WOW-I am not dead

Holy crap buying a house is exhausting....I am not really good about blogging (obviously) while I can hardly stand sitting in a messy disorganized house. My cabinets are almost done...like they are curing right now and then I will have my kitchen back...ahhh I can't wait. I am loading new pictures onto the computer so you all can see my stinkin cute kiddos and I am tired. Blah and tired

Little quick update
Levi is 6 months
Kenzie is 2 1/2

kenzie talks our ear off....not as fun as it sounds
and levi melts our hearts with his perfectness :)

Inside the House

Please Excuse the mess of some of these pictures :) We are unpacking in some of them.

We love being in a house (is it expensive.....yes) but we are gaining control of finances and excited to start living.....

Here are a few pictures:

Secrets REVEALED....our new addition

Well it's true we are welcoming a new addition to our family....



well actually this addition is something that we all fit inside...

WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT ON A HOUSE!!! HOLY CRAP!!!!!!


We are hoping to close July 1st, the bank wants to close in June...we will see what happens....

It is a perfect house for us! RIGHT next to the back side of the elementary school, on a corner, three car garage, a huge yard... (the list goes on)

Here is a picture of the new addition....

Wish us luck! All that has to happen is the house has to pass the inspection! Then we will be closing :)

ps: anyone getting ride of/selling a decent lawn mower....

M.I.A.

Dear Blog,

I know that I have been missing in action BUT I do have a very good reason. Hopefully I will be able to share it with you soon....a week or two! I have pictures I need to put of Levi and Kenzie but I have been SUPER busy and not just being a mom....Hopefully I will be able to share good news soon.

~Ashley

Easter Egg Hunt

We must have taught Kenzie something right (besides that watching the Office rules). She was a pretty good Easter Egg hog...good thing that there were TONS of eggs for Nursery Kids :)

The Birth Story (Warning LONG and NO details left out)

Well, Kenzie is at Grandmas for the weekend and Derek is studying for a HUGE test that he is taking on Monday...this means I have time to myself with Levi...since he is sleeping I can BLOG!!! YEAH...well here is Levi's birth story...

We are going to start in the first week or so of March. I was having a hard time breathing and catching my breath...so I was a little nervous because IF I wasn't getting enough oxygen I wanted to know that our Baby Boy was, SO I went into the doctors. Obviously I wasn't in labor, the doctor checked me, I was still at a one but getting "softer." AND Levi was doing just fine...she told me that he was a GOOD 7 lbs. (this wasn't my normal doctor she was out of town). I thought WOW that's big already. I was about 36 1/2 weeks almost 37.

Well things went on as normal as they can with a huge belly. At my 37 week appointment Derek wanted me to ask about being induced and the doctors opinion and philosophy. She said that it was totally fine but they can't induce until 39 weeks, and they don't induce on a weekend. So I went home and talked to Derek. He thought that it was a great idea and we decided to schedule for March 25th.

I went to my appointment on the 22nd and told my doctor what we decided. I had told Derek that if I wasn't dilated anymore than a 1 (still) then I wasn't going to schedule an induction, obviously my body wasn't ready yet). Well I got checked and I was a 3! YEAH, scheduled it for Friday.

We dropped Kenzie off at my Mom's on Thursday night since I had to be there early he next morning. Obviously I didn't sleep very well and was up early-like 4 and decided to play Wii until I took a shower and such. Derek got everything in the car and I was making sure I didn't forget anything and my phone rings and it is the hospital asking me if I was still coming. I said yes, aren't I supposed to be there at 7:30? They responded...you were supposed to be here at 6 we like to have you prepped and ready for the O.R. by 7:30...I said okay we are leaving right now we are just about 15-20 minutes away...see you soon, bye...

..........WAIT a minute did they say O.R.???? Hum...that doesn't make sense.....

Oh well, we drove to the hospital and went inside when we were flooded with "I'm so sorry, we're so sorry, sorry sorry..." They got me mixed up with someone who was having a c-section. BUT we were 15 minutes early! That is better than late! So They get us all set up.

My doctor came in and broke my water sometime between 8:30 and 9 (consequently while Derek was wondering the halls trying to find his way out to go get stuff out of the car HAHAH). Because the baby was doing so well they told me that I didn't have to be hooked up to any monitors and could walk the halls.

~Side note: when they broke my water with Kenzie it was like the flood gates opening and I filled like 5 of those bed pads in seconds....this baby's head was like a plug and so it just trickled...

While walking the halls I had to return frequently to the bathroom to change everything, since there was plenty of "water" leaking everywhere filling up the pads I was wearing :) OH JOYS OF CHILDBIRTH

.....fast forward a few hours (nothing really exciting happens.....My contractions are really regular and I am dilating great! With them just breaking my water. The contractions are getting harder and the anesthesiologist was going to be tied up for a while and I needed to decided if I wanted it. Well I didn't, I had a horrible experience with the length of time it took the other guy to give it to me (45 WHOLE MINUTES) with Kenzie....PLUS he was feeding his cows....Well Avista always has 2 there so I said, okay I guess I am ready, well he was already in surgery and so they called the other guy. No big deal

We said a prayer...cause I was SO freaked out...and he showed up. Gave me the paper work. Explained some stuff. Told me he was going to describe what he was doing....I told him please don't, I don't want to know and don't care to know, he gave me the numbing shot (feels like a sting) and 45 SECONDS later he was done. Well consequently I start balling...LITERALLY....tears streaming down my face...I WAS SO HAPPY!!! I said thank you about a gazillion times and he was on his way.

Fast forward a little bit, my doctor came in and said WOW I thought you were on Pitocin because your contractions are BEAUTIFUL! Nope my body is doing it YEAH!!!!

Fast forward to 4:45pm...ok I am starting to feel pressure...so we called my nurse and she checked my again still at 9 1/2 but she thought that I could push past it...so we practiced pushing...

-THIS IS WHERE I WILL GET GRAPHIC-

We would push on contractions and I would have a great first push but the other two were crappy...

Let me explain why: My Nurse (who WAS AWESOME I LOVED LOVED LOVED HER) would put her hand in me so that I could feel where I was supposed to push. Well that weirded me out...I could feel her hand and it just was awkward. So we did these practice pushed for about 15 minutes and I finally said, "I don't mean to be rude but can you take you hand out and then let me try" She said oh of course usually that helps people. HAHA well next contraction I pushed ONCE and she said oh we need to call the doctor don't push again. Well keep in mind I can feel everything because my epidural is wearing off...rather quickly. So with every contraction I am crying and trying to breathe and not push....almost impossible. The pain is getting almost unbearable...

She called the front desk at 5:05

She called the front desk at 5:15

She called again at 5:25-asking for ANY DOCTOR

My doctor walks in at 5:25 (luckily) There were about 6 nurses in my room ready to deliver the baby.

My nurse says, can she push (as the are tearing the bed apart, pulling up the stirrups, and getting me situated) My doctor says just let me get my gloves on....

contraction-
nurse-grab your legs and push,
me-I can't it hurts to bad,
Derek- Ashley the baby is coming grab your legs and push,
me-ok, (I push for maybe 5 seconds)
Doctor-Stop,
me-okay,
doctor unwrapped the cord from his neck,
doctor-finish pushing,
baby-WAHHH,
me-WAHHH owee, owee ouch ouchie...uh....

~ps I think Derek recorded on his phone (sound only) this previous part..not sure though

Me: I am ready for some IB Pruefin
Nurse: You have an epidural in
Me: It doesn't work
Nurse: you need to at least eat something
Me: ok, then can I have medicine
Nurse: Ya, let me go get you some crackers and pain killers
Me: Thanks

~now the after birth

Doctor-this is the week of stubborn placenta's
5-10 minutes later it is out....BEST FEELING EVER....Even when I had Kenzie delivering the after birth feels AWESOME (at least to me) It is the most relieving feeling in the whole entire WORLD!

Nurses-he is 7 lbs 3 oz
DR- WOW he must of liked to be stretched out cause you always measured big!
Nurses-19 1/2 inches long

Doctor-you don't need any stitches
Me-REALLY! YEAH (in an exhausted excited tone)

Welp that is the story I know it is long but I wanted to write everything down while I remembered it!

It truly is a miracle!

I love Levi, it was totally worth it! (plus I have been having a great recovery)

Some pictures

I forgot to add some pictures to the last post...here they are

Levi Keith Cook

He is here!!! Levi was born on Friday, March 25th. I will eventually getting around to the birth experience but not today...here is a short version with some specs of Levi :) haha

I was scheduled to be induced on Friday. They broke my water and my body did everything on its own...NO pitocin. YEAH!!! He was born 5:28pm with 1 push and NO stitches YES!!!! He was a cute little 7lbs 3 oz boy and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Have a great day!!!!

New Years Resolution

Okay Okay I know that it is March but I basically have been trying to figure out how to word what I want my new years resolutions. First, this is definitely not for a "pity party" I think that I need to write all of my feelings down, it will hopefully help me keep and succeed at this years resolutions....

Well here is goes....

My 2011 New Years Resolution is.....Take time for myself.

Now the explanation. I have been a little unhappy, feeling really useless, and basically all around crappy basically about everything. I have been literally praying for some kind of answer for me...and I need to take time for myself. I literally don't do anything by myself: not bath, shower, put my makeup on (if it even goes on), do my hair, blog, NOTHING.

So things that I have been working on that should help my by the end of the year (and hopefully earlier):
1. Actually put make up on (even if it is just mascara and eyeliner)
2. Take time to read my scriptures (even just one verse)
3. Take time to blow dry my hair once a week or so (those who know my hair know this is a pretty big time commitment)
4. Treat myself to a new shirt or jewelry or something (Derek and Kenzie aren't the only ones who should get things)
5. Find joy in everything
6. Get adult interaction-not just on the phone. (It is hard to talk to a two year old all day)

Now this is going to be hard especially for the next few months. I am going to have a baby and am already preparing for the emotional turbulence that I will be experiencing and talking to my doctor about the medicine I need to be starting when the baby is born, from previous postpartum with Kenzie. We are going to be moving in June too...AHH I know we are gonna be a little crazy.

I have been jealous of my friends that work. They get to go somewhere, speech with adults, and get a change of scenery. Now, I wouldn't change being a mom for anything, BUT I have been feeling like I need to do something different, as I told Derek when he got his new job,

"You get a new job that brings new and exciting challenges but basically you are gonna like better, for me to change my life I have to get fat and push out a baby, then recover from doing so. IT IS JUST NOT FAIR."

I need to find the joy in being a mom, I mean I really love it but sometimes have a hard time, I just feel useless.

To start to combat these feelings besides the list above is to sell Avon. I am not into pushing sells to anyone but I feel like I can order makeup or jewelry (because pricing is AWESOME) and meet new people and interact with other adults, while feeling like I am doing something with my life AND if I do more things I know I can be more organized and get more things done.

I wanted to post my website here so in case you didn't get my email about my new online store you have access to it.

www.youravon.com/acook7816

Now, wish me luck...I have a feeling that this is gonna be a pretty crazy year but I hope that by the end it is a successful year and I feel better about being a mom and can realize that I am not a useless turd, (HAHA).

Thanks for listening....Good luck on your New Years Resolutions!

Part 2 of Kenzie's Birthday

So Derek was in charge of the camera during Kenzie's family party. The only picture that we have is this one of the cake...AND I TOOK IT! HAHA The rest are videos and they are long and you don't need too see those :)

So we had my parents and we ordered pizza, opened presents and had cake and ice cream.

Well, here is our picture :)

Kenzie's Birthday Party

Kenzie turned 2! I can't even believe that it has been 2 years, I can totally believe that Kenzie is 2 because I feel like she already acted 2 BUT that it has already been 2 years since she was born....HOLY COW~that is a little harder to believe.

Any ways, a few of us met at the Dinosaur Play Place at Flatirons to have a very low key Birthday Party. The kids were running around so crazy that I wasn't able to get pictures of everyone but here are a few that are blog worthy.

OH MY OH MY OH MY

Derek and I went to borders yesterday and I love looking at Magazines for cute ideas. There was an adorable apron magazine, called Apronology....and this was on the cover....

I AM IN LOVE....I even dreamed about. There is a tutorial in the magazine and I really want to go back to get it...is it kinda impractical...YUP....but maybe I can make it into a summer skirt...maybe I will be over my head in flowers I haven't decided yet...the only thing I have decided is that I LOVE IT....here are a few more that I love from her website.

I LOVE THEM ALL....I think that I have convinced myself that they would all be adorable skirts, especially for the summer....I might have to start on one....AHHH I LOVE THEM I can't even describe how adorable I think these are....


ps...here is her website which I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT IS ON IT!!!!

donnadowney.typepad.com

~Ashley

Estes Park

In September we were able to take a trip up to Estes Park. We wanted to go up and see the Elk and the leaves changing. We haven't ever really taken a day trip any where and thought it would be a fun family outing. IT TOTALLY WAS. We drove all the way up to the top of Trail Ridge Road. A very fun ride especially since we were able to take Derek's mustang because it hadn't started snowing yet! Kenzie got altitude sickness (we are pretty sure) she was totally having a great time in Estes Park…then when we got to the top of the mountain she wouldn't hardly move and didn't even want to walk just be held and had a little bit of a fever…WEIRD…then when we got to the bottom she was fine. We loved this trip together and had a ton of fun walking around main street Estes Park. I am not going to lie….there was an AWESOME taffy shop that had melt in your mouth salt water taffy (one of my weaknesses) and I definitely ate the whole bag of taffy. IT WAS AWESOME. Here are the pictures from our trip!

Pregnancy Brain ;)

An exerpt from a couple of recent conversations....

1. While we were in Idaho driving around town
Derek: how are you doing?
Me: good I am hungry
Derek: what! you just ate breakfast
Me: what are you talking about?
D: you just said you were hungry.
M: I did? I meant to say I was comfortable...oops


2. My sister, Emily had just come over after piano lessons.
Me: hey Em, how are your jammies?
Emily: what? Ummmm...
Me: what did I just ask you? Did I just ask how your jammies were?
Emily: yup I am a little confused
Me: you should be I meant to ask you how your piano lessons were! Oops I have really bad pregnancy brain!
Emily: well piano was good and so are my jammies ;)


So I am pretty sure that it is only going to get worse from here on out.

Consider yourself warned

*FIXED LINK* Kenzie's 2 year pictures

Head over to Caralee Case's photography blog and see an adorable preview of her pictures :) caraleephotography.blogspot.com


And ENJOY