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About Me

My photo
Western North Dakota , United States
My husband, Allen, and I are high school sweet hearts. We started dating Sep.99'- I kind of followed Allen home one day, and never did leave, is Allen's story. November 02' we were engaged, and on November 22,2003 - we were married. Having been married for 6 years in 2009, marked the 5th year we had been trying to start our family. With the referral of a Fertility Specialist from a friend, our IUI attempts ended up being a complete success despite my doubts. We welcomed our sweet little girl, Hayleigh into the world on June 30,2010 at 6:28am after 37wks and 1 day of gestation. She weighed 7lbs 14oz and was 20 in long. We found out that we were Baby #2 on April Fool's Day- a complete surprise! Reid Allen was born 11/13/12 3:24am 9lbs 8.2oz 21", after 38wks 5 days. Our 3rd baby, Eva Jane, was born on April 19, 2015 after suffering a pregnancy loss June of 2014. We are currently anxiously awaiting baby #4 due 2 days before Eva's birthday, so we are having Irish Twins! Our family is so blessed and happy to be growing!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Sleepless and Coloring Eggs with Kool-aide

It is now 1:13am. I cannot sleep! Allen is due to fly in tonight!!! I cannot wait for that one. It has been a looooonngg 2 week hitch this time too. We are still juggling our stuff, and still in limbo, but have a game plan. You know I'm all about having a set plan. I don't like not knowing or having an idea in my head of what to do, or what is going on. I know... I'm kind of a control freak. I worry a lot- probably too much about random stuff.

Take tonight... I swear when I went to put Reid into his 3-6 month sleeper, it had shrunk! How has it happened that 3-6 months is getting snug on our little..well not so little man??!! So, like anyone would do, I started to freak out about him not having hardly any sleepers now. Boom! I was on ebay, the online yard sale site on facebook, gap, old navy, gymboree, JC Penny, Kohls, Children's Place- comparison shopping. I ended up ordering from Old Navy and Kohl's. Kohl's had a few better deals, but Old Navy's stuff was more what I wanted for Reid to wear. I also ended up getting Hayleigh a dress on Kohl's website too and a few pjs for her too- she's growing like a weed! I'm planning on using the dress for 4th of July- and have a plan for some cute accessories for it that we already have. I also bought and bid on a few things off of ebay. I got a new pj Old Navy set for Hayleigh for $5 with shipping, bought a sweater for Hayleigh that is a Gap, and a Gap swim top with a hood for Reid. Both kids will end up having way too many clothes- but at least they will have plenty of clothes to get them through to winter.

Like I said up above, we have a plan, and I cannot discuss that just quite yet. I know that it will be hard, and if anyone wants to tag in, go right on ahead.

We colored Easter eggs today with Kool-aide. The eggs actually did turn out more vibrant.

Anyway, I had a nice evening sitting with Hayleigh watching tv, and shopping. Hearing her go "that's cute!" makes it all that much more fun.

Here are some photos from the weekend:














Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Trying Not to Have Babies for the 1st Time in My Life

Funny how most of my adult married life, I spent most of it trying to get pregnant. Now that we are past that time in our lives/marriage, I'm at the opposite end of that spectrum for the first time. I wish I knew we wouldn't be able to have more kids- that would be soo easy! BUT, I don't want to be 40 years old with a new oops baby on the way again. Sad to think that something we spent so much time and money on trying to achieve is now what we are spending time and money to not have happen after all of those years.

After Reid was born, I went back to my post pardom appointment and talked to my midwife about different options for us. Allen getting fixed just isn't an option at this time because of the amount of down time he will need and he just cannot take off for a couple of weeks, or go on light duty for it either for now. I went ahead and opted for the Mirena, since I didn't want to have to remember to take a pill every day, or get fixed, undergoing surgery for that too. A couple of weeks after I had my initial post pardom checkup, I got the Mirena put in. I did do some checking into it, and for the most part everyone I talked to that had it LOVED it. There are a few things that no one tells you about or talks about though until AFTER you get it... When I was at the appointment, getting it put in, the nurse told me as long as I could reach in and feel one cable string, I was golden. Cable String??!! WTF is that! Well, it was already in, and too late to ask about that- but they have to leave these cable strings in where they can reach them to extract it when it is time for it to be removed. UGHH! I am also have bloating, weight gain- I'm afraid to even look, breaking out on my face, and cramps like I experienced with taking fertility shots to make me produce follicles. Needless to say, this thing is coming out a week from today!

I did read all of the possible side effects this thing could do to me- the usual ones... so I didn't bat an eye about it. Now, 99% of everyone I talked to that had this thing didn't have a period after having it put in. Me... let's just say that it wasn't wondering when I would ever bleed, it was when am I not bleeding? OMG!! WHO would want to live like this? And, another thing....those cable strings... YEAH.... Well I will just say that my husband HATES them. They poke him like a tooth pick or needle. No one said much of anything about that one either. After that first happened to Allen, he was ready for me to go back and get the thing ripped out. It has basically reeked havoc on every aspect of my life right now in one way or another.

Anyway, I know this post was a little TMI but, I wish I would have known then what I know now about it all.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Dodging

I realize I haven't been on here much at all. I've kind of been dodging writing about what all is going on, mainly because it's nothing I really want to write about. Things are in limbo here, and it's driving me completely bat S**t crazy! Sorry, but that is how I feel right now.. almost at my whit's end. I swear that we have been back and forth, and back again on what is going to happen, or on what is going on. I have a lot of love hate relationships right now, and all I want is peace and quiet along with space to myself.
We are currently still staying with my mom- HOPEFULLY in a month we will be settled or be settling into our own place. The subject of our own place is the thing that is going back and forth and is the whole limbo deal right now. I'm mainly just ready for my routine to be restored, and not to feel so frazzled out anymore. There are some things that have been decided that I cannot say yet- but a big fat ugly storm is coming, and I would just rather bury my head in the sand right now, and wait for someone to pat me on the shoulder and tell me it's all over, and go on with my happy self. EHHHHT! That's not going to happen. My world is upside down right now, along with Allen and the poor kids, but I know I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and things will be much better soon!

Reid turned 4 months old yesterday! 4 MONTHS already!! Makes me want to cry sometimes, but no matter how sad I get over both him and Hayleigh growing up more and more, the more excited I get over the new things we are able to do. Next year, Allen and I are planning on taking them to Disney World. I'm really thinking it will be a just the 4 of us kind of thing. I think we would be able to enjoy it all a little more relaxed than if we had family with us.

Last night, I attempted to go on a night on the town by myself. I have been chomping on the bit to see Oz the Great and Powerful... well, after my mom canceled on me last minute on babysitting the kids, I made arrangements for Allen's grandparents to watch the kids. NO Problem right? WRONG....After 35 minutes into the movie, I get a call. I had my phone on vibrate for just in case... well, Reid had been crying and screaming for the past 45 minutes - basically 20 minutes after I left him happy go lucky. Allen's grandma was trying everything to make him happy, and to calm down, and told me to call back in five minutes to check back. Well, I did, and had to leave the movie. Poor guy was constipated. I ended up having to give him a few enemas, and that made everything all better. It's funny that since we have been back in Illinois, and Reid has had the chance to show everyone his upset side, they understand how I felt all by myself for 2 weeks at a time with both kids, and don't think having a glass of wine a night was so terrible after all. Now, Reid is not like that much anymore- but he was last night. Hopefully I can see the rest of that move on Sunday while I leave both kids with my mom.

I just know that in the upcoming few weeks, there will be hell to pay, and I'm not at all looking forward to it. I'll keep everyone updated the best I can.









On a good note, here are a few of the pics from Reid's 3 month pictures that we had taken from Jessica at Jessica Benson Photography~

Friday, March 1, 2013

Home and Making Memories...

So, it's been a month since I've been on here, and I thought I would catch y'all up on what we've been up to. Well, first things first... we moved back home. While I cannot tell you just how we arrived here on this decision- lots of debating over it all, we are in fact back to stay. For how long? Well, that is something I can't answer just yet either, but it will be at least a few years. I'm getting our house ready now for us to move into, and getting ready to make the trip back to Colorado to get our stuff.

I've been quite busy lately- with trying to get the house ready, ordering carpet, laying tile, getting Reid & Hayleigh's pictures taken... busy, busy, busy!

Today, after ordering $255 worth of pictures, I found that I had something I wanted to say about capturing memories. Allen and I had agreed that if we were to stay out in Colorado, one thing was for sure, I would be getting my own camera to take our own pictures. For one, it is too expensive out there to go every few months to get pictures taken. When you consider having to pay a $150 minimum sitting fee BEFORE booking, then with prints starting out at $35 a piece for 5x7- it really becomes ridiculous. That is what I ordered today- all 5x7 prints from one of the photographers we used out there. I ordered them that way, so they can go on the wall, and I won't go completely broke off of buying them too. What I find ridiculous about the whole deal is that I did some research, and found out just how much a professional lab charges for pictures. I have an account with 3 different ones now. It all boils down to highway robbery. Now, I know pictures are something to invest in, but just how much should they cost?? Take our maternity and newborn pictures we had taken- they cost a $200 sitting fee- I got a deal on that for booking them together. So, I already had $200 invested in pictures without getting any pictures in hand. Then, the prints started out at $35 a piece. So- I would have about $500 per session worth of pictures to pay for if I got all that I really wanted- which would be 20 5x7 prints total. At the lab they cost around $5 per 5x7- about the same cost as shutterfly. So, while I'm paying $35 for 1 5x7 print, the photographer is making around $30 off of ONE print. ONE PRINT!!! This not only makes me sick, but of course I was disappointed with the newborn session. We did not get any good family pictures at all. Part of the package deal is that the photographer talks with you and has you create a board on pinterest to get an idea of what you want to get out of your session. Well, I can tell you that it wasn't even close, and now I cannot do it over. I couldn't do it over anyway after they were taken, because I did not get to look at the proofs until almost a month later. This was another thing I really did not like out there- with the two photographers we used. Turn around time. It was awful. I guess I'm spoiled with our photographer back here is all it comes down to. I pay a $40 sitting fee- to which I always tip her an extra $10. Our proofs are up within 1 WEEK for us to see. I pay $10 for an 8x10 and $15 for an 11x14, so after putting in my order yesterday with her, I spent less, and got a whole lot more on prints. Plus I got the high resolution disc of all of the proofs for $75. Why am I ranting about this? I cannot honestly tell a difference between the quality of work. They all use the same caliber of cameras, but one is way cheaper. You could blame the areas, but still. If we were to stay out in Colorado, I would be taking my own pictures because of one thing. If you can look me in the face, and sleep well at night, while well knowing you are charging me what you are charging for prints and making that much off a print all while talking to me at the session about saving money, you are no better than a politician to me. I will not be back. Take 1 month to give me proofs to look at after charging a $200 sitting fee- that is ridiculous! Our Christmas pictures went the same way with the other photographer. We didn't have to pay a sitting  fee, but the session started out at $45 for 1 pose. While we had a great time with Santa, and we did get beyond what I thought we would get, and we did get to pick out the prints right then and there, the turn around time was awful. I got half of our prints a week later, and the other half 2 weeks AFTER Christmas, after spending the extra $120 on pictures that were intended to be Christmas gifts. Needless to say I was hot. I know that if I would have known the turn around time would be similar on both photographers, I would have had the one that did our Santa pictures do the rest of our pictures. She was more experienced with the whole newborn scene, and I wish we would have had some better pictures like she takes. I know some of you are thinking, then if those two were so expensive, and had such bad turn around time, why didn't I use someone else that was cheaper and had better turn around? This is simple... there is no one out there that is cheaper or has a better turn around time... there are no photographers like what we have around here in our area out there. People will pay and wait out there, so there has not been a boom of photographers out there like there has here. I cannot tell you just how grateful I am that my Mother N Law was visiting and took lots of great pictures for us. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have much for Reid if it wasn't for her.

My other question about all of this is would these same photographers be happy paying the amounts they charge for prints or sitting fees? My guess is no, since they do their own.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say about pictures. Make them affordable, have a quick turn around on them with a great quality, get the poses your clients want, and you will have happy happy happy customers! Just ask Jessica who takes all of our pictures.. she is now booked up for Fall, and most of the year from doing all of this. She always captures the poses that I'm looking for, and makes sure we all have a great time while doing so. Sometimes it is NOT the high cost photographer that is the better choice! I have pictures from all three photographers on my blog here- the 2 from Colorado, and Jessica. You tell me if you can tell the difference between what costs more to have taken...