Good news, Bad news.

The good news is that my doctor's office just called and my blood test came back negative- I don't have H. Pylori, like he thought. The bad news is, while the new meds he gave me are making me feel some better, I still don't feel like the issue is resolved. I go back next Thursday, April 22nd, for a follow-up. I don't know where he will want to go from here? But like I said the meds are doing some good, so at least I am not in as much pain and I am not as nauseous as I have been, so that is a blessing!

"D"- Day

We dropped Stratton off at Day Care this morning. Jarrod and I both went, mainly because I had a ton of stuff to take! But also for emotional support. I didn't cry, but came real close. I am flooded with emotions this morning so I spare you the details, but it was harder than I anticipated. I am already counting down the hours till 5pm! I might try to sneak by around lunch, if I have time. But I am worried that if I drop in it might just make it worse for me! The good news it that we dropped him off at 7:30 and I was at the office at 7:50, I even swung into McD's for an iced coffee (my weakness, but I needed some caffeine to get me going) and was still early! Today can't go by fast enough!

Olivia's 1st Birthday Party

Stratton attended his first "friend" birthday party today! Poor Erica and Ryan, both of their kids were born on the same day, April 7th! So, they had Carson's birthday party at 2pm and then Olivia's at 5pm! They had one big day. They had all of their family there and several families from church. It was a great day to be outside! The weather and temperature was perfect! They grilled hot dogs and the kids ran around crazy! It was so much fun to hang out with our friends and their kiddos!! Stratton was wore out when we got home tonight!

Stratton LOVED Olivia's swing!

What do you mean, I can't have any cake?!!

Little Ham!

Erica pulled Stratton and Easton around in a wagon. Stratton loved it and just laughed and jabbered! Easton just looked at him like "Dude, what's the big deal we're in a wagon?" it was Too funny!

He is so excited!!

Then Jarrod pulled them around for awhile and gave Erica a break! I think we will be buying a wagon in the near future. This one was really neat it had a seat belt so that Stratton would slide out.

Erica and Olivia with Rebecca and baby Lilah (who is just a month and a half younger than Stratton! She is so tiny!!) Don't you love Olivia's birthday outfit!! They were made by Jamie at Lady Bug Boutique! So cute! She had a matching birthday hat, but didn't like to wear it!

Just for fun, below is a picture of Jarrod holding Olivia on the day she was born. . .can't believe it's been a year!! And I was 5 months pregnant then! What a year!

Whew! TGIF!!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. So, last night my mom and dad came to Jonesboro and we took them out to eat for her bday, We ran to the mall and then went to Olive Garden (it's fairly new in town, for those of you who don't live here, and it's always packed!) and we only had to wait 20-30 minutes! Stratton was awful after we sat down! He acted like "he had never been out in public before" (in Jarrod's exact words) I know the people sitting beside us were so [not] happy. My guess is he was tired and hungry- not a good combination! But still! I was mortified! I don't want to be "those people" that bring in the fussy baby and everyone else just looks at like "thanks for ruining our evening". . . . I guess I should be thankful that this is the first time he has acted this way in public! I am spoiled since he is always so good!

Then Matt & Carla came over and picked up their puppy. It was a little sad separating them, but they promised they would bring him back to play soon. The other puppy did great last night! If she cried at all, we didn't hear it! I was really worried that she would whine and cry all night, so I was pleasantly surprised!

I am SO glad that today is Friday. My mom isn't working today so they took S home with them last night, and will probably bring him back Saturday afternoon. Which means if Jarrod doesn't work late tonight [crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath] we might actually get to spend some time together- I am thinking a trip to the movies might be in the cards, we got a gift card for our birthday and haven't used it yet. And maybe a trip to Lowes (seriously, I don't think I have been to Lowes since S was born!).  Tomorrow Jarrod will probably have to work again (ugh, more overtime--thanks, Entergy) but I really want to start working out in my yard, since I don't have to be anywhere Saturday morning. So, if I can pull myself out of bed in the morning, I need to pull weeds and move a couple of bushes then I would like to plant some colorful annuals and re-mulch. We have a birthday party for Olivia (S's girlfriend-haha) Saturday evening. I am sure I will have some cute pics to post from that party!!

Have a great weekend!!

Also, Say a prayer for me. . . .Monday is "D-Day". . . Daycare Day that is!!

Dr. Appointment

Really nothing new. He thinks now that I might have H. pylori. They took more blood to run a test to look for antibodies in the blood that indicate exposure to H. pylori. If I do have it I will most likely be treated with antibiotics, and hopefully that will be enough, but if I don't have it. . . .I really don't know. I guess on to another test. At this point I think it's a process of elimination. Ugh. I felt horrible yesterday, I actually left work because I thought I was going to be sick. After a little Phenergan,  am feeling a little better today. I just never know when it's coming, I could be fine one minute and the next feeling like I am about to be sick. It's super frustrating to not know what is wrong and what to do to make it better! I will go back to the doctor in two weeks. They said it will take a little while to get the results back from the blood test, since it has to be sent off. So, I guess I'll just be waiting to see what the test can tell us, if anything.

Finding a home for Fido, and a tough night

We found a home for one of the puppies! Some of our good friends Matt & Carla Nix came over last night and decided to adopt puppy #2! I am so happy that they are going to take him, I feel so much better knowing that he is going to a good home! Now, I am thinking that I might actually want to keep the other one, but we will see! My heart says "yes", but my pocketbook says "no"! Ha! We decided that since it was so nice last night and since Matt & Carla were coming over that we would get some burgers and grill out. We had a really great evening hanging out with them and playing with the puppies. We are entertained just by watching them play and seeing Stratton's reaction. He was especially "vocal" last night!

I had a pretty bad night last night. My stomach has been giving me problems again. It started Friday and has been coming and going since then. I felt horrible most of the day Saturday and Sunday, which was really inconvenient. I have an appointment to see the doctor again on Thursday. I am not sure where he will want to go from here, but they have to figure something out, I am so tired and miserable. Last night after we ate, I got so sick to my stomach, I started thinking maybe I was getting the stomach virus or something. I finally took a pain pill, thinking that might at least knock me out and let me get some relief, I think I finally got to sleep about midnight. I am much better this morning, but I just always have this "queasy/nauseous" feeling. It's really wearing me down.

Jarrod didn't have a great night either. He ended up sleeping in the recliner with Stratton all night. After we put him down around 9pm he woke up about 10:30 really upset. I thought he probably just had a bad dream, or something so Jarrod went to see if he could calm him down and then lay him back down. Nope. As soon as we laid him down he would start screaming again. So, Jarrod went to the recliner and got him to go to sleep. I think he tried to lay him down in his crib again around 1:30am, but the same thing happened, so back to the recliner they went. I of course got up to check on them when I heard Stratton screaming and offered to trade places with him so he could at least get a few hours of sleep in the bed, but he said he was fine. Plus, I was still feeling pretty sick. So, I went back to bed. I got up around 5:15 when I heard Stratton jabbering and got him from Jarrod and fed him while Jarrod went back to sleep for a little while longer. Stratton was really fussy this morning, but I think he was tired, too. Jarrod said he tossed and turned all night, he probably couldn't get comfortable. He was a little congested but I didn't think he sounded that bad, I guess it was bothering him more than we thought though. By the time we got to Kayce's this morning he was all smiles! I hope he is good for her today!

On a personal note, please keep me in your prayers. I am extremely stressed out right now. Between feeling sick all the time, Stratton teething, having a cold and being fussy, all the "issues" at work right now, dealing with putting Stratton in daycare and Jarrod working a lot of overtime lately, I am really getting discouraged and physically and emotionally drained. I would love to take a week of vacation in a couple of weeks and go with Jarrod since he is going to be gone all week to Harrison and just get away from it all, but I am afraid with the stuff going on at work that won't be able to take time off. Ugh. I know all new moms get to this point sooner or later, but wow, it's really hard! I know things are going to eventually get better, I just wish it would hurry up already! I guess I will just continue to take it a day at a time and hopefully things will get easier.

Daddy's surprise

When Jarrod called yesterday at 5pm and said "Uh, we may have a problem", I should have known what was coming. . . .

He had picked up a couple of puppies that someone had dumped off in the middle of nowhere near the substation he was working at. He said that he saw them and got in his truck and drove away. . .but he only made it down the road a few minutes before he had to go back and get them. . .awwwww. . . He put them in a box in the front seat of his truck and they laid down and went to sleep. When he brought them home I was anxious to see what Stratton would think.

[Stratton liked them, Taki not so much!]

[puppy #1]

[puppy #2]

[this puppy tried to pull S's sock off!]

[S was fascinated with the puppy's tail]

I have no idea what we are going to do with these puppies! Jarrod has been wanting a dog for a few years, and you know how much I love animals. . . but, I am worried that we aren't home enough to keep a dog. Then we would have to find someone to come and take care of them everyday if we ever went anywhere. It's a big responsibility! Stratton was so good with them and they seemed to not really care that he grabbed them or pulled their tails! Ha! I guess I wouldn't mind keeping one, but two?! Then again I hate to separate them. It might be nice having a couple dogs around in the yard, they could be our guard dogs!  Puppy #1 is very friendly and rambunctious, he likes to chew on Stratton, especially his socks. Puppy #2 is a little more subdued and low key, but he actually growled at Taki which was funny! They both seem to well very gentle and temperamental, for puppies anyway! I mean they are puppies and I will be surprised if they haven't chewed the fence down by the time I get home!  Jarrod ran to the store last night to get some dog food and came back with dog food, little bones and a dog bed. . . .hmmm, you think he's being a softy, or has plans to keep them? In that case there goes my plans to landscape the back yard! Pray for me, we may be a family of six now!!