All Aboard Choo Choo

For Christmas Mimi (AKA mom) wanted to take all the grandkids to Lubbock for the Polar Express Train Ride.  Sure you think that's not bad Kim and I are the only ones with kids and at this time I only have one and 3 weeks due to my due date. But when Mimi says all the grand children she means all of them so we had 8 kids ages ranging from 1 to 13.  Now it wasn't just going to be Mimi taking all these kids with out back up so one parent had to attend as well.  And of corse we couldn't leave Laura out so it was a must that she joined.  It was December 17, 2011 and I was ready to pop.  The doctor said I was good to go so long as I was comfortable to travel.  There was no way I was going to miss this.  Though most of the older girls acted like they were bored the young kids had a blast including us parents.  We opted for the upper cart and comfortable seating which meant we had a table not a bus like seat.  This was a little more price-EE but so worth it. We received hot chocolate in a souvenir mug and met Santa.

Hadlee was so excited to see Santa, she just couldn't wait for him to come over to her next. 

Love this... We have so much fun when we are together , and don't think we are ever together  without mom she is taking the picture I believe.  You can't have a Committee without the 4 of us.  This is the 2nd picture we took the first one consisted of Laura practically laying on top of me trying to get into the booth. I like this one better. 

Summer Vacation

Our last vacation with it just being the three of us.  Russell had a class to take for work in Victoria, TX so we tagged along.  After Victoria we made our way down to the coast for a day at the ocean.  

Here is a picture of Hadlee standing on the ferry we were headed to Port Aransas, then on down to Mustang Island for the day.  Unfortunately I have no pictures us at the beach only our memories.  We were too busy playing in the water with Hadlee to even think of taking pictures. 

After the beach we headed towards San Antonio for Sea World and the River Walk.  Here is Hadlee and her daddy enjoying a ride on the river.  She had so much fun and so did we, just look at that smile. My pretty little girl, how fast she is growing.

San Antonio was fun but the vacation wasn't quiet over yet we still had the Annual Family River Trip in New Braunfel.  In all we were on vacation for 1 week and 4 days.  And given that Russell is still here with us, it didn't kill him.  For those of you who know my husband vacations are not his thing. Work is his hobby, but I'm working on him and he is doing much better than from when we got married. Love that handsome man.

After Spring Break in Vegas!!!

Life after Vegas... wow, well lets just say it became very interesting.  My birthday was May 1st and several of us girls decided to go out and have a few drinks.  For some reason I just wasn't interested in drinking I practically nursed a beer all night.  The next day I found out we were expecting our 2nd child.  I immediately told Russell but was hesitant to tell anyone else.  After the last pregnancy didn't take I just wasn't up for a public disappointment, if the same thing happened again.  I called the doctors office that first week, this time I was going to be more proactive.  I called and requested a blood test to check my levels (progesterone levels), I went in that Thursday.  It was going to be a day before they would get my result back but I would know something before the weekend.  Typically no one called me with any results so through the weekend I went without knowing anything.  That Saturday I started spotting.  I called a friend of mine whom coincidentally use to be my nurse at my doctors office, she told me to go on bed rest until I could be seen by the doctor. Monday morning I was headed to the doctors office.  When I got there they immediately drew more blood and placed a same day rush on it.  A sonogram would ease my worst fears, there was my little miracle with a strong heart beat.  I went on to work and at lunch time the office called saying my first blood test showed low levels and they wanted to give me a shot of progesterone immediately.  I lefted school and got my shot during my lunch "30".  later that afternoon  they called again and said that my levels from the 2nd test where a lot higher.  I asked them a that time about the Rhogam shot he said we don't give those until around 28 weeks.  I told him that with Hadlee I was given one at 9 weeks due to bleeding, so guess what, yep I was headed back up there after school to get another shot, this time I was at 6 weeks pregnant.  With all this going on keeping it from my family just about killed me.  Mothers day weekend came around and my sisters and mom were all together, and it made keeping my secret even more challenging.  As the weekend came to a close and we were all headed home, my worst fear had come about.  I started spotting again.  It was all I could to load Hadlee up and get home.  Bed rest through the night until I could get to the Doctor.  I was 8 weeks pregnant and though I was spotting the baby showed to be ok.  I was then put on a progesterone pill and told just to take it easy.  For most pregnant women they have to wait until they are 12 weeks along before the doctor will see them and before they get a chance to see the miracle growing within them.  I however, was 8 weeks and getting to see my little one for the second time.  Things started to look more promising and so I decided to share my news with my family. Russell has always said that any decision I ever needed to make I couldn't make without running it by the "Committee." The "Committee" consist of my mom, myself, and my two sisters.  This is how I broke the news (even though my mom didn't believe me, hello there a sono pic to prove it).  And that is how my summer began.

Shortly after telling my family I needed to tell Melinda and two weeks after telling her she called me with her news.  Yes she too was expecting.  I cried I was so excited that I wouldn't have to go through this alone. She was about 2 to 3 weeks behind me and it wasn't even planned, nope just fate.  How amazing is it to be friends with someone you went to school with and through the years have stayed so close.  And for those of you reading this that don't already know this isn't the first time Melinda and I were pregnant at the same time (and once again so not planned then either).  Hadlee is 4 months younger than Melinda's daughter Katee.  The girls are in the same grade and have been friends since birth.  I look back at pictures from all the past birthdays and man how they have grown.  After both of us being prego for a while it was time to do some shopping so naturally we took the girls.  You never know what will happen when those two get together.  While trying on clothes those to snuck into a dressing room at Motherhood and well a picture is worth a thousand words.

These CrAzY girls!

My newest little girl smiling.  Doesn't she look just like Hadlee.  It took us forever to decide on a first name poor baby was known to be a girl for 2 whole months before deciding on Whitlee, the middle name wouldn't be decided until the hospital not by choice but because I couldn't decide. Look how long it took to pick out the first name.

It's Been A Year... Oh No.

So, much has happened in the past year lets see if I can fit it all in and in order. After my surgery, life got back to normal, well normal for us that is. My friend Melinda had gotten engaged at Christmas and the wedding was scheduled for March (Spring Break) in Las Vegas. Russell and I were excited to go we planned to stay the whole week. Melinda and Jason tied the knot and we had a blast but a week was way too long.

Surgery Update...

It all started with a simple family vacation to float the Comal River... then a trip to the emergency room revealed a severe sprained ankle.  The doctor said it would take about six weeks to heal and that the knot on the side of my ankle was normal.  I continued to do the R.I.C.E method (rest, ice, compression and elevate) during this time.  Being on my feet all day teaching was hard; I would come home to a swollen and throbbing ankle every night.  I kept telling Russell something just wasn't right.

Just before Kelton aka "Bubba" was born Kim had hurt her foot (I won't explain how that happened just incase PEDA is reading HA HA HA).  She was given a short boot to help heal her foot and within 2-3 weeks her foot was better, we decided to give Kim's boot a try, 2 weeks later no change.  Then I found out Jane (Russell's mom) had fallen a broke her ankle.  The doctor she went to see was recommended highly so I made an appointment.  Dr Edwards then placed me in a taller boot for three more weeks.  After my three weeks were up I went back to see Dr. Edwards... my knot was gone and I wasn't swollen or feeling an pain (mostly because it was stationary for so long in the boot).  I looked as though the boot worked, until I asked him about this popping sound in my ankle.  "Not Good" come to find out I had a tendon that had come out of place and surgery was the only way to fix it....

Dr. Edwards told me that there would be two possible things happen but he didn't know which until after he got in to see what was going on: 1) deepen the grove the tendon belonged in by drilling into the bone then placing the tendon in to see if it holds... 2) if the tendon doesn't hold on it's own then two screws would have to be used to hold it in place... But once Dr. Edwards was able to open me up and take a look inside he found that my misplaced tendon was actually split in half.  He had to cut off the shorter part of the tendon and re-attach it (I have no clue right now if there are screws in my ankle I guess I'll find out at my next apt. on December 23rd).  I am off my foot for a while and I am so very lucky to have great family and friends to help me out.  Russell has been an angel and my mom a saint (she is finishing up the wrapping and cleaning of my house I wasn't able to finish).  I will keep every one updated.    

Why? I don't know Why... Just because!

Ok so for those whom are reading this I have changed the website address.  Mainly because the other one was really, really long.  http://stalveystyle.blogspot.com   I hope this is easier for everyone and that it does not cause any major problems... Any ways thanks for reading.  Hadlee has a major field trip planned for all day tomorrow and yep I'm the lucky parent that get to spend the whole day with about a gazillion kinder kids... Tomorrow I will be nothing but a "Glorified Midget Wrangler" (17 again quote).  Did I mention I will be doing all of this with a boot on to help heal my ankle.  The same ankle I hurt back in August that is just being a pain cause it will not heal...

Oh it's been so long...

Ok so school started and well, yes I dropped the ball on my blog.  Glad to know I wasn't the only one (thank you for dropping the ball too Kim).  Well after our week long vacation to the river with mom and the lake with dad, it was time to get back into the swing of things.  As I went back to work (in service two weeks before school started) Hadlee had to start getting up early again.  Surprisingly she did very well.  We bought her and alarm last year so that she would be use to it before school started.  It has been working amazingly.
Hadlee first day of school...

The night before we laid out her clothes and when her alarm went off she got out of bed and was dressed before she even left her bedroom.  I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful daughter, each day she wakes to her alarm clock and gets dressed on her own.  Excited... Hadlee loves getting up and gong to school.  And within the first week of school I had a really hard time keeping her awake after school. 

Jane (Russell's mom AKA Nana)  is picking her up after school and watching Hadlee on the days she doesn't go to Ms. Maria's house.  I let Hadlee sleep for a little while but then felt that she needed to wake up.  I carried her into the kitchen trying to get her up and moving but she eventually she found her way back to the chair...
We have had some fun Kinder projects to work such as our little Hadlee doll...

As the first six weeks comes to an end so does the excitement... I had to just laugh the other morning... I was walking through the kitchen when I heard Hadlee's alarm clock going off.  I waited a bit to see if and when she would turn it off and come through the house looking for me... BOY WAS I WRONG... I heard this not so sweet voice yell out "someone turn off my alarm clock" I just started laughing.  Shortly after that "I'm tired..."  Well the excitement was fun while it lasted.
Needless to say Hadlee is doing very well in school and is growing up so fast.  Russell and I strive to teach her manners and here lately she has been just amazing us with her effort.  As a parent we find ourselves saying "what do you say????" and "yes ma'am or no ma'am" but here lately Hadlee has been beating me to the punch.  God love her.

Homecoming has come and went... Hadlee asked a friend from her class to join us at the game.  I made her and her Friend a mum.  Surprise, surprise they only wore them for about 15 minutes but they were "itchy."   We won it was a great game but both girls were tired and ready to go to bed...

I recently went with my friend and co-worker to Lubbock to cheer on the Texas Longhorns as they... well you know... TEXAS!!!! FIGHT!!!! and they did.  As you can see I am in a sea of orange and those in the red seem to ... well I just assume they left the iron on at home and needed to get back early... Surely it wasn't because of the score.
OK last little bit Hadlee has been asking me to let her get her hair cut because her cousin Kayla had her hair cut short.  I was against it from the beginning but this week she had school pictures and I knew she needed a hair cut so I let her.  She I so beautiful it doesn't matter what length her hair is but I did take some before and after pictures.

We cut a bunch off and she is loving it  which means I'm loving it too.  Ok so this has been a very long post and I hope you weren't too bored with it, I promise to be a better blogger in the future.