11/15/2012

Baby Numero 4

Funny how your life can change in one day!!
Wait, didn't I say that just about 2 years ago after an ultrasound?!?
 
Over the past 4-5 weeks, I have not been feeling myself... very tired, unable to sleep, lacking motivation, uneasy, irritable, tearful. I saw a depression commerical that inspired me to start on Prozac. A week later, I was an anxious mess. So, my Dr. switched me to Lexapro.  I took it for 3 days but still felt very anxious so I stopped it.  I had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Jackson had been stable for 4 months, and I was told that this is quite common in Mom's of chronically-ill children.  So, it all made sense. I was embarrassed and told no one, not even Jason.  I finally oponed up on Facbook to a group of Kidney Moms that I have never met, hoping that I was not the only one dealing with this.  The very next morning, I felt a sense of "relief" when I got on Facebook and learned that I was not alone... many of the Moms have experienced similar episodes.  In fact, a few Moms were thankful that I brought it up b/c they were secretly suffering too.  I almost started to feel better, just knowing I was not going crazy and was not alone. 
 
But in a mere 2 hours, everything changed.  After volunteering in Jenni's class for an hour, I could not understand why I was starving... again... already.  A very long red light gave me time to check my date book... whoops!!!!!!  Those 3 weeks flew past, without me ever realizng that I was late!!  Imagine my surprise 10 minutes later when I peed on a stick, laid it down and almost walked away without ever checking the results - expecting a single line.   
 
Luckily Mandy was here, because I was very confused when I saw the two lines.. I had bought a box of 3 tests, many months ago and had thrown out all of the directions. So, we googled it.  And then I called my Dr and then I called Jason and then I saw my Dr after lunch and then I got an ultrasound right away and then I learned I was 7 1/2 weeksalong  and the baby would be born in June and then I came home to the girls drinking hot chocolate and then I handed them the pictures of their baby and then I chased down Jenni to see if she was running around in excitement or distress and then I made some calls to family and then I made a delicious dinner and then I consoled Jenni when she realized that it may be another boy and then Jenni kissed my belly goodnight and then Jennib decided we needed to have a family prayer for the baby's health and then I drifted off to sleep, EXHAUSTED.
 
At the moment, Jason is beaming with excitment, the girls have taken the ultrasound pictures to school (to show them off) and I've had a great morning with Jackson. I am full of excitememnt and optimism.  Next week is when the baby's urinary system will form... I may have very different feelings next week... only time will tell. 
 
I think it's a girl... Josie or Jillian maybe?  Perhaps it will be a boy - will I get my Jethro?  Jason would like a Jedi Stringham!  I like Jasper too...


11/13/2012

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
 
How freaking embarrassing is that?!?!?!?!?!
I guess that would explain the lack of sleep, excessive worry, uncontrollable tears and irritability though, huh? I tried the pill they gave me and it made me a-n-x-i-o-u-s so I stopped.  I can NOT imagine having anxiety issues... how do people function with it?!?
 
I'm hoping it's nothing a little exercise and mind-over-matter can't fix.  And with Chritsmas around the corner, I'm sure I'll snap out of it - right???  What can Christmas possibly not fix?!?
 
I just wish I truely understood why this is happening to me NOW, when we've had 4 good months?  It makes me feel weak, like a failure of a person to not be able to keep ot together.  I alwasy tried to focus on the good and positive, but lately I feel overwhelmed by the bad things that are to come.  I hate kidney disease!!!! I wish I knew how to talk to people about it, rather than bottling it up inside and then sharing it with this computer screen.  I admit though, it feels good to atleast get it out!!!! 
 
It sucks...
 
I wish this on no one!!!

11/01/2012

Thankful for...

It's that time of year again.  This year Im hoping to include a picture each day - possibly without words, but I tend to like to talk!!!!
 
Nov 1st
Jackson's 20th month dirthday today!
He loves to pretend he's a doggy. He loves to find neigh-neighs, tractors, buses and trucks on our drives. He loves to watch, sing and participate with The Little Einsteins. He loves slides - climbing up them and coming down them.
 
Nov 2nd
We survived Hurricane Sandy -
I only have prep pix b/c there was nothing to show for it afterwards!
Thank you Jesus!!!!!


 
Nov 3rd
 The ideals that America was built upon.
Now, if we can only get back to them!!!!
An example of free speech...
  
Nov 4th
Seeing that your $2000 was well spent :)
(No more braces)

Nov 5th
craigslist
 
Nov 6th
Cousins!!!!!
 
 

Nov 7th
Family that helps without giving it a second thought!

Nov 8th
 
Nov 9th
ZZZZZZZZZzzz
 
Nov 10th

They teach me more than any Doctor!!!!
 
Nov 11th
Sundays, Seahawks and Veterans... could it get any better??
 
Nov 12th
91st and 32nd bdays!!!

 
Nov 13th
10 1/2 years, and counting...

 
Nov 14th

 
Nov 15th
Jackson LOVES his weekly Mommy and Me class at the Lititz Library

Nov 16th
When DVRs firt came out, I thought they were the dumbest idea.  Now I record mullitple shows a day and watch them - commercial free. LOVE IT!
 
Nov 17th
I did not expect to, but I LOVED the movies - all 5 of them.

Nov 18th
 
Nov 19th
My Mom...

 
Nov 20th

 
Nov 21st
Good friends...

 Nov 22nd
Thanksgiving meal... Mom's gravy and stuffing and sweet potatoes with my mashed potatoes... YUM!!
Then Black Friday Shopping with Mandy... only then would it be worth the 1-hour line to get into Toys R Us and the 1-hour line to check out, in order to save $12.50.
Then Black Friday Shopping with Jennibelle from 1-2 am because she was so very excited this year!
 
Nov 23rd
Park City Santa!!!
 
Nov 24th
Our Christmas Family Tradition.
We switched things up a bit this year. 
We grabbed some hot chocolate at The Hershey Lodge and then gave our gift away.
 What a thrill and a great feeling!!!
 
Nov 25th
Dad's 63rd b-day today and he's still the busiet person I know!!

 Nov 26th
Jaylee's sense of fashion
 
Nov 27th
The big sister that I knew Jennibelle would be!
 
Nov 28th
 
Nov 29th
 
Nov 30th
 

Halloween 2012

The Stringhams 2012

 
What a fun time of year!
We made some of our costumes this year and I LOVED them!!!
Thank you, Pinterest!!!
 
Jaylee and I made her glow-in-the-dark jellyfish costume...

 
Jennibelle picked a Panda outfit...
Here she is with her friend Natalie.
All of us (except Jaylee) trick or treated with the Wengers again.
 
The boys were raccoons...

 
And I made my spider outfit...
 
fun pix...
 
Jackson said "Trick or Treat" at 3/4 of the houses we hit!! 


Jennibelle was so helpful all night!


 
Jaylee went with some girlfriends this year -
well, she was supposed to go with just her girlfriends...
she was disappointed when some of the Moms tagged along!
She had my cell phone and took a few pix...