Mini Vacay!

Since I dont have internet at home and I sure as hell do not even want to think about typing a blog post via my Android so I am letting all my friends know that I hope they have a safe and fun weekend (not too much fun)! We are headed to Gatlinburg tomorrow and I cant wait, I just hope this trip turns out a little whole lot better than the last mountain trip we made (the one with the stomach virus) I'm keeping optimistic about it so lets pray for great weather and safe travels all the way around and I cant wait to share pictures when I get home with you! HAVE FUN, ENJOY THE FIREWORKS!!!

Just one of those days....

Today is just one of those days where I feel a need to spill my guts all over the place.... I am sure its just the pregnancy (don't you love how we can blame it on that so easily?).  I cant promise this post wont be completely depressing, or totally exciting either, and to some it may be god awful boring. But here it goes anyway.

I am totally sick of being "sick" I mean from the day I found out I was pregnant (10 weeks ago) until this very morning I have been nausea's.  I know I wont feel "normal" until after this babe has arrived but darn I'm ready to feel my "pregnant normal" and trust me this most definitely isn't it!

I was listening to a song this morning and Kyle told me a few days ago how it reminded him of his teen/early 20's.  When I heard it come on, on my way to work I actually listened to it and can you believe I almost started crying! WOW! I was listening to it thinking of all the craziness he and I used to get ourselves into when we first started dating and all the "sneaking" around we used to do, to avoid my parents... I was reminiscing about my high school years I remember when I was 14 so ready to turn 15 so I could get my permit, then I was 15 ready to turn 16 so I could finally be able to drive without adult supervision, then I was 16 ready to be 18 so I could be finished with High school and on to my college years and I remember being 20 extremely ready to buy my first mixed drink or beer and then I was 21.  At 21 I was engaged and married that same year and a year after that we found out we were expecting our first baby.  I was 23 when I had Hannah and I'll practically be 25 when I have my second baby!

I was thinking (because we all know Kyle is 7 1/2 years older than me) wow, Kyle and I had just "officially" started dating when he was 25 years old and here I am with 2 babies! I know this post may sound like I wish I was "older" but I wouldn't change one day of my life to have something else or do something different.  I know God has a plan for each and every one of us, but my plan is one difficult road to travel.  I am in the process of trying to finish my bachelor's degree which may be the death of me.

That is something else, it was hard enough to stay focused when I was 20 years old and taking 4 or 5 classes a semester now its like where is the time to squeeze even one class in.  I know that with time I we will figure this mess out, but I want answers and solutions now.  My folks have been paying for most of my school since Ive started and I want more than anything to get that degree, but I feel like I'm on a one way road and there is no place to venture off and it is becoming increasingly frustrating. 

Also my mom is out of town until July 13th and I miss her sooooo much, I need her and I want her to wrap her arms around me and tell me everything is going to work out and to quit worrying but she isnt here and she cant do those things... It is time for me to put my big girl panties on and use the tools that they have taught me growing up to use when I become an adult.  I guess the truth deep down is I'm not ready to be an adult... not quite yet.. but HELLO REALITY! Right?

Anyway, I dont want you to be completely depressed when you finish reading my post so I will leave you with an exciting note....


Remember the date... Monday July 11th.... Why you wonder??? Well because that is the day, the big day we find out if this little peanut that has been making its mommy SUPER sick is a boy or a girl!!!!!!!! Eeeeeeeekkkkkkk! We are going to a place in Gastonia to find out we were just to excited to wait until August because my doctor's office wont do it until 19 or 22nd week! No thanks we'll get it done sooner if we please!! YAYYYYYY! I know your excited too... dont deny it (wink wink)

14 weeks and 2 days

How Far Along: 14 weeks and 2 days

Total Weight Gained: 3 lbs
(definitely an improvement, with Hannah I'm pretty sure Id gained about 10lbs by this point)

Maternity Clothes: I have started wearing some maternity clothes

My pre-pregnancy clothes just don't fit "right"

Sleep:  Great so far... My dreams have turned into nightmares
 vivid nightmares at that (nooo)...

Best Moment of the Week: Heard my BOG's heartbeat on Friday!
&&&   Having an entire weekend where I wasn't nauseous!

Food Cravings: Italian... I'm still going crazy over that stuff so I treat myself once a week (at least)

Food Aversions: Meat (mainly chicken) and Italian food (which is awful because that is what I crave) and MEXICAN... I love the stuff but my little peanut obviously doesn't

Belly button/stretch marks: The only battle scars so far are from my lovely Hannah

(I wouldn't mind if that was how it stayed too)  Belly button is a "half-y" half in half out!

Symptoms:  Nausea's and my sugar/blood pressure drops instantly at least 2 to 3 times a day...
My blood pressure and sugar both are so low normally but for some reason
while I'm pregnant they drop a little bit lower and it makes for an interesting day....
My BP as of Friday: 90/60
My Sugar (I check myself): 68-70

Movement: None yet (I don't think) sometimes I feel a little bubbly feeling and
it last like 2 seconds (hardly ever though)

Gender: Too Soon --- Next month can't come quick enough ;)

What I miss: Nothing at all!!  (Yet...)

Milestones: Made it 3 whole days without dry heaving!!! Maybe this mess
is ending!! Keeping my fingers crossed...

Funny moment: I bent over the other day to pick something up off the floor (please understand too that I was already in a sitting position) but I bent over to pick something up and when I sat back up I realized that I had actually pulled one of my "ab" muscles... WHAT?!? How does that happen?! haha Well I laugh about it now bc every time I bend over I am reminded because it is STILL sore! haa!

This week...

A lot of things are going on for sure... My mom is out of town until July 13, its only been 1 week and 2 days since she left and I feel like its been f.o.r.e.v.e.r. I miss her so much and I want her to be home like.. NOW! Monday: 1st day of the start of my new schedule (4, 10 hour days)... Ive only been working 32-33 hours a week so this makes for a longgg week (but I'll be loving that paycheck!)

Tuesday: Babysat my sweet nephew after work, he and Hannah played and played and played (I'm thinking... wow this is what it will be like with 2 kids...) SHOOT ME haha no, but they will turn a room into a disaster quickly... as of today Hannah's room still looks like a bomb went off in there! 

Wednesday: Had dinner with my brother and sister at Beans, Burgers, and Brew (I think that is its name.. now) (If you are pretty familiar with Lincolnton it is where Holts used to be almost beside BBQ King) it was Delicious! They have great subs and will even heat them up for ya too! YUM! Their Granola Fruit Bowl is to die for too! Just an FYI!

Thursday: Hopefully nothing but me and Hannah time maybe dinner with my Pop's and that is IT! I refuse to do anything else this afternoon... REFUSE! ha!

Friday: Clean a house, baby doctor appt, and then.... PF Changs and Bad Teacher with my Hunny! Yes... a night where we (me and kyle only) (Sorry Hannah, mommy and daddy love you but its nice to not have to cut up food into tiny pieces and watch you put it on the floor, wait for you to have your almost usual public breakdown, or change your diaper... for a few hours anyway!)

Saturday: Get ready here it is...... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! I plan to spend the day with my family of 3 and that is it! We have been going NON stop for practically month and a half of weekends and to say we will have one weekend day, with no plans (plus its a Saturday) and just ROCKS!

3 YEARS!!!

Three years ago I said yes! Three years ago I promised that I would stand up and be strong through the great times and the bad times.  Three years ago was the start of not just a new chapter but it really was the start of a new book (in my opinion).  I am a reader, I take my books seriously, I even go back and re-read books that Ive read in the past.  So saying that three years ago was the start of a new book is ALWAYS a good thing because I just love sequels (don't you?).  Well, three years ago I married my best friend, a true gift from God, he knows me better than anyone (no joke) He has seen me at my lowest point and he has seen me when I feel I can conquer anything. 

Kyle Ledbetter made me the happiest girl on December 25 2007 when he asked me to spend forever with him. I couldn't possibly say no to that! We married on June 21st 2008, and it was an absolutely beautiful wedding, just what I had dreamed of.  Everything was perfect (seriously it really was) nothing went wrong (besides my Dad's cell phone ringing during the service.... If you know my dad you know its not really a shocker) Oh and I cant forget that the preacher said BREAST instead of best but hey we laugh now and shake our heads.  The only thing I would have changed and I believe that anyone would agree with me.... I wish that time would have stood still on that perfect day. 

And since then so many different things have happened (so many new chapters have began) that I look back at pictures and although I look slightly different now than then (you know the thing that happens to your body post baby) I still look basically the same but I have grown in so many ways.  All this has happened because God blessed me with my sweet, handsome, loving (the list goes on) husband! He is my everything and I would most definitely NOT be the person I am today if it weren't for him.  So I thank you Lord for giving me this gift (which are continuously flowing over).  Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with life, that when I need to be brought back down to earth Kyle is there to bring me back to sanity.  He explains and calms and sometimes he is just there to listen and I am totally grateful for that!

I wont forget to add this tid bit as well, we are going to PF Changs Friday night (woot! woot!) and to see Bad Teacher at North Lake! Yay for date night and for 3 years! Have a Happy Tuesday/1st Day of Summer/and feel free to celebrate our Anniversary too! Ha!

12 weeks and 4 days

I am so excited to give my official pregnancy update! Even though we have told everyone I wanted to wait until the 12 week mark to do an "update", weird I know.

So here we gooooo!

How Far Along: 12 weeks and 4 days

Total Weight Gained: 3lbs

(definitely an improvement, with Hannah I'm pretty sure Id gained about 10lbs by this point)

Maternity Clothes: I have started wearing some maternity clothes

My pre-pregnancy clothes just dont fit "right"

Sleep:  Great so far... Although I have had some interesting dreams...

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing our baby again yesterday, it has grown so much!

Food Cravings: Italian... Ive had some serious heartburn lately (BOO!) So Im staying away from it (Boo again!)

Food Aversions: Meat (mainly chicken) and Italian food (which is awful because that is what I crave)

Belly button/stretch marks: The only battle scars so far are from my lovely Hannah

(I wouldnt mind if that was how it stayed too)  Belly buton in but not for long!

Symptoms:  Nauseaus and some lightheaded-ness

(My sugar drops instantly at least once a day)

Movement: According to the ultrasound, it is a wiggle worm but I dont feel anything quite yet!

Gender: Too Soon--- Next month can't come quick enough ;)

What I miss: Nothing at all!!  (Yet...)

Milestones: Made it over the 12 week mark! (Little clue: My next milestone will be to not dry heave once in an entire day) LOL! 

Our Birth Story Part 2!

Continuing on from the previous post....
When we arrived at Gaston Memorials beautiful The Birthplace we were all so anxious... 

We couldn't wait to get Hannah out!  We grabbed the suit case, our snacks and anything else we may need and headed towards the front doors.  We rode the elevator up to the second floor and walked to the front desk, we told the security guard that "I was checking in!" It took about 45 minutes because all the nurses were busy with other patients (which really didn't bother me I was just glad to see the light at the end to the tunnel).  When the nurse came and got us, she asked Kyle to stay behind, other than peeing in a cup again, getting the needle in my arm and changing into a gown, she also asked me some personal questions (like have I had sex with anyone other than my husband) and obviously someone had done these things and that the baby daddy wouldn't have know and so the nurse wanted to ask me while I was alone. Whatever not a big deal to me, so when Kyle gets to the room we get our things put "away", I honestly felt like I was on vacation for a couple of days (the rooms are so nice, the nurses too). 

So they really didn't get an the pitocin started until maybe 11:30 and then if I remember correctly they increased the amount every hour or so.  It wasn't long after they started it that I started feeling some serious affects from it.  The CONTRACTIONS..... Oh yes, those I am pretty sure I will NEVER forget (not completely anyway) and WOW!! It was the worst pain I think I have EVER gone through, no, really EVER!

I am going to try my best to describe what it felt like... For me, they started at the top of my belly (yes the very top) and would shoot downward towards my vajayjay.  It felt like a stabbing pain, my stomach would get SUPER hard (like a rock) and then soften up after the contractions. They had increased the pitocin so much that I was having contractions so often like every 2 to 3 minutes and they would last about a minute to a minute and a half (if not longer).  I couldn't even move, its like any movement would trigger one.  That was when I was begging for the drugs.  The sweet nurse came in a gave me Stadol. It completely knocked me out, I was in and out of sleep for the rest of the afternoon.  The doctor came by again around 6 p.m., they stopped the pitocin and she checked to see if any further dilation had occurred.  But unfortunately I had only dilated to 2 cm and Hannah still hadn't dropped.  She tells me that if they baby doesn't come by 6 p.m. tomorrow night then they would do a C-Section.  I absolutely did not want a C-Section, not that I had anything against them I was just afraid of the "healing" process.  So that night me and Lydia walked around the Birth Place, and we walked, and we walked, and we walked.  I guess it was about 2 a.m. when we finally went back to the room to get some sleep.

It was so awesome to see while we were walking around all the doors with blue or pink ribbon on them.  Or to hear the cry of a new born baby thinking that was going to be us in our room very soon.  It all seemed so surreal.  We went to bed and it seemed like no time before a nurse was in there waking us up to start the pitocin.  I guess I was so worn out or maybe the nurse gave me more pain meds I really cant remember for sure but I fell asleep until the doctor came in and checked me I was still dilated to 2 but by God's grace that child finally DROPPED!!! The doctor then decided to break my water (I wont go into those details but WHOA! is all I can say) and that's honestly when the "big daddy" contractions started (OUCH!) by 11 I was begging for more drugs, the nurse gave them to me but they didn't touch a single contraction.  The contractions were so intense at this point, I do remember it felt like I couldn't catch my breath before one started up again. The nurse then came in and asked me "are you ready for your epidural now?" I didn't even have to answer, poor Kyle said "YES! Yes, she is!" (I laugh about that now). So, I don't remember much before getting my epidural but I do remember the EXTREME RELIEF after it had kicked in.  I could feel my stomach tighten up and loosen but there was no more pain!! YIPPEE!

The nurse checked me I had dilated 1 cm in like 30 minutes, then at 12:30 she checked me again and I had dilated to 6! I think it was about 3:00 p.m. when I started feeling this "pressure" downstairs, if you will. I said something to the nurse and she said "okay, well tell me when you feel like you have to poop" Hmmmm.... I told her I did feel like that.... She then responds with "tell me when you REALLY feel like you have to poop" I said ma'am I REALLY feel like that.  So she checks me and she says "OH! I guess we need to call the doctor, because its time to push!!!" OMG! Again I will spare you of the dirty details but know that I forgot to push the sweet little button to inject more epidural goodies in me so I felt EVERYTHING, it was terrible! Ladies, don't be afraid to get an epidural it actually sped up my labor because it relaxed me! I wont make that mistake again!

So after about 45 minutes of pushing, out comes my sweet little miracle Hannah Grace Ledbetter.  She had the loudest screams I thought Id never hear, wow totally ear piercing! But that was also the sweetest cry you could every want to hear.  My little chubs was born at 3:58 p.m. weighing in at 8lb 8oz.  20 1/2 inches long, with a perfect cap of hair. And I will forever remember that day, but I remember so many good things about it, and trust me those good things definitely outweigh the bad! I mean look at me almost 2 years later I will have another (probably my last) but regardless I wouldn't have it any other way!

Our Birth Story

Okay, so I know that this is only 16 months late but I couldn't resist, I have seen so many and I just had to put down ours with Hannah. 


After what seemed like an eternity of weeks January 25 came rolling around.  This was the day of my 39 week appointment.  There had been no change in ANYTHING the week before so I was hoping and praying that I would have dilated or SOMETHING.  So we go into the doctor's office and the doctor checks my cervix, I was maybe 1/2 a cm dilated. Hannah had yet to drop completely and so basically I was in it for another 2 weeks.  I had noticed a small spot pop up on my belly right below my belly button that itched like a bug bite, I asked the doctor about it and she said that she thought it was just my stomach stretching some more (great!). At this point I had endured people asking me if I was going to make it until my due date for the last month! Of course I did, and it looked like I was going to pass it as well!

So pregnant I stayed for the next week and a half.... But what happened during that week and a half was something I never thought I would ever have to go through.

Tuesday came and went but one thing I noticed was the itching on my belly seemed to worsen in just one day! I didn't worry about it until Wednesday and my belly was pretty big at that point so I couldn't see underneath it where all the itching was happening (no I didn't even think about a darn mirror..). I continued to scratch/rub it but it wouldn't cease.  I got to my parents house that evening and had my sister take a look at it, the look on her face was pretty much unexplainable. I told her to take a picture of it, all she had was her phone and I said that would do.  She takes this picture and shows me, my mouth dropped to the floor when I saw.  What had started out as two little dots (felt like bug bites) turned into lines of them all down the underside of my belly!

I panicked we then used the handy tool "Google" and looked up pregnancy related rash.  The first thing that popped up was something called PUPPP's rash.  We checked out the images and we thought that some of them looked like what I had, but some looked much, much worse.  It was hard to tell but I was freaking.  We did further research and found out that it generally starts below the belly button, most women who have it carry boys, and it can start as early as 23/24 weeks, and it is pretty uncommon. Well, I fell into one category, the one where it started below my belly button.  So I called the doctor on Thursday and told her I was itching too badly and I wanted her to take a look to make sure nothing was wrong.

We went to the doctor first thing Friday morning, let me add first, I was definitely ready to Hannah to be here but I am not one of those women who see the doctor for every little thing hoping I can be induced.  So with that being said we went in and she listened to the fetal heartbeat, checked my cervix (I was 1 cm dilated!!) (Not major when you have to make it all the way to 10), and then checked out the rash.  She never confirmed our thoughts but she said that it wasn't too bad and to take benadryl to help with the itching.... Needless to say, that really wasn't good enough but I said okay and we walked out right back out of there. I immediately got benadryl and started taking what I could of it.  I figured Id wait to see if it kicked in.  In the meantime they were calling for snow that weekend, and we at the time did not have a 4x4 car so we stayed the weekend with my parents.  What could have been more fun than to lay around watching movies all day eating soup and staying warm.  But no, my body obviously had other plans for me, in the sense that Friday night I got absolutely no sleep because I was miserable I got up I know at least 3 or 4 different times to take a scalding shower and take more benadryl, and Saturday I noticed that this so called rash started working its way down my thighs. 

We got the snow on Saturday and I believe we got about 4 to 6 inches, it was beautiful but I could honestly care less, by Saturday night I was worse than miserable. I again got up about 4 or 5 times and took a scalding hot shower just to relieve the itching. I refused to take anymore benadryl because it did not even touch the itching.  Sunday was here and by that afternoon the rash had moved down my legs, in between my toes and up under my arm pits.  The nightmare was so awful I couldn't stand the itching I was crying because nothing was working, I walked outside, bare feet, no jacket stepped right into the snow and sank to my knees, stuck my hands as deep as they would go and stayed there until my fingers and toes were numb, I then began putting the snow on my neck and arms because 5 minutes without the itching was like heaven, I didn't care if I was freezing.  I walked back inside and was itch-free until I started warming up and then it was like it was a 1000x worse than before.  Needless to say I didn't get any sleep that night either, that makes 3 nights with minimal to no sleep. I was exhausted and completely done with being pregnant.

I called my doctor first thing Monday morning (it was 8 o'clock on the dot) and told them they had to see me that I would be there in 20 or less minutes.  I walked in knowing I look just "peachy" and saw my doctor.  She began looking at my legs, arms feet, stomach, etc. And again check all the normal stuff. S-T-I-L-L   NO C-H-A-N-G-E.... I cried when she told me that it could be another week, but she did want me to see a doctor for disease specialist (OMG) What is this lady not telling me??? So we go straight over to see that doctor, he checked me out and had this puzzled look on his face... I asked what was it? He then tells me with some frustration in his voice that he just didn't understand why my doctor would send me here because eh doesn't specialize in this sort of thing, that I needed to see a dermatologist. I was so angry and beyond mad that I called my mom and told her the entire story in between sobs.  She was infuriated as well, we were getting NO answers and they weren't really doing anything to help me out, not even one suggestion!!!

She called the dermatologist that her parents go to and I had an appointment that day like in 20 minutes and evidently that doesn't happen very often with dermatologist (like usually its a week or so wait) but thankfully they saw me.  She examined me and tells me that she feels strongly that it looks like..... PUPPP's rash!!! I was thrilled that she at least gave me some insight here! I asked her what I could do and she said pretty much as plainly as you can get "Have the baby", she says that the itching stops almost instantly once the baby is born. She tells us that she has never seen a case so severe.  She then gives me the best news all day.... That she would speak with my doctor and highly recommend that I be induced TOMORROW!!! I immediately started crying because I was so glad that I wouldn't have to endure this much longer.  She told me to go buy Noxzema face creme, the menthol in it would really reduce the itching, plus she gave me some samples to use of a different kind of menthol creme to use as well. On top of all that she gave me a steroid shot which would help with the itching. 

PUPPP is this Pruritic Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy I would rather not put pictures of myself on here but here are a few of what it looks like (mine were not this red and dark but they were more of a hot pink or light red)


Not me, but mine looked sort of like this (it looks like stretch marks but heals and you cant even tell)

This is not me and I had it more severly (ALL OVER)

I loaded up on the biggest bottle of Noxzema I could find and began to rub, rub, rub it ALL over me I smelled like a bottle of Vick's vapor rub but I loved it! I then had to go see my OB doctor. I was basically done talking to her but once she realized the severity she became a bit nicer and more patient with me.  She proceeds to tell me she sent me to the disease specialist to rule out Measles! She says she had never seen anything like what I had. I wanted to respond in a not so nice way "WELL YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME!!!" But I was over it and glad to have some sort of relief even if it was temporary. Then she gives me the second best news of that day.... I was to be at the hospital at 9 am to be admitted and then induced by 12!!! YESSSSSS! I was thrilled to death to hear this news.  Again I didn't sleep, of course it was more my nerves tonight than the itching (bc I had relief).

Tuesday morning came around and we loaded up (me, Kyle and Lydia) and headed to Gaston Memorial.... See my next blog for Birth Story Part 2!!!!

New Movies....

So, I think that the only ones who have read the books and followed the Saga in movies would understand the "Twilight Obsession" so many people have (including myself).  If you havent read any of the books, I highly recommend it, they are the best (unreal) love story you could get yourself sucked into.

Well, there is a new movie coming out in November and it is in 2 parts (which further excites me)!  But anyway the movie is Breaking Dawn, I am sure all of you at some point has heard of the movies/books. I just saw the official trailer and I am hooked all over again. I am so excited and ready to see this one, especially since its the 1st of the final movie/book.  It looks exciting, suspenseful, and lovey dovey too! I would not watch this movie before reading the books or at least watching the other movies. 

The books are insanely better than the movies because of details, details, details.... we all love those, right!! But if you arent a reader then watch the movies (although you dont get that same feel from them). I am obviously a book reader and I love reading books before watching the movies because 9 times out of 10 the book will be better and give you an all around better view (mentally) of the movie! So pick up the book and read away because you will get sucked in... that is a promise! All I can say is I will be dragging my almost 9 month pregnant self to the theaters on November 18 to see that movie, end of story!

Just incase you havent seen the trailer yet, I decided to add it on here... Just For You! :)

p.s. Yes, you have to watch it....

http://youtu.be/uycOpnYnd5g

Hannah's 1st Camping Trip!!!

Here is our camping trip (less than 2 full days) (because of our "illnesses") summed up in pictures! It was fun while we both felt well, but after that we were ready to come home for sure!!!

Yes this is our insane packing job.... supposed to be a weekend away...

Ready to get out of the car!

One was mine and one was Kyles.... HA! Yeah right! Lydia and Josh were our neighbors!

Going for a walk around Bass Lake

Me and my 2 girls!

Hannah loved to lead Reece around or rather it was the opposite!

I wish that I wasn't sick this trip I would have loved to get more pictures of the campground guess we will just have to make a trip back!