New Baby is Here

Well, just the day after I posted my last blog, I went into labor.  The contraction started about 4:30 in the morning, but I pretty much dismissed them because I had had contractions all the time.  However, as the day progressed, they continued despite my best efforts to get them to stop.  When Craig came home for lunch, I decided I needed to call my OB and get his take on things.  His take was to come in and if I was truly in labor, have a baby.  I think with all the things going on in the pregnancy, he was looking for any reason to go ahead and deliver me.  So, I went to the hospital, but not before a quick shower, packing of the bags, a quick trip to Craig's temporary work (all while contracting mind you), to Abby's school to pick her up and then finally to the hospital.  By the time I arrived, the contractions were getting a little more intense.

I was hooked up to monitors and such as soon as we got there at about 3:00pm but because I had had a couple of bites to eat about 1000, they decided to wait to do the c-section until 6pm.  The nurse was convinced that if I just got hydrated, the contractions would stop and I could not have the baby today if I so chose.  I about laughed at her since I had done everything I knew to do as a nurse to stop the contraction with no avail.  I was almost three weeks early.  After four sticks, an IV was placed and I was hydrated which only made my contractions stronger.  By the time they wheeled me back for the c-section, I was asking for the epidural.  I think it's not totally fair that if I have to be a repeat c-section, that I should have to be in labor too.  Well, at 6:30pm our little man was born.
So I would like to introduce you to

Carter Russell Hogan
Born September 15, 2001  6:30pm
7lbs 13oz  20.5 inches and 100% cute

He has been the new love of my life since the moment I saw him. I am so glad he got here safe and sound and I can no longer remember what my life was like without him.

New baby arriving

I sit here at three in the morning unable to sleep deciding its time to update the blog.  I don't sleep much lately being nine months pregnant and all.  Too uncomfortable, have to go to the bathroom every two hours and my mind racing with things to be done before the little one arrives.  It brings me back to how very stressful and anxious I have been during this pregnancy and how excited I am to be bringing a new life into this world.
Back up nine months ago.  Craig mentioned we needed to have one more baby.  I was already feeling a little overwhelmed with the three girls we have and felt like I would be okay if we were done.  Craig felt like we weren't and said if I wasn't sure I should pray about it.  Well, I knew what the answer would be if I prayed and that scared me.  But having faith, we jumped into this.  I really didn't think I would get pregnant fast so I wasn't too concerned.  I was pretty sure it would take awhile and by then it would be okay if we only had three. I knew someone was missing in our family, but was very unsure if I would be able to handle another child or be able to financially support one more. I think Heavenly Father knew I had the potential of backing out if things become too stressful, so we become pregnant very quickly.  Looking back, that was a blessing but I felt a little overwhelmed as I looked at the positive pregnancy test.
The pregnancy started off a little shaky as well.  I spotted off and on throughout most of my first trimester.  I was sure that I was going to miscarry this baby so I didn't allow myself to become too excited.  However, as we passed the 13 week mark, I relaxed a little bit more.  I still spotted occasionally, but felt that things might just be okay.  The down side was I was so much sicker with this baby than the others that it was hard to be excited about vomiting everyday.
As the all day sickness began to improve, although it never did totally go away, I began to relax more only to have my quad screen blood test come back abnormal.  I had had this experience before with Meg, but this time the baby had a 25% chance of having Trisomy 18.  What that means is that the baby would not be compatible with life.  I tried not to be too worried, but couldn't help but think how this would change things if it were correct.  After one stressful ultrasound, we found out that not only was our baby healthy, but that we would be adding a boy to our family . While Craig and the girls were so excited, I was immediately nervous over the prospect of raising a boy. I know nothing save it be a few memories of a little brother growing up about raising a boy.
As this pregnancy wore on, I developed gestational diabetes.  I had this condition with Meg as well so I knew what to expect.  I also knew that this brings a whole new level of complications to an already high risk pregnancy due to my age.  Because of this, I have had the opportunity to go into the doctor every week for a nonstress test, which is actually pretty stressful for me since this baby doesn't like to cooperate when I'm on the monitor.  At this point, I just felt like, bring it on and we'll deal with it.
A few weeks ago, my blood pressure decided to start rising, again something that it has done with my last pregnancy as well.  However, it has never done it quite this early.  By last week, I was in the hospital contracting , which doctors don't really like when you are a repeat c-section, with an increasing blood pressure. I was very nervous that our little man would be coming a little too early.  We were blessed again that my pressures came down and I was able to go home on bedrest. 
Well, here we are and I am now 37 weeks which is considered full term.  The baby is scheduled to come next Tuesday but could come anytime this week if my condition changes at all.  I am now finally starting to get really excited about bringing him home, but still worry (because that is what I do) about all the things that could still go wrong. I am just trying to relax and give him a few more days to be ready to greet this crazy family he is being born into.  I feel blessed to be able to have this baby and add him to our what will now be a complete family.  I just need to make it a few more days and continue to pray that all goes well in the meantime.  Now, if I could just get a little more sleep before he comes, that would be a nice bonus.  I guess we'll see.

Just updating the blog with a few pictures we had taken.  I will update the blog with actual information soon!

Catching up.... Again

Well, life has flow by and my kids seem to be growing like weeds. The major events over the last couple of months have been: Rachel turning 5, a trip to Texas over spring break, a visit to the Ft. Worth Zoo and to the Children's Museum, Abby finishing soccer, and just plain life.





We found a bird's nest in our grill. The girls watched it religiously every day for about a week and then one day the eggs were gone. The girls were heartbroken. They really wanted to see the birds hatch. I was just glad to get my grill back!


Abby finished up her fourth year of soccer. She has become a really good player and gets soo frustrated if she doesn't get at least two goals per game. She LOVES soccer and plays it most days with the boys at recess.



Rachel had her first friend party for her birthday too. We had a tea party and on of our favorite babysitters came and painted the girls' nails. She invited her preschool class which is made up of eight four and five year old girls. It was crazy but fun.


Rachel wanted to eat at Babes in Texas for her birthday since Abby did in August. Babes is the best place to eat and when it's your birthday, you get to wear a chicken hat and do the chicken dance . Rachel is actually a little bit shy, so she refused to dance, but was excited to wear the hat!

Rachel wanted a birthday party in Texas so bad . It was so much warmer there than at home.
I can't believe she is 5 especially when she acts about 15 most days.


We had a great time relaxing at my parents house. The kids never want to leave!


We spent an afternoon at the park while Papa and Grandma Jo worked.


We had a great time going to the Zoo. Meg was soo excited to be there and we had a great time.





We spent one day at the Children's museum in Ft. Worth. It was great although I think my mom and I wore out way before the kids did.



Meg got her first haircut, although her hair still looks like she just woke up most days. She is getting so big. She finally decided to start walking when she was 14 months old and then ran from then on out. She climbs on everything and is soo busy. She is just starting to really try to talk and I love it. She is still my happiest kiddo and she makes my day so bright. I just hope the terrible twos stay away for a few more months as she is 20 months old today!




That briefly covers the more exciting moments of our last few months . We have a lot of fun things ahead for us, so hopefully I can remember to actually post them once in a while. I am still on my weight loss journey and journey to run a 5k in a few weeks, so I'll let you know how it goes!

Keeping up...

As life cruises along at warp speed, it dawned on me today that my baby is almost 18 months old. When the heck did that happen. All I know is she was my cute happy content baby and turned into this crazy, climbing monkey in a matter of minutes. She climbs up everything. I turn around and she's on the kitchen table, on the coffee table (trying to jump onto the couch mind you) and yesterday, up on the stove. Neither of my other girls ever climbed this much. She stands on baby doll strollers, little shopping carts, you name it. I am just waiting for the first set of stitches with her . The funny thing is, she is as happy as can be doing all of this. No fear at all. She may yet be our last child if this keeps up. Her other talent as of late is to pretty much strip off all her clothes during the night. I have to put the onsies on her that are really hard to unsnap or she would probably be naked. Soo funny, but soo crazy. Life just would not be as much fun without her!!!

I have decided to start a new blog about my weight loss journey, if you will. Its my Julie and Julia of my life change. SO if you want to follow it, here is the address http://iamnotfatiamfluffy.blogspot.com. This is really just a way for me to express some of my feelings about losing weight, the process, etc, but would be more than happy if you want to come along the journey with me. I decided to leave this blog for info about my family.

Okay, so I have made many goals for myself and my family for the new year which I am really determined to stay with. However, one is of the utmost importance to me. A couple months ago when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure (for whatever reason), it was a serious wake up call to me. After being so overweight for so many years, it is finally starting to affect my health. That's a scary place to be when I am about to be 38 years old. In addition to this, I would like to have one more baby and have decided it would not be healthy for me or the baby to get pregnant at my current weight or with my current health issues.

In the past, I have found being held accountable for my actions was a good motivator to stay on track, so I am using my blog to do just that. Each month I am going to post weight loss or gain (better be loss though!) and what is going right or wrong. Any feedback is accepted and appreciated each month whether it is a good month or bad month.

At the current time I am well over 200lbs. (I don't have the guts to post my actual weight, but you get the picture). My plan is to: work out at least 30 mins three times a week for the next 6 weeks and then increase it from there. My longer term goals are 35lbs down by the 4th of July and to run a 5k on the 3rd of July. I want/need to be down a total of at least 50lbs by September 2010. That is 8 1/2 months away so I feel like it is an obtainable goal.

I have realized that if I don't do something about this now, it will only get harder the older I get and more health problems will arise.

So there ya go. Its all out in the open now. I really pray I can do it this time, not just for a month or two, but for a lifetime. I want my daughters to remember a mom who was active and healthy and learn healthy habits as a result. I don't want them to suffer with their weight the way I have most of my life. If I can give them that gift, I will never want for anything more!