Has it really been 3 years since the last update? Wow..

So, here we are three years later. A LOT has happened in those three years. We now live in Kansas and in that time frame, we welcomed Avelynne into this world. She's about to be 2! Maddoxx just celebrated his third birthday about two months ago. The kids are doing great! They're adventurous, curious, and always into things! They keep us busy.
We have a nice little house in a quiet town, a good distance from post. We now have not one, but three dogs... all of  which are a big part of the family. Chance has come a long way in his career and he just keeps going. We are enjoying life and all the little things it brings our way.
Next Spring/Summer, we are continuing on in our journey. Duty calls us to Ft. Benning, GA. It hasn't quite sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will when the time gets closer.

 Here are some pictures!

Our big 3 year old!! Maddoxx!

He's learning new things EVERY day.

He is full of laughter and love.

He can say his ABC's and count to 15. 

He loves Cars, Planes and Trains.

He's a great big brother!

 

Maddoxx's Second Birthday.
Last Halloween & Last Year's Fair.

Our sweet little princess, Avelynne... Better known as Avi.

She's almost TWO.

Boy, do we have our hands full with her.

She's tough, hysterical and so soft hearted.

She makes us laugh like no one else can.

She is into EVERYTHING.

She's a sassy little spitfire. 

She's learning new words, daily.

She can count to 3... (maybe because she hears it so often)

 

  Last Halloween, Little Lady Bug.

 First Birthday, Minnie Mouse.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures of our little family. I'll try to keep on the posting....!

Maddoxx Chance McCollum

Arrived one month ago today. Man how time flies! He was born Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:13 PM. He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and 19.5 inches long.

I went to the doctors on June 21st, expecting to set up a date to be induced. Little did I know I was going to be induced that night. We went to the hospital at 9 PM and started the process. They started me on the lowest dose of Pitocin possible and upped it once an hour for the first few hours. Eventually they began upping it every half an hour and then every 15 minutes. I held out on the epidural until about 7:00 AM. The doctor broke my water around 7:30 AM. By 9:45 AM I was at 5 CM and by 10:15 AM I had finally reached 10 CM. At 11 I was given the OK to begin pushing and by 12:13 PM our beautiful little boy entered the world.

On the way out, he swallowed several CC's of Amniotic Fluid. Right away they sucked out about 20 cc's but that wasn't enough. He aspirated and had to be taken away. He was put on oxygen and an IV. We didn't get to hold him for the first 24 hours. It was really hard on both Chance and I. Eventually his breathing began to get better and he was able to start nursing. Each time he nursed, they lowered the amount of fluid he received through the IV until he was off. We spent 3 nights in the hospital and were released Saturday afternoon.

He is such a wonderful baby, I couldn't be happier. He has such a big personality already!!


Here are some pictures from his first month :o)

Are We There Yet..?

Here we are welcoming week 37! Only 3 Weeks to go... Boy, how time flies!

If you haven't yet delivered, you've reached the calm before the storm. You're probably monitoring your body for those first Early Labor symptoms and wondering what you've forgotten.
Your smooshed-up baby is weighing in at around 6.3 lbs and 19 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls).
As far as their internal organs go, your adorable poop and blood factory has reached "term" - a medical term that means your sweet little bun is birth-ready and labor is welcome and normal at this point.
Despite being physically ready to land on planet Earth, your baby's immune system is quite weak and will continue to be that way for their first years of life.

~length                   ~weight
19 in | 48 cm           6.3 lbs | 2.8 kg

 

 

Everything at the Doctor's looked great today! He had a heart rate of 150 BPM, he is a very active little guy! 

I am looking forward to meeting him, I hope he is just like his daddy :)

 

How far along?: 36 Weeks 6 Days

Total Weight Gain?: 20 Pounds

 

Gender?: BOY

Maternity Clothes: Maternity Pants/Shirts, Sweats, Dresses

Stretch Marks?: Unfortunately...

Sleep?: During the day, not at night!!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks here and there

Best Moment of the Week?: He's been VERY active over the last few days! He doesn't hold still for more than about 30 minutes at a time

Movement?: Never-ending

 

Food Craving?: Cherry Limeade, Nutter Butters, Kettle Corn

 

Food aversions: Pork, Meat!

Belly Button?: It's about to pop!... YUCK

What I miss?: NOT having heartburn! Being able to do everything for myself. Being able to see my feet!! Being able to go up and down the stairs and still have my breath!!

What I'm looking forward to: Labor and Delivery so I can meet our son! :)

 

 

 

I cannot believe how wonderful and supportive Chance has been through this whole pregnancy! I am so fortunate to have him as my husband/life partner. I couldn't do it without him by my side! He will be such an amazing father!!

Today is Chance's birthday, he's 22 today! Man, he's getting old ;) I wish we had something fun planned, but we don't. I guess that's what happens as ya get older! At least we'll get to spend the evening together. We really don't get enough time with each other anymore.

 

34 Weeks Down!! 6 to go!

Today marks the 34th week! I had a Doctor appointment today and everything looks great, he is measuring spot on!! He had a heart rate of 145... Not his usual 150, but close! He kicks the doppler every time, without fail!

Your amazing baby is on the move!
Until now, your wee womb-squatter's been living fairly high up in your poor stretched-out womb - blithely compressing your poor lungs and internal organs.
This week your baby's going to pack their tiny bags and make the "big" move to your pelvis - commonly referred to as the time when your baby "drops".
If you haven’t noticed it already, you’ll be feeling the weight shift indicating your baby is most likely out of breech position (if they're being stubborn, check out 17 Ways To Turn a Breech Baby) with their head now resting on your pubic bone.
When baby drops this may also give you some horrific stabbing back pain as they press on your sciatic nerve.
If that's the case, get off your feet and try to do some spine-lengthening stretches to help your baby move OFF that poor throbbing nerve.
In developing internal-organ news: although not quite fully formed, your little poop-factory's liver is now capable of processing a certain amount of waste.
Because your baby's liver is not quite birth-ready, it's common for newborns to get a case of mild and harmless jaundice (signaled by a slight yellowing of the skin).
Jaundice is the result of your baby's body producing more bilirubin (a by-product of blood production) than the liver can currently breakdown, leading to a subtle yellow tinge that goes away in a few days.
Babies born earlier than their due date tend to have moderate to severe jaundice, which - in the hospital, will be treated via light therapy to help their body break the bilirubin down.
For home-birthers, jaundice is easily dealt with by increased breastfeeding (to help their body pass the bilirubin) and "naked time" for baby in a warm sunlit area for 10 minute intervals throughout the day until it disappears.

Trip to Tombstone

Over the weekend, Chance and I made the short drive to Tombstone, Arizona. It was a neat place to see because it holds so much history. I think Chance would like to go back someday, without a pregnant wife.. So he can see more and enjoy it a little more!

This is the Million Dollar Slope

These are a few pictures from the reptile exhibit at Tombstone. I didn't realize how many different Rattle Snakes there are!!