Quickie Post to catch up.

Playing Catch-up.


5 Months ago I went into the ER for crazy tummy pain, I was worried about the baby, turns out it was a 10mm kidney stone,   I'll post the whole story later, but after 12 days in the hospital, 4 surgeries, 12 dr visits, 4 ER trips, an At Home Nurse, Picc Line for 2 weeks,   I am finally thru with this whole thing,. :) I am nearly 30 weeks pregnant with Colby, my 3rd son,

Riley just finished his first year of school!  He is officially a 1st grader now.  Thank goodness, I hated his kindergarden year,  Didnt like his school or his teacher.  He got truely jipped on the full Kindergarden experience.  1st grade will be better.  He did miss ALLOT of school, because of my whole "illness" thing. but he is so smart, he still tested at the top of his class.

Turtle is 2, and Oh my!  yes he is!  He has full conversations, he talks better then most 4 years olds I know. He is so smart and funny, and the Biggest Momma's Boy I have ever seen! :)  & I love it :) 
He is my mini me, in every way! He is into everything, testing his limits but makes everyday a joy.

Mike and I just celebrated our 9 year anniversary!  He took me to Joe's Crab Shack!. we have been wanting to try it for over 10 years. He totally surprised me.  it was a very Interesting Experience.. but I think we will stick with Red Lobster from now on. :)  On July 4th, we will have been together for 14 years. Its hasnt been easy, and lord and others know we have had our ups and downs. but we have learned from them, and are loving every min,  We still argue, and think each other is crazy.. but thats because we are opposites is nearly every way.. but thats what makes us special.

This year has been the most difficult year since my mother died..  It seems like every year I learn a new valueable lesson about life, me or my family.. Or what others are capable of.  This year. I learned not to take those little moments for granted, I never really did. Having such a tough childhood. 4 stepfathers, a stepmother, 3 1/2 sisters and 2 1/2 brothers.. changing schools every year, having my mother die of cancer..My friends became my family, only to lose them and feel true betrayal from the people I trusted most.   I have never lived a sheltered life, and I dont raise my children to be sheltered. They are well aware of the joys, and sadnesses the world has to offer.
   The one thing I never had to think to much about is my health. My ability to get out of bed every morning and conquer the day. 

This year, I learned.. getting out of bed, walking, moving freely, rolling over, taking a bath, swimming, bending over, going pee, and avoiding hospitals at all costs..  these are all things I will never again take for granted.  The pure freedom of not having cords, bags, tubes attached to you is an amazing feeling! I still have that terrified feeling as I stand up from a chair, or out of bed, for an instant I have this feeling I am going to get "stuck!" pull on my cord and be in intense pain for days.

I havent been able to enjoy one day of this pregnancy, but now I have 8 weeks to get everything done, and take the time to do the things I wanted to do.  This may be my last child, and I dont want to waste another moment, Colby deserves the best.. He is a survivor

I'm glad I have the time to blog more, I have 2 years worth of books to catch up on.  & what better time then the Horrible Hot gross summers of Arizona. Its going to be 111 tomorrow.  Looks like I will have a few days to recover, before going outside anyways.

Can i leave yet?

I feel like I'm going to throw up.  Sitting alone in a crowed surgery waiting room. . Half alone at least colby is here with me.  Tears falling from my cheeks onto my oversized blue patterened gown.  Wishing I could leave. Why am I so scared?  I've done this before.  Just a tube change out.    But I'm scared.   I'm so tired of all of this.  The process. The pain the hospitals the surgeries. The medicines..  so tired. I can only imagine what my mother had to go threw.  Glad I brought tissues.  Glad they smell like the scentsy lime sublime scent I left them next to in the car.     Hoping and praying this week goes fast. Praying...  this week goes perfect.. just praying..   missing my crazy boys.. my anxiety driven husband. They are my strength.  They are.. my heart they each offer something different.. something special that adds true joy to my life.  Can't wait to get home lay in my bed and have my children bug me every few mins about juice. Or snacks..  :)    drives me crazy. But its my normal.. its my happy.  Just a few more mins now.. till I get another iv..   my arms are tired.. my back is sore and bruised.  I miss being me.  Hopeful. Cheery. Lighthearted..  me..   everyone has to endure something in their life. I thought for sure.. I had endured. Enough for one person.  Maybe after this..  everything will be better.. 

Continued..  2 and a half days later...
The night before my big surgery. I suppose for most people this wouldn't be called a big surgery.. but for me... its scary. Its not just me going in there.. laying on a cold table waiting for some dr to do whatever it is he does.. its colby.  My sweet baby who is also at risk.  This little boy is so strong..  going thru everything we have been thru since new years eve. Going over a week without eating a thing! Taking percocet for days. Barely any prenatals several infections of the bladder kidney. Sepsis in and out of hospitals for months.. this child of mine is strong..  tomorrow I finally get to have the surgery to try and break up my 10mm kidney stone. Hopefully I can take this tube out of my back. This drainage bag off my body and be able to live normally.. as I can anyway being nearly 8 months pregnant..  I'm scared.. the risks .. the worst case scenerio.. which I never want to happen and I am praying with all my heart won't be the case is.. colby could go into destress and they will have to deliever him early.. really early. 27 and a half weeks..  he would have to be in the nicu for a month.  That would break my heart.
I would feel 100% responsible and like a horrible mother..   the reason I made this choice is because...  either I have the surgery now.. or.. if I wait. It would have to be a few weeks after baby is born. When I'm recovering my my csection. With a new baby a 2 year old and riley back in school. Then I would have to have surgery then pass the stones and finish recovering from the csection.  Plus. Everyday gets harder. Everyday gets a bit worse..  I get further along. Colby gets bigger I have more pain, harder to move.. harder to sleep or lay down with this tube and bag.   So in 12 hours.. I will go in.. ask my questions. And if I feel ok about it..  I will go ahead.. I'm praying.. that everything goes perfect.. its been a horribly tough year for my family.  We have over 3k in bills on the counter..  I don't know how we are going to catch up. But we will. We always survive.  We are a team.. me and this family of mine.  We fight, we yell, we argue..  but @ the end of the day..  we are unbreakable..     my children are my sole reason for getting out of bed these days.   They deserve a mom who is present in their lives. A mom who takes the time to do the mom things.. makes their favorite breakfast, snuggles them all day and makes them laugh and listens to their crazy banter.. I am that mom and just because I'm sick.. doesn't mean I will ever give up on being that mom.  I am hoping tomorrow will bring me back.. a little closer to being able to be myself.    Tomorrow I will cry. It will be painful, stressful, embarassing and I'm sure I will argue with my husband @ least once.. because that's what we do when things get stressful. But in the end.   I will be ok.  I am my mothers daughter. 
I'm so thankful for so many amazing people in my life. I've gotten support from so many people I didn't know cared so much and I will never forget their generosity and kindness. I hope one day I can repay the joy they have brought me.  My husband who looks past this pee drainage bag everyday and only sees the love of his life.  My boys. Who love me so completely and bring more joy to my life everyday then they will ever know. 

I look around my dark bedroom.  Everyone is sleeping, I see a crazy messy house.. everywhere I look. It crazy how many things I've had to let go because I'm just not able to do them. One day everything will get done. Floors will be vaccuumed, clothes folded, toys put away. But not today..   that's the little stuff.. that doesn't really matter in life.  Ill never remember if I finished that laundry, cleaned that bathroom.. but I will remember turtle laying next to me with his stinky blanket. Sucking his tiny little thumb.. saying. "Tickle back mommy". I can't believe how much he is like me.. everyday I see more of me in him. His laugh, his smile, his personality so outgoing and bold. His natural kindness with an undertone of trouble, turtle is my soul mate. .  Riley, is my first true love.  You never know unconditional true love until you have a child.  This boy who fights with me about everything everyday is someone I can't live without.  He is stubborn and sensitive, he cares so much about everything he nearly burts if things don't go right.  He has allot of michael in him and I am thankful for that. He teaches me everyday, about myself and what kind of person I want to be.. he challenges me.  I love my children with my whole heart and more.     So I'm going to try and sleep now..  focus on the good..  pray about the other stuff.    I love that I can blog from my phone..  :)  keeps me off pintrest.  :)   more positive uplifting blogging to come soon..  :)   wooohooo

Its been over 2 months!

Wow, its been a long time! I cant believe how busy I have been.
34 photoshoots this holiday season! I am so blessed and thankful to all my friends and clients! For without them we would not be having a christmas this year. I am hoping to learn more and get better and better so I can keep my little business busy all year round! :)

Its nice to have a little break though. Christmas is just 4 days away! I haven never gotten to spend everynight with my kids before, and I am Loving it! tucking them in at night, watching christmas specials and lots of snuggling! & a little yelling too, lol :) but thats what a mom is for.

**Baby**
We are expecting our 3rd!! I am so excited!! :) I am due around Aug 14th. and I have my first ultrasound appt tomorrow. Riley and mike are excited too! Turle of course is to young to know, but I know he will be a great big brother. he loves babies!

Since I have been taking so many pictures of everyone elses family I havent been taking many of mine. But I will get them back in front of the camera before they know it :)

We got a dog, her namr is Molly, she is adorable.. but she pees alllll over!! It drives me nuts! so I think she will be an outside dog. I have tried to potty train her with no luck yet. Maybe after the holidays I will try again.


Turtle is talking allot, he repeats everything and is eager to learn and try new things. He loves to Climb, and Jump and get into mischief! But.. he is so sweet! & such a mammas boy.
Riley Lost his first tooth!!.. then the next day.. he lost his 2nd tooth! The toothfairy left him $2. he was very excited He is doing well in school, although he doesnt try his best. I do not like his school or at least the class he is in. and I cant wait for him to start 1st grade. Hopefully he will get a better teacher.
Mike is working.. and whining about working :) lol but he is doing great, and I am so proud of him. He went out and got me a few christmas gifts yesterday, he is very excited about them and I cant wait to see :) I am thinking he got me a pop cake maker! :) we will see.

Thats about it for the update.. I will be blogging more now since I will have the time to do it :)

Un-Birthday

Turtles Un-Birthday was monday!  18 months!  I cant believe it, he isnt my baby anymore!~

Words:
Bye-Bye
Scarecrow
Mommy! ( he usually yells it ) Daddy
hot dog
cookie
puppy
Bubbles
Cheese
Please
grape
mooo , meow, and quack quack
"i dunno know" is what he say when I ask him where anything is! even if he is holding the thing I ask him for.
Iley.. = Riley
NO!.. when as I ask him if he wants something..like pretzels.. and he doesnt he yells NO!.. if he wants something he throws his hands in the air and says "Yay!"
happy-happy
and when he finds his picture.. he brings it to me and says. "mammas baby" :) awe, it melts my heart.. my sweet boy.

Today he was playing with Riley's gameboy and eating a cookie.. he looked so.. old! like a little boy, his own little personality. it was bitter sweet.

His hair is crazy! its 80% mine and 20% of mike's curls. I need to cut it. he is a dirty stinky 100% boy..& I love him!

On the down-side..
He bites.. grrr..
he scratches.. I think he thinks he is tickling, but it hurts!
he gets into everything, all the time.. trash, cabnits DVD cases all over the house, two days ago I caught him running thru the house with my thong! what the Heck kid! going thru my drawers!.. He is a full time job, but worth it :)


Sunny-Side Up!
this week I have a newborn shoot, Riley's first parent teacher conference, and then we are going to the Pumpkin Festival! Im so excited! & tomorrow. we might be getting a PUPPY! wow! I am nervous and scared.. I dont know anything about dogs... but I know it will be more work for me! But the kids will Love it :) especially Brady, he loves Puppys! :)

Have a great week! I need to catch up on reading my favorite blogs! :)

Boooo...

well, we have been sickies allot lately..
This last one was a dooosey! and everyone is still feeling the effects of it.

I think the worst part is when I realized.. Turtle got my Cold Sore gene. :( It breaks my heart.
Riley was lucky, he got most of michaels gene's...which is a bummer for me!. lol But poor Turtle.. is all me! When I first saw the small red spot above his lip, I instantly remembered back to my childhood. being so embarrassed! and having people look at you funny, or say "you have a booger on your lip". I missed weeks and weeks of school because of them, and most of the pictures I have of me when I was little I have cold sores. My sister paige shares the same horrible memories, she gets them worse then I do. now that I am older I rarely get them, and thank goodness for makeup to help cover them up, but poor turtle wont have that option.

I'm hoping it was a fluke.. a one time thing. I suppose we will see..
I'll just have to make sure he is the "cool popular" kid, so his friends wont think much of it.

Wow!~ its been awhile

Its been awhile, I think i've been feeling Un-inspired..  Trying to get it back, but its slow coming

Greer, Az  
Our first family camping trip.. in a cabin of course, my hubby doesnt do tents.  He was so skeptical about it,  but when we got there he was so impressed!  our little cabin was cute, and even had Dish network, our own little road, 2 bedrooms, updated kitchen and outside grill.  We were located right next to the "lobby" cabin, so we walked over there to get movies, a telescope, UNO, and a porta crib for turtle. Everything they have there is free!  (after you pay for the cabin) of course :)

Turtle LOVED the outside,  tasted everything.. flowers, grass.. silly kid.   Riley ran around a bit, but he is more like Michael so they stayed inside watching TV allot and napped.  I cant wait till turtle is older so we can do fun things together. No one even wanted to fish with me!  :( 

here are a few pictures. 

Of course Buzz Monkey had to come allong.. 

Turtle carried him nearly everywhere we went

He showed him who the boss in the relationship was  :) 
But they are truely best friends :)

We have been sick around here allot lately!  Dang stupid school,  Had to take Riley to Urgent Care for the first time ever!  He had pneumonia and ear infection and had to take his first round of antibiotics.

Lately: 
I cant seem to get ahead on anything, falling behind in school work,  & Turtle is TROUBLE!  seconds after we wakes up he is into everything he isnt suppose to be,  taking off his diaper, jumping in the tub sitting down and turning on the water, throwing everything in the trash, unplugging everything around the house, climbing on everything,.. and he is sneaky about it, he moves the chairs slowly so I cant hear them .. then hops on the counter and starts throwing things on the floor.  Riley was Never like thism, he is a High Maintanace Baby!  but I'm sure he will grow out of it, He is SOOOO lucky he is Cute! 

Sunny Side Up: 
Its getting cooler!!  well.. it was for a few days under 100,  then back up to 107 this week, but its getting cooler at night and in the morning (not that I would know the morning side of that) 
But its like.. You can almost feel fall in the air, and its  rejuvinating  and well overdue.  I got tickets to a few fall festivals and I cant wait to take the kids!  Feels like forever since I have had something to look forward to! 

& My father in law finished my newborn bed!  Its SOOOO Awesome!!   its perfect and so cute. I need to figure out how to stain it, then people have to start popping out babies so I can take pictures of them :) 

8-10 mins a day

8-10 mins a day.. we try and play outside..

Yep. thats it.. thats all we can stand in this 115 degree heat

I Am Going CRAZY!!! thank goodness for my photography or I would have jumped off the roof or something.. maybe not, its HOT up there too... Maybe instead I would lock myself in ourdeep freeze! then someone could thaw me out when my children arent crazy and it cools down enough to be able to take them to the park :)

Here is my submission for "ordinary moments" this was in our 8-10 mins of outdoor time :) and you can see he was getting a bit hot and ready for a nap.


I usually post all my photo challenges at
crazydaisypictures.com :) so you can head HERE  to check it out and follow me if you would like :)

I love the colors in his picture.. :)  



Going out of town tomorrow.. Im bursting i cant stand it I am so excited!  and I am so happy my hubby is excited too!!  :)  woohoo
see you in a few days!  :) 

Oh Yeah!! I totally forgot!  I am selling   Scentsy again!!  I had to stop because I had turtle,  but I started again because I LOVE IT!  and I missed my scents, and really need some newo ones for the fall :) 
so if you need anything or know anyone who does.  

https://casey.scentsy.us/Home

Casey's Scentsy Page!  click here.. or well    <-----  over there :) 
or up there..   la la la

what!??.. Pneumonia?

3 weeks into kindergarden
week 2.. Riley get a slight fever and cold.. it goes away by the end of the week. but yet. beginning of week 3 he began to cough and cough non stop for days.. I think as a mom you can tell when something isnt right.

I was trying to convince him to going to the dr. he seemed fine except the coughing all the time, and he had a slight fever..
On sunday night I went thru his backpack which I forgot to do on friday after he got home. I found a notice in his folder stating.. there had been reports of strep throat and scarlet fever in his classroom..

so No more nice mommy, we headed to the after hours children urgent care just in case. My son hasnt been to the dr's since he was 1 year old! I know I know.. I should have taken him, but life gets busy and we have healthy kids (thank god).. while he was sitting on the white paper covered bench .. and the dr put the little scope up to his lung and told him to breath deep.. I begun to cry.

Looking at my son, watching him grow up before my eyes, knowing that someday,. he wont need me to go to the dr with him anymore.

I know he is only 5 and we have along way to go, but it still got to me, and knowing that this was the first time.. I couldnt make him better.

I couldnt hug him tight and mentally send my "good vibes and energy" to him to make him heal.. he actually needed medicine

light case of pneumonia, and slight ear infections in both ears..
antibiotics
gatorade
and gummy crabby patties..
will make him better.

yet I am still sending him my good healthy mommy vibes, and I am sure its helping him heal faster :)

Today.. He was still coughing up a storm..

but, he was back to his crazy 'ole riley drew

The Sunny Side Up!
Riley took his first "test" testing his skills to see what he knows, he scored at the top of everything.. of course he is smart, he is His Fathers Son!
Going to greer on wed! I'm so excited, and finally got michael to get excited too, he hates camping, but we will be in a cabin. so.. does that really count?.. im so happy! To get out of the heat and spend some family time together :)
My school started, I'm ahead of the game already, and Im so excited to learn more about photoshop, I really think it will help take my photography to a new level!


These days!..

keeping the vaccuum plugged IN!.. whats the point of putting it away if I use it twice a day.
I catch myself watching lame shows like the news, or people court.. because the fall shows havent started yet.. I need to turn the tv off for awhile. its a horrible addiction.
I get bummed out when I have to "get dressed" lol, the only think I have found that I love about this new SAHM thing.. is the dress code! But I know it will be awesome once it gets cooler, just have to make it thru this 113 degree weather!

have a great week!

LiTtLe BiG tOwN

about 6 months ago, my hubby and I were driving by Queen Creek high School. On their sign out front, it said Little Big Town in concert soon! We Love them :) So we jumped online and got tickets for $30 each.. 2nd Row center! It was awesome, and they performed in a high school auditorium. I was 6 steps from the stage.

The first group was called FireFly, and they are 3 sisters, they were really good! I got their CD.

We got a babysitter for the first time! well a real babysitter. Miranda came to the house, so we got to take Mike's truck, it felt like a real date! not having to worry about dropping the kids off anywhere, and having to be back to get them. It was awesome, and the boys had a great time too! They just adored Miranda!

I am so glad we got the tickets, since I am not working money is SUPER tight.. I hate it.. Im not used to Not being able to go to the store and get what I want. Having the sales determine what we will be eating for the next week... But I am learning.. and hopefully it will get cooler soon so Mike can pick up extra shifts.. :)

Thats all we have been up too! and its the 2nd week of school and Riley already has a Cold! Crud!... missing 2 days this week. bummer..

The first day......

Kindergarden

where it all starts..

Today was Rileys first day. The night before he ws very upset and didnt want to go. He was so depressed that he went to bed early.

I was surprised how "ok" with it he was when it was time to get ready and go. He is in the afternoon class, our school only offers half day, or full day for $250 a month. This is just one of the things that irritates me.

We got ready to go, he looked so handsome.. :)

we took some pics..

one where he is really tall..

one where he is really small :)

One of us.. my little boy on his first day!

we got to school early.. they playground was closed, we werent allowed in till 12:10 its 105 degrees... all the PM kindergardeners and their parents are standing outside the gate waiting..
at 12:12 they open the gate and we heard in toward the class rooms. where the teacher stops us. one at a time she asks the kids name.. then tells them to drop their backpack and go play. Of course Riley didnt want to do that. it was so hot! Turtle was in the stroller and overheated. I took the huge bag of supplies into the classroom, and the teacher asked everyone to come back outside and wait..
One little girl asked for a drink, the teacher said no she will have to wait till she is done.. did I mention its 105 degrees outside?.
All the parents looks confused as to why the children werent allowed inside the classrooms. One at a time she started calling the kids to get their backpack and go sit on the carpet.
I hugged riley and cried a little.. They made all the parents leave as they continued to call in one kid at a time.. I waited outside the gate as he was the 2nd to last called into the classroom.. standing there alone all sweaty.. his name was called.. 12:38..

I was so upset I called michael. I hope tomorrow is better. I met another mom, who turns out she lives just a couple of houses down on my street. it will be nice to have someone for Riley to play with.

When Michael went to pick up riley.. he had to park 3 streets down from the school, and walk up. stand in line with the other parents and wait till each kid was called out one by one.. The bell rang at
3:05.. they got home at 3:25 and we only live 5 blocks away.

Waiting.. and waiting,,  and waiting..  his poor little red face..

Im hoping this cluster was just beacuse it was the first day.. :)

Riley seemed to like it, he met 2 kids and he isnt scared to go back tomorrow.


Turtle is ALL over!! He LOVES to climb, and fall and then climb again. I was doing laundry in the bedroom, Riley was sleeping, and I come out to put stuff away, I find my little sweet turtle.. Half on the computer desk, and everything knocked off on the floor! and moved around.. he smiles a cheesy smile.. I take a couple of pics, as I let him sweat out being stuck :)
last time I checked on him about 5 mins earlier he was snuggling with his blanket and watching UP so quietly.. He is a sneaky little thing.

He drew on the computer monitor with a crayon.... I had to scrub it out. silly kid..