Christmas Eve

Our first Christmas Eve in our own house was very fun, we started the morning off by going to have breakfast at a local diner.  And, then off to see Santa before his round the world flight.  Sam did all the talking for his siblings.

It poured here all day, so we spent the most of our time indoors by the fire.  Nana has been with us, and she and I made a last minute trip out to the stores to pick up a few things.  It was surprisingly quiet, I guess because of all the rain and wind.  That night, we went to the children's mass at church.  Annarose wore the same Christmas dress I wore when I was two.  They had a live nativity, and we got a seat almost right in front.

We headed home and had a light dinner before tucking the kids in for a "long winter's nap"...

Best shot I could get of all three seeing Santa... AR was not thrilled.

Sam telling Santa all about his baby brother

My three little sugar plums

Christmas Eve family picture

Nana and our three... Luke was not so sure about Annarose holding him!

Rosie trying on her and Luke's stockings

Welcome Luke Taylor Fielden

Welcome to our sweet, little warrior!

Luke Taylor Fielden was born by c-section on November 14th at 8:53am.

He weighed in at 6lbs 10oz and 19 inches long.  He is my biggest baby!

A totally different looking child than the other two, brown hair and olive skin just like is Daddy.  It was love at first sight for all of us!

My little heavy weight

Luke is getting ready to be transferred to Brenner's Children's Hospital, Cody wheeled my hospital bed into the nursery so I could hold him before he was taken.  I look calm, but I am really trying to figure out how the hell I am gonna get out of there to be with my baby.

Our first good look at each other

Over the course of the next few hours after Luke was born, we learned that he had a birth defect called Esophageal Atresia with a Tracheoesophageal Fistula.  Basically, his esophagus was improperly formed, making it impossible for him to swallow food or even saliva.  The esophagus was formed in two parts.  The top portion formed a blind pouch and the bottom portion had a "fistula" connected to the trachea.  There are several different classes of EA-TEF... and it is often associated with other birth defects as well.  We had no idea of how severe his condition would turn out to be, Luke was immediately transferred to Brenner's Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem to be evaluated for surgery.  Two days later, while I went crazy in the hospital in High Point... Cody was on the war path to find out everything there was to know about EA-TEF, God bless him because if I knew a quarter of what he knew at the time while tests were being run on Luke I think I would have been in a complete panic.  It could have been bad, really, really bad.  Fortunately, Luke had the "best case scenario" for this defect and had a successful surgery two days after his birthday.

The week following Luke's surgery was pure hell.  It is your worst nightmare as a parent coming true right in front of your face.  All kinds of things went wrong, he went into respiratory failure, and then renal failure.  Followed by a huge production with his heart that had him on several different blood pressure medications, it took Luke a solid week to begin to come around.

Every nurse and doctor were pure angels.  I never felt so at ease as when they were at our bedside helping us through this nightmare.  They never sugar coated things, they spoke matter of fact with the utmost empathy.  One of his lead nurses, actually started to shed a few tears with me.

Luke spent 20 days in the NICU.  I spent 18 of them at his side.  At night I went to the Ronald McDonald house to sleep.  If your ever wondering if that is a worth while cause to support, have no doubt it is a shelter in the terrible storm for every parent going through treatment of a sick child, they give you a beautiful, clean room for you and your entire family plus unlimited food for little or no cost per night.  Although it was a hard day when we checked in, and I cried like a baby, I don't know what Cody and I would have done if not for that place, probably slept in the waiting room.

The most important thing now, is he is going to be fine.  He has a few unknown ahead of him... but after going through so much already, I know my little warrior can do anything.  This kid is destined for great things, I just know it.

My little Luke at just a bit under 1 month

Our last night of normal for awhile...

It has been ages since I posted, so much has happened I don't even know where to begin.  Our little guy was born and an unexpected journey down a long and crazy road came our way.  I will save all that for my next post.  In the mean time, here I am the night before I went into the hospital, 39 weeks and a few days.   I felt good overall, just ready to be comfortable again.  Those last weeks of pregnancy are plain torture, my ribs and back had enough.

Our little family of four posing together, the kids were very excited to meet their little brother.  I was scheduled to be in the O.R. at 7:30am.  Cody and I had a last night out for awhile, and ate a wonderful dinner at Blue Water and then went to see the James Bond movie after we put the kiddos to bed.  We got home, took showers and set the alarm.  At least we thought we did, we ended up forgetting to turn the alarm on.  I woke up at 6:30am and we were supposed to be checking in at the hospital at 6:45.  OOPS!  I should have known then that our day was going to go in a totally different direction then we expected.

Happy Halloween!

36 weeks, 3 days

I am exactly 3 weeks from my scheduled delivery.  I am exactly so ready to get this party started.  I am most definitely at the point now where I can't eat very much, I can't sleep very much and I can't breathe very much.  And, I hate being a whiner.  That's all I feel like I do these days.

Everything is perfect though, weights good, blood pressure is good, measuring a touch small (as normal), and the baby boy is a complete acrobat.  I have a pretty certain feeling he is breach.  I feel exactly like I did with Annarose.  NO matter though, c-section is what I am having.  We have a name and no don't ask cause we ain't telling.

I started the baby laundry this past week, and I have my little list of goodies started that I need to get to Babies R Us for.  I am kind of dreading doing it.  I have bad memories from my last "the new baby is coming anyday now trip" to Babies R Us... I was doing my shopping for AR's arrival when I got the call regarding my father's passing.  I wasn't actually in the parking lot of BRU, I made it home.  However, getting a call mid morning from your husband telling you to get home ASAP that you need to talk will leave a pit in your stomach.  It was a very long drive home.  That was longest, most terrible  day of my life and it all started with a list of pacifiers, diaper pins and burp clothes.  That load of baby crap sat in my trunk for 3 weeks before I ever looked at it.  Sorry, I got a little of track didn't I?

Anyway, I am slowly making some space for the little nugget.  We have a dresser in the hallway of our bedroom for his things and will double as a changing table.  The portacrib will be set up near our bed for the first several weeks, then I think we may have to move it eventually down the hall too into my closet as he gets older.  The constructors doing the bids on our addition have got their quotes together and we should be able to make a decision this week on when the project will get started... so hopefully we will have some bedrooms for the kids by spring.

Oma's long anticipated visit to High Point!!!

It was a very fast week, too fast.

Oma and I got busy decorating for fall and Halloween, sprucing up the house for fall just isn't the same without her.  We had a good time, let's just say there may or may not have been daily trips to Hobby Lobby.

We also found a apple farmer at the farmer's market that we just loved, we had 3 pecks of apples during her trip.  I've got a few left over, Sammy and I are going to make some apple bars this weekend I think.  She tried to bring some home with her, but the daily trips to Hobby Lobby may or may not have effected the space available in her suitcase.

On Saturday, we took the whole family to the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem.  We rode a few rides, ate some junk food, played games and viewed the prize winning farm animals.  We ended the night with some Cotton Candy, Funnel Cake and ice cream cones... everyone picked their sugar.  Sam didn't even make it out of the parking lot before he was out cold.  Annarose declared, "I HAD FUN!"

We also did some cooking, Oma shared her delicious French Onion Soup recipe.  I am going to make it for our supper club next weekend with some French dip sandwiches.  She also made one of Cody's favorites, Chicken Enchiladas.  No one does comfort foods like Brzozowski!

I am hoping that the next trip out won't to far away, both the kids miss her already (and so do the growned ups).

Getting our Halloween on!

Trip to the Farmer's Market

Lunch date!

Annarose and Oma at the fair

Sugar high

Dora and Oma

He makes me smile!

32 weeks and counting!

I haven't taken a belly shot in ages, finally remembered last Sunday to get one.  It ain't a good one, it is after a long, long day and I have no make-up on.  But, hey!  We are all family here right?  No judgement on the hot mess of a pregnant lady.   I was so good about recording everything with Sam, less with Annarose and this poor third child gets next to nothing.  Ha!  Such is life right?  I am a third born and my baby album is like 3 pages long.  At least digital images are free, compared to the days of old when film cost a ton of money.

I have to say the first half of the pregnancy just cruised right along.  It went so fast, but now, it is crawling.  I don't know if it is because I am so uncomfortable already or if I am just really anticipating little man's arrival.  I think it must be both.

We have our date scheduled.  My section date will be November 14th, it's a Wednesday.  Hopefully my child won't be full of woe, I have had enough of "woe" in the last 2 years.  I want happy happy joy joy!

My sciatica has subsided, thank goodness.  I can get in exercise pretty regularly.  I am walking a few times a week, and also getting in my Pilates class.  I'd really like to try and fit in some water aerobics and yoga, however my mornings seem to be jam packed with simple errands that I don't feel like wrestling Annarose too.  I am pretty tired out, sleep hasn't been easy, of course.  I am up somewhere between 10-12 pounds, it kind of goes up and down.  My belly is measuring right on weeks, and his heart rate is at 133 BPM the last two appointments.  The doctor said he isn't totally breach anymore, but lying transverse.  I could tell because I get little tickling on my sides that feel alot like toes or fingers.  They have chilled out alot about the size of this guy, I think they realize that genetically he is just like his brother and sister.

Sam is very excited about his brother's arrival.  When we are alone, he likes to lay on my belly and wait to feel kicks.  He sometimes will lay there and hum or sing against my belly.  It is so stinking precious.  It is those moments I just want to freeze him in time.

Annarose has no idea what is coming her way.  I do talk to her about it, but I am pretty sure she doesn't get it.  Maybe a book will help?

32 Weeks-Baby Bean #3

Labor Day/Anniversary Trip to the beach

At the beginning of the month, Cody and I celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss.  We decided to take a little family vacation to North Myrtle Beach over Labor Day.  We really hadn't done any trip as a family this summer, with having the two mortgages and a big west coast wedding.  I found a last minute deal for a 2 bedroom condo on the beach, and we went for it.  We thought it'd be crowded, but so what!  It ended up being an awesome weekend.  The beach wasn't crowded a bit, and the pool was equally nice.  It overlooked the beach and had a lazy river that Sam practically lived in.

Our first night at the Prince Resort.  We had a late night dip, it was a warm evening with that crazy 'Blue Moon',  You can kind of see the moon in the back.

Annarose is definitely a beach baby.  She loves the sand and ocean.

Sam is still nervous about the water, and prefers a pool.  But, it didn't stop him from having a good time catching the little fish at the surf. 

Sammy won a squid hat at the street carnival.  He was very proud of his sharp shooting.

Mini Golf at Dinosaur Adventure, apparently mini golf is a must do in Myrtle.

A belly shot, I am about 29 weeks here.

Taking a walk on the pier, early morning.  The peir stretched out over the ocean right outside of our hotel.  The kids had a good time talking to all the fisherman.

Daddo and Annarose

Me and the babes

More wave pool fun

Getting buried!

As I said before, great trip!  It was hot and muggy, made for a nice time on the water.  We had such a busy, packed summer with many guests and events that we didn't have much time for just hanging with each other.

Best parts of the trip:

Cody:  Dinner Friday night at Duffy Street Seafood Shack

Heather: Sunday night on the beach sitting in the surf with my family, watching the waves and talking.

              Also got a lovely sand scrub from Annarose and Sam

Sammy:  The lazy river

Annarose: The pool, the beach, the pool

Worst part of the trip:

Traffic coming home on Monday.  Took us six hours.  And it rained.  Hard.

Two! 2! oh so very TWO!

Annarose's birthday came and went this past week.  She got to have lots of little celebrations along the way.  On Saturday, the Hauckies came for an afternoon.  We cooked out and had cupcakes, and the kids played hard.  We gave Annarose her big gift a Little People Princess Castle.  It was a big hit.  She hasn't stopped playing with it yet.  And, Sam will even sit with her everyday for a few minutes and play princess with her.  He is such a good brother.

Her actual birthday was on Monday, and that is when we let her open all the presents that she was sent from her family.  She got lots of wonderful goodies, every thing from pink cowgirl boots (Oma) to an Elmo dress (Aunt Karen and Uncle Damien) to some model magic clay (Nana).  Each gift got "Oh man!" or a "open it please Daddy!"  We had some of the left over Elmo cupcakes, and I made some baked ziti with sausage in it.  She loves pasta!  She is such a girl.  If it has carbs and cheese she is all over it.

We took some yummy oatmeal and banana muffins in to share with her class on Tuesday.  They must have been good, I sent in two dozen and came back with five.  I think her class enjoyed them.

Today, we had her two year well visit.  It was a really good appointment.  She has terrible white coat fever.  Usually when we pull into the parking lot, she starts trembling and crying.  She just has the most intense anxiety.  She must get it from her late Pop-Pop man.  However, today she was a little better.  We made it all the way through the waiting room, and weight/height check before the fear set in.  She was very cooperative with the doctor, but she clung to me and whined through the majority of the appointment.  I think it helped that we play doctor alot here at home, and I talked to her for a few days about her appointment and what would happen there.

Funny side story, the other afternoon she was looking through a Halloween costume catalog and she came to a page with a children's doctor costume.  She said "What's that Momma?" and pointed to the picture of the boy dressed like a doctor.  

I said, "It's a doctor, Annarose."

She says back, "That's scary."  She then turned the page.  I swear I nearly peed myself.  She is such a pistol!

She weighed in at 21 lbs and 31 in.  PEANUTTY!  She is wearing mostly 18 month stuff, but she still sports a few 12 month items, especially pants.  She is long torsoed and short legged.  God bless her.  She is gonna be a tiny lady, like her Grandma.  Her language is off the charts, it isn't always clear.  But, she is trying to make 3-5 word sentences... and will repeat almost anything she hears.  She is very very independent... always wants "Rosie do it".  That can be dressing, putting shoes on, taking shoes off, buckling car seat, eating with her utensils, screwing on her lids to a sippy, taking off her diaper.  You name it, she can do it better!  Such a difference from her brother, who still need help to stay on task.

She is mildly interested in the potty.  I am just not pushing it.  I think I am just gonna roll with it and think about training her in the spring.  I am going to have enough to deal with in a few months.

She is a social animal like her brother.  Very pleasant, but full of energy.  She is go go all the time.  She rarely takes a breather.  And, if Daddy and Sam are home she is at top speed to keep up with them.  I don't know how much "girly girl ness" she will keep, she is really determined to not get left behind by those two.

Elmo cupcakes, the missing Elmo mouth was Ruby doing a little quality control.

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Ruby tested, Ruby approved!

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Super girl cape!

Actual birthday!  We had baked pasta and more Elmo cupcakes.

Sam assisting in the present opening

Annarose's first day of school

 Annarose had her first day of her little "preschool" on Tuesday.  She goes for 2 and half hours, three days a week in the morning.  It is at a local Methodist church around the corner from us.  She loves it!  And, is so proud of all her little art works and can't wait to show them off to Sambo and Daddo when they get home from their day.
I miss her like crazy, but it has been immensely helpful for doctor appointments and running errands.  She is an absolute devil in the stores these days.  She refuses to sit in a shopping cart and runs a muck whenever I take her to Target or the Teeter.  We have a few fun things planned for the fall.  She is signed up to do a Mommy and Me gymnastics and I am trying to find a good time to start a M&M swim class at the YMCA.
She is missing her Sam too.  They really became buddies over the summer.  It is nice to finally meet some children her age at her new school, and to play with a few girls!  She loves all the girly toys, especially the kitchen and doll house.

 

Very proud to have a "pack back" like Sambo

First Day of Kindergarten!

I have finally gotten my iPhoto issues straightened out, thank goodness.  I can get back to posting some picture of the kids and what we have been up to lately.

As almost everyone knows, my guy started Kindergarten a few weeks ago.  It was a bittersweet moment for me.  I knew he was so ready to get back to routine and ready to be in K... I just was having a very hard time letting him go.  I was feeling sad, and protective.  And, all at the same time he was driving me totally mental because he was so bored from being at home.  We were arguing and he was getting himself into mischief.  It was time, but it didn't stop me from crying almost every day.  There is something about heading off to big school, you just suddenly don't have control anymore and you want all the adults he is around to see how awesome and special they are... and everyone remembers that jerky teacher they had in elementary school that just didn't get you right?  I don't want him to ever have that kind of teacher.  And then there is the big kid factor... and all the stuff big kids can teach you young oh-so-impressionable baby about.  Sigh.

Front door first day picture

Meeting up with "the guys"

Best buds

The class of 2025

Comparing notes

All the summer birthdays got serenaded before heading into school with a group "Happy Birthday"

There he goes, walked in without looking back.  I was so proud of him. 

The PTO had a reception for the K parents that included tissues and Mimosas.  Of course, I had to stick with OJ.

Sam is loving school.  He comes home tired, but not to grumpy.  Some days are more tough than others, and we have had a few instances of reported "fooling around" and general not following directions during instruction because he was socializing.  Color me shocked!