it seems everyone is taking a break f/blogging!

As you can see, it has once again been months since i last shared anything with the world.

Life in the Greeson household has been crazy busy, hectic, awful, wonderful, stressful and most of all amazing.  The children keep me on my toes.  

Elizabeth has completed driver's education and will be 16 next month. She is impatiently looking forward to that right of passage that every young teenager does.  While sitting at the kitchen table doing her homework last night, she felt the need to remind us that her birthday was only a few weeks away. LIKE WE COULD FORGET! :)
She is almost half way through her sophomore year of high school and has a boyfriend that she adores.  Life is becoming a lot more social for her.  She has also applied for a job at a local restaurant.  We are hopeful for her, but have reminded her of the amount of free time she'll be losing should she accept a position once it's offered.  We'll have to wait and see how that turns out.

Jacob has been attending preschool now for a little over a month and loves it.  He goes two days a week, this year.  I didn't want to overwhelm him with school and schedule at such a young age.  He has had a few days he didn't want to go to school.  But most days he really enjoys going to something all on his own.  He's doing quite well for this new chapter of his life and seems to be soaking up the new things he's being taught.  

Ayden is 15 months old now and is walking and climbing all over the place.  Since becoming more mobile, he's found himself in a tad bit of trouble.  Curiosity is sometimes a double edged sword for such a little guy.  

He continues to make us all smile though and keeps up with his much older sister and his big brother quite well.  He's growing and changing so much every day.  Ayden is very much his own little person and brings great joy to us.
Bryan and I long for the day when we can get out on a date.  We haven't managed to sneak away since our annivesary!!!!! That was in January.  We are so busy with work and raising the boys that we look forward to the boys' bedtime.  Well really, it's our time to wind down and take some moments to discuss things that need taken care of or relax before we collapse in bed.  We enjoy that quiet time so much since we don't get out on our own.  Maybe someday..................
Anyway, hopefully it won't be another year before I post again.  Life has been busy, but we'll be back.  Stay tuned.

Summer, Turning 30, Raising 2 boys and Surviving on 4 hours sleep!!!!

Well, I'm back after 3 months away again! I'm soo not good at this. Seems like every time I think about getting on the computer in the evening, someone is yelling or crying for Mommy! Sigh!!!

Ayden made his entrance on 7/2 after 45 minutes of a painful surgery for me. He weighed a whopping 9lbs and was 21" long. We spent our fourth of July holiday in the hospital, but Jake got to see fireworks anyway. He spent the weekend with his grandparents and had a nice time with family.

Since we've been home, I've learned a few things such as; no two child is alike. Even though you hear this a million times and know it, there is something profound about the realization. I've also learned I'm not nearly as patient as I should be. Having two kids needing you soo much can wear you down! But I'm learning how to balance my time and precious energy for my sweet babies.

We haven't been able to get out and do much since I was off work and therefore didn't have the extra cash, but I've also learned there is NOTHING like bringing a baby into the house to see the love our family has for each other! Especially the two boys-

They are the apple of my eye for sure. I thought loving one child was all my heart could hold, but as the old saying goes, "there's always room for more". We have fun, but I spend the wee hours taking care of business. I am learning just how different the two boys are when Ayden gets me up at 3:30 to eat. By the time I went back to work when Jake was a baby, he was sleeping thru the night! Not the case with tiny man... Difference between the two is one is a formula baby and the other is a breastmilk baby. I'm learning more every day.... :)

I'm also back to work now so my long days are filled with wishing I could be home with the boys and not missing out on their every move. Then once we are all safe in the nest each evening I have my chores too! Taking care of my family as well as working outside the home at times feels like it takes super power! Haha.

I also turned 30 this summer..... I was dreading it at first and I think mostly because there was a fear I had about leaving behind my twenties. I get called Ma'am all the time but now it was real..... I'm as my husband puts it, "OLD"... I'm enjoying my "dirty 30's" so far.... We'll see how the rest of the year pan's out. My life is pretty full right now.

Suprise, Suprise!

I did make it back before Ayden arrived! Only a month since my last post! Not to shabby for me........ Go me! :) LOL

Ahhhh, only 4 more days until Ayden arrives via c-section. We've had some pretty busy days around here in preperation for his arrival. I feel like I've been on the go constantly since my last post.

May 22, was my baby shower, Then the 26th Elizabeth graduated 8th grade.

After Elizabeth's graduation, was memorial day weekend. We enjoyed some much needed time away on a mini-vacation in TN! Doctor cleared me to go since i was right on the bubble, but said to do nothing too strenuous unless I wanted Ayden to have a TN birth certificate. We had a nice time w/ the family and friends and Jake got to go tubing for the first time! He loved it.

Here we are into June and I've been seeing the doctor every week now..... Had an ultrasound on the 9th and found out Ayden weighed approx 7lbs 13oz. And he was breech. I had already scheduled my c-section for 7/2 since I figured he would be as big as his older brother was.

Went back 6/16 and after almost 2 hrs at the doctor's office they decided to send me over to the hospital to check in and be monitored. I had been hooked up to the NST machine and was having regular timeable contractions, but after 4 hrs of being hooked up to the machine between the dr's office and the hospital, I hadn't dialated any further and the contractions had stopped. That day was just a fiasko- Bryan picked Jake up late f/the sitter b/c he got stuck in traffic, the day before we had just got our new phones so trying to use them to communicate proved interesting. Bry had to take Jake to my in-laws and then go home and shower f/working and then pack a bag for me. I think him packing the bag for me proved to be as stressful for him as my being in the hospital was for me. I was unprepared and all by myself! Both icky feelings!
But the good news was that Ayden had turned and if I want to try for a v-back when the time comes to have him I can!

Went to my last doctor's appointment last week and am releived I don't have to mess with arranging those anymore. They pretty much just said, you haven't dialated any further so we'll see you next week unless you go into labor.

So now here we are..... Waiting! Everything is all set for everything and everyone to be in place when the times comes. Hopefully this little miracle will arrive according to plan now that we are so close.
I'm excited to see his sweet little face and hold him and share him with so many that share in our excitement, but I'm REALLY glad that I'll be done with this pregnancy. I'm tired! Just plain tired of it. Feels like It has gone on forever.

Anyway, hopefully it won't be too much longer before I get back to post again! Watch for updates and photo's on facebook! :)

BFN!

UPDATE

Almost 3 months later- LOL! I'm ashamed I haven't been better at this blogging thing. I love to talk and to write- ask my husband, he'll tell you I never shut up! LOL

Well, we've had a swirl of activity going on in our house lately. From my last blog, Bryan was still anxiously waiting to hear about work and Jake just had his 2nd birthday.
Elizabeth was wrapped up in after school sports and I was holding onto everyone's shirt tails enjoying the ride we call motherhood!

Bryan went back to work at the end of March and has worked steadily since! THANK YOU LORD! And he didn't have to go to Canada to do it! Another huge weight lifted!
With that blessing came some adjustment as well- his first two weeks back were on the night shift- which meant SERIOUSLY long hours for me... I worked and took Jake to an at home daycare lady that I've grown to love, and then pick him up and come home to fix dinner and do evening chores (laundry, dishes, bath time, etc) and collapse in bed. Bryan has been on days since that first couple of weeks which made me super greatful and appreciative that I have a husband to help out and am not a single parent!

Elizabeth just graduated 8th grade last night from Holy Name Catholic School! She is officially a freshman (fresh meat) at Roncalli beginning in August! A whole new world is opening up for her. She certainly is growing up before our very eyes and becoming quite the young lady. We couldn't be more proud.

As for the bun - I have been calling him Ayden and it's stuck! So Ayden Keith Greeson it is!
Everything is progressing as it should and he should be here in a few short weeks. He's providing lots of excitement and curiosity in his big brother already.... I am nervous about how Jake will do once he's here to stay but we'll deal. Right now Jake is getting a kick out of Ayden's movements and will give a hearty belly laugh and pull his hand away fast when he feels little brother move. A heartwarming experience for sure!

Jake is 2 and full of excitement and wonder! He's learning new things and surprising us every day. He has adjusted nicely to his new routine of going to the sitter and does very well with all the other children he has to share his time with. Sally (his sitter) says he's advanced (in some ways) beyond some of her soon to be kindergartener's with his knowledge... I'm proud of him.
He's all boy but my sweet angel too.

Well, that's all for now- maybe I'll get to write again before Ayden adds to our chaos!
:)

I know I know- I went awol again

I have been terrible at keeping a little something on this page...... I apologize. I must say again, I'm not very good at this.

Since my last post (last May) a lot has happened... My husband is still looking for work. We are hopeful that he'll get that call soon. There are a couple of irons in the fire but we are patiently waiting for God to work and show us his plan! I know he has one!!!!!

Let's see, in October we did conceive again and are well under way to warming baby #2 in the oven... Should be fully cooked by 4th of July. :) We are going to have another boy. The name debate is funny around our house- I've decided and fallen in love w/ the name Ayden Keith. But I guess we'll have to wait and see what we actually write on the birth certificate.

Jacob, my firstborn just turned 2 yesterday and is non stop with his verbal and non verbal skills. He is the epitomy of a what every mother dreams of and what she dreads all in one. He is a pure joy one minute and the devil's advocate the next. He is amazing to watch when he's being his charming self. He is very smart- sometimes too smart. But my joy nonetheless.

Our daughter Elizabeth has had us going full tilt with her after school activities and the life of a teenager is never dull. She is currently wrapping up a volleyball season and will start kickball in a few weeks...... Once that short stint is over, she will have summer softball. She definately keeps us going. But we are greatful that she is doing healthy activities and not getting into trouble.

As for me, I am blessed to have a good job that allows me to provide for our family and isn't to terribly demanding. I am working full time and working @ home full time to help our home run smoothly. Running errands, going to doctor appointments, dropping off Elizabeth at her latest activity and chasing Jake down. By the end of the day, I'm pretty pooped but I'm happy to do it for my family.

Well, that's all I have for now- I will try, TRY to post some pictures, but I won't promise.
Catch me on facebook for those if I don't get them up here.

work or not to work and single parenthood

Well it's May 29th and I've had a busy few weeks...... thus why I haven't written in awhile. Plus I'm terrible at it. LOL

Since my last post, I've had a lot going on. At the beginning of May I got a call from my husband while at work asking if I could work from home so he could go to work!!! Yep, finally he was going back to work. It was only temporary- 2 weeks worth. Enough to get our insurance back.

While that was going on, the company who laid my hubby off to begin with was buzzing about hiring him back - what a wonderful thing! Or was it? Long story and the only way thru it is to tell you the whole story. My husband and his brother and his dad all work for the same company just in different facets.
My brother in law is working on this job in Ohio and the job he is in charge of is ramping up June 1st- he and the designer on the job were working their magic to try to get my hubby back to work. However the went around the labor superintendant who doesn't particulary care for my hubby. In turn, since he went around him Bryan got left out of going to Ohio early. Inconvient for us, but Bryan was still working for the other guy.

Ok, working for the other guy-
Happened to be on the night shift. No fun for me. While I was exstatic that Bryan was back to work, which made a wonderful flip in his personality and gave our marriage a repreave from the stress we've been under; I was feeling more and more like a single struggling parent every day. He was working nights and by the time I made my hour round trip commute to and from work every day picking up my son from my girlfriends house I was wiped out.
I would come home and throw in a load of laundry, get Jake's bag packed for the next day, get myself ready for work- I had to get up at 4:45 to get myself ready to leave by 6..........
And so far we still don't have our insurance yet...... Hopefully we'll have that very soon. Jake has a follow up appointment with his pediatrician in 3 weeks and I'll need my perscription if ............
If....... the pregnancy test I take in the morning comes back negative.

Yep I said pregnancy test. I'm not sure - and I want to make sure. I'm scared to death of the answer- given everything I've written above I think you understand why.
Under different circumstances I would be hopeful and elated for a positive answer. However, I'm terrified that the answer will be positive and we'll be adding more stress to our already very stressful, under paid, no work, no insurance (yet) lives.

Ok, so now that we've caught up to today, we've been pretty stressed around here! Bryan FINALLY got paid for the work he did 2 weeks ago. Which by the way, he kinda regrets...... Yes the money is more than unemployment but he just now got the money and is out of work again. And in the mean time while waiting for money that's "in the mail" and unable to collect unemployment we've been worried about how we are gonna pay for anything, no money was coming and no idea where it was going to come from aside from my paycheck.
So, Monday is June first- and we don't know for sure if they'll call him back and even if they do it will be 2 weeks before he get's a first check. However, on the flip side, at least going to this Ohio gig wil be very lucrative for us.

Pray for us as we deal with our woes and worries and help us give it to God who is in complete control.


To be continued.................

Extension of unspeakable gifts

My dear friend wrote a blog about God's wonderful care and unspeakable gift that has been given to her family.
Well I wanted to share some good news that my family has been given.
Even though it will be short lived (about 2 weeks) Bryan will be going back to work tomorrow! I wanted to jump for joy when he called me at work today. The man he worked for at the beginning of last year when he was laid off called and said he had 2 weeks worth of work for him. Probably nothing more than that, but the unspeakable gift is that with him putting in 80 hours, our health insurance will be reinstated. Because my hubby has been out of work since last November he had to work at least 80 hours before 4/1 in our to keep our insurance active. Well, at that time there just wasn't ANYTHING. So we have gone w/o insurance b/c we couldn't afford to add mine and be stuck paying for it until an open enrollment opportunity would allow to get out of it. That's usually only once a year. Anyway, we decided to go w/o the insurance and just pray that we would not need to go to the doctor for anything.
Well what a blessing we have been given. Our insurance will be re-instated because of this work. And seeing Bryan's demeanor just totally change today was like seeing the first flower bloom in springtime! He was just soo excited to go back to work. Please pray that there will be an opportunity to a permant position for my hubby. Good things come to those who wait- I believe that! I just hope that it's not just temporary.

Oh another note- Bryan also found an opening in Anchorage Alaska- nothing too serious, but it's in the field that he's been working in for the past 10 years. I don't want to go to Alaska, that would mean soo many things would have to work out and fall into place for us. But, I'm willing if that's all there is.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Dayna