That's my girl!

I hope she always looks at me this way.....

Pain in the $%&!@#%!!!!

I haven't posted much lately because I really did a doozie on Christmas Eve. I slipped..with Landry in my arms...and landed on my back hitting my tailbone on the metal bar of my pack 'n' play. I now have a sacral spine fracture in addition to my carpel tunnel, incision...yada yada yada. Am I a train wreck or what?! In addition to that I have a nice knot on my leg from the fall. I don't know how long it will take to heal but it sure hurts like heck!

I have also had my best friend from college in town visiting and haven't had much time. Kelley wanted to take Bella home with her and I found myself taking inventory of all my peeps when she left!!! As always, our visit was great. I love her like a sister and I feel very blessed to have her in my life. She has a better picture with Landry than I do! She was posing hard in this photo! BTW...I recognize the fact that this picture is going to be right above the caption and they very independent of each other. I couldn't put the picture on the bottom of the post so I had to keep it this way Sorry...KELLEY!! You are FAR from a pain in the @#$%#$&!!! :)

To The Top!

Landry and her Daddy are her watching the first of many Southern Miss games. She has already made her in utero debut at an Alabama game this year at Vandy and then again at Ole Miss. She has a new outfit for the the Alabama Bowl Game....stay tuned!

Landry's Debut

We had a big day today. We went to the doctor for Landry's two week check up. She did great with the exception of her weight. The little booger is having a hard time gaining weight so we are having to increase her supplementing. Bummer for me. I had hoped that she would be completely be nursing by now but we gotta get some weight on that child!

We went to the 5:30 service..late and left early. Sorry Father Tom!! We really wanted to be there for a service this year and she did great. There was so much love for us there. We never felt more at home. While we were waiting to go take communion, Mike and I were deciding who was going to carry her to the alter. For those of you who know what Ultrea and Cursillo is, we talk about our moment closest to Christ during these weekends and gatherings. My closest moment was tonight. Mike looked at me with these misty eyes and said he was thinking about Sophie and wanted to carry his daughter down the aisle. Well, that was all it took to get me crying. For those of you who know or remember, Mike carried little Sophie out of the church when we left to bury her and it was the most heart wrenching moment of my life. Watching him carry Landry in her sweet little Christmas dress with both arms wrapped around her was the one of the happiest moments of my life. Isn't strange how the same event in name can be such polar opposites? We loved being among all of our friends and seeing the joy in their faces because of the joy in ours. Landry made quite the debut on this full mooned Christmas Eve. Happy Birthday Jesus....and thank you so very much for Landry.

A Picture is Worth a

Thousand Words....

I hesitated to post this picture because I thought it was a personal moment between the two of us but I couldn't help but think of everything it meant to both of us being there in that moment. I look at it and see something totally different than most of you will. I see 21 months of grieving, fear, pain, anger, sadness and frustration being drastically softened. It will never go away but it has been replaced with a love I knew existed but never fully knew. Now I know its glory and it is divine! I also see the better side of two people that have weathered a lot together because they have felt an outpouring of love and friendship not experienced by most. We are eternally grateful for all of our friends and family who have not left our sides throughout this pregnancy. I said at the beginning of this pregnancy that if I had my husband and one good friend at the end of it, I would feel like I had accomplished something BIG. As far as I know, everyone I started with is still around. The one thing I know for sure is that my friends are my family and my family are my friends....what a lucky girl I am.

Carpel tunnel and a bad tooth....

Since about 3 weeks before Landry arrived I have been suffering with carpel tunnel syndrome. It really stinks too. I never understood what it was before now but I have a new sense of respect/understanding for those that suffer from it. I am told that it will probably go away after a while but it couldn't be soon enough. If any one has any suggestions for relief...hook a sister up!

I went to the dentist yesterday. Yes, 10 days after a c-section, I was laid up at the dentist office to get some work done that was supposed to be done before I got pregnant. I had some flexible spending dollars that had to be used before the end of the year. It was a use it or lose it situation and if any one knows me, I am couldn't possibly let it go to waste. My dentist asked my how I was feeling and I told him that all I needed was an ingrown toenail to make my life complete.
Luckily, I didn't have to have the root canal we originally thought I was going to have so my visit was cut down to only 2.5 hours instead of 3-4...ugh! I made a return trip today because I had a high spot on one of the fillings I had replaced. Hurt like heck but it was fixed in an instant. There is something about having someone stick a drill in your mouth with no deadening....makes you shrivel up a little. All is well on that front now.

Gotta go feed the bug...and yes, she is still a cutie pa-tu-tie. :)

Scrub-a-dub-dub!

Landry changes every time I look at her. I had a dentist appointment today and had to leave her with her Daddy for several hours. (He did a great job by the way.) When I finally got home, I didn't put her down for the next 4 hours.

This was taken after her 1st bath. She was not a happy camper! She does, however, look very grateful in this photo. That is the sweetest face I have ever seen.

My Glow Worm

Landry went to the doctor yesterday and got a good report on the jaundice front. I did, however, have to get a picture before we turned in her billiblanket. She looked like a glow worm with a tail....a cute glow worm that is.

Mike and I are slowly but surely getting the hang of this parenting thing. Where the heck is the manuel for this kid?! I have to say that he has done a great job of taking care of both of us. My carpel tunnel has been one of the biggest obstacles I have had to overcome. My left hand is pretty essential in most every task so I have been trying to get used to the brace. Hopefully it will be a temporary ailment.

As most of you know, I have been looking forward to a visit from my Daddy and stepmother Lindsey ever since we found out we were pregnant. Unfortunately, he is in a great deal of pain with his back and cannot come as he has planned. They are as disappointed as I am so please keep him in your prayers as he recovers. Landry is ready to meet her Granddaddy!

I almost didn't post this but it is too funny not to.

The other night...in the middle of the night... we were getting Landry settled back in her bassinett/pack n play that is in our room. It was one of the many gifts that my family bought for her and it has been a lifesaver. It is all decked out with a changing table, music, nature sounds, lights, yada yada yada. Any way, it is loaded with features and we have used them all. I was half asleep and Landry woke up because the vibrator in it had shut off automatically. When Mike asked what was wrong I told her that her vibrator wasn't on. Without skipping a beat...he said "I don't ever want to hear the words vibrator and my daughters name in the same sentence again." I started laughing which made my incision hurt and of course he started laughing and we ended up having a really funny moment....I am sure one of many in this little girls future.

Kudos to the the Bella! She has done so well with her new baby sister. She is a little jealous but she vhas done remarkably well adjusting to her new less than the queen status in our family. She has gotten a lot more attention from her daddy(Mike) so she really hasn't skipped a beat.

Thanks for all of the prayers and well wishes for Landry's jaundice recovery. She is starting to get her color back and starting to gain weight. She couldn't get much cuter I don't think.

I want to send a shout out to all of my high school friends that are checking the blog. Karen, one of the girls I graduated with, recently put together a yahoo group to begin organizing our next reunion and it has become a really fun way to reunite with my long lost past. Since I left Mobile in '89 to go to the University of Alabama, I have been away for 18.5 years...the same age I was when I left!!! YIKES!! It has been a lot of fun catching up with everyone and they all seem to be excited about my new addition. Thanks for the well wishes...can't wait to see you all again!

I'll post more soon...gotta go watch my baby breathe. :)

Welcome to the World, Landry!

Hello everyone! I have been away for a while now and boy have I missed you! As most of you all well know, I have been busy bringing Landry Elaine Mader in to the world. She is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I couldn't have imagined the range of emotions and feelings I have had for her. She is as close to perfection as I have ever come to with the exception of our little angel Sophie. She IS perfection and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to love her like I have.

Little Miss Landry came after 15 hours of labor and the last minute decision to do a c-section. She was too big for mama to deliver so we opted to go in after her. Dr. Bush was wonderful and so were all of the L & D nurses at Women's Hospital. Mike and I felt so lucky to have a team of professionals looking after us as capable and caring as they are.

Mike is my hero....Super Daddy. He has changed ALL but one diaper since she was born and has spent most of his time taking care of his three girls...me, Landry and Bella. Bella is not sure about this new infiltrator. She was a little...okay, VERY depressed when we got home with Landry on Thursday. She is starting to come around and is very sweet with her. She loves all of the company coming to see HER. :)

I made this video and I have some better pictures that were taken by the photographer/friend I hired to take photos of the blessed event. She was really great to have there and she said that little Landry looked like she has paparazzi waiting for her grand entrance. I was conked out so it was nice to have someone there to document it for me.

We went to the doctor today for the 2 day weight check and we found out she has jaundice so she is now hooked up to a billiblanket for the next 2 days. She also lost 19 ounces so she is having to supplement with formula. It was awful watching them stick her little foot. This was just the first of many moments that I will cry as much as she does during her doctor visits. Mike thinks I am such a wimp! :) I will keep you posted on her progress.

I want to thank everyone for all of the prayers, visits, calls, gifts and well wishes that we have had. These last few weeks have meant so much to both of us and sharing it with all of you made it even more special. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will post more soon.

Love,

Renee

*note*

I just saw how my video downloaded and I didn't mean for this picture to be the front of the video screen. I am too tired to change it so have a laugh on me!

6.5 hours and counting...

I can't believe this is the last night without child. If I get any sleep, I will be shocked. The little one has been kicking me all night so I feel pretty good about everything. Say a prayer for me, Mike and this precious baby and let the miracles begin!!!

BTW, I measured my gut one last time and it was 43 1/3 inches. OMG!!!

Is anyone up?!

I have been up since 3:30 am. What is wrong with me?! I know that my days and nights of sleeping a solid 8 hours are coming to a close for a while and I can't sleep. Go figure. Bella, the schnorkie, decided that she wanted to stay up all night. Mike got up with her 3 times and she finally settled down. I think she knows that something big is about to happen. Call it intuition or whatever but she definately knows the gig is up. We are taking her to Aunt Tracey's tonight because we have to leave here at 5am for the hospital. She loves going to visit with Bogie and Lacey and always comes home worn out. She will be in for quite a surprise on Wednesday when we come home with Baby M.

We have narrowed down Baby M's name to four options. We figured we would know what this baby's name should be when we see him or her. I am sure I will check in again throughout the day. My head is swimming in a sea of thoughts. Missing my mother and my baby girl Sophie are ever present but I am trying really hard not to take any of the joy in these moments away from this miracle I am carrying. Baby M2 deserves all of the joy and excitement that his/her arrival will bring. I am so excited to share these moments with all of you.

This picture shows how big my gut is. Soon I won't

have anything to prop my plate on when I eat.

GNO Ornament Swap 2007

Let the Countdown begin!

I had my annual ornament swap last night and it was so much fun! I think there were bets going on as to whether or not I was actually still going to have it! I always look forward to having the girls over and last night was no exception. Due to various other commitments, illness and other parties, the crowd was lighter than normal but the same amount of fun was had. Having this special group of women around me reiterated just how important all of my friends are to me. I could not have made it through this pregnancy without each and every one of them and all of the ones who could not make it. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I think it has taken a village to help ME have the strength to get this child here. My friends are just another extension of my family and I am so much more than grateful...I am blessed. I can't wait to show off Baby M2 to the world...only 3 days left!

MADER ALERT!

I got a surprise phone call today from my doctor. He wants to induce me on December 10th instead of the 17th! YIKES!! We are so excited...scared...nervous but most of all READY and HAPPY! I wasn't expecting it so I have lots to do before next Monday. If I go before then, I will let you all know....or someone will.

Come on little one! We are ready for you.

...and this baby was Kung Foo Fighting!

I am so thankful that this baby keeps me aware of its presence but let me tell you, he/she has got a leg!! I know that with my Asian genes that if it is a boy, he doesn't have much of a chance at being a lineman but a kicker isn't so bad.
If it's a girl, then I won't have to worry about her not being able to protect her self! I have knitted booties in blue and pink (and white and Crimson too) so they are ready either way.

Ballerina toes or a Punter?

Have you ever felt like someone was kicking you while you were down? Well Baby M kicks me when I'm up, down, sideways....wherever! This is the foot that keeps kicking the bajeezus out of me. Cute, huh? I know that most of you wanted to pan over a little to the left to see the goods but we will have the grand debut soon enough. I can't wait to meet you little one. Mama is ready for you to get here. :)