A sad day..

I got a call this morning from my mom and for some reason before I even answered the phone I had a feeling that something was wrong. I answered the phone and after hearing her voice I knew that I was right. She told me that Sebastain had died. For those of you that have been to my parents house, you will have met my parents little dog Sebastain. I think he was about 9 years old, and he hasn't been in the greatest health for awhile. He has been like my parents little baby ever since we all have grown up and moved out. I know that we all knew that he wouldn't live forever, but its still so sad. It seems like he has been around forever and it will be strange to visit them and not hear his little bark. I know one other puppy dog that will be so sad. Maverick and Sebastain have been long time companions ever since I first got Maverick 4 years ago. I'm sure the next time we go up there Maverick will be looking for him. Its also going to be hard to explain to Brayden. He loved to play with Sebastain and I know he loved the fact that he could pick him up. We're all very sad today, but I know that he is better off, because I think he's been in pain for awhile. He was part of the family and he will be truly missed.

Ainsley's buddies

Here are some pictures of Ainsley and her friends

Ainsley and her dolly

She decided she needed to taste dolly

Just a little nibble on dolly's bangs...yummy

Just Ainsley and her bears

The gangs all here

Just hanging out

She's trying to hide behide her dolly

She's getting a little tired

A very very long night

Saturday night was a very long one for us. I haven't been feeling great and I was having headache and I was dizzy. I'm not one to go to the ER, but it sucks. So if I decide to go, there must really be something wrong. So we loaded up our 4 week old and headed to the hospital. I really really didn't want to take her, because the ER is like the worst place to take a newborn, but we didn't have much choice. We showed up are about 9:30pm. We waited and waited and waited and finally around 2am I got called back. As soon as we went back , the doctor came in the room and said that my blood pressure was really high, 158/90. Thats extremely high for me considering my BP is usually around 110/70. Initially, he thought that I might have something called postpartum hypertension. He said that it usually affects first time moms and they usually have had completely normal BP during their pregnancy. He explained that for some reason after pregnancy the body has trouble reverted to the non-pregnant state and your BP will keep going up until you finally start having sypmtoms. This sounded like a very good explaination to my problems. He said that they were going to run a bunch of other tests to make sure that it wasn't something else first. It started with having an IV started and getting blood taken. The first nurse came in and gave me a bad omen by saying that I was probably going to be s hard stick because of my fair skin. This, of course, is not something that I wanted to hear, but I didn't think too much of it, because I've never had to be stuck more than once. Another nurse came in to start the IV. She tried to start it in my hand which is where I prefer to have it. She tried and MISSED and in the process really brusied up my hand because she kept trying to force it into the vein. She tried again in arm...and missed again. I was getting frustrated. She said that she wasn't going to stick me again and she would get someone else to do it. The first nurse came back in and she tried on the underside of my forearm where you can see a huge vein, and she missed too. By then I was getting really stressed about it and I know that my BP must have been really high by then. I asked if I could go to the bath room so I could take a break for a minute. She asked for me to get a urine sample while I was in there. But I was so flustered by being a pin cushion that I went to the bath room and forgot to use the cup. I went back my room and waited to be stuck again. The called for someone from the lab to come start my IV since they were having so much trouble. This guy was really nice and he took his time and got it on his first try which was good, because I told him he didn't get more than one shot. So after I was full of holes they came and got me for a chest x-ray and CT scan. We then had to wait awhile and finally was needed to pee again so I gave my urine sample. Not too long later, the doctor came back in and said that I had a severe bladder infection and it looked like I had had it for awhile. He said there was lots of bacteria and even some blood. I explained that a few weeks again I had gone to the doctor and they had put me on antibiotics because I thought that I had a UTI. He asked what antibiotic I had taken and said that it wasn't a very strong one. So he wrote me a prescription for a very strong antibiotic ( its the same stuff they use to treat Anthrax). So at 5am we finally made it home. It was a very long night, but hopefully I will get better now.

1 Month check up

So we went to the doctor today for Ainsley's 1 month old check up. She's getting big!! Today she weighed 9lbs 12 0z and measured 22 3/4 inches long. So in the past month she has gained 1lb 6 oz and 2 1/2 inches. She is in the 75% for weight and the 95% for length. The doctor said that she looked good, so I guess we are doing a good job so far :). She got her first shot today :( It made me sad to see her cry like that, but she got over it pretty quickly. I kinda sad that she is getting so big, I'm going to miss her being so small. They really do grow up soo fast. I can't believe she is already a month old. I have to go back to work in 2 weeks and I know its going to be so hard to leave her. I know that she'll be in good hands, but its going to be hard for me to leave her with someone I don't know very well. I haven't left with anyone accept family so far, so I know its going to be hard for me. Tomorrow I am probably going to take her up to my office so that everyone can see her. I guess thats all for now!

First trip to Fort Worth

We've been pretty busy lately, we just got home from a week long visit to Fort Worth. We got to have our first experience with Ainsley in the car for a four hour drive. It actually went pretty well until we got about 20 minutes from my parents house. It was time for her to eat and she woke up crying. I figured it was because she was hungry. Patrick asked me if I wanted him to stop so that we could feed her, but I figured we were only 20 mins from the house, and it was like 100 degrees outside, so it would just be better to wait until we got there. I tried to keep her satisfied with he pacifier, but she kept spitting it out. When we finally got to the house I took her in to get her bottle and feed her. We got in the house and I took her out of her car seat and i discovered why she was crying so much. There was a bit of an explosion that had happened. There was poop everywhere. Her white onesie was no longer white. There was so much poop that it was practically up to her chin. I felt so bad that she had been sitting there like that. I would be screaming too, if I was sitting in poop like that. Patrick was in the process of unloading the car and when he came in, I showed him what the problem was. He said "Umm...do I need to get the tub". I said "I don't know, its just everywhere and I don't know where to start". I couldn't really lay her down because it was going to get all over everything. I managed to get her clothes off and started cleaning her up. Some how she managed to not get the poop on her car seat, which was a good thing because we were about to get back in the car to drive over to Plano to have dinner with Patrick's mom and her friends. Poor Ainsley, was so tired of being in her carseat, I felt bad putting her back in it to drive for another hour and 20 mins. We went to Plano and had a nice dinner with Patrick's mom and then we came back to Fort Worth and went to bed. Friday, my mom wanted me to bring Ainsley up to her office so her co-workers could see her. So, I let Patrick sleep and I got up and took her over there. This was our first adventure out without dad, so it was my first real test. Patrick usually carries her in the carseat cause its so heavy and my back hurts so much. So having to carry that thing was definitely a test. Plus he usually deals with the stroller, so I had to figure out how to work that too. It went well and everyone at my moms office said how beautiful she is. We waited there until my mom got off work at 1pm and then went to lunch. After that we went back to the house and hung out for a little while before everyone came over for Mimaw's birthday dinner. Dinner was great and it was the first time that Keith got to see Ainsley.
On Saturday, me, my mom, Ainsley and Brayden went and had lunch with Peggy, Jamie and Lauren so that they could meet Ainsley. After lunch I went back to the house and picked Patrick up, because I was dropping him and Ainsley off at his parents house while I went to Nikki's bachelorette party. There was a wreck on the way there, so the hour and 20min drive turned into 2 hours and 15 mins and that was just to get to Patrick's parents house. I still had to drive another 45 mins to get to the party. When I finally got there, only and hour and a half late, Nikki opened her presents and then we left for the restaurant in Dallas. We went to Dick's Last Resort, which is a restaurant where the waiters are rude to you. Its actually pretty fun, you just can't take anything personally. Our waitress made us each write down a dare for Nikki to do and then she drew them out of a hat. She had to do things like "kiss a bald mans head", "dance on stage" and various other things that were pretty inappropriate. After dinner, they were going over to Gilley's to dance and stuff. I didn't go, I went back to pick up Patrick and Ainsley,. That was the most amount of time I have spent away from her (5 hours), so I was ready to go see her. I only called to check in 3 times, which I thought was pretty good. When we got home my mom had offered to stay up with Ainsley, so that we could get a full nights sleep. On Sunday, we left Ainsley with my parents and we went out and did some shopping. I bought some regular shorts so that I could stop wearing my maternity shorts, but I will say it was difficult to buy shorts 2 sizes bigger that my old size. Patrick reminded me that I just had a baby 3 weeks ago. It was good for us to go out and do a few things by ourselves, but its also so good to go home and see that sweet little girl. On Monday, we went out to Grandma's so that Grandpa could meet her. I also needed to pick up a lot of my clothes that I left at her house when Patrick and I got married. After that we went out to Target so that I could get my eyes checked. I have been needing new contacts for over 3 months. It's good to be able to see again. Patrick and Ainsley strolled around Target while they waited for me. Monday night we were going over to Jenn and Keith's for dinner because I requested that Keith cook me a steak. I'm not a big steak eater, but Keith makes the best steak. Kevin and Melissa and Fabian also came over. We had dinner and watched the All Star Home run derby. Jenn wanted to play Battle of the Sexes, so we got it out. The girls were out numbered unless you counted Ainsley, but since she couldn't contribute it was a little unfair. The guys proceeded to drink a little too much, but they still kicked our butts. I was shocked because the questions that I thought there was no way that Patrick would get, were the ones that he answered correctly. We had a good time. Keith wasn't really ready to call it a night, but everyone else was.
On Tuesday, we were going to go get the kids pictures taken together. We got up and got ready and met my sister and Boston and Brayden over at the picture place. When we got there they told us that they weren't taking walk-ins because they were short handed. Normally, it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but when you have to get a 3 year old and 2 babies ready it makes it a little annoying. So we scheduled an appt for Wednesday. We decided to go back to the house and just relax for the rest of the day. That evening Sam came over so that she could meet Ainsley. It was really good to see her. We ate dinner and then Patrick and I decided that we wanted to go on a date. So my mom and dad watched Ainsley and we went to Main Event. We had a really good time. We played pool, bowled and played a few arcade games. The bowling might have been a bit much considering I just had a baby 3 weeks ago, but we still had fun. I was just very sore afterward.
On Wednesday, we got up again and got ready for pictures. I had to pick out a different outfit for Ainsley, because when we got home that day before, I realized that the dress I had put on her was too small. I kept trying to pull it down and then I realized that it wouldn't come down because it was too tight on her ribcage. So we went with w different outfit. We got to the picture place and met up with Jenn and the boys. We got started with our pictures pretty quickly, but our photographer wasn't the greatest. She was very impatient and kept getting frustrated. Obviously taking pictures with a 3 year old and 2 babies isn't going to be easy, but it seemed to be to much for her. She kept trying to tickle Ainsley with a monkey to get her to smile. This lady obviously doesn't have any kids, because apparently she didn't realize that 3 week old babies don't smile, unless they are gassy. Ainsley was hungry so it was getting difficult to get her picture with out her crying. I would put her pacifier in her mouth and then take it out right before she took the picture. The pictures of the 3 of them were pretty difficult because the babies were getting upset and Brayden was having trouble getting in the right place. The photographer was getting very frustrated with Brayden because he wasn't following her directions. He was trying really hard, but he just wasn't getting in the spot she wanted him. Finally we were done taking the pictures and we had to look at them and pick out the ones we wanted. Patrick fed Ainsley while Jenn and I picked out pictures. There were actually some pretty good ones even though it was kinda of difficult. The pictures of all three of them weren't the greatest, but they were really as good as could be expected with the ages we have. We finished picking out the pictures and Jenn left with the boys. My dad needed some help, so I took Patrick over to were he was working to help him out. I went back and picked up the pictures because they print them for you right then. Ainsley and I got all the way back to the house when I realized that Patrick had my keys. So we had to go all the way back to where he was to get the keys. When we finally got back to the house Ainsley and I decided to take a nap. My dad and Patrick got home around 5pm so that we could go over to Mimaw and Papaw's to have dinner. My Uncle Robert and Aunt Irene were in town and I really wanted Patrick to meet them because I am always telling him about their house. We had a good visit and went back to the house to get a good night sleep before we had to drive home.
Thursday we got up and started getting everything together. We didn't end up getting everything together and packed in the car until 1pm. Then we went to grandma's to pick up my clothes. After that we went and had lunch with Patrick's mom. Then we still had to go back to my parents house and get Maverick. We finally got on the road about 5pm. This was much much later that I wanted to be getting on the road. After our busy long week, Ainsley was sick of being in her carseat, so she was a little cranky. We stopped in Waco so that Patrick could get some caffeine and to change Ainsley's diaper. We stopped again in College Station to get some dinner at Chicken Express and to feed Ainsley and get her out of her seat for a little bit. We finally made it home about 10pm. Its amazing how much longer it takes when you are traveling with an infant. We had a good trip and we were glad that we got to see everyone in Fort Worth. I'll post some of the pictures soon of Ainsley and her cousins.

Its been a busy two weeks

I haven't really had much time to make any new post, so I finally have a few minutes so I thought I would fill you in on how things have been going. We went back to the doctor on Monday, and Ainsley was back up to her birth weight and then some. She weighed in at 8lbs 8 oz. She's getting big but its hard for me to really notice because I see her everyday. She has been doing very well, and has even been doing pretty good at night. She did give Patrick a hard time last night and he finally resorted to putting her in her car seat and driving her around to get her to go to sleep. She seems to fall asleep better for me. I'm not really sure why, but I know that Patrick gets frustrated that he can't get her to sleep as easily as I do. Don't get me wrong though, she can give me a hard time to, but I think that she does it more to him. Everything is going well and we couldn't be more happy. We are still adjusting to going places with a newborn, but I think that we are doing well. Sometimes I just like to sit and watch her sleep. She's so sweet and peaceful. I still find it so amazing that this little person came from us. She is such a blessing to our lives.
We are planning on heading up to Fort Worth next week. Its been at least 3 months since we have been up there and its definitely the longest period of time I have been away. We are going to visit family and friends so that everyone cam meet our baby girl. I'm not exactly sure what day we will be coming, but it looks like it might be Thursday July 10th and I think we should be able to stay through the beginning of the following week.
I will post more pictures soon. Oh, and by the way, for those of you who have wanted to leave comments, I think I finally fixed it so that you can leave comments now. I would love to hear from you.