Macks Erwin

He has arrived!
November 19 @ 12:18 p.m.
8 lb. 4 oz. 19"

Growing like a weed. Will try to get his birth story up soon.

It's A.....

BOY!!!!!

We couldn't be more happy!! Almost 23 weeks now.I still can't believe it!!!!!!

19w1d

Where has time gone???? I can't believe I am almost halfway thru my surprise pregnancy! This is my belly today. So adorable!

Our gender scan is the 10th and can't get here quick enough!!!! 

Oh My....'

I can't believe its been so long since I wrote here. Between life and being a full time student and mom, I guess I just kinda forgot. Sigh, life goes on! But here I am.
Still a full-time mommy =) and still a full time student...however, I have switched to all online classes. Going on campus for classes isn't really an option anytime soon because....

We are having a baby!!!!!! 

I am ten weeks today and due Friday November 28, 2014! Black Friday! LOL No shopping for me this year!!! After two miscarriages I never thought we would be here again. In fact we were actually preventing in the form of the pill. The week after I found out I had a previously scheduled appointment with my OB/GYN to discuss scar tissue from my c-section and more long term birth control. Of course that appointment changed to discussing how my hcg levels were doing (fantastic!!!!!) and how things there progressing and when to schedule an ultrasound. 

This whole thing has been very amazing. I went from extreme anger to embracing this baby. I am thankful everyday for this miracle and can't wait to meet him or her. I have had 3 ultrasounds and the one i included was at 8w2d. 

Thus far this pregnancy has been very different than when I was pregnant for Hayley. With her I didn't have any morning sickness til I was 12 weeks and then I threw up for 3 months and was nauseous the final three. It was rough!!! This time, I have had a lot of nausea with no vomiting, extreme exhaustion, and raging emotions. Maybe its a boy... ;) 

I'm hoping to start blogging more. I want to remember these days forever. And I want to be able to show my kids some day how life was when they were growing up!!!

So I'll be back again soon! Probably later since I'm 10 weeks today and I think I want to do a weekly post...

Sara

Still hanging around..

Just not posting much (okay not at all, sorry!) and its been pretty chaotic for the last almost 7 months. As of last May I have been taking classes. Summer semester wasn't too bad but this fall has got me running in circles.
I am currently taking 3 classes and am on campus 4 days a week. 2 of those days I am there for about 12 hours. Its exhausting and I am looking forward to my long days ending next week with the end of the first 7 weeks. After that I am only doing 2 classes until winter semester and then all craziness breaks lose.
I am super excited about the next semester despite all the craziness because I am finally getting into the kitchen. Oh I guess I should add that I am going for my associates in Culinary Management with the possibility of going for my bachelors. Sooo yeah, thats whats been going on!
On the trying to conceive front there is nothing going on. My periods are kinda of wacky at the moment but they are getting better so I know that things are getting better. Also, as a result of having food poisoning this past weekend I am down about ten pounds.
Also my princess is now 11 years old! And in middle school...But its almost 2 am and I have to be up in 5 hours. So I will try and make it back to update more about Hayley soon!!
Sara

Doing okay...

On Wednesday afternoon I had one last hcg check before they took me back for my d&c. I needed that done for my own peace of mind. As it turns out we were making the right choice as my hcg level had already began to drop in 2 short days. In fact it dropped over 200 points.
So we went ahead and did the procedure and the dr said he didnt remove much. so there is still a slight concern of an ectopic pregnancy so I have to go Friday morning for more blood work to make sure my level is still dropping and i will see the dr in the afternoon.
Physically as of now I am feeling okay. I have taken some tylenol for some mild cramping and tmi but as of almost 3 am I am not really bleeding anymore.
I have lots of questions for the dr and hope i can get some answers soon.
I am off to bed now but wanted to post a quick update.
Oh and side note today (4/11) would have been my dads 70th birthday. I still miss him like crazy but take comfort in the knowledge (in my eyes) he was there to greet our baby.
I promiseto post again soon...
Sara

Beyond heartbroken

We found out today this baby isnt going to make it. They are scheduling a d&c for later this week. Please pray....

Just hanging on...

Barely hanging on but none the less we are hanging on.  We have been having regular HCG checks but they are not going as well as they were. I had one done Thursday, which was 3 days since my last one, and it was only 859. up from 526.7. So it did not double. It did go up at least 60% so I was trying to stay positive. Then today I went and had labs drawn again ( boy am I getting all black and blue!!) and it had only risen to 1074. BUT that was only 40 hrs after the last one so I don't know if that other 8 hours makes a big difference. I have to go either Monday or Tuesday and have them drawn again. I am terrified that something is wrong but I just keep telling my self, it is rising, I still feel pregnant(horrible morning (all day) sickness) and I'm not bleeding. This baby is a fighter I have to have faith that everything will be okay.
Oh and on another note I quit smoking 3 days ago. Amazingly its gone well, but I chalk that up to the fact that the smell of cigarettes makes me practically gag....
So please pray for this little baby. If we lose it I'm not sure I can go thru this again!
Sara

Surprise!

That is exactly how we felt. I've had three hcg checks and they were 84 218.4 and today was 526.7...we are still in shock but at this point we r confident that this will end with a baby! Thank you to anyone who has been praying for us!

Hello!

Please if u can, please pray for my sanity and my family as we travel some bumpy roads....
Thanks!

Discouraging...

Its day 22 today. Still no positive test. It's nerve-racking..Tomorrow I go for blood work. Day 23 bloodwork apparently LOL. She wanted day 22 but that's today and the lab is closed. I really don't know what she is checking in my blood work but I'm sure they will let me know if they find something we need to discuss.
What if I'm really not ovulating. I know that the only true way to tell if I am ovulating is to temp. But temping is hard for me because I don't get up at the same time everyday..I donno.
The other day Hayley announced that she would like a baby brother or sister. It was so sweet but yet so sad. I know she wants a sibling...She has never been quiet about it. Shes already 10...and yet she still wants that little sibling to play with. Its adorable. Sad too, because we've been trying for so long to have a baby.
I have to go for more labwork on day 3 of my next cycle. I don't know what she is checking then either. I guess I should have paid more attention at my appointment. Opps.
I've hit a wall. I'll be back in a little bit!

Day 18..

Still negative but thats the darkest one yet..maybe soon...

Day 14?

I guess is what today is. The pic is my first 3 ovulation predictor tests. All negative right? I really dont know but ill keep testing until like the end of the week..maybe the 15th. *sigh* this getting pregnant stuff is hard work LOL

Ouch!

Today I saw my doctor for a follow up on my carpel tunnel. He suggested an injection in the wrist to help with the pain. Okay, I say, even though I'm a big baby were needles and pain is concerned. I did ask if it would hurt and he said yes it would burn. Great...
So he comes in and does the injection and instantly it burns and my entire hand goes numb! Not normal according to him. But once the lidocaine in the injection wore off all I was left with was intense wrist pain! So thats where I am at now. Trying to type this so no one thinks I fell off the planet.
Be back when I can type again!
S

Spring Break

Its weird to be thinking about Spring Break already! But I'm ready. This year we are hoping to have a true adventure! 18+ hours in the car with a 10 year old? Yup adventurers we are!
So where are we hopefully headed? The great state of Florida.  Hayley and Scott have never been so we are hoping to go visit with a good friend of mine and her fiance. Hopefully we can save enough money to go to Sea World or Disney...That would be awesome!!!
I'm so excited!!!!
Sara

The Flu...

And bronchitis. That's whats going around my house right now. I have so far been able to stay health but I'm not going to hold my breath! Everyone else has been miserable..some going on 2 weeks now. This is NOT fun! I hope everyone gets better soon! It's no fun taking care of a bunch of sickies...
Hayleys been on antibotics for 3 days now and she is starting to feel a little better but her cough is still pretty nasty. Scott on the other hand he just had the flu. Not really much coughing though. He's been sick for 2 weeks now and is still miserable. =(
I hope everyone out there is staying healthy!
Sara

Christmas Cookie Pictures...

Better late than never!!!

 Peanut Butter Blossoms

 Scott's Favorite

 Don't they look yummy

 Rootbeer float cookies

 Just for the record these rock! I LOVE them so much!

 mixed nut brittle for my mother in law..not really that icky yellow color!

 5 layer bar mix

 Hayley making the crust...

 Getting ready!

The final product! YUMMY!

Hope you enjoyed the photos! If you want any recipes just leave me an email in comments and I will send it to you!!!

Sara

Just a little note...

Happy New Year (again!) Everyone! I hope this post finds you not too hungover and happy to embrace the new year. I am ready. I need this new year. I need things to look up and be better. I have posted my list of resolutions but I have thought of a few more...

• Get Hayley unspoiled a little bit. This girl will do anything to get out of doing chores. Sunday nite she was suppose to take care of her clean laundry...fold and put away. It took me TWO hours to finally convince her to do it and what does she do?? Just shoves it in the drawers. So I told her..If thats what you want to do fine but that it is her fault if her clothes are wrinkled. 
• Get into a better routine. Not just in the morning but for all day. I find my self with tons of free time and that isn't any fun!!!

So that is my added resolutions!
Talk to everyone soon!!!

Hello 2013....

I'm ready to start the new year! 2012 was a tough year, a happy year, but still tough. Losing one of my best friends and then my miscarriage, followed by losing my dad...yeah tough. So I've given it a lot of thought...
What you ask? Why my New Years Resolutions. And this year I am going to do way better at sticking to them.  So here they are in no particular order...

• quit smoking!
• start attending a church..I actually have one in mind
• lose more weight...I am finally back on the right path and am hopeful this will continue
• read my Bible again
• Have family photos taken
• Hopefully get pregnant!
• Be a better wife, mother, daughter and in general better person

There it is..all in black and white. And of course I intend to blog more. Its good for me to get stuff out...

 Enjoy the first day of 2013 and I will blog again when we get home. I typed this post in advance and hopefully it will publish when I want it too!

Just random thoughts....

Just an FYI this is a prewritten post that I scheduled to run while I'm gone.

I miss my dad. ALL the time. He's never far from my mind. This has been so hard and I don't see it getting any better any time soon. How do I live with this?

On Friday Dec 28 I meet with an old friend. We met at Starbucks and spend 1/2 hour chatting. I needed that. I needed to make peace with an old situation. And I really feel like things are all better now. On a side note I had a salted caramel mocha. mince the sea salt off the top. It was okay. Didn't settle well with my stomach but I'd drink it again.

Ive found my self in some situations that don't really settle well with me. I wish I could explain but I know that any way I try to blog it it won't come out right. I just wish that I had the wisdom to know how to handle these things.

I've mostly decided that after the new year I am going to start going to church. This has been a long decision coming and I know that it is the right thing for me and my family. I have found a church that I am thinking of attending. It just happens to be the church that Hayley goes to on Wednesday night for JAMS. My only concern right now is Scott. I am not sure what his opinion is on the matter and I don't want it to cause any problems.

As of writing this I am 3 days late...I don't think I'm pregnant..I did a test today. But last time it was like 2 weeks later before I finally got a positive test. I do have a few symptoms that are kinda nerve wracking but only time will tell. I have to say this getting pregnant stuff is hard work! ;)
Edited to add:So much for being late.  I finally started on Sunday. Oh the pain! I am def. calling my doctor about this pain! Just as soon as I get home.

Thanks for sticking with me..Heres to hoping that 2013 brings an incline in blog posts and perhaps a incline in followers? ;)

Sara