An Update On My Life...

Ok.. Where to begin? Well, I spent 3 days in the hospital with Brody... Apparently he had severe jaundice and a really low red blood cell count. The jaundice is gone... thank God! But, the red blood cell count keeps dropping. He's going ti have to go back for more blood work in a few weeks. If the levels continue to drop, he will have to have a blood transfusion. I pray to God we don't have to take that route.
A.J. (my little brother) has been diagnosed with cancer... the doctors said there really isn't much they can do. The cancer is in his lungs, vocal chords, spinal cord, and thyroid. This scares the crap out of me. He comes here every weekend to stay the night. I just can't imagine NOT having him here. He's such an amazing kid. He's so sweet and caring. I pray to God every night that he will be ok. The doctors said there isn't much they can do. I'm not sure if it's because it's too advanced or because they don't know what to do.... I am so scared for him... He's my buddy \! Jakob adores him! Please pray for him... I love this kid like he's my own...

My Baby Brother

My family has been through so much since 2004. My mom was hit by a car and killed, my dad passed unexpectedly from congestive heart failure, my daughter died 6 hours after birth.... the list goes on. Well, we found out earlier this week that my 13 year old brother needed his thyroid removed. The doctors told my step dad that the thyroid could be cancerous.

Well, he went in for surgery to have it removed yesterday at 1:00pm. We were told the surgery would be about 5 hours. Well, after 8:00 came around, no one knew what was going on and everyone was getting worried. Finally, at about 9ish, we got the call...

My 13 year old baby brother had tumors all over his thyroid. They had also found a bunch in his lungs. We still didn't know everything but we knew most of it...

Well, finally at about 10 they took him out of surgery and put him in a room. We were then told the news...

My brother has cancer at 13. He has it in his thyroid, lungs, spinal cord, vocal cords, and his chest cavity is caked with it. We haven't been able to talk with the oncologist yet. But from what they have told us, there isn't much they can do. The cancer is that bad.

The doctors said it looks like this cancer has been growing for at least 8 or 9 years.

I am so mad... so sad.... I just can't believe this shit keeps happening to my family. Haven't we already been through enough? I can't go see my brother because he's 2 hours away in a hospital and I can't travel that far. I feel so helpless right now. I just don't know what to do...

Brody Paul

Next Tuesday at 11:00am I will be heading into surgery. I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has gone! I am going to be having a baby in 7 DAYS!! That is a week!! I am so excited yet so scared! Today I hit 37 weeks which is full term so this little guy could come any day!

We were laying in bed last night talking about everything! How fast this is going.... How fast Jakob is growing. It's crazy! I wonder who he's going to look like. Jakob looks like both of us... poor kid! lol

It truly does go by so fast after they are born. I look at Jakob everyday and can't believe how fast he's growing! He's going to be a big brother soon! My little baby is going to be a big brother! Just thinking about makes me want to cry! I can remember the day he was born like it was yesterday... yet here he is running, talking, and learning so much everyday...

So, here is to my last 7 days of being able to cherish Jakob and have him as my only child. Because come next Tuesday, I'm going to be a mom of 2!!!

Ultrasound...

My doctor left and I'm now seeing a whole new doctor for the last month of this pregnancy. This doctor sucks! We went in to meet her two weeks ago and she seemed great. The following Wednesday I had another appointment with her. At this appointment, she decides to tell me that she wants to do my c-section at 35 weeks. I was in shock! That is way too early! I have had both of my kids rushed to the NICU after birth and I really don't want to do that again. So I told her I would let her know the following day. Well, Thursday morning I had an u/s just to check on the baby. I requested it because I am really paranoid with my pregnancies now.
So, we have the ultrasound and they said everything looked great. Baby is growing fine, everything is great. Well, as I'm walking out, the doc says, "See you back in a few weeks to have a baby." I decided right then and there that they were not going to push me into an early birth. So, I told her that we would not be doing the c-section on July 8th. They then proceed to tell us that this baby is too small and not growing properly. Hmmm.... didn't they just say he was fine?!?
So, now I go back this weds. for another appointment with my new doc. I'm confused! Why would they say he was fine then in the same minute tell me he's too small? I guess we'll find out weds. But I can tell you right now, I will NOT be having my baby early for their convenience!

We're having a baby July 21, 2009

Ok... Brett and I both knew that we wanted more kids. We didn't know when but if it happened, it happened. Well, it happened...
It was about a month before Christmas and I was at Target picking up a few things for Jakob's stocking. I passed the pregnancy test aisle... then went back. I didn't think I was pregnant but figured I'd make sure. I finished my shopping and went home. I was showing Brett all of the stuff I bought when I came across the test. I'd completely forgotten about it! I shoved it in my back pocket and headed off to the bathroom. I wasn't nervous or anything because I was pretty sure I was not pregnant. Did my thing with the little strip and waited about 3 seconds... suddenly, there appears TWO lines!! WHAT?!?
So I calmly walk out of the bathroom and walk straight to Brett... He has no idea how much his life is about to change.
I hand him the test and wait for a reaction. After about 10 seconds he looks at me and says, "yeah right." Not the reaction I expected... Then he looks at me again and says, "Seriously?" "Yup... we're having another baby!"
It was a pretty big shock to both of us but we were so excited!! Brett looked a little scared at first but this is a big deal! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared too! I mean we have a son who isn't even 2 yet and another on the way!
So, we go to the doctor and have an ultrasound, I was only 6 weeks when I found out. This was going to be a long 40 weeks! At 20 weeks we went to see the specialist to make sure there weren't any problems and found out we were having another BOY!
I look at Jakob everyday and think to myself, "My baby is going to be a big brother." It makes me kind of sad that Jakob will not be the "baby" for much longer but I know he's going to be a great big brother.

Jakob Aiden

Compared to my first pregnancy, the second one was easy as pie. All of the appointments were normal, everything was going great! We decided when I was 28 weeks that we were moving. We had found a nice 2 bedroom house that was way bigger than the one we were in. When I was 32 weeks, we finally got the keys and were able to move in. We started with the smaller stuff... dishes, t.v., clothes, stuff like that. Finally at about midnight we decide we are done for the night. We get home and we're both exhausted and pass out within minutes. I woke up at about 1:30am with wet pants. hmmm... There is no way I just peed my pants! lol So I change and go back to bed. At about 2:00 I wake up again. Same thing... Well this time I go to the bathroom and guess what... it happens while I'm getting new undies and pants on. Ok... now I'm freaking out. I go to the bedroom and tell Brett to get up we need to go to the hospital. I run around throwing stuff in a bag since I never got the chance to pack one. We get in the car and drive to Saginaw. I am leaking the whole time. They get us in and test the fluid and sure enough, my water bag has ruptured. It didn't break completely so they put me in a room and start me on antibiotics. The doctor comes in and tells me that they are going to try to push me to 33 weeks. That's a whole week away! So I'm stuck for a week. They started me on steroid shots to help Jakob's lungs develop so when he does come he'll have a better chance of breathing on his own. Finally I hit 33 weeks! They start me on Pitocin and wait for active labor to start. After 2 days of Pitocin, I am not progressing at all. My doctor comes in and asks me if we want to do a c-section.
I've been in the hospital for a week... ummmm yeah. CUT ME!! lol So within a matter of minutes I am on the surgery table and they are getting me ready. Brett is white as a ghost and looks like he's going to puke! I start to get a little worried because this time is taking alot longer than the first c-section. Jakob was stuck! He was lodged in my ribs and they were having a hard time getting him out. Finally after about an hour they got him! It took a few minutes then I heard him cry. Oh talk about relief! As soon as I heard that little cry I felt so much better! I was able to see him for about 2 minutes then he was taken up to the NICU... after 11 days of being in the NICU Jakob was able to come home with us. He's now a very happy and healthy 2 year old little boy!!

Holy Crap i'm pregnant!! July/August 2006

Now I know I've been writing alot of sad stuff lately so I figured it's time for one of my happy stories! Jakob... ahhhh... Jakob. This little boy is the love of my life. I can't even picture life before him!
July/August of 2006... We had just been through a few really hard years. 3 months prior we had lost our daughter. I needed to get away for a little while and so did Brett. We decided we were going to Cedar Point! I called my sister Jenny to see if she wanted to go to. Of course she said yes. lol After a really long drive we were at Cedar Point... We picked our campsite. It was... interesting to say the least. There were ducks everywhere! With the ducks came a layer of duck poop all over this campsite. It was pretty nasty but we decided to stick it out because there were no other campsites available anywhere. We unpack and decide to head over to Cedar Point. After many hours in 106 degree weather we were pretty exhausted. I started to feel sick and figured I was getting heat poisoning. We get back to our campsite and I am seriously sick and miserable! Jenny is hot and crabby and Brett is ready to kill us both... About 11:00pm after many hours of us whining, Brett throws everything in the car and says we're going home. I mean literally threw everything in the car! No packing. No putting the tent away nice and pretty. Nothing. Just threw it all in. Looking back it's funny. At the time, not so much. lol We head home... 2 hours later, I'm sick. Brett has to pull over and I'm getting sick all over the highway. Heat poisoning... After many many hours and too much puking we get home!!
Later that week, I decide I'm going to take a pregnancy test... sure enough I was pregnant! So Jakob has already ridden quite a few roller coasters! lol