Still in shock

Yup, that is what you are looking at. Pregnancy tests... POSITIVE pregnancy tests! I really did not believe it when I took the first one so I had to take another to be 'positive'. That was not so easy because I completely emptied my bladder and it took me at least another hour to be able to pee again. It was a very long hour although I really thought it would come out negative. So, other than that there is no significance of two tests. I guess my body was just ready. After everything I've (we've) been through I didn't think it would happen so easily. We weren't planning on trying until my next cycle. I guess that's what gives me hope that this pregnancy will be successful. Anything we plan for never, ever turns out. Seriously. Things we don't plan for end up being the best things of our lives i.e. Mikey, our marriage (Hospital ceremony), Marshfield. So, maybe that's what we needed was for this to happen completely on its own. Anyhow, I'm very early so let's all keep our fingers crossed.

Unfortunately, we've been hit with this nasty cold/flu bug that seems to be hitting everyone I know in every State. Mikey started feeling yucky last Friday evening and he's just now feeling better, getting his strength and appetite back. I was really hoping that the prenatal vitamins and Emergen-C packets I've been downing daily would protect me. Not so much! I was really sick Monday and I've just started feeling better today. Now I'm trying to get everything in the house clean and free from germs. Not a fun task. After being sick all week there hasn't been much cleaning going on so now I'm playing dust bunny catch up.

On one more positive note, the temperatures are rising just ever so slightly outside. The snow is beginning to melt! I can hear the melting snow dripping off the roof and it's such a beautiful sound. The sun is shining and despite being sick for a week we are pretty darn happy right now. Happy weekend everyone!

Daddy aka: jungle gym?

How many more ways can you climb on your Daddy?

This is Mikey's absolute favorite... "ride back, please Daddy" is what we hear ALL the time.

I think it's really cute and so does Daddy... for the first 10 minutes or so that is.

Oh deer....

These beautiful creatures have been gracing us with their presence almost daily. This is the first time I've seen them in the middle of the day. I about jumped right out of my shoes when I walked in the kitchen and caught something move out of the corner of me eye. I was home alone and it's such a rare thing that I must admit I get a little jumpy at the slightest sound. Anyhow, we both (at first it was just the one doe) just froze and quietly stared at each other. I must admit for as (briefly) frightened as I was I didn't want to scare her off. I know I shouldn't think this way. In the spring I'm not going to want her hanging around munching on my garden I'm planning for that very spot. Yet in the spring there will be lots of fresh green grass and other wild plants and shrubs that she won't need to come and empty my bird feeder (nonetheless eat my garden). Right? Right. In the meantime it's freaking cold here and the deer are running out of things to eat. I can't help but feel bad for them. My lovely neighbor summed it up best when she said she was going to start calling me Cinderella from now on. I always feel bad for the creatures and critters. Yes, even when they can be destructive. I know I will have to take measures in the spring to keep these girls out of my garden. For now, they can stop by anytime they like for a snack or two. I will say it again, aren't they beautiful?

No turning back

I guess I can now say I'm officially potty training Mikey. I am not going back... we can (scratch that) HE can do this! I am not using diapers anymore. That is if you don't count the pull-up he is getting at nap and to sleep in at night. When he woke up this morning ALL the diapers were gone. I had removed them all last night after I put him to sleep. Mikey so desperately wanted his diaper when he woke this morning. He looked in every single place a diaper has ever been in our home. I have to admit a part of me wanted to cave and give my little guy his diaper. He looked like he really needed it. Alas, I didn't and he (and I) survived. We had a two accidents this morning and then he got the hang of it.

We are not leaving the house this weekend. It's crash course potty training. Each time he goes potty we all get potty treats (he loves this part best). Of course he cried when he wanted more and I told him that to get more he had use the potty. So, we went to the fridge and got out juice boxes (his favorite) so he could make more pee. This I think made it OK. That is my plan. Lots of yummy drinks, sweet chocolaty rewards, lots of praise from Mommy & Daddy and NO DIAPERS.

Wish us luck. :-)

Besides staying in for a few days is a great time to take some silly photos with Mommy.

Sunday morning update:

We had a great afternoon with no accidents. I put Mikey in his pull up to go to sleep and as we finished his bedtime prayer he asked me to use the potty. I said sure! We went to the bathroom and he sat on the potty. Just when I thought he had just pulled this stunt to get out of bed, he peed in the potty!!! Yeah! We went back to his room and I tucked him in. This morning he woke up with a dry pull up... and proceeded to pee in the potty. Mikey you rock and your Mommy is so proud of you! Mikey is doing great. Now, let's see if he poops today. ;-)

Ohhh, to be two...

News Years Eve....

What a better way to start the new year than with some

great pictures with your family and friends.....

Bea (Mike's partners wife)

Ronnie and Bea had a wonderful New Year's party.

I can't wait until next year when I'll be feeling up to dancing.

Mikey and Henry...

These two are too cute for words.

Uncle Kevin

It's been way too long since we've seen each other.

Let's not do that again.... k?

Aunt Mary and Uncle Kevin...

still going strong 28 years later.

I live for moments like these...

More kisses Smoochie.... please.

That is my New Year's resolution: to make more time for more kisses from my Smoochie's.

Babcia and Mikey clowning around...

I see you!

Come on over and join us...

Grandma Connie and her son, Kevin.

Happy New Year's ALL!!!!

This is one of me new favorite pictures....

may the New Year be filled with many more times like this.

Excited for 2010!!!!!

I am so very ready for 2010. The past year has brought us many good times, we bought our first house together to raise our family in. I think that is the best thing to happen to us this past year. Unfortunately, all I seem to remember are the hard times (and we had a few). I prefer not to relive those moment by putting them out there for everyone. I think the best way to say screw you bad times for me is to say WELCOME 2010!!!! I am very optimistic and have big plans 2010.... so please don't let me down. ;-) Anyhow I'm going to keep this short. I wish you all a very Happy New Year! Please be safe tonight and if you go out for your celebrations please don't drink and drive.

I've included a video Mike and I took right before my surgery. We took Mikey sledding and it was sooooo much fun! I can't wait to be well enough to get back out there... maybe just a few more days.

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!!!

I must say that this Christmas is like no other. Mikey had the most wonderful time. Mikey came downstairs Christmas morning and his face just lit up with a smile ear to ear. Then he burst into the air and ran around the tree to check everything out. What an amazing site indeed. It took a while to unwrap the gifts as he had to thoroughly inspect each gift before he could unwrap the next. Mikey played and he played hard. I sat by the tree passing out gifts as I remember my Mother doing from my childhood. It was as though the torch was officially passed to me this year. I was in a lot of pain from my surgery 2 days prior, but I would not let that stop me from doing my job. I did it with a great sense of pride. Then when all was said and done, I stood in my husbands arms as we admired our beautiful little boy playing with each of his new treasures. It was a moment I hope to never forget. There were empty boxes thrown about, pieces of glittering wrapping paper, left to be picked up, decorating the floor. It was a wonderful holiday this year and the only thing that I would change would be if I could of had my father here with us (and maybe to have surgery at a different time of year).

I'm sure there are people wondering about my surgery. I've debated as to whether or not I want to blog about my surgery. I guess I have decided to. This blog is about all of us and this is a very big part of our life and our story. As you may know we've been trying to have another baby and it has been a heart wrenching experience for us. I have miscarried twice since having Mikey. Unfortunately with each miscarriage I have ended up hospitalized due to extreme hemorrhaging. After the second miscarriage I was left afraid that my desire to have another baby would possibly result in me not being around to watch Mikey grow up. That is NOT an option for me. So we decided to have some tests done to make sure I could have a baby safely. The tests showed that more than half of my uterus was filled with either extreme scar tissue (from the D&C's) or a septum. There was no way to tell until I had surgery and there was no way to have another baby with my uterus in that condition. So, on the 23rd my Mom and Grandma stayed home and took care of Mikey. Mike and I got into the volvo (my x-mas present from my lovely hubby) and we made our way to the hospital in Madison so I could have this surgery. I was so incredibly nervous. I didn't want my hubby to know, I wanted to be brave for my surgeon hubby. Silly right? I was also afraid that I wouldn't wake up from anesthesia to spend x-mas or any other day for that matter with my family. Yet, I am here with my family and typing this for all my loved ones out there.

Anyhow, I woke up. I woke up and I threw up. I was in the worst pain of my life. I'm still on the fence as to if this hurt worse than labor.... ok maybe labor is worse. This is right behind it though. I really didn't think this would hurt that bad. I had a laparoscopy and a hysteroscopy , four incisions were made. The surgeons found that I had a large asymmetrical septum in my uterus and a bad case of endometriosis. The septum was removed thus unblocking my fallopian tube and opening up my uterus. The septum has been there since I was born and is the reason Mikey came out 8 weeks early. The poor baby was pushed out by this damn thing. The good news is that I should be able to carry a baby full term now. Whoa-whoo! The bad news is the endometriosis they removed has a very big chance of coming back and with a vengeance. So by doctors orders Mike and I will start trying to have a baby right after I heal. I'm on estrogen to help establish a nice lining in my uterus for the baby to attach to. While pregnant the progesterone created by my body will help keep the endometriosis at bay. However, once I have the baby there is a high likelihood that the endometriosis will come back and possibly be worse. I had this stuff all over my insides including the outside of my uterus and the largest nodule my surgeon had ever seen on my bowels! Great, right? I'm of the mindset right now that I will worry about that once I get there. Right now we are so happy that we have the opportunity to have another baby. We have a great shot at having healthy full term pregnancy. All I want is one more baby. I'm not greedy, I just want a sibling for my son and another baby to shower with love, snuggles and kisses. So all in all this is a very merry time for my family. It's a time for hope and the prospect of new life. We wish all our loved ones near and far an especially wonderful holiday and happiness in the new year!!!!

Toronto: Part 2

Smooch and the groom, Tommy

Tommy & Christina....

you guys are great and we wish you a life time of happiness.


Mikey and the crew.
Mikey completely left us for the first time, he didn't need Mommy or Daddy. It was amazing and strange to see. All of you that know Mikey know what a huge thing this is. He's a big boy now.

Mikey and this little girl played all night together. If I didn't know better I would say that she was his first crush. The two of them kept track of each other all night. If Mikey was off playing with some other kids and so happened to get separated she would come over to me and ask in the sweetest little voice, "ummmm, do you know where Mikey is"?

(I must say the kids got great taste, she's just beautiful)

Party time!

Alright already. Can't I get back to playing now? Shesh!

Beautiful Babcia and handsome Dzia-Dzia

I told you we had Mikey in a tux.... here's the pics to prove it.

My very handsome men.

They clean up pretty nice in deed.

Toronto: part 1

We are home and as always it's nice to be home. Like Dorothy says, there is no place like home. We had such a lovely time visiting Mikey's Babcia Ania, Dzia-Dzia Andrew and Pra-Babcia Stasia. We enjoyed the big city life for a week and took full advantage of the shopping. I can't remember the last time I have spent so much time shopping. I went with my Mother-in-law and we had facials. That was so nice! As always my family spoils me. Anyhow, I've got a billion things to do besides type on the computer so here are the first set of Toronto pics. I still have to download the rest... the rest of the pictures are from our dear friends Tommy & Christina's vow renewal. It was a rockin' good time... these people know how to throw a party! Mikey even wore a tuxedo... way too cute.

Did you know that chicken nuggets also make great cell phones? Yup, he was pretending to call Misiu to make sure he was ok back in Wisconsin.

The Toronto Zoo....


Mikey was showing the baby orangutan his Thomas train. The baby just wanted some milk from his Momma.

Still thirsty.

Hmmm, I guess orangutans aren't as interested in choo-choo trains as humans.

Mikey's Aunt Kinga got him this blow up Bozo....

Mikey jumped on it, rolled on it, kicked it, hit it.... you name it.

All the boys had fun with poor Bozo.

This is classic.

We're not going to see the cousins at Christmas so we had our own Christmas for the kids.

The whole family decorated a gingerbread house...

Everyone had their own special touch.

Kinga and Natalia

Daniel, Mike and Mikey rockin'

Future Heart breakers

Mikey showing his trains to little Matthew... or just making sure he wasn't going to take them. Mikey is going through that lovely phase where everything is MINE.

More to come....