Where have I been?

Well, I've been feeling like poo to be quite honest.

I went to my hepatologist and found out that one of my liver enzymes are still double, which isn't good. I was taken off my Lamivudine (hep meds) and was told that if my numbers shoot up really fast I'll be put on another medicine asap, or if they steadily climb that would be what would happen, too. The new medicine is called Tenofovir. It's meant more for long term use than the Lamivudine, and the Lamivudine you can become resistant to, so this is the safest alternative for long term use especially if I want to expand my family in the future.

Then while I was there he looked at me and said, "hmmm, your neck looks full." Then he examined it, and said "yep, I think you're thyroid glands are swollen." AWESOME. So I had blood work done to check that out. Isn't that juuuuuust peachy?

So then I told him about this weird pressure pain I've been getting right at my bra line on my right side (my liver side, that is) and he told me to get an ultrasound done to see if maybe it was gallstones, and if it came back as a no, maybe do an endoscopy (the shove a tube down your throat and check out your stomach and such). I had one done about 5 years ago, and everything was a-okay. Anyways, I got my ultrasound done on Thursday and the preliminary results said no gallstones. I don't know whether to be happy about not having gallstones, or sad because it could be my liver....

So....at the moment I am waiting for thyroid blood work and hepatitis bloodwork and a rundown of the rest of the ultrasound from my hepatologist. Hopefully I'll be getting a call early next week.

With all of this going on, I've been VERY tired. I had my hep appt on Tuesday, Jimmy worked until 9 on Wednesday, my ultrasound Thursday, Sydni's V-day party Friday, she has a playdate today, we are celebrating v-day as a family tomorrow followed by a soccer game and then Jimmy and I are going to v-day dinner tomorrow night because he works 1-9 on Monday......WHEW.

On another note, we are finally going to be able (cross your fingers) to go to MN this coming Saturday to see my Grandma!! I'm soooooooo glad. I haven't told her yet. I'm thinking about surprising her!!

Okay...so wish my luck on all of my health ailments. Did I mention hep blows??? If not, HEP BLOWS.

My Grandpa

My Grandpa's memorial service was today in Minnesota. Jimmy, Sydni, Liam and I were supposed to fly up there last night. I struggled all day yesterday trying to decide whether or not we should make the trip with the pending weather. And the later it got, the worse the forecast got. I called my mom (who was already in Minnesota) late (around 12am) and tried to talk through what would be best. I was so concerned about being snowed in there because they were expecting 6-8 inches on top of what they have (25 inches) and we were expecting the worst storm in history. I also didn't want to get stuck in the air with my 6 year old and my new baby, or stuck in an airport in the same situation. But I soooooo wanted to be there with and for my family. Everyone was coming, including family I hadn't seen in over 10 years. And I wanted to see my Grandma so bad. She is also very ill and isn't expected to be around much longer. She was so excited to see Sydni and especially Liam because she hasn't met him yet. And I felt like if I didn't go, not only was I letting my family down, but also my Grandpa (who never got to meet Liam), but my Grandma, too.

My mom told me to cancel our flights and stay home. It was safer for us and we'd all feel guilty of something bad happened. It's what I needed to hear. I think I was waiting for my mom to tell me it was okay to stay home, however stupid that sounds. So I cancelled the flights. I called my Grandma yesterday to talk to her about everything. I told her how sorry I was, and how I felt so bad that I couldn't be there. And she said, "don't worry about it. I will see you soon. What's most important is that you guys are safe and the kids are safe." I needed to hear my Grandma say it more than anything....that it was okay that I wasn't there. I told her I loved her and I would see her as soon as I could and that I would be thinking of everyone, especially her, today at 2pm when the service started. She said, "Oh thank you Katie." My Grandma is so sweet. Honest, caring and sweet. Did I mention that they were married for 62 years? They were the sweetest couple. They bickered, but in a loving way!

I asked my mom how the service was and she said it was great. It was held in the retirement center that they live in. She said about 75 people came. She read a letter that one of my Grandpa's nurses wrote about him and she said it was a tear-jerker. I haven't read it yet, but I'll share it when I get a copy of it. It's weird because I had a dream on Saturday night (when I decided to cancel the trip) and I can't remember any of it, but my Grandpa was in it. I think it was him telling me it was okay that I wasn't there and that he understood I had to do what was best for my family.

I know he's watching out for us.

Liam is 3 Months Old!!

Liam at 3 months....I can't believe he is so old! He's growing up so fast!

-Liam weighs a little over 16 pounds! He's such a big guy! But he's also really long, so he doesn't look as chunky as he is!

-He now sleeps 10-12 hours a night! He's going to be just like his big sister!!! She was such a good sleeper and still is!

-He has been rolling over from stomach to back since he was 5 weeks old, and he just learned how to roll over from back to stomach!! He's soooooo BIG!

- He is still eating 7 oz at each feeding, but we just started feeding him cereal, too!

-He can almost sit in his stationary play center by himself!

-He is cooing more often, and lets out some crazy little noises that crack us up!

-He smiles all of the time, and is now smiling at familiar faces and things and noises he thinks are funny.

-He has favorite toys already. He loves his puppy (Leap Frog Scout). It's amazing! You can program it to say your child's name, favorite color and food, and you can select the songs it plays!! And he has a thumbie dinosaur Sydni got him when he was born and he snuggles that, too!!

-He normally naps around 9:30am or 10am and then again around 2-4pm and goes to sleep between 7 and 8:30pm.

-He is currently wearing 9-12 month old clothes. Even a few 12-18mo. HE IS HUGE!!!

-He continues sucking his thumb, but only when he is tired or is sleeping.

-He wears a size 3 diaper, and I think he'll be in them for a while. Weight for them is 16lbs to 28lbs I think. I hope he's not 28lbs anytime soon!!

-No shots this month!!

So I'm trying to get "etsy'ed"

By that I mean, I'm trying to create things and sell them on Etsy. So far I have 33 views on my boy blanket that I made.....but not a buyer yet. :-(

Check it out please! Ahoykatie

Get it? AhoyMATIE.....AhoyKATIE...I know the spelling is off, but cute huh? Jimmy made it up. THANKS JIMMY!

I am almost finished with my girl blanket. It's owls and light blue, and light pink with red backing. SUPER CUTE.

This blanket will also be on Etsy within the next day or two.

AND....I'm making leg warmers. Sydni is in dance class, and the girls started wearing them to class to stay a little warmer this winter. So, I decided to make some!! Let me know if you're interested in those, too. I already have two custom orders to fill!

Here is a pair I made for Syd! Perfect for Valentine's Day!!

Please buy my stuff...or spread the word to friends!!

So I've started making rag quilts, which I this are SUPER cute. They are great for little ones, and not just your own, but also for others who are expecting!! Please let me know if you're interested or let others know that you think might be interested. Here are few pictures of some that I've recently made.

The brown and tan one is for sale!

Check out my Etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ahoykatie

2 Months Old (okay really 10 weeks, but I'm behind)

I thought I'd start blogging about milestones (i.e., 2 months, 3 months, etc), but I'm a little late with 2 months (because Liam is 10 weeks old now). Oh well, I don't care I'm going to do it anyways. Okay here it goes!

Liam at 2 months:

~~Liam is 15 pounds, 24 3/4 inches long. When Sydni was 2 months old she was 12 pounds 14 ounces, 24 3/4 inches long. Very similar!

~~He is sleeping 8-10 hours a night! What a big boy! Sydni started sleeping through the night at 2 months, too and I'm so glad her little brother decided to follow in her footsteps! He sleeps in his crib, too. I'm personally not a fan of babies sleeping in my bed for the night, so he's been a crib sleeper since week 2! (week 1 he slept in the living room in his pack and play because I was in horrible pain and the couch was my best friend).

~~He eats 7 ounces of formula every 4 hours and sometimes 1-2 ounces of water each day. He LOVES to eat. He sounds like a train (whoooo hoooo) when he eats! It's too funny. He can't get it down fast enough.

~~He can hold his head up on his tummy or while you're holding him (he's been doing this for a while. They say big babies can do that earlier so I don't know). And he can roll over from tummy to back! He's been doing that since 3 weeks old....I know CRAZY. We thought it was a fluke, but then he just kept doing it!!

~~He sleeps randomly throughout the day. A nap time hasn't been completely established yet, but normally he will sleep 1 or 2 spurts of about 1-2 hours. If we're out and about he pretty much sleeps the whole time.

~~He smiles all the time! And he laughs, too!! He coos a lot and loves to be talked to.

~~He is wearing an assortment of sizes these days. He wheres 3-6 month (snuggly) sleepers, but 6-9 fit great. He also fit into a sleeper the other night that was 12 months. WOW! Outfit wise he wears 3-6, 6-9, and same for onsies. His socks are 6-12 months....BIG feet like daddy (size 15!)

~~He loves to take baths! He smiles and curls up as the water splashes all over him. He isn't a fan of the shower like Sydni was. She LOVED showers.

~~He officially sucks his thumb. He doesn't do it all day, but if he wakes himself up, the thumb goes in his mouth. Or if the binkie falls out, the thumb will suffice.

~~He wears a size 2 diaper. Although a size 3 is right around the corner.

~~And last but not least, he got his 2 month shots and was a hot mess! He was so upset that night. Thank goodness for Tylenol.

I'm assuming that when I post in two weeks for his 3 month, there won't be that much of a difference, but you never know!!

Goodbye 2010. Hello 2011!!

Let me reflect on the big events of 2010from January to December.

January 2010- The beginning of the new year! I had just finished student teaching and suddenly had a lot of time on my hands that I wasn't used to! I had been going to school fall, spring and summer for 4 1/2 years! No more classes, no more practicums, no more lesson plans, no more homework! YAHOO!! Now...I just needed to find a job.

February 2010- I started subbing! I was so nervous and I don't know why. But I loved it! I spent all of my time subbing at the school that I student taught at! I love it there and miss it terribly :-(

March 2010- I turned the big 2-4! I know I know....not that old. But with the "oldness" of my life, I feel like it is! I also got a long-term subbing position that went until the end of the school year teaching my daughters pre-school class! It was great! And......the day before my birthday I found out I was pregnant!!!!

Birthday dinner at The Melting Pot

April 2010- One of my best friends had her first baby!! I was so excited! One of our mutual friends and I heard his first cry through the door! It just made me more excited for my own pregnancy!

May 2010- I officially graduated! It was awful! I was afraid the whole time that I'd have to pee through the commencement!! Sydni finished her last day of pre-school! She's growing up way too fast!

Pre-school Graduation Day

June 2010- Jimmy and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! Can you believe it??? We also found out that we were having a BOY!!!!!!

Mr. Liam

July 2010- We got to meet Eve 6 (a band) at the Freedom Festival for the 4th of July!! Jimmy celebrated his 24th birthday while we were on vacation in Savannah, Ga!

Sydni's autographs from Eve 6!

Boogie boarding in Savannah!

August 2010- Sydni started Kindergarten!!!!!

First day of Kindergarten!

September 2010- Sydni turned 6!!!!

Birthday sleepover!

Birthday party at Incredible Pizza Co!

October 2010- I guess I'd have to say we had a pretty uneventful October!

November 2010- We welcomed Liam James Marshall into the world on November 4th!!!

First Family picture!

December 2010- We celebrated our first Christmas as a family of 4!

Christmas!!

Why hello 2011.

Please be a great year, which I know you probably will be!! I hope that my family stays healthy, that we're happy, we laugh, we get to spend a lot of time together and that this year in some way kicks last years butt! Thanks!!