Going Great!

We've been home a week now, and I can't believe it! It's going really, really well. Merrill has so far, been a great baby! Emery has slept worse than her this week- she's got an allergic reaction to something and is up all night itching, but we can't figure out what its from!

I am feeling really good. I've ventured to the mall (only one store though), Target, and the post office. I'm ready to start getting out, but I do want to be so careful about getting Merrill out. I really wanted to go to the church holiday party on wednesday. I thought that if I put her in the sling she would be hidden from the crowd. But, I had SEVERAL people that talked me out of it!!! We're looking forward to lots of Christmas festivities these next few days! This is my favorite time of the year, and (sorry to be cheesey!) but having Merrill here this year makes it even better!


Attempts to get a christmas card picture....

Sweet Merrill- she's eating like a CHAMP, and sleeping great too! Can someone help me out here- how is she laying in this picture?

We've enjoyed handing toys to Merrill to play with. We are also wanting to share our chicken nuggets, suckers, and really anything else we eat!

Emery is still "taking" a passy some, and likes to play in the bassinet.

Holding baby sister

A big thanks to Kiki- she's been here all day, every day this week spoiling us rotten!

Coming home from the hospital in the dress Emery wore home and that I wore home.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

She's Here!!

Merrill Elizabeth Byerly is here!!!I had the best intentions of posting yesterday, but it just hasn't happened! The birth could not have been smoother- makes me look silly for being worried about it! Our baby girl weighed in at 6 lbs, 6 ounces, and was 19 inches long... she's so, so tiny!!! We are all doing great and feel so blessed to have our baby girl here! Thanks for checking on us and I'll post more pictures when I have time. We've taken so many...

Not so sure......

I think we like her!

Tomorrow, tomorrow....(to be sung to the tune of the Annie song)

I can't believe that tomorrow is the day! Merrill will be here in about 9 hours! And what am I doing? Blogging!! I know we should go to bed, and we will here in a second, but we have just finished up so last minute things- like packing a bag. How long have we known about this day?? We're very excited, but yet I'm very nervous about the surgery too! I hope that we can update from the hospital, so stay tuned!


Daddy had more fun at chucky-e-cheese than Emery did....
I bet Emery rode in the red car close to 15 times, but I couldn't seem to get her to smile for the camera!

My brother and sister are both in town so we have done lots of family stuff this week.

Emery has been in heaven!

Eating "tookies" with Aunt Laura- her favorite person these days!

Have we ever taken a passy? No!!! She knows something is up doesn't she!!

updated request

I wanted to update on something I had requested a few weeks ago. I had asked for you guys to pray for Lindsey Bush Mcrae's younger sister, Melanie. Melanie lost her battle with cancer this past Thursday. Please keep the Bush family in your prayers.

did you know?

if your child has a fever of 102.7 degrees, a hersey kiss will melt in her hand? I was taking Emery's temp and over the course of 5 minutes, it started melting and running down her hand! amazing... We've been healthy since we started the new breathing treatments three weeks ago, and yesterday we started the coughing thing again! It's been just fine though... we've gotten to watch movies together all day and both ate junk from McDonalds! (I will not disclose how many chicken nuggets I ate- I know so gross!)

I had another doctor's appointment today, and guess what? There is still NO activity! I'm so thankful for my doctor this time; she sees humor in this and it makes us both excited that there is an end in sight! (rather than waiting for my body like last time!)

two weeks, but who's counting?

So in 14 days (or less- just teasing) Merrill will be here! Most days I can't wait for it to get here and then other days, I start thinking, "Am I ready?" I decided that it was time for more pictures. Of course, after I saw them I wondered why I decided that, but anyway, here they are! Please excuse Emery- we had no nap today! The doctor reports that there is ZERO activity down there, so the chances of any earlier arrival date are really slim to none!

We're keeping busy doing normal pre-christmas things. I'm almost done with my shopping, and I spent a lot of time today wrapping things! Nana and Poppy came up last Friday, and they helped me get all of our christmas decorations out. We are going to get our tree this weekend! I just love this time of year!

Request

If you are reading this, stop for one minute and say a quick prayer...... Many of you that went to LU will remember Lindsey Bush, now Mcrae. I ran into Lindsey several days ago and she told me that her youngest sister was very sick with cancer. Please pray for peace and comfort for Melanie as well as for their whole family. I haven't been able to quit thinking about this. Lindsey and her sisters have been through so much!

a new favorite

I took a picture of Jim and Emery at the beach last summer. A girl at our church is trying to get a painting/sketching business going on the side. So, I gave her the picture to paint. I was so pleased how it turned out!

Elmo

Friday night we took Emery to see Elmo and the sesame street gang. Emery is really into music, as most children are! Jim and I had a really hard time not commenting on how cheesey it was! At the end of the show, Emery was crying reaching for the stage wanting more!

Her eyes were glued the whole time. They watered the whole night because she wouldn't blink!

I'm a firm believer in being able to laugh at yourself, so please go ahead and laugh! Both of our eyes look like they are about to pop out of our heads. I'm actually fussing at Jim because he never counts before taking the picture!

oops!

my apologies....I so did not mean to leave my whining up that long!

We got a new nephew/cousin last week! Little Cole was born last Thursday. Jim' brother sent this picture- Cole looks so cute and sweet! Congrats to Caitlyn and Cooper on being a big sister and big brother!

I had my doctor's appointment today and I start going every week now. I'm still amazed that it is already that time. Next week they will start "checking" me! I feel sure that there is no need to!

Those "silly pregnant" comments have started- such as "are you sure they are not 2 in there?" and another one...."you don't look as bad this time as you did last!" I just have to laugh about it...Merrill will be here soon, and nothing else will matter!

Emery still is getting sick every other week with a cold or breathing issues. We started her on some "preventative" breathing treatments this week. I'm hoping that will help her from getting as sick as she has been. I really want her to be healthy when Merrill gets here!

In case I don't get around to posting again..... I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know that our little family has more to be thankful for than we will ever realize!

Our Day!

I just want to whine for a minute, so please let me..... Do you ever have those days that you just have too much to do? Well today was one of them.

It started like this:

8:15 Wake up to my alarm after what feels like a sleepless night. This is really my first time this pregnancy! (I know I'm very lucky- I have to set my alarm because my child sleeps really late!) Get Emery ready for MDO and myself ready

9:30 drop Emery off at mother's day out

10:00 go to work to pick some things up and realize that I forgot socks and after only an hour in my shoes, I have blisters (I do some tax work from home, but when Em's at mdo, I most of the time go into the office) Load my car with work to do at home.

12:00 Eat at chili's with the girls from work for a mini baby shower. My mom meets us there. We have a very nice time!

1:30 Rush over to my boss's house in green hills and open up really sweet gifts and eat cake.

2:30 pick Emery up from mdo

2:35 go to jewelry/purse show with my mom and Emery

4:00 arrive back home

4:15 play with dogs-they have been really neglected lately

4:30 take a shower

5:11-5:31 lay on bed and watch tv with Emery.

5:32 decide I must get ready for a birthday party in Bellevue at 6

5:45 Leave the house with wet hair. I forgot what rush hour is like and will not make it to the party on time!

6:10 Already late for party.... Decide the timing would be perfect to hit the guy's car in front of me! I'm in shock so, I decide to not get out of my car. I let the man that I hit assess the damage. He started looking at me so I decided to get out of the car. Somehow, someway, there is no damage to his car. So we don't call the police. But, honestly I haven't even looked at my car yet. I guess my bumper is still there?? The sweet man is more concerned about me and my big belly. We trade numbers, just in case he notices something in daylight. I get back in the car and continue on to the party. Emery keeps saying, "we hit that man!" Lovely..... I'm thinking, "please don't tell your father!"

6:25 arrive at party and let myself in while they are praying!! If you know me, this is not my style at all.

8:00 leave party

9:00 laying in bed with Emery. Really ready for her to fall asleep so I can crawl in bed... then, I hear it.... mommy, "Prayer?" I had been so consumed about this day that I forgot one of our favorite bedtime rituals.... How come Emery is so young, but yet she's constantly reminding me of things!

It really wasn't a bad day, just really busy! I don't like being that busy....Tomorrow will be better and slower! Oh yeah, if you read this, please don't tell Jim about the "fender bender." I will when I'm ready! ha,ha

Since its already November and I'm late posting-I won't do all the Halloween, pumpkin patch, fall festival pictures.But, someone gave me this picture tonight of Emery from Trunk or Treat. I didn't want anyone to think we didn't let our child ever have any fun! ha,ha

We're Back!

We're back from CA, and we had a great time! I've meant to post pictures for several days now, but I've been in somewhat of a blog rut! The shopping was really good out there- it was a shame that I'm big pregnant! Luke Perry sat 2 rows up from me on the way there- I just knew that we would see all kinds of stars, but the only other person we saw was Florence Henderson. If you don't know her name, let me say- Carol Brady!


This was taken the night we got home. Nana sent her these boots, and let me say we love them! If you are offended by the bare bottom- sorry! I think that little bottoms are so cute!
My sweet husband had my house spotless and painted Emery's room and most of the furniture! Of course, the house is once again trashed! I just can't keep it up!

Family photo-We drove to San Deigo one day to go the zoo. I just realized that I'm pretty much sitting on the silver polar bear. Let's just say that its a really big and hilly zoo- we were all tired! On the way there we could see where the fires had burned in that area. These were the fires that were started by someone. So sad!

Emery and her new best friend- Uncle David!

The signature Hollywood photo, but I just had to post it! You'll have to zoom in to see it well. We also drove around and saw some star's houses- Madonna, Paris, Nickolas Cage, and Tom Cruises. There were a few more, but those are the ones I remember.

Not sure if you can see it, but there is smoke in this pictures where the fires were in Malibu. It was about 20 miles away or so, I think!

Not sure why I posted this one.... This was the playground right outside of Laura and David's apartment. Emery enjoyed it as long as no one else came to play.

Emery and Mommy at the beach. I didn't pack swimsuits- partly forgot and then partly thought it would be too cold! It wasn't at all though- We hit the 90's three days. The water was freezing though!

At the beach in our panties- can we say redneck!

Swinging with Pop at the beach

Here "we" are at 31 weeks! Emery just had to have her picture taken too! Sorry for the poor background- we were literally running out the door. We could have chosen something other than our little old lady neighbor's house as the backdrop though! Better next time!

Circus

If you live in Nashville and get a change, check out the cirus at Municpal auditorium. It was called the Shrine Circus- we weren't sure what that means, but they put on a very impressive show! I won't bore you with lots of pictures!


Emery's eyes were glued the whole time!

These 3 elephants could do some really cool things!

The Plan

Well, here's the pregnancy plan. I got a call today from the nurse; the c-section is scheduled for December 12th! That is 8 weeks from today. I added a ticker. This is really just for me! I feel like I can finally start an official countdown. (Oh, and I'm just 31 weeks, they are taking me at 39) I think that there will be enough activity around here between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas parties that hopefully these last weeks will go really fast!In a way though, I'm okay with them going slow- I love being with just Emery too! Some pregnant women might say- you could always go early!! My response is this, "I won't!" So, we are getting really excited around here about Merrill's arrival! I've already started doing my Christmas shopping, and each day I'm realizing how "type A" I really am! I think I'm about to drive Jim crazy!


Emery and I are headed to California this Saturday with my parents to visit my sister and her husband! We are all very excited-especially Emery! I think she thinks we're moving there! Jim is staying here to finish closing down the Nashville division of Plymart! And yes, you read that correctly. After 6 months of operations- they are closing the doors! The company is based in Atlanta, and is going through hard times. They closed I think it was 4 other locations at the same time! So he'll be here while Emery and I are away having fun! (This was the plan even before the whole job thing- I don't want anyone to think I'm horrible!) Doesn't it seem like that is always what Daddy's do! It will give him time to job search as well as paint Emery's new room!! But, please pray that a job will come soon!


I will TRY to remember to get Jim to take a belly shot tonight! I've meant to for what- 7 months now! I told myself to do better with this pregnancy. The first shot I got of the belly with Emery was delivery day!

Why is that so fun?

I don't think that I have ever posted about our other babies- Duke and Daisy! Emery is just getting big enough to hold her own with them. She now tells them, "careful with emmy!" and "don't hurt me!" Jim and I have told them that since the day we brought Emery home.

We go outside most every day and throw the tennis ball with them. Emery watches for a while and then sneaks over to their water bowl. We always go outside right before bath time because I know that she will get filthy! I never, never would have thought I would let my dainty little girl play like this!

What to do, What to do

I found this rug at PBK for $69.99! It's a 5x8 and regularly priced for more than triple that! I'm so excited about the deal, I just can't decide if I like the rug! Does it seem a bit grown up? It will go in Emery's big girl room. I'm having trouble because it is so different than what I had pictured. We had already picked out the fabrics we are using for bedding and it all matches except for the blue in the rug. I just don't know....... I'm going to paint the wall and then try to decide. I'll post pictures of the room once its done! The pictures may or may not include the rug!

A fun morning

We're up really early for Byerlys so I thought why not update? Here's a play by play of the last hour.

First, Emery wakes up screaming for a waffle around 4:30 in between coughing. If you know Emery at all, food is NEVER on her mind! So I knew something was up. I crawled into bed with her and immediately noticed she was breathing funny again! She's been sick all weekend with the same "stuff" as a few weeks ago. So I say to her, "Lets go do panda" (panda is our nebulizer) and she says okay! So as we are walking out of her room, I feel her torso "pump"- I know no other way to describe this! So, I take a few steps and I feel something very warm go all down my back! She threw up! Where did this come from? So I rip my favorite sleep shirt off and set her in the bathroom. I forgo putting her in the bath because lucky her- she has not a drop on her! I clean that up pretty fast and then need to find a rubberband to pull what WAS my clean hair back into a ponytail. I'm thinking I will shower after I get Emery better. On the way to our bedroom, I have to pass through our office. I stepped on the rug and felt it was wet! So I turned a light on and the rug and floor were saturated with water. Water from where? Up from the bottom of the house? Still not sure. So feeling a little sorry for myself, I walk into our room and decide I probably should wake Jim. He's been such a help- we are all running on little sleep because Emery's been sick! I forgot that I hadn't put on a new shirt! I'm kind of still laughing at Jim could have thought at first when he looked at me!! He cleans up the water in the office and then I convince him to go back to sleep. We can deal with where the water came from in daylight! It's always funny to me that things seem to happen all at once. And no, I'm not saying that any of this is a big deal!

I got Emery comfortable, and we are now sitting in the recliner watching the wiggles and sipping a diet coke! Things are MUCH better now! Of course, I haven't had my shower yet, but I'm enjoying the uneventfulness for now!

For all of you that have baby #2, I'm trying to figure out how this morning would have worked if there was another baby that needed some attention. I know that it all works out, but that seems very overwhelming right now!

I'll post some pictures in a little while!

The Big Comfy Couch - Ten Second Tidy

I'm not sure how many of your kids like the show "Big Comfy Couch" on PBS, but its a favorite around here! It's pretty cheesey, but it has always bothered me how they are teaching little ones to clean up!

Do I really look like a clown?

I'm thinking I should be mad at my closest friends.... Do my cheeks always look as RED as they do in the picture below of me and Emery! I'm hoping that my cheeks were just flushed from running around getting ready. If not, then I wear entirely too much blush and NO ONE has ever told me! Shame on all of you! ha,ha

I can't look at this picture any more, so here's one just for a laugh!

Just a quick post to say that the past day and a half, I've felt so thankful! Emery's been sick, but when you compare that to what others are going through or have gone through.... it pales in comparison! I've been checking the Farley's blog constantly, and I don't even know them! Pray for them and read their story! http://conorbootheandgirls.blogspot.com

Emery started having some breathing issues on Monday. We dealt with this some last year, so I didn't panic. We tried three breathing treatments at home and the breathing seemed to only get worse. This resulted in an ER visit with another treatment, steroids, (I think this is the key!), and some x-rays. After what seemed like hours of observation, we were able to go home shortly after midnight. We left with an inhaler to keep in my purse, and a prescription for more steriods.

I slept with Emery on Monday night. Of course I'm pretty tired these days, but I couldn't sleep. It wasn't because her breathing was that bad (not that it was normal) but because I just feel so lucky that she's ours and that she is healthy. At one point she was resting leaning against my tummy. I could feel Merrill moving inside I and just got teary because I'm so thankful that God has given me my baby girl, and Lord willing another one soon, and a wonderful husband!

Now, to move on to a lighter note... Emery on steroids!!! Watch out to all her friends! The above picture was taken last night before we TRIED to go to a dinner. Please note that there is no bow. And, that's really important to me! (ha,ha) It wasn't worth the fight. If you could see her feet you would notice there are no shoes either. I did win that one though! I'm trying to be really patient because I know that her medicine makes her feel really anxious and aggitated.

Six Flags and Swollen Ankles

We headed to Altanta again this weekend for another whirlwind trip! Jim's company picnic was at Six Flags. We headed down on Friday afternoon and stayed in a hotel with some of Jim's co workers and their families. Unfortunately, Emery didn't sleep at all that night! She woke up the next morning with a cold and we're pretty sure her tummy was hurting too. I think we saw every hour during the night except for 5 a.m.! So, we started off Saturday pretty grumpy.

I am just not myself these days... 5 hours on my feet didn't do much for me at all! My feet started swelling and of course I couldn't quit freaking about it! I didn't swell much with Emery just because I was pregnant different months I guess. I should have taken a picture.... That would have been a great one for the blog!

We stayed with Nana and Poppy saturday night and enjoyed a great Georgia/Alabama game! It was a fast trip, but fun!

Riding on the cars

A rare thing with Emery- she's cheesing it for the camera!

Emery was crying before the swing ride even started! She cried the whole time.... It killed me!

This was a very dinky ride, so I decided to ride with Emery. I will say that its really hard to wait in lines with a 2 year old!