Bradley Elves!

Check out the link: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1311004640

"Yea, though I walk throught the valley of barfness..."

Ok, so I'm sure y'all think I've fallen off the face of the Earth, right? Well almost! It all started at the last Ya-Ya meeting (about 3 wks ago) when my eye starting hurting as if I was getting a stye..."no big deal"...well, 2 days later my eye was so swollen that it was 50% closed, I had bruising almost mid-way to my nose and my vision was blurry! Oh yeah, not to mention the left side of my face was numb. So, we loaded up and headed to the doc. Turns out is was a BAD stye (it was like 3 small ones clustered together) and had to put "goop" in my eye to clear it up.

Just as I started to "re-gain" my sight, Carson decided to bring home the "Gatlinburg Plague"...! Chasing Rabbit: For those who don't know, that's what we named the stomach bug b/c in 2001 we took a trip to Gatlinburg with 13 people and 7 of them ended up with it--I do believe Matt Willis started off with it...

Anyways, so Carson began this lovely sickness on a Friday night. Brad and I thought it was "something he ate" until I went to check on him before going to bed and he was asleep (in his Lighting McQueen tent--he gets on these kicks where he likes to "camp") and he was covered in vomit. So, I bathed him, dried his hair and started my night of trials and tribulation! Between catching vomit and feeding Selah, I didn't get to bed until 7:30am. Carson woke up feeling like a champ and went about his merry lil' day.

So, I just KNEW I was going to get it, but didn't...or so I thought. Well, Sunday evening, Selah took her usual nap from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, woke up, ate, and went back to sleep--UNTIL 6AM!!!!! Ok, so again, I didn't really sleep because I was totally confused about Selah suddenly sleeping through the night. Little did I know, she was resting up for the Vomit Fest on Monday...I called in "support troops", aka-Austin, to get Carson out of the house so I could tend to Selah (I had to give her pedialyte every 10-15 minutes for 8 hours, but I couldn't hardly keep her awake). At one point, Austin calls me to tell me Carson about 4 foot off the slide (face first) at the park and wanted to know what I wanted her to do...I'm the type of mom that if there's no blood/bones protruding then there's no major concern. So, they stayed at the park (he had a good strawberry on his cheek and still has a small bruise from it...it won't be his last).

So, Selah seems to be doing better by Monday afternoon. Austin called me Tuesday morning to let me know she'd been throwing up all night and Todd has now forbid her to be my "support troop" when it comes to sickness, and I'm sure Austin wasn't thinking pleasant thoughts of me either...

Everything's getting better, right? HA! Wednesday we 3 woke up--Carson his normal question-asking self, Selah--happy to have someone hold her, and me--exhausted and tired, but alive...or so I thought. The funny thing about newborns is you never know what to expect with them when they're sick--I think I'd rather be in a field of cows wearing all red, tooting a loud horn, and have 20 loaves of bread around my neck (yes, our cows are hand-fed, sometimes) than have a vomit-throwing 8 wk old! She continued to throw up and SCREAM uncontrollably so we went to the doc to make sure everything was ok. Everything was...except for Mom!

I started to feel worse and worse as the day went on, so I stayed home from choir practice, and THANK GOD I did because my vomit party began about 6pm. Yet again, I called in "support troop", MeMom (Brad's mom) to rescue Carson and Selah AND to protect me from CSF being called for "child abandonment" (of course, I'm being dramatic by saying that b/c I couldn't hold my head up much less take care of 2 kids). Julie called me Thursday to let me know she was now in the "loop" of toilet-talking...oh laud!

All in all, we survived, my eye is better and I prayed against Brad getting the Gburg Plague, and Thank God, he didn't! So, needless to say, I haven't had the "free" time to post any updated stuff, but DO plan on getting Halloween pics done before Christmas!

Tis the season for sharing, right? :)

Pumpkin Carving

Carson carved his pumpkin the other night (10/24)--wait, I mean BRAD AND I carved a pumpkin...lol. Carson "directed" us. Brad got all the goop out because we all know MY child doesn't like goopy stuff on his hands (need I remind you of the "trauma" of his 1st birthday and the cake on his hands?). Don't let him fool you though...anything dry (ie-sand, dirt, rocks) he's ok with, but sticky goop is a no-go. Hi-Power (Brad's grandmother) picked up a stencil kit and pumpkin light that changes colors. Carson decided he wanted the cat stencil. He mainly just wanted to play with the carving stuff. Selah did was she does best during the day--sleep.

Check out this pic of Carson and I--normal, right? Look again--is Selah swinging at WARP speed or what! Hmmmm...maybe THIS is why she spits up so much?

C.A.O.S. Fall for All

Brad, Carson and I went to the CAOS (Central Alabama Offroad Society) Fall for All Oct 20-21st up at Gray Rock in Gardendale. We had a great time ridin', but Carson slept through most of that. What can I say, he is my child. (when Brad and I were dating and just started "jeepin," I could literally sleep while we rock-crawled) Brad and I camped out Saturday night while Carson stayed at Nanny and Pops--it was WAAAAYYYY too cold for him to be in a tent. It was BEYOND dusty and you couldn't avoid it, but we still had a great time.

Brad was in the Driver's Competition on Sunday and I picked Carson up from Nanny and Pops so he could see all the crazy driving. It was a zig-zag course and pretty tough! Brad had great run times, and finished out in 2nd place for the 2nd year in a row--he loves consistency in his life...this was the only pic that I got where you could see him good enough...

Brad and Carson showing off the "flex" on a trail called "Bump and Grind". These pics really don't do the incline justice because these boulders are bigger than you think!

Carson's "Dirt Goggles"

100% ALL BOY in the dirt!

Brad's 32nd Birthday

So, the "geezer" has another one to put under his belt! LOL...at least I'll always be younger than him. But, doesn't that saying go, "age before beauty"?

Proud grandparents, "Poppy and Mimi" (my father and stepmother)

This is Grandmother Grace (Brad's maternal grandmother) and Hi-Power (Brad's paternal grandmother)

I think the only reason Carson likes Hi-Power is because she "sneaks" him powdered donuts (she's the one that lives in the other side of our "two home duplex").

I wish Mary Grace (Brad's sister) was in this pic--that would've made it 4 generations....

I love the fact Selah's "smiling" with her MeMom, Julie (Brad's mom)--but it may have just been some gas...;)

Playdate at Graham, Isabelle, and Owen's (GIO) Home

* From left to right: Isabelle, 2 yrs (holding Selah, 6 wks); Owen, 6 months; Graham and Carson (both 3 yrs old)*

We had a great time at Jenn Willis' home with ALL 5 kids there! Girl, you GOT to get some rugs on those hardwoods to absorb all that NOISE! lol...

Graham is 5 weeks younger than Carson (we just died laughing looking at the size difference b/tw the boys...Carson better play football--for Auburn, that is)

*Yes, Brad has pictures just like this and he actually makes a pretty girl!*

Car For Sale!!!

'04 Gold Honda Accord

Great condition

One owner/Garage kept

less than 60,000 miles

Yes, "Pimp Momma" wheels included!

$15,500




*Come on, y'all! Someone's GOT to know someone who needs a car! I've got to have a SUV with all these "chillrenz" and their "luggage" (not to mention Wal-Mart stock just went up 300 points because of our formula and diaper-buyer power and I can no longer fit my bi-monthly Wal-Mart run in this car!).



Call 901-2108 for more info!

His Father's Child

Carson "jacked up" his 4-wheeler to work on it...can you guess what Dad does in his "spare" time? ;)

Just pure "Suga"!

So, the "new Queen" tried to pull the wool over my eyes with her 2 hour incremental sleeping pattern (granted, during the day she holds strong two 3 hr nap sessions). Since I haven't slept in 6 weeks (oh, you THINK I'm kidding....), I finally got enough wits about me to where I started to process WHY she's constantly screaming and making more noises than "a truckstop on Chili Night." Sure, I knew she would most likely be "colicy" like Carson, but I didn't expect it to be this bad--or is it that God blessed me with the ability to block out the 1st 6 wks of Carson's life? Hmmmm...After spending 6 hours at Children's Hospital's lovely ER facility (about 3 wks ago), I took her off breastmilk because I was taking an anti-inflammatory for my ear (my ENT AND OB told me it was fine to breastfeed on this medicine). She had projectile vomited about 4 times in 24 hours (odd talent for a 3 wks old), and the nurse told me to take her to Children's. The Peds ER doc referenced the medicine I was on, and "sho 'nuff," I'm NOT supposed to breastfeed on it.

Well, I continued to pump to keep my milk supply up, and she started on formula. Lo and behold, the cow went dry (I breastfed Carson for 4 wks and I wonder if my body "remembered" and just quit producing???) so we stayed on the formula. She was still extemely gassy, inconsolable and just not a happy baby. We began the process of "formula hopping" and I thought she was doing ok on the Enfamil Gentlease (for gassiness and spit-up). Then I noticed the "baby acne" on her face got worse and was around her ears and neck. UREAKA--it all started making sense: the Gentlease is a milk-based formula; Carson had a dairy allergy. Needless to say, I changed her to the "Golden Powder" (perfect code name because of price) Nutrimegin, called Dr. Smith and got a Zantac script and VOILA! New baby! (If any of you REALLY care about us, you'll buy as much Arbonne as you can so I can feed my child...lol.) Literally, within 2 days she was sleeping soundly (at least 1-4hr stretch and then every 2 hours at night) and doesn't seem to be in any "pain" after she eats. Too bad she hasn't pooped any GOLD to reimburse us for feeding her...I'm sure my dad finds that funny considering how much I ate when I was at home for 21 years...lol. I think I paid him well with 2 grandkids! ;) Althought when we found out it was a girl this time, he just smiled and said, "you haven't paid for you raisin' YET (referring to Carson being the 'angel')." Hey, I worked HARD to make that man bald AND grey-headed...!

A Boy and his Toys

...if you ever wondered why I don't pick up after Carson every day...I really think he thinks it's a game for me to pick up his toys (SOMETIMES he helps) and he pulls them ALL back out again--as if it's Christmas morning...lol...oh, the things we do for love, or rather, out of love :)!

1st Bath

So, we had a family "moment" and all 4 of us were in our TINY "master bath" for Selah's 1st bath. She seemed to really enjoy it! Brad videoed while I bathed her and Carson tried in every way to take attention away from her...lol. He even announced (on tape, thank God) that, "we need to put her back in my belly and get rid of her..." Brad and I just died! It was soooo funny! I simply responded that there are no refunds on babies and she's too big now to go back in my belly. Oh, out of the mouth of babes! :)

*Yes, I am in the tub fully clothed...No, there is no water in it...and just in case you felt like "chasing another rabbit," ALL of us would be in here if a tornado came thru! LOL...*

*Sweet Daddy and his gal...she can be in the middle of pitching a fit and all it takes is Daddy picking her up to console her...nothing better than a "bonifide Brad Bradley hug" to soothe ya! ;) Hmmmm, now if I could just convince him to get up with her through the night...? When Brad comes into the room talking, Selah gets really still and will do everything in her power to turn in his direction. In my opinion, he's always had that effect on women--I'm just the one that fell for it or should I say caught him first!*

"Tub 'o Lard" Bradley

*2 weeks old in this pic doing what she does best*

So, this child is going to have her momma's build! :) We went to the doc for her 3 wk check up--10 lbs and 20 1/4". This puts her in the 95% for weight and 50% for height. I told her that we'd have to get her on a good exercise program b/c she's going to be "short and stocky". For now she's just "plump and precious..."
She's still getting up every 2 hours at night. She'll sleep from around 10:30pm to 1:30am or 2am and then it's about every 2 hours...so, delirium has set in for me at this point and I wonder if I'll ever be normal again...wait--is ANYONE normal after kids?

Enjoy the pics!

*about 5 days old*

*This is Grammy and Grumps (great grandparents)*

*A day at Nanny and Pops (2 wks old)*

*"Trouble #1 (Cody) and Trouble #2*

They're "2nd cousins" and 5 months apart! Cody's older. Steph (Cody's mom) and I are 5 months apart, and I'm the older one. I'll never forget when Steph was coming in town for her baby shower and I called her to see how she knew she was pregnant. She didn't catch on as to why I was asking, and after I spelled it out to her, she graciously came in town early and "held me up" while I went to the doc for blood test (this all coincides with Carson, not Selah). Then she even got a pic of Brad's reaction when I told him why I had been sooooo tired! :) **Did you chase that rabbit ok? Random FYI moment**

*These precious feet "pained" me up until she got out!*

We're Home

We've been home from the hospital since Monday (or was it Tuesday) the 11th, and the adjustments have begun! Selah's not sleeping much at night, but great during the day. She's up about every 2 hours, which means Mom gets sleep in 45 minute increments...so, that's why I haven't posted lately! THANK GOD FOR BRAD BRADLEY!!! Wow. He's been VERY supportive and helpful with EVERYTHING going on with this huge transition. It's TOTALLY different with 2 kids now (of course), but I definetely didn't and couldn't anticipate how tough it would be. At least I have the BEST husband in the world! He's off for 2 weeks and has been entertaining his "new best friend", Carson while Selah and I are still in "survival mode." I'll definetely post a pic of him doing housework because that doesn't ever happen! The 1st time I saw him folding laundry, I thought I was going to fall out! Miracles DO happen every day! :)

Carson, on the other hand, is a different story! He was all excited about being a big brother in the hospital, but I don't think he realized what we meant by "we are coming home." The 1st few days were the worst when he would cover her face with the blanket, squish beside her and lay on her, and fun "brotherly love" like that. Then he broke my heart--he told me one night that he liked my clothes, but didn't like or love me anymore. I know it seems silly, but I was so hurt. Yes, I know he's 3 and he doesn't know how to totally express his feelings yet, but it still stung. I tried not to take it personally, but with all these HORMONES, the wind can blow the wrong way and I cry! :)

Carson will start Mom's Day Out 3 days a week next week when Brad goes back to work and I think that will help him. That'll give me a chance to get some sleep and get into some type of "normalcy."

Feel free to call and visit us! Selah is just precious and it's nice to have visitors every once in a while. Just try to give us a days notice and we'd love to have ya! The house is still not finished (still waiting on the nursery furniture to be completed), but shame on anyone who comes to see how clean my house is! I'd hope you'd learned by now that our home isn't dirty--it's lived in! :)

*One Proud Pops!*

*Karate chop--Ya!*

Selah Hart Bradley

Well, imagine that! I FINALLY gave birth! Selah was born on September 8th at 8:43 am. She was 8 lbs and 20" long! She definetely had her momma's thighs and fat cheeks. We jokingly said that because of her "thick jowels," she couldn't open her eyes for 3 days! :) She has a head full of blonde hair, but it looks to have a little bit of red in it--to match her firery personality! It all started about 1:15am on Saturday morning with contractions and we got to the hospital about 3:30am. I was already 3-4cm and was doing ok, but went ahead and got some "Nuvein" to take the edge off. We got to 5cm and I was game for the epidural. *Ladies who are expecting: not that I'm telling you how your labor should/will go, but if your water hasn't broken on its own and doc has to do it, I recommend the epidural before that takes place! I didn't do this with Carson and I DO remember the pain intensifying at that point! Just a friendly word of advice...anyways, so Dr. Freeman broke my water after the epidural and about an hour 1/2 later I was ready for the finale! 10 minutes of pushing and TA DA--she's here! At one point the doc told me I was pushing too hard, which I found ironic because I couldn't tell how hard I was pushing--I couldn't feel a thing (thank God!). The comedy of all this hard pushing is that I didn't eat a "heavy" breakfast because I got sick with Carson and I didn't want to be sick this time around...well, my Nutrigrain bar wore off QUICK, and needless to say, there's nothing grouchier than a woman in labor AND hungry! So, no matter what I said to the nurses, they wouldn't let me eat (Ladies who are expecting--take note!!!). Brad lost his mind at one point and came in with food for himself...so I "lovingly" asked him to eat it in the hallway, which he graciously did. Needless to say, since I am passionate about my food/meals, I was bound and determined to hurry up and get that baby out of me so I could EAT! :)

*This is the shape that "Nuvein" will put you in!*

*Check out those cheeks!!!*