The girl I once was

We have a 8x10 of this bridal picture on our wall in our bedroom. It was actually taken 5 years ago this week. I’ve been looking at it a lot lately thinking about the girl I was in that picture. Like every engaged girl ,I was excited to be married and live happily ever after. I told everyone how wonderful and perfect Steve was and how lucky I was to be marrying him. They told me “just give it a few months and you won’t think he’s so perfect anymore”. I imagined us and our 6 children and how wonderful everything would be. I knew we would have trials, but I had no idea just how difficult they would be. In a way, I look at that picture and think “naïve”. I had no idea what I was really getting myself into and what kind of trials I would have. I thought that Steve was wonderful and perfect, but I had no idea just how wonderful and perfect he really was. Oh, and all those people who said thatI would find out otherwise after a few months or a year were WRONG! I had no idea that he would be there for me and risk flunking out of dental school because he is such a great husband and father. I had no idea that he would hold my hair out of my face as I vomited and love me even when I have been too weak to shower for 6 days and had not done my hair, makeup, and had the worst case of vomit-breath ever.

Having been married to Steve for nearly 5 years now, I have no doubt in my mind that I did marry the best man out there and that we will be happy together no matter what comes our way. The girl in the bridal picture was very naive, but also very lucky.

OUR REDNECK LIFE......

We already had a very red-neck swing hanging in our tree in our backyard, but now we have a hammock to go with it. Steve put it up and we enjoyed laying/playing in it. Kiera thinks it is another swing so she's a fan. The pictures look even more redneck when you notice our garbage can in the background and the rope strung throughout the tree. Oh well, I guess our backyard isn't as neat looking as the Jones'.

There's more of me to love......

it's official: I'm a clunky chunky monkey. I saw my doctor today and found out I've gained 15 pounds in two weeks. Yes, that was the goal, but no-- I don't want it to continue. I guess that is what happens when I can eat just fine and am also getting fed by a feeding tube. Anyway, I'm hoping my dietitian sees fit to slow down my feedings a bit or Steve might be married to an elephant by the end of this pregnancy!

What's the dill?

For the past 2 nights getting Kiera to eat dinner has been a struggle. We eat as a family and I try to give her options of things to eat that I think she will like. She is a strange little lady though and won't eat things that a person would think she would love (fries, fruits, waffles, PB&J sandwiches), 2 nights ago she refused to everything but was flipping out trying to get to something on the table. Finally we figured out what she wanted: carrots. The problem: she only has 5 teeth. But then we figured out that it wasn't the carrots she wanted, but the dill dip that we were dipping them in. So, that is basically what she had for dinner: the dill dip she sucked of the carrots. Then, last night we had bbq hamburgers and fries along with fruit. She wanted nothing to do with any of them. Steve put a dill pickle in her mouth to see what she would do. She LOVED it at proceeded to eat pickles for dinner. Hmmm.... dill dip and then dill pickles. Maybe I'll sprinkle dill on all of her food.

Steve's spring break is ending.....no!!!!!

We have been enjoying having Steve around since he has been on spring break (between semesters) all week. Most of our friends are off traveling or doing something cool, but we stayed home and caught up on life. Poor Steve has spent his break doing yard work, taxes, and helping me with my aquiring of food storage. We have managed to have a bit of fun though. Steve and I enjoyed trying to show Kiera how to be excited about putting Easter eggs in a basket, we also took her to Victoria Gardens twice and let her play in the water fountains which she LOVED. And I have been enjoying my recreational-eating. We've gone out to eat a few times. I've enjoyed eating things that I normally wouldn't--- but hey, if they want me to gain weight I can help out right?.......ice cream, Cheetos, chocolate, sour straws.....yes I'm rubbing it in for all of you who are on diets. I'll think of you as I put a little extra butter on my homemade rolls today.

EATING AND LOVIN' IT

I CAN EAT!!!! YES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CAMBRIE IS NOW CAPABLE OF EATING FOOD.
I'm starting of small, and I still definately need my feeding tube for now, but I've joined the eating-people-of-the-world club and it's great to be a member again. I must say that nobody enjoyed their lunch today as much as I did-- I went to Soup Plantation (a favorite resturant) and they charged me the child price since I showed them my feeding tube and promised I didn't eat much. It was wonderful. Food tasted a little bland at first, but my sense of taste is returning. I'm just counting my blessings right now.

Blankie Quest: Success!!!

Kiera has a favorite pink silky blanket that we got as a gift when she was born. She has developed quite an attachment to it and can't sleep without it. This of course is a problem when she vomits on it and it takes 45 minutes to get it washed and dried. So, I've been looking for a back up blankie to buy but have had a really hard time finding the same exact one. I took Kiera to Babies R Us yesterday and found one that was similar (but definitely different) and decided to gamble and buy it. When we got out to the car I unwrapped it from it's tags and ribbons and gave it to her. Success!!!! She loves it! Now I'm just worried that one of these days she'll discover that there are 2 and will need BOTH to make her happy.

Tummy trouble

On Friday I was scheduled to have my feeding tube changed. Prior to the procedure the nurse was questioning me about my demographics and health history (which she was writing down in the chart). Twice I casually mentioned the fact that I'm pregnant and she didn't seem to pay attention or care so I mentioned it a 3rd time. "You're pregnant?!! Oh my gosh-- good thing you told me!" and she wrote it in all caps on the front of the chart. I had 4 1/2 hours to wait for my procedure (since they were running a "little" behind. In that time I decided to write the fact that I have a baby in my abdomen. Hey, they make people who are having their knees operated on write "yes" on the correct knee to remind the doctor, so why not? Better safe than sorry-- especially knowing that that nurse was going to be the one overseeing me while I was unconscious.

Husband of the year award: Steven Nelson

Steve has finals next week. He told me on friday "It's important that I study a lot this weekend". Well, not only did he spend his entire day with me at the hospital friday for my little operation, but he took be back to the hospital at 3am on saturday, picked me up at 5:30 am, took me back and stayed with me from 10-11am and then back again from 12pm to 5pm. He spent the entire day attending to my medical needs and arranging care for Kiera (or caring for her himself). He got very little studying done. I'm praying that the Lord will see fit to bless him for being such a wonderful husband and father.

Kiera update

Tired of hearing about my latest health status? Well, you're in luck. In this blog entry I will spare you. I'm beginning to feel like one of those geriatric people who can't talk about anything but their health.

I've been worried about Kiera getting behind in her language development lately. Especially while being passed from sitter to sitter while I was in the hospital, and then me not being able to talk to her much when I did get home due to my saliva issues. But she is finally popping out a few small words (maybe 10 or so). Her favorite word is still da-da as her daddy is her favorite person. She get's so excited when daddy comes home and immediately asks "ball?" because she wants to go outside and play basketball with him. We are both excited for finals to be over in a week and a half so we can have more time to play with daddy.

My list of things I'm grateful for.

1. The fact that I have health insurance (I did NOT have it when we got pregnant, we signed up for it the day we found out we were pregnant which was 2 days before the deadline).
2. The wonderful doctors at Loma Linda who were willing to try something that they'd never done before on a pregnant woman (a feeding tube).
3. My feeding tube! It is literally my life-saver!
4. My supportive husband who is SOOOOO sweet to me despite the fact that I smell like puke, don't cook, and am not very attractive lately.
5. My cute little Kiera who is a constant reminder of what I'm working towards.
6. The wonderful support that I have from family and friends. I'm AMAZED at what people are willing to do for me. People keep giving and giving and I keep on taking and taking. Thank you so much everyone. Give me a few months and I'll be able to start on making it up to everyone

Venting........

A while ago I signed up to get emails from "pregnancy weekly" just as a way of keeping track of my baby's develpment. (it's fun to know when the baby has fingernails and eyelashes and when they can suck their thumb). Well I got the most obnoxious email from them yesterday.

Hi cambrie,welcome to your second trimester! This is a time to celebrate! the next 11 weeks should be easier than these last few months. Your body has adjusted to full baby-growing mode so many of the unpleasant symptoms will subside and, while you are beginning to look pregnant, you are not too big to be uncomfortable yet. cambrie, hopefully your morning sickness and fatigue have passed and you are feeling healthy and energetic. People may begin telling you that you look great and have that "pregnancy glow." ....

Pregnancy glow????!!!!!!! I could vent for 2 or 3 paragraphs, but I'm sure you all can guess what I'd say so I'll refrain. These emails better cease being obnoxious or I"m going to unsubscribe pronto. I hope all those fluffy pregnant women out there enjoy their glow......forgive me while I go puke.

Not much of a Shocker

Well, she's back in the hospital...again. Her feeding tube got clogged and not because of the picture above. Here we asked her if she wanted any food and this was her reaction. Anyway, Sunday morning they need to reinsert another tube, which means sedation and hospitalization all over again for who knows how long. Cambrie's mom went home today and it's back to survival of the fittest mode.

Nothing too exciting to report around here. I'd just thought I'd add something in case ya'll are wondering (it saves steve from having to tell everyone individually on the phone which takes alot of his time).

I'm still sick but doing a lot better than before. I only vomit a few times per day, but I'm still REALLY weak. I'm getting fed through a tube in my stomach 24/7 and then I'm attached to an IV pole for 15 hours a day to get hydration. Also, anyone who has seen me and tried to talk to me knows that I've got a hyper-salivation thing going on. The trouble with it is that I can't swallow my saliva (since it makes me puke) and I can't spit it out (since it dehydrates me) so I end up holding it in my mouth which makes talking very difficult. Poor little Kiera thinks mommy is so dull!!!

My mom is here helping until the end of this week and after that time I think I'll need some help, but not nearly as much as before. Everyone has been so wonderful to offer help---- and trust me, if/when I need help I'll call. I do plan on paying someone to care for Kiera on a consistant basis though since she was starting to have a really hard time being passed around so much.

Anyway, that's my life. 2 more days and I'm done with the first trimester!!!

GUESS WHO'S HOME!!!

2 days shy of being hospitalized for a whole month and 7 months to go! Yes, I'm hooked up to all these tubes and that is my trusty blue companion to my left. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of you that have taken care of my sweet little princess and for those who fed my starving husband. If any of you wanted to come over and visit, mornings are best for me. Kind of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I'm somewhat o.k. in the mornings but don't do so hot in the afternoons and through the night. It's kind of interesting trying to chase Kiera around when you're stuck to an IV pole though.

Positive News

Cambrie's had plenty of complications related to the operations that she's just 2 days ago. Overall though, she said if she could feel this good every day, she'd be happy to take it. She only threw up five times today, which is like having to only run five miles out of a whole marathon (sign me up!)

Tentative plan is to discharge her this Monday from the hospital. Next Thursday would be a complete month of hospitalization fun all cooped-up like in the same room, staring at the same wall and puke bowl, and counting down till September...to put it in a guy's perspective--that's not until the next football season!!!