Refractive Amblyopia

I think "Ambylopia" might be my new favorite word. It's fun to say out loud. It kind of reminds me of "amoeba" which I also think is a neat word. And amoeba makes me think of the word "blob". But "blob" definitely has nothing to do with Refractive Amblyopia. Refractive Amblyopia is what Landon was diagnosed with today. Along with Astygmatism.

Two weeks ago, Landon went for his 5-year well-visit and failed his vision test. We were referred to an opthamologist. Our original appointment was scheduled for July. However, waiting that long to be seen about his eyes (I think eyes are a pretty big deal, don't you?) was not ok with me. So, I chose to advocate really hard for Landon. His incredible pediatrician ended up pulling some strings and we were seen today.

I like to say "Refractive Amblyopia" but the other word for it is "lazy eye". I learned there are two types of lazy eyes. The kind that you can see (one eye looks different from the other eye) and the kind that you can't see (the kind that Landon has). So, by looking at Landon you can't tell anything is obstructing his vision. But there's actually a good bit going on.

The treatment plan is glasses and patches. He'll wear glasses from now until he chooses to wear contacts several years down the road. And he'll wear patches every day beginning today for 4 hours per day over his stronger eye for the next 3 years. This will force his weaker eye to build some muscles and work harder.

Landon thinks it's cool that he gets to wear a patch on his eye because pirates wear patches. Praise the Lord for pirates! He also thinks it's cool that he gets to wear glasses because the ones he picked out are blue and blue is his favorite color.

It was a big answer to prayer today that nothing more serious is going on and that his diagnosis will not require surgery.

Oh, and don't even get me started on how handsome he looks in his glasses.

Cherry and Apple Deliciousness

Easiest dessert ever. Super yummy!

Ingredients:

1 can of apple pie filling

1 can of cherry pie filling

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

Directions:

Get a large, rectangular casserole dish and dump the can of apple pie filling on one side and the can of cherry pie filling on the other. (So, you're not mixing the two. They're sitting next to each other.) Then take the box of yellow cake mix and sprinkle it over the filling. Yes, the entire box.

Melt a stick butter and pour it evenly over all of that goodness. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until it looks all bubbly and starts to brown on top. Serve with ice cream. And there you have it. Two desserts in one! And your guests can choose their favorite side!

Planning, Needs, and Peace....Creating a Schedule

I took a picture of our family's schedule and was going to share it. But I don't think that would really help anyone. I'm not you and you're not me. Our schedule changes every couple of months based on the needs of our family. So, instead, I'm going to share why and how I create a schedule.

I create a schedule to provide protected time for what really matters.

When I was in graduate school, I studied under THE Dr. Diane Stephens. The central idea of every class was "what really matters" in the area of teaching and learning. I'm pretty sure I wrote down every word she ever said. She had no clue who I was because I never once opened my mouth. I was reeeeeeeeally intimidated by her because I was a 21-year-old girl who had strong metacognition so I knew very well what I didn't know. And what I didn't know was every single thing that she did know and that made me scared. She taught me to think about what really matters for learners and to only spend time on that. Everything else gets the boot.

Similarly, I think about what really matters when planning a schedule for our family. (Sidenote: I apologize for all the analogies to teaching. I'm a little bit addicted to teaching and learning and I often use this blog to go on and on about my beliefs about the two.)

So, when I'm creating a schedule for our little family this is what goes on in my mind and on paper. First, I make a list of what matters and/or time I want to protect.

It Matters To Me That:

1. I have time alone each morning to prepare for the day.

2. I have a quiet time.

3. My kids are clean, dressed, and fed.

4. I exercise.

5. My husband and I have time together in the evenings with no kids around.

6. My husband has quality time with the children.

7. Our family eats dinner together as often as possible.

8. We eat lunch with Nathan and his parents once a week.

9. I read to the kids and alongside the kids for an extended period of time.

10. We read the Bible and memorize scripture.

11. I spend focused play/talk time with each child each day.

12. The kids play without me.

13. The kids go to bed at the same time every night and sleep in their own bed.

14. I take Landon to and from school each day.

15. I have time with my accountability partner twice a month.

16. I serve others (other than the ones living under our roof).

17. Nathan has time with his friends.

18. We make time to keep a clean and organized home.

19. I sleep 8 hours a night.

20. I talk with my parents every day.

Then, I take that list and figure out ways to protect the time it takes to engage in those things.

Ok, so here are some examples:

#1 says, "It matters to me that I have time alone each morning to prepare for the day." For our family, that means our kids are not allowed to get up before 7:00am. Landon can tell time so he knows when he can come downstairs. Reagan knows she has to wait for Landon to get her up. And Connor is still sleeping so that's not an issue. You may think that's a weird rule but it's provided loads of peace for our family in the mornings. I like to be up, dressed, and finished with breakfast by the time the kids wake up. It makes a huge difference in the flow of our morning.

#17 says, "It matters to me that Nathan has time with his friends." For our family, that means that every Monday night, he plays basketball with the guys. (That also means that every Monday night I get to watch the Food Network and catch up on Rachael Ray episodes. It's awesome.)

#13 says, "It matters to me that the kids go to bed at the same time every night and sleep in their own bed." For our family, that means 8:00pm. It means we tuck them in, walk out of their room, and close their door. It means they are not allowed to come out of their room after we tuck them in unless they want to get in major trouble and hear a really long speech about how Mommy and Daddy are each other's best friends and we aren't going to be interrupted. (I say it in a mean voice with my left eyebrow looking all mean and Nathan has his arms crossed. It's not pretty.)

And that's how I think through creating our schedule. It's really fluid because our needs and the needs of others are constantly changing. Our summers look different. When I am working outside of the home, it looks really different. As the children grow older, it will look different. But the process will always be the same......thinking through and finding time to protect what really matters so it's never replaced with yucky stuff that doesn't.

Planning, Needs, and Peace.....Meal Planning

One way I strive hard for peace in our home is by meal planning. Every good plan starts with a vision. My vision for our family is that we eat our meals together, we eat what I prepare, I prepare one meal (I'm not a waitress....I'm not taking orders), and we stay within our budget. I have found a way to meal plan that works best for me. For other moms, they have a better system. But during this season of my life, with 3 kids ages 5 and under, this is what is working for us. Here is what I use:

1. A Shopping List

(I like this one b/c it has a magnet on the back that fits nicely on my fridge.)

2. A Weekly Pad of Paper

(This one is from Target's dollar spot. It, too, is magnetic and I am in love.)

Here it is stuck to my fridge.

Here's how I execute:

1. Every Sunday afternoon I open The State newspaper and cut coupons. I file them in my coupon organizer. Then, I go to www.couponmom.com and print out more coupons.

2. I get out my Weekly Pad of Paper and a pen.

3. After looking through my coupons, the Publix Buy One Get One Free items, and investigating our pantry and freezer, I write down our meals for Monday through Sunday on my Weekly Pad of Paper.

4. I get out my Shopping List pad and write down every grocery item I need to buy.

5. I get out the coupons that go with my grocery items and put them in a little pile.

6. HERE'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MY EXECUTION: Every Sunday night at 7:30pm, I go grocery shopping. WITHOUT MY KIDS. Nathan stays home with them, gets them bathed, read to, and in bed. This is a very purposeful part of my plan. If my kids come, I end up buying more or leaving something off my list or getting too distracted to notice the clearance items. So, my rule is no kids. At least at the ages they are now. I know this part of the execution is impossible for some moms if husbands work late or if it is a single parent situation. In that case, I have a dear friend who does her grocery shopping online. Another friend of mine has a neighbor watch her kids while she grocery shops.

7. When I get home I lay all my groceries out and ask Nathan to guess how much I spent and how much I saved. I know. NERD. This is not a requirement. It's just plain fun.

And meal planning is done. Everyday I know what our meal will be that evening. It's posted for the kids to see. Knowing ahead of time what we will have for dinner and having all the ingredients bought and ready for cooking brings loads of predictability, organization and extra time to our little family.

Planning, Needs, and Peace

My friend, Jennifer, is a dental hygienist. To do her job well, she has to plan well. To plan well, she has to know her patients well. Before her patients arrive, she cleans her equipment and lays it out neatly. She washes her hands. If her patient is a child, she pulls out the flavored toothpaste. If her patient hasn't been to a dentist in 10 years, she allots extra time to clean his teeth. If her patient has allergies, she checks and re-checks the products she is using. If her patient is pregnant, she does not give x-rays. This takes thoughtful planning and she's a planner. Thank goodness. Good planning, based on the needs of her patients, results in a productive, peaceful environment.

Effective teachers do the same thing. They plan well based on the needs of the learners in their care. They provide a peaceful and loving learning environment with predictability and organization. Their days with students are filled learning, talking, and thinking together. Each day is purposeful and meaningful. And to do that, effective teachers have to know the students and their families very well. It takes hard work, careful planning and meticulous analysis of their needs.

In this season of life, I am a stay-at-home mother of 3 young children and a wife to a busy husband. Although I am not currently a full-time teacher, my role is very much the same. I am working hard to provide a peaceful and loving environment in my home. I am a purposeful planner. I know my kids and my husband very well. Our days are filled learning, talking, and thinking together. And that takes careful planning. It's hard work. But it produces peace and goodness.

Just as being an effective dental hygienist or teacher doesn't just "happen", neither does being an effective wife and mother. Over the next several days I will spend some time sharing with you very practical ways I plan so that our little family grows together and experiences peace in our home.

Vegetable Casserole

Vegetable Casserole is a great side dish. It's absolutely delicious! I dedicate this recipe to my dear friend, Rachel Church. I love how much you love my cooking. Here you go!

Ingredients:

2 16 oz. cans of Veg-All

8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup grated sharp cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

Ritz crackers

butter

Drain Veg-All and water chestnuts. Pour in mixing bowl. Add everything else. Mix well. Pour into a big casserole dish. Mix crushed Ritz crackers (I use about a sleeve) and melted butter (I use about half a stick). Pour on top of casserole. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour.

This is What 80 Looks Like

Happy 80th Birthday to the most incredible grandfather!

You've built homes, remodeled beachhouses, run companies, built computers, won golf tournaments, planted gardens, and fixed anything! You're the brother to 4 sisters, the husband to a wife of almost 60 years, the father of 2, the grandfather to 4, and the great-grandfather to 3. Thank you for being a godly example and for leading our family with patience, integrity, hard work, and diligence. I love you!

PaPa and MaMa

My mom, PaPa, and Uncle Mike

I love my PaPa!

Landon, Connor, PaPa and Reagan

Our Week

On Monday, I decided I wanted to be a grown-up and plant some Gerber Daisies in my front yard. Then I remembered that I've never planted anything. Ever. So I didn't.

On Tuesday, I began cleaning out my closet and realized that I have no clue what is cool anymore. Is it bad that I have 3 pairs of overalls just begging to be worn?

On Wednesday, I made a shaker with 2 paper plates and some bells. No kids were around.

On Thursday, Reagan announced, "Mommy, I've decided pink is not my color anymore." My heart broke into about a million pieces. I got myself together and said, "What is your color?" She said, "Purple." Don't even get me started on how much I dislike purple. I quickly prayed for God to change her heart and about 4 hours later, He did. She said, "Well, I decided that I do like some kinds of pink."

On Friday, I noticed the fat rolls around Reagan's upper thighs no longer exist. Huge sign she'll be 3 next month.

Sweet Clara

Clara,

You are such a sweet answer to prayer. Beautiful, outspoken, funny, prissy, tiny, and energetic. I love how much you love my daughter. I love the mature-beyond-your-years friendship you two share. Reagan loves you to absolute pieces and I am so thankful she has a forever friend in you, sweet Clara. I hope you enjoy a beautiful 3rd birthday filled with princesses, dancing, and lots of kisses from your incredible family!

I love you, Clara! Happy Birthday!

Clara was born exactly one month before Reagan. Here she is meeting her best friend in the hospital. Look at how sweet she was even at a month old! She's patting Reagan on the head to say, "Welcome to the world!"

Clara's 2nd Birthday...Wow, both Clara and Reagan's hair grew a lot this year!

Cinderella and Princess Aurora

Little gifts from heaven

Best Friends

Landon Well-Visit, Recipe, and Quick Connor Update

This is a very scattered post but I don't have long. Just wanted to let you know a few things.

Landon had his 5-year well-visit this morning.

Height: 44 1/4 inches (76%)

Weight: 44 lbs. (45%)

He passed his hearing test. However, he had a lot of difficulty with his vision test, missing every question related to his left eye. He's being referred an eye doctor and we'll find out more soon. Please say a little prayer for sweet Landon that we'll figure out quickly what's going on.

Connor had a sick visit this morning. Another ear infection. And that means HE GETS TO HAVE TUBES! Hooray! I think tubes are absolutely fabulous. Hopefully he'll have the surgery in the next few weeks!

And, last but not least, Recipe Wednesday!!!!!

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese (Thanks, Jenn, for the delicious recipe!)

8 oz. macaroni

1 can evaporated milk

1 1/2 c. whole milk

1/4 c. melted butter

2 TB oil

1 tsp. salt

3/4 lb. velveeta

Lightly grease Crock Pot. Combine all the above goodness. Cook on Low 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Enjoy!

Weird or Normal......Update

I have analyzed and reanalyzed the 9 comments I received on this blog in addition to the millions of emails, texts, phone calls, letters, telegrams, and tweets in response to my blogpost "Weird or Normal?"

I don't have time right now to let you know the detailed results.

I will, however, share with you that, based on the data, I am completely normal and Nathan Trevett is extremely weird.

I will be mailing all of you your $10.00 check as soon as I can. Thank you being my friend and not Nathan's.

It's Ridiculous

It's ridiculous how cute that child is. I am so in love.

Here are a few things you may or may not know about my stud, Connor:

1. He has the worst nicknames EVER....ConMan and ConJuan. Yep, I totally call him both of those all the time.

2. He can sit up all by himself now without looking really scared.

3. He thinks green vegetables are the worst idea ever.

4. He is head over heels in love with me. My other two kids like me pretty well, but Connor can't get enough of me. He smiles HUGE when I walk in a room. It's pretty awesome.

5. He's cried about two times in his entire life.

6. He still has no teeth.

7. When he eats he breaks out a little bit on the right side of his face. And we can't figure out why. But he still smiles.

8. He can still wear 0-3 months clothes with no problems at all.

9. He takes a 4 hour afternoon nap.

10. He loves music as much as his big brother. His feet move, move, move when I play music. He's a huge fan of the Black Eyed Peas.

Weird or Normal?

Do you ever do something and then think to yourself, "I wonder if other people do this or if I'm the only one?"

Well, I never do that. I always assume I'm really normal. But Nathan tells me that I'm not. He thinks I'm really weird. So I'm going to start a series called "Weird or Normal?" I'll post a few things that I do and you have to comment and tell me if that's weird or normal. Nathan says I need to give you a working definition for the words "weird" and "normal".

Weird: You don't do it AND you don't know anyone else that does it.

Normal: You do it OR you know someone else who does it.

Nathan says those definitions aren't correct. But this is my blog and so those are the definitions we are going with.

Ok, here we go.....

Weird or normal?

1. When I cook, if no one else is around, I pretend I'm the host of a cooking show and I show my imaginary audience how to cook. I talk out loud. I give little side stories. I measure my ingredients ahead of time. I give little cooking tips. I'm kind of a mixture between Rachael Ray and Ina Garten.

Weird or normal?

2. I say "mirror" like this: "Mirruh".

Weird or normal?

3. When I do housework I set a timer and see if I can beat my best time. For example, I can empty and fill up my dishwasher in 2 minutes, 56 seconds. The next time I do it I'll set my timer for 2:55 and see if I can beat that. I do that for almost every single chore in the house.

Weird or normal?

4. I read cookbooks for enjoyment.

Weird or normal?

5. I type everything I hear people say. Everything. In the air or on my leg. And then, as I type, I make sure I type the same number of characters on the left and right hand. That might require me to add an extra space or use Caps Lock. But I figure out a way to do it. And I'm a huge fan of words that are naturally even. For example, "Christy" is perfectly even on both hands if you include the shift key.

Weird or normal?

I look forward to hearing your comments. BE HONEST. I know some of you do these things.

Don't make me name names!!!

Happy Birthday, Gammy!

Happy Birthday to my incredible mother! She is one of those people that can pretty much do everything. And she does it with excellence.

She is an amazing pianist. She has been the church pianist since she was 14.

She taught school for 25 years and was adored by all!

She is really, really tall and really, really skinny.

She can teach anyone (including my brother) to sing. Seriously. ANYONE.

She runs a business. Carpet One and Wallpaper.

She is athletic and was a softball and basketball star!

What takes most people an hour to do, she can do in about ten minutes.

She can dance really well. Waaaaay better than me.

She is a wonderful bible teacher.

She is the perfect Gammy to her 3 grandchildren. They absolutely love her to pieces!

She has always put my dad first, and sets a great example for my brother and me about what a marriage should be.

But the thing I love the most about her is that she would never admit to any of those things.

She is definitely the most humble person I know.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love and respect you more than you know!

Can't wait to dig into some Japanese food with you tonight!

"I'll Give You a Sticker"

Last week, Landon (my five-year-old) helped Reagan (my two-year-old) clean her room. Then he tucked her in bed, gave her a kiss, and told her to have a great nap.

Very sweet, isn't it?

Now, what if I told you that before that happened, I said to Landon, "Hey, buddy, I'll give you a sticker if you'll help Reagan clean her room and put her down for a nap."

How does that change what you think of Landon? How does it change what you think of me?

(That didn't happen, by the way. Landon chose to help his sister clean her room, tuck her in bed, and kiss her all on his own. Because he loves her.)

But, if I had bribed Landon it would have changed everything:

1. It would have negated any good intentions he may have had.

2. It would have sent him the message that I don't believe he is capable of doing something kind for his sister without being bribed.

3. It would have immediately lowered my expectations for him.

4. It would have instantly lowered his innate love for his sister, and instead, raised his expectation for extrinsic rewards.

5. It would have cost me money. Because stuff costs money.

I was recently asked by a friend to be thinking about ways I wish the education system would change. Of about 5 big things on my list, bribing kids is one of them.

Teachers don't like to call it "bribing". Parents don't like to call it "bribing". They like to call it rewards, or positive reinforcements, or "caught being good" or a treasure chest. Call it what you want. It's a bribe. And it teaches kids to seek others for approval, to expect to be rewarded when they do what they should do to begin with, and to care more for their own interests than the interests of others.

I think we're all guilty (myself included!!!) of bribing kids. For me, it happens at home with I'm in a huge hurry and don't take time to think about (and follow through) on the vision for my children's development. For example, two days ago I was running late and was looking for a pair of shoes that I really needed to find for a friend. So, in my hurried state I said, "Kids, if you can find those white shoes I'll give you a piece of candy." Sure, the kids found the shoes. In about 30 seconds. But it taught them not one thing about caring for others. It taught them not one thing about hard work or perseverance when you lose something. It immediately placed the focus on them.

We should expect more from kids. Contrary to what many adults believe, kids are capable of caring for others just because they do. Not because they'll get something for it. They're capable of reading for enjoyment. Not because they might get a trophy. They're capable of cleaning up after themselves. Not because they might get a coin that can be traded in for a toy at the end of the week.

It takes a lot of work in a classroom setting. It takes building deep relationships with kids. It takes a lot of talk. It takes building a strong sense of community. It takes patience. It takes modeling selflessness. And it's hard!

But the cost is much greater if we continue to bribe kids.

"Educators ought to know by now, in light of research and experience, that rewards are not merely ineffective over the long haul but actually counterproductive. One study after another has demonstrated that the more someone is rewarded for doing something (or for doing it well), the less interest that person is likely to have in whatever he or she was rewarded for doing." - Alfie Kohn, author of What to Look for in a Classroom"

Happy Easter!

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

This is such a yummy casserole. My friend, Michelle, gave me this recipe.

Ingredients:

6 oz. package Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice (original)

1 cup chopped chicken

8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts, drained

1 cup finely chopped celery (I don't like celery so I leave this ingredient out of mine)

1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (I use sour cream.)

1 1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Cook rice and combine with everyone else.

Bake covered at 325 for one hour.

Happy Birthday, Landon!

Five years ago today, I gave birth to my handsome little dude. My Landon. My Landoni-Maroni. My Lando-Commando. My baby. My LT. My first child.

I love everything that is unique, special and just so “Landon” about him.

1. 1. He weighed 10 lbs. 1 oz. when he was born. Only like 2% of babies born weigh more than 10 pounds.

2. 2. No one has any idea what color his hair is. All I know is it’s awesome. It’s kind of red and blonde and brown all at the same time and it kind of changes colors depending on the season, outfit, and lighting.

3. 3. He is the wittiest kid I’ve ever known. His one-liners are impressive.

4. 4. He loves his sister and brother to absolute pieces. He and Reagan are joined at the hip. He takes care of her, protects her, tickles her, sometimes pushes her down (I’m sure just to make her stronger J), tells her jokes, reads to her, pushes her in her swing, gets water for her, and helps her up the hard part of the playground at McDonald’s.

5. 5. He is fearless. I a little bit envy that about him. I’m scared of roller coasters. REALLY scared. Not Landon. He’ll ride anything.

6. 6. He loves his friends. He’s very loyal. Very sensitive to the needs of others. Very friendly.

7. 7. He loves Jesus. Big time. He asked Christ in his heart on July 23, 2009 and it is evident in his life.

8. 8. He is unpredictable. I feel like I know him a whole bunch but I also sometimes feel like I don’t know him at all. He continually surprises me. It’s hard to make general statements about Landon. Most of the time he’s super outgoing. Sometimes he’s shy. He’s often very opinionated. Sometimes he couldn’t care less. He keeps me on my toes!

9. H He talks about food more than anybody I’ve ever met. Food is on his mind constantly. He always wants to know when the next snack or meal is coming.

10. He thinks deeply and thoughtfully. He asks lots of questions that I’ve never thought of. He makes theories. He says, “I fink…” (“I think”) probably 50 times a day followed by really insightful comments.

11. He has the best smile. It lights up a room.

12. He adores his daddy. “Daddy Nights” are really special to him. Most people think Landon looks just like me but I definitely see some of Nathan in him. I love their special bond.

13. He has an amazing voice. It’s a little ridiculous how musically gifted he is. He loves rhythm, he loves lyrics, and he loves a catchy tune. It just comes so naturally to him. But he kind of likes to keep his talent to himself or at least within the four walls of our home or the four doors of my car.

Landon,

Hey, dude. Happy 5th Birthday! I love you. I am so glad I am your mommy. You make every single day fun and meaningful. God definitely knew what He was doing when He gave me you.

Love,

Mommy

Landon, Part 1,000,000

It feels like it, doesn't it? I hope I haven't bored you too much this week with my obsession with Landon's 5th birthday. Don't worry. This won't happen with every child at every birthday. There's just something about the 5th birthday that seems so big and special and monumental. Five seems to symbolize "boy" instead of "baby" or "toddler" or "preschooler". When I pick him up now his feet kind of go down to my ankles. He cares about what other people think. He's starting to eat a variety of foods. All of that just seems very big-boyish. Ok, on to the reason for this post....

This time 5 years ago, I was in labor. No, today is not Landon's birthday. Neither is tomorrow. I labored for FIFTY-TWO hours. So, this post is dedicated mainly to Landon in the hopes that one day he'll read it, then run to me with arms wide open and apologize for the pain he put me through. I'll hug him back but then request that he take me to Yamato Japanese Steakhouse to make up for my pain. He'll take me there, apologize some more, and then we'll be cool.

On April 2nd I began having contractions every 3-5 minutes. Nathan and I packed up the car and headed to the hospital. We got checked in, I put on my hospital gown, got attached to a million wires, saw the doctor, and found out I was not dilated. Not even a little bit. I got a shot to help with pain and was sent home.

The contractions continued all day on April 2nd. Every 3-5 minutes. My mom came into town and walked the neighborhood with me. We went to dinner that night and walked the mall. I bumped into my best friend, Heather, at the mall. We had a normal conversation. You know. "Hey, how's it going? I'm actually in labor right now. Can you buy me a milkshake?" I walked some more. That night around 8pm we went back to the hospital because my contractions were regular, closer, and I was in tremendous pain. We checked in, I was hooked up to loads of wires, and the doctor came in and checked me. No progress. Another shot and we were sent home. Again.

The next morning, April 3rd, I labored all day. I was absolutely miserable. Nathan's parents brought lunch to our house. They brought my absolute favorite meal, ESPECIALLY when I'm pregnant. 6 inch tuna sub from Subway with lettuce, cheese, pickles, oregano, and extra oil and vinegar. It was delicious. My grandparents stopped by on their way to the beach. That whole day (with the exception of the tuna sub) is kind of a blur to me because I was in so much pain. Around 8pm I told Nathan that I was one tough cookie but I could not take this pain anymore. Something was wrong. Why had I not dilated? We decided to go back to the hospital and I decided (without telling Nathan) that I was not leaving this time!!!

We got checked in. While getting hooked up to the millions of wires I informed the nurse that I better be dilated because I wasn't leaving. She checked me and said I was 1cm dilated so I could stay. (In hindsight, we think she lied about me being dilated. We think she was scared to send me home again because of what I might do to her.)

From that point on, things are pretty blurry for me. I remember getting an epidural and all of Nathan's family and my family popping in to say "hello". I remember Heather and Kevin coming in after I got an epidural so I was feeling really awesome but I made an awful face to pretend I was in a lot of pain. I remember the nurses giving me a drug to help me dilate more quickly and I remember the doctor breaking my water.

Finally, around 4:00am on April 4th, the pushing began! Ok, no one prepared me for that. Definitely the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. I remember thinking, "How do women that don't exercise push out babies?" It took every muscle in my body to push that child out. For those of you who haven't pushed a baby out, just so you know, you do most of the pushing without a doctor in the room. The nurses deserve billions of dollars for all they do! So, around the time the doctor was supposed to come in the room, I was informed that he was called away to an emergency so a mid-wife would be delivering me. I think mid-wives are fantastic. I think there is a place for them. But the place for a midwife was not in my room and she realized that upon delivery. I won't go into details. But I needed a doctor. A lot of unexpected things happened at 4:25am on April 4th as I delivered my sweet Landon. For starters, my mom and husband about passed out and the nurses had to hand them each a wet washcloth. I really like to make fun of them for that. If you see either of them, please laugh and point a lot. Secondly, as soon as Landon came out the entire room gasped. He was massive. Nathan won't tell me all the details but I do know Landon was rushed over and given oxygen and taken for some tests. I am not a large person and I pushed out a 10 lb. 1 oz. child after 52 hours of labor. The mid-wife knew she did not have the skill-set to handle things from there (Let me just reiterate that I really did love her. I was just a rare case.) so she called in a doctor that helped take care of the damage that had been done. He told me my pain should decrease in 30 minutes. But my pain only increased. To the point where I was crying like a huge baby and maybe screaming a lot. Yep, Nathan just told me there was definitely a lot of screaming. (sidenote: If your name is Landon Trevett and you are reading this, this is the part where I really want the sympathy. This is the part where I want you to stop reading and make the reservations at Yamato.) The nurses could not figure out what was going on. My doctor was called back in and found that I had broken my tailbone. Did you read that, Landon? I broke a bone in my body delivering you! And then my life took a turn for the better. The morphine pump began. Ahhhh. Morphine. Lovely, lovely morphine. It made me talk really funny and not be able to hold things (like my newborn baby). Yep, Landon definitely fell out of my arms and my mom grabbed him for me.

And that's my labor/delivery story. After all of that, the doctors told me that labor is often longer with a bigger baby. Thanks, doc. I kind of figured.

Want to hear something sappy? My tailbone still gives me problems. It hurts to sit in the same spot for more than 30 minutes. And that has to happen a lot. But every time I feel that pain I'm reminded of the sweet giant I delivered on April 4, 2005 and it makes me smile. I absolutely can not wait to share with you my post on April 4th. Until then, have a lovely weekend!

Landon, Part 5

This is from October. Yes, you are growing up, Landon. I love you.