Ten on Tuesday

1.We are back from our OK vacation, as of last night. A good time was had by all, though it was kind of strange that we never went to the farm. Zane continually requested to see a chicken, but had to settle for numerous different parks instead. Mom and Able were busy in the spice shop so didn't get to see them too much, but it was great to finally be able to get my hands on some Savory Spices. They should be arriving in the mail any day, yes they will mail them to you if you don't live there. Next up on Zach's to do list, make a spice rack.

2. The big event of the weekend, other than seeing the store, was baby Everett getting baptised. Zach was the God father and we actually had highly corridinated outfits, but never thought to take a family photo. The baptism was wonderful and I was strangely emotional, thinking about Zane's baptism which was the last time I was with my dad before he died. Also, all the blessings at baptisms are just so lovely. After the baptism we headed to the park for ice and brownies. Again, don't know why I didn't take pictures, but here are the good shots I got that day, Zane enjoying some ice cream.

3. Saturday night I headed to Norman to my first OU football game in six years. Sadly it was the first time the Sooners have lost to a ranked team in Norman in about a decade, but I had a great time. Anna and I walked through campus, remembered old times, felt pretty old ourselves, and then thoroughly enjoyed the football game. I realized that I had finally grown up when I was at the game, they were doing terribly, and I was not thoroughly devastated. Turns out there are much worse things in life than OU not going undefeated and winning a National Championship, who knew. Here are Anna and I in front of "The Cathedral" as we call it.

We look just like we did ten year ago, right?

4. Of course there was lots of cousin play time as well during our visit. Maggie and Zane are quite the pair and had a wonderful time being play mates, per usual. They played trains, dolls, and everything in between. Maggie sadly asked Zach and I why we lived in St. Louis as we were getting ready to leave Monday, broke my heart just a little. Maggie, who is usually pretty slow to warm up to Zach, was quite the Uncle Zach fan this time as well which was highly adorable.

5. Brendan was like a whole new kid this visit, oozing with confidence about his newly mastered bus riding and kindergarten in general. I loved hearing him talk about all his new adventures like they were no big deal. He can already read all the words he needs to know by the end of kindergarten, he did his math "homework" with Uncle Zach, learning about volume, and told me all about his reading log, his bus riding, and all the things that come and go in his book bag each day. I love that he is doing so well and that he was so willing to talk to me about it. I miss him already!

6. Monday Grandma took Zane, Maggie, and I to the Science Museum. I hadn't been since I was in junior high, but Maggie is a frequent guest and showed us all her favorite places. There are lots of new things and with it being a beautiful day, during the school year, we pretty much had the run of the place without having to worry about our kids getting lost. This is a huge plus after trips to the Magic house where I am sure I will loose Zane one day.

Maggie and Zane playing on what Maggie referred to as "Grandpa's tractor."

 Zach and Zane playing with the echo tube. This is one of the things still there from my childhood.

 Maggie and Zane climbing on the new geometric exhibit which was very cool stuff.

7. Since we never made it to the farm, this meant Zach, Zane, and I were sleeping at a hotel. In theory this is fun, but in practice Zane sleeping in our bed is a bit of a challenge. He moves all the time, which is cute when he randomly is patting your face, but not so cute when he is kicking you. In good news, after Zach and I's somewhat sleepless nights Zane always woke up super cheerful, dancing to the song playing in his head. Zach and I might have been a little less enthusiastic.

8. Monday I woke up with a strange, horrible eye pain. It hurt to move my eyes at all, or to touch them, but wasn't really a headache. Maybe it was/is a migraine, but of course I am sure it is a brain tumor, which obviously can't be treated because I am pregnant so can't even get scanned without hurting the baby. It has led me to be more motivated about writing a will, but still hurting today, and Tylenol isn't helping.

9. I'm thinking seriously about taking down Happy Birthday Thomas sign and putting up my fall decorations this weekend. I don't know, it might be too soon?

10. Lastly, Zane was quite the big boy on the airplane this time around. He was super excited about seeing the airplanes and even more excited when he realized we were actually going to get on the plane. He was very well behaved, and awake, the entire time. We played all sorts of stuff, not just on the ipad, and loved looking out the window. He did lay down on my lap at one point, but the baby was having none of that and quickly kicked his little head, so cute! Needless to say, it went much better than I had expected.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Let's see what have the highlights of the week been.... hmmmm??? Well Thursday was my 16 week appointment. All was well, baby is apparently doing good. My 20wk ultrasound is scheduled for Oct. 8th. I do want to find out what we are having, but am dreading the ultrasound itself. Burst into tears once I got to my car after scheduling it. Not nearly as excited as the first time mom scheduling her's in front of me.

2. After pulling myself together I had a girls day out with Michelle, sans kids. We got fall mani/pedis and did lunch. It helped lift my spirits after my small mental breakdown in the morning.

3. It's been gloomy and rainy here on the past few days that I have been off. Zane literally goes crazy if we can't get outside. He runs around aimlessly and easily is thrown into fits over nothing. Friday it was actually raining most of the day, which made for a long, trying day here. Today it was gloomy/drizzly but we still spent a lot of time on the porch or exploring the yard. He really enjoys looking for things of different colors. Today we were looking for red, found one red leaf, which was hugely exciting.

4. We head to OK Friday for Everett's baptism and to finally get to see Able's spice shop. We can hardly wait. Zane asks if he can ride an airplane every time he hears one when we are outside so I am expecting him to thoroughly enjoy this plane trip. I can hardly wait to see how big Everett has gotten and to get my hands on some Savory Spices, finally!!!

5. On that note, Savory Spice Shop OKC is officially open, as of Sunday at noon. I hear opening day went wonderfully. I was at work and feeling terribly left out. I really wish I could have been there for Able and Mom's big day, but such is life. I am so proud of all their hard work!!

6. In other pregnancy news the baby is moving around more, such a strange and wonderful feeling I had forgotten about. I have been able to feel it moving for a few weeks, little squirms here or there, but it is becoming more pronounced, making everything that much more real.

7.  In hysterical news I got the invite to my 10 year high school reunion on Friday, September 14th. Let's start by saying I thought our ten year reunion should have been during the school year when the senior class was the class of 2012, Aug. 2011- to May 2012, since I graduated in May of 2002, right? When I didn't get an invite I assumed I missed it and wasn't terribly sad about it. But no, we are a few months late. They needed an RSVP by Sept. 17th. The list of events, Pi Hi Homecoming football game, tour of the high school (in case we forgot what it looked like or if they wanted to see the Danny Blakley Science wing I guess), bring your own lunch to the park to eat together, dinner, then drinks at Crappies (the local bar, literally named Crappies). Sadly I won't be able to make any of the funtivities.

8. While I was at work this weekend Zach and Zane made some terriblyl delicious soft pretzels from scratch. Zach had tried to make pretzel buns a few weeekends ago, but failed due to old yeast. With his new yeast in hand this try was a complete success and oh so tasty. Here is the link to his recipe, I suggest dipping them in melted Velveeta!!

9. It is suppose to be nice and fall like here this weekend. Temps in the 60s, frost at night, sounds amazing. Too bad I will be in OKC where the predicted weekend highs are in the 90s. What did OK do to anger mother nature? I know we will have a blast, but why can't OK get in on some of the fall weather already.

10. Lastly, in very exciting news, I am going to be attending my first OU football game since I graduated six years ago. I am sure I won't recignize campus at all, but I still remember all the songs and cheers from way back when! Thanks to Anna for the tickets, I can't wait!

Ten on Tuesday

1. The weather here has finally cooled down and it is beginning to feel like fall. The weekend was amazingly gorgeous so we spent most of our time outside. Our family outing for Sunday was to Suson Farm to see the animals. Zane took his duck whistle so he could talk to ducks, which was highly entertaining. Here's a bunch of pictures, I just couldn't choose one!

Zane talking to his duck friends with his duck whistle.

Zane, the duck whisperer.

 Zane wearing daddy's shades.

 Zane got to pet all the horses, smartly on the belly not by their faces.

 Zane and I in the farm photo.

2. Then Sunday night we put up a tent in the back yard for some more fall fun. I don't know if we will actually make it as far as camping out in the wilderness, but we had a great time playing in the tent yesterday.

3. Yesterday I finally got to see my friend Amy, back from her California travels. Well she is back for a little bit before heading back to Cali. We went to the zoo with Michelle, Jamey, Brandy, Amy, and her boyfriend Kevin. I think the girls enjoyed seeing the zoo through little boy eyes, it is so much better that way.

 I look slightly like a cow, which is disturbing, but that is what happens when we are standing next to three gorgeous ladies. This doesn't bode well for the rest of my pregnancy if I already am looking this large. Thanks for playing with us today ladies!

 Zane and I on the choo choo!

4. I am super excited to announce that my brother's spice shop, Savory Spice Shop OKC, will be opening this Sunday. For all my Oklahoma peeps the shop is located at 4400 N. Western Avenue. They will be carrying tons of individual spices as well as nearly two hundred blends of spices as well. It's perfect timing with football/grilling season beginning. Also, if you are in OKC catch Able on Magic 104.1 on Friday mornings when he does a tailgating segment complete with Savory Spice recipes.  I cannot wait till I get to go stock up on spices and see all of Able and Mom's hard work pay off. For all of our out of town friends you can place your spice orders by calling the shop at 405-525-9119.

5. On that same note my sister, who is a much better cook than I am and lives in OKC so she has access to some free samples, is posting different recipes using some of her new Savory Spices. Check out her blog here too see all her fun ideas. I think she will be recipes all week, so stay tuned!

6. Pregnancy update of the week is that I am feeling better nausea wise but still can't breath. My 16wk appointment is Thursday, then it will be a short month until we find out if we are having a boy or a girl.

7. Over the past week Zane has been working on mastering words ending in K. This has added a whole slew of new words such as, look, walk, yuck, and has made some of his existing words more understandable, such as book and milk. There are more new words that I can't think of right now, thanks to a mixture of pregnancy brain and working for twelve hours today. My personal favorite of his new words is yuck, which he uses in a range of situations from being covered in sand to pretending to sweep our floors.

8. Now for a quick update on Zane's T-Rex baby, featured in last weeks Ten on Tuesday. So a few days ago Zane gave me his "baby" to cuddle to sleep. He got its binki, I was patting it to sleep, and I told him to get the baby a blanket. Some where between his room and getting his blanket he realized this was a terrible idea. He came back with his blanket, took the T-Rex, threw it on the floor, and immediately needed a lot of cuddles, whining like a puppy. I am sad that is perfect world is about to crash down around him.

 9. In good news Zane has come close to mastering quite a few colors; blue, green, pink, purple, orange, and his favorite yellow. He doesn't get them right 100% of the time but is getting much more consistent with recognizing them. He randomly spots something yellow while in the car and I just year a random yellow in toddler speak (cutest thing he says currently) and his little finger pointing at his newest find.

10. Lastly, I had a woman at work tell me that her grandson, born four days ago, was born with a heart murmur and they are going tomorrow for his echo and ekg. He will be five days old, just like little Zane was. I don't think that I was bringing her much comfort, probably making her even more freaked out. It took me right back to the place of being knocked down by the foreseen news. I will hold them in my prayers tomorrow, praying that their news really is as simple as "it's just a VSD" like everyone told me it would be with Zane. I am reminded yet again how blessed we are to have gotten through all our struggles so well. Not an accident that hymn "Great is thy faithfulness" has been playing in my head all day.

First Trimester: The Rest of the Story

After we returned from our big Oklahoma Adventure we told Zach's parents we were pregnant, via the ER debacle story. Then the rest of the first trimester continued really without incident. I continued my Zofran and Phenergan regimen keeping most of the nausea at bay. I started on the night shift around week seven which was good in that I wasn't running around crazy while not feeling so hot. I felt crummy most of the time, but slept my days away while on nights. Also, I felt like it was easier to keep my pregnancy a secret since there wasn't a lot of heavy lifting going on at night. More people found out at work earlier thanks to loads of CMV kids during my night rotation. There are only about three different diagnosis's that you can't take care of when you are pregnant, CMV being one of them, so when their are CMV kids on the floor pregnant people start coming out of the wood work.

I went to my eight week appointment alone since Zach was out of town. I saw our little peanut for the second time and got the picture of the jelly bean looking creature that is our child. Zane's eight week picture looked pretty much like a little tiny baby, this ones looks more like a white blob, but obviously a very adorable blob. The appointment took no time at all with my doctor saying "You know you are going to have to get a fetal echo with this one right?" Which I knew, got my higher dose of Zofran and was on my way. You can tell this was a second child because I never even asked what my official due date was. I had done some general math in my head, knowing it was the end of February but didn't get the official date until the twelve week appointment. It is true what they say that you are too busy with your first child to spend too much time googling stuff like you did with the first one.

Peanut and I went on my girls weekend 2012 where I am pretty sure I wasn't very much fun as a travel companion. I couldn't handle the heat, felt nauseous most of the time, and was continually ordering food that I ended up not wanting to eat. So far this baby has been on numerous plane rides, good training for the future I'm sure.

At my twelve week appointment I heard the heart beat again, of course it sounds great, but I don't find that really reassuring at this point. It has been in the one sixties leading my doctor to pronounce it a girl. We shall see I guess. I only gained one pound, I think thanks to all the vomiting, but I will take it. I do feel like I am getting larger much faster this time, I guess thanks to having torn all my abdominal muscles to shreds carrying Mr. Zane. I think it's funny that you can't wait to "be showing" with your first child and it takes forever. Then with your second child, when you really could wait, mainly in order to not have to get back into maternity clothes, you start having a bump quite early.

Now at 15 weeks the stuffy nose, cough, and not being able to breath period has set in. I am praying it doesn't last as long as last time. I got my first dose of antibiotics on Thursday for a sinus infections/lung crud as I call it. I miss my Albuterol inhaler and would love some Nyquil, but I'm hanging in there. Still waiting for the time period where you are suppose to feel great in my second trimester. I'm sure it's just weeks away!!!!

The Zane Show and a Play Date

Last weekend when mom and I were trying desperately to find something to do outside of the house Zane woke up from his nap saying " I wanna go to a show." I thought surely mom had told him something about a show, but no he came up with this on his own. Keep in mind the only "shows" Zane has ever been to are the Sea Lion Show and the Dog Show, neither of which he showed much interest in, so I have no idea where he came up with this. But we went with it, thinking that Monkey Joe's, the bouncy house play place, our original plan for the day, might pass as a show. Once we realized Monkey Joe's was much to crowded we headed for plan B, a little park in Kirkwood.

Once we arrived to the park Zane proclaimed it the "Zane show" and went about his park play. I thought this was adorable at the time, but figured this would be the last we would hear of the the Zane Show. Don't get me wrong it was a great show, slides, swinging, Zane's first encounter with a marry go round, puddles, and crazy high humidity almost ending in Zane's mom and Grandma dying of a heat stroke. Here are the highlights of the original Zane Show!!!

A week later the Zane show is a regular request in our day. I am not sure if that means he wants to go to the park or if he has another show of some sort in mind. Pretty much every time we get in the car at some point he will say "I wanna go to the show," "Zane show." Sometimes he even requests this while we are at home, to which we tell him to go ahead and put on a show. This might result in dancing, but most of the time it ends in Zane looking at us like we are crazy.

Today Zane and I were headed to IL for a play date with my Michelle, Karen, and their kids. This is about a forty five minute drive so there was lots of time to request a trip to the Zane show. To be fair he also requested "I ride choo choo" and "I go to a park." However, today's Zane show ended up being the Shiloh, IL Homecoming Carnival. For my Oklahoma followers think a tiny Tri-State Carnival, perfect size for one and two year olds.

This was Zane's first introduction to carnival rides and carnival food. He rode the carousel, which was a little wobbly, to the point that the three of us couldn't stand beside each other because the weight would be off balance. The crowd favorite was the little cars, they all rode in the same car, pretending to drive and loving it. Zane also had his first bouncy house experience, which initially was confusing but he quickly got the hang of it and bounced away. There was also a little horse carriage ride, funnel cake, and a wonderful park with slides and swings galore! Apparently I missed the part of the day when Zane tried to kill himself while I was running to the car for Zane's water. I am not surprised, but Karen and Michelle seemed slightly concern about his trying to walk of a ledge. Here are the pics from our fun day. Many thanks to Michelle, Jamey, Karen, and Kinsley for keeping me company while Zach was cheering on his MIZZOU Tigers this evening!

Here are Jamey, Zane, and Kinsley looking rather serious driving their car.

 No the horse carriages where not going fast, it just looks like Zane is holding on for dear life.

 Zane got to step up to the intermediate swings today and did great!

 Mommy and Zane day of fun!

The First Trimester: The ER Trip

So we headed to Oklahoma as I began the vomiting and all day nausea portion of my pregnancy. From about the five or six week period I felt pretty miserable. I wasn't sure if it was worse than with Zane or if I just had to actually function as  human being this time, what with having a two year old to keep up with. I wasn't going to see a doctor until 8 weeks so was trying to just muddle through with the nausea until that point when I could get some drugs. I didn't ever take anything with Zane, but again I pretty much sleep or laid around on my days off so probably not needed.

The first part of our Oklahoma trip was great. I told a few more people the exciting news, met our newest nephew Everett, Zane and the kids had fun in the crazy hot weather. Normal fourth of July stuff. On the day we were suppose to leave I was sicker than before. Throwing up, couldn't keep food down, ect. but chalked it up to being pregnant and decided we would fly home anyway. I am a big girl and I am sure could figure out how to throw up in the motion sickness bag if need be.

Able took us to the airport where when we arrived Zane requested eggs. We were there early and our plan was slightly delayed and by about thirty minutes into our wait Zane was rubbing his belly and crying, refusing to eat the eggs that we had somehow found at 3pm. That is as much of a sign that a two year old is about to vomit as you are going to get, but we were committed to getting home. Right up until the point where I was on the phone with mom and saw Zach, running through the OKC airport, with Zane, as he was throwing up everywhere. It was as terrible as you are picturing.

So we changed our flights, got our suitcases, and headed to Able's apartment to wait out what as obviously a stomach bug at this point. I couldn't keep anything down, hadn't drank or ate all day, and Zane and I both were throwing up. Able remained unbelievably calm as we took over his little apartment, and bed, with a sick two year old and pregnant lady. Zach called my OB and asked what we should do, meaning what could I take to stop vomiting, and she told him to take me to the ER. I, being a medical profession and thus never following other medical professionals advice, determined I was fine and didn't want to go to the ER. I drank a tiny glass of water, took a Benadryl and went to sleep.

I woke up at 4AM to get ready for our 7AM flight and was sure I was having a miscarriage. I was peeing blood and was sure I was loosing the baby due to my pure stubbornness and laziness. So we changed our flights again and headed to the ER, in OKC. Luckily there was no one in the ER at 4:30am and we were quickly seen.  They ran a battery of tests, pumped me full of fluids and Zofran, then did an ultrasound to make sure baby was alright. Little peanut was fine and we got to see his/her heart beating at a mere six weeks old. I had a raging bladder infection and UTI and we were sent on our way with antibiotics, Zofran, and Phenergan.

Seeing the baby's heart beat came with a bundle of mixed emotions. Obviously, first of all great relief that the baby was fine and we were still pregnant. But that was quickly followed by the thoughts that by the time I even found out that I was pregnant with Zane I was six weeks pregnant and his heart, with all it's flaws that we would later find out about, were already formed and beating. The rush of all the emotions that are wrapped up in thinking about Zane's tiny heart beat that we listened to and saw for months came rushing over me at that moment, sadness and gratitude all at the same time.

The doctor thought that I was crazy and I think thought I was asking him if this baby had a heart condition which I obviously wasn't, but couldn't, and still can't really, put all those feelings and thoughts into words inappropriately. This was the first, of what have already been many, situations where all that happened with Zane, that chapter of our life's book, has changed how the rest of our story is written. Do I think this baby has TET, no, but does having lived that experience change how we are/will experience this pregnancy, absolutely.

The final kicker to this story was that when we got out to mom's Enclave it had a flat tire, of course. Mom had made it to The City and met us in the ER by this point. Having been woken up by Able's phone call to tell her I was headed to the hospital. So mom took me to get my meds while Zach, my wonderful husband stayed behind to changed the flat tire. Where was Zane through all this you might ask, well with his God Father, Uncle Able of course. They had a big time in the little, not so child proofed apartment, watching Finding Nemo, all while Zane was fully oblivious to anything being wrong.

Mom took Zane to play with his cousins while Zach and I passed out at Able's. We finally made it back to our house, of course after an 2 hr delayed flight out of OKC, at 9:30pm. A mere 36 hours or so after starting our journey home. I of course had to work the next day, which led to me telling my dear friend Brandy that I was pregnant, slightly earlier than planned, so she could make sure I didn't die at work that day.

As I said in the first post, pregnancy is a doozy, but I knew that going into it.

All that has changed

It has been two years since my dad died and today I found myself in a different place. At times I can't believe it has already been two years, since it still seems like I should still be able to pick up the phone and hear his calming voice. However, at other times, such as today,it feels like it has been forever. The crushing devastation of the unexpected loss has subsided a bit, replaced instead by a heavy weight if sadness. There is a part of my heart missing. A part that I took for granted when it was with me, assuming my strong, invincible father would always be there.

I shed a few tears today, thinking about all that dad has missed, and all that he will miss. It wasn't the excruciating tears, from the depths of my soul, that I was so often lost in two years ago, just missing my dad and thinking of all that has changed. I remember thinking early on how the person that dad left knowing me as wouldn't be the same for long. Time and life experiences change everyone and even in the throngs of grief I felt my story changing and hated to think of this future self I was becoming that my dad would never know. I have changed for the better through it all, stronger, wiser, with a different out look on life and parenting given my experiences of the past two years. I wish I could have been all those things when he was here. Looking back I was naive to think he would always be around. He knew that wasn't the case, but I couldn't hear that. Now I know it to be true and strive to leave nothing unsaid, to take no day for granted, and to love my children as my parents loved me.

I wish he could have known Zane, my happy blonde haired boy, running, singing, jumping, playing, with his hair and ears. Zane's zest for life would have done dad good. I hate that he never got to see me as mother, one not in the depths of grief, fearing the future, but the mother I am today. I wish he could have seen Able finally find something he loves to do and is passionate about. Working on opening this spice shop is the happiest I have seen Able in years and I know he will do an amazing job at it. Dad would be his biggest fan, unbelievably proud of all his hard work. As I am sure he is from heaven. I know we all had a heavy heart when Everett was born and dad wasn't there to meet him. Something was missing from the celebration and I know it will be the same with my next little peanut as well. I still feel him around me and know he is forever watching over us and our children, but the void remains. And we all still miss him terribly.


Today I soaked up Zane's light and tried yet again to make today a celebration of Zach's life instead of a day of grief. It is still Zach's birthday after all. I don't know how good of a job I did. I did make the customary heart shaped cake, thanks to Zane telling me yesterday, after making daddy a birthday card that "daddy need a cake mamma." Oh right, I forgot, good thing my two year old has it together. We went out and ate pizza, then came home in a rain shower, dad's way of saying hello. Zane and I waved to grandpa on our way in, telling him we missed him and thanks for the rain.

The First Trimester: Finding Out

I guess the story really begins with how we found out about baby number two. It really isn't a fun story, but part needs to be remembered none the less. We found out we were pregnant with our second child two days after Zane's second birthday. I came home from work to find spots on Zane's hands, feet, and around his mouth. It wasn't a huge jump to realize he had hand, foot, and mouth disease. Initially he just seemed a little fussy, scratching at his feet, and being slightly emotional.

As I cuddled Zane I quickly ran through the things I knew about hand, foot, and mouth disease. It is most contagious before any spots appear, it's a virus so there isn't any real treatment, don't take the kid to the doctors office and spread it to everyone else, kids might not want to eat or drink if they  have spots in their mouth, and I vaguely remembered Abbey's kids having it when she was pregnant with Everett. I remembered Abbey saying her OB had told her to not come to her office if she started having symptoms because she would need to kept away from other pregnant people. Also, remember the words "losing the baby" being thrown around by her doctor. So knowing that there was an ever so slight possibility that I could be pregnant I figured I should take the one random pregnancy test we had laying around, left over from a Christmas morning scare, just to make sure that I wasn't pregnant.

I quickly did my thing and headed back to cuddling Zane with no worries that it would be positive after an incredibly busy month, one week of which I hadn't even been home. A didn't hear anything from Zach so assumed it was negative, until I came out to get a sippy cup of milk and Zach said, "well, your pregnant." As with the last time I found out I was pregnant the initial feeling that rushed through me was terror, as I think it should be for any rational human. Creating human life is a HUGE deal, not to be taken lightly. Also, unlike what they tell you when pregnant with your first child, I very distinctly remember how miserable I was when I was pregnant last time. The "make you forget" hormones never kicked in for me. However, we had a sick boy on our hands, getting sicker and crabbier by the minute so there was no celebration or freaking out for hours (which is what happened the night we found out we were pregnant with Zane).

I hastily called my sister, telling her in a not fun way at all that I was pregnant and asking what exactly I should be concerned about if I got the virus while pregnant. She was very excited, admittedly probably more so than me at that moment and reassured me all was fine. Rationally there is no way I hadn't been exposed to it previously, having worked in a daycare and at a Children's Hospital, but obviously not thinking rationally at that moment.

So we spent the rest of the night, and I do mean THE REST OF THE NIGHT, until 4AM dealing with Zane scratching himself crazy, screaming bloody murder, inconsolable by any parenting tricks we had in our two year old book. Luke warm bath, lotions, fully clothed, naked, watching TV, cuddling in our bed, cuddling on the couch, you name it we tried it. I called into work with a screaming baby in the background and the thought "oh my God we are going to have another one soon" running through my head. In the midst of it I would randomly try to picture what the other child would be doing if this were to happen next year, the answer of course being, the exact same thing as Zane, screaming their head off and also wanting their mommy too.

So in the end it took us one month to get pregnant, by the grace of God. Had I not been pregnant during the screaming marathon I'm not sure I would have gone through with having another child. It took Zane a few days to recover, just as it took us a few days to rap our minds around our growing family and just how scarily fertile we really are. I don't take it for granted, we are truly blessed as I know many people who try for years to have children.

The next week we headed to Oklahoma for the fourth of July celebrations were the next part of our story begins. I had to tell the rest of my family much sooner than I had planned since I called my sister about two minutes after finding out. But they are my family and I was so happy for them to share in our joy. I had thought I would have a fun way to announce baby number two, but I guess not, which was fine. It's big enough news you really don't need fancy packaging.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Mom and I had a dreary, soggy, weekend here, but managed to have quite a good time. Zane is a huge fan of his Grandma B. and loved singing, playing in his new big boy room, and soaking up all her attention. I think Grandma B left pretty beat though. She asked me if we had a gas leak in our house at one point because she was so tired. I told her that was Zane's doing, not natural gas. He does go 100mph, I guess we are just use to it now.

Here is Grandma and Zane watching the rain, when it started. It lost some of its appeal three days later.

2. We did get a little stir crazy so headed to Grants Farm Sunday in the drizzle. We had to get out of the house. It was a quick trip, but Zane got to run and we all got some much needed fresh air.

3. Friday mom got her first taste of the Magic House, which can be a bit over whelming. It was slightly better since school has started so there were just little people there, but still pretty busy. Zane always has a good time though with lots of opportunity to learn how to take turns. This time the new experience was figuring out how to use the microphone in the Supreme Court room, fun times!

4. Zane is loving his big boy bed, to the point of making me slighlty sad. I should really do a whole post on this transition, so I will just suffice it to say that he loves jumping in it, playing in it, putting his animals to bed in it, and in good news is sleeping well in it also.

5. The rest of the big boy room is almost finished as well. We have toy storage, clothes storage, a few things for the walls, and thanks to Grandma B he has "space to sleep" a.k.a stars for the ceiling and wall. It was a must in all our rooms growing up and Zane loves it. I think we could use a few more stars, but really can you ever have enough?

6. I have officially reached the point in pregnancy where I have no memory, what so ever. Also, starting this past week the crazy dreams. This weeks craziest/scariest one was one where we had twin boys (one of them being Zane) but they both had TET and we had to go get ECHOs and EKGs for the both, at the same time. Take away lesson it could be worse, right?

7.We are also at the point where I stop being able to breath. I was hoping that the not being able to breath wasn't going to be a trend in my pregnancies, but this is right around the time when I got stuffed up and couldn't breath for ten weeks with Zane. I think it is allergies but can't take much for it, so I am snotty and congested, with my head feeling like it might explode at any moment. All of this is feeling very familiar from last time. After a twelve hour day I am really struggling and wishing I could take my Albuterol inhaler, but no such luck. I see a Z-pack in my future.

8. Here is my favorite picture of the week. This is Zane's new T-Rex, a.k.a his baby, that he had "put to bed" in the baby bed. As you can see he covered it up with a blanket and even gave him a binki. Yes baby prep is going really well, or not.

9. This past weekend also was the start of OU football. Sadly it started at freaking 9:30 at night so I only got to watch the first quarter, but I am excited for the season to begin and it makes me feel like fall might actually be around the corner. It doesn't feel like it just yet, but I know it is coming soon.

10. Lastly, we did have a fun family Labor Day yesterday. We went to the Train museum for a choo choo ride and some fun time playing on the trains as well. It amazes me that every time we go there he is able to do more things, notices differences in the trains, and seems to enjoy it more each time. He played in a couple different engines, saying "All Aboard" continually and being thoroughly confused as to why no one was boarding. He turned all the knobs, rang the bell, and even noticed that some trains had their lights on this time. I love watching his little mind work! 

Here's our little engineer!

Picture Update

Ok the computer is fixed and it is time for a picture update. Here is all that you have missed over the past couple weeks during the computer shut down.

First up petting the bunny at Purina Farms. I know it doesn't look exciting, but might have been the highlight of the day.

 Here are the baby pigs that Zane got to pet and also tried to feed. They had no food in this circle, so Zane got some hay to give to them and got reprimanded by teenager standing guard.

 Family photo at Purina farms. Zane looks so calm, but really had been running in circles like a crazy person, per usual, right before this shot.

 One of Zane new favorite outdoor activities. Why didn't we think of this sooner.

 Zane has mastered the art of shucking corn. This was during our family weekend of fun two weeks ago. 

 Yummy!

 Enjoying the fruits of his labor, after the corn was cooked. This was our outdoor dinner, which was a huge hit.

 Zane helping daddy build his learning tower for the kitchen.

 This was from our trip to the Zoo last week. Here is Zane in the new sea lion exhibit. I love what the water did to the picture, it looks like he is in the  ocean.

 Mommy and Zane with the seals. 

 And of course on the carousel.