our week

We had our first snow. Logan enjoyed it

STOP!!!

Popcorn balls

My cutie guys

Parker is now 4 weeks old!!!

This week has been full new adventures. I got out many times this week with both boys. On Tuesday and Wednesday we went to open gym at the community center close to our house. I met friends there but I still was excited to get out for over an hour with the boys. Yesterday I even took Logan and Parker both to the park, with friends but still it was a good feeling. The more I get out with friends the more comfortable I feel getting out alone with them!

I am also feeling like I am getting back to getting things done around the house. I miss having all of my chores done everyday, but I know I will get back there soon.

I went back to the hematologist yesterday. My platelets aren't as high as I would like them to be, there were 96, but the Dr said everything looks as it should and I don't need to go back to him. He did refer me to a Rheumatologist because in all of the blood work he has done I came back with a positive antinuclear antibody (ana). This can be a sign of many other problems or nothing at all. He didn't seem too worried and was telling me that many people have a positive test with no other problems. When I google it Lupus is the first thing that comes up but I have had so many other types of blood work done to know we can rule that out. So I will just hope I am the 20% of people that have positive ANA and no other problems:) The best part of being at the dr was that I found out I only have 15lbs left of baby weight!!! I plan to go back to StrollerFit in Dec so I can't wait to tone my body and get back to feeling good.

The past couple of weeks

We have been adjusting to life with two little ones.

Bedtime, Parker was helping me read to Logan

Logan helping daddy rake the leaves. Brian got started and then it got dark and there is still a large pile of leaves. Now it is raining, I just want the leaves GONE!!! :)

Brian's dad, Grandpa Wade

A couple of weeks ago my cousin Jessica called and surprised me and asked to come see me. She came with my cousin Kallie, her daughter Isla, and her mom Alice Karen (Alice Karen is my step dad's sister). It was so wonderful to get to spend time chatting with them. Jessica didn't want to be in a picture, silly girl, so that is Alice Karen and her family with Parker.

With Logan in the mix:)

A couple of days later my friends from High School came by to meet Parker. This is Jon and Teresa

and their daughter Chloe. Logan and Chloe really enjoyed playing together, you guys need to come over more often!!!!

Grandma Laura, Brian's mom. She came over with her boyfriend Guy and they brought an amazing dinner, a huge box of diapers and wipes. We had a really great night with them.

Laura took this photo, Logan was already in bed.

My StrollerFit friends had a really small Sip and See for me, just the people that have been there forever. It was really great because this is a group of us that have been working out for about a year together, it seems like we have been friends forever. Going to StrollerFit 3 days a week I really became close with this group of moms. They have become such a great support system for me, how did I survive without them. I just can't even explain how lucky I feel to have such great friends (StrollerFit friends and all of my other amazing friends)!

Lindsey with Parker

Gillian made this great cake!

Anna, Gillian and Lindsey had this made. WOW!!!!

Cutie onesie from Angela, she also gave this really cute outfit that Parker is wearing today. I will post a pic soon.

Great onesies from Lynn, they came with pants and she also gave a green frog blankie but I forgot to take the picture of that, oops! I am sure you will see Parker with it soon.

Kim made this adorable Red Barn themed gift basket. The socks were the eggs and there was shampoo labeled Parker's Honey and baby lotion labeled Drennon Family Milk. How creative!

Nicole made this for me. (She sells them if you want one for yourself or for a gift, I can get you in contact with her, just let me know)

Parker's first pair of Vans from Lindsey, Anna, and Gillian. They came with the dinosaur hat and then they also got the great bib.

Thank you to everyone that has bought Parker and Logan great gifts. Once again I am so lucky!!!!

Brian and Logan working on Logan's first model. (It was a dollar at Micheal's)

This weekend Gwen went out of town so Brian and I hung out with Jason and Aden (kiddos I used to babysit for). Downtown Overland Park was having their tree lighting so we went to check it out. Logan was REALLY into Santa, I just made Jason go along for fun.

Logan said he wanted a remote control football. ???? He is really into the idea of remote controlled objects so why not make a remote controlled football.

We took a hayride. The horses were huge!!!!

Jason and Parker

Aden and Logan watching Parker sleep

This baby swing has been wonderful!!! Thanks Aunt Sarah. We found it on craigslist for a steal and it was like new. Brian went to pick it up and while there found out the guy was selling it because he found out the baby wasn't his. YIKES!!!! We got a great swing out of the deal.

This was yesterday and Parker was full of funny faces.

Anytime Logan talks Parker is checking it out. Logan is an amazing big brother so far, let's jut hope he keeps it up.

Parker stuck his tongue out so...

Logan did it right back

Chubby man

What a cutie

Logan said "Mom, these are so small, I can't even get my hands inside them"

I love this sweater and the hat that goes with it. There are also mittens. Aunt BZ bought this for Logan.

Big yawn... I am almost done with this post

My two boys... how lucky can one mom be???

MANY photos

Parker Samuel

My boys

Daddy and his boys

Grandma Karen

Grandma Karen, Logan and GG (my mom and my grandma) I love this picture!!!!

GG and Grandpa Keith got Logan the Click Start computer for his big brother gift. He loves playing it and he is doing really well moving the mouse and playing the games. He really is becoming such a big guy

GG and Parker

Cutie man after a bath

My mom's group had a Halloween party. My friend Kim is showing off Parker.

All the kids had so much fun! It was my first time out with both boys and I felt so great afterwards. I haven't been out since but I look forward to my next outing:)

Logan really enjoyed playing with this remote control car. He carried it around most of the party.

Logan has been a WONDERFUL big brother so far. He kisses Parker and loves on Parker. He has been helping out with anything and everything. I hope he keeps it up:)

HALLOWEEN!

Our first stop at Grandma Karen's house. This is the first year Logan has really been excited about it all and really understands what to do.

He got a recorder (thanks for that, just what you need when you have a new born baby) and some animal crackers.

Tiger Logan and Uncle Andrew

Off to Atchison

Logan was "reading" the atlas on the hour drive to Atchison

2nd stop at GG and Grandpa Keith's house. Logan got all sorts of goodies.

Aunt BZ came over to see the boys. It was wonderful, she held Parker the entire time!!!

GG has many Halloween decorations and Logan was having a great time exploring her house.

3rd stop was at Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jane's house.

Grandpa Jim (my dad) and Parker

I love this picture of Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jane even though you can't see Parker. This was the first time they had seen Parker so they were really enjoying him.

This is Parker with Great Grandma Peg and Great Grandpa Bob (Grandpa Jim's parents)

Parker was really awake and happy the entire time we were there. It was such a great night.

The Bartlett's

Grandma Jane and Parker

My cousin Amy came by to Trick or Treat with her two cuties. She was excited to get to meet Parker

Logan got to hand out candy to all of the Trick or Treaters. You can tell by his smile he was having a blast.

Grandpa Jim and Logan being silly, sleeping and then giggling

Our last stop of the night was at Aunt Sarah and Brandon's house (Aunt Sarah is my cousin and her mom is my Aunt BZ)

Parker just hanging out

Sleeping man

Our little guy is already getting so big! At 1 week he was 10 lbs 10 oz. We go back to the Dr tomorrow so we will see how much he gained this week. YAWN.... this post took was so long

Natural birth of a 10lb 6 oz baby

Logan's last night as an only child! We all went to Monkey Bizness at the Great Mall in Olathe. Logan was having a great time. I was having contractions, I had been having them for a couple of days. Some yummy Original Pizza for dinnerThen I wanted to walk around the mall to keep the contractions coming:) So Logan got to check out all the quarter rides. They even had a fire station museum there. What a great night to spend with Logan before life changed as he knew it:)

So we went home and got Logan ready for bed. I was still having contractions and around 9 pm they were every 5 mins but not really painful. I went to sleep thinking that this could be the real deal and I better get some sleep. Around 11 I woke up and thought, I better get up and get moving. I am READY to have this baby and I will not let the contractions stop:) I sat on my ball for awhile but realized I was the most comfortable laying on my side and relaxing. By 1 am the contractions were getting closer, 3-4 mins and stronger. By 2 we called the Dr and told her we were heading that way. Sarah (my cousin, more or less my sister) was heading this way, I had already sent the Bradley Birthing info home with her and she had been studying and was ready to help coach me through this birth. We all got to the hospital around 2:30. I was about a 3-4 at that point. I was thinking that with Logan at 3 am I was a 3 and he wasn't born until 10:20, I was not wanting to do this all night and morning. Anyway, I was doing okay relaxing through contractions. By 4 am I was already a 6. By 5 am I was an 8 and feeling pressure. During contractions Sarah was rubbing my feet, Brian was rubbing my arms and Jane (my wonderful Doula) was rubbing my back. I also was making sure they were talking me through the contractions to keep me focused, they were AMAZING!!! There were times when it was getting harder to relax but I was able to get through it with the help all my wonderful coaches!!! By 6 am I thought I was ready to start pushing. What I didn't realize was how hard/ painful it was to push!!!! I could relax through the contractions and get over it but how do you tell your body to put itself in pain and continue to do it over and over. Anyway, the Dr was in the room by 6:30 and they were getting ready for the baby. I finally pushed the baby out at 7:06 am. We had talked before that Brian would call out the sex. Well, I saw the baby flop over and I screamed "It's a boy!" So I stole Brian's thunder but I was so excited!!! I also couldn't wait to see how much he weighed. Right after he was weighed I called my mom to brag about how big this baby was. It was really painful afterwards without drugs as she had to put in some stitches, but she said I looked great for the size of this kiddo. I also forgot to mention that as she went to help him get his shoulders out he was holding on to one shoulder with his hand so we was really stuck. But he came out and was so ready for this world!!! I was amazed at how wonderful it all was. Yes, there was alot of pain. But I was so "me" during the whole birth, last time I was barely aware of what was going on. After I had Logan I thought it was the worst experience of my life, I had pregnant friends that I didn't want to talk to right away because I thought it was the most painful thing ever. This time it was truly painful, but right after it was over the pain memory was really gone. Instead I was loving my new baby! I would do it over again!
My platelets were never an issue, on Saturday around noon they were back in the 100's so they should be fine. We will check them again in 4 weeks.
Overall, it was the birth I had imagined. I had no pain meds or iv until after Parker was born. It was truly perfect experience!
Proof of his weight:) They had to go and get size 1 diapers for him. Aunt Sarah holding him right after he was born. She thought it was so amazing. I was so glad she got to share the experience with us. And she says she is still okay with having a baby after seeing it all take place:) This is one of Logan's big brother gifts. He came up to see the baby and he was so sweet. Parker Samuel Drennon This is the Dr that delivered Parker. She wasn't my normal Dr but she was just as wonderful as my Dr is. My Dr had told her all about me and my wishes. They are a great team, I would recommend them to anyone!

When we got home Logan got his other present from Parker.

My boys!

Relaxing at home on Sunday. What a wonderful family!

My new little guy.

I will keep posting pics and updates. Thank you to everyone for all the congrats and comments. Keep checking back to the blog, I will be updating at least once a week.

IT'S A BOY

This was about 10 mins after Parker was born! That is how great I was feeling!!!!

Proud daddy!

Parker Samuel Drennon born at 7:06 am today Friday, October the 23rd. He weighed in at 10lbs 6 oz and is healthy baby boy.

Monday!!!

So this weekend I spent thinking and wondering what more I could do to make this baby come. I am excited for this baby but more than anything I was really worried about having to be induced on Thursday the 22nd. I don't picture my birth starting in a hospital and being stuck in a bed being monitored the entire time. Because of having low platelets I will not be able to have an epidural, which is fine with me. With Logan I didn't have an epidural but I did have some pain meds. This time I plan to have as little intervention and meds as possible. So the idea of having to be induced is not how I see this birth at all. I also really fear being induced and then having to have a c-section. A c-section is also really stressful to me because I would have to be put asleep with a general because I can't have an epidural. So that makes it even more overwhelming. As the 22nd approached I was getting more and more stressed.
Monday morning I spent much of it in tears. I was doing alot of praying and pleading for this baby to come. I went to workout class and continued to really stress about Thursday. At the end of class my Dr's office called and didn't leave a message. I thought they were calling about platelets or about my appt today (Tuesday). On my drive home from class I found out that the Dr herself was calling, she had left a message at home. She wasn't going to be able to induce on Thursday because of a court appearance she has to make. She asked if I wanted to move it to Tuesday, as in today. YIKES!!!! I then asked if we could push it back a week, let's see what she says. I had been planning on asking her to do that when I went in for my appt, but let's see what she says now:) I reminded her that my original thought of a due date was the 22nd and that the ultrasound gave us the date of the 8th. So she said she agreed with me and that waiting another week sounded great!!! Are you kidding me??? All of this stress and she ended up calling me and really liking my idea. So now I have until the 29th to get this baby out on its own. Now maybe next week I will be freaking out again but I hope not. If I do have to be induced I know at least we waited 3 weeks past one due date and 1 week past the other. I will be still going in twice a week for a sonogram to look at the fluid levels and make sure the baby is still able to move (it sures moves alot still, so I am not really worried about it at all). I will also be adding in a stress test, no big deal, I get to sit and read a book for 20 mins. I can handle that in exchange for another week!!!
I then came home to my mom and Brian working really hard in the yard. They had planted mums and put down mulch and cleared some weeds from the side of the house. It looks WONDERFUL. I will post pics later on today. This day was getting better and better.
When I went to pick Logan up from PDO I found out that he had a great nap!!! YAY!! We came home and painted our pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. We will carve them when it gets closer to Halloween.

The pumpkins are no work of art but they were fun to paint:) It was a beautiful day and it was so wonderful to spend it with my two favorite guys and a lot less stress!!!! It is amazing how you can feel so many different ways in just one day:)

Baby news, or lack of baby news

There is still no news:) I am still waiting!!! I had an sonogram yesterday and baby is still doing really well. Plenty of fluid and room to move. The Dr has to induce on the 22nd because that is 2 weeks past my due date. So I am now doing my best to get things going here.
Yesterday I had the best experience. I went and saw a friend a who is a chiropractor who works alot with pregnant women. I met with her and her intern, that has been studying acupuncture for 7 years. They were so amazing!!! So I had acupuncture and acupressure for the first time. It was so neat! They talked about how the baby was positioned and I had just seen the baby 30 mins before and was able to confirm everything they were saying. It was really amazing. They had great advice for the rest of the pregnancy and the birth. What a wonderful new experience! Right when this baby is born we will post pics and info. So keep checking:)