Ramblings tonight...

This past month has been so exciting with all of the changes in our house. We have been getting to know Luke and his cries, noises, and what he likes/dislikes. He is very talkative. He has his cute little coos which are just so sweet. He talks in his sleep even. I had to get used to that especially. :-) We have been bonding as a family of four and Blake is having to get used to sharing mom and dad. I think we are transitioning pretty well and Blake seems happy. Luke is just a joy to have. Blake always wants to hold him and kiss on him. It is really very cute. Blake did figure out that when Mommy is feeding Luke, he can do whatever he wants. He is too smart for his own good and mine!

We have enjoyed family time. We went to Gaylore Ice this year to see all the amazing sculptures. This years theme was Dr. Suess's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Blake loves that movie and he loved the ice! It sure was cold. Luke stayed in the warm lobby. We had a blast at Thanksgiving as well. Blake enjoyed playing football with Daddy and his cousins. We also go to go to his first Thanksgiving Feast at his school. Last week, he had his first Christmas concert and his first Christmas party. With me and Scott being off on leave, we are both able to see all of these special moments with him. Luke gets to come too. Blake loves to show his class his brother. :-)

I actually spent all day with both boys by myself and I think it went well. I had been worried about this because I wasn't sure how I would juggle two. I have only had one for four years! I even had an outing to Babies R Us too. Blake was a great listener and stayed by my side. He even stayed with me when I had to feed Luke before we left and helped me get things when Luke threw up in the nursing room. He is really maturing right in front of my eyes. We played cars, trains, and transformers and watched a Christmas movie when we got home. He even laid down for a short rest. :-)

I am so excited for Christmas to get here. Each year it gets more and more fun and now that we have two kiddos, it is even better. If someone would have told me when I was little that Christmas was so much better when you are the parent, I would never have believed them. It really makes my heart happy to see Blake light up with the magic of the season. This year we even had him focus more on giving. I am sure he doesn't quite get all of that yet, but I figured the more we talk about it early, the better we will be when he is a teenager and wanting everything! LOL We tried to show him how much fun it is to go shopping for a friend or a family member. We let him pick out presents for Luke and some of his friends. We made a big deal about how the shopping trip was about giving and he actually got excited about it. The one thing I did not foresee is that what he picked out for his friends may not be in my budget! It was tough to explain to him that we couldn't get a $100 helmet or whatever for his friend because our budget was not that high. It is the thought that counts because the things he picked out that were too expensive, the kids would have loved. :-( If only money were no object...

Blake has really been into sports lately. He is always wanting to play football and has actually gone to a couple of his cousins basketball games and enjoyed it. He is into being a spectator. My dad and Scott took him to a couple of football games this past month as well and he LOVED it! It was a great idea too because the last one was after Luke was born and it gave him the opportunity to have his Dad and Papa's full attention as the big boy. He is such a joy. Now if only he would stop learning certain things at school like stupid and shut up. I do so hate that he speaks that way sometimes. We will continue to work with him on that but I guess those aren't 'bad' words, but I don't want them in his vocabulary.

My boys may look alike, but they are different. It is amazing how different they already are. Luke will tell you when he doesn't like something. He likes his swing, but Blake loved his swing. He would spend hours in there and fuss when you got him out. Luke not so much. He doesn't like it to move most of the time, but because of his reflux he has to sleep in it. Luke still wakes up all night long usually between 2-3 hours between feedings. Blake was already sleeping through the night. Luke is such a sweet baby though. He just likes what he likes. He likes sleeping in the rocking chair with one of us. Blake liked that too. :-) Blake loved his car seat, but Luke does not. Blake reminds me every time Luke fusses that he still likes his car seat. hehehe Luke is growing so big so fast. He changes everyday. He started rolling over from belly to back at 2 weeks and he still does it. I think it will stop when he starts getting a little chunkier. Blake did that too. I can't believe he is almost six weeks old. I am going to turn around and he is going to be 4 like Blake. I am so blessed. Both Blake and Luke are perfect. I have a wonderful husband and perfect boys. I can't ask for anything more.

Here is a pic of Blake and Luke with Santa. Blake was so funny. He had his verbal list in the car memorized, but froze when he saw Santa. He didn't remember all the things he wanted. He said, "UMMMM.. Let me think about it.... UMMMMM.... Let me think..." Then he listed a few things. He also spoke for Luke and told him what his baby brother wanted. Baby toys of course! Then we walked away and a few minutes later he said he forgot to tell Santa something. I thought he remembered something he wanted but he ran up to Santa and said, "Merry Christmas Santa!" My little boy forgot to tell him Merry Christmas. What a sweetie!

Wow! The difference!

So Luke was having some 'tummy time' in the floor this week and I got the idea to have Blake lay beside him to compare. (Yes, Luke fell asleep during this time. hehehe) I cannot believe how HUGE Blake looks next to him. I cannot remember Blake being that little. Where did the time go??? Here is my picture that compares my perfect boys.

The story of Luke's arrival

It all started on Monday, November 9th. I went to the doctor for my weekly check and had no progress. I was dilated to a two and 50 percent effaced which I had been for the previous two weeks. I was finishing dinner with Blake and Scott and decided I needed to make lunches and do all of my nightly chores. I went to the bathroom and then called my friend Lisa. I was talking to her and chatting away when I got all wet down there. I was a little flustered. I had coughed and just wet myself. I thought nothing of it and changed my clothes. I continued my conversation with Lisa and then it happened again. I told Lisa that I was wetting myself and she asked if it could be something else. It dawned on me that it could be my water, but I was expecting a huge gush. I also had just been at the doc a few hours earlier... I kept talking to her and she talked me into looking it up in my book and calling the doc. I honestly thought is was too early. I was having no contractions or anything. I called the doc and he said go and get it checked out. Scott and I called my parents and threw some stuff in a bag. I was thinking we were coming home so I didn't really think about what to pack. It was Scott's idea to pack a bag. I forgot! I went to the hospital thinking I would be giggled at and sent home and I told everyone that same thing. Blake got super excited when I told him where we were going. My parents were meeting us at the hospital just in case. I got there and they did the little test they do and sure enough it was my water breaking. It was a leak at that point and I had to stay in the hospital. I was dilated to a three and 75 percent effaced. So I was in labor! The nurse said that I would be having the baby by the next day because they won't let you go more than 24 hours after the leak starts. The contractions must have heard the nurse tell me I was in labor because that is when the contractions started. LOL Blake was so cute. He came in the room again and sat in the rocking chair and said he was sitting there until Luke was born. It took some convincing, but we finally got him to go home around 10pm with my Dad. We told him Papa really needed him to take him home so he could go to sleep. He was a little concerned about leaving me in the hospital though. He had a few tears. My Mom and Scott's Mom stayed at the hospital. At this point, I was calling everyone I needed to call. I was not expecting this yet. I had to call my sub and everything! My phone and Scott's phones were ringing off the hook and who knows how many text messages I sent! I was only 36 weeks and 5 days that day. Way early! I continued to try to sleep all night but it was no use. The contractions kept me up. The nurses told me I should get an epidural and my mom was really trying to get me get one, but I was worried it would stall my labor and progress so I said no. They told me that the doc would give me potosin if I had not progressed very far by 7am and I really didn't want to have to do that. I was induced with Blake and I was kinda excited about going into labor all on my own. I know its weird. LOL So I waited through the night. At one point, my mom tried to talk Shirley and the nurses into talking me into getting the epidural. hehehe I finally decided at 6:30 to get the epidural. I was dilated to a 7. Well. It's a good thing I went ahead and got one then because Luke Bradley Jackson was born at 7:31 on November 10, 2009! I pushed for less than five minutes! He was ready to join our family. It was such a great labor experience. I know that sounds funny, but it really was. Even with no sleep and working all day the day before, I was tired, but happy. Our Mom's got to come in right away and meet their new grandson. I wish Blake could have been there, but it was really early. He came in by the time I got to my room to meet his brother. He was still super excited! He got to hold him and kiss on him. He did ask if he could poke him in the eye though. LOL (We are watching him rather closely now. hehehe) Luke was 7 pounds and 5 ounces. He was 19 3/4 inches long. He was a big boy. The nurse said that he would have been over 9 pounds easy if he had waited. I had a feeling that he would be coming early, but I didn't even take it seriously. We are very lucky to have a beautiful healthy baby boy. He is perfect and we are so happy to add to our family. :-)

Lots of updates

This morning we go and play our last Blastball games of the season. It has been a wonderful time this year. Blake really loves playing the game and he is actually getting really good. He tells us he hits the ball like Optimus Prime. Hey... Use whatever works. hehehe He is a little sad this morning that today is the last day. It won't be the same next season because baby Luke will be joining us. I think it will be better though and Blake is telling me he is going to teach Luke how to play blastball. (I haven't told him Luke won't be able to play for a couple more years. hehehe He can tell him all about it anyways.) Scott and I have loved coaching again. It is so great to be a part of this. I think Scott and I are going to coach as much as we can with the boys. There is no greater feeling you get than 'teaching' these kids how to play blastball. I love encouraging them and cheering them on when they succeed. I guess that is the teacher in me... (Last week, Scott put me on video taping duty though. Big meany! Something about his 8 1/2 month pregnant wife shouldn't be chasing the boys around. Sure... He just wants to have all the fun! LOL)

I am referring to the baby as Luke because Blake has his heart set on naming him that. I think it is very cute that he named his brother. There are no other options according to Blake. We even asked him if we could name him Optimus and he still said no! You know how much he loves transformers so he must know that Luke is the perfect name. :-) Anyways. Blake has really done some growing this fall. I am super proud of his accomplishments and he is really trying at school. He told me all about how apples go from apple seeds to apple trees yesterday. He even told me about what bees do with nectar. He is really starting to pay attention which is great! He had a rough transition when his fav teacher left and he got two new ones, but he is doing great now! I think that his school is a great place and he is learning a lot. He misses his friends when he is not there too. It is so strange to see kindergartners this year because when I see them I think, "Next year that will be Blake!" Weird!

Halloween 2009

Blake and I went trick or treating last weekend and it was a blast. Poor Daddy was at home sick. :-( I made it pretty far and my dad came and picked us up when I couldn't walk anymore. (I felt good until I realized I wasn't going to be able to make it home. LOL) We went with our Mulkey friends this year as well and Grammie went along for the fun and to make sure Mommy didn't overdo it I am sure. We got to see baby Alyssa in her little ladybug costume. She was so cute and she was so interested in watching Blake. She is Juan and Christina's little miracle and they are great friends. It was fun going and Blake had a blast as Bumblebee. (Yep. A transformer. Shocked huh?? LOL) He was sick on Thursday night throwing up so he had to miss his school carnival on Friday. I think I was more bummed about that though. hehehe The funniest part is that every time he would say trick or treat he would also offer that his Daddy was at home throwing up! He wanted everyone to know that Daddy was sick. He really missed his Daddy. (I was like... What am I chopped liver. LOL) You know boys and their Daddy's. But I am lucky because he also has a special place in his heart for his Mommy too. :-) He has on his pouty face to tell you he missed his Daddy on Halloween. It was his idea. hehehe

Gifts for the Baby

This month one of my greatest friends threw me a shower for our new little baby boy to be. It was a wonderful day filled with friends and family. It was in Rockwall where my friend Lisa lives. A lot of people made the drive and we got great gifts for our new little bundle of joy. Thank you to everyone who came and shared this special occasion with me. I wish we would have gotten a group picture but it went by so fast that we didn't get a chance. I am putting some of the pics of me and my fam and friends that I remembered to get taken. The one with me and Blake and his shirt is a little blurry, but I am posting it anyways. It is so cute! I am never good about remembering to take pics. Maybe that can be my 2010 New Year's resolution. hehehe Blake even got a big brother t-shirt and he loved it. His Godmom, Godaunt, and Godgrandma got him a really cool toy too. He is gonna be such a great big brother. He went around the room giving everyone hugs for all the presents they gave to his brother. So sweet! A piece of advice for some of you who are expecting...never wear a skirt to a baby shower when you are as large as me! LOL I spent a lot of time having to crop the pictures because there was a little peep show. hehehe Thanks Carly!

It has been a month!

Time really flies. It just seems like yesterday I updated the blog, but alas, its been another month. At least I am still holding to my New Year's Resolution about updating monthly. :-) Let's see. Last time we talked I was put on bed rest. Well, I am off now and back at work. I am lucky that my administration is very helpful and 'reminds' me to be sitting. Krystal also works at my school and frequently reminds me that I need to be sitting when she walks by my room. I need the reminders because I get so caught up in teaching I forget and then I regret it. Even my students remind me. I have not had the tightness much lately so I think I am out of the woods on that.

Now I am on bed rest for another reason this week. STUPID SWINE FLU! Yes, I have the luck to get the swine flu while pregnant. I will spare you the details, but after taking all of the drugs I can while I am pregnant, staying in the hospital last Friday and Saturday, I am not better a week later. I started getting pneumonia so they put me on an antibiotic to stop that progression yesterday and I started feeling a little better today. I actually slept for three hours straight this afternoon which is longer than I have in a week! I am not allowed to go back to work until at least Monday because my immune system is so compromised not to mention I have no energy to take a shower much less teach for 8 hours. I didn't like what the doc said at first, but I know she is just looking out for me. It would be a waste if I went and caught something else on top of this junk. The one thing I really learned about my OB through this is that he is a dedicated doctor. He admitted this was new territory for him because he doesn't usually deal with pregnant women with swine flu (Lucky him) and he and his nurse have been trying everything to help me that they can. When I was in the hospital, he came in on Saturday to check on me. I asked the nurse if he usually comes in and she said no. That is going above and beyond. His nurse has also called to check on me several times daily and they have tried to help me as much as they can. I will be writing a wonderful thank you card when the baby comes. Just when I think my doc and his nurse can't impress me more, they do. I would recommend them to everyone! Dr. Greebon at Women's Specialists of Plano is the best and his nurse Justine rocks!

The person I worry most about right now is Blake. He took it very hard when I was in the hospital and while I have been sick in bed. He comes home everyday and asks if I feel better. I told him when Mommy gets better, we are going to have a Blake and Mommy day very very soon! I miss my big boy! Here is a picture of him sleeping with his favorite transformer Bumblebee. The minute he comes in the door, he looks for his transformers. Very cute!