28 weeks, no scanner, and other stuff

Well, as of right now I am 28 weeks and 2 days. The time has flown by and I am starting to get very anxious and overwhelmed by the filthiness that is my house right now. We have stuff piled everywhere since we are remodelling the closet in the new nursery as well as the closet in our bed room. I would post pictures, but I can't find my upload cord! Ugh! Yet another thing that is driving me crazy right now! I can't find anything! Anyway, once the closets get done, they will be REALLY nice. Or at least that is the plan. We are going from two small, long closets to two large walk in closets.

I know that I haven't posted any pictures of Ultrasounds in awhile either and well, that is because my printer/scanner does not have drivers yet for my O.S. I have to wait until October and hope they come out with them soon. I never realized how much I used my scanner until I didn't have it. I also have this annoying pop up that tells me constantly that a USB device is not recognized. It is talking about my scanner! Ugh!

We put together my new desk last night and it looks amazing. I am so very happy with it. I am starting to feel like I am actually getting organized and my business is legitimate. I LOVE selling Partylite. It is SO much fun and has helped us out so much. We bought the floor for the nursery with the money I earned from my first month of Partylite. WE also got my laptop, my desk, and other various odds and ends. I REALLY want this to work out so I can continue to stay home with Ember and our new little girl. I also want Matt to have to not work so many hours. He works, on average, 60 hours a week so that I can stay home. It is stressful for both of us at times, but we know it is better this way right now. Especially with another one on the way. I just want so much to finally be successful at something I try. I really think that this could be it. So, (shameless plug), if you need candles, spa items, or home decor, just let me know. You can also visit my website and have it shipped directly to you. WWW.PARTYLITE.BIZ/JMCCOY

For now, I will post one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken of Ember and continue looking for the cord to the camera.

Another girl please!

That’s right!  We are having another girl!  This is so nice because we have so much stuff left over from Ember that she barely got to use since she was in the hospital off and on from the time she was 11 weeks until about 6 months old.  It is also nice because we can put them both into the same room without having to figure out a whole new bed set for Ember.  Although, we do have to remodel the room they are going to go into regardless.  The huz was a little dissapointed.  He wanted a boy SO bad!  Even so, I know that he is going to love this little girl just as much as he loves Ember. 

Right now we are in the process of painting the front room in order to turn half of it into the office for both of our computers.  Then we will move on to remodeling the new nursery.  New flooring, a new closet, new paint, and possibly some book shelf destruction.  We will see.  I will post new ultrasound pics later.  I don’t have them loaded to my new laptop yet!  SO excited about that!

I have been selling Partylite for over a month now and it has been VERY good for us. It has given us enough money to purchase the flooring for the nursery and to put a lot towards my new laptop!  So, (shameless plug) if you need to order anything, visit my website and order away! www.partylite.biz/jmccoy

Please help if you can

Please take a moment to read the story below. It is about a family who has suffered a tragic life changing event right when they should be celebrating the three new lives they brought into this world. Please help out in any way you can. Even if you simply copy and post this story to your blog in order to get the word out.

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June 15th, 2009 should have been the happiest day in Debbie and Ken’s life. After spending more than two weeks at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis on bed rest, Debbie Martinez Goff gave birth to three healthy and beautiful babies: Kyle, Cara, and Molly. Debbie’s oldest son, Ben, 6, finally had the three siblings he had hoped to receive. Debbie and Ken were overjoyed – but their elation was short lived. As Debbie was being wheeled out of the operating room, she suffered a sudden, lethal and extremely rare delivery complication called Amniotic Fluid Embolism that resulted in cardiac arrest.

The nurses and physicians, acting immediately, brought Debbie back to life. However, the damage from this event was catastrophic to Debbie’s organs. She needs a ventilator to breathe, dialysis in place of functioning kidneys, and is fighting everyday to keep her liver functioning. She has suffered multiple cardiac arrests.

A tragic cascade of further complications has left Debbie on life support systems since that day – unable to speak, move, and most saddening – unable to care for and bond with her babies who were born 6 and 1/2 weeks premature. And her future is cloudy and uncertain. She has a tracheotomy, continues full time kidney dialysis, is still draining excess fluid from her body, receives an antibiotic for an unknown infection/excess white blood cell count, has received more than 100 units of blood, and is being prescribed antidepressants to help her deal with depression due to her condition.

The devastation from this horrible event is widespread. It has left Debbie unable to work, care and nurture her newborns together with Ken, or run a household of four young children with the unexpected expenses related to that task. Ken is obviously under unbelievable stress.
So far, Ken has relied upon the help of family and others just to “get by”. The babies are now home and are being watched in shifts. Meals are cooked and delivered by volunteers. This has allowed Ken to be at Debbie’s side around-the-clock, providing her with love and encouragement to keep the fight for her life going.

A distressing reality has begun to set in as Debbie’s family digs in for a long, long road to her recovery. It is not clear that she will ever be normal again. Any recovery will come after months of rehabilitation. It has become very clear that more in-depth assistance is required in order for Debbie and her family to survive this ordeal and be able to offer Kyle, Cara, Molly and Ben a fighting chance for a normal life.

Debbie has now been in an Intensive Care Unit for six weeks. While the medical costs are not fully known at this point, they will be huge and not even close to fully covered by insurance. And her expenses are separate from the hospital and doctor care for three premature babies, one of whom also needed a surgery following his birth. The family is working to deal with their huge, devastating financial demands as best they can. To this end, a medical expense fund has been established.

If you are able to help Debbie, Ken, Kyle, Molly and Cara, and Ben, you can make a contribution directly to:
Bank of America, Deborah M. Goff – Medical Fund
ATTN: Patti Hickey, 15115 Manchester Road Ballwin, MO 63011

From Ken and all of the family and friends of Debbie, we thank you for taking your time to read Debbie’s story and for any assistance that you may be able to offer.

My absence & an update

So...I know that it has been a long time since I have really posted anything of worth. First, I thought that I should explain my initial absence. The first week was because I was busy busy busy planning a party. Between trying to get ready for it and watching miss princess, I had no time to post. The night of the party, I found out some tragic news.

My friend Heidi lost her husband. He was murdered earlier in the week at one of the properties he was renovating. After this happened I was so deeply saddened for her and lost all motivation to write about anything. Heidi is so very special to me and it broke my heart for this to have happened to her. She, of all people, did not deserve this. (Not that any does, but her especially) I did not get to help her out a lot during the time that she really really needed people, but I hope that what little I could do was enough. I still get sad for her when I think about what she is missing. Her husband was such a generous man and was so excited about their upcoming baby boy. Heidi delivered a few weeks after his murder and I am sure it was a bitter sweet moment for her. For weeks I couldn't get up the strength to post anything. Mostly because, compared to what she was going through, it would have just seemed silly. She has now moved back home to Wisconsin and I truly think that it is going to be very good for her. Especially since she has three little ones now all on her own. I miss her every day and wish her the best every night in my own silent prayers.

As for the rest of my absence, I have just been tired!!!! I don't remember being this tired when I was pregnant with Ember, but I must have been. We have had two ultrasounds so far. The first one I have already posted.

The second one is here:

Not the best, I know. We do not find out what we are having until July 28th . I am hoping for a girl simply because we already have tons of girl stuff. I KNOW that this means we are having a boy. Of course, the huz wants a boy, but we both agree that healthy is best. However, if not, we feel we can deal with whatever comes our way. We are prepared for anything. (almost)

We also have welcomed a new cousin for Ember into the family. My Bother-in-law and Sister-in-law had a beautiful baby girl May 23. Congrats to you both and welcome to parenthood! It is the best!!!!

So...not much of an update, but that is all I have motivation for right now! I hope everyone has a great holiday. We are going to go on vacation next week so I hope to post some pictures when we get back! Ta! Ta!

100 things

There is a little item going around blogs so I thought I would post it here too. It is a list of 100 things and you are supposed to mark off the items that you have done. The things that I have done are in color.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Marching and Concert band. Hey! They didn't specify)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (helped gram cut the pieces out)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (Chipped, not really broken)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

My Junk Works....

Nuff Said.....

I will post later about my abscence.

Keep your comments to yourself!

Have you ever been in a store or a restaurant or a waiting room with your child and overheard someone say something about them? I'm not talking something to the effect of "Oh, how cute" or "See the baby". I am talking something that is kind of negative or downright rude. Yes, no, maybe?

Well, that happened yesterday to Ember and I. We were at the Dr's office with my mom and Ember was making noises, nothing too bad or anything. At one point during her little noise escapade, she made a few really high pitched noises with the help of grandma. (They were playing and Ember got a little excited!) NOT a big deal. Well, there was a woman and her pre-teen daughter sitting two chairs down from us. I heard her daughter ask her something, but I didn't understand her. Then I heard the woman say to her daughter, "Nothing, just making that baby show off". The tone of her voice was very judgemental.

I totally wanted to get up, walk over to her and smack her say, "Excuse me for having a happy baby! If you even knew what this child has been through, you wouldn't mind a high pitched squeak every once in awhile. Keep your comments about my baby to yourself!" I don't know why it bothered me so much, but it did! It was almost as if she was teaching her daughter that babies should be seen and not heard. Well, I have news for all of you out there. My baby will be seen and heard whenever she wants to. She is going to be taught that sometimes it's alright to speak up when you are not spoken to. (Among other things) If you don't like it, don't listen. However, I better not catch you telling her she should be seen and not heard.

My old boss used to be referred to as the Momma Bear because of how she fought for her team and she always stood up for us. Well, that is what I am when it comes to Ember, and this Momma Bear isn't nice when it comes to things like that. Keep that in mind next time you want to talk poorly about my baby!