Work, Work, Work!!!

Well, I go back to work Monday, August 4, 2008. I'm feeling a lot of emotions about this next step in my life and the boys' lives. I knew before I was pregnant that if we ever had any children that I would have to go back to work. However, I guess I didn't realize how hard it was going to be. The past 7 months have been amazing! I have learned so much about myself that I would have never known if it weren't for those two precious little boys. I have tried to cherish each and every moment that I have with them, even the hectic and stressful times.

Even though I'm having to go back to work, I have so many things to be thankful for.
1. I am thankful that Whit & Brady are healthy and happy little boys.

2. I am thankful for having the opportunity to be a mother. There was a time that I didn't think that I would ever be one.

3. I am thankful for the time that I have had with them. Most mothers have to go back to work when the baby is only 6-8 weeks old. I have had 7 months with them. Actually, 45 of those days they were in the NICU but very thankful they did not have to stay any longer than that.

4. I am thankful that we have Mama Jane coming to my house to keep them. She loves them as if they were her own grandchildren. She takes pictures and videos them all the time. Most importantly, she loves and spoils them rotten!

5. I am thankful for my family and friends and their continuous support.


Michael has reminded me, on more than one occasion, that I can do this. As he has said, if I have been able to get through all that we have had to endure, then this is just another stepping stone. I hate to admit it but he is right. I think back on all the stuff I had to go through just to get pregnant, then having to leave them in the NICU for 45 days. It has been tough, but ALL so worth it!!!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the past 7 months!

Li'l Stinkers

Are these not the cutest pictures?
We have always called the boys Little Stinker Butts, so when I found these onezies at Target I had to buy them. And you may wonder why we call them Stinker Butts. Well, the picture below explains everything. Tonight Whit went to sleep first, then Brady. Well, Brady had been a sleep about 30 minutes and we heard him fussing a little bit. When I went in to check on him, he had rolled over on his back. I put him back on his stomach (yes, I know, they should sleep on their back) and he was still fussing and would not go back to sleep. So guess where he ended up for the next hour? Yes, that is right, in our bed. In the picture you see Brady in our bed with one of our blankets wrapped around his head. I couldn't resist taking a picture because I said to him ,"You li'l Stinker Butt, you are so spoiled rotten!" Now, you know why their nicknames are Little Sinker Butts.

Today, they are 7 months old. They are getting so big and doing new things everyday. Here are a few pictures.

Update

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a few "Early Arrivals." Today, I found out that there is a blog for Kadra Parkman's little girl (Raley). I am going to add it to my Blog list, so we can keep up with her progress. Also, I hope that you are keeping up with the Killingsworth blog on little Laurie. She is having a tough time right now, so please keep both of these little ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Our new addition to our house

We have been working on our new carport / Michael's hunting cabin get-away. It has been a slow process for a few reasons. (1.) Michael isn't a carpenter so our friends are helping. (2.) It is really HOT. (3.) Hello, it is summer time, which means going to the lake, river, and/or beach on the weekends.
It is going to be really nice when we do get it completed. Michael is going to put all of his hunting stuff out there, plus a grill and swing. I'm already enjoying my new big carport. Now my doors don't hit the post when I open them. Here are a few before and after pictures so far.

Early Arrivals!!!

Mutual friends of ours through family members have had some scary events the past few days. Friday morning Kadra Parkman, who was 29 weeks pregnant, starting having seizures. The doctors had no other choice but to deliver the baby girl. She weighed 2 pounds and 4 ounces, and I'm not for sure about her length. When Michael called me Friday morning and told me this, all of those emotions from our experience of delivering early and NICU time came rushing back to me. It is an unbelievable scary time and I, we, could not have made it through without all the prayers and support from family and friends. So this brings me to the next introduction.

A few days ago, I ran across this blog while I was surfing and exploring others' blogs. This blog is for a very special little girl (Laurie Ann Killingsworth) who was born on June 28, 2008, at 23 weeks and 6 days. She weighed 1 pound & 8 ounces. I've been keeping up with her progress through the Killingsworth's blog. It amazes me how strong little babies are and how strong the mama's and daddy's are through such frightening times. Now this brings me to the next topic, which is our story of our little early arrivals!

For those of you that don't know our story, I will try to give you the short version of the birth of our beautiful baby boys.
First, I have to start by telling you that these two little boys were miracle babies before they were even born. Why are they such miracle babies? Because they are IVF babies or what some would call "test tube babies." We were able to see them as embryos before they were transferred to me. It is astonishing what they can do now! I am so thankful that they can do these amazing things.

Now to the birth of these miracle babies . . . I had to go to Baptist South on Monday, Dec. 24. Yep, Christmas Eve. I was starting to dilate and have contractions, so Dr. Lawhon met us there and made the decision to start me on magnesium sulfate to stop the contractions and further dilation. If you have never been on this medication, you should feel very lucky because it is horrible. The medicine does what it is supposed to do, but the side effects are indescribable. It was really tough being on that medicine and having to be there on Christmas, but I was willing to do whatever it took to keep those babies from being born. I was also given the steroid shots to help with the development of their lungs. By Wednesday 12/26/07, I had not dilated anymore and my contractions had stopped. So we thought we might be out of the woods until Thursday afternoon. My blood pressure was soaring and my blood work was starting to show signs of toxemia, so Dr. Lawhon decided that it would be best on me and the babies to deliver. Therefore, at 29 weeks and 6 days Brady Robert and Whitman Glover were born on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at 7:35 pm and 7:36 pm. Whitman weighed 3.9 and Brady weighed 3.5. They were both 15 inches long. When they were delivered, they both cried out and were breathing on their own. What a miracle!!! But that was only the beginning of their 45 day stay in the NICU at Baptist South. The boys had a few ups and downs but the hardest thing was for them to learn to eat on their own. We finally were able to bring them home Feb. 10, 2008.

Our experience with having preemie babies has been (and still is sometimes) very emotional. Having a baby is a big responsibility, but when you have two babies in the NICU who are so tiny is not just a big responsibility but is very, very scary. The not knowing what is going to happen next, and the changes from hour to hour, and talking to nurses and doctors, and then keeping your family and friends up to date with their progress. It is just a lot to have to handle. But we learned very early on that you just have to take it hour by hour and then day by day.

I guess the reason I'm writing this is because I want you to know how important it is to have support and prayers from family, friends, and even strangers. I remember when I use to go see the boys, I would tell them "you have so many people that love you and are praying for you that haven't even seen you yet. You, we, are so so Blessed." Michael and I will never forget these emotional moments. I still have them now. I think parents with preemies share a bond that most parents do not because we understand what each other is or was going through. I'm also going to include Footprints Ministry on my friends & family list because they are a great support group through the NICU.

I'm sorry this was so long but I just felt the need to write about our experience, along with the two other families and their babies. Please keep them in your prayers!

This picture is of Whit the day after he was born.

This is Brady the day after he was born.

This picture was taken the day we brought them home. Whit on the left and Brady on the right.

This was taken at the beach June 30. Whit on left and Brady on right

We have a lot to be thankful for!!!

6 Months Check-up

Monday, July 7 the boys had their 6 months check-up and had to get three shots. They are really growing! Brady now weighs 15.1 pounds and Whit weighs 13.1 pounds. There is a little weight difference between the two, but Whit has always spit up more. We are changing their formula so I hope that will help. Here are some recent pictures.

This picture was taken this morning after they had their morning bottle in Mama & Daddy's bed. Ssshhh, don't tell anybody!

Whit (left) Brady (right)

This is Brady in his jumper. He loves being in his jumper. He thinks he is a big boy! Look at those little rolls on those legs!
I took this picture this morning while I was feeding Brady. This is Scooter and Whit. Whit was petting Scooter for the first time. Scooter didn't mind at all. Actually, I think he was kind of enjoying it.

One more thing, we would like to wish Grandma Pat a happy birthday! It was yesterday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grandma Pat! We love you!!! Michael, Wendy, Whit, & Brady

4th of July Vacation

Michael had the week off for the 4th of July. It has been so nice to have his extra help throughout the day. We have spent a lot of family time together, and we are going to miss him Monday when he has to go back to work. Here are a few pictures from the week but I don't have any of the deep sea fishing trip that Micheal went on Tuesday & Wednesday.

Here is Brady all played out in his saucer.

Whit & Brady

Whit helping Daddy reloading shotgun shells.

Brady helping Daddy reloading shotgun shells.

The three following pictures are of only Brady because Whit was a sleep.

Brady riding the mule with Great Grandaddy and Daddy.


Brady with Grandma & Heather

Brady with Great Grandaddy

Brady & Whit with David & Heather (friends, no more like family, from Georgia)

Brady sitting up by himself.

Whit sleeping again at the beach.

Whit. Isn't he so cute when he is awake!

A Weekend of FUN!!! June 27-30

My brother Ricky got married this past weekend at Pensacola Beach, so this was the boys' first trip to the beach. They were so good. They enjoyed being the center of attention and playing in the water. We left Friday night and got back Monday afternoon. Here are some pictures from the weekend. Actually, there are a lot of pictures but I couldn't leave out some of these - they are so cute!

Whit slept through the wedding, so we didn't get very many good ones of him. This is my dad holding Brady and Lucy holding the umbrella to keep the sun off the boys.

My mother and David with Ricky and Lynn.

My Dad and Lucy with Ricky and Lynn

Brent, Ricky, Lynn, and Emily

The Morris brothers with their better halves - Mandi and Sabrina

My dad holding Brady and Lucy holding Whit (he finally woke up).

Our first time at the beach to play in the water.

I had to include this picture.
Michael, please be careful with my boys.

I think I was having more fun than the boys were. They were memorized by the water.

Brotherly Love.

So Sweet!!!

I borrowed this picture from Mandi's blog.

The Morris family, the Jones family, & the Smith family