Trying something new!

I'm trying something new with Ray and it breaks my heart! I'll start from the beginning, from day one I have always rocked Ray to sleep for nap time and bed time and this is the way I wanted it and still want it. It has gone great so far, he was sleeping through the night and everything was fine. Well lately he wakes up, will fall back to sleep as soon as you pick him up, but then as soon as you lay him down he wakes up! So Sunday night he did this, he woke up at about 10:00, I did my usual went and got him and rocked him, I put him down, he'd wake up, I'd pick him up and so on. My hand was hurting me quite a bit, so Alvin rocked him, well Ray had no part of that, all he wanted was me! I knew that I couldn't hold him all night, so I let him cry in his crib. I let him do it for about 10 minutes and couldn't take it. So I went and got him. We went though the whole thing again. I knew what I had to do, just let him cry himself to sleep! I changed his diaper, told him that it was time to go to sleep and that I would see him in the morning, kissed him goodnight, put him in his crib and shut the door behind me! It was so hard! He cryed and screamed for about 20 minutes and Alvin said to just go get him if that was what I wanted, I told him that I wanted to but I didn't want to give in! I cryed and told Alvin "I wonder if he (Ray) knows this is harder on me then it is him"? I just sit and wonder whats going on in his head,"where's my mom and why isn't she coming to get me, she always does and she's not now" Knowing that those things could be going on in his head breaks my heart!

Then Ray was silent! I went to check on him and he was asleep! What a relief! I went back in our bedroom and told Alvin I was proud of myself for sticking with it and mad at myself because I went against my better judgement, I never wanted Ray to go though that! I realize some people say its fine to let them cry it out, but frankly I hate it, but I don't trust myself to sleep holding Ray, so he will be safer in his own crib!

We had to do it again last night, but this time he only cryed for maybe 5 minutes, I gave him alittle time and then I checked on him, I opened the door very slowly and the turkey was still awake, he sat up whined alittle then was quite again. I cant get back to sleep until I know hes OK, so I went back in alittle later and he was sound asleep! I just did it for his nap, again cryed for maybe 5 minutes and he is asleep as we speak! I have it say that so far it is going alot better then I thought, I just hope the worst is behind us, I know we have to continue this so he will learn that mommy and daddy will always be here for him. This parenting is so heart breaking sometimes!

As far as Ray's rash goes, it's much much better. I think he is defiantly feeling better! His back sure looks better! I have my next surgery tomorrow, "happy new year to me" LOL I'm sure I will be fine, I was last time! Our plan is to go to Alvin's mom and dads for the evening, so I don't have to get all dressed up or put on makeup, I can just lay there and take my pain medicine if I need to.(I'm sure I will need the pain meds) Steve, Dawn and the kids come over also, we have done it every year for awhile now! It's always a good time!

Here is a cute video of Ray crawling to the camera, I think he is so darn cute!

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year! Bye for now!

Ray's Rash

Do you remember me posting about Ray's rash? Well Friday night we had him in the ER because it got so bad. We had noticed that Ray wasn't himself, we was very clingy and wasn't eating very well, we thought he was getting some more teeth. Well Alvin got home Friday night and looked at his back and it was awful and it was spreading to his chest! I said maybe we should take him to the ER. We called his mom and asked her to stop by to look at it and to get her opinion. It didn't really look like "hives" to me because I've had those many many times! She said she thought his eye's looked puffy and that she thought it might be a good idea to take him somewhere to have it looked at. If nothing else they would give Ray something to make him feel better and will rest our minds. We got to Hendricks County Hospital and waited maybe 10 minutes to go back. The Dr. came in and said that he is having allergic reaction to "something" but what is hard to say. They said it was something he was coming in contact with, not anything he was ingesting. So now Alvin and I have to figure out what!

These picture really don't do it justice, it was so awful looking! My poor baby! The Dr. gave him a Prescription for a liquid steroid and told us to give him benedlry, so hopefully he will be feeling better soon.

Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great and safe Christmas! We had a great Christmas, Ray got all kinds of stuff, I cant even tell you everything he got but his "big" present was from Grandpa & Grandma Jones it is the Smart Bounce & Spin Pony, here he is sitting on it, he is a little small for it but with Daddy's help he can do it.

He got lots of other stuff also, here are a few pictures,

He of course was more into eating the paper then opening the presents! After we opened gifts we just had a lazy day at home. Alvin and I cooked a meal, Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Mac & Cheese, Stuffing, Rolls and for Ray we made him Sweet Mashed Potatoes we also got him Cranberry sauce for him to try, well all he ate was the Roll! Alvin and I had a great time also, watching Ray was alot of fun. I got the best gift of all, I got this letter and some tanning lotion, when Mom gave me the gift it got quite and everyone was looking at me, I said "who's this from"? and she said all of us, I thought seeing the lotion that they got me a tanning package or a massage, well I never expected to read this,

I cryed, I couldn't keep it a surprise I had to call and tell them. I think my mom and dad could use some cheering up right now, so I thought if they had something to look forward to it might just cheer them up! They haven't booked the dates yet because I need to find out whats going on with my hand surgery, so I will talk to the Dr. on Wednesday and then decide on the dates then. Can you believe it! Ray and I are going to Florida. Now I'm stressing about flying 2 hours with Ray by myself! I know I will do fine, but what if he wants to get down and crawl, what if he screams the whole way? So if anyone has any suggestions on flying with a 10 month old let me know!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I'll talk to you soon.

Christmas is in 2 Days!!!

Well tomorrow is Christmas Eve, how exciting! I hope everyone is ready! We will be spending tomorrow night at my mother and father in-laws house (just 5 minutes away from home) then will come home and wait for SANTA to arrive! Alvin and I will cook Christmas dinner for us just spend a lazy day at home!

I got my stitches out yesterday, I took a few pictures,they didn't turn out that great but you can see a little, you can tell how long the incision is and kinda where the stitches were. (I hope I didn't make anyone faint) I have "stery strips" on them now (they keep falling off) I am supposed to keep those on until Thursday then use a "scar strip" at night for I don't know how long, something I need to ask next week when I have my next surgery. I am not suppose to do anything strenuous and not suppose to "soak" it (so still no dishes for me, Thank you Dr. Badman LOL) It gets sore at times, but nothing I cant deal with. I cant wait to do the other hand cause it is really bothering me.

I took Ray to the Dr. last week cause he has a rash on his back it was small little bumps all over his back and a few large patches and I just wanted it checked out, well she said it was eczema (that's what I figured but I don't have MD after my name and I'm not into self diagnosing) and to use a "heavy" lotion/cream 2 times a day and on the big rash spots use hydrocortisone cream 1% 2 times a day also, and she will check it at his 9 month check on the 5th (at that time he will be almost 10 months). It seems to be getting better. He never acted like it bothered him but it bothered me, it got so red during his baths.

But other than that his is doing great, he is eating everything we eat, anything we cook he eats (not the things he's not suppose to peanuts,eggs, etc) He has had Chinese food, McDonald's. We had our Christmas dinner with Grandma Jones (more on that in a minute) and we fixed Ray a plate, it is hard to remember to get things for him that we don't eat. Alvin's mom said "did you get him any sweet mashed potatoes?" Alvin and I don't eat them, so I just passed them up, she gave him some off her plate, I guess I need to start thinking about that kind of stuff.

We had a great time at Great Grandma Jones' get together, Ray got some "little people" and a bank that is a bear and his belly grows the more money you put in it and a ball. Alvin got a Colts sweatshirt and I got a picture frame, I LOVE it!!! I went the next day and had my favorite newborn picture blown up so I could put a picture in it. I took a picture of it so you all could see it. Look how sweet he is!

Messy Ray eating Chicken, Rice and Broccoli and Blowing raspberries.

He looks kinda sad in this picture, but he's notRay getting into something he's not suppose to.

Thats it for now, everyone have a happy and safe Christmas.

Blogs

I've been reading alot of blogs that are happy and I have been reading some that are very very very sad! I seem to be hooked on ones that the couple has had a premature baby or that the unthinkable, the baby has died before or shortly after birth! I sometimes sit at my computer and cry! But I think those blogs help me also, Last night when my wonderful 9 month old woke me up at 3:15am and as I'm rocking him and he is just looking around the "dark" room (I had no lights on) doing everything he can possibly do not to go back to sleep, I'm getting frustrated. Then I stop and think about all those people that have lost or are loosing a baby, I hold him a little tighter and give him another kiss and realize that some people will never get the chance to rock there baby, it makes me so sad! My heart goes out to all those people that have had to deal with that kind of tragedy. The blog I read about Hannah, her parents have lost 2 babies. Can you imagine?
Parenting is sometimes so frustrating but there are some people that never get the chance to experience the wonders of it all and that breaks my heart. I know some people choose to not have kids but for those that choose to do it and it gets taken away, well that's just awful!
Ray fell asleep for good at 4:45am and then woke up happy at 7:00am, and that's OK with me because he is in my life and I never want to take that for granted. Speaking of which my little guy is waking up from his nap now! Bye for now!

I've been tagged

I've never done this before so here goes:
8 Favorite TV Shows

1. Desperate Housewives
2. Kitchen Nightmares
3. New adventures of Old Christine
4. Two and a half Men
5. Blues Clues
6. The Price is Right
7. Til Death (I think it got cancelled)
8. America's Funniest Home videos

8 Things you look Forward to

1. Coming Home to Ray
2. Coming Home to Alvin
3. Sleep
4. Food
5. Warm Weather
6. Spending Time with my family
7. Payday
8. Writing/reading Blogs

8 Things I did yesterday

1. Took a shower
2. Changed Ray's Diaper
3. Fed Ray
4. Changed Ray's Diaper
5. Went to Walmart
6. Changed Rays Diaper
7. Fed Ray
8. Went to Bed

8 Favorite Restaunts:

1. Red Lobster
2. Olive Garden
3. McDonald's
4. Lenny's Subs
5. Gallagher's Pizza
6. Uno's
7. Don Pablo's
8. Taco Bell

Taggin' These Friends:

Dawn(my sister-in-law) and Dana

20 Years ago today....

I met the love of my life! Yep, Alvin and I had our 1st date 20 years ago today. I might add that it was a "blind date". I remember it very well, Susie (my best friend at the time) and Mike (Alvin's best friend at the time) fixed us up. I didn't find out till years later that Alvin was trying to get out of of going. I remember when he walked down the stairs of the apartment, He looked soooo good! His long hair and his blue auto mechanics jacket. We had to take his mom & dads Dodge Diplomat instead of Alvin's Trans Am cause it was broke. We went Downtown Indy and went to Union Station (that's when it was a cool hang out, it had shopping and an arcade) then to look at the Christmas lights on the circle, then we went to the Steak n Shake that was down the street from the circle (if anyone can remember when it was down the street from Market Square). No kiss that night, that happened on the 2ND date. Little did I know that I had just met the man I was going to marry.

He has given me the best 20 years. He gave me a wonderful son (that I really didn't think I was going to have) and a house that I love (even though he doesn't really like it). He has been so supportive though so much, all my ups and downs with weight (its been mostly up) when I got burnt, my pregnancy and the carpel tunnel, my infection and post partum after I had Ray and now my Carpel Tunnel surgery's and all the other things that he has to put up with, and he still loves me! I know that Husbands are suppose to do those things but from what I hear most don't, and I am so lucky to have found a man that supports me fully, loves me unconditionally and puts us before anything. I really have to thank his mom and dad for making him the man that he is.
We might not have it all but we have enough to make my life wonderful and I wouldnt change a thing!! I am so grateful to my wonderful Husband.


The 1st 3 pictures are of our 1st official Christmas together (1 year) I got Alvin a gold necklace and he got me a promise ring and a necklace, how cute is that? The last picture is at Alvin's Graduation in May of 89. These pictures are so funny. I hope you get a kick out of them like I do!

My surgery

Well I had my surgery on Thursday. It went very well. I was out so I don't remember a thing, that stuff they give you is awesome. I remember them putting a mask on my face and then the next thing the lady said "your all done" I think I was even dreaming. My hand is sore, but I am able to use it for some things. The Doctor said I could use it for typing and little things. I think I am probably using it more than I should. I changed a poopy diaper the night of my surgery and then decided that wasn't a very good idea cause my hand cant get wet, and if Ray had decided he had to pee, my hand would have been soaked. So if I do that again his man hood will need to be covered. I took a picture of my bandaged hand and my bruised right arm where they put my IV in. You can see Rays butt in this 1st picture.

I am scheduled for my right hand on 12-30-08 that's the one I'm not looking forward to cause I am right handed and I'm not going to be able to do alot of things. Oh well soon I will be free of pain and numbness. Cant wait!

I had to put in a couple of pictures of Ray. We are giving him alot of Finger food, He is eating a pancake in this picture. He likes to feed himself now a days, I can't hardly get him to eat baby food anymore. He's getting to be a "BIG BOY" and doesn't want his mom to feed him anymore!!LOL

Comments

Thanks everybody for the comments! I love them. Its so nice to know people are looking!

Flashback Friday

Today my boy is 9 months old so I thought I'd post some pictures of that day. (I swear it seems like it was yesterday)

Oh he is so sweet! I just love him to death!!!!! He has changed so much!

Funny Video

I have had a request to post this video. The people that I have shown it to says I should send it into "America's Funniest Home Video's" It is pretty funny! Notice Gabrielle in the background one the right side, she comes in a little into the video. She is kind of hard to see. She is probably saying"what is that crazy boy doing now".

Video of Ray walking!

It worked!!!!! Look at my big boy! He is growing up WAAAAAY to fast for his mom!

I'm still here!

It's been a little while since my last post and everything is going great! I am just trying to get things together before my surgery on Thursday. I finished Alvin's Christmas today and we are going to get everyone else done this weekend. I told Alvin that if we don't do it he will be stuck wrapping and he enjoys wrapping sooo much (LOL) and I enjoy wrapping so I want to do it!

We got all our Christmas stuff up. Ray got so excited when we plugged in the lights. He's been a good boy with it, he hasn't bothered it to much. I cant believe that I have a child now to enjoy all the magic with. I realize this year he really doesn't know whats going on, but he will one day (and as fast as they grow it will be very soon) I really want us to get a tradition going but I haven't figured out what yet.

Daddy brought Ray some balloons home from work and Ray loves them!! (I know some of you might say "He's to young for balloons") but we are right there with him and watching him. He loves to make them move and make noise.

Ray has also started walking behind a "walk behind" toy. He just smiles when he does it. I think he knows he's a BIG boy when he does. I will try and post a video soon.

I love this picture it looks like he's playing peek-a-boo with me.

Don't you just love this face? Alvin let him taste a pickle! We laughed. The things we do to our children!Everyday when I leave him at grandma's house, Ray and I will wave and tap our hand together though the glass door. He started doing this and I think it is so funny, of course I have to do it to him also.We gave him a pot to bang on with spoons, well Daddy thought it would be fun to put him in the pot and slide him around the floor. He fit pretty good and he just smiled while his Daddy slid him around the room.I had to post some bath tub pictures, I think Alvin did a great job getting the water to look so good.Look at that smile. Can you tell that I just think he's the greatest thing in the world? He is the love of my life (along with Alvin) and I cant imagine my life without either one of them! He was soooooo worth the wait!!!

Bye for now!

Ray's 1st Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great day yesterday! We spent the day over at Alvin's Aunt Linda and Rory's house. They had all kinds of good food. All the normal Thanksgiving day food but I think my favorite was Chuck's noodles! They are so good!!!!! Ray had "sweet potato's and turkey and banana's" and he also had his "puffs" that he likes so much! It was great seeing everyone and spending the day with them.
Ray got another tooth finally, I've been saying he was going to get this tooth for 6 months now. 17 more to go!! I don't like teething (I'm sure Ray doesn't either) Ray had his 2nd swim class last Saturday and I had to take him by myself because Alvin had to work, Mommy didn't do the greatest job keeping his mouth above the water, he kept choking. I felt so bad, so I'm glad and I'm sure Ray's glad that Daddy's going this time!
I hope everyone had a great day yesterday!

Swim Lesson

Ray had his 1st swim class, I think he really liked it, except when he got splashed in the face. Two girls I work with took their girls, Jillian and Brooklyn. We had fun and are looking forward to next week.

I also had to post just a couple of pictures that I like. The one in the high chair was the 1st time he had a "biter biscuit" and the other I just love. Look at that wonderful scratch he has on his cheek, he woke up Saturday morning and there it was. Needless to say I cut his nails that night. I swear I could cut them one day and the next they need cut again, they grow like weeds!

Wordless Wednesday