saturday night. The kids had so much fun finding their eggs and playing with them after they were all found. We told the kids about the Easter Bunny coming to their house to leave them a present on Saturday night. They were so excited when they woke up Sunday morning.
Unfortunately this is not Joshua's Easter "outfit". Sunday morning was so cold, so we had to pull out something a little warmer. Joshua was very happy about his easter basket. The Easter Bunny brought him a Lightning McQueen race car which is by far his favorite.






Abby Kate was so excited about wearing her pink Easter dress. For the past two weeks she had been begging to wear her dress. The Easter Bunny left her a pair of pink sunglasses. Of course she wore them all through church on Sunday morning. She is definitely turning into a little diva!

28 Weeks

Our Days at the House

I've been taking it easy since hearing the latest about my preterm labor. Jason has done so much around the house. (I bet that he has made at least 10 trips to the store in the last 2 weeks). Everyone has been so great to help us out and to remember this baby and me in their prayers. The rest seems to be helping. We've been spending our days lounging around the house. I have been out only a few times and was actually surprised to see how green everything had become.

The kids are doing well. They have really started playing with each other all the more. They love to play "going to bed". They walk hand in hand and tuck one another into their beds. They also like to go on walks through the house pushing Abby Kate's stroller. Abby Kate has really started a more "imaginative" play. Joshua still loves to play baseball with daddy. They throw, play catch, hit the ball and Joshua runs the bases. When I ask the kids about the baby, Abby Kate tells me that she wants a baby sister and Joshua wants a baby brudder (Abby Kate says that she already has a bro).

Here are a few pictures from today. They love to take pictures!

I Can't Get Enough

Saying good-bye to the pizza and hello to the roast beef sandwich from Arby's!

24 Weeks

Here is the latest picture of the ever growing belly. Tomorrow I will actually be 26 weeks and it has unfortunately taken me this long to get it up on the blog.

I think that we are going to be looking into some internet plans in the next week or so.

I had my glucose screening today and saw the doctor as well. The baby is continuing to grow and the heartbeat has been a steady 150. I had been having a tremendous amount of back pain and even felt a few early contractions this morning. After my exam, the doctor did in fact reveal that I am having contractions and that my cervix is already 50% effaced. Not the news I was hoping for! Right now I am to take it easy and rest often. I have also been prescribed Brethine (which I took during my pregnancy with Joshua and Abby Kate) to help stop/ease the contractions that I am having. I am on the lowest dose for now. They are checking to make sure that I do not have a urinary tract infection (which could explain why I am starting to have these contractions). We were suppose to leave for Panama City Beach tomorrow, but I am also no longer allowed to leave town. Hopefully my body will cooperate and this little baby will be here in June!

Moving Days

We have spent the last week or so packing up and moving into our new house. We absolutely love the new place and can hardly wait to get it all settled. Our internet company does not service our new house, so we are in the process of looking into some internet plans. I am limiting my posting time to seeing Jason at the church office.

Here's the latest...

Joshua is doing really well with his potty training. (I feel like he is basically training himself). He only has about 2 - 3 accidents a day! He is so proud of himself and we are so happy.

When we moved, we put Abby Kate in a full bed and Joshua got her toddler bed. We have not had a single issue with it all. They love their new rooms and beds.

I am into my 24th week in my pregnancy. Everything looks great with the baby. I am measuring about 2 weeks ahead of schedule! (I will have Jason post a picture from this weekend).

We are planning on going to the beach in the next couple of weeks. Should be fun!

We got Dish Network and love it! I am still trying to figure out how to even turn the tv on.

The kids love seeing their fish in the pond and the cows. The other day while having lunch, we saw a horse that lives on the farm behind us.

The Unwanted

As I was waiting in the office of my doctor's office this morning, I overheard a father telling another patient about his teenage daughter. This young girl was unfortunately referred to Dr. Bailey because she had an ultrasound that yielded a spine that was open. Dr. Bailey is a high risk speciality doctor and would offer the kind of technology that she would need in determining how severe her baby's condition was. My heart sank when I heard what this family was going through. This girl is 6 months pregnant with a boy. She apparently got pregnant with her boyfriend and the family talked very openly about being in the WIC program along with Medicare, Medicade and on food stamps. This family was very concerned about the baby and the development of his spine.

I almost could not believe what came out of this young girl's father's mouth! He (speaking to some random stranger in the waiting room) said that he was anxious to know how bad this baby's condition was. He then said, "I would hate for her to have to ABORT."

WHAT????

Sure, I 've heard about people aborting their unborn child, but I have never been in a situation that was so real. My heart sank! I wanted to cry and throw up at the same time. She has a baby in her belly that is alive! How could she do something like this? On Friday, I will be 6 months pregnant, just like this teenage girl. I have heard our baby's heartbeat about 5 times and I feel this baby move all the time! How could someone want to take away that life?

I pray that God would bless this precious little child...

Potty Training Day 1

Well, the potty training has begun! Joshua decided last night that he wanted to wear his "Cars" underwear (pull-ups)! He did really well in them and had just one accident. Before bed, we put a diaper on him and when he woke up this morning he immediately asked to go potty and to wear his "big boy underwear". He is so proud of himself and is trying so hard. He stayed dry all morning long and had one accident right before nap time. Joshua is down for his nap in a diaper and I am sure that when he wakes up he will be asking for his underwear. I know that we have a long road ahead of us, but I am very proud of my little guy.

Now, I only need to find him some "real" underwear that will stay up. He still only weighs 21 pounds!

"I'm So Happy Mommy!"

On our way home from church tonight, Joshua told me that he was so happy. I love how Joshua will just randomly tell me sweet things throughout the day. He has recently told me and Abby Kate how pretty we are, how he likes my haircut and how much he loves me. Joshua is my little man and I love him very much! It makes me happy that he delights in the simple and pure joys of everyday life.

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With the high of the day around 30 degrees, I am thankful for the roof over our heads and the heat that keeps us warm.

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I had another check-up with Dr. Bailey today. The baby's heartbeat was 160. This baby is extremely active. I can feel every movement throught the whole day. Our most active time is right when I lay down to bed. There is definitely a party going on in my belly. My belly measured 23 weeks (I will be 22 weeks on Friday).

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Joshua and Abby Kate LOVE listening to the David Crowder Band. Their favorites are the "clapping song" - I Saw The Light and the "LaLaLa song" - Sing Like the Saved

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Jason and I will be taking Abby Kate and Joshua up to Nashville tomorrow to spend the night with their Nannie and PawPaw. On Friday, Jason and I will head up to Gatlinburg for Winterfest. My grandparents are going to keep Joshua and Abby Kate during the day since my parents are flying down to Florida. Friday night, Abby Kate and Joshua will go over to their Aunt Tara's and Uncle Richard's house for the rest of the weekend. I have a feeling that the kids are going to really enjoy the weekend with all of our family!

Tuesdays

I have not been able to post as much for the past few weeks. My computer has been in the shop and I have been limited to only using Jason's at night when the kids are quietly tucked into bed.

The past few weeks have been crazy! Here's what's been going on...

3 Tuesday's ago - Jason and I visited Dr. Bailey's office for an ultrasound and followed that up with genetic counseling. The ultrasound was inconclusive and we opted for an amnio. We left Bailey's office after 3 hours and grabbed lunch together at Cracker Barrel. Our realtor called and told us about this great house. We meet with our realtor and fell in love with the house she found for us. That night we came home and gave Andy, our cocker spaniel of 6 years, away. I will never forget seeing him leave on his purple leash through our front door. We decided to make an offer on the house and the home owners immediately accepted.

2 Tuesday's ago - Jason and I anxiously awaited our test results from the amnio. We had so many people praying for us. It truly carried us through. We were pleased and relieved to only hear GOOD NEWS from Dr. Bailey. We placed our house on the market to sell.

1 Tuesday ago - We accepted an offer on our house. Our house sold in one week.

Everything in between - Showing of the house, Home Inspection (in which the guy only showed up an hour and fifteen minutes early for), Termite Bond, Appraisal, Countless phone calls, etc. This is only the beginning.

Today - Everything is set in motion for us to close on our house and buy the other one at the end of the month. Hopefully everything will come together and we will be moving at the end of the month.

Me - Just a little stressed!

Here's a picture of our new house!

Guess What I Found?

Terrrible Two's?

I am beginning to think that my precious little baby girl has reached the dreaded terrible two stage. My patience has been tested and my nerves shot. Every morning is a battle to pick out a shirt, a pair of pants, a pair of socks and a pair of shoes. Abby Kate always refuses to wear what we pick out and when we let her pick it out herself, she still refuses it. Sundays are the worst! Everytime I dress my girl for the day it is immediately followed by screams, kicks and many, many tears. This usually last for 30 minutes! She has this same problem with her pajamas at nighttime.

This battle of the tears does not end with the clothes. She has brought this attitude into every aspect of the day - her breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. She always tells me what she wants and then when I present it to her, she rejects it and the crying ensues. Have we reached the terrible twos?

20 Weeks