Fantastic News

So today I received word that my most recent medical tests came back without any issues. I am so happy right now. I had the test done last week and with Ashleigh starting 3rd grade, Coop in Kindy, and everythign else in between I completely forgot even seeing the doctor. I came home from the schools Open House tonight and Paul asked if I had checked our voicemail. He was so excited to tell me that the doctor called and said everything looked good. It was so nice for them to actually tell us on vm rather than just leaving an open ended message that required me to wait nervously until tomorrow to find out the results! Whew!

Essure Procedure

We always knew we wanted 4 children. After our 3rd, we took a little breather, but decided last year to try for another one. So after successfully conceiving our 4th and final child, a big decision was upon us. How were we going to avoid any surprises? I hate birth control pills. Actually, I hate anything that changes my hormone levels. Plus, I never and I mean never, remember to take the pill. I barely eat or drink throughout the day, how am I going to remember to take some tiny pill? I always figured Paul would get a vasectomy, but after discussing my options with the doctor, we found out about a new procedure.

Essure. Basically, it's like going in for a regular check-up, the doctor places coils into your fallopian tubes, scar tissues grows around the coils blocking your tubes, and then you go in for a dye test to makes sure your tubes are completely closed off.

A few weeks before my procedure, the doctor gave me a prescription for a bunch of pills. Xanax, a uterine relaxer, something for nausea, and motrin. I think that's it but I can't remember now. I was to take all of the pills an hour before the procedure which was scheduled for December 6th, 2010.

On December 6th, I went in for my procedure. I admit I was a little nervous and had second thoughts, but in reality our 4 kids have completed this family and I know that I no longer want to actually go through pregnancy again. We dropped the kids off at the daycare and went to the doctor's office. I remember bits and pieces, the nurse telling me Paul could come back after the procedure, them telling me I may feel some burning/discomfort, the screen showing them placing the coils, Paul coming into the room, and the nurse helping me to the bathroom. The next thing I remember, is walking in the house, dropping my purse on the steps, and collapsing on the bed. I vaguely remember Paul asking me if I wanted any medicine but I wasn't in pain so I went back to sleep.

I woke up at 4pm and came down stairs. I told Paul how hungry I was since I hadn't eaten all day and he looked at me like I was ill. He told me he had taken me to IHOP for breakfast after we left the doctor. He said he wanted to take me through the McDonald's drive-thru just to get something quick but I was adamant (actually kind of forceful) about going to IHOP. He said I acted completed normal but I was a little slow and I complained about not being able to text words correctly. To this day I still don't remember this IHOP experience LOL

I was suppose to get the HSG test, the dye test, done after 3 months. It is now May 19th and I just had it done. It was a very simple process and I was able to watch on the screen as the dye entered my system. According to the doctor, it looks like everything went as planned and I will not be able to get pregnant ever again. If for some reason I do, it will be a miracle that was meant to happen! Now Paul can breath a sigh of relief that he doesn't have to get the vasectomy and I will just have to get all my baby fixes from my friends still having children!

More Doctor Appointments

I haven't posted for a while, not much has been going on. We didn't paint last weekend like I was hoping too. We ran a few errands and went to the park on Saturday. Sunday was so nice, I think almost 70*...crazy warm for what we are used to in January.

My doctor called last week and with the results from the Colpo, they want to do the Cryo procedure again (basically they freeze yor cervix). Last time I had it done, I went in not knowing what to expect. Now I know how it is going to feel and am sick about having to actually do it again:(   It seems like it lasts forever but it is only a 5 min procedure.I scheduled that for next week on the 10th.

Jenna will also have her 4 month check-up next week on the 9th. She is getting so big! Last night she ate  at 7PM, went to sleep at 10PM and slept until 8:30AM! She pretty much always sleeps till 8AM, except the night before last she was up at 4:30 and happy as could be...too happy for 4:30 LOL

Jenna @ 4 months:

I made 2 more hats. I used a different pattern this time and I like the hats so much more! They are just too cute.

I didn't think I would ever be able to crochet, but it is really easy. I am going to try a blanket next...should be interesting.

We finally decided on what mattresses to get and where. We found these really nice ones at the Original Mattress Factory. They are going to be delivered next weekend and the kids are so excited. Really over mattresses? They act like they've never had them before :)

We are preparing for our trip back to WV tomorrow. While it is always nice to visit family, I am not looking forward to the cold. Right now it is 70* and the kids are outside roller blading and riding their bikes in shorts! Yes it is February 2nd and my kids are playing in shorts outside. Love it. I really think that all family/friends should be required to visit us here and that my managers should have to come down to this office instead of me having to go to the PA office.  When we get in WV tomorrow evening it will only be 15*.  Crazy!

Not much else has really happened. I am going to try to make Jenna a hat similiar to the ones I made for the newborn, but her head is slightly bigger now so I have to figure out how to increase the size:)

Did I mention it is 70* right now and I am going to be somewhere tomorrow where it is 15*? Can you tell I'm bitter?

Another Doctor Appointment and Another Hat Done

Warning: The below may contain TMI ;)

Yesterday was my doctor appointment. For about a year and half, I have been having some abnormal test results coming back. It doesn't appear to be anything major, but they like to preform a Colposcopy to make sure it doesn't become an issue. This appointment has been rescheduled twice now due to unavoidable circumstances and I finally had it set for yesterday @ 1:30. They called me last week to rechedule it from 1:30 to 4:30 because of a surgery the doctor had to squeeze in on that day. No biggie, but I would have to pick Ash up from school early since no one would be here if she rode the bus home.

I wrote a note yesterday saying that I would pick her up early and sent her off to school. At 10:30, the doctors office calls again and asks if I would be able to come in at 11:30 now instead of 4:30. My managers wanted to meet with me before I left, so I had limited time to get ready, let alone call the school to explain that they could disregard the note I had sent with Ash and she could now ride the bus home. On the way to the Dr., I called Paul and asked him to call the school since he had their #.

I took Jenna with me, figuring that she would sleep the entire time. We got into the room, basic questions and then we waited for the doctor. It seemed to take forever...maybe it didn't but it really felt like it. Jenna got a little fussy in her seat and then my worst fear....she pooped! Since I was waiting for the doctor, I couldn't get up and change her (since I am home with her, there are very few times she has ever had to sit in a dirty diaper if any, and she does not like it). All I could think was, "I hope the doctor doesn't smell her and think it is me."  The doctor finally came in and I figured we would be out of there in no time.

I lie back, he gets his microscope thingy ready and he gets situated. Then, even though I thought Jenna pooping her pants was going to be the worst part, he looks up and says to the nurse ," the light bulb in the microscope is burnt out. Do you think we have a spare?" Can you say OMG! SO she goes to look for it and he is still sitting south of my belly button and starts cooing at Jenna. AWKWARD!!! The nurse comes back with no luck, so they both went to search. They come back without finding a new bulb, so he puts the old one in and starts shaking it about and it finally flickers on. Thank God! By this time, Jenna is not a happy camper. The procedure is done in a few minutes and we go home, which has to be better, right?

Once home, Paul tells me that the conversation with the school did not go well. SN: Same receptionist I dealt with when registering Coop for Kindy. She was utterly confused, so Paul had to tell her a few times that Ashleigh just needed to get on the bus as usual. Of course, her bus was later than usual, so I couldn't tell if she had gotten on the bus or if they had kept her in error due to the confusion. During all of this (I was on the phone with Paul)  Coop and Addy found the thawed freeze pops, opened them and spilled the contents all over the kitchen...YAY I guess I should be glad they didn't leave the kitchen area.

Hat #2

Since the first hat I made didn't fit Jenna, I decided to make another one using the smaller thread that I used for the other hats Pom-Pom ball. It turned out pretty cute and does fit Jenna. I have the Puff Hat down, so I guess it's time to try something other than a hat LOL

Here's a pic with both:

Pic of just the hat:

Jenna wearing the hat ( she was sleeping but I needed a model for the hat):

It's not as thick as the green one because it is a smaller thread, but I think it turned out ok. I still LOVE the one that Jenny made her (which the doctor and nurse at my above doctor appointment loved as well). It really just looks so cute on her (see below pic)! Pink is definitely her color.

Needless to say, I am ecstatic that the weekend is here. Although I have many things that I would love to get accomplished or at least started...I am sure Paul just can't wait to hear them.

ENT Visit

Today we took a trip to the ENT to get the "scoop on Coop" LOL

Little background: In October, I started to notice that Cooper couldn't hear us (or was at the least, ignoring us). Paul and I were convinced he was being a typical boy and ignoring us, or maybe a simple case of selective hearing. At his 5 year check up in December, the doctor did notice fluid in his ears and he failed his hearing test! I couldn't believe he failed. For one, my kids don't typically fail tests and secondly, what a terrible mom I am to have thought he was just ignoring us.

We put him on Claritin to try and dry up the fluid and we went back in January. There was no change and he failed the hearing test again. So they referred us to the ENT to see what he recommended.

Prior to moving here, he had ear infections all.the.time. Actaully all three of them had ear infection issues. And while I know Ash had tubes twice, and Addy had them once...I can't for the life of me remember if Cooper had them once or twice. Seriously! I just can't find any of the documents and obviously didn't update his record book. Nice!

So off to the ENT we went. Ashleigh was in school, so it was just me, Coop, Addy and Bean. I hate driving to unfamiliar places. I am "technically" suppose to wear glasses to make things less blurry, but I don't. I validate this because I can still see objects and read basic signs, I just can't always read little street signs. So after driving past the office the first time and having to turn around (and listen to Cooper complain that we ALWAYS pass up places) we finally arrived.

The office staff was super nice! I was actaully impressed. One thing I found odd...they took Cooper's pic via webcam for his file. I've never had that done before.

The kids were "okay" while waiting but I feel like they talk so loud and it was so quiet in there. I noticed this older couple watching them and felt that stressed feeling of making sure they were well behaved. Of course, Bean seemed a little more frustrated than usual, so it just added to the stress.

The nurse called us back and took all of his info and such. Before leaving, she commented on how well behaved the kids were being, saying that typically kids are all over the place and parents are usally frustrated while providing the info. She obviously wasn't a viewer of the waiting room show they provided. LOL

The doctor came in and checked Cooper out. Apparently he does have fluid in his ears and his adnoids are larger than normal. The adnoid issues actually explain a few of Cooper's other issues. He is a snorer and breathes thru his mouth for the most part, which are typical symptoms. But he is also a picky and SLOW eater. When the doctor asked about his eatting habits, I was a little confused. Turns out, having larger adnoids actually impacts eatting since it is hard to taste/smell the food and he has to breathe through his mouth rather than his nose.

The doctor suggested using a prescribed spray and then see how things are going in a month. He offered to do surgery immediately if we wanted but I think if they spray might work, we might as well try it.

Cooper did GREAT for the doctor...answered questions, let him look at everything and poke around on him. He really is a good boy...just think he gets bored being with Mommy all day long :)

On another note, I was invited to my first MNI ( Mommy's Night In) that I went to last night. It was a ton of fun and I got to hang out with friends and meet some new mommies. Thanks Jenny! I came home to a clean Bean  LOL ( Paul had given Jenna a bath) and the kids were asleep. I started watching Teen Mom 2 but since it was late, we went to bed...now I need to see the end of it.

Dentist Appointments and More

Today was the day I've been waiting for 5 years to arrive! It was actually suppose to be this past Tuesday but due to the ice storm that crossed our path, it was postponed....

I registered Cooper for Kindergarten!!!! He officially starts K in July and it is pretty safe to say that he and I are very excited. He can't wait to ride the bus with Ashleigh.

This was the first time I registered one of the kids for school. Paul usually does this kind of thing, but since he had to work, I was up for the challenge.Since I have such a large crew in tow, I am glad I went when I did. There was no one currently registering, but right before I finsihed a few were showing up and there weren't many seats left for them LOL

Side Note: The receptionist isn't the sharpest tool in the shed... Upon my arrival, I specifically told her that I was here to register my son for K and also pick up my daughter for a dentist appointment. When I was done filling out my paperwork, I again told her I needed to get Ash out from her class since she hadn't shown up. She looked at me and says," How funny, there was just a little girl here from that same class saying that her mom was suppose to pick her up now, but since her mom wasn't here I sent her back to her class." Ummm, I told you when I got here that I also had to pick up my daughter...whatever. So as soon as Ash got back to class, the receptionist was calling for her to come back to the office. At least she got her exercise today :)

Our next stop, the dentist. Taking 3 kids to the dentist with a baby tagging along was a challenge. The teenager in the waiting room looked at me like I didn't know how babies were made and the admin laughed when she kept handing me forms that needed to be updated for each of the kids. Bean chilled in her stroller and laughed at the pictures on the wall (she seems to really like pictures on walls).

Addy was up first and they took us to a room the size of my bathroom. There was a chair in the corner, so Cooper sat there while Ash and I stood at the foot of the dentist chair with Jenna in her stroller. Addy did great and her teeth look fabulous. Cooper was next and we got to move into a bigger room...YAY He seemed a little scared, so I stayed with him while he had his cleaning but he ended up doing great. No issues with his teeth either. While Cooper was having his teeth checked, Ash was getting her teeth cleaned. She was told she needs to do a better job on brushing her teeth (they are tilted at a weird angle and kind of crowded), so now we are going to have to start making sure she is really getting them clean. She does have 4 loose teeth, one of which they said should fall out before Valentines Day.

Ashleigh has school tomorrow ( Sat) due to that ice storm that resulted in a Snow Day. Since she is year round, they make up snow days on Saturdays. At least Paul will be here tomorrow so he can deal with bus duty...