Our new Christmas traditions!

Well this being our first Christmas in Chuck town we decided to start some new traditions.  The first one is that Santa brought us an Elf on the shelf whom we named Kevin Six.  He bounced around our house watching over us and causing mischief during the month of December.  The second tradition that we started was that we will visit the James Island Park for the Festival of Lights sometime during the Christmas season.  Hopefully next time we go we won't have to wait an hour to get in.  There were so many lights there you could drive through three or more times and find something new every time.  I really enjoyed it and the kids did too!  Last but definitely not least!!  We will be going to the beach on Christmas Eve every year to take pictures of the kids.  Pixie really enjoyed sitting in her Bumbo chair looking around!  I think I took over 500 pictures.  As soon as I can figure out how to add pictures I will post some.  We also flew a kite while we were at the beach.   Beanie really liked running around and playing in the sand.  Peanut liked flying the kite and having running races with Beanie.  All in all I think these are some awesome traditions!  I also want to start taking a hand print or foot print of the kids every Christmas season to see how much the kids have grown over the years.  I think it will be fun to compare the sizes over the years.  What are some Christmas traditions that your families have?

When it rains.... It pours..

Last Friday I took Pixie and Beanie to the Dr for a check up that turned into finding out they both have RSV.  I was so upset when I found out that they had this.  Pixie being a preemie is at very high risk for this.  I also found out that Pixie was anemic.  After about an hour at the Dr. we left with a nebulizer for Pixie and a few prescriptions for Pixie.  She told us to give Beanie Benadryl to help dry him out.  After a major issue with the pharmacy and not being able to get what we needed for Pixie we waited for the Dr. to call them back.  Friday night was the worst night I have ever had with Pixie.  We were up until after 3 in the morning.  When we finally woke up Saturday Pixie was having issues breathing and was very "grey".  I called the Dr. and waited for a call back.  After speaking to the nurse we became very concerned and decided to just go to the ER.  My awesome neighbor brought us to the ER and sat with us until we found out that Pixie was going to be admitted.  She then helped us get up to our room.  Words can not describe how thankful for her I am.  She helped make a very scary stressful situation much easier to handle.  So thank you so much Nani Kay.  We love you.  We had to let them give Pixie a blood transfusion which I am super upset about but it worked!!  Now we are just waiting for Pixie to get off the O2 and eat better.  I can't believe how bad this RSV virus really is.  There are 22 patients on this floor and all have RSV or the flu.
My Dh is my rock he has been so supportive of me needing to be here with Pixie.  I can't and won't leave her here.  We are a package deal!!  That goes for any of my babies being in the hospital.  He has been bringing me dinner every night and clothes and sitting here while I shower.  I can't imagine my life without him.  He takes care of us! I am so proud of him he is handling things really well.
Tonight we skyped with Peanut and Beanie.  They really enjoyed seeing that Pixie is doing okay and will be better in time.  I love them so much!
I have to say that I am sooooooo mad at the insurance company.  They denied the Synergis shot for Pixie.  This shot costs 1,500 per shot and has to be given during RSV season.  Well they didn't want to pay for that and now were are in the hospital going on day 5. In the end it will end up costing them more.   Also thank you to a special Aunt that has been taking care of the boys while we have been in the hospital.  We really appreciate everything that you have done for us.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for our family.

Thirty Days of Thanks Day 15

Today I am thankful for date night.  DH and I went to our "meeting" as the children call it.  It is really marriage counseling.  After we went to a THAI restaurant.  It was AMAZING!!  My tummy is still happy.  We played a game while at dinner too.  We put our cell phones on the table face down,  Who ever picked up the cell phone first had to pay for dinner.  I'll have you know that I WON!!  There are not many games I win at against DH but today I won.  Not that it really mattered because the money would have been pulled from the same account no matter who won or lost but it was still fun.  I am really enjoying this time with DH and Ashley too.  She comes along because I am the food LOL.  It makes me feel like we are dating all over again.  We really enjoy the time that we get to spend together because it doesn't happen often.  I hope to keep doing the date nights after we "finish" the marriage counseling.  It makes me feel like I have more purpose in life and it gives me an excuse to dress up or at least do my hair.

We had lunch at SPARC today.  DH suggested that I invite some friends.  I ended up inviting the two people that have really helped me out in the transition to South Carolina.  Shockingly they both got to come!!  The food was yummy and the company was awesome!  One of the friends that I invited also went to Hobby Lobby with me.  We had a good time just walking through the store looking at all of the nifty stuff.  My intention was to get a craft or something for me to do in the car on our road trip but I ended up getting the fixings for some Christmas presents!  Most of them were on sale too.  Beanie was actually really, really good in the store.  Pixie was awesome too.  She doesn't say much though.  I hope all of the Christmas gifts come out the way I want them too.

Thirty Days of Thanks Days 13 and 14

Day 13 I was thankful for baths.  Pixie decided she was going to poop all over EVERYTHING!!  so after I cleaned her up I decided to take a bath with her.  This is something that I have done with all of my children.  It was so nice to see her relax in the water.  She was kicking her feet and giggling.  She also decided she wanted to nurse while in the tub.  I love nursing in the tub it is very relaxing for both of us.

Day 14  Today I am thankful for naps and snuggle time with my babies.  Last night Pixie and I were laying in my bed.  She was laying in the middle of the bed and I was laying on my side of the bed working on the computer.  About 15 minutes in she started fussing so I put the computer down and rubbed her belly.  We both fell asleep and slept for about 3 hours.  I typically don't sleep with my babies in the bed but DH was awake and keeping an eye on us.  It was so nice just to relax with Pixie!!!  Pixie enjoyed the nap too.  She was all warm and snuggly with her paci.  I hope everyone takes the time to snuggle their babies!!  Sometimes we forget the most precious moments in life.  I hope to snuggle with my princess more often.  I also know two little princes that love to snuggle too.

Thirty Days of Thanks Day12

Today I am thankful for BOOBIES!!!!!!  Yes BOOBIES!!  Why you ask..  I am thankful that I was/am able to breast feed my children.  Not only have we saved almost 3,000 on formula but I feel so attached to my children.  Peanut nursed for 9 months and I pumped for him for 9 months.  Beanie nursed for 26 months and Pixie is still going STRONG at 8 months!!  I love knowing that I am making my babies stronger and healthier.  I love the bonding that is done while nursing.  The look in the baby's eyes makes my heart warm and happy.  I feel as though I am starting my children off "right" by giving them natures perfect milk.  When we moved to SC Pixie and I flew to make it less stressful on her.  18 hours in a car seat is too long for such a small little one.  We flew through BWI and we ended up being "stuck" there for about 5 more hours than we were supposed to be.  We were seated near another mom and 1 year old.  She had to water down 2 of his bottles because she didn't have enough formula powder with her.  At that moment I was happy to be nursing because I always have the right amount of food with me and don't have to worry about getting "stuck" somewhere.  I have to take a moment here and thank my DH for sticking it out with Peanut.  If I had given up I probably would have had to worry about having enough formula powder with me that day.  So thank you DH for supporting my want to breast feed our babies!!

The most important piece of advice I have for a new mom who is struggling with breast feeding is "Stick with it baby will get it".  It is a learning process for both mom and baby.

Thirty Days of Thanks Day 11

Today I am thankful for weekends!!!!  I am thankful for the family time that we get to share on the weekends.  Today we walked up the Ravenal Bridge after church and lunch.  I took over 1,000 pictures of they kids in the park and on the bridge!  It was so much fun I can't wait until DH and I can walk the whole thing by ourselves and take more pictures.  DH was smiling all day today.  That really made me happy.  Peanut and Beanie seemed to enjoy looking down at the river off the bridge and chasing each other.  We are getting excited for our family trip this weekend too.  We are going to Buffalo to celebrate Thanksgiving and see our friends and family.  I can't wait to see everyone.  I am not looking forward to the cold weather though.  Hopefully it will be semi nice while we are there.

Thirty Days of Thanks Day 10

Today I am thankful for my parents.  I am thankful that they unknowingly taught me how to deal with situations as they arise.  We had a situation with inappropriate words being taught to my 4 year old by an older child,  Peanut came in and said that Beanie was saying bad words.  So I handled it the best way I knew how.  Divide and conquer   After a bit of talking to each child and watching DH make strange faces as I calmly said these words to the boys, I realized that I did all of the same things that my parents used to do to us!  As I was doing this I realized that maybe I do know what I am doing!!  DH said that he didn't know what to do or what to think or how to act.  The only thing he said was that he was pissed and overwhelmed.  I think he was happy I knew what to do.  I then realized that he grew up with only one sibling instead of 2 and that made a difference in how discipline was handled at his house.  It was weird for me because things felt natural for me to just do and talk.  I am thankful that they disciplined us as children.  I probably wasn't then but I am now.  So thank you mom and dad for disciplining me!