Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas Sweet Christmas!!

Below is a look back at our Christmas 2008!! Enjoy!
Christmas started the Sunday before Christmas with G-pop and Karen. They gave her a slide that she loves along with a riding horse (yet to be pictured)
Mommy tickling Presley while resting/recovering from the crazy Thursday at the hospital

Presley cuddling up
Grandma making Presley laugh
Yay for presents!! Thanks Grandma!
We started celebrating Christmas early with opening presents from Grandma the day before Christmas Eve.

Waiting patiently
Nana let Presley open a present early on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve!! My favorite day of the entire season.
Nana & Papa gave Presley a kitchen set!! THANK YOU!! :)
Family photo at Mom & Dad's! Presley was getting a little tired.
Giving Daisy a hug before bed.
Hugging Nana before bed.
Presley's asleep!! Now it is time to open presents from the family. YAY! It is a tradition for my family to exchange presents on Christmas Eve.
Opening my Chi!! YAY. I am already cuddling up in my new blanket.....look at Wes trying to steal some.
Socks from Amy and Jason. I love comfort socks. I can barely lift my leg.
Baking with mom
Stockings are full
Santa came!! YAY!
Presley trying out her new bear rug pillow. It is so soft. The rocking chair in the photo is one that Wes restored. It was mine as a little girl that came from my Maga's house (Maga is my Grandma)
Making Monkey Bread! YUM!
Presley reading the recipe card. I have awful bedhead in this picture.Presley digging into her stocking
Daddy helping Presley with another present.
Opening her first present.

She was on a roll opening gifts.Trying out her new doctor's kit

Giving herself a shot....shocking!
Santa was good to Presley
About to open my new set of pots and pans!!
Outfitting Wes for work.

Hanging out in my Uncle's kitchen in Jacksonville NC.
Presley and Uncle Stephen playing the piano.
Family photo with my Maga....minus my brother Jason.

Presley trying out her new bath toys she got for Christmas.

The Ordeal!!

Ok.....so it was about 4am on Thursday morning a week before Christmas when I awoke with some minor back pain. I eventually had to get up and go down stairs to try and relieve the pain I was feeling. Well....lets just say it never subsided. By the time 6am rolled around I was bent over in pain. Thankfully I had a doctors appointment scheduled that morning at 8:45am. Wes ended up driving me to my appointment with Presley because there was no way I was going to make it by myself. I think this appointment was the quickest I have ever been worked up and sent back to see the doctors. The doctor wanted to admit me to the hospital to monitor the baby and have a ultrasound of my kidney. By this time I was well aware that what I was dealing with was a kidney stone.
I was admitted into the maternity ward and set up on all monitors to make sure Miss Rylee was never in distress. I usually think I can tolerate pain pretty well but this was absolutely awful. I have never been in so much pain to the point of getting sick.....and that day it happened.
Wes was wonderful....once he realized I was going to be there for awhile he called one of our dearest friends to watch Presley. She was more than happy to take her off our hands for the day. Thanks Andrea!! Wes didn't want to leave me by myself so we called my mom and she was there within 15-20 minutes. Since this was the last day before Wes was off for Christmas he had several appointments lined up that I didn't want him to cancel. I thought they would probably release me around noon with pain medication so mom can sit with me until then. After my sweet hubby left the pain became even more intolerable....and what we thought would a quick assessment and a prescription for pain medication became an all day affair.
It ended up that my kidney was swollen and blocked by the stone so the only option was for them to go up there and get the stone. The doctor went over the procedure and once he was finished I asked "Will I be asleep for this?" to which he replied "yes" and my immediate response was "lets do this now!!" To be knocked out and not feel the pain was music to my ears. The OB nurse would monitor Miss Rylee the entire time.
After the procedure was completed I felt amazing. The doctor ended up putting a stint in my kidney because of how swollen it was. He was concerned that it may swell shut and cause more problems. At the time I didn't care....just having some relief was awesome.
Well....it didn't take too long before I began to hate that dreaded stint. I was scheduled on Tuesday to have it removed. That is 5 1/2 days of awfulness. My body slowly began to reject the stint to which I felt as though I had the flu. Plus normal activities where painful now. I was so bummed. Here it was the week before Christmas and I was stuck lying around feeling awful.
Luckily my loving and devoted husband jumped in for the rescue. He was a total Mr. Mom. Taking care of everything with Presley, the house, final Christmas errands etc. I don't know what I would have done without him. I was unable to pick Presley up, get on the floor and change her, or much less walk around. I couldn't have asked for a better friend and loved one to watch over me the way he did. I love you buddy!!
Finally relief of Tuesday the day before Christmas eve. Let me tell you....I walked into the office in pain and feeling like I had the flu and walked out of the office almost skipping. That is how much relief I felt after having the stint removed. It wasn't until about Christmas day until I felt more like myself but at least the ordeal was over with.
Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the Christmas lights, family, traditions, baking, gifts....just about everything. This year was tough for me because I felt as though my normal Christmas routine was rudely interrupted. The silver lining was that I never felt more loved than I did that week by friends and family who supported me through it all. Even Presley would kiss my hand and say "All better Mommy."
Thanks to all who helped me through this ordeal. And a very special thanks to Wesley who provided more support and love than I could have ever imagined. Also to my mom....you were a trooper that day at the hospital and I couldn't have done it without you.

Monday, December 22, 2008

All I want for Christmas!!

When comes to asking Presley what she wants for Christmas the entire spectrum of ideas is covered with one word! Below is the dialogue that goes on between her and anyone who asks "What do you want from Santa for Christmas."

Me: "What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
Presley: Toys!!! (She usually screams this)
Me: Anything else?
Presley: Candy Canes!

Too cute!

Friday, December 12, 2008

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!


Christmas time is in full swing and I could not be happier!! I love this time of year. I love spending time with friends and family, shopping, the cold weather, baking, traditions (new and old) and relaxing by the Christmas tree in the evenings with my husband. :)


I am almost finished with my shopping. Just a few more people to check off. Wes and Presley are finished though and their presents are wrapped and ready. Yippee. I have also started my baking which I absolutely love. My mom gave me a new recipe called reindeer treats and they are quite yummy.


The only difficult obstacle I have this Christmas is my body. It aches if I am on my feet too long and since I love to shop it poses a little of a problem. It starts with my feet and heads straight to my back. I will be 28 weeks tomorrow so the extra weight doesn't help with all the running around I'm doing. But none the less I have enjoyed this Christmas season so far and look forward to being surrounded by the ones I love on Christmas. I hope everyone has a very blessed Christmas. :)

Monday, December 8, 2008

A Glimpse at our Mountain Thanksgiving Memories


We started off Thanksgiving by celebrating my brother's birthday!! He turned 23!
The baking starts
Staying warm by the fire
Exhausted after playing outside. She was frozen.

Baking again...but this time with a helper. ;)
The beautiful flowers Wes gave me and I had to bring them to the mountains
Wes & Jason chopping fire wood
Puzzle time
Mommy & Presley
Thanksgiving photo
She loves to color
Pre-thanksgiving snack
Papa & Presley
1st time cutting down our Christmas tree. It was freezing and sleeting outside...but we did it!!