End of year, beginning of new year

So it's been awhile. I prefer to read blogs then post blogs. Christmas was good. We scaled back on presents and it was nice. The kids have been kids, as usual. They fight with eachother a lot. Paul has decided to start potty training himself which is AWESOME!!! He started to do it around 2 years old. He is now 2 years and 2 months. I don't push him. If he wants to go he'll go. But I will have to push it a little bit eventually. But he's a good kid. He is above average in development and average in vocabulary. He loves to cuddle and eat and play by himself and with other people. Allison is still in preschool. she'll start kindergarden in the fall. I did not know HOW MUCH CRAP you have to fill out to get them into school. It's ridiculous!!! but she's a smart girl. We've already been working with her on writing words. Mostly 3 letter words, but she can write long words as well. I'm hoping this will be an easy stepping stone for teaching her how to read, which is what I want to try to start working in. I'm told she'll be ahead of the kids in her kindergarden class with the letter writing already. But since Illinois has changed guidelines for kindergarden, she will be expected more then what they expect now. Jason is going on his 6th year with Instec. He loves working there. It's great stability. But for where we live the money isn't the best. We have some other news to announce and that I will announce next month. Our lives are pretty normal. Allison is in swimming lessons once a week, and we gave Paul a break. Besides that we play with other friends and go to indoor parks and just hang out. not much really. but i like it. i know things will get busier as the kids get older but that is okay. Until later!

It has been quite a long time since I last posted something. We've had a pretty slow year. We haven't really done much of anything either besides the usual. But here's an update on the kids. Allison: -5 years old (still in preschool due to late birthday) -she loves to draw and make books -she can talk forever -likes to have someone to play with -helps when asked -she likes to take care of you when you don't feel well or when you have an owie -she plays doctor with her toys (like Doc McStuffins) -has become a very good swimmer Paul: -2 year old! -wants to learn how to potty train already -very sweet and always gives hugs and kisses -doesn't have a huge vocabulary but is getting there -gets into trouble all the time -loves the cat and dogs -is both a momma's boy and daddy's boy -runs around all over the place -listens very well As for me, I am a stay at home mom still, doing housework, having playdates, watching other children, and playing with the kids. Jason is still working at his job as a business analyst and has been there for 5 years now. Life is going along. I'll have some more news later!

Mobile Bound!

It's been quite a long time since I've posted and I think I need to update more. So I can keep track of my childrens milestones!!

Allison:
-going into preschool in a few months
-turning 4 in a few months!!!
-is learning how to sleep in her own room!!!!
-such a good big sister!
-makes me laugh all the time
-can be such a little DIVA!
-thinks SHE is the boss of everyone
-had 4 weeks of summer camp from 9-1 every day and LOVED it!!!!

Paul:
-STILL has NO TEETH!!!!
-will not sleep through the night:(
-is 18lbs 9oz and 28inches long!
-has learned to CRAWL two weeks ago today!!!!
-is pulling himself up to stand on everything!
-is super fast at crawling now
-just turned 9 months old!!!!
-is iron deficient:(
-had his first ear infection a month ago (gets horrible high fevers with them)
-LOVES the water!!
-always has to try to throw himself into the bathtub
-is very mischievious

I need to get pictures from the last few months onto my computer so I can post them up. That'll be with my next post, which will hopefully NOT be SO LONG from now:)

Spot the change?

Can you see what a friend did to this picture? So much fun!
So I've been wondering a lot on if I am a likeable person?? I seem to not think I am as I never really get called to go and hang out with anyone and their kids. Though it could just be that the other people are too busy to hang out. But I'n not sure of that. I have to call to set up a playdate or something, it is never the other way around. Though I've become great friends with a dear friend who lives a block from us and we get together 2 times a week with the kids. I don't know how summer is going to turn out though, since her oldest is 10, then she has a 4 year old and a 6 month old. My two kids are her two youngest ages.
But seriously ,those that read my blog (I doubt many do read) am I not a likeable person?? I think I need to focus on other people and not on me.
Or it all could just be the craziness inside my head.

Birth Story

2nd picture is Allison and the 1st is Paul (me holding him)
I just read someone's birth story because their sweet little girl is turning one this week. That got me to thinking about both of my birth stories.
My first birth story is a lot different from my second one. I remember weeks before my due date, just dreading being pregnant anymore. I was bound and determined to try EVERYTHING I could to get that child out!!! At one point I thought my water had broke a few weeks early and went to the hospital, only to get sent home STILL PREGNANT!!!! It turned out to be bath water. BUMMER!!!! Then I had my last check up and was still very much pregnant (and that was a few days after my due date). So they asked if I wanted to be induced that Friday and I jumped at it!!! I said HECK YES!!!! So we went into the hospital at 7am ready to go. Got the pitocin and waited for the contractions. Mind you I had not dialated one bit before then. So at first the contractions were not painful. I was doing great. Then all of a sudden they started to hit me HARD! At that time I had told Jason to go and get some lunch, it was lunch time. So it figures that as soon as he had gone to eat I would hurt BAD!!! The doctor came in to check me and I was only at a 3cm!!! I was thinking SERIOUSLY a 3!! I told him to check again, surely he had to be wrong?!?! After that I was able to get Jason back into the room and tell him I NEEDED AN EPIDURAL!!!!!! So I got the epidural and I thought he was a WONDERFUL MAN! Took all the pain away, and I was able to sleep!!! Then at about 5pm I stopped progressing. I was at an 8 at that time. But we waited it out for a few hours in hopes I would progress. The doctor came in and still NOTHING, NADA, NO CHANGE! But we decided (the doctor) that I could wait another couple of hours. By the time 9pm came, I was still 8cm!!!! Obviously my daughter Allison had NO intension on coming out. But at that point the doctor decided I had waited at that stage for way to long, and all of a sudden I had a rush of people coming in to prep me and take me to the OR. It was deemed an emergency c-section, due to lack of progression. So I got scared. I had never seen that many people in my room at once the whole time I was there. And we were out of the room in like 15 minutes flat.
At that point another man came into the OR and gave me more medicine in my epidural to numb me more. Then I got the shakes and could not stop the shaking. After another 15 minutes or so with Jason by my side, Allison was born!!!! At that point I was uncomfortable and asked for the medicine that would make me drouzy. I got to see Allison and then I was out. Jason stills remembers that as the funniest he's ever seen me. Aparently I kept on waking up to ask how she was, how big was she, and where was she?? she was in daddy's arms the whole time, just as perfect as could be. Once the medicine wore off I was great. I can take pain like no other person. I was up and walking the following day! I am a SUPER RECOVERY PERSON:) I needed to walk around and they let me. Then we were able to take home our precious first born a few days later and I never took any pain killer for the pain, besides tylenol once or twice. I was never really in any pain either.
Fast forward three years later, and I was pregnant with little Paul (who happens to be 6 months old now!!!) Paul was a scheduled c-section. I was told I had a 50/50 chance of having a normal delivery and I opted for a c-section since I did so well with the last one. Good thing too, Paul was bigger then Allison. I went in a week before my due date and was preped and in the OR two hours after we got there. This time the medicine did not make me shake and I stayed awake because I had nothing to put me to sleep. I recovered just as well the first time. I was walking around that evening! The nurses thought I hadn't even had a c-section I was doing so well. Aparently other women were screaming and crying because of the pain. Not me:) I do not know where I get the powers that be that let me have no pain but I like it. So now I have two beautiful children. One that I just signed up to go to preschool in the fall!!! She'll be 4 in September!!! Can you believe it?? And Paul is 6 months!!! Time sure does fly!!

Pictures!

I decided to take some pictures of the kids yesterday and this is what I got!!! I did not change these photo's at all. I got these kids to smile all on my own:)

Fun Outside

We are up every morning by 7:30am. This morning after a quick run to the store I took the kids outside for some photo time and Allison colored with sidewalk chalk. I wanted to share some of these great pictures that I took of the kids!