Tag Archives: Christmas

Happy Holidays from The Megalomaniac Mommy & Family

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone Merry Christmas,  Happy Hanukkah (or Chanukah), Happy Kwanza……just Happy Holidays to all!  Thank you to all of you who stop by and read on a regular basis, leave comments and really just say hello!  I hope you all have a blessed holiday!

Here is a peek at the beginning of our holiday celebrations!

On Friday, Alexander had his first (of many) holiday celebrations at school.  Alex joined him in all the holiday fun while I was home tending to Ellie.

Tatertot Family Holiday Celebration

On Saturday, we schlepped all 4 kids over to the in-laws house for dinner and near the end, we had a surprise visit from the man in a red suit.

 

 

As you can see, it is impossible to get all 4 children to look at the camera and smile at the same time.  I am hopeful that someday it will happen!

 

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Little Miss Bean: A Birth Story – Part 1

Now that I finally have the time, I thought now was the best time to share Ellie’s birth story.

On the morning of December 15th, which also happened to be my birthday, I began experiencing contractions that were finally coming at regular intervals.  This began right around 5am so I decided to finally keep track of them.  When the Alex walked in the door shortly after 6am I informed him that the contractions I had been having most of the week had now progressed and were now  establishing a pattern.  Together we decided to wait things out and see if there was any change as we waited to get the kids off to school.  Neither of us said a word to the kids that morning and just sent them on their way.  Once the Alex returned from dropping them off we decided to call my doctor’s office and let them know what was going on and see what their thought’s were given the fact that I had only gone into labor naturally once before and my history of laboring rapidly.  Based on what I was currently experiencing and my history it was decided that I should head to the hospital and have things checked out.

When we arrived at the hospital we were brought into a room so I could be evaluated.  After checking my cervix, we learned that I was dilated 3cm and 60% effaced.  I was surprised to say the least.  Here I was, on my birthday, laying in a bed at the hospital and possibly having a baby.

The thought was CRAZY!

What was even crazier was that Ellie wasn’t expected to arrive until January 12th.

After checking everything out, I was hooked up to the monitors to measure my contractions and check on baby.  We also learned at this time that baby had finally flipped and was no longer breech.  This was such great news to receive on my birthday as I had been terrified for months that I would have to undergo my first c-section.  Needless to say I was beyond excited!

I laid in the bed contracting for the next hour waiting to be checked to see if I had made any progress so we could determine if I was actually in labor.  An hour and a half since I was first checked, the nurse came in to check my cervix again and there was no change.  After talking with the doctor on call from my OB-GYN office I was told I could stay at the hospital and wait things out and see if I made any progress or I could go home and see what happens.  I opted to go home.  It was my birthday after all!

We stopped for lunch on the way home, got to the house and the Alex, Alexander and I all laid down to take a nap.  Later that evening my mom came and took Zack and Libby home with her and Alexander went off to my in-laws house and I opted to stay home alone for the night while the hubs was at work.  I figured this was in my best interest because I really needed the rest and had A LOT to do the next morning.

The next morning Alex returned from work to check on me and then we went over to my parents house to bring Zack and Libby to school.  Once we brought them to school we made our way over to my in-laws house to scoop Alexander before heading to the store to finish up not just our Christmas shopping but our baby shopping too.  Up until this point we didn’t even have a car seat for Ellie!

Once we completed all of our shopping we made our way home and I wrapped gifts continuously until it was all done, washed all of the new baby clothing and other baby items we had purchased.  After I had finished everything we decided to head to Red Robin for lunch since I didn’t get to do anything special for my birthday and was craving a patty melt like crazy.

Throughout everything since I had left the hospital the day before I continued to feel the contractions but it had got to the point where I pretty much learned to ignore them.

After lunch we made our way to the school to pick Zack and Libby up and headed home so I could get ready to head to the doctor’s office for my 36 week check.

We arrived at the doctor’s office and I was extremely uncomfortable.  I was still contracting, my lower back was killing me and I was exhausted!!  Also by this time I had experienced the bloody show and was 100% certain that I had lost my mucus plug.  I met with the nurse practitioner and explained everything to her that had happened in the last 24+ hours. she checked my cervix and informed me there was still no change from the day before.  Once she completed my check she talked with the doctor on staff that day and they thought that I possibly had an bladder infection that was causing me to contract and causing the back pain so they had me pee in a cup before sending me on my way.

Right before I left the office, the nurse practitioner asked me if I felt like I was in actual labor.  I informed her that yes, I did feel like it.  Everything felt exactly the same as it did when I had gone into labor naturally with the Libby.  After our chat I stopped at the desk to schedule my next appointment and told the girls I wasn’t going to make it until then and that I was definitely having a baby before the weekend ended and then, we ventured home.

*Watch for part 2 on Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

 

The Megalomaniac Family Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 was another hectic one for The Megalomaniac Family and we are happy that we survived!
This year I felt like we were on the go nonstop and it didn’t help that during all of it I was really sick with duel outer ear infections.
Our Christmas started on the morning of Christmas Eve with a gift opening at my in-laws house.
Since I was in a drugged haze for most of the holiday, I’m thankful that I managed to snap a few pics here and there.

Zack and Libby on Christmas Eve---Being nice to one another! A VERY rare moment!

Alexander (with his Bumpa) opening his first present.....Toy Story 3 Color Wonder markers & coloring pad.

Zack with his new Hot Wheels MiniBike thingamajig he got from Grandma & Bumpa (This toy has now been taken over by Alexander.)

Libby and her new ornament from Grandma & Bumpa. Each of the kids received one with their name on it.

The Alexander snuggling with his Auntie A. He sure missed her while she was away at school!

After we were done opening gifts at the in-laws, we made our way north to the Alex’s grandma’s house for lunch.
Going to Grandma’s is one of our favorite parts about Christmas because it is the one time of the year she makes her amazing meat pie!

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures from our time at Grandma’s because, well to be honest, I ate lunch and then fell asleep since I wasn’t feeling well.

Once we were done at Grandma’s we made the 30 minute drive back home and then discovered that I had left my camera up north and the hubby had left his cell phone behind.

Needless to say the next hour of my life was spent in the van making the drive back up to Grandma’s and then back home.

Then I drugged myself and went to sleep.

After my little nap, we loaded back into the van and headed back to the in-laws house for Christmas Eve with my mother-in-laws side of the family.

I was in pain throughout most of the night.

I took a few pictures.

Enjoy!

Libby opening her Paper Jamz ensemble. (My house will never be quiet again!)

Zack showing off the awesome new Greg Jennings jersey he received. GO PACK GO!

Alexander and his awesome little farm set he got as a gift. (I keep stepping on the darn pieces!)

The Alex and I opened gifts to, but it is really just a blur to me.
A few hours later he dropped me off at the ER to have my ears checked out but I already wrote all about that in another post.

After the ER, I went to bed, slept, woke up and the kids opened their gifts from Santa.
I somehow managed to capture a few pics in my drugged haze.

Libby showing off her new movie, Shrek Forever After that Santa brought her.

Alexander and his new computer from Santa. He was just a little excited!

Zack and Libby and their mystery gifts from Santa.

Now, the mystery gifts Zack and Libby received from Santa were their BIG gifts. Each year they receive something that they have been asking for over and over and over and over but this year, this year Santa really threw them for a loop with a HUGE surprise!
Thankfully the Alex captured it on video because their reaction was priceless!

I’m glad they were really excited about their big gifts because after that I went back to bed and slept through most of the day.

I hope you had a great Christmas too!