when life hands you lemons....

Things in the Thompson household have been crazy. We have made a lot of changes, good changes... but hard changes to make. Me and Mike currently rent, it had worked for us for the last 3 years, however with a growing family, we wanted a more permanent place to plants our roots. We realized though, that what we wanted to buy, a single family home in a good neighborhood, with a nice outdoor space was still a little out of our reach. We sat down and figured out how long until we could become debt free in order to buy a house that we really loved, and could also afford. In our current living situation it would take about 2 years.   That is longer than we wanted.... so we were offered another option. The dreaded "move in with the in-laws and save like crazy" option. At first, I wont lie... my reaction was "Hell NO" then I sat down in did the math. we could be debt free in 6 months. 6 MONTHS!! that changed my mind quick. I love my mother  in law, and though neither me or Mike really wanted to move back "home" we decided for our future, and our girls future it was the best thing we could do for our family right now. So over the weekend we moved everything over. Lily has adjusted alright... bedtime is fine but she is only napping for about 40 minutes. Not ideal. Hopefully in a few more weeks she will fully adjust. We are now just organizing and setting things up for Mia, who will be here in GASP 3 weeks! ( a monthly update for Lily and a preggo post are on the way, but as you can see life has been hectic) We are now in save every penny mode while we excitedly look forward to our new soon to be debt free life. A life that includes the house of my dreams. Or at least my dream starter home. We want the house we buy to be the house the kids at least go through elementary school in, so being given this opportunity is a blessing. Even if it's not what I wanted.

Hope everyone had a great 4th, and I'll be sure to get back on the bloggy band wagon now that I have my life in order again!

prematurity awareness day

Today is prematurity awareness day.

Lily was born just hours After I turned 37 weeks and I am thankful everyday that we made it that far and that she made it to full term. I first when into Labor the day I turned 26 weeks. That was definitely a curve ball that I NEVER expected. After a week long hospital stay I was sent home on bed rest. I contracted daily and went back into labor at 33 weeks 6 days. Thankfully, it was again stopped. They have no idea why I went into labor, I had no infections, and everything else about my pregnancy was normal. I was shocked that it happened to me, things like that happen to other people, but not me. Going through preterm labor opened my eyes. 1 in 8 babies are born too early, and too small. It really can happen to anyone. This is definitely a cause close to my heart and I pray daily for the families I know who are experiencing the crazy whirlwind of premature babies.

It's really bad lighting, but this is the night before I went into labor. I was 25 weeks 6 days.

Fears have been creeping in.

I Love being a mother. I am positive that I'll never accomplish anything bigger in my life then carrying, birthing and raising Lily. Having Lily has re- introduced me to the love, I always knew I had for children. Me and Mike have been chatting about when the best time to have a second baby is. Yes , Lily is only  7 months, it'll be a year or so before we decide to go for number 2, but I want my children to be pretty close in age.

So as me and mike have been talking about this, I'm getting really nervous about the prospect of another pregnancy. I loved being pregnant, and am excited about doing it again, however, Mine wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Every one has a vision of what it will be like for them and I was sure I'd have an easy going pregnancy, after all, it's what my body is made to do, right? My reality was so far off from my vision. Fighting off preterm labor for 10 weeks was not part of the pregnancy I was going to have. I am so thankful to God for allowing Lily to make through our 36th week, but here's where the fears start... What if the next doesn't wait that long. I went into labor for the first time with lily at 26 weeks. it took 5 days to stop it, but they did stop it. What if  it happens again, and they can't. I don't know if i could handle delivering my baby and it not making it, or going through months of NICU life. Of course I would, and would just be thankful for anytime I'd have with my future baby, but I am so terrified about the what ifs involved in having another baby. We we're so lucky with Lily, I truly believe bed rest made such a difference in my contractions, and labor. But how can I do bed rest with a toddler?! Lily will be running around and needing my attention, Mike will have to work, so how do I manage both?? I pray that when we decide to have another baby Things will go smooth and that the pre term labor with Lily was just a fluke, and it wont happen with the next, but it's something I'm very worried about.

I Know deep down it's silly to worry. After all, God is in control and I trust him with my future. For years I was told that I'd be lucky to even get pregnant so I know God is working miracles in my Life. It's so apparent when I look at Lily. Every now and then I just need to vent some fears.

Could it be?

Could it be, that my sweet little girl may be on track to permently sleeping through the night?! 

She is now consistinly sleeping through the night about 4 times a weeks. while the other 3 she still wakes up around 3:30-4 ish and then goes right back down. It's really exciting me because this is the most she's ever slept through the night. ( hope I don't jinx myself, ha) Teething is still kicking her butt, and her stuffy nose isnt helping but hopefuly her nose gets better and those teeth poke through. her 2 bottom teeth are RIGHT THERE!

Little Lady is learning to push up on her arms!

On another note, I am at a loss when it comes to my living room. it's such an awkward shaped room and it really only has one real way that we can put the couch on, (due to the fire place and entrance to the kitchen.) and I just can't find a way that I like. Everything just looks strange. I'm thinking we will need to buy new furniture. maybe starting fresh will help us arrange it in a way that I like.

It's been a while.

Life has been crazy the past 2 weeks. Lily has been changing so much. She is getting much better about sleeping. But sometimes it does still seem like we take 2 steps forward then 3 steps back. She recently slept through the night 2 nights in a row. For the first time ever! But that was followed by 3 TERRIBLE nights. This teething thing is really kicking her butt at bedtime, and during naps. She also recently has gotten a cold, or at least a stuffy/ nose cough thing. This is also bothering her at night. The good news/ bad news ( yes, it's good and bad) She is taking a pacifier at nap time! She would have nothing to do with a pacifier for the longest time, and it's so nice that she is taking one now and it helps soothe her. The bad part, I don't want her to be crazy about them, and me have to wrestle it away from her when she's older. We'll just see if she even continues to take it before I worry about braking the paci habit HA!

Other than that she is such a joy! she is still such a happy baby and me and mike are loving it! We started baby food, and my little pig goes crazy for it! Though it has made her BM kind of hard so I think I may take a break for a day then start back with the first kind we tried and stick with each for a little longer to really make sure she does ok with that flavor. So far she loves Sweet Potato's the most!

 This is her " Ok Mom, I'm done now!" face. HA!

 

Tonight after the kiddies are asleep me and my sister are going to see a movie! We're going to see Charlie St. Cloud. Mike has no desire to go so it'll just be us, it's nice to have some time with my sister, since her move to Key West is fast approaching.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

A little bit of this, and a little bit of that...

I've been doing a lot of cleaning. We are getting our carpets cleaned tomorrow so I want to have everything nice and neat so that I'll have clean carpets and a perfectly clean house. The task I just can't catch up with is laundry. I sware it's never ending! All 3 of us just have too many cloths.

Lily is changing so much everyday and I'm trying not to miss any of it. She is rolling over every time you put her on her back, she goes right over to her belly. She rolls when i am trying to changer her diaper, then gets upset when I make her stay o her back so I can put her new diaper on! Plus she loves to be naked and loves when i giver her diaper free time.(thankfully there has been minimal accidents) I discovered how much she loves it when she had a rash and her doctor told me to let her have some time without her diaper, she's been hooked ever since. She is starting to sleep through the night more, still not every night but we are getting closer. She has begun to roll over in her sleep and it freaks me out! I'm still uncomfortable with her sleeping on her belly. She rolls from her back to her belly great, but seems to struggle more with going from her belly to her back. She also has a new favorite toy. It was my nephews and I saw Lily enjoying it when I picked her up from my sister's so I brought it home for her. She is such a sweet girl and I am so blessed to have her!

isn't this the cutest picture!? aah I'm so in love :)

Just some things...

Not much has been going on around here, We have enjoyed some nice days out at the beach. Lily LOVES being outside. She loves to feel a lite breeze, and gets so excited as she feels it go by.

Lily Pie and Daddy

Enjoying the sun with mommy

We have also been doing a lot of cleaning and relaxing. My sister is getting surgery this Tuesday, and since her husband is on a deployment, and she wont be able to lift Dylan for a few days after, she is staying with us. I've been organizing our spare bedroom for her. Since we've moved in it was kind of just a catch all room. I am excited to have my niece and nephew around for a couple of days, They move to Ohio in Oct so I'm trying to treasure every minute with them before they go. It is creeping up so quick. I really don't know how I'm going to manage with my sister and the kids gone. I see them every day and they are such an important part of my life. Plus, I've had my twin around me all day everyday for the past 22 years. It's going to be a big change with her not here.

We have had a lot of fun just laying around the house( when we weren't cleaning) We have been just playing together. Me and mike love seeing Lily smile, so we spend all day trying to coax them out of her. :)

My first Mother's day!

I am so blessed to be able to celebrate this day, with my daughter. Yesterday was an amazing first mother's day! even though, I had to work :( I was off by 2pm, so it wasn't too bad.

While I was at work my sister text me and said her and my niece Madison were  going to stop by and get some drinks on the way to Busch gardens. When they walked in I walked around form behind the counter and saw my precious niece holding flowers for me. I started to cry! It was so thoughtful of my sister to do this for me, and to have my niece give the to me. so sweet!

Yes, they are in a pitcher.. I can't find my vase anywhere. I'm thinking it was lost in the move since the last time I saw it was at our old apartment.

I came home around 11am for my lunch break( I LOVE working so close to home!) and I found a note taped to the front door that read "To Mom"  Mike had written me the sweetest letter. It was so much better than a card! I'm so lucky to have him! He also got me something I had been begging for since Lily was born! my baby book! From Penny Laine!

I Love this book and can't wait to start filling it up with beautiful memories of my Daughter.

Some days I still find myself saying 'oh my gosh!, i'm her mommy!' She isn't  niece or nephew or someone's baby that i'm watching... she is ALL MINE! and I am so thankful to her and her to be her mommy. I love her Little laughs, her big smiles, and dimples. I love when she just wants to be cuddled becuase she is tired or when she lets out her little 'meow' cries. Being a mother has been more fufilling then I could have ever imagined and I can't wait to spend the next 50+ Mother's day with her!

Thankful

Before I started blogging, I spent about a year just reading blogs. I started with just one, found a few more on that blog that interested me, and my list kept growing. One thing that many of these women, whose blogs I follow have one thing in common. They have lost a baby. Some from miscarriage, others we're still born, or lived just a few short days before they went to be with Jesus. I admire these women more than I could ever express in words.

I look at my daughter everyday and am so thankful that God has given her to me and Mike. She has brought us so much joy. I do however, every now and then find my self fearing the worst. I'm a worry wort. No matter how much I try to stop myself from thinking of the bad things that could happen, those thoughts still manage to sneak in from time to time. God has a plan for me and my family and I have faith that His plan includes a long healthy life for Lily. I'm sure that a lot of my fears are because I am a new mom, ad maybe I'll grow out of some of the worrying as Lily grows, But I'm also learning that as a mom.. I'll never stop worrying. The thought of SIDS scares me the most, and I worry about making mistakes, but I am also confident in my decisions and believe that Me and Mike are making an awesome team when it comes to raising Lily. To clarify, I don't stress about these fears day in and day out, Just occasionally, and tonight happen to be one of those occasions. It reminds me to be thankful for everyday, every minute and every second. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with this child that I prayed so hard for.

Holy cow! It's May :)

I am so excited that May has finally arrived. I Love knowing that summer is right around the corner. I am a summer girl, always have been and always will be. Winter is just not for me, I sware I feel actual pain when I'm cold. Though my two favorite people's birthdays are in the winter... Mike in January and Lily in February. I am much happier in the summer, sunshine puts me in such a great mood, plus I'm a summer baby, and who doesn't loves when their birthday rolls around?!

We enjoyed our first day of May by spending most of it outside. We first decided to go to Mt. Trash more ( a park) where they we're having some sort of festival like thing for earth day. We quickly realized it was too hot for that. I am pretty panicked about Lily being in the sun. Her getting sun burnt terrifies me! So after about a half an hour we decided it'd be best to go home for a little while until it started to cool down. Lily went down for a nap while I read some of my book. I'm reading New Moon.. even though I saw the movies before I read the book but I figured better late than never. We decided to head over to my twin sister's house after.. her and her neighbor's were having a mini cookout. We had a lot of fun and Lily loved being outside. It was much nicer this time around, the sun wasn't beaming down on us! Lily loved laying outside, and my niece Madison loves to spend time with her cousin.

 It was a great day and I can't wait for more fun summer days with my sweet family!

She always lays with her and calls her Lily Bugs. I just love watching them together!

Hope everyone had a great 1st day of May!

Random things..

The past week has been a little crazy. I did pretty well during my first week back at work, but I'm still getting used to being away from Lily. And my body is definitely feeling it! after bed rest for 3 months and then being home a lot after Lily was born I am so sore from going back to work. My feet are not responding very well to it!

Lily is doing amazing, growing like a weed and doing new things everyday! My favorite is how much she moves her legs now. I lay her down on the on a blanket and she goes crazy just kicking away! She also loves to kick the water in the bath! And I think it's just adorable :) She is starting to coo and ake tons of little sounds also! Bedtime has also been getting better, she is only waking up once at night, sometime 2 if it's one of her "rough" night. I am definitely looking forward to the first time she sleeps through the night!

She i smiling all the time now, and is a pretty happy baby most of the time!

her cheesy smile!

Mike and I babysat our nephew Dylan the other night and had a blast! He is 8 months old so he is a lot of fun! we even got brave and went out to dinner with him and Lily. people seemed confused, ha ha. But Dylan loves Lily!

It was so cute!

Back at work...

Yes, back to work I went today. After 5 months off!

When I first stopped working after I went into preterm labor and was put on bed rest I was miserable. All I could think about washow badly I wanted to be working. (crazy, huh?!) I was so bored on bed rest, I would even cry some days because of how bored and alone I felt. But I knew it was for a bigger purpose, and I was going to do everything in my power to keep Lily from coming early. The day she was born I lost ALL desire to go back to work. Now that I was "free" and could go any where I wanted, and wasn't restricted to being at home on the sofa, I was loving being out of work. For weeks I dreaded the thought of going back, for tons of reasons... I don't want to miss anything! I want to be there when she rolls over for the first time, giggles, or sits up. Also, she still isn't sleeping that great at night. One night she will do aweosme, the next night.. not so much. I am a person who likes my sleep! I was worried how I would do having to go back and work on little sleep. Plus, Mike and I were able to spend a lot of time together these past 5 months. He works his 40 hours a week in 3 days, so thurs- sun we spent all day together. I really enjoyed that, and it's something I know I will miss.

Overall, my first day back was much better then I expected. I got to see so many people that I missed. The regulars who come in everyday and I already know what drink they are going to get and exactly how they want it. I caught on pretty quick and remembered pretty much everything. It was smooth and the day didn't drag too slow. It turns out I enjoyed it, not the being away from Lily part, but it was nice to have a few adult conversations. I'll only be working about 25-30 hours, which is a big relief. Also, I stepped down from my managment position. At first I had no intentions of this. Once she was born, that changed. She is my priority and I want to be able to go to work and come home to her. As a supervisor I was always having to hang over some one, and push this or make sure the baristas are doing this and that. I realized I just wanna clock in and out, and be done.

I'm glad I finally got over the big hurdle and went back.. though if given the oppertunity I can't say I wouldn't jump ship and stay home!

Our first night out

Last night me and mike went out together for the first time in 8 weeks. His cousin offered to babysit, and a friend of ours was going out for her birthday, so we decided to join. I'm still learning how to let other people watch Lily. I was proud of myself though, I only "checked in" 3 times.

We started the night off at dinner at cheeseburger in paradise. I don't drink often, more like never, really.But I got brave and ordered a drink. by far it is the best drink I have ever had! I can't drink things that taste like pure vodka, haha. So I was suprised to find a drink that I liked because that normally doesn't happen. from there we headed down to the oceanfront. Me and Mike are not bar people. i'm almost 22 and am probably the only person my age who has never been to a bar, but we said what the heck. A few shots later with the birthday girl and I was just giggling away. Mike didn't drink because he said he would take care of Lily when we got home, so me and my twin sister got a little ahead of ourselves. I had 12 shots! yes 12! And I was feeling good, having a blast dancing. I don't let loose to often and it felt really good to just dance and have a good time. That is, until it hit me, like a ton of bricks. I looked at mike, and he knew.. it was time to go home. By 11:30 pm I was done, haha. We got home and he put me to bed.. Lily still isn't slleping through the night so I woke up around 3 am to help Mike then was back asleep.  I woke up this morning with Lily, suprised to find that I feel great. I was so worried last night that I would be feeling crappy,but, nope! i'm lucky.

All in all, I really enjoyed having a night out with my husband, sister and a few good friends!