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!

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!

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.

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!!!

Update

It has been forever and a day since I’ve posted something on the good ole’ blog. So I thought I would give a quick update as to the goings on with the Collum Family.

#1. Well…I’ve had a post about my Iowa Baby Shower ready for about two weeks now but everytime I go to post it the pictures will not upload. Darn it. I think I’ve given up and will tell you it was a great party with family and friends. It was so good to see everyone, but the travel there and back took its toll on this Prego. We stopped about 5 times on the way back and between my back hurting and my feet swelling I was ready to be home.

#2. The baby’s room is just about ready. We still have some shelves to hang, decorating to do and bedding to wash to all and all it’s good to go. The biggest headache has been little Mackenzie’s letters to put above her bed. We got them up and they looked great (and I was able to post a Facebook picture) but within two hours they were on the ground. We’ve searched for other alternatives but have not found anything that sticks (literally).

#3. My due date is officially in September now and I’m going to have one big baby from the looks of everything. My doctor has me scheduled for an amniocentesis on 9/22 and if everything is positive (meaning her lungs and heart look good) then I am scheduled for induction on 9/23. However, they may end up scheduling a C-section if she’s measuring any bigger. Wow….that’s only a little over a week away!

If the test is negative and she’s not ready my doctor will deliver Mackenzie via C-section on 9/30 at 1:30pm. So…at the very latest she will be born on the last day of the month.

#4. At my last visit to the OB he checked and I’m already 1.5cm and 37 weeks on Friday so the baby could really come at any time. But being this pregnant has made me a little grumpy lately. Between having to go potty all the time, not sleeping well and the pain in my back I am more than ready for my little girl to arrive. But…I also know this comes with little sleep but a whole lot of joy. I can’t wait to meet her!!!

Ok…so I’m done with the update and complaining for one day. I plan on trying to get those baby shower pictures up soon if the good ole’ iMac will work with me. ;-) But if you don’t hear from me I will definitely post the baby story and lots and lots of pictures of our new little bundle of joy.

Keep us in your prayers…I know I’m going to need it.

Iowa!

I'm super duper excited to pack up and head to Iowa for the weekend. Here's a little preview of our short weekend trip ahead...

1. Breakfast @ CJs! So yummy!!!

2. Chris and Adam's flag football game! (It's a Father/Son league and should be pretty fun to watch!).

3. Lunch w/ the Maxwell Family! (I get to see my bestie from High School and love on her sweet twin boys!)

4. Baby Shower! YAY! So excited to see family and friends and get lots of good advice.

5. Maybe...just maybe a trip to the Iowa State Fair. This is for sure on my to do list...BUT...my hubby doens't think its a great idea to have his very pregnant wife walking around on swollen feet with the big crowds and heat. (Shhhh...don't tell, but I think he's right on this one.)

6. Maybe a morning trip to the Downtown Farmer's Market. (Hubby has wife concerns on this one too because this pregnant Mama does not do well with the heat.)

7. Spending lots of time with family. (This is a sure thing!!!)

Well...as you can see time with family and eating are for sure on the agenda. Stay tuned....I may/should have pictures to post.

Hope you all have a great weekend with whatever your plans may be!!!

Angie

Brag -- My Husband!

Ok...I'm not really one to brag but today I have to post/brag about my amazing husband.

First and foremost the love he shows to me and our little girl is outstanding. He takes such good care of me and really has helped through my entire pregnancy. He will put "special pregnancy" lotion on my ever swollen legs and feet (gross...I know...but I can't reach anymore) and rub my back when I think it's breaking. (Yes...I'm a little dramatic at times.) I have no idea what on earth I would do without him!

He's there for me in every single way I need him to be. He listens to my concerns and tells me to calm down...becausue everything will be alright. He goes to the baby classes with me. Let's me take up more than my fair share of the bed to get a great night sleep. And will wake up early to put gas is my car so I don't have to.

I know some women look forward to the big grand gesters in life. The diamonds and pearls if you will. But not me....give me the majority of the best and a car full of gas and I'm as happy as can be.

For a long time in my life I prayed that God would send me an amazing man, who would complete my life....and I feel like that prayer was answered the day I met Will. He was living in Memphis and I was in Iowa, but we met and fell in love. We've both made sacrifices to be together, but I would wait for him and do it all over again in a heartbeat. I can't believe how far we've some. WOW!

Ok...In honor of my braggy post (sorry ladies...I know you want him...but he's taken!! ;-)) Here are some old pictures of a very young Will and Angie. Enjoy....

Our 1st date (and 1st photo as a couple) So young...so in love!

Family cruise to celebrat my Mom's 50th Birthday

Formal dinner on the cruise....Yes...I purchased a tie that matched my dress for Will. He was such a good sport!Enjoying Chad and Abbey Maxwell's Wedding Reception

Engagement Night in New York City! He proposed at Tavern on the Green!

Carriage Ride through Central Park to celebrate our Engagement! So Romantic!!!

Engagement Photos. It was so hot in Memphis that day!!!

Our 1st Kiss as Husband and Wife!

Our ride before and after the reception. Love this picture!

My favorite wedding photo! Please notice I had already kicked off the heels for more comfortable sketchers....but hey...they did match our wedding colors!

Stress, Planning and Decisions.

Well..I haven’t had chance to update the good ole blog since last Friday, and I hope you all enjoyed Rebecca Black! LOL!

Anyhoo….what’s new on the home front? Well, a lot actually. I was officially diagnosed with a minor case of gestational diabetes which means I have to watch my sugar and carb intake and take my blood sugar 4 times a day. Yikes. This also means that our little peanut will be here sooner than expected, which is exciting and scary all at the same time. My OB said I will not make it to my due date and little Miss Mackenzie could be here as early as September 23rd.

So…this mama-to-be has jumped into action to prepare for arrival. Now…I know the due date is only about 2 weeks earlier but it has kind of put the planner in me into a little bit of a panic attack. The lists running through my head have been irritating me since Tuesday morning:

The bedroom set is on order, but not in our possession.

We’re planning to move.

I have no energy to pack and cannot lift much to help…which is a little annoying
for this take charge girl.

We have a ton of baby supplies to purchase or things I think we’re going to need
anyway.

So…I guess the bottom line is I’ve been a little stressed out lately. My loving husband says I worry too much and wants me to calm down (and keep my blood pressure down) for me and the baby.

We’ve made some tough decisions this week and have decided to stay put for the time being. That means de-junking the house and getting things organized for storage rather than moving furniture and all that jazz. This may seem like it’s not that big of a deal, but it’s a huge stress reliever for me and now I can focus more on getting the nursery put together and settling into home once again.

That’s a lot of text for such a minor issue, but hey….blogging is a stress reliever for me.

Hope all is well with you and yours! God Bless!
Angie

It's Friday!

Dramatic/Traumatic Day!

Yesterday I had to endure the 3 hour glucose test because I failed the initial screening. That meant I had to sit in the docs office for 3 hours and have my blood drawn four separate times. Oh yes…I almost forgot…I also had the opportunity to enjoy another wonderful glucose drink (please note the sarcasm here).

The test really wasn’t that bad other than the fact that I was so nauseous the first hour and a half. Will was there with me and I don’t know what I would have done without him. Between fanning me when the waves of nausea hit and keeping my mind off of everything between blood draws he was a champ and the best support system this pregnant mama could ask for. So now, we are just praying and playing the waiting game to see if anything looks out of the ordinary. (Let’s hope not!)

Since we both took the day off work we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to go and look at daycare centers in the area and make sure our name is on the waiting list at the right place. Who knew that just looking at daycare could be so dramatic and traumatic for a mama-to-be? Not me!!!
As we walked out of the very first daycare I broke out in tears (ok, …I wasn’t technically out of the building when the tears started).

All I could explain to Will, who was looking at me like a crazy person, was I just want to stay home with her or take her to work with me and take care of her all day long. I know that isn’t an option at this point in time, but something I wanted to consider nonetheless. I guess the guilt that goes along with being a working Mom starts early and it’s a new avenue I will have to travel for many years to come.

So…as we continued looking I felt more and more comfortable and think we’ve found a really good option and so my prayers are being sent daily for a spot to open when we need one in January.

I know sending Mackenzie off to daycare will be the first of many hard steps I will have to take in her life, but I didn’t think they would start so early.

That’s all for now!

Angie

Weekend of Spending!

Will and I had a very fun and productive weekend on the baby purchasing front and it truly was a weekend of spending (which will come to a quick hault once baby is here). Our big purchase of the weekend was a bedroom set. We have been looking and looking at cribs for some time now and have discussed where to buy and how much to spend on several different occasions, but I have never had the nerve to pull the trigger.

(Side note: I am notorious for having buyer’s remorse and typically want to immediately return any big ticket item purchased).

This weekend was a different story. We finally made the decision to buy an adorable bedroom set for our little girl and I hope she loves it!

Here are some pictures!

I'm excited to get moved into our new place and get Mackenzie's room all set up and ready for her arrival. Only 74 days and counting down until her due date!!! YAY!!!

Oh yes....and this was also the first weekend I proclaimed that I'm about done with this whole pregnancy thing. I think it was a combination of my ever growing belly and the 110 degree temperature. Leave it to me to pick the hottest summer on record to be an extremely pregnant woman. And whenever I complain I get small little kicks from my little girl which is a reminder she is just where she needs to be....in my tummy and growing stronger every day.

Well, that's all for now folks. Happy Monday!

Angie :-)

We're Having A Heat Wave!

We’re having a heat wave here in Wichita and this pregnant lady doesn’t like it one bit. LOL! Well, I guess I really don’t mind that much but my pregnant body has taken issue with the temperature on occasion. Yep….swelling is now a daily thing.

Swollen feet means this Mama-to-be spends evenings sitting on the couch with my feet up catching up on all my favorite shows….Not too bad if you ask me. :-)

Now this is where I have to give a huge shout out to my partner in crime and the best husband this girl could ask for….Will Collum….calling Will Collum! He’s been amazing and has really picked up the slack from this pregnant lump (and without one single complaint)! I know he’s going to be an amazing Daddy and he’s taking good care of his girls already.

(On a side note….I have a feeling our little girl is going to wrap her Daddy around her little finger.)

On the baby front we are really getting anxious to meet her, see her and just be able to snuggle with our little one. However, at the same time we are trying to live our last few months as free birds to the fullest. I know we’ll be able to sneek away once she arrives (thanks to Grammy and Grandpa Miller being so close), but it will somehow be different I assume.

Anyway, not much wisdom here today. Just getting a few thoughts out of my head and on the good ole blog. I hope everything is well with you and yours!

God Bless!
Angie

Well...things have been crazy around the Collum home for a little bit. Between travelling to Memphis for the 4th of July and then my work travels it seems like I'm just now catching up on sleep and getting things back to normal.

However, I did want to share some of the amazing deals my Mother-in-Law and I scored while shopping in Mississippi. (Gotta Love Outlet Malls!!!)

Here's our score for the weekend:

One of my favorite outifts!

I just love shopping for our little girl and Will keeps asking me how many "costume changes" I plan on having in a day. But hey....a girl has to have options! Plus, the outlet stores were practically giving this stuff away and my best buy was an adorable shirt that I purchased for 1.39! Can't beat that!

Anyway...That's all for now. Stay tuned for more baby updates as we are only 79 days away from the due date! YIKES!!!

Memphis Baby Shower

Who knew a quick trip down to Memphis (which includes a 10 hour car ride) would take it out of a pregnant lady? Well...not me! But hey...I had fun!

Will and I made the trip down South for the 4th of July to spend time with his family and enjoy our 1st Baby Shower. We had such a good time!!!

For now, I'm going to blog about the Baby Shower. But don't worry your pretty little heads...there will be more Memphis post coming soon or as soon as I figure out how to get the photos off the iPad and on to the iMac. (Will....calling Will! LOL)

So, My Mother-in-Law hosted a beautiful baby shower for me and little Mackenzie on Sunday afternoon and is was so nice. (She knows how to throw a party!!!) Ladies from her Church family came to celebrate our little girl and my MIL becoming a Grandmother for the 1st time.

(BTW....Will has already decided our little ones will call her Nana just like he called her Mama, Nana. So cute!)

The ladies were so generous with their gifts and put a lot of time, heart and soul into them. We are so grateful to have such faithful women saying prayers for our family.

Anywho....enjoy some pictures from the day!

Wordless Wednesday!

Here are a few of the reasons I love my husband! He's too silly for words and getting more and more exctied about his little girl as each day passes! Here's a few shots of his most recent shopping trip...to Walgreens! LOL!!!

Angie :-)

The Maxwell Boys Are Here!

My best friend from high school, Abbey “Tolander” Maxwell, delivered 2 baby boys last night and Will and I couldn’t be more excited and happy for her and her family!

When we found out we were expecting a little girl Abbey was one of the first calls to spread the happy news. I remember I told her we had a girlfriend for one of her boys! LOL! And last night after we got word of their birth Will informed our little peanut that her future husband was born. LOL!

I can’t wait to meet the little guys and wish I lived closer at times like these.

Congratulations Maxwell Family! You are all in our prayers!!!

June 6th – A Special Day x2

On June 6th, 2008 Will and I jet-setted off to New York City for a weekend away with family and it was an amazing trip. The first night in town (6/6/2008) my Will and I headed to Central Park to dine at the infamous Tavern on the Green while everyone else in our party went to see “The Little Mermaid” on Broadway.

The restaurant was beautiful and more than I’d ever imagined. Will and I sat in a garden room with floor to ceiling windows and beautiful chandlers that sparkled in the moonlight. During dinner we spoke about how much in love we were and how neither one of us could imagine life without the other. We talked about kids, marriage and growing old together and before we knew it the time for dessert had come.

All of a sudden our waiter popped up from nowhere and placed a cake in front of me with the words “Will You Marry Me”. I looked at Will stunned as he held a ring in his hand and a smile on his face. He got me and he knew it. I tearfully said “yes” and politely grabbed the ring, shoved it on my finger and jumped up to wrap my arms around my soon to be husband. We were engaged!

Well…fast-forward three years and another monumental occasion has occurred. Last night, June 6, 2011 while watching the Apple Developer Press Conference (yes, I know…we know how to have a good time! LOL) I felt a little heart beating in my tummy. I called Will over to take a feel, and he felt it too. So, to make sure he was feeling the baby and not me he checked my heart rate and the same time. I will never forget the look of amazement on his face when he backed up and said “Whoa”.

A few minutes later I was trying to find our little one’s heartbeat again, and felt a kick instead. I’ve been feeling her move from the inside for a while now, but never from the outside. So, I called Will over again this time to feel our little girl kick. Within seconds of his hand on my tummy he felt a few good kicks and smiled in awe.

We feel so blessed to have such a miracle in our lives and can’t wait to meet our little girl. As each day passes we get more and more excited and are ready for our lives and family to change. Before we went to sleep we laid down and prayed to keep our little girl healthy and safe and thanked God for all the blessing in our life.

June 6th is a good day!

Movement!

So…I’m officially 21 weeks today (only 133 to go but who’s counting…well…I guess I am. LOL!) and I think I’ve officially felt movement. Now… THINK … is the key word here because as a newbie I’m not really sure what I’m feeling in the belly… so it may just be hoping for movement.

Description of “the feeling”: I tried to explain this to Will but it’s so hard. The best way I came up with is it feels like little flutters. Kind of like when you have your hand in water and you move it back and forth slowly. The way the water feels on your fingers is what I’ve been feeling in my tummy!

Anywho……when I was laying there I told Will…I think I feel our little girl. He immediately started talking to her and saying her name….to which she responded with more movement. It was pretty sweet and a moment I hope I don’t forget anytime soon.

All the little moments of the pregnancy seem to be a blur and I hope by recording some of them and journaling our little peanut will enjoy hearing about the days leading to her highly anticipated arrival.

Well…I’m off to do some cleaning and preparing for the Memphis Collum’s trip to Kansas. I can’t wait to see them…so stay tuned for blogging about time with family!

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Angie

Wordless Wednesday

Will and I took a nice stroll around the pond at Bradley Fair (a local shopping area) on Sunday. Here a few of the pictures I snapped with my new camera. Enjoy!!!