Lately My Dear!

I have been back to work for a month now, and all I can say is..........AHHH!  It is easy juggling kids, mostly because I am used to it. I feel like three isn't much harder than two kids. I don't know why but we have adjusted well with Aubree. Brady has had the hardest adjustment with me being back to work. The question is, Do I clean my house on my days off or do I play with my kids? It's hard juggling that. I love being with my kiddos and seeing them happy. If I am cleaning the house on my days off, it gets fustrating because there is always a mess somewhere and there will always be dishes and laundry.

Update we have. Brayden is spitting out sentences that I can understand but he needs more help with speech. I am pushing for him to get speech. He will be getting an evaluation in the next couple weeks. He can say things like, "I don't want to." Or "I want to go outside." But he still needs help. He is a smart little guy. Time out is working for his discipline because he hates it. He threw a ball at his sisters head today. Do the crime, pay the time!

Lizzie is doing well, she is so excited for her birthday. She was outside sweeping our porch because she always likes to help. She warms my heart, she is always trying to help with everything. We have a huge suprise for her on her birthday. She really wants a La-la-loopsy doll.  Can't wait!
She turns 5 on August 7th.

Aubree is huge and growing like a weed. She is cooing and smiling all the time. She truley is a good baby. I think God thought I needed a break with her, she is just always happy. She has some major thunder thighs! I am not used to her being so big because Preemies take their time to grow. We are in 3-6 month clothing now. Brady was in 0-3 months for 6 months, at least that what it seemed.

Some pictures....
The Girls

 Daddy (who would kill me for posting this pic) and Brady and Lizie at the movies. Brady's first movie was Brave.

Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to my husband! He does a lot for our house and spends all of his spare time with our kids. Poor Daddy had to work today but we made him BBQ pork sandwiches (his favorite) and he was pleased. Lizzie made him a bowl out of clay.

A picture with Daddy tonight after story time!

Busy times!!!

Summer is here in Michigan, thank god!!! The kids just love it!! We have had lots of happenings with my oldest daughter, her recital, and preschool awards. There is a splash pad that just opened up in our town and it's a great place for the kids to play for an hour or so. I am starting to pump and get ready for back to work because I go back in two weeks. I am nervous of juggling three kids and daycare but it can be done.

Here are some pics for now!

Lizzie with her Preschool award for "Preschooler that lights up the Room"

 Brady sleeping because summer time wears you out, lol!

Aubree just in the middle of a "Milk Coma."

Reflection

I am so thankful to make it to 37 weeks and 5 days with my last pregnancy. This past winter has been really hard for our family. Brayden has asthma and it's severe when he is sick. My daughter is in preschool and she brought home so many colds and Brady would get sick too. It takes a lot longer for preemies to get better from my experience. I took Brady into the doctors in March and his pulse ox was 88% and he had a double ear infection, fever, and a cough. When he is sick, he's sick. He is so brave and always goes with the flow. Gee, it's a good thing his name means "Brave."   This winter was rough for not only my kiddos but a tired pregnant Momma.

As far as my pregnancy goes,  it was okay.. I had some blood pressure issues and if I stayed pregnant longer- I would have been preclamptic. My blood pressure is usually 115/60, and no higher. When I got to 34 weeks, it got higher and it was 130/85. Yikes!! I went to a different OB this time and they watched me like a hawk. I had weekly Biophysical Profiles, NST and a OB appointment. I met with a Maternal fetal medicine once to discuss delivery options. I did not want a C-Section, but I had to think what was best for my daughter and I. Do I want a uterine abruption? Or a placental abruption? Not at all!!!!! A C-Section is much more recovery than a vaginal birth. When I had my first daughter I felt great and was walking around the room holding her (like 30 minutes after). A C-section isn't like that at all. Although my recovery this time around has been good.

It was such a blessing this time around. Being able to hold my daughter after giving birth, and being able to take her home. It was wonderful to hear her pediatrician in the OR yell, "She's good." I didn't have to go up to the NICU and be on my hands and knees praying. So many Micro-preemie Mammas can relate. I remember when I brought Brayden home after his 70 days in the NICU and wearing PJ's the first month because it was so nice to not have to get dressed to see him. Oh, and I am blessed to have such a good little eater, I didn't have to work hard to breast feed this little one. She already had  her rooting and sucking reflex down.  I got to Nurse her right after she was born. It's so important to me that I breast feed my children. Every Mom can't breast feed and it isn't easy especially for a Preemie Momma or child with a poor latch. I want to be a lactation consultant. I hope to pursue this career this fall. I am rambling a bit here! Sorry!

Of course, I love my son. He's so busy and into everything and he is going to be the death of me. He used to have episodes of low oxygen (de-sats) and have the Nurses running to his room. Now he has me chasing him everywhere. Let me tell you, it's so much fun chasing a two-year old down a hill when you are 9 months pregnant. Not! If I had to do it all over again and be at the NICU- I would. He is so strong, loving, and teaches me so much everyday. He is working on his language development. He is getting better and starting to say more sentences. He can say stuff like, " I want pop," and " I want to go bye-bye."  I am going to start to do more sign language with him. (Oh, I never give him Pop that much either, like once a month). Yet he can say he wants it! lol.

Today it was nice to go to the Pediatrician and not worry whether or not my child was going to gain weight. Aubree is already 10 pounds and 9 ounces. She will pass up her brother soon. Prematurity sucks!!! I am sorry for my few readers for all the rambling. I just have a lot on my mind lately!

Bottom line: THANKFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 A couple photos: Brady on our way to Florida and the kids on the beach. Aubree is there, but in my belly, lol! My sister and Lizzie looking over Aubree. The bottom picture is my Mom and Brady with Aubree.

Aubree Katherine Genis

 We are proud to announce that we had a beautiful baby girl last month. A full-term girl that weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce and was 20 inches long. She was born May 4, 2012 at 11:14am via C-Section. She is welcomed home  by her sister Lizzie and proud brother Brady! It was a blessing to take her home from the hospital with us. We are so blessed!!

I graduated!!!

I finally did it. I graduated from highschool ten years ago and now I finally graduated with my Associate Degree in Nursing and Applied Sciences. I am so relieved that it's over.

Big News!!!!!! Brady is walking everywhere!! He is doing so well. I can't believe how much he walks. Of course he falls every now and then but he gets back up and keeps on going. He isn't consistently walking yet, but I'll take it. I am so proud of him.

Well, this week we have had an ear infection, and now Brady is sick. He has red eyes, and a cough. He has honestly had a runny nose for a month now. It comes and goes. Once I thought it was because he had a tooth coming in but then it came back. So off to the doctor I go tomorrow.

My Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday and I spent it at school, YAY! I did get to have fun with my clinical group from nursing school. They got me a cake and a card, and I don't really know them that well. It was so nice of them.

My day started out with my beautiful son cuddling with me. We just sat down and watched the squirrels in the backyard play while I soaked up all the joy of holding him. Then the damn toilet flooded the bathroom because one of the kids obviously had something in the toilet: I will never know what it was because it actually flushed. Oh Crap! I will find out that it was something important later. It happened while I was doing my hair for school and the water got all over my pants. It was kinda of crazy day. It's hard to do my hair and entertain the kids at the time. I had to dress up for the job fair and that was a waste of my time because the hospital I would like to hire into isn't hiring. So, my day got better when I finished my clinical in mental health and we watched Misery with James Caan and Kathy Bates. What a crazy movie? Yes, I was scared. I am not going to lie.

I got home and had a icecream sundae with my Mom and hubby.

In other news, I signed Lizzie up for school and she was so excited. She brought her bunny with her to school with her and had her bunny sit in a chair next to her. Oh, and Brady is getting so much closer to walking. I don't know if I am ready, he's so busy now. How am I going to keep up with him when he is walking?

Got my Cap and Gown!!!

Well, I went and got my Cap and Gown. I also graduate with honors!!! I am so excited. My husband has been so supportive these past 8 months. My husband has put up with a lot and deserves a "Hubby of the Year Award!" My kids have ate tons of Mac and Cheese and sat in front of the TV so I can study. It was rough, but I figured I could get through Nursing school if I could survive the NICU for 10 weeks. I felt so guilty putting them in front of the TV.

I miss being myself. I study about 16 hours a week, clean house, go to school, work, and am be a Mom and Wife. It's hard but I know I am almost done. It's worth it. I work only to pay the babysitter so I can study.

I am so happy that I will be a RN soon. I have been a LPN for 4 years now, and I really wanted a change and most LPN's work in Nursing homes in Michigan. I needed a change. I do however, love working with older Adults. You can learn a lot from older Adults, they survived off so little and now we are an "Instant Gratification," society. As a country, we always have to have the best of everything when they had one pair of shoes. Older Adults deserve respect and I think as a country we don't like to age. Age isn't such a bad thing. I look forward to go through the stages of life. I have learned a lot about my Grandpa. I love him so much, he is the most inspiring man I have ever met. He understands the meaning of hard work and appreciates the little things. He always puts his family first.

In other news, the weather has been great. I have been enjoying the little time with my kids outside. Lizzie got a barbie kite. AND, Brady took two steps all by himself. It made me cry. Preemies take there own time catching up and he definately takes his own time. He loves to crawl but he really has taking an interest in walking.

I posted a picture of my Grandpa in this post with Lizzie two years ago at the local fair. One of my favorite pictures of him.

NICU Follow-Up Adjusted 14 months

On Monday I went to Brayden's follow-up, finally! It was hard to get an appointment and it seems like I never had a day that would work. This Picture is with his favorite nurse Ann. She took the best care of us when he was in the NICU. She couldn't believe how big he is and was so happy to see him.

Well, I am so happy to report that his follow-up went great. They said he has no tone issues and the watched him crawl and play with some toys. They were so impressed with my little man!

I had to share his chocolate cookie face! He fell asleep after his follow-up after eating one of the hospital's Mr. Ed's cookie. Those Cookies Rock!! And of course Miss. Lizzie tagged along too! She has a silly face of course!

Still here!

It's been awhile!! Like 5 months actually. But my life is crazy. I graduate in 32 days from Nursing School. And boy, it has taken over my life. But, I know I am doing if for myself and my babies. I really want to pursue becoming a NICU nurse and help other parents like me.

Elizabeth and Brayden are doing great!!! Elizabeth can't wait till she starts school and Brayden is getting around everywhere. He's always so busy and he gets into everything. He put my cell phone in toilet, the littler stinker!!

The picture on the top left is a nurse who took care of Brady when he was in the NICU the first night. She was amazing and held my husband's hand when he was scared of the unknown. On the Right is the two doctors who took care of Brady during his first week of life. The doctor on the left told me that I could hold him when he was 5 days old. The Memories. It was such a hard time and I was so happy that I could thank everyone for not only taking care of me but our family as a whole. These photos are last fall. He was so tired when he went to the NICU follow-up but they loved seeing him.

I honestly was so embarrassed that I hadn't posted in awhile but I have been so busy.

Cake!!!

Chocolate Cake! He dug right in without any hesitation! He even grabbed his sister's ice cream and cake too! He is having his first birthday bash on Halloween because that was the day I got to hold him for the first time.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Brayden!

Almost one year later.

It's almost one year since my life completely changed.I am not the same person I used to be. I look at things differently and appreciate more than I ever did. When you have a baby, you expect to take that baby home with you. It is such a happy time period. My 6 weeks post partum was the most stress I have ever had in my life. I lost my son, and gave birth to his brother who had to fight for his life. I held on to my baby that passed away in utero before I got to hold my son in the incubator.

What an experience. Wow, I have learned a lot. When doctors told us that the first 72 hours are the most critical time period for my 27 weeker and that he could possibly die. I knew he wouldn't die. I just knew. I knew when I looked at him in the OR during my C-Section he would be fine. I didn't know about disabilities but I knew he would be with me. I didn't care if he had any disabilities. I told God that I will do whatever it takes and to "Keep him with me." I remember crying and shaking before my C-Section and telling Brady, "I'm so sorry buddy, I'm not that strong, I can't stop crying." I was afraid of the unknown. Well,

what do I know now? I know that Brayden is the most amazing little boy I have ever met. He smiles at me all the time and he even gives me the cute "cute, wet, open mouth kisses." I have learned to take nothing for granted. I have learned not to dwell on Brady's milestones, he will get there. I am so grateful he is here. God is good! He claps, eats like a horse, sits up and plays, and is so close to crawling. We love him! I know his brother Joshua Aaron is close by and watching him.

Praying

I'm at a loss of words. I am suscribed to another blog about a preemie born with a chronic lung disease. This baby was named Natalie Evelyn and she was beautiful. She was born in Febuary, I believe at 33 weeks gestation. Natalie fought for her life and had many ups and downs. Natalie passed away a couple of days ago unexpectedly.

My heart aches. I am so saddened hearing about this. I have been thinking about Natalie's Mother all day long.

Natalies blog is www.babygirltee-jennifer.blogspot.com

Jennifer I am praying for you and your family! I'm so sorry for your loss!

Loving life.

We have been having fun with this fantastic weather, I would call this year's fall a"Fantastic Fall." I can't believe he is going to be one year old soon. Where does the time go?

My chunker

Blogging is hard because I am so busy with nursing school. I only have 12 weeks left until this crazy semester is over. I am having some difficulties juggling, school, work and my beautiful babies. My kids are worth it. I want to become an RN and I am so close to being done with my degree. I am going to continue to keep doing what I am doing and study like crazy.

Lizzie is doing well, she is a princess as always and makes me laugh. I never know what she is going to say and she sometimes makes me laugh so hard that I cry. She is really likes to count now. If I only could get her better with her saying her R's and L's. Oh well, she'll get there.

My husband is amazing, he is supporting me through this and is helping around the house and making sure he supports me during this crazy journey of school. He takes Brady to PT on Tuesdays for me which makes things easy for me.

Brayden really really wants to crawl. He is trying so hard. I think we might be crawling in a couple months. I call him my "Bottom less Pit," He eats everything I give him. It's so funny to watch. He even loves mashed up avocado. He is so chunky in the middle it cracks me up. Brayden wants to get into everything. He is at that age now, everything that is in front of him is fair game now. I am so happy to see him smile at me everyday. He is such a happy boy. His PT wanted to give him a break, but I really want him to stay in PT. They say he is caught up, but I want him to stay there so they can get him to crawl. They teach me the exercises and we practice at home. I love you little man!

I had an emotional weekend. I went to the NICU grad reunion ice cream social and it was nice. I went to see the doctors and NURSES that held me together in the toughest time of my life. I saw so many 26 weekers and so many preemies that were in Brayden's pod. I broke down and cried a couple of times. I thought to myself that Joshua should be here too, and that I wish he was here. I haven't been to this hospital because of all the memories I had here. Some are good, some are a bad dream. I hugged so many nurses that held my hand and said, "He is going to be alright." The doctor that was there the night he was born was so happy to see him. She told my husband when I was in recovery puking, " I don't know about this little boy, he's sick." All I could think was, "Look at him now!" He sits up and eats like a horse. He plays and loves people. He's amazing! I had to tell one nurse "Thank you," because when Brady was a month old, she said, "He's so beautiful, Congrats!" I thanked her for saying Congrats to me because no one ever said that to me when he was born. Everyone was so happy we went. Brayden was so tired because I woke him up when he was sleeping when we arrived. One Nurse came up to and said,"I remember him, there was something about his face, he looks so wise."

Oh, my favorite time of year is here! Fall! Bring on the chili, apples, and football!

How time flies!

New Post soon!

A three year old birthday, two new teeth for Brady, Brady sits up on his own now, andMommy is back in school. We have been so busy!

Here's one of my favorite pics!

Not a good day for Mom!

I keep praying and praying to keep going strong. Brayden was diagnosed with hypotonia of his legs and it was hard to hear it. I knew it all along and it just hurt hearing it. I had a hard time hearing that he could be in a walker and never walk without one. We really don't know yet. I need to take one day at a time and it's so hard to do. I kept thinking that all I have been doing is doctor appointments and I am so sick of all of it! I've had enough! I just want to stay home and plan Lizzie's birthday. But no, I am at the doctor's office finding out why Brayden is wheezing. Allergies as I suspected. He weighs 16 pounds and 1 ounce.

I am so thankful to have my son and daughter in my life. I just wish sometimes we could fast forward to see what the future holds and then go back.

I break down, I'm not as strong as I thought I was.

On a more positive note, Lizzie has a princess tea party tomorrow and I'm more excited than her. I love her so much, Jayson is letting me go with her and it will be a "Girls Day."

She turns 3 on Saturday. Here's her giving me a smooch last year.

Late night Blogging

Girls jumping on the bed. Becka, Sophie, and Lizzie in the back.

Zach, Jake, Lizzie, Jay, Brady, and Mariah at the zoo.

Looking too cute! Little chunker!

Well, it has been crazy busy around here lately. I'm back at work and let's just say that midnights are kicking my butt. In the past week, we have went to zoo, beach, and Brady's Physical therapy. Oh, and we have a birthday party to plan for my sweet daughter, I love her so much! She really loves her brother and learns something new everyday.

Physical therapy is going great, I'm so glad that I take him. It was my decision and I wanted to be proactive and we are making progress. Brady's PT is named Dallin and she is so wonderful. She teaches me so many things to do with him. Today, she put Brady on a type of hard pillow under his arms and he attempted to crawl. It was so neat to see. He isn't developmentally behind, he just needs some help. I'm sure we will have developmental delays because most preemies do. There are a lot of special needs kids at the PT center and they are amazing kids. I used to be so "Afraid" of Brady having to use a walker or wheelchair. Not anymore, I have accepted that "It is what it is." And I love seeing the kids at Brady's PT. I don't like not knowing what his future will be like and that I will still have to take one day at a time. It's amazing what we take for granted everyday. Also, I am so proud of Lizzie when she goes. She is such a good girl! She sits and watches her brother and cheers him on. There is this princess book at PT and she likes to read it everytime she comes in to PT. So she looks forward to seeing her favorite book there. LOL!

We spent some time at the zoo and I don't know when I will learn my lesson. Go in the Fall when it isn't 95 degrees. Oh the sweat and stinky animals! After 3 hours, we are already to leave and the animals are so hot that they don't come out. We did this last year and I ended up being dehydrated and Lizzie was so miserable. We also took our niece and newphews, Jacob, Zach, and Mariah. Lizzie enjoyed the penguins, and Brady liked the Turtles. Overall, we had a great time and will go next year in the Fall.

This week we went to the beach with my Aunt and her kids. It was a private beach and it was fun watching the kids play. Oh, how Mom loves when Lizzie and Brayden go to bed because they are so tired from all the playing. Poor Brayden, he rolled over into a pile of sand nose first and it wasn't pretty! Next time, I am taking the pack and play. Lizzie liked the sand and looking at all the rocks. And my Aunt's kids had a fun time too!

All for now, we just finally watched the Blindside and it was good, we don't watch a lot of T.V. but it was a great flick. It's nice to have Jayson home, he has been gone for two days in Novi doing a training for Best Buy.

Summer Fun!

At the fireworks. Notice Lizzie with her Ariel, she goes everywhere with us.