Welcome Brayden Lee!

Wow! I can't believe I am posting another birth experience.  I love being pregnant, and already miss Brayden being in my womb.  I seem to always have some kind of drama with delivering my miracles. 

We checked into the hospital at 3 PM on August 30.  We started all the cervix softening drugs.  The first drug took 4 hours and then the following drug had to be in for 12 hours.  So, we were there for the LONG haul.  Luckily, the staff at TMC is so incredible and were great. 

At 8:00 on August 31 my doctor came by.  I had made some progress, and we were going to start Pitocin an hour after he broke my water. At 9:30 we started the Pitocin.  Like the medication is suppose to do, the contractions started coming.  Around 11 I asked for the epidural.  Unfortunately, it didn't take.  So, I had to have TWO epidurals.  By the time they came in to redo my epidural I was in SERIOUS pain.  Once we got the epidural to work, I was good.  We still had a ways to go.  My nurse Alison was AMAZING!  She kept coming in to help get Brayden to make his entrance.  She kept moving me into different positions to help me dilate.  Just like I did with Brantley I stalled out.  This time I stalled at a 5.  My doctor came in around 6, and he was concerned that the baby may be bigger than the ultrasounds had shown.  He feared that this may be why I was not progressing.  We reviewed my previous delivery, and he told me I could go have a csection now, or wait 2 hours.  At the end of the 2 hours I had to have a csection if I didn't progress.  I asked to discuss this with my nurse and husband.  My nurse is a friend for many years, and of course my husband needed to have a say.  I REALLY didn't want a csection.    We all agreed that we should wait 2 hours, and see what happens.  The doctor came in and we told him our choice, and he left around 6:30.  At 6:45 Alison came in to introduce the nurse coming in because Alison's shift was ending.  They decided to check me, and believe it or not I was a 10.  I was completely ready to have the baby.  They called the doctor, and he came back to the hospital.  When he came in he said he had just sat down at home to review my ultrasound.  Once we were all set up it kept taking FOREVER to have contractions to push.  We were having full blown conversation waiting for my contractions.  LOL!  Once the contractions kicked back in; we only had to push about 5 to 6 times, and he was here.  Brayden Lee Rice made his entrance on Monday, August 31st at 7:26 PM.  He was 7 pounds 3 ounces and 21 inches long.  A true bragging point is my baby was a PERFECT 10 on his Apgar test.  We have it on video as proof.  I had resident doctors they kept having to talk through everything.  They explained how rare a 10 is.  He was/is perfect. 

This delivery went so much smoother after the baby was born than my first.  Within two hours I was out of bed, showering and moving to a post pardon room.  With my first delivery I had to stay in bed for 24 hours because I was on my magnesium drip.  No drip this time.  So smooth!

Brayden nursed like a champ, and had no blood sugar problems.  Brantley didn't get to meet him until the next day because he was already getting ready for bed.

So, now the next day B got to meet Bray.

 He was so excited to meet his brother!

 Family of Four!

Everything kept going well, and we came home on Wednesday around noon.  We are thrilled to have Brayden in our family, and are so lucky to be his parents.

 Our favorite baby nurse Dee.  She was also a nurse for Trent when he was a litter boy!  Small world!  She was incredible1

 Going home!

At home in my crib!

Awesome Husband and Baby #2 Update

So, I know I make it no secret how much I love my husband, but I have so many good reasons. We have had a lot thrown at us in the last two weeks, and like always I'm stressing and he is so supportive and helpful! I look at a problem like it is an impossible task, and there he is saying we can do this together! He always supports me when I least expect it. The good lord truly knew what he was doing having us cross paths 15 years ago!

Ok, now onto baby number 2. He STILL has NO name! We went to the doctor yesterday and had another Sonogram. The baby weighs 3 pounds. He looks great. He is definitely a he for those who were still wondering. We have so much to get done to get ready for his arrival. We are currently on bi weekly appointments; his arrival is getting so close.

Hopefully we will come up with a name very soon!

Back to Blogging

Well, it has been a SUPER long time since I have blogged. I blame that on the fact that I really no longer use my laptop. So, I'm trying this from my phone. I feel so guilty that Baby #2 doesn't have any blog entries.

This pregnancy was a total surprise. We were taking a break! Brantley is thrilled to be a big brother. I am currently 26 weeks. I go for my blood glucose test tomorrow morning. Always fun! My blood pressure has been good so far. I have horrible hip pain and PUPPS. PUPPS  is a pregnancy rash. Lots of fun. Other than that this pregnancy has been going well.

Now if only we had a name for this little guy! #babynoname

Summer Recap

Well, sadly my summer is over today.  I technically don't go back to work until Monday the 19th, but I have a workshop in Garland tomorrow and appointments Friday.  So, therefore, today was my last day home with my Brantley.  I have a long list of cleaning activities I want finished before I leave the house in the morning.  I am not sure it will happen because I decided to ENJOY Brantley on my last day home with him.  My goal was to clean, and then while I was mopping the house it dawned on me that this is my LAST day, and it is cooler than normal....GO TO THE PARK!!!!!  So, that is what we did.  I am SO glad we did this.  It was SOOO much fun!  We had the park to ourselves, and Brantley had a blast!  Then we went to get a snowcone!  What a wonderful end to a fantastic summer!!!

The last time I blogged I mentioned we had not taken Brantley on the boat, but during our camping vacation we took him out on the boat!  HE LOVED IT!!!  I am mad that I forgot my phone or a camera to take pictures.

What did we do with our summer....LOTS of playing!

I think I am a stunt driver, don't worry this one doesn't work.

My men at our friends wedding!  HANDSOME!!!!

Family picture!

His FAVORITE thing...COOKIES!

Play doe fun!

I got messy at lunch with BBQ, and I gave Momma the mean mug face because she said I needed a bath!

Well.....

Well....I haven't done well with my blog!  I truly love blogging, but now that I have my tablet I forget to blog.  It is so much easier to type my long blogs on the laptop that, now I hardly use.  I need to really try harder because it is great for writing down our memories, and great stress re leaf for myself.

Today Brantley went to Chuck E Cheese.  He had a BLAST!  He loved running around with the big kids.  He liked the basketball game the best.  Trent would shoot and B and I threw....LOL.

Finally is is SUMMER!!!!!  I know the people not in the world of education thinks that we shouldn't have a summer break, and I won't get into that here.  It sure is nice to have more time with my Brantley, but don't think I haven't been working on school stuff too.

So far Brantley has been taking swim lesson.  He LOVES lessons and his Mrs. Kulbeth AKA Kulbee.  I have also been taking him to the library once a week to check out new library books.  He seems to enjoy this because he LOVES to read!  I just wish I had more friends for him, and things to do to keep us both entertained.  If you have any ideas and suggestions please let me know.  There is a wildlife museum here in Sherman, and it is free for kids.  I think one day Brantley and I might have to check it out.

Brantley does love the pool, and we have spent a lot of time in the water.  We are anxious to take him out on our boat, but haven't done that yet.  He played at the lake yesterday at a family friends wedding.  Apparently he was the life of the party, as always.  My son loves to dance and has started snapping.  It is so cute.

My sister is in town, and I think she is amazed at how smart he is.  He is growing so fast, and is SO STINKING FUNNY!!!!

So, I am sure you are tired of hearing me do nothing but brag.  I will post some cute pictures now.

Swim Lessons with Mrs. Kulbeth AKA Kulbee

First day of swim lessons

Chuck E Cheese time

I love balloons!  

3 Years Married To My BEST Friend!

So, I really can't believe it that I have been married to my BEST friend for 3 years.  We have been together for 12 (almost 13) and have had some ups and downs.  They only made our love stronger.

We have now been parents for over a year, and watching my husband be a father has made me fall in love with Trent in a whole new way.  I thought after so many years that I could find a NEW love for my amazing husband, but I have.  I watch him with Brantley and I know that there isn't a better father for my child then Trent.  I knew I was marrying an amazing man, but watching him become a father has been one of the best experiences of my life.  When we were in the hospital having Brantley our favorite baby nurse wrote us a card.  In that card she talked about how much she loved that we did everything as a team.  She said she hadn't seen a set of parents work so well as a team.  I didn't really think this was a big deal.  I really thought that is how all married couples did things.  I was reminded by our babysitter that not all couples have that opportunity.  She and I were talking the other day and her boyfriend works crazy schedules, and this isn't possible for them as much as they wish it was.  It reminded me that we are lucky that we have this luxury to be a team, and that I have such a wonderful husband that WANTS to be a team.  Some families have this luxury and don't utilize teamwork.  Trent is always taking care of us, and I am so very blessed.

Last year for our Anniversary, we spent the night and morning in the ER with Brantley.  I was quickly reminded why I married this incredible man.  He knew just how to keep my calm and to help me from freaking out.  I love my boys so much!

My love for Trenton continues to grow.  I feel more attached to him everyday.  I joke with him all the time that the song "Better Dig Two" is my motto!  HA!  I truly wish there were words to describe the intense feeling I have inside.  I used to think (when I was a lot younger) that it was so dumb to say "The Love Of My Life" because how do you know that person is the only love you will have in your life.  No one ever knows when they will or could lose their spouse, and does that mean that you will never love again just because someone died?  I now can say that Trent is the love of my life, and if something were to happen we will address that then! I hope all of my ladies have or will meet a man that will make them feel so very special and loved.  I hope all the men out there treat their woman like the queen they are.

This week has been difficult for so many reasons, work, family, bombings and explosions.  Driving home today I listened to one of my Keith Urban CD's and listened to a song that describes just how Trenton makes my world so much better in the middle of what seems like a very trying time.

When the sun is hard to find

When it's raining in your eyes

When the shadows block those pretty little blue skies living inside you

When the falling of your tears, makes a candle disappear

When you just can't see the light

Baby, I'll find a way to shine

I'll find a way to shine

So, three years ago today, I married my best friend.  We haven't looked back and we are working so hard to make all of our tomorrows better than today!

My Happily Ever After!

Miss The Rice Family?????

Well, I hope we have been missed since it has been a long time since I have blogged.  I miss blogging, but things have been so crazy around here.

Our Brantley started walking on February 15, 2013.  It was SOOOO awesome.  We went to see our old baby sitter Mrs. Melany and we were letting the kids play.  He all of a sudden crawled to Melany and then walked to me.  We kept trying to get him to do it more, and when everyone was cheering for him he started hamming it up! LOL!  He is such an attention hog, always showing off, but when you are as cute as him....how could you not?!?!

Today was a CRAZY day at work, and one of my very good friends son was showing his pigs at the county show today, Loy Lake.  I didn't think I would get to go see Noah show, but I got a text from Michael and he said Noah was going to show in 45 minutes.  Brantley and I went out there, and 45 minutes came and went. We waited for over an hour, looking at all of the animals.  Brantley LOVED it!  After waiting though for over an hour Brantley was ready to come home and go to bed.  I am sad we didn't get to see Noah show his pigs.  We love you Noah, and are so very proud of you.  It was so fun to see my old stomping grounds, and made me so sad because I miss it SO much!  I called Daddy when I left the show, and talked to him all about it.  It was like old times for sure!  

More about Brantley!  He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to dance!  He is always dancing.  He heard music tonight at the show, and was dancing like crazy.  Everyone stops to stare at him!  Over Spring Break I had to pick up Mom from the hospital in Dallas, we went to eat at Blue Goose (one of my fav's for sure!) and Brantley had to dance like crazy.  Sorry for the bad video quality, but too cute!

He also loves being outside.  If he could live outside I am sure he would be the happiest boy alive.  He just runs around and plays in the dirt.  

Another video of my dancing boy, and I will try to blog more often!