MIA for 2 years

Looking back at my blog I see that I have vowed to create a blog that is updated regularly.  Unfortunately, I've taken the path of least resistance and used Facebook and Twitter to update the world on my life.

Recently I've had a lot on my mind.  I want somewhere to share my words and let others out there know and understand that life is HARD.  Life as a step mom I think is harder, and life as a step mom of a teen is the hardest.

So, here goes my attempt to gather thoughts and ideas and share them with the interwebs.

1st week alone

So this week has been rough.  I am glad it is Friday!  This is my first week with Aidrian with out some form of help and it has not been an easy transition.  But I have made it to the finish line (well almost).  WHEW!  He has been VERY gassy and that has made day time with him extremely tough. Not to mention that he is awake a lot these days and that means he needs more momma time, which means momma doesn't have it in her to much else these days. 

However, I must add I have the bestest husband when it comes to having a new baby, as he stays up late at night to take the midnight feeding and lets me get a solid 4-5 hours of sleep.  That has been a god send.  I am not sure how some of my single mother friends have been able to do this, or my friends who's husbands travel a lot.  It is hard being with a baby all day without adult interaction at some point.  I can't imagine doing it for days with out some respite.

That said, Aidrian is growing.  And although he is still small I can see the changes he is making.  We've photo happy here at the house the last couple weeks capturing his cuteness and trying to portray how tiny he really is.  Here are some of our snapshots.

Little baby Lindley

He entered the world quickly and in full force.  On Monday, April 12, I came home from work late (trying to complete my time sheet) and went about my typical evening.  Dropped Isaiah off at Martial Arts, went to Costco got my prescription filled, and then came home to meet Andy-who had a basketball game that night.  We talked for a bit and I made myself some hot cereal for dinner because I wasn't too hungry.  After the cereal I cut up some fresh cantaloupe and sat down on the couch to enjoy it whilst watching a little TV.  I got all situated on the couch, leaned over to get the bowl of cantaloupe and as I reached for the bowl I felt a popping sound in my abdomen, and felt something like a water balloon in my belly exploded.  All of a sudden I realize it was my water...and it broke!  I got up off the couch (which was unharmed) and stood up to walk to the bathroom, when WHOOSH my pants looked like I had been holding my urge to pee for a year.

Soon the contractions began and I didn't think much of it.  Labor lasts hours right?  So I started getting my bag packed (the baby was due May 7th...we had time).  Andy took a shower, and we got our things together to head to the hospital.  Really Andy got our things together to head to the hospital.  Finally 40 minutes later I could barely stand and next thing I knew I was doubled over on the floor puking up the small dinner I had just eaten.  And still I figured it was nothing because labor lasts hours right?

We got to the hospital at 9:56 and I was wheeled to the birthing suites in a wheelchair.  (I was out of commission walking at this point).  They immediately got me a room and started hooking monitors to me, I had no idea how fast my contractions were hitting me at this point, but I knew they were hard and made me feel like I wanted to throw up (again).  An hour later (no time for pain killers) they checked me and I was completely effaced and dilated and it was time to push the little baby out into the big bad world.  5 pushes later a darling baby boy came into the world.

That was our first shock as we both thought the baby was going to be a girl.  Then we looked at the clock and realized it was 11:20.  So my entire process lasted nearly 2  and a half hours.  Later we realized he was born at 11:04,  which meant the entire thing lasted almost exactly 2 hours.  He was ready to be in this big bad world.

The best part was that he was healthy (even though he was 3.5 weeks early) and doing great.  Andy and I stayed at the hospital on Monday and Tuesday nights and they sent us home mid morning on Wednesday.

Little Aidrian had a bit of jaundice but they let him go home anyway.  life was good with the little guy home and the start of a new schedule being followed.  But that was all to be flipped around when we went to the pediatrician on Thursday morning.  We found out Aidrian's jaundice had gotten worse and that he had to be re-admitted to the hospital to sit under the bili-lights to get enough UV light to come home.  He sat there under the rays (we called it his personal spa day) and we came back to the hospital every 3 hours to feed him.  It was tough.  We had to let our little baby at 3 days old stay over night in the NICU and we went home and waited until the next morning.  He was able to come home (Thank God) and he has been wonderful ever since.

Today marks his 2 week birthday and I can already tell he is getting bigger and growing up.  (I think only a parent can say that).  We are all doing great and it has been a whirlwind around our house.  I really can't believe its has been 2 weeks since our whirling dervish arrived.

I suck at Blogging

Hello Cyber world!  I realized that the last time I posted I was nearly 11 weeks along.  And here I sit with a baby in hand and the lack of updates for you all.  So stay tuned and you'll see some photos of the little bambino and hopefully with being home I'll be able to update more often.

Week 10.5...

Going into my 11th week of pregnancy was rough this week. This past weekend we were working on our Bathroom (still) and had some very grueling work to do on our floor (a lot of the tile popped from the mesh and we had to pull it and relay it) I spent hours on the bathroom floor...although not because I was pregnant...putting tiny tiles down one by one. However, by Sunday night we grouted, and the tile part of the bathroom was complete!

BUT...

I woke up Monday morning with a mild headache, and my entire body hurt from head to toe. My back was killing me and I felt like a migraine was coming on. I drank tea, tried to eat, and just tried to go about my day and then that night it hit...the migraine was in full force. By 11pm, I was a different person, I couldn't stand the light, being touched hurt, and I couldn't take pain killers. So I did what I could to relax and try to fall asleep. Andy was a trooper through all of this! Although there wasn't much he could do, he tried to rub my back and help release some of tension, it was a real treat to have him next to my side trying to help.

Publish Post

I woke up Tuesday feeling a bit better, but have had a lingering headache all week. (Yes mom, I have been drinking water) Hopefully it will go away soon. Other than that life is good. We are considering changing doctors and we have one that was highly recommended that I am trying to set up an initial appointment with to make sure she is a good fit for us and our delivery. She is out of town this week, so hopefully next week we'll be able to meet up.

Baby's Heart Round 2

We heard the baby's heart again this week. SOOOOO very cool.

Also we are remodeling our Bathroom (which means no shower at our house) this week and I am hoping it will be done by next weekend. We installed the floor yesterday, and will do the wall tile tonight. After that its just painting the walls and getting the big stuff reinstalled. I'll post photos soon.

Baby Update

Andy and I had our first ultrasound appointment today. It was very cool. Got to see the little guy (or gal) just chillin' and having a good time. However, it looks by the size of said baby that we are looking at an additional month of pregnancy. Looks like this little one could have a birthday very close to my dad. The new due date is May 7th. (Dad's is May 6th).

Other than that no real news. I am realizing why I didn't feel morning sickness when I was in the first trimester....I am there now. And although I am not running to the toilet constantly I have found that I often feel queezy and food sounds rotten. I have to force myself to eat, and when I do I usually feel like poop for 30 minutes after. Oh well. I am excited to watch this little one grow and can't wait to welcome it to the world!

More updates later...

The BIGGEST News EVER part II

Hello cyber world! I have taken a LONG sabbatical from the blog world and am now back at blogging. Hopefully I'll be at it much more consistently than the last 2.5 years...but one thing I know is that I'll be around for the next 9 months any way.

Some of you know...others of you heard through the grapevine, but Andy and I are expecting a new addition to our family. Baby Lindley had its first Dr. appointment yesterday, and we were able to hear it little heart beat. Unfortunately I still do not have a due date, but come Friday we should have all the logistics figured out.

Our family is VERY excited. Isaiah is pretty pumped to have a new addition, but he is learning more biology in our home then he does in 7th grade science class. Each time we talk about the baby Isaiah seems to be pretty engaged. I think he is excited to have someone to show the ways of the world to (and possibly lead astray) but I am excited to see him as a big brother. He will be a wonderful roll model and support for this new baby. Andy & I are slightly overwhelmed. We were in fact 'trying' (please use that term loosely) as I went of birth control at the beginning of July and given the hypothesis of the doctors the baby was conceived nearly 2-3 weeks later. So much for giving my body time to adjust to non birth control life.

Needless to say, this will be fun. We have a lot of 'nesting' to do to get ready for said baby (like finally unpacking our boxes from moving in 1.5 years ago).

I have been feeling pretty good-all things considered. I haven't had morning sickness, nor have I been overwhelmingly tired. But I do need my sleep and my appetite actually resembles that of a 2 year old, not of a pregnant lady.

I will keep you all posted as we find out more information!

Thanks for all the positive notes and feedback!

Biggest NEWS Ever!

So I suck at keeping this thing updated now. Partially because my life is boring recently and partially because well nope its because I don't have much to write about...until NOW. A couple weeks ago the biggest thing ever happened. I got Engaged. Very cool. I am pretty excited. But for now we have nothing figured out. No date, nothing. But it will happen sometime in 2008.

Here are some pics for your enjoyment!

Busy Bee

Hey all. So I am slacking at the whole blog thing. Life has gotten the best of me. I am currently working at a child abuse prevention center, and love it. It will be a great opportunity for me to practice my mediation and start to seriously think about doing mediation full time. I am also on a committee for the Festival of Trees and have taken on the task of chairing the basket committee. It should be rewarding once everything is beyond the 'thinking' phase.

Since I last wrote I had my 27th birthday, and that was wonderful. We had a party at my boyfriends house with his family and mine. My mom and dad even came down from Helena. So it was a good time. I have a few pictures (I was made to wear a birthday princess hat). But don't have the connector for my camera so I'll have to wait until I make it back to H-town to get the attachment.

So that is about all going on in my life. I am still in love and am amazed each day at how wonderful life and relationships can be. So that is good too.

I miss you all!

War in Iraq

Check it out! A documentary starring a friend of mine. He was one of the first military units deployed to Iraq over 3 years ago. He helped to make this documentary about Post Traumatic Stress. Its videos like this that make me wonder if in another 20+ years we'll have a handful of folks who aren't as brave as Mike who deny they need help with the anxiety that war brings, and instead self medicate, or stand of the side of the road with the sign that says "Please help a hungry Iraq Vet". I hope this generation isn't too proud to realize that our young men and women fighting this war need assistance once they get home. They need help to assimilate into our 'normal' way of life. That is how we need to support the troops...remember them when they return. Well I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. http://www.current.tv/video?id=4721300

New Job

I have started a new job and absolutely love it. I work only 35 hours a week but every hour is fun. So far I have orgnized a few offices (and yes I find that fun) and then hung out with babies. Since the non profit has built in respite care, I am able to hang out with babies when life gets a little too mundane.

I am excited to see what else this job has in store. It should be fun!!

We're going through changes

Yes folks. That is me and my life. I start a new job with a local non profit on Thursday. I am pretty excited. I get to use my Masters Degree, get to work with children, and get to work with local families teaching non violent dispute resolution. I am so very excited.

I am also enjoying my little time off. It has been nice just hanging out and doing nothing. I have had a chance to hang out with my boyfriends son and enjoy the end of the summer with him. Its been a rocky road, but so rewarding when all is said and done. I never thought I would be in a relationship with someone who had a child, but I couldn't be happier. His son is wonderful.

All and all life is wonderful.

Babies and more babies

This is just a shout out to my friend Carisa who just had a little baby girl last Sunday morning. I swear this is the 3rd or 4th baby this year...last year it was weddings this year its babies. YIKES!

Can't wait to see her and the new baby!!!

Changes...the story of my life.

So I am going through a few more life changes. Thus far living in Billings is wonderful. I have enjoyed myself a lot, and love being close to my boyfriend and various family. And because I love spending time with the above mentioned folks I have realized that my current job just takes too much energy and time, and that takes away from the folks I love and want to spend time with. So I have made the choice to pursue something more related to my mediation field. I have a couple leads and am quite excited. I have realized that I love helping people, and I need to use the degree I paid so much to obtain. I am excited. New possibilities, and new challenges lie ahead, but either way I am excited.

I have noticed my life is starting to slow down a bit...I know hard to believe huh? Well hopefully this job change will aid me in that SLOWING down.

Perhaps I'll be able to post on this doo dad a bit more.

Chat at ya soon!!!

Motivation

Is it possible for a person to have such little faith in themselves that they have to surround themselves with others who try to convince the person otherwise. Its crazy. I have always achieved EVERYTHING I have set my mind to. I reach my goals...and then I set some more. Over my life my goals have changed and therefore there are some goals that have been put on the side, maybe forever, maybe not. But either way I don't understand how others don't and can't believe in themselves the same way.

So on that note, for those of you still around reading my blog, keep striving to reach those goals. That is the true test of time, setting goals and achieving them. It feels great when you do!

News and more

Well I have moved again. This time it should be pretty permanent. I moved to be closer to my wonderful and amazing boyfriend, and happened to find an amazing job working in politics. I love it! Life is wonderful and really couldn't be much better.

I don't have a true address yet, so I will let you all know more as life progresses.

Baby Nate

So I spent ALL day today with one of the worlds cutest babies. William Nathaniel. Today was his week birthday, and he's so precious. Enjoy!



 

Disgusting

There is a new campaign here in Washington/Seattle and it is gross! It gets the point across and freaks me out. Check it out.

Rude

Why is it that when a person attempts to be helpful other people shoot them down and are rude. I am amazed daily at this phenomenon. I perceive myself to be a very helpful person and find it absolutely rude to ask questions and then be told "I already told you that." Perhaps I was told that 3 days ago, but today is a new day, new ideas rise to the surface, and new problems arise in this new day. I just find it odd that someone would be rude to another when the other is just attempting to help clear up loose ends. I guess we can't all be cognizant of the fact that ignoring people and then snapping at them is not a POSITIVE form of communication.

Oh well. I don't even know if this makes sense to anyone other than me...oh well.