Saturday, August 25, 2012

Birthday Theme!

Ok...After many long discussions and a number far too many Pins on Pinterest we have decided on a birthday party theme for the little one!  Drumroll please......it is......Martha Speaks!

Martha Speaks is the only show Mackenzie watches on a daily basis and only b/c it allows Mommy some much needed peace during the key getting ready for work hour.  lol!

Anyhoo.....everytime we here the theme song or Mackenzie glances at Martha a smile and laughter follows (which is heartwarming and adorable), and therefore a perfect theme for her 1st birthday party (which is less than a month away now....how did that happen again?)

So...party prep has begun.  Wish me luck!!!



4th of July
4th of 



Friday, August 24, 2012

11 Months Old....Really?!?

Well, Hello There Blogging World!  I know it has been far to long since I posted something on the good ole blog, but in my defense I have been so busy living life that I have not taken the time to stop and reflect on all of my blessings (and I've been kind of stuck in a rut for sometime now).  But...I'm breaking out and updating and journaling our life and adventures.

First of all Mackenzie Elizabeth Collum is AMAZING (and 11 months old already)!  She is the best baby I could have ever asked for and Will and I are head over heels in love with her.  She is keeping us on our toes these days too as she is getting into everything.  She crawls and crawls and turns on the afterburners when she's headed for something she's not suppose to have.  She pulls herself up on everything and is so close to walking.

Here's some pictures of our amazing sweetheart!






Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Balancing Act.

So...I have to admit that I haven't been very good at the Balancing Act that is Motherhood as of late (and I only have ONE child). But in my defense, it seems like everyday presents a new learning experience for this first time Mommy. Oh the joys of Parenthood.

Little Mackenzie had a sore tummy this weekend and Will and I were scrambling to
figure out the right combination for a cure. It all started Friday night and I think we have everything back on track now (Thank Goodness..b/c it's TUESDAY!!! LOL!) Who knew so much of this Parenthood stuff is trial and error?!?! I'm just thankful the Lord gave me a patient and amazing little girl who works with me and gives me a smile every now and then. I love her SOOOOOO much!!!!

Anyway...Since I've missed blogging about little Miss Mackenzie here are some pictures of our little cutie and the best thing that has ever happened to our family.... Did I mention we love her lots?!?! Enjoy!!!


Just hanging out with Mommy.


Tummy Time!
Chillin!
Go Cubs! She was a little embarrassed about this season...hence the sunglasses. LOL!

Getting ready for Trick or Treating with Daddy!

Prettiest Pumpkin in the Patch!
Our little Pumpkin!

I hope all is well with you and yours! God Bless!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Mackenzie's Arrival...In Pictures!

First Family Photo!

Daddy watching over his baby girl


Our sweet baby girl!
Fresh out of the oven!

Mackenzie's Birth Story...Part 2

So…I’ve sufficiently left you hanging for a couple of weeks for the rest of Mackenzie’s birth story and since she turned 1 month old yesterday I thought I better hop on the good old blog and get to telling.

Once in the operating room I hopped (or gently climbed with my big belly in tow) up on the table and the doctors began to do their work but not before Will entered the room and about got checked up against the wall by one of the nurses As Will came into the Operating Room there was no direction given and he came a little too close to the surgical equipment, which really irritated the angry old scrub nurse which made me laugh….and just when I needed it.

No this is where thing began to get a little emotional for me. There were so many things going through my head and I looked up at Will who was being so supportive and calming. I knew our lives were about to change and I was nervous about the surgery. Plus with my blood pressure being so high and the Mag I just didn’t feel that great. But before we knew it I heard our little girl scream. Yes…she came out screaming and there was none of the awkward silence waiting to hear her first cry. The doctor handed her over to the nurse and I got my first glimpse as tears filled my eyes.

She was beautiful and she was ours. Mackenzie Elizabeth Collum was born at 12:57!

They handed her off to Will and he cuddled with our little girl and let me get a good look at her then after I was moved back to my bed I got to hold her for the first time. What an amazing feeling. Knowing that we first saw a little flicker on a ultrasound and now I was holding that precious baby in my arms after months of hard work (and yes…it’s hard work but worth every second). What a miracle! God is Good!!!

We headed back to my room and the nurse check Mackenzie some more, Grandparents came in to meet her and Daddy took lots of pictures. We made calls to family to let them know she was here and several text messages were also sent announcing Mackenzie’s arrival.

Then a few hours later (I’m foggy on exactly how long due to all the drugs I was on) the nurse said she would like to see the baby to check her breathing because she didn’t like what she was hearing. Here Will and I thought her little grunts and snorts were cute….but the nurse was concerned and called in the Respiratory team. Then before I could blink they were sending Mackenzie to the Special Care Unit because her Oxygen levels were not good. For the first time in month Mackenzie and I were going to be separated. I cried and Will assured me everything was going to be ok.

After some very tearful goodbyes Will and Mackenzie headed off to the Special Care Unit and I sat alone waiting for my Parents to come back to the hospital. I wasn’t alone for long but they were some lonely minutes but I was truly in denial about the whole situation.

A little while later Will came down to give me an update and let me know that they had to put an IV in Mackenzie and have two failed attempts on each hand they finally found a vein in her head. Will’s eyes looked so sad and hurt but he told me she was strong and doing ok.

Will then took my Mom and then my Dad to see Mackenzie in her special room as someone stayed with me and I tried to rest.

Approximately 24 hours after her birth Mackenzie and I were reunited and I got to love on my little girl once again. She bounced back quickly in the hospital and I began the first steps into Mommyhood and recovery from major surgery.

Now we are all back home and doing very well. Mackenzie is thriving and Will and I feel so blessed.

Happy 1 Month Mackenzie!!! Mommy and Daddy love you more than words!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Mackenzie's Birth Story...Part 1

September 21, 2011 my life forever changed as I entered Mommyhood for the first time. Since then things have been a blur of diaper changes, feedings and baby burps but we are adjusting well to our new family and loving every minute of it! So….here’s the (long) story of how it all went down.

Wednesday September 21, 2011 I woke up feeling not so great. I called in sick to work thinking I would make an appearance after my morning appointment with my diabetes specialist. So off to the doctor I went.

I sat down with the nurse who took my blood pressure, which was very high. So high in fact she waited a few minutes and took it again to which the results were elevated even more. The nurse with the specialist wrote my numbers down and suggested I call my OB after my appointment to let them know the situation.

So…on my drive home from my first appointment I called my OB and spoke to Terri his wonderful nurse. She asked me to come in for a BP check. So I made a quick call to Will and let him know what was going on. He made the decision he didn’t want to miss the appointment just in case anything happened and he would be home as soon as possible because he also didn’t want me to drive with the elevated BP.

Off to the doctor we went. I check in and the nurse took my BP again….still very high. The OB (Dr. Kauffman…who is AMAZING!!!) came in a shipped me off to the hospital once again for observation and possibly a baby.

We got checked in at the hospital and the charge nurse of the Labor and Delivery floor greets us and says….”So…we have you scheduled for a C-section”….Will and I looked at each other in shock….”Um…we’re just here for observation.” She said she would check with my OB but in the meantime she would get me all hooked up to begin checking my BP and the baby’s reaction.

So…off to a room I went to get hooked up and we were off to the races. It seemed like the next couple of hours (I’m not really even sure how long it was) flew by as nurses and doctors came in and out of my hospital room and we were finally told I would be taken to have a C-section at 12:30. We made the calls to family to let them know today was the day our little girl would entered the world. We were so excited and I was extremely scared.

I remember at one point tears were streaming down my face as the emotions of everything began overflowing within me. Will held my hand an assured me everything would be alright and reminded me we were about to meet our baby girl!

Off…to the operating room I went.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

False Alarm

So we had our first pregnancy false alarm on Friday…Well...sort of.


I had my weekly appointment with the OB on Friday and was expecting the normal experience. However, when the nurse took my blood pressure she did not like the reading at all, so she had me lay on my left side for a while and then came back to check it again. Yep…second reading was just as high as the first and when the Doc came in he shipped me over to the hospital for observation. But…not before he explained that if my numbers didn’t come down we would have a baby. Yikes!


So….off to the hospital I went. I’m typically not a procrastinator but there is only so much mobility this preggo has and to say things were not 100% in order would be an understatement. So…I called work, explained the situation and let them know I would be in touch and possibly a mother before Monday.


We then made the calls to our parents (or Grandparents to be) explaining no baby yet…but they were watching me and there was a possibility for delivery over the weekend.


They got me and Mackenzie all hooked up to machines and watched my blood pressure….and it came down. So…after a few hours of observation they sent me home with no baby and an order to collect urine for 24 hours (oh goody!). I took my urine sample back to the hospital on Saturday morning and got the all clear.


My next appointment is Thursday and Doc said if everything looks A-Okay then he will induce on Friday. So our little one may only days away from making her grand entrance and we couldn’t be more excited!!!


On a side note… I have to give a big shout out to Will, Mom and Dad who have been extremely patient with me lately. My patience has run thin as it takes everything in my power to keep a smile on my face when trying to move this hugmungo body around. My back aches, my feel are swollen and I’m carrying an 8 pound baby in my tummy. So…thank you all for putting up with my whining lately. I love you all!!!