I'm still not the best at this

I'm going to blame it on managing two little ones this time.  I am still not the best at blogging regularly.  I made a promise to blog while we were in Savannah, but had no idea what awaited us at home!  It's insanity at times and like Amanda says, "We are in the trenches!"  I don't know of a better way to describe it.  Jarrett and I recap the previous night's happenings the following day at lunch (I'm zonked when he leaves for work).  Needless to say, we're both ready for the two o'clock feeding to disappear.  It seems to be our "intruder", as Baby Wise would call it.  Nightly Breaker is either wakes up early for his mid-morning dish or he won't go back to sleep afterwards.  I can't blame him though.  We're usually able to catch a little Jimmy Fallon (love him).  That is the one highlight this time around.  Early morning television is much better than it was when Finley chowed at night.  We are one of the few families who has not invested in a DVR, but that time may be coming!  Jarrett has been snoozing during prime time and you guys that know him know he's not going to miss Big Brother or American Idol.

Enough about us boring parents.  Breaker is doing great!  It's wild how fast he is packing on the pounds.  I think we've got a teenage boy on our hands times.  He eats like crazy.  We go through a can of formula about every three days.  Oh yeah, breastfeeding bit the dust.  I tried (seven weeks).  It was too much to balance with Finley running around too.  I hate it, but something had to give for my sanity.  Plus he was always so fussy when he finished feeding, not the case as much now.  Now I'm hoping Dr. Aljabi will change his formula.  Neosure is not as pricey as Finley's fillet mignon, Nutramigen, but it ranges from $16-$18 a can.  Momma is headed back work next month!  Thank goodness for the grocery budget.  I don't know what I'd do if I had to cut the fro yo.
That brings up the next big step for our family, mom going back to work.  I can't wait to be back in the nursing mix.  I miss SE OB/GYN like crazy.  However, I am nervous about lack of sleep and pick-up/drop-off for the crew.  Jarrett and I are going to have to be strategic, not to mention highly organized.  I've told Beebe not to worry.  We're going to develop a system!
I better run before little man wakes up for his second lunch of the day.  I'm going to try and get to the chatter weekly!  You guys bare with me!

Timmons Street At Last!

Finally all of us are under one roof!  It's nutty and wonderful.  If only you could hear the chatter!  We made it back to SSI on Father's Day.  Jarrett didn't get a fancy dinner, bless his heart, it was Fin's choice Sunday night, but he did have us all at the dinner table(Breaker was present via monitor).  It's wonderful.  It's awesome not to be eating in the bed too!  I'll take take Fin's smacking and veggie refusal any day.

Breaker is adjusting too.  Thanks to NICU & ISN he doesn't mind going to sleep with the television on.  It's nice for the eleven and two a.m. feedings.  He's a smacker too--sucking down his milk and formula!  He's almost back to his birth weight.

I've got to run because it's almost feeding time (it comes around every three hours)!  There's lots more to share and I can't wait to get it all out.

Jarrett and I offer prayers of thanksgiving constantly.  God has been so gracious.  Thank you all for being in prayer with us.

Memorial X1 MO

Since we've been in the hospital for one month tomorrow, I thought I would borrow Sonal's genious idea and do a "Month in Review".  Her reviews are some of my most favorite of her blogs to read.  I'm going to try. . .

Listening to . . . the pros and cons of VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) and repeat C/Section, with the drip, drip of oxygen in the background and an occasional BEEP of the IV pump.

Watching. . . all things TLC, Bravo and E!  And of course I never miss my beloved All My Children.  I try to catch General Hospital too.  I'm making a confession:  I LOVE watching my soaps.  I feel like such a sap.  I do make up for it though.  I try to catch Way Too Early with Willy Geist and Morning Joe.

Reading. . .Water for Elephants.  I didn't know if it was the one for me, but Ashley Holmes convinced me!  I'm slowly getting into it.  Folks have brought Jarrett and me the best magazines around too.  I should be up-to-date on summer fashion, makeup, hot spots to visit, etc.  Just give me a holla if you have any questions:).

Eating. . .Sadexo Room Service, The Green Truck (OMG, y'all gotta try it!  All organic and farm raised), a bottle of ketchup a week (that's disgusting, but a pregger's craving), hospital graham crackers and of course my beloved frozen yogurt.  "Straw-biddy," as Finley would say, is the flava of the month.

Drinking. . . water, water, water and lactated ringers (in a round about way).  I am allowed an occasional Zero.  I treasure those moments.

Wearing. . . tank tops in every color and my Calypso St. Barth's wrap from mom and dad.  Oh!  And my birdcage necklace from Whitter.

Using. . . iPhone and laptop like a crazy person.  Angie (Studio 1604) has introduced me to dry shampoo too.  I LOVE IT!  She sent me TIGI Catwalk.  You need to stop by for a bottle of your own.  Seriously.

Shopping for. . .little boy clothes!  It's a first and I love it.  I've been picking up back-to-school clothes for Finley too.  Sales do a body good :)  Crazy 8s, Zulily, Totsy, Hautelook and Rue La La are my demise.

Lusting after. . .the chance to wear some of my summer clothes and swimsuits.

Laughing at. . . the funny stories about Finley, J's rhyming and sometimes the looks on the med students faces.  DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.

Brainstorming. . . on plans for the nursery and Finley's big girl room.  Jarrett and I are researching fall concerts too.  My fingers are crossed for tickets to Rihanna and/or J.Lo (if she does a tour).

Excited about. . . Breaker's arrival in two weeks! 

I hope I haven't bored you guys.  I'm not as gifted as Sonal.  Check her blog out if you can:  Life In Sonal's Shoes.  It rocks!

Advice for Future PTLers & PPROMers

Since I've been on bed rest here's what I've learned:

• Every day is like a trip to the gynecologist.  Scrub down and shave where necessary every shower.
• Taking a shower is no longer a chore, but a daily field trip.  You will treasure your twenty minutes of freedom.
• It's exciting to tell the nurse your bowels have moved. 
• You will miss Wal-Mart.  I would love to be able to roam the aisles of Brunswick's Wal-Mart right about now.
• Your husband will do anything to entertain himself (and you).  This includes everything from bustin' rhymes, "I'm the J-D-O-Double G"  to pretending the IV pole is microphone and he is Steven Tyler.  It's a riot.  I love it, but
• You will tell your husband to "Shut-up" with love of course.  It can be too much when someone with lots of energy is working on their American Idol audition tape and all  you can do is sit and watch, trapped.
• Mealtime is the ultimate chore.  What do you want to eat, what restaurants are in the area, what's on their menu, what's the price point, how do you get there and then the dreaded "wait time".  Be careful whose culinary advice you take too.
• The residents, nurses and techs quickly become extended family.  Having ruptured membranes is a long term gig.  Engage in conversation.  We've had so much fun learning about everyone; where they are from, about their children, school plans, etc.  I think they look forward to Finley's visits as much as we do too!
• Have someone bring you Clorox Wipes and hand sanitizer.
• If you have children and they visit, go ahead and resign yourself to the fact they are going to touch the floor.  That's where the hand sanitizer comes in handy.
• Speaking of children, when they visit the "no junk food diet" is out the window.  We attempted to keep the groceries out of Fin's sights the first few visits, but now we have a pantry full of "sweet" gifts.   Finley's radar goes off immediately.
• Pregnancy brain is magnified when you are stuck inside four walls, all day, all night.  This week I had a twenty minute conversation with Suzanne Akins thinking I was talking to Susie Harmon.  I also wished my dear friend Meredith Happy Birthday a month too early (I posted on FB and all).
• You're not nuts if you ask for a coloring book and crayons.
• Every meal is eaten in bed.  Note to Finley and Breaker:  On Mother's Day I NEVER want breakfast in bed (unless you're eating with me!)  Nothing is more disgusting than crumbs in the bed.  Gross.
• Ask for help OR your IV tubing, IV electrical cord, oxygen cannula, plexi boot cord, fetal heart monitor transducers and television changer will become a tangled mess.

I guess that's about it for now.  I'm sure more advice? will become apparent over the next three weeks.  Oh, and by the way, we received exciting news from Dr. Justice tonight (one of our favorite residents).  No matter what I will deliver at 34weeks!  At this point of gestation prolonging pregnancy is a greater risk than benefit.  So three weeks is truly our ultimate goal.  We know we'll meet Breaker Howston at that point!  Until tonight we thought bed rest could last indefinitely.  Now we have a ultimate goal and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sonogram post-poned until tomorrow due to the holiday.  Can't wait to share the deets!

Sunday Sunday

Jarrett and I may be missing Memorial Day Festivities, but it's still sunny in our room.  We've got the blinds open as much as possible (terrible glare) and we've already had lots of visitors today!  Chris Thomas stopped by this morning.  It was nice to have more testosterone in the room.  I'm glad J had "man" conversation.  Bless his heart, he has listened to enough gal chat to last until at least next year.  Chris brought fab magazines too.  Can't wait to get to them.  The best part though, had to be the hilarious stories about his precious children.  He has some cute ones!

Then we got a big surprise:  Eli and Sam came to visit with Beebe and Big Daddy!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  Somehow they made it through the red tape.  It was like being at home.  They were into the snacks and inspecting to the room for hidden treasures.  I soaked-up as much as possible.  Now all I need is a dose of my Emily.  That'll be tricky, but new pics will do (hint-hint :))

Finley and the Bridges are on their way too!  Can't wait!

Oh and we never could get the video of the room downloaded.  I'll do another one soon.  It's quite the interior design masterpiece.  I don't want you all to miss out.

Holla later--C

31 never looked so good!

We've met another goal:  Breaker is 31 weeks in the belly today!  It's your prayer and God's grace that has gotten us this far.  Thank you, thank you!  Our next goal rolls around Monday.  We have an ultrasound.  Breaker will have another anatomy scan and weight calculation.  I can't wait to see how much he weighs.   He could be well over three pounds.  Hoping so!  We'll letcha know.

I made a video of lovely room 215, but can't find it downloaded on J's computer.  When I figure it out, I'll post it.  I have pics of the amazing hospital gown Courtney Donovan made me too.  It's A-mazing.  You'll want to place an order for the moms-to-be in your life.  Can't wait for you to see!

I'm not blue today, but definitely missing the Memorial Day Weekend plans we had made.  Our dear friends Kim & Jonathan McCarty and their precious baby girl, Bella, leave for Singapore (for three years) June 4th.  Jarrett and I were throwing them a farewell party tonight, cancelled.  Such a bummer.  They're are also vacationing around the corner from us.  I miss spending time with them. 

One of my precious sorority sisters, Janie Grinnell, is headed to SSI too.  I haven't seen her in such a long time and was looking forward to meeting her husband, Justin, and their baby boy, Davis.  She's pregnant too!   I love seeing baby bumps.  I'll miss them.

SSI is a tourist destination so I have even one more group of friends headed south:  Paul, Molly and Anna Justice (and several of Anna's friends)!  It's crazy!  I was Anna's babysitter when I went to Georgia.  We have kept in touch and I love them all to pieces.  They come every summer, sometimes two times.  I hope they make the trip again this year.  Anna is headed into her senior year at Athens Academy and I gotta see her as much as I can!  Molly and Paul are like my big brother and sister.  I love to get insight and learn from them.  On top of all of that they are way fun to hang out with!

I guess that's about it for now.  I'll be back later when J helps me find the video and pictures.  Two blogs in one day--LOOKOUT!

Oh and we have congrats to send out too!  Tracy and Nick Toth welcomed twin baby girls into the world on Thursday.  Big Sis' Susie has two new playmates!  And Cara and Jason Tankersley welcomed a new baby boy into the world yesterday.  It's baby central around here!

Thanksgiving, sweet treats and the pre-term labor treadmill

I don't know where to begin to express thanksgiving to all of you guys.  Precious family and friends who bless Jarrett and me daily.  Jarrett and I are beginning to feel a little worn by our stay at Memorial, but you all continue to send us words of encouragement and "treats" that lift our spirits or (to use my favorite analogy)keep me running on this treadmill called pre-term labor. 

Yep that's my crazy way of picturing the journey:  On a pre-term labor treadmill.  We're learning to take it a day at a time and a week at a time.  I am overwhelmed when the nurses say, "Only three more weeks!"  It is very exciting.  We're halfway to the ultimate goal on Saturday, but wow, three more weeks in the bed, hooked up to machines?  Jeez.  I have to stop and regroup, picture the treadmill at SSI Health & Fitness in my head:  Five more minutes, one more lap.  That has been my prayer tonight; that Jarrett and me and all of those in the trenches with us will wake up to start anew tomorrow, like we've only been here a few days and this adventure is new.

I've got pictures to take so you guys can see some of the sweet treats we've received.  There's some precious baby clothes, flowers, snacks, even a handmade hospital gown.  I was hoping to get pictures today, but somehow things were busier than we thought.  I had three episodes of regular contractions that Breaker didn't like too much.  We had visitors too!  The visitors hit the spot today :)

As did this precious post from our brother-in-law, David Herndon.  I'll treasure his words forever.  If you can, check it out.  Here is the address:  http://davidherndon.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/not-forsaken/ .  Those of you who know David know he has an incredible way with words.

Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers.  We feel 'em!!  Much love--C