The Carty Casa

9 months

2010-07-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

Miss Rylee,

At 9 months you,

*weigh 19lbs 7oz
*are 28 3/4 in tall
*are crawling everywhere...and love to crawl under the kitchen table!
*get SO excited when Daisy enters the room, you breathe fast and start kicking your leg...it's your signature move!
*are starting to eat soft finger foods like yogurt bites, rolls, mashed potatoes
*say "yayyyy" and clap your hands
*still love to click your tongue
*are SUCH a happy baby!!
*love playing with/chewing on your Alphabet Train Station toys

Everyone tells us how absolutely beautiful you are. Your smile just lights up a room!

I'm a big girl!

2010-07-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

At almost 9 months, you:

*have 2 teeth on the bottom
*do an army crawl to get anywhere you want!
*love your doggy Daisy
*can climb from the playroom into the kitchen (up one step)
*clap your hands and say "yaaayyyy" or clap when someone says yay or patty-cake
*say dada, nana, mama
*weigh 19 lbs and 8 ounces
*kick your leg and breath rapidly when you get excited, people say you are kick-starting your motorcycle!
*are SUCH a happy baby!

A Day at the San Antonio Zoo!

2009-11-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

at the zoo!

Princess Pictures

2009-11-14T06:05:00.000-08:00

@ the park!

Ready for bed!

3 weeks old...

2009-11-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

3 weeks old and a *little* high maintenance...but ADORABLE!!

Rylee,

You are quite a handful at 3 weeks old! You prefer your boppy or your swing to your bassinet, which makes nighttime interesting. You eat around 11pm and then again at 3am and then at 6am you're ready to rock and roll!

You love to be swaddled by your daddy...it relaxes you immediately.

You take 3 oz at a time...anymore than that and it's vomit city.

You like laying on your play mat and making little grunting noises.

You LOVE to be held and a lot of the time you whine until we pick you up.

You LOVE your big brother. When we let him hold you, you close your eyes like you are so comfy!

You are not a fan of your carseat, but once we start moving you usually fall asleep.

You like your paci, but sometimes you have a hard time keeping it in your mouth!

You don't seem to mind all the pretty bows I like to put on you!

We love you little girl!

Introducing Rylee Mattilynn...

2009-11-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

Rylee Mattilynn
October 19, 2009
1:02 pm
7lbs 12 oz
20.25 inches long

Sooo whaddya think?

2009-09-13T12:36:00.001-07:00

Here I am today 34 weeks along with my baby girl! And the second pic (with the braids) I was 35 weeks with my baby boy, and 15 pounds heavier, believe it or not! What do you think? Do the bellies look the same? One higher? One smaller? I can't tell AT ALL!! They look like totally different shapes to me!!

Remember, he came out at 9lbs 13 oz!

A peek at baby Kynzie Lynn!

2009-08-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

I'm almost 32 weeks now! Working at an OBGYN office definitely has its perks...the sono tech got this awesome shot of Kynzie yesterday! Look at those cheeks!

Ack, it's been a while!

2009-07-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

@ the beach with mama and dada!

4th of July with my mama!

Share me

2009-06-13T21:25:00.001-07:00

Share me

Posted using ShareThis

Some milestones...

2009-05-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

I wanted to record this stuff before I forgot it all!

Saturday, May 16th - Ryder learned to drink out of a straw! We were at McDonald's in Newburgh and he was polishing off a happy meal. (Yes, my ONE year old eats a happy meal!!) I had ordered him a juice box and decided to give it a try. I squeezed it slightly to get the juice flowing and he just started sucking! Now, life is so much easier!

He says SO much now -

"light on, light off" is his favorite game. He loves to flip the switch and watch the lights go on and off. If you don't hear him (or acknowledge him) he starts yelling LIGHT ON LIGHT OFF! He also yells this in public when there is no possible way for you to actually turn the lights on and off.

He says "Down" whether he wants up OR down...it's so adorable!

He frequently says "more" and the way he says it is the cutest thing I've ever heard. It's more like "mbowe" and the look on his face is so serious.

He struggles with his "m" so I'm "ba-ba", not mama, but every now and then he gets the "m" in there and I'm "mamba" or "bama" or some other ridiculously cute combo.

Anytime a phone rings or alerts for any reason, he puts his hand up to his ear and says "hewwo"

His new favorite game is boxing with uncle Johnny. He puts both fists up and starts saying "buh, buh" like punching noises.

At night (around 7:30) we say "Ryder, are you ready for night night?" He gets so excited and runs down the hallway to his bedroom door. If we take too long, he starts knocking. Matt picks him up and I kiss him goodnight and then Matt puts him to bed. We don't hear another peep until around 7am! We are so blessed!

I'm sure there are many more but I just had to get these blogged! We love you Rydee Roo! You are growing up so fast and learning so much! We are so proud of you!

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

2009-03-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Ryder turned 1 on the 25th! We can't believe it's already been a year since he came into our lives. We had his party on Saturday in the barn, and he had a BLAST!

The Setup: We spiced up the barn using standard baby blue decor but we also personalized it with a lot of pictures of Ryder. I also hung a curtain rod displaying layouts of some of his accomplishments.

We had all the food setup in this alcove. To personalize it, I put snapshots of Ryder the day he was born with everyone holding him who came to the hospital. Everyone loved seeing themselves holding him as a little guy!

His seat was the center of the show! Disregard the gross barn door! Eek!

Mr. Man in his birthday outfit!

This was when he first entered the barn. He just stood there taking it all in. All the people, the balloons, the decorations...he didn't know what to think!

The cake table! Since he loves duckies, we decided to do a ducky theme for his cake. You can see they made a baby cake to match so he could have his very own!

He LOVED it! We got him strawberry because on his birthday we gave him a chocolate cupcake and he tasted it and threw it on the ground! The strawberry was an absolute hit!

Roo and his PawPaw. Awwwww!

It was such a fun day...not to mention all the prezzies he received! Thanks everyone for coming! And we missed those of you who couldn't make it. :)

My Boys

2009-02-19T13:56:00.001-08:00

Louie was feeling left out, so here are my boys...two drool often and one drools occasionally. What can I say? I'm blessed.

My girls

2009-02-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

My speckled Payton and my tan little lovebug Maddy. They would be lost without each other.

Maddy turned FOUR this month. I can't believe it. Maddy is a puggle (her mother is a beagle and her father is a pug) and the absolute BEST pet you could ever imagine. She is medium sized, although MOST of her breed are smaller than her. She loves to snuggle and would do anything for a warm lap to take a nap. If you are in the market for a pet, I suggest checking the shelter for one of these designer mutts. They are absolutely the best!

He's a walker!

2009-02-17T16:08:00.001-08:00

HE WALKS!

2009-02-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

My little baby boy is WALKING! As of February 6th, he is cruising ALL over the place. I tried to photograph him in action so you could see it with your own eyes!

Some of my latest creations...

2009-01-31T07:29:00.000-08:00

Journaling says - "You have always loved when I sing Itsy Bitsy for you, but one day you started doing the motions! It took me a minute to realize you were requesting it! Now, we say "Ryder, Itsy Bitsy!" and you start!"

Journaling: "Anytime I try to take your picture, you stop what you are doing as soon as you see the camera, and crawl toward me...full speed."

Journaling Says: "I have always been very loyal, a one man kinda woman, but this year I'm begging...May I have 2 Valentines?"

Progress!

2009-01-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

So, this pic was taken May 31, 2008. 148.5. I still weighed this at the beginning of January. I had made no progress whatsoever in 6 months and was so frustrated.

I decided to cut out all fried foods, since that was my weakness. No potato chips, breaded chicken sandwiches, no chinese, no fried rice, no onion rings, NO GREASE!

The result....

139.0!!!!! WOOT!

I am so excited!! So...to celebrate, I decided to do something drastic!

Before:

After:

So 9.5 pounds lighter and a box of hairdye later, I'd say overall it was a fun weekend!

Playtime!

2009-01-27T04:50:00.000-08:00

Ryder loves baseball...at least he loves eating it!

He absolutely loves his monkey from Nana...

Playtime with his helicopter!

2009-01-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

You love your helicopter and the sounds it makes. Nana and Pawpaw got it for you for Christmas. You love to put the balls in and listen to the sounds. Sometimes you just put them in and take them out, over and over again. You are getting so smart!

Happy Baby...

2008-12-30T19:23:00.000-08:00

When Ryder wakes up he says, "Ahhh" or "Da-Da-Da-Da" until you go get him. This is what you'll find to greet you. Big smiles! Matt and I race to get in there because we both want to be the one to scoop him up and give him kisses!

9 months old

2008-12-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

At nine months you have such a personality! Your favorite word BY FAR is "da-da" and you say it OVER and OVER again...even if you want to eat, or sleep, or if you're mad. You also say "ba-ba."

Things you love:

*Playing ball with mommy and daddy. You are getting so good and throwing the ball!
*Mommy singing Itsy Bitsy Spider and doing the motions. Anytime you hear music, you start moving your hands like the itsy bitsy and I have to sing it for you!
*Playing peek-a-boo. When we say "Peep-eye!" you laugh a deep belly giggle that just makes me melt!
*Your puppies, Louie, Payton and Maddie.
*Your PawPaw is your best buddy, besides mommy and daddy of course!
*Your big boy fruits and veggies. You are eating a level 2 jar of fruit everyday and a level 2 jar of veggies. You also have lots of about 4 tablespoons of cereal in the morning and at night, along with your formula. You are only taking about 7 ounces at a time now.
*Sneaking to get to the Christmas tree!
*Pulling up to the couch and walking along the edge seeing what you can get into! You are pulling up on everything now! (Including the big screen tv...no no!)
*You love to bang on things. TV trays, the couch, the hope chest, the front door, and the LAPTOP! (no no!)...something about it just cracks you up!
*Being rocked to sleep...lately you won't nap without mommy holding you. But you don't want to be cradled like a baby. You like to be facing out, sitting up, leaning back against me. Once you are in dreamland I can lay you in your crib.
*You still love your paci. When you don't have it, I say, "Where's your paci-waci (wassy) bub?" And you actually find it!!
*Playing with cell phones...your daddy is so proud!
*Looking outside, and being outside. You LOVE to stand at Nana and Pawpaw's door and look outside. You also like to lick the door while you're there, ha!
*You are in a size FOUR diaper now! And you have four teeth in, and at least one more working its way through! Yikes!

Things you are not too fond of:
*Your swing ( I think because you know you will fall asleep!)
*Daddy leaving for work without you
*Getting clean pants...you try to flip and crawl away everytime!
*Getting your boogies picked...tee hee. ( I can't just leave 'em in there!)

Here you are, such a sweet boy!

We love you more and more everyday Roo!

Ahhhh...gotta love Christmas Vacation!

2008-12-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

We started the day looking out the window. The other day Ryder was playing with the curtains and realized there was an actual window and a ledge behind them! Today I opened the curtains all the way and let him stand up and look out. He loved it!

Ryder LOVES to be in tight spaces. He crawls under his toys and plays. I always try to catch him but as soon as he sees the camera, he comes straight at me. I caught this one as he was playing under his exersaucer...so CUTE!

Bub's First Christmas!

2008-12-21T05:47:00.000-08:00

Matt's family Christmas was this weekend, the 20th, and Ryder Roo did an excellent job. He was mesmerized by the paper, as we predicted, but he really did enjoy his new toys too!

Family Picture before we left for Jasper

Mr. Man and Mommy

Mr. Man and Daddy

Prezzies!!

Merry First Christmas Bubby!!

New Hair!

2008-12-09T19:32:00.000-08:00

Getting my hair done is so therapeutic! I had 7 inches cut off and bangs added! I love it...and watch out, I feel sassy! haha

Jamie, did you know....

2008-12-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

...that your baby boy....

likes to dive off the bed head first...EEK!

I had my first big mommy scare last weekend and have just come to the point where I can actually blog about it. I was changing Ryder on the bed when he flipped to his stomach, and crawled at a million miles an hour, right off the edge, onto his head, and began screaming.

I was ok until he spit up and started shivering. I called the nurse on call and she said to take him to the ER...this is when the panic started. Of course, once they checked him out they said he was fine, but I was still a mess. It was the longest, scariest one hour of my life.

But, thank God he is safe and sound...and adorable. :)

:GobbleGobble:

2008-11-29T07:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day from the Cartwrights! We had a wonderful holiday. Ryder tried turkey and ate mashed potatoes. Here are some pics from the weekend!

He is so fun now!

2008-11-23T16:29:00.000-08:00

Ryder absolutely LOVES bathtime now! He splashes and plays with his toys until we let all the water out. If we take him out while there's still water, he gets MAD!

He will be 8 months old this week. I can't believe it! He crawls SUPER fast now, pulls up to the couch (or anything that won't tip over) and scoots along to where he wants to go.

He is so curious and wants to touch and taste everything. He has developed one heck of a temper...I mean personality. :) He says ba-ba, bye bye, and *maybe* bite...but it sounds a lot like bye bye and ba-ba.

He sleeps from 8pm til about 7am...thank the Lord!!!

He still loves when I sing to him (especially "Hello" by Lionel Ritchie) and he falls right to sleep everytime in less than a couple minutes!

Playtime!

2008-11-15T06:09:00.000-08:00

Ryder loves to play in his room with his mommy and daddy. He goes right to the mirror and talks to himself. "Ba, ba, ba" We tell him he sees Baby Ryder.

Ryder and his daddy decided to put together Rydee's wagon.

Ryder just HAD to help every step of the way!

The wagon is tiny, intended for Ryder to pull his toys in, but Matt couldn't resist putting the big boy in for a ride!

I think Matt enjoyed the wagon ride just as much as Rydee Roo!

So handsome!

A Day at Home with Mommy

2008-11-14T14:32:00.000-08:00

Today I came home from school early because Ryder hasn't been feeling very well. This is a glimpse into our day...these pictures are from about a 15 minute time span...

Crawling around from toy to toy...

The MINUTE he sees the flash, he zooms over to say hi!

And then, he zooms off again to play with his toys...

He pulls up now! (mostly in an attempt to escape the living room and get to the doggies) When the book in his hand squeaked, the dogs got fiesty, so he decided to try to get through the ottoman...

Trying to push the ottoman out of the way so he can get to the puppies...look how cute his bum and little toes are!

Can I help you, woman?

When he gets REALLY sleepy, he starts standing on his head...bahahahaha....cracks me up!

At this point I put him in his swing and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

He's growing up so FAST! Before long he will be toddling around! Eek!

Giggles and Curls and Beautiful Eyes...

2008-10-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

That's what little girls are made of in our family! We spent the weekend in San Antonio with Kevin and Yasmeen, welcoming their newest arrival, Noah, to the family. He is healthy and happy, weighing 8 lbs and 19.5 inches long.

Here are some pics of the girls from our trip. I miss them already. :(

And baby Noah with his Uncle Matt...

Can these two be ANY prouder of this little one?? I love it!

Mr. Ryder Roo had a blast too, trying to keep up with all the action!

Ryder was soooo good in the car. I think he was exhausted after a wild weekend in San Antonio! I can't wait to go back! Miss you Mila, Kira, and baby Noah!

Dear Rydee Roo,

2008-10-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

You look more and more like your daddy every day. You have such a personality already. You love to laugh and smile, flashing that charming dimple whenever you can. Your smile melts this momma's heart everytime. I don't know HOW I'm ever going to punish you!

Now, when strangers want to hold you, you put your face into my chest and snuggle against me. It's so sweet and I love it. You eventually go to people, but at first you snuggle and play shy. Overall, you are a super good baby and you are mostly happy. If it's past your feeding time, you let me know about it! You also like your naptime. Food and naps...see, you and daddy already have so much in common. :)

6 months and still growing!

2008-10-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

How cute is he!? Here he is at his 6 month checkup! He's 20 pounds and 30 inches long! Such a sweetie! :)

The Swing Debacle

2008-10-19T15:28:00.001-07:00

Oh lord...he's such a big boy! Apparently he was done swinging! We kept re-pushing him because the swing kept stopping. We couldn't figure out why because Matt just changed the batteries. One minute he'd be swinging away, and the next minute he'd be sitting still! Little turkey.

#@&^$#(*!!!!

2008-10-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! I'm losing it. Why did I ever think that starting a new career and starting grad school at the same time would be a good idea, all while trying to figure out how to be a mommy. When am I supposed to grade papers? During my planning period? Then when am I supposed to plan? In the evenings? I can't because I have a baby to take care of, feed, clothe, bathe, etc. Then, when am I supposed to read 300+ pages a WEEK for grad school and WRITE papers too?!

I'm officially losing it. And, I'm tired. Really tired.

Carry On.

We have teefers!

2008-10-11T05:33:00.000-07:00

As of 9/19 Rydee Roo had TWO little teeth poke through on the bottom, front and center. Now they are almost all the way in and they are SO adorable! He wasn't fussy at all so we didn't even know he had was teething until the 19th, when we noticed one was barely poking through. By the next day, he had TWO! However...since then, he is miserable, whining and crying for no reason. He takes his paci out and bites down on the hard plastic part. He bites the nipple on his bottle and pops it in and out of his mouth. Our only guess is he is still teething, maybe new teeth? Or maybe these two teeth that have poked through are really starting to hurt? I don't know, but whatever the case, it makes me sad because he is so sad. He is inconsolable. And it's just SO not like him! All of a sudden he is fighting sleep BAD. He used to just lay down and fall asleep. We bragged on him all the time because you just had to lay him in his crib and he would fall asleep! Now, you have to rock, bounce, swing, beg, PRAY and he finally falls asleep. Last night we gave him a little Tylenol to help with the pain, but I hate doing that, not knowing if it truly is his teeth bothering him.

Being a mommy is hard. I can't believe in two weeks he'll be SEVEN months old. It just doesn't seem possible!

So BIG!

2008-10-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ryder now has two teeth! And is starting to sit up on his own! Such a big boy!

Mommy, look what I can do!

2008-09-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Mommy...this is my handsome smile...but guess what I can do..

this silly face...I do it over and over because...well, because I can.

Even when I start to giggle, I hold it in so I can keep my silly face on.

See mommy, isn't it cool?

Little man, I love your silly faces!

The Great Escape

2008-09-28T05:11:00.000-07:00

Ryder likes to escape his bouncer and/or his car seat if the opportunity arises. He is a little escape artist!

5 month Photo Shoot!

2008-09-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

At 5 1/2 months you:

*weigh 18 pounds and are 28 inches long

*are the size of a 12 month old

*are trying so hard to crawl

*roll over all the time like it's no big deal!

*sleep in your big boy crib with Rupert, your teddy bear

*love to blow bubbles, resulting in spit soaked clothes

*love your cereal mixed with apples, or bananas, or peaches, but you are not too fond of carrots

*eat cereal around 10am and again around 6pm

*take 7-8 oz of formula every three hours

*wake up at 2:30am starving

*like going to Miss Melony's house to play with Isaac

*babble a lot when you are mad, like when daddy is trying to clean out your boogies :)

*have a pretty bad cold and the doc says there is nothing we can do :(

*have no desire to sit up at all!

*love to play with handheld toys like rattles and small stuffed animals

*stare intently at your daddy and follow him around the room (you will even stop taking your bottle when daddy appears)

*know when we take something from you and you cry

*wear size 3 Pampers and a size 2 shoe

I'm on the move...almost!

2008-09-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from early September. Ryder is trying to crawl. He gets on all fours and rocks back and forth. Finally out of frustration, he lunges at whatever he wants and moves a few inches. It's so cute!

This is at nana's in his walker. He loves to stand and play, but he isn't really going anywhere yet!

August Baby Pics!

2008-09-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

August 3, 2008 - bathtime!

August 19, 2008 - playin'

Tacete!

2008-08-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

That's Latin for "BE QUIET!" I've been saying it a lot the last couple of days since I'm the new Latin teacher at Reitz High School! School started Monday so I've made it through two days now...whew, what a career change! I like it so far...it's definitely challenging but the rewards are worth it. I'm teaching two Latin I classes and a Latin II and III combined, in addition to a Leadership class which teaches life skills.

Wish me luck; I'm gonna need it!

He's Here!

2008-07-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

Nicholas Joseph arrived on July 24th (Happy Birthday Aly and Brad!) at 4:44pm. He weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 19.5 inches long! He and Pam are doing very well and get to go home on Sunday!

Ryder looks like a big boy next to Nick!!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

2008-07-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

On 7/17 Ryder rolled from his back to his belly and I took these pics!

I'm expecting good things.

2008-07-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

I believe God has stirred up dreams within me because he knows I can accomplish them.

I believe that God's dreams for me are even bigger than the ones I have for myself.

I believe that God will meet me at the level of MY expectations, so I am expecting good things and God's favor.

I believe that someone's expectations are their faith at work.

Matthew 9:29 says, "According to your faith, be it done unto you."

Expect to excel. Expect God's favor.

Today is a new day and wonderful things are going to happen today.

It's play time!

2008-07-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

In his big boy bumbo seat

Playing on his activity mat...

Blue eyes!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Sisters

Family Shot!

Roo's 3 month photo shoot!

2008-07-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

At 3 months you:

*are SO alert and really focus on people and moving objects
*love to stand and look around
*don't have to wear mittens anymore!
*like napping on the couch or in your swing
*have to have your paci to go to nighty night
*love to watch the ceiling fan and the television
*have started talking a LOT!
*learned to blow bubbles with daddy and now you do it all the time!
*take 6 ounces every 3-4 hours
*are the size of a six month old!
*put your blanky on your nose to go to sleep
*still love your big boy bed and you sleep in it all night!
*have started noticing the doggies more and like to watch them
*love when mommy sings Lionel Richie to you :) tee hee

At his 10 week checkup he weighed 13lbs 8oz and was 26 inches long!

Here you are so big and handsome next to your lovies!

Here is the link to his 8 week photoshoot...
http://mrscartyscreations.blogspot.com/2008/05/8-weeks-old.html

Contest Entry

2008-06-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for the Becky Fleck Pagemaps contest at Scrapfreak!

Journaling: Your hands are so tiny compared to your daddy's hands, but for your age, they are huge! Will they throw a football, a baseball, swing a golf club, or play the piano? I can't wait to see!

June Pics

2008-06-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

RyRy in his baseball cap.

And helping mommy and daddy wash the car.

Pattycake with daddy!

2008-06-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

8 weeks old!

2008-05-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

At 8 weeks you,

*weigh 13.5 pounds
*wear size 3 months
*take 5.5 ounces during the day and 7-8 at night
*sleep from 11:30pm-6am
*love the fan and talk to it all the time!
*love to stare at the red curtains in the living room
*like to watch tv with mommy and daddy, especially basketball
*know when your diaper is wet and tell us immediately!
*need your paci to fall asleep but spit it out once you're in dreamland
*like mommy to rub your forehead
*like to take your naps snuggled into the corner of the couch with a pillow up against you
*turn your face into your pillow or blankie to fall asleep
*have to make big burps after you eat or you get a bellyache
*started crying "meeeehhhh" instead of "waaaaaaah"
*love to swing in your swing after your morning bottle
*laugh at daddy's jokes and like when he squeezes your cheeks

Wow, such a big boy. He is so much more alert now and he stays awake for longer periods too. He laughs all the time and that little dimple just shines! Here's his 8 week old photo shoot in his crib with his lovies.

We love you Ryder man!

I've been bit by the scrappin' bug!

2008-05-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

"2 Tiny Big Toes"

Little Man on Mother's Day

2008-05-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

My Baby Boy

2008-05-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

He's getting so big so fast. He's starting to really interact with us, giggling and reaching out, holding his head up, and standing up!

6 weeks!

2008-05-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

It's been 6 weeks since Ryder was born and I can't believe it. He is already getting so big and has such a personality!

At six weeks old, he:

*weighs 12 pounds

*loves his bath

*sleeps through the night in his big boy crib

*makes a fist and locks his thumb between his pointer and middle fingers

*tries to suck his thumb and sometimes he gets it

*cries to be held and loves to be rocked and patted to sleep

*is afraid of the dangly toys you hang on his car seat

*loves his pacifier

*likes to sleep in his zip up sleepers with no feet, it's like a baby in a bag!

*loves to fall asleep against our chests like this:

Hangin' out in his bath seat!

I had my 6 week checkup and everything is back where it's supposed to be and I've lost 43 pounds of the 50 I gained! Woo Hoo!

Here I am 6 weeks ago...

And this is me today...

Giggles!

2008-05-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

Little man loves to giggle!

Cousins!

2008-04-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

Matt's sister's boys with Ryder, Damian on the left and Austin on the right. They weren't shy at all at the hospital! Neither one could wait to hold him!

Matt's brother's little girl, Yamila. She couldn't wait to hold "Baby Ryder" either.

We currently have 3 baby cousins on the way! My sister Pam is due in August. Matt's sister Faith is due in October, and Matt's brother and his wife are due in November! Babies everywhere!

Please add us to your prayer list!

2008-04-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

Ay yi yi...the time is getting closer and closer for me to return to work. The bad news is no daycare has an opening right now. The waiting lists we are on do not have openings until August and we aren't even first on those lists! We don't know if this is God's way of forcing me to be a stay at home mommy or if the right childcare just hasn't come along. Either way we are happy to follow God's plan, we just aren't sure what it is! Please pray for us that we will feel a tug at our hearts leading us to make the right decision. If you know of a childcare option, please let us know that too. You can email us at mcartwright6@yahoo.com.

In other news, Rydee Roo slept in his big boy crib last night! He woke up to eat at 1am and 5:30am so overall I think it was a success!

WOOOOOT!

2008-04-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Woooot, we can't believe it! For the past two nights, Ryder has slept through the night (kind of)! He has went to sleep around 11pm/midnite and slept until 5:30/6am! The "kind of" is because at around 3:30am he wakes up and wants his paci, but then he goes right back to sleep. We can handle that! I can't believe he is going that long without eating!

And here are a couple of pictures just for fun!

The mommy and the little man

2008-04-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

Is this normal?

2008-04-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

Holding his bottle at 3 weeks! (not that he does this often, but it was cute and I was able to actually get a picture!)

Just hangin' around the house

2008-04-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Sleepytime with Daddy

Wakey time!

Major Events!

2008-04-18T12:52:00.001-07:00

Two major events happened today at our house. Our little man is getting so big! His umbilical cord FINALLY fell off which means he can take big boy baths!

The other event occurred while I was trying to change him, when the cord fell off, he spit up a little and was just having a rough time. He was screaming his little head off, and it happened. A single precious tear emerged from his eye and slid down his chubby little cheek. It broke my heart! Usually when he "cries" it's just a little screaming, but this time there was an actual tear!

He's growing up too fast. Sigh.

EARTHSHAAAAAAKE!

2008-04-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Wowzers...I just happened to be awake at 4:30am feeding the baby when I heard a rumble and the house began to shake! The news says it was a 5.2 and let me tell you, it felt like it! It lasted for over 30 seconds which is pretty long to watch the glasses in the wine rack shake! It even woke Matt up which tells you how strong it was. I was pretty shaken up even after the quake was over I was still shakin' in my pajamas. We just had an aftershock that registered a 4.5, yeikes. What a way to start the day! Thankfully everyone is safe!

Presents!

2008-04-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Of course while Tonya was here, she just HAD to spoil the kid with all kinds of gadgets. She got him his swing, which he loves, and so do I! It allows me to get things done around the house without worrying about him!

And she got him this play mat. He is mesmerized by the colorful pictures but he isn't quite ready for the music and motion yet.

Sometimes...he just gets worn out and needs a break.

Auntie Boogs was here!

2008-04-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Tonya came last week to meet Ryder and visit (and help me!). She fell in love at first site!

We went for a walk at the park and we also walked up town. Ryder loves his Auntie Boogs and the fun songs she sings to him!

She just left yesterday and we miss her already!

Little Man

2008-04-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

Snuggle time with daddy

Close up of the cuteness!

Just hanging out...he looks so grown up here!!

Ryder's 2 week Checkup!

2008-04-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

He's perfect! Or at least that's what the doctor tells us! He is off the charts for weight and height and could actually stand to GAIN some weight based on his height. He is 22 1/2 inches long now and weighs 10lbs 1oz!

We are so happy and so blessed that he is such a healthy, happy baby.

Rub a Dub Dub...

2008-04-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Rydee Roo in the tub!

We gave Ryder his first bath at home on 3/30/08 and he did such a great job! He was a little fussy during parts but when daddy rinsed under his arms, he just relaxed and enjoyed it!

Some facts about you, Rydee Roo:

*You love to be swaddled tight in your upper body but you like for your feet to be out so you can stretch.

*You love your mommy and sometimes when you cry it's because you just want to snuggle.

*You love your boppy and sometimes you would rather sleep in it than in your bassinet.

*You love the taste of your gas drops and you lick your lips to get every drop.

*You laugh and giggle in your sleep and it is so cute!

*You like to hang out in just your diaper because you are very warm natured.

*You love your daddy and think he has the best swaddle!

*You make so many faces but the one you make most often resembles a little thinker with a crinkled brow. I can't wait to find out what you've been thinking up!
*When you wake up, you don't cry, you just start making grunting noises.

*When you get really hungry your cry turns into a snort...daddy calls you little pig.

*You like it when I rub your cheek and head...it puts you right to sleep.

*You move your arms in a rhythmic manner and it looks like you are about to start rapping. Aunt Pammy calls you Snoop Rydee Ryde because of your apparent hip hop skills. :)

The dimple has been captured!

2008-04-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Woooot! I finally got a picture of the dimple on his right little chubby cheek!! Wooooohoooo!

My Boys

2008-03-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

I can't imagine my life without these two! They are best buddies and it's so adorable!!

The Love of Our Lives!

2008-03-27T19:40:00.001-07:00

He's finally here and he's precious!! He was born on March 25 at 5:49pm; he was 9lbs 13oz and 21 inches long...oh and he's PERFECT!!

Our first family portrait taken in the Operating Room by the Anesthesiologist

We love you Ryder!

ay yi yi!

2008-03-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

My appointment today was...interesting. We had an ultrasound and the baby is happy and healthy and cute as a button. Oh...and he's ALREADY 9 pounds 3 ounces! EEK! I'm not dilated at all still so the doc wants me to give it another week. If I haven't had him yet she's inducing me on the evening of the 24th and I'll have the little man on the 25th! I have an appointment on the 20th to see if I've made any progress at all, but the doc thinks maybe I'm not dilating because the baby is too big to fit through my pelvis. He hasn't dropped down into position and one reason may be that his head it too big to fit! Please keep us in your prayers for a healthy delivery! We've got a big boy here!!

No news...

2008-03-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

My appointment on the 6th confirmed that Ryder is not ready to budge yet. I'm still not dilated at all and he hasn't dropped. The doc estimates his weight at 7.5 pounds right now and hopes to confirm that he is only 8 pounds next Thursday at my ultrasound. I was 37.5 weeks and I measured 39. My blood pressure and overall health is great and so is his! That's all I can ask for!

And this was taken yesterday, March 8, 2008.

In the words of my doctor...

2008-03-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

"Well Jamie, you can kiss a 6 lb. baby goodbye because you've got a big boy in there!"

I saw the doctor on Thursday and she was really happy with how everything is coming along! I was 36.5 weeks along and I measured 38 so the baby is growing at a rapid pace! I hadn't gained any weight since my last appointment two weeks ago so my growth has slowed down, while his has taken off!

Dr. Cave said she thinks I'll go all the way to my due date at this point, but she scheduled an ultrasound for March 13th just to get some actual measurements and make sure the baby isn't TOO humongous! I wasn't dilated at all and my cervix was 20% thinned. I go back this thursday so we'll see if there's any more progress!

Now I'm far enough along that if I do go into labor, our baby will be considered full term. He's all developed and safe to come out...he's just laying around in there fattening up I suppose!

Baby Stuff

2008-02-22T15:11:00.001-08:00

Here are some of the awesome gifts we received from our family and friends at my baby shower on 2/9/08. We are so thankful!!

Gorgeous bassinet and high chair from Matt's parents and brothers and sisters

Our hamper from the Metzger's and diaper bags from Aunt Darlene and family, and my seester Pam

The baskets we wanted! These will eventually go on the changing table, once we get one!

And a closer shot of the desk area

For Ryder's Room, I'm feeling crafty again!

And lots more, but I didn't think you'd want to see pictures of the diaper genie and the butt paste, haha. Only 4 more weeks! Woot!

Belly Update Time!

2008-02-17T17:51:00.000-08:00

OK, it's that time again! I haven't had a belly update since November! Here is the last post in case you want to refresh your memory on the progress...

http://mrscartyscreations.blogspot.com/2007/11/belly-update.html

And here's my update! This was taken January 11, 2008.

And this was taken today February 17, 2008. Only 34 more days!!

The Transformation!

2008-02-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Finally, the nursery is ready! We are so excited! It's amazing what a few decorative items and some paint can do for a room! The room was yellow with wood trim and the first thing Matt did was paint the trim white. I don't have any pictures of the dark trim but it was very outdated.

Here it is with the bright white trim:

And, of course, the blue painters tape. Matt is the taper and I'm the painter. This is a little cubby hole desk thing that we are going to keep the baby's books on.

The next step was to choose the paint colors. What a decision! We went back and forth, bringing home sample colors from Lowe's and finally decided on Taupe and a blue shade called Sterling Silver.

And finally....

The curtains, the wall hangings, the border and the gorgeous crib! My parents bought us our crib and we love, love, love it! It's so adorable!

And my grandma's rocking chair that we've moved from house to house, knowing someday we would need it!! It goes so perfectly in the room!

Here's a closer shot of the crib and the blankie that Tonya bought for the baby. She didn't even know what our colors were or anything, and she couldn't have found anything more PERFECT!

We don't have our changing table yet or any of our storage baskets so there are a still a few things missing. Once we get it all setup I'll take more pictures. We also don't have bedding for the crib yet (or the mattress), but I just wanted to show you all the progress so far! It's all starting to seem so real. We feel so much better now that we at least have a space dedicated to the baby!

I'm alive!

2008-01-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

Checking in from Lynnville! We are alive! We didn't drown in the flood of '08 as pictured below. Actually the basement all drained out within about 15-20 minutes. Thank goodness!

In other news, Matt started a new job this week, a job that he applied for when we still lived in Arizona in OCTOBER! Can you believe it?! After months of waiting and FOUR interviews, he got the job and started this week. Woot Woot! My job at the bank is going well and although I attempted to work a part time job at the mall, I had to resign because it was just too hard to do both. So, yay for both being employed!

We've been working hard on getting the nursery ready! We painted this past week and bought curtains. Now, we are just waiting for the border to arrive (we ordered it) so we can put it up. I can't wait to show you all! Mom and dad surprised us with a stroller/car seat travel system this week, and Matt's parents surprised us by telling us they want to buy our bassinet! Mom and dad are buying a crib for the baby as soon as we decide on one, so things are really coming together! My shower is February 9th and I can't WAIT to see everyone!!!

My belly is getting bigger and bigger and as soon as I approve of a picture I'll post it! :)

CTRL + ALT + Delete

2008-01-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

Restart, Reset, Reboot, Re-do.

Can I? Please? I just want to start over.

Sigh.

This is our basement, under 4 inches of water. I'm so tired. I quit.

This is a stream of water shooting out of the basement wall. Can we return this house? I think we still have the receipt.

:(

Just Checkin' In

2008-01-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

Whew, what a busy couple of weeks it's been! Working outside the home definitely changes things around here. I feel like I never have a moment's rest, but I think a lot of it has to do with me starting the job during the holidays. This year was the first year that I felt pulled in so many different directions that it really wasn't all that enjoyable. I feel like I spent a little time with a lot of people and not enough time with anyone! I didn't get to spend time with Kira and Mila at our new house, which I was looking forward to doing. I didn't get to take Aly shopping. And, I had wanted Zak and Aly to stay the night with Matt and me one night and there just wasn't enough time to do it all.

Now, everyone is gone and it's back to reality. I had to work yesterday and I go back tomorrow so having today off was awesome. I really needed it just to recharge a little bit. I got the call today that I got the part time job at the mall I had applied for, woot. So, now I'll be working two jobs, pretty much nonstop until the baby gets here. Hopefully I don't exhaust myself. I plan on working about 60 hours a week total which isn't too awful. People do it all the time!

The baby seems to be doing very well. He is sooo active now and his "little kicks" are now giant movements that can be seen through my clothes. He is still pretty quiet during the day and most active at night. I go to the doctor next week for another checkup to make sure things are progressing smoothly. At my last appt, Dr. Cave said everything looked perfect!

I am getting super excited to meet this little guy. I can't wait to hold him. We really need to get the nursery ready for him, but until we have my shower we really don't know what to buy vs. what we will receive. Thank goodness for baby showers!

It snowed here today for the first time this winter and the actual snowfall was beautiful. Not much stayed on the ground but the big falling flakes were super pretty.

I have lots of pics from the holidays I need to upload, so stay tuned!

Yay, the wait is over, finally!

2007-12-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

I got the job at the bank! WooHoo! I start tomorrow at 9am and I am so excited. I'm excited to have a job at all, but even more excited to have a job at a prestigious bank in the area where my opportunities are endless! And who doesn't love banking hours?! And benefits!

Woooooooooooooooooooooot! Finally the wait is over. That was a long couple of months. I can't imagine ever looking for another job...it was WAY too difficult!

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support along the way. I really appreciate it!

I'm a little nervous. I haven't worked out of the house in FOUR years. It's going to be so strange to have to go on scheduled breaks and lunches, etc. Hopefully it won't be a tough adjustment. My biggest concern is that I hope I'm good at my position. I know the opportunity for advancement is there if I just show the potential and excel in my department. All I can do is take it and run with it, and hope for the best!

So, here I go...back into the corporate world with my corporate waddle, haha!

How many peanuts can one family have?!

2007-12-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

The answer is TWO!!!! My sister Pam announced this week that she and her husband are expecting a baby!!!!!! WOOOOOT!

We are all SO excited and I think my mom and dad are about to explode with joy! Now Baby Carty will have a little cousin only 5 months younger than him!

CONGRATS SIS!!!

Still no job :(

2007-12-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

It gets harder and harder everyday that goes by and I don't get a phone call. I've applied to around 50 jobs just in the last month. I am starting to think that maybe companies are waiting to hire until after the holidays. It's getting so close to Christmas that there would barely be time for training me before we'd be off. Hopefully I'll hear something soon. Please keep us in your prayers.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”~ Philippians 4:6-7

Turkey Day Pictures!

2007-12-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Here I am at mom and dad's on Thanksgiving Day after the feast!

and me with the love of my life!

I don't have a photo editing program on this computer so I apologize for the wonky pictures!

Life in Lynnville

2007-11-26T20:05:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of our living room! We have finally finished hanging pictures and ceiling fans and getting things ready for the holidays! I'll try to take a better picture during the day but this was mainly so you could see our tree!

Our tree

The puppies love it here. They love the sun coming in the door and they love watching out the front door for animals. When Maddy sees an animal, she starts to crying to get outside!

We went for a nice walk yesterday morning in a chilly 40 degrees! It was spitting rain too, but I loved it. It's nice to have weather that changes every now and then! I've always loved rain though so that's no surprise. Hopefully soon it will turn to snow!!

Tonya, Mike, Zak, Aly, Kevin, Yasmeen, Mila, Kira, Faith, Kevin and Dylan...you were all missed VERY much this Thanksgiving. Gobble Gobble, and we hope you had a blessed day!

22 weeks along and our new home!

2007-11-16T08:34:00.000-08:00

We made it!!! We are moved in and loving it! The house is SO homey and just feels so right. We have most everything put away with a few boxes left. I only have pictures of the empty rooms so far but I'll take some more of the finished product once we do a few more finishing touches!

The living room with their curtains still up:

The kitchen with the hideous fan and border still up and their curtains! The backsplash and tiled countertop are my favorite!

ME! 22 weeks! and you can see some of our furniture and stuff in this picture but don't peek!

Thanks for checking in!

Taking a page out of Maddy's book...

2007-11-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

Meet puppy. She looks like Maddy, same color, about the same level of activity and she is Maddy's new best friend. She came in a box from Nana a long time ago, but was just recently discovered during the packing and organizing phase of our move.

Amidst all the chaos, the boxes stacked high, and the loud sound of packing tape, Maddy manages to find her puppy and just take a break from the commotion...

Maybe it's time you find your puppy and take a break...even if chaos surrounds you. :)

At 4 oclock this morning...

2007-11-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

I FELT THE BABY MOVE!!! It was like my stomach muscles were spasming and then I froze to see if I could feel something...it continued and then I felt a strong hi-YA to the gut, haha! Then there was a flutter, and it kinda tickled! WOOT! I'm so excited! I can't wait to see my belly move!

With Matt's prediction that he's coming out with a helmet and shoulder pads on, he might be practicing plays in there!

Belly Update!

2007-11-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Warning...nakey baby belly ahead! And for the full effect I have to show the photos leading up to today's!

Photo taken Aug 12, 2007

Photo taken Oct 7, 2007

Photo taken November 2, 2007

At this rate, Baby Carty may be a 10 pounder! Let's hope for my sake, he is NOT!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T06:25:00.000-07:00

The girls are coming over tonight and I can't wait to see them in costume. I'll take lots of pictures since theirs will be the only costumes worn around here. :( Last year we went to a costume party and it was so much fun! Here we are in our costumes:

Hope everyone has a fantastic day and I can't wait to see all the cute little ones in their costumes!

Comments!

2007-10-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Matt and I decided to change the comments section to allow anyone to leave a comment. We love that our family reads our blog and would love to be able to read their comments!

So, comment away!

Making Friends at Cosmo Dog Park

2007-10-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning we decided to take the dogs to Cosmo Dog Park which is located in Gilbert, AZ, about an hour drive. We heard about it on the news as one of the newest and best dog parks in the area so we had to try it out! It has over 5 acres fenced with a small lake on one side and then a dry fenced area on the other side. We loaded up the car and we were off!

And just as a side note, although Payton and Maddie look a bit cramped up in their crate, they would NOT have it any other way. They HAVE to be together or they cry!

We were worried about how they would do around strange dogs but they really did a great job. Even Payton was friendly with the other dogs (and their owners!). She warmed up to a girl that was about my height and weight and followed her around. It was hilarious. And you know Payton, she kept licking the girls' legs. The girl was a good sport though. She said, "Um, I think she has us confused!"

At first they didn't want much to do with the water, but I waded in and called them and they finally got used to it. By the end of the day, they were all three running and splashing in the lake!

Maddux and Louie made a new friend named Reese. Reese is a rambunctious male pug who had NO fear whatsoever! You can see him here leading the pack!

Payton and Louie enjoyed fetching the ball from the water's edge, but they wouldn't go in over their heads.

Maddie liked to do her own thing, sniffing around and visiting other dogs. So much to sniff, so little time!

It was so much fun. I'm glad we got to take them. If we could take them to a lake all the time I really think they'd be swimming in no time!

Here is the newest belly shot for the week. 19 weeks along. Eek!

My appetite is NOT lacking...

2007-10-23T15:52:00.001-07:00

The doctor tells me I've gained 9.5 pounds since my last visit a month ago! Yikes! She was happy with it though because it brings my total weight gain to -0.5 lbs. It's hard to believe I weighed more than this BEFORE I got pregnant! Look at that belly!

A Day at the Park

2007-10-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

ahhh, the Fall days in Arizona are starting to rub off on me a bit! The days are so gorgeous and sunny with a nice cool breeze, so last weekend we met Kevin and Yasmeen at the park and spent some time playing with the girls. Kev and Matt threw the football and Mila played with her soccer ball. She also made a friend on the playground while Kira was introduced to sand...she liked it...she liked it so much, she ate a handful! Blech!

Here are some pictures of the day:

Kira loved the swing! She always had one hand tucked in...it was so adorable!

Here are both of the girls. I love this picture because it's so typical of their personalities. Mila is on the go as usual (I'm surprised she isn't a blur!) and Kira in the background plopped down, just hanging out oblivious to everything around her! We sure are going to miss them!

Holy Crapsticks Batman!

2007-10-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

hmm...where to begin this post....How about we go timeline style:

September 28th - Boonville, IN...mom, Pam, and I are looking through the newspaper and spot a home in Lynnville on an acre of land. I called the realtor who agreed to meet us THAT night to check it out! Verdict: We absolutely love it! It's quaint and cute and homey and has a fantastic yard too!

Oct 8th - I'm back in AZ with pictures in hand to show Matt and we decide to make an offer!

Oct 9th - The sellers counteroffer and we accept, pending inspections.

Oct 11th - The inspection is completd and the report is NOT good. The home was built in 1930 so we anticipated some problems but the list of DEFECTS was a bit unnerving...

-all electrical must be upgraded to a breaker box (from a fuse box)

-improper wiring needs to be replaced throughout the home

-wires are spliced and fuses are oversized

-siding is damaged and loose

-there is no ground rod (eek!)

-there is a leak of some sort in the crawlspace

-there is a moldlike substance in the attic that needs to be removed

-all gas piping in the home is copper and needs to be changed out to black iron

We were scared...but not scared off completely. We decided to respond asking the sellers to fix all of these critical items. We know that they do not have a lot of extra money (but hey, neither do we!) so we were hoping for the best. We figured if they agreed to do some of the repairs, we could suck it up and do the rest...

We received this email today from our realtor:

"Congratulations!! They are doing everything!!!"

We are thrilled, elated, BLESSED, and very very thankful! In three weeks, we'll be on our way to our new house!!

Here's are a couple of pictures of the front view and the awesome yard!

It's a.....

2007-10-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

BABY BOY!!!

WOOOOT! And he has 10 fingers and 10 toes and is as healthy as can be!!! All his measurements looked great! Here is a great shot of his profile!

And here he is flexing for us, my little muscle man!

Here is a 4D shot they did. You can see his arm and hand up by his face. He was snuggled into me and wouldn't turn over! He's playin' shy!

The doctor gave us a CD with 173 images from the ultrasound! These are the ones we picked that show him the best. Now...we just need a name! Isn't he the most precious little thing you've ever seen!?

MVP

2007-10-16T07:35:00.001-07:00

...and no, I don't mean most valuable player. I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse in 1994 when I went in for a routine appendectomy. The doctor couldn't begin the surgery until my heartrate was stabilized. As I lay there on the table, in and out of it from pain, I could just hear phrases every now and then... "not stable" "cardiologist" "heart condition" Finally they called in a cardiologist (a nice guy who was gardening at home and came in asap in his shorts and tennis shoes!) who diagnosed me with mitral valve prolapse. The docs explained it as the most common heart valve abnormality and told us that most people are unaffected and only a small percentage actually need valve replacement. Ok great, I was thinking, now get my appendix out before I die from the pain!

The main inconvenience with MVP is that because some of the blood in my heart actually "leaks" backwards, infection is much easier to get than in a normal heart. So, before any dental cleanings or procedures I have to take antibiotics. No biggie! (Oh yeah, and no caffeine, only water and sports drinks like gatorade....oops.)

Fast forward to the year 2000 where I'm at a sorority function at my college...
Chest pains hit, dull at first and then very strong. With every breath my chest and shoulder ache terribly until I'm in tears. It's to the point where holding my breath was the only way to not cry, and then when I did have to breathe, the pain was literally unbearable. I called the cardiologist who had came to the hospital that day and he asked me to go to the Heart Care Center immediately. Mom rushed me in and I was diagnosed with pericarditis, an inflammation of the thin membrane that surrounds your heart, also known as the worst pain EVER. The inflammation was so bad that when I was breathing, my inflated lungs were coming into contact with the membrane and causing the terrible pain. So some anti-imflammatory drugs later, I was fine. The doc told me to take 4 ibuprofen every four hours and if I ever had a cold, or any type of virus, to start taking the 4 ibuprofen every four hours to try and prevent infection.

Fast forward to June 30 2007...
I'm now living in AZ with my hubby and we decided to go out and meet friends. We ate dinner and as we leave to go to a different bar, I start to feel chest pain, only when I exhale. I started to take shallow breaths hoping it would go away, but as the night continued the pain got worse and worse until I couldn't breathe at all. My left shoulder was radiating with pain and every breath I took made it worse. Matt brought me home and I took Ibuprofen and laid down, tears streaming down my face, determined to get through the night so we could go to the doctor. (I was so delerious I forgot that the ER is open 24/7!). The next morning Matt took me to the Urgent Care center where an EKG was done and returned some abnormalties. My blood was tested and my enzyme levels were fine, but because of my history with pericarditis, the doc wanted me to have an echocardiagram and some further testing that was not available at the UCC. We were instructed to go to the ER immediately.

We arrived at the ER and were taken back right away where another EKG was done. I ended up staying in the ER for over 8 hours being tested, blood drawn, etc. I was on a heart monitor where my heartrate was going from 40 bpm up to 140 bpm in a matter of seconds. Alarms kept going off, and I was still in terrible, terrible pain. Finally they decided to give me some pain meds (via a shot to the rear, Ye-OUCH!) and the pain became more bearable. The doc said there were no signs to say that it was pericarditis again so he didn't see a need to even do an echocardiagram. After my EKG came back normal (who knows?) the ER doc informed us, "Chest pains are the most difficult thing to diagnosis. It could be your liver, it could be your heart...it could be any number of things. I'm not here to blow smoke and pretend like I know what it is when I don't. The tests came back showing that your heart seems to be in good shape, so get some rest." And whoosh, he was gone. Excuse me, what? So I was discharged with diagnosis "Chest pain-unknown cause" (Insert Sigh here)

The worst part of it all is that I don't know what causes these spells and I don't know how to prevent them or stop them when they start. Lately my palpitations are much worse and much harder to get rid of. Usually if my heart starts to beat rapidly I just lay down and take a nap, and when I wake up, everything is back to normal. But in the last couple days I can't even do that. I'll doze off and then jump awake with a pounding heart and hardly able to catch my breath. And since I've been pregnant I've had very little to NO caffeine and lots of gatorade.

I guess I'm just scared and it's pointless to go to the doctor because they never help. I think I might mention the palpitations to my doctor tomorrow at my OB appt. because I really am starting to wonder what my heart will do throughout the rest of my pregnancy, and delivery.

Sometimes I think it could be anxiety/stress related too, since I've lost my job, am moving across the country, bought a house 1700 miles away, have a house to pack in 2 weeks, etc. etc.

Here's hoping for a heart healthy day!