Our crazy life!

Okay, so it's been awhile since my last post. I guess that is to be expected with work, college, softball, a family, and a life! A lot has happened over the past couple of months. Ian is starting to enjoy being a BIG Brother a little bit more everyday, and he loves to make Jax smile. Jaxon is really starting to pay attention to detail and he has began to open up to Ian. He has found his hands and feet, which he uses to beat Ian up on a regular basis. He has also began to laugh and coo at anyone that is paying him attention or talking to him. Branden has switched jobs and is officially back at Thirft Electric. And to top it off, today is the first day of college for me....again. On another note, in all of this craziness, I managed to take a break from life, and enjoy my weekend at Kure Beach with my mother-in-law, brother-in-law and his grilfriend Amber. It was nice to lay on the beach while I read Fifty Shades Freed. This past weekend was exactly what I needed! I was able to visit several new places including Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Fort Fisher, and Southport (we took the ferry). Carolina and Kure Beach along with Fort Fisher were very relaxing and are places that I would love to take the family in the near future. Carolina Beach is a great place for the kids because of the rides, Kure Beach is great for me because it is relaxing, and Fort Fisher is great for Branden because he loves history. Fort Fisher is also home of the aquarium, twisted oak trees, and the ferry to southport which would all be wonderful family adventures. I am looking forward to another wild & crazy couple of months, and I promise that I will try to write more often. Moving onward!

My Life!

As I have grown older, and became a parent to our second child, I have noticed some changes in me and my life. When Ian was a baby, Branden and I were scared and reluctant to some of the things that life had to offer, but we managed to keep pushing along and make the best of what we had. Now, being the parents of two young children, it seems like a daily challenge to go to work, clean the house, and go to the bathroom (alone atleast) when needed. However, in my opinion, there is no greater reward than being a parent. My children and my husband are my life, and I would not change that for anything in this world. On May 31st 2008, I married my best friend, my companion, and my childhood sweetheart. On November 1, 2008 and March 21, 2012, we added to our family and made our house a home. Yes, I will admit that there are times that I would like to strangle my other half, and pinch the small little cheeks of my boys, but in the end....I wouldn't live life any other way! I am truly blessed to have the love, family, and life that I live! Over the past five years, I have learned that life is not about "Waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain". P.S. Bring on the storm! :)

Spring Pictures 2012

Jaxon Craig Lewis has arrived!

Jaxon Craig Lewis
March 21, 2012
6lbs, 8oz
19" long

How do we know?

The month of March was a whirlwind!
After visiting the doctor several times a week for NST's and lab work, it was soon time to make a decision about my health and our baby's health.

On Monday, March 19th I spoke with my doctor at Pinewest and I was informed that my liver enzymes were elevated again. Due to the elevated liver enzymes, Doctor O'Keeffe gave Branden and I the option of a c-section on Wednesday, March 21st or the option to wait another week and deliver on March 28th. During a long conversation, Branden and I contemplated on whether waiting another week to deliver would put me at risk for health problems, but we were also concerned with the health risk for Jaxon.

We had many questions and concerns about the birth of our child.
Would Jaxon be okay if we delivered at 37 weeks?
Should we wait until 38 weeks, even if it meant putting me and my health at risk? How do we know if we are making the right decision?
Are his lungs developed enough for delivery?
Will he need to be transferred to Brenners?

Branden and I made the decision to celebrate Jaxon's birthday on Wednesday,
March 21, 2012. Jaxon's delivery was scheduled for 8:15am @ HP Regional.

Finally We'll Meet

I love you, little baby
You're such a part of me.
Can't wait to hold you in my arms,
And hug you tenderly.
No matter what you look like,
You're beautiful, my love,
A precious gift bequeathed to me,
From heaven far above.
Each time I feel you moving,
My heart is filled with joy,
To think that very soon I'll hold
My little boy,
I'm counting every moment,
Til you're mine at last, my sweet
It won't be long until your birth,
Then finally we'll meet.

Here we go again!

Friday started like any other morning at the Lewis house, with the exception of the extreme amount of pain encompassing my abdomen area. As the pains grew stronger, I made the decision to call into work and take a trip to my OBGYN where I was put on the monitor for contractions. I was informed that I was having a few light contractions, but the baby's heart rate was fine. I was sent home with meds to help to stop the dreadful contractions.

When I arrived home, still in pain, I laid down in the bed where I spent the rest of the afternoon. I called my Grandmother to see if she would pick up my meds for me, and bring them to the house. Once she arrived with the meds, I took the prescribed dose and laid back down. She decided to stay with me for awhile to make sure that I was going to be okay.

A couple of hours later, I developed a temp of 100.4 and decided to contact my GI doctor because the pain had gotten worse. Upon reaching the doc on call, I was instructed to go directly to the hospital (Forsyth Medical Center). Mom and Grandma accompanied me to the hosiptal and I was taken directly to the 4th floor for monitoring (Labor & Delivery). They gathered information, labs, and continued to make me miserable by checking my cervix for dilation. Once they realized that Baby Jaxon was fine and Mom was the one in trouble, the nurse inserted an IV for fluids and pain meds. I received fluids from 4:30-11pm in Labor & Delivery and was finally admitted into the hospital around midnight.

Saturday, was another day of fun at Forsyth!
I was examined and poked by 4 doctors and taken down for an ultrasound and x-ray of my gallbladder, liver and abdomen. After all of these tests, I was told that my WBC, Liver enzymes, and platelet count were elevated which could mean a number of things. During pregnany, it could mean that I am developing toxemia, or on the other side of things (the Crohn's side)it could mean that I was having a flare up. However, They were not definate and that night I was also informed that there was "sludge" in my gall bladder.

"Sludge"....what does that mean?
For me, It meant that I had to drink an entire bottle of miralax (3 pitchers of gatorade filled with miralax) to clean out my system, which was necessary to verify that there were not any portions of my bowel that were restricted.

Needless to say, come Sunday...this gal was ready to go home!

Why me?

I spent most of the night (Superbowl Sunday) at High Point Regional Hospital. I starting feeling bad and hurting in my lower back on Saturday morning, but the pain continued through Sunday. After sleeping most of the day on Sunday, I decided to contact my doctor. After contacting her, I was instructed to go to L&D for monitoring. Grandma Liz joined me on the journey. I was monitored for approx 2-3 hours and sent home with antibiotics for another UTI.
A pregnant lady, in pain, with a UTI is no fun for anyone!

Elin Chloe Hulin

On Friday February 3rd, we were blessed with another member of our family. Pamela and Chuck Hulin welcomed their baby girl into the world. Elin Chloe Hulin was born @ 11:14pm, and she weighed 6lbs and 11oz. Mom, Dad, & BIG Brother (Alec) were very excited!

Carbs, carbs, and more carbs!

I attended my first class for Gestational Diabetes last Friday, where I learned that I need to include more carbs in my diet. By doing so, my body works harder so little Jaxon does'nt have too. I feel really excited about having a plan to control the diabetes, but I am really discouraged by the amount of food that I have to eat. I am required to eat 3 meals a day and 3 snacks a day, which I have never done in my entire 30 years of life. The magic numbers to keep the diabetes under control are 30-35 (carbs for breakfast), 20-25 (carbs for each snack) and 60-65 carbs for lunch and dinner. So far, I think I have done okay (this past week), but eating all of this food is making me nauseous. However, I guess I will just suck it up and get over it because, I gotta do what I gotta do to keep me and baby safe. In the end, I hope that all of this pays off with a beautiful, healthy baby boy!

Don't tell me that!

Branden and Jeff worked at Hinkle Street yesterday, making good progress. Unfortunately, it seems the more they tear out, the more construction issues arise. I learned that there is now an issue with the chimney in the kitchen. All of the interior and exterior walls around it are crumbling. For my husband this means, more work, more money, and one big fat headache. For me this means, trying to be supportive while on the inside I am really saying "I told you so". I know that in the long run, making all of these repairs to Hinkle Street will be worth it, but I am having a really hard time right now seeing past the bad, and sometimes I still wonder if this is a good idea.

Please, let there be light at the end of the tunnel :)

The wonderful world of baby names!

Okay, Okay, I must admit that my husband is notorious for crazy names when it comes to naming our children. With Ian, I think he picked crazy names just to irritate me, but I am not so sure this time around. When we found out we were having Ian, Branden decided that he liked the names Constantine, Sebastian and Maximus...Which did'nt happen!

Now, that we are pregnant with baby #2, he has decided that he likes the names Crash and Link. When I first learned that he liked these names, my first questions to him were "Where did you come from" and "Are you nuts"? Branden just laughed it off and told me that he really liked "Crash". At this point, I was not amused, because he even had Ian calling the new baby "Crash".

I did'nt want to take the risk of having my child hate me, or take the chance of him being frowned upon because of a name like "Crash", so we got a baby name book and chose a couple of new names. While brainstorming, I think we have now compromised and finalized a name for our new addition.

We have decided to name our new bundle of joy Jaxon Craig Lewis.

Finally...That's what I needed!

I awoke this morning very rested and proud of my Ian bug. Lastnight was the first night that he slept in his bed ALL NIGHT LONG! Eventhough, I had to lay with him in his room until he fell asleep, and comfort him at 1:15 when he was awakened and scared, It was well worth it! I finally got a good nights sleep :)

I think I will let him put 2 stickers on his behavior chart tonight, for being a BIG BOY and sleeping in his own room and his OWN bed!

UT OH...SPAGHETTIO'S!

Earlier this week, I had a follow up appt @ Pinewest OBGYN. I had the luxury of doing a 3 hour glucose screening, having another ultrasound and seeing the doc. After the glucose screening I was notified that I have gestational diabetes. Ut Oh....Spaghettio's! What does this mean for me? It means that I have to watch my diet, drink only water and particpate in classes at The Diabetes Center. I am so not looking forward to this! During my appt, I was also informed that I would need to make appts with Pinewest every two weeks now because it is getting closer and closer to the day that we meet our new baby boy!