Happy New Year!!

Good bye 2008 ... Hello 2009

As many of you know 2008 has been a blessed year for the Rakestraw family. I hope it has been for you as well. As we say goodbye to 2008 lets look back at some of the wonderful things that have happened
1) Travis got his pilots license
2) Chase and Skylar successfully welcomed their baby sister into the world
3) Live to see another day and lets pray this continues after January 21st!

With all the crappy things that have happened this year, ie stock market basically crashing, new president elected blablabla we need to be thankful for things that happened in retrospect to these... Gas prices Finally went down and there's a new page being written for the history books "First African American elected President."

We, the Rakestraw's have had to say goodbye to a very dear loved one. Meemommie will greatly be missed! We have also been blessed this year in welcoming Mason (Tim and Kimberly's son) and Britain into the famiy.

So as we finish this chapter in our lives in the next couple of hours and reflect on the great, yet some sad, things that has changed us for ever, I pray that God has blessed you, your family and loved ones as he has blessed mine. God bless and Happy New Year!

Rakestraw Annual Christmas

Sunday was our Annual Rakestraw Family Christmas dinner and gift exchange, for the kids anyway. We all had a great time and ate WAY to much. Unfortunately, this year we were missing the reason the Rakestraw family even exists, Meemommie. She left us to be with her maker back on October 23rd and we all miss her dearly. She was worried that when she left us we wouldn't continue the Annual Christmas party but there are too many of us that won't let that happen. It's because of her that the family is even here, we owe it to here to keep the tradition alive. The three boys are getting older and at least one of them is getting more "Bah-humbugish" but there are new and old members that are more than willing to spend a few hours with each other once a year.
There are more pictures on my facebook if you are interested. We eat, drink and be merry like most families but it's one of my favorite days of the year. I married into a great family!

Christmas 2008

Here are this years Christmas photos

My new Mantle

As some of you know, last year we had to tear down the wall and my mantle due to a leak around the fireplace at the ceiling. So last Christmas we didn't have a mantle to put the stocking up, it was just a whole in a brand new wall. We didn't have a mantle all year, it's been a busy year and there were other more important things on the list to be done around here.

I told Travis before Thanksgiving that he was to complete my mantle after the turkey holiday because I didn't have a mantle last year and I wasn't going to go another Christmas without one.

It use to be a brick hearth and was brick going up along side the old mantle. It is now done and gorgeous. I am so happy with it and can't wait to find something very large to decorate over it. A nice big flat screen would be nice, hehe. Any body have any suggestions?

The kitchen floor is next to be tiled since we just had to buy a wet saw thing-a-ma-jig to cut the tiles with for this project, whatever!

7 weeks and 4 days old

Well, I've had enough of this being awake until 3 or 4 in the morning crap. Last night we, me, was doing some research on line to figure out what to do. I didn't have this problem with the other two.

So last night we started a "Routine" and I am exhausted. We got a bath at 7:30 and at 8pm we were in the crib. Yes, the crib. She slept for about an hour, then for the next hour I was going back and forth putting the passy back in and patting the back and rocking the crib. Needless to say all of this went on until 4:15 this morning and she finally passed out until Travis came in to wake us up at 7am (I'm pooped). I kept her up until 11:30 this morning and made her take a nap, in the crib (yay go me) until 2:30. Now if I can keep her up until 7:30 ish or so tonight, take a bath and go to bed maybe we'll have a "routine" in play.

She weighs a ton, Travis made the comment that his thumbs don't touch when you hold her up under her arms. I haven't gotten on the scale with her lately but she goes back to the doc on Dec 22. As you can see in the picture, she is holding her head up very well. She was doing it from birth but she doesn't doddle it anymore. Now if I can only get rid of the pootin'.

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

One month check up

We went to the doc on Tuesday for our one month check up. Now remember, or maybe I didn't tell you, we left the hospital weighing in at 7.1 and then the doc check five days later at 7.3 pounds. Well one month later we weight 10.6 pounds and we have grown 2 and a half inches.
We are starting to get some sort of schedule, knock on wood, so hopefully I can get on the computer more than just once a week to update these sites.
Oh, btw...there's more pics on Britain's website (there's a link under "My peeps")

26 days old

Today Britain is 26 days old and still has no routine!! Are you suprised? Didn't think so. We need one so badly its not even funny. I mean really come on it's been a week since my computer has even been turned on!!

More later, gotta run make a bottle.

Britain Victoria has arrived

Early Friday, October 17th, 2008 at 2:40 my water broke. Not sure what was going to happen next I waited to make sure it was my water. It was and I woke Travis up about an hour and a half later and told him, he responded with "yeah right."
I called the doc to find out what was going on, I had only had one contraction in that hour and a half. She said some people start right away and some have to be put on a petocin drip and to go ahead and get the kids ready for school and then go onto the hospital so I did.
We dropped the kids off, which they were not happy about and told them it could take all day long but that we would come pick them up when the baby comes. Travis and I went to the hospital and the nurse checked to make sure it was my water and it was. I got an IV and was ready to get started on the drip by 9AM.
By 10:30 I ordered my epidural knowing the nurse had told me it would take about 30 minutes for the epidural doc to get to my room and administer the thing. At 11 he walked in and the miracle of modern medicine took place :) I was only 3 cm dilated when I walked into the hospital and at 11 was still only 3 cm. At 12:30 the midwife came in to check me because the contractions were making Britain's heart rate drop dramatically every time. I was then 4 cm but they lowered the petocin drip from 10 to 8 to see if it helped with Britain's heart rate and it did. I told Pam, my midwife that I was worried that they were going to have to do a C-Section or that it would take all day to dilate to 10 cm at this rate. She said not to worry that she felt that once I started to dilate it would just take off and it would be time. Well, at 2PM Travis commented on my contractions being off the chart and it was then that I realized that I was feeling a lot of pressure with each one. The last time I felt pressure like that was when I was in labor with Chase and it was time to push. So when my nurse walked in I told her about the pressure and she proceeded to check my progress. Her response was "ok, it's time, don't laugh and cough!" She then got on the phone and called the midwife Pam. The other nurse proceeded to hold my legs shut to keep Britain in. Pam came running into the room putting her scrubs and gloves on. She then said ok let push, as I took a deep breath, grabbed my legs under my knees and put my chin to my chest she was already on the table. I KID YOU NOT!!
Now why couldn't the other two be that easy?
On 10/17/2008 at 2:15 PM weighing in at 7 lbs and 8 oz and 19 inches long I welcomed my third and final baby into the world.

36 weeks and 4 days

I went for my 36 weeks doc appointment praying that there was better news than last week. Please tell me "something" is happening, anything.
Well, I was having what I thought was braxton hicks all weekend long. I'm guess they were actual contractions because when Vicky checked me this morning I was 50% effaced and dilated 1 cm.
Apparently when she checked me some of the membranes ruptured and I started bleeding and shedding some clots. So before I left the doctors office I told her that I was bleeding pretty good and that there were clots as well. She wanted to check me again to make sure they were clots and not actual tissue (what the difference or importance in difference is I don't know). Well I in about 20 minutes time was thinned even more and dilated to 2 cm.
Woohoo right!!! here we go. Not. I got some lunch, came home, threw the bags and cameras in the car, went to the school to get the kids and to go walking like Vicky told me to. That's when it all stopped. The walking stopped my contractions???? So the kids and I headed home (I was exhausted anyway) to lay down and for the kids to do their homework. Obviously there was no baby coming.
So after dinner I decide to go jump on the treadmill and see what I can get started. I started having some contractions again and more frequently too. As soon as I got off the stupid thing (I couldn't walk anymore my feet and back were killing me) they stopped. I don't know what the crap is going on but I guess I should at least be happy that "something" is going on.

A trip to L&D

Well needless to say I have now began to pack my bag for the hospital. My appointment on Thursday didn't go quite as smoothly as I had hoped.
I've been having some discomforts and so I wrote them down to discuss with the doc at my next appointment. After a really long, stressful week here at home (don't ask, very emotional still) my blood pressure was up just a tad, really only a tad. Anywhoo, between the protein in my urine, my blurred vision for the past couple of days and the burning feeling in my gallbladder area Vicki decided to send me over to the hospital to be tested for Pre-Eclampsia. I figured the burning was just my normal gallbladder problems or the baby pushing, kicking and stretching but as it turns out it could also be some kind of gasterinternal stuff that is caused by Pre-E.
So I haven't been going to the bathroom as often as most preggers (yeah yeah TMI) and with the protein in my urine she also ordered a cath, JOY!! So my mom-in-law walked me over to the hospital for check in and as soon as we walk into L&D a girl greets me with "Hey, didn't you play the clarinet for the McEachern band?" Great, I get to have a cath done by someone I went to high school with, talk about embarrassing! I haven't changed a bit apparently since I last saw her and even weighing in at almost 200 pounds she still recognized me.
I finally got out there almost three hours later after being poked, prodded and embarrassed with the on call doctor telling me that he's not putting me on bed rest but that I was to go home and take it easy. My blood work and urine came back ok, even though my blood sugar was 63 and I was starving I was ok. I still don't know what the burning feeling is but as least we've ruled out Pre-E. I still have to a 24 urine test starting tomorrow morning and collect my pee for a day and bring it in on Monday. Doesn't that sound exciting. Vicki worries that I have some kind of infection, well yeah, you ordered a Cath!! I hate those things!!
So, I have been taking it easy and laying on my right side per the doc and I have begun to pack my bag. I still need a nursing bra though, can you believe I'm gonna have to go to the stinking mall to get one. I've been to like five different stores out here and none of them carry nursing bras, I really should contact their head quarters and complain!
I still have to pack a diaper bag but the shower isn't until next Saturday and I don't have anything yet. Kinda scary to tell you the truth. Travis can't move the office furniture to the new office (we got carpet this week, more stress added to my week) but when they stretched the carpet one of the tack strips came up and they have to come back and fix it before we can start to move the furniture. Which means the nursery is still full of office furniture and Travis isn't going to go in the attic for the baby furniture when there's no place to put it if he gets it down. And the storage tub of Skylar's clothes can't come down either for me to wash and put them away. I can't even was some of the new clothes I've gotten cause there's no place to put them once their washed, arrrrgggggg. It's really very aggravating and stressful but I'm trying to take it easy so I will still have time to get all of this done and that she doesn't decide to come too soon. It's getting closer and I'm starting to panic. Travis is doing really well with all of this, seeing as how this is my project and he has to deal with my emotions and attitude. I will say that my attitude has been really good considering my last two pregnancies where NO ONE could stand to be around me. I was always a grump, especially when I didn't get my food. But I've only gained (according to the doctors scales even) a total of 29 pounds. I have been drinking lots (and I mean lots) of water and eating my fruits and veggies. I splurge every now and then, like Travis is on his way home with a DQ chilly dog for me, hey it's better than a blizzard or a banana split, mmmmmm a banana split!!
Anyway, I've babbled long enough that I have lost my eBay stuff that I watching, darn it. Well, I'll keep you up to date more this week or next depending on how exciting thing get.

Ready to really pop...

32 weeks down and hopefully only 6 more to go. I know she needs time to bake and I'm really trying to enjoy this since she is my last but I'm ready.

Ready to pop

I have officially 9 1/2 weeks remaining (68 days) but I have already told my doctor that she better not make me go the full 40 weeks. This old body of mine just can't handle much more of this. I get about 2 1/2 hours of sleep at night for a couple nights and then on the third night I take a couple Tylenol PM's and totally crash! This week for some reason has been really hard and I have the sneakiest feeling that each week from here on out will only get harder.

People that have never seen me preggers before tell me how cute I am and people that have seen me through either one or both of my other pregnancies tell me "Wow, you're not very big!" They know! I gained like 55 pounds with my other two and so far have only gained 26 with this one. Granted that all can change in 9 weeks but we'll see. And their right, I'm not very big in comparison to my other pregnancies. With my other two, I was huge and huge all over. This time it's all my belly, which to be honest is nice "Really" looking pregnant and not just FAT!

She currently is almost 3 pounds and is about 15 1/2 inches from head to toe (according to http://www.babycenter.com/). I'm told that they do scheduled c-sections no more than ten days prior to the due date so I'm going to ask on Monday, my next doctors appointment, if we can induce then too. It would be nice to have a date, my parents who are 500 miles away, to tell my family. That would put us at October 20th but I don't know if she'll go for it or not.

I have a website made up just for our little baby boo, she's one of my peep links if your interested. It's all about the pregnancy right now but when she's born that's where the majority of my postings and photos about her will be.

Tomorrow is Skylar's 8th birthday party at Jump 4 Joey's, it's one of those inflatable, indoor places. She is on cloud nine, she hasn't had a birthday party outside of the house before, I've always done them here and I WILL NOT do it this year, I physically can't! And I have found out that you pay for the convenience of places like this, holy cow! But for me right now it's worth every penny! Travis is having boy's night out with Chase tonight, Chase is at the age where he really needs the one on one time with his dad, and Skylar and I went to eat and to pick up her...Hannah Montana cake. Like that's a surprise! Her birthday is actually on Monday and I'll take a cookie cake up to the school so she can celebrate it with her classmates and then we'll take her to dinner that night. She's watching the new Cheetah Girls movie on Disney right this very minute. She is definitely your typical little girl.

Well, I'm gonna jet, I need to lay down and get these feet out from under my rib cage.

The day has arrived....

The first day of school!! Awww the dreaded annual first day of school picture, always a must but I got a smile this year from Chase!!!

Time for school.....

School starts here on Monday, August 11th. I have one child thrilled to death to see her friends again and the other, well, not so much..

We have our new book bags, lunch bags (there bags now, not boxes) and new shoes. They wear uniforms and believe it or not they all still fit from last year, thank goodness. It's tough buying uniforms AND regular clothes too, not to mention the amount of laundry I do when schools back in session. They wear their uniform to school and then as soon as they get home it's into their "play clothes" which to most kids is the clothes they went to school in, then later pajama's. Lots of laundry!

So when we were in Mt. Vernon, Skylar and Ally were always doing each other's hair (french braiding) and Skylar wanted me to learn how to do it too. I figured with another girl on the way (who probably won't even have hair until she's 3 or 4 years old like my other two kids) I'd better learn how to braid. I googled it and found a very helpful video on youtube. I didn't do too bad for my first attempt if you ask me!! Apparently though I was really pulling on her head cause she hasn't asked me "practice" since.

The month of July.....

has been a very long month for the Rakestraws. The kids spent two weeks in Illinois with my folks in June. I missed them so much and I now don't know why, jk! Then we had the fourth of July that we spent and my brother Brad's house, two birthdays (aunt Ali and Mimi), we rented movies and video games, we tracked all over Stone Mountain one Saturday (not advised in 96 degree weather being 6 months preggers) then we packed up and drove to Illinois again.

We were only suppose to be there for 5 days, for a family reunion, but mom, dad and I spent so much time cooking and cleaning and getting ready for the whole famn damily to come to mom's house that I didn't feel like we spend any time visiting at all. So when it came time to leave the kids and I were just a bawlin' not wanting to go so Travis brought us back to Nana and Papa's for another week. Bless his heart, drove all the way home by himself, stayed at home by himself all week (I'm sure the quiet was nice) and then drove back up to get us. His' such a doll sometimes.

Brian left his kids, Zach and Ally, at mom's as well to spend time with Nana and Papa Dixon and I sort of felt like we were getting in the way of their time but the kids kept each other so busy it was a really nice visit for me, hehe. My kids haven't really spent time with Brian's kids since Skylar was about 2 when we went to Texas, I think? We were all together last year but this last week was just the kids, doing kids stuff (swimming, fishing, watching tv and playing video games) that they had a really nice time. Chase and Ally are both 10 and Zach and Skylar are both 7 and you would think they would be with the kids that was their age, Nope!! Boys played with boys and the girls stuck together. Sure by the end of the week they were tattling on each other and getting aggrevated with one another but that's to be expected.

But we're home, the months almost over and school starts in 11 days!! Then what do I do?

Wall E

THE KIDS ARE HOME!!!!

The kids came home a couple days early, my brother Brad was in town, Mt. Vernon that is, and brought them home for me. Saving me gas money and 10 hours on the road!! Thank you Brad, you Rock!

The kids slept in, Skylar slept til noon, then we went to go see Wall E and had dinner. It was was back to the same ole same old but it was wonderful!! I really missed them. Apparently mom does too because they hadn't been gone but a couple hours from her destroyed house and she was calling me all sad and lonely. Don't worry mom, we'll be back in a couple weeks and I do mean We'll, as in all of use, all 14!! You won't be lonely that weekend.

Until next month!!

Anniversary weekend

It was a long and exciting weekend. The Darley's planned a wonderful weekend and every minute we were doing something. From dinner at the Country Club to River tours and Dinner Cruises. It was fantastic. I had been to Chicago before, in 1994 for a wedding, but this trip was truly extraordinary.

I still miss my kids but I'm now only 6 days away from going to get them so I'm doing better. I talk to them every day, their having fun. Yesterday they went down the way to the pond to go fishing. Chase came home earlier very well not happy. Skylar caught 6 fish and papa caught 2, needless to say Chase didn't catch any, hench why he was not happy.

Anywho...more Chicago pics on myspace if you're interested. There's great fireworks shots.

Bored!!

Monday morning the kids and I got up with the car all packed up and hit the road. I meet mom and dad in Clarksville, TN to give them the kids for a couple of weeks. We got there around noon time and met them at Cracker Barrel for lunch. It was so cute, Chase sat in the middle of three chairs at the table and made sure that Nana sat on one side and Papa sat on the other of him. And Skylar sat in Papa lap and wouldn't let him finish eating, poor papa.
After lunch we went over to the fabric outlet and I found the most perfect fabric for a baby sling for the newest edition to the Rakestraw family!! It's chocolate and pink stripes, absolutely perfect, I'm hoping to be able to do the nursery in the pink, chocolate and cream stripes and circles, kinda retro but I love it.

My kids don't even miss me, I call every day and their having a blast. Nana and Papa let them do whatever they want to and I get to sit in the house all quite and alone. It's kind of depressing. We're leaving for Chicago Friday morning and returning Sunday for an Anniversary celebration thing for Travis' work, and we've been married for 12 years on Sunday. 12 years!! with the same man. I'm only 32, lordy!
Well, I'm gonna go to bed now. I have nothing to do, no baths, no pj's NOTHING. You would think I would be enjoying all of this seeing as how I haven't been with out my kids for longer than a couple days. But after 10 years of having them here, it's hard not having them here. And with me not working anymore, I have a hard time even getting out of bed, I mean really..why?

Good News

We had our appointment today with the perinatal specialist to do another sonogram and look at what my OB/GYN says is an irregular heartbeat or fetal arrhythmia.
She checks out fine and the doc said 9 out of 10 babies that are diagnosed with fetal arrhythmia in the first or second trimester usually corrects itself. They measured her and with their measurements I am only 20 weeks today so they want to keep the October 30th due date. No biggie, what's 4 days any way after 9 months. He, the doctor, says she looks great, no downs, no cleft lips and weights about 14 ounces and approximately 10 1/2 inches long! He does want to see me again in four weeks but I'm not surprised, they want my co-pay, hehe.
We got some more really good pics of her, no 3D ones though. I'll try and get them from Travis so I can scan them and post. There's a great on of her little footsie.
I'll keep you posted when more arises. My next appointment at my OB is July 1st, I believe I'll be doing the glucose test, yummy! And my next Perinatal appointment is Juy 9th.

The results are in

And we're having a GIRL!!!!!

Renaissance Festival

Saturday we drug the kids to the Georgia Renaissance Festival knowing they would have a great time. Guess what...they did and can't wait to go back next year. Last week I saw a commercial for it stating that this was the last weekend until next year. I called Travis and told him we needed to take the kids. Friday night when we told the kids we were going they moaned and groaned and through temper tantrums because they wanted to go to a neighbors and go swimming. Boohoo....

They LOVED it. They didn't want to leave. Sword swallowing, Jousting, glass blowing, pirates you name it and it was there. Skylar got her hair braided and they both got their face painted. We were there for 6 hours and still had to make them leave. I couldn't handle anymore walking, my feet were so tired!! All we've heard for the past 24 hours is "Can we go back next year?"

Laying around

Went to the doctor today for my normal appointment. It was a good thing because the past couple of days haven't been feeling too good. I know the whole ligament stretching thing going on but this was way more then muscles stretching. I could barley get out of bed this morning I hurt so bad. I've also been kind of worried that I haven't really felt this little one moving or kicking. Chase and Skylar both made themselves known long before the 16th week.
So, it takes me a while to get to the doctors appointment I was so slow getting ready. Turns out it's not just a ligament stretching but a pulled ligament not to mention the baby has taken up residency on my top of this ligament! Oh yeah, and I might have a bladder infection. We'll know Friday.
This pregnancy has been nothing like my other two, NOTHING!
My next appointment is June 3rd, the "sex" ultra sound!! Vicki thinks it a girl because only girls are as cooperative as this kid is. But in the last ultra sound the cord was between it's legs and no matter what Mandy did to get it to move it wouldn't. So who knows.
I just know I'm in pain and apparently am not drinking enough water, ewwwwww. I hate water, it has no taste.
Well, keep me in your thoughts. I hope this passes. It's worse than the morning sickness.

Saturday will be 16 weeks

Saturday will be 16 weeks.

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she/he'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her/his weight and adding inches to her length. Her/his lower limbs are much more developed now. Her/his head is more erect than it has been, and her/his eyes have moved toward the front of her/his head. Our baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her/his more advanced body systems are working, including her/his circulatory system and urinary tract. Her/his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her/his total blood volume through her/his body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her/his scalp has begun, though her/his hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her/his eyes are moving (slowly), and she/he's even started growing toenails.

New Due Date

So I went for a sonogram yesterday and there is only one bean in this pod!!! Sorry you guys wishing I was having two, shame on you.

The old due date was October 30th, the doc gave me that date from the OBGYN "date wheel." Anyone who has had a child knows what that wheel is. It's how they calculate the due date of your child from the date of your last period, add 7 days and subtract 3 months. Real actuate! HA.

When I went for my first appointment I told Vicki that this kid was conceived on Feb. 2nd but she wanted to go by the "wheel" and gave me a date of Feb 6th that it was conceived (whatever). So last week I go in for my monthly visit and she says that I'm measuring a week and a half further along and wanted to do a sonogram to see why. That was yesterday's visit.

Mandy is GOOD!! She measured Baby Boo and according to her measurements I am 14 weeks as of tomorrow, Saturday April 26th. AND if you subtract 14 weeks from tomorrow you get what date?????? February 2nd !!! I told you hehehehe.

N E Who...... we're doing fine, Mandy got a great shot between the legs but the umbilical cord was in the way. Maybe next time. :)

My next appointment is on May 14th at 17 weeks so who knows when the next sonogram will be.

11 1/2 Weeks

Our baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her/his hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her/his gums, and some of her/his bones are beginning to harden.She/he's already busy kicking and stretching, and her/his tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her/his body grows and becomes more developed and functional. I won't feel the baby's acrobatics for another month or two (whatever)— nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her/his diaphragm is forming.
I have a doctors appointment this Wednesday, April 16th at 10:40 am. This is where Vicki says she can determine if it's a boy or a girl, she says it depends on if he/she makes it difficult to find the heart beat then it's a boy because boys are difficult! AMEN
To bad she's only kidding. But if the heart beat is like over 150 bpm then it's a girl and if it's slow, less then 150 bpm then its a boy. The tall tale is that the boys have a larger heart and beats slower whereas the girls have a smaller heart and have to beat faster to keep up. Whatever, I just want to hear a heartbeat!
For all of those still really wondering the sex, it probably won't be until mid to late June, sorry! But you know I'll post it when I find out!!

Their Hitched!!!

Saturday, April 5th, 2008 was a long, rainy day. However, that didn't stop the second couple that I have successfully fixed up that has gotten hitched!

The weekend actually started on Friday with the Bridal Luncheon and ended Saturday night after midnight. Needless to say....I'm pooped! I took Sunday and most of Monday to recoop.

Let's hope they don't get burned in Jamaica!

Oh how quickly they grow up

Amazing how

much they grow up in just

two years.

Very Sad today............

Today is the closing on my mom and dad's house in Powder Springs, GA. They moved to Mt. Vernon, Illinois back in August of '07 even though the house hadn't sold yet.

I guess over the past seven months, even though I've been to the new house in Illinois several times, it hasn't really been "done". While they were gone I've run over there to check on the sale flyer's, turned pool pump off and on, yada yada blablabla. So in my reality everything was still "ok" until today. I took another look around, made sure we got everything out of the house (because whatever is left after closing legally belongs to the New Yorkers) and as I walked from room to room I began to bawl like a little baby. Granted I live 10 miles down the road and I can come see it any time I want to, some just don't understand that as much as I moved around as a kid this was the one house that I thought was home. My parents were in this house for over 15 years and for the Dixon family...that's a long time. I finished high school in this house, I got engaged, married and had two of my three babies in this house. There are lots and lots and years and years of memories in this house. Holidays, birthdays, pool parties and cook outs.

This was the house that I wanted my kids to grow up coming to and having a house that was Nana and Papa's "Home" since I never really had one. Moving every two and a half to three years it's kind of hard to have a "Home." Anyway, today has been a very emotional day not to mention that my hormones are running crazy now a days anyway. I'm happy for my parents but I'm still sad that a chapter, a very long chapter, in my life is finished.

9 Weeks today and yeah Easter's over!!!

My new resident is nearly an inch long (about the size of a grape) and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's or he's starting to look more and more human. Her/his essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: the heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her/his tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone, now more tadpole baby. My baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her/his eyes are fully formed, but her/his eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She/he has tiny earlobes, and her/his mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that my baby's basic physiology is in place, she's/he's poised for rapid weight gain, OH S**T!!!

I've only gained like 2 or 3 pounds so far but I'm also retaining and...well other things, so my weight fluctuates! But oh Lordy, when that nausea is done I do believe the race is on!! My pole on here says you all think I'm having a girl! Why? I believe it to be a boy, Skylar needs to be the only princess and daddies girl! And I miss my little man so badly!! But regardless the sex, as long as this child is healthy I will be happy!

EASTER...................Is over, Hallelujah

Just a brief synopsis of how my Easter week..end was

It started last Wednesday night getting the eggs and stuff ready for Chase and Skylar's class hunt and party. So then last Thursday the kids have their hunt and parties and then when I pick them up from school I'm informed by Chase's friends mom that there's a Joy Club meeting/egg hunt tonight (Joy Club is put on by the Church for the school). It's a night hunt by flashlight, which is where I stole my idea from. Any whoo.. so I drop the kids off Thursday night for the hunt and don't get home til after 10 pm.

Friday (Good Friday) the kids are out and I have a buttt load of things to do, including the lovely task of getting my oil changed. The kids were horrible, especially Chase. When he doesn't want to do something, he makes my life hell for making him do it! Anyway....

Saturday morning we drive out to Douglasville for this county wide hunt (10,000 egg drop), well not even a hunt. A helicopter dropped them from the sky and then the kids went running after them. There were so many kids there that Chase got about 6-8 eggs and Skylar got like 2. Total waste of time! So, I'm hungry, imagine that! We decide to stop in at the Waffle House, mmmmmmmm. I go home after that and prepare for my egg hunt.

Saturday night, after putting reflector tape on 222 eggs and filling the eggs, my kids and several of the neighbor kids had a blast running through the yard with their flash lights looking for these eggs. (I'm still tired!!)

Sunday morning, we get up and go to church with the rest of GA that goes every Sunday and the ones that only attend on Christmas and Easter!! Huge cluster if you know what I mean...Then we go home, eat a little something (I go to the store for more goodies) and then we head to another hunt!! I'm truly hunted out by this point and just want to sleep. Needless to say I still haven't done the "grocery shopping" or the laundry (my Sunday tasks that have been kinda slacked the past couple of weeks).

Monday morning...I am crapping like a mug and don't go to work. Turns out I'm just stressin' and need to take it easy!! No harm, No foul!

So, I'm tired and need a rest!!!!!

8 weeks 6 days

How's baby growing:New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby-- abouth the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

Seven Weeks and Sicker than a dog

Yesterday marked the 7th week and for a week now morning sickness has been kicking my buttocks. There's crackers and a cup of water on my night stand that I'm reaching for before my eyes even open on some mornings. Other mornings I get up and have my cup of coffee (decaf, chill we switched) and I'm good til I get to work and have my apples and cinnamon oatmeal. There are some nights that I wake up and over and over again, and not to pee either. Travis asked me last night while we were up til after 1am cleaning the house for Chase mans 10th birthday party if my prenatal had any affect on my morning sickness?? ;) good point

So I started thinking, could my husband be right? When I went to the doctors office three weeks ago today Vicky gave me a bunch of different kinds of prenatal and told me to see which one I liked. So about every 5 to 6 days, depending on how many are in that pack, I'm taking a different kind of prenatal vitamins. Could that be whats making me sick? The ones I took during the first week didn't make me sick, I've only been getting sick the past week, hmmmmm very suspicious. I have also heard though from two different sources, not doctors mind you, that morning sickness in some is a sign of high levels of testosterone, maybe we're having a boy?

Anyway, this week my baby boo is still hard at work; Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities. Technically, baby boo is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her/his tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Baby boo has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry. In just a few weeks maybe I'll feel those little paddles!!

BooBaby

Is coming October 30th unless Vicky says otherwise on April 16th. That's my next doc appointment where she says she can determine the sex of the baby. WHAT you might be asking since I will only be 11 weeks and 6 days at that time!?! She said if this baby makes it difficult for her to find the heart beat it's a BOY because boys are always difficult, and this is where we all say "AMEN!!"
Some of you may not know this yet because your little man hasn't hit that stage yet. He is still in the cute stage, just wait. And right now you're saying to yourself "Not my little angle!" OH YES!!! I thought that as well and I'm hear to tell you with mine turning 10 in 6 days, OH YES, YOURS TOO!
I have been registering for all kinds of freebies on line and I was registered for this website that emails me with all kinds of really cool info about what's going on from week to week. There are also clubs and groups you can join to talk about your pregnancy and your progression. This to me is SO AWESOME becuase 8 and 10 years ago there wasn't ANYTHING like this. The only thing was a book or two and whatever your elders stories and advise you wanted to listen to.
If any of you reading this want to learn more about it...http://www.babycenter.com/ it is really interesting and informative. I joined a group "October Babies" and there is a group inside that group called "BooBabies" which I have also joined. It's for women all over the world, mainly the US that are having babies the end of October. I have to say another October baby isn't really what I had planned when we were trying but maybe this one will be late like Skylar and be a November Baby? Who knows
But anywho, so this week I have learned that my Boobaby peanut has been busy this week ...This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean. How cool is that!!

How the kids reacted to the news

OK, so last night I finally told Travis that we needed to tell them, basically before someone slipped up and said something to them before we could. He said ok and we rounded them up like a herd of cattle and sat them on the couch. For some reason Chase thought he was in trouble, hmmmmm maybe because 9 out of 10 times he is now a days. It's the preteen thing from what I understand.

Travis began with "Your not in trouble buddy, we have some big news to tell you guys." Both of their eyes lit up just like it was Christmas morning. "We're going out to eat, Papa's coming over," and then a bunch of other garbage came out too.
"NO," Travis said, "Bigger than that."
"This is going to change our lives." I added.

If you can't tell by now we were making the kids guess what the big news was.
Skylar sits up from her laying down position and screams out "You won the Lottery!!" Those eyes just as big as a deer in head lights. Travis and I laughed out loud with that guess.
"NO, but your on the right track with how big this news is." Travis said.
The whole time we have been talking to the kids Travis has been twirling Skylar's mini pink Nike basketball around the palm of his hand and his finger and then decides to stuff it under his shirt.

Chase pipes up, "That's gross dad, boys don't have babies!" So with that comment, I held out my hand for Travis to give me the ball. I then proceeded to place it under my shirt. The funniest thing to ever watch your child do is to put two and two together. You could see Chase doing the math and when he came up with the answer. The eyebrows rose and Travis and I said, "What do you think it is Chase, you obviously have figured it out."

"Are you pregnant?"he asks. Skylar then has a clue what planet we are all on now and her eyes light up, then a couple teeth start showing through, "Are you mommy?" Travis claps, for the kids have guessed what the big news is and we can all breath again, no more secrets. Chase decides to add his two cents before rising from the couch, "So...(slight pause) you're gonna get fat!" Nice, thank you Chase!! Then Skylar chimes in with her request for a sister as Chase quickly rebuts with his desire for a little brother.

For some strange reason I was worried that they would have questions, cause you know how kids are with those. None, not one!! So I thought I'd help, "So do you want to know about when the baby will be here?" Chase says "No, not really." NICE!!! Skylar says "Yeah, when?" I tell them around Halloween. He, the emotional Child that I have now crushed his world starts to tear up. I asked him what was wrong. He tells me that nobody in our family has a birthday near his, and he's dead serious when he tells me this. He is upset because this baby will be born close to my birthday and not his, go figure!!

So, the secrets out!!

Life gets more interesting......

Day by day life around the Rakestraw house gets more and more interesting. One of the most interesting thing which really shouldn't come as a shock to some of you iiiiisssssssss

Due to arrive October 30th!!!! Now some of your mouths have dropped wide open and some of you know how long I've been trying to get pregnant (over a year now). So, just be happy for me and keep us in your prayers.

The Tooth Fairy

Every have one of those days where the only thing that comes out of your childrens mouths are questions? And most of these questions you don't have an answer for. Well Monday was a holiday for the kids (Presidents Day) so we had lots of running around to do and things to be done around the house. Needless to say Chase was not happy about this, he thought he was going to be able to play soccer with the boys across the street all day long. Cause you know, their schedule is my schedule, NOT!



So, we're in the car on the way home from Linens-n-things (B1G1 sale, woohoo) and good ole Wally World and Chase says "Mommmm?" and of course I hesitate because of all the other questions that have already been asked. "Yes Chase?" Ok, here is where I tell you that I am horrible about remembering that before I go to bed I need to snag a tooth and well you know the drill.... It could be two days later and Chase will say "Mom, the tooth fairly's late again." Then I'm like Reba "CRAPPPP........" And he always pulls his teeth on a holiday when I have so much other stuff going on.



With that said, last week on Valentine's Day, I'm in the car pool line Chase jumps in with all his goodies from the party and says "Mom, I lost another tooth!" As I say under my breath, "Great" But out loud say "you got any left to eat with?" he then giggles. So Monday, he tells me that he looked in his Tooth Fairy Pillow and his tooth was still there and was now broken in two! Say it with me now "CRAPPPPPP!" I say really?? Guess the tooth fairy doesn't want a broken tooth!

I said as I laugh to myself. Remember now, Chase is going to be 10 in less then a month and you know he has to know what's going on, but we play along.



Now this is where my story gets funny. He wants to know why she doesn't want a broken tooth. Now come on, who does want a broken tooth? Right?? I tell him that the tooth fairy can't recycle it if it's broken. I kid you not, less then half a second later with the most seriousness of a face he says "YOU MEAN I HAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S TEETH IN MY MOUTH?!?" It took him no time at all to realize what I said about recycling to know what I meant. I'm at this point trying to keep the car on the road I'm laughing so hard. "No, but who wants a broken tooth?" I said.

Then a quiet little squeak of a voice from behind me says "I don't care as long as the germs are gone." "I'm kidding baby." I tell her. And so what have I done to myself now......MORE QUESTIONS.

I have cursed myself

The past week has been kind of a heckic one. It all started last Wednesday when I was on the phone with my biggest (oldest) brother. He was telling me about all the stuff going on in his life and I, stupid me, made the mistake of saying out loud that I had a boring life.


"A boring life?", he says. "You think stress free is boring, noooo, that's a comfortable life."


And that's all there was to that. Since then my life has turned upside down. From now until July my calander might have two weeks, a day here and a day there, that's free. What did I do? Ok, so far.....

I got an email from the Principle of the kids school asking me if I would head up the Field Day this year, "sure why not, I'm not busy." Bad choice of words. I am thrilled to be asked, truly I am. And I can't wait to dive into it. Then.........

Travis had to deliver a truck to Flagstaff, 1700 miles, and left Friday night and wouldn't be returning until Monday night. Leaving me with lots to do and only me to do it. Now I don't know about you but it was actually alot easier when I would just strap the kids in the stroller and roll on but now, oh my word!! This one runs over there, this ones having a hissy fit, then that one pulls the others hair and then well, momma ain't happy. And we're talking about 7 and 9 year olds, come on!!

So, Saturday morning, didn't sleep good (I don't by myself) and then mom calls. I'm on the phone with her and I'm already depressed enough with them being out of town, I went to mom's when Travis wasn't home, this sucks!! Anyway, I'm talking to her when Chase comes running out of the bathroom yelling "Ummmm, I think we have a little problem!" Great! My son doesn't just wipe his butt, he apparently wipes down the entire bathroom with all the TP he uses. He also tried to plung it himself, making matters worse. LORD HELP ME.

Later that afternoon we get in the car to run to the mall area, to David's Bridal to pick up my dress for Bert and Candi's wedding, when I rear end this guy! Geez can't a person get a break around here. I have three more stops to make and I'm on the side of the road on the phone with Geico! Joy!! Basically the light turned green, I went and he didn't, end of story. Until I get a call on Monday telling me that he's now claiming he's injured. WHAT NOW!!

So, anyway, there's lots more but you get the idea of what kind of weekend I had and keep my sanity in your prayers.

Oh, I attached a video I made for Travis for Valentine's Day if it works. If not and your a friend of mine on myspace check out my videos I have it posted there.
Until next time......And I hope it's not so "Boring"

Baby Mason

Last week the Rakestraw's received the newest member since August of 2004. Granted he's only a Rakestraw because of his momma but he's still a Rakestraw as far as we're all concerned.

We need a couple more, ahemmmm, me for instance. I would love more than anything in this world to have another one to add to the Rakestraw/Dixon count. I'm working on the donor, we'll see what happens..if anything.

So until then, welcome to the real world Mason! I'm very happy you made your entry healthy and safely. Be good to your momma, she's a great lady!!

Katastropheeeee over

Ok, after my last posting I realized, "Hey, maybe that's it. Maybe this is like myspace." So I googled it and sure enough I got me a custom background.
Now to figure out how to put music on here, hehehehe

So Tired......

I need someone to tell me how to create a better looking Blog site. I apparently was raised by Chimps and can't figure out how to make it look presentable.
It took me a while to figure out myspace but Come on....this is insaine!!

Him or Her Survey

Him or Her?

• How long have you been together?

Married for 12 years but "together" for 15 years

• How long did you date?

3 years

• How old is he?

32 years old

• Who eats more?

It depends on what is being served because we can both eat quite a bit

• Who said I love you first?

He did, I was in complete shock!! But not really, we were in High School at the time

• Who is taller?

He is but when we were dating we were the same height!

• Who sings better?

I truly don't think either of us sing that well but if I have to pick one...I'd pick me. Musically inclined people run in my family :P

• Who is smarter?

He is definately! He doesn't have a whole lot of common sense but when it comes to actual intellegence, he wins hands down.

• Who does the laundry?

Who do you think?? I do, I will say however, he does help sort on occassions

• Who does the dishes?

We use to have a rule where whoever cooked the other cleaned, and since we've had children I do both!!

• Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?

I do, why, does that mean I'm special??

• Who pays the bills?

He does, mainly online but he has always done the bill thing, I guess to feel manly?

• Who mows the lawn?

He does only because he doesn't like the way I do it, I've tried :P

• Who cooks dinner?

9 times out of 10 I do...unless he's pickin up something

• Who drives when you are together?

Mostly he does, he says it's because men look silly in the passanger seat with a woman driving.

• Who is more stubborn?

I think we are both equally stubborn. He would say I am but that just proves my point.

• Who kissed who first?

He did, and it was only a peck, soooo disappointing ;)

• Who asked who out?

It really depends on who's telling the story, we we're friends first and hung out together, alot, so who really knows.

• Who proposed?

He did of course

• Who is more sensitive?

Well let's see about this question now......ME!!

• Who has more friends?

I would say we both have a the same amount. His are mine, he has his co-workers and I have my co-workers. You get the idea.

• Who has more siblings?

I do, by one!!

• Who wears the pants in the family?

Hmmmmmmm well seeing as how he doesn't wear anything except pants I would say technically he does. As far as the "family" goes I would say it's a 75-25 thing.

Let it Snow.....

It has finally snowed in GA. It has been at least five years since there has been any kind of accumulation, at least that my kids are aware of.
It began about 4pm yesterday and snowed for two hours straight. It was amazingly beautiful. I didn't grow up with now like my brothers did. We left St. Louis when I was three, Brian was 9 and Brad was 11, so I don't recall having much snow. My brothers had many years of plenty of snow, but I'm not bitter about it at all, no not at all.
I love just watching it fall, it's so graceful, peaceful and just well amazing. Of course the kids had to go out in it, to the point where there where foot prints all over the yard. All the neighborhood kids were out playing in it too. Unfortunatley, I had a migrain and didn't get to enjoy any part of playing in it. I did lay on the coach and watched it coming down. Darn stupid head!

Monster Jam 2008

We try every year to go to the Moster Truck show, last year it was sold out but this year we made sure we had tickets (didn't want to hear the whimpering and crying again). I tell you it has really changed since Travis and I first started going in 1994. There were Tractor Pulls and there was always some kind of event to suprise you that wasn't there the year before. They no long race Big Foot, which coming from St. Louis (birth place of the first Monster Truck Big Foot) is really a disappointment. We have always liked Gravedigger, he is awesome, he does however have a new driver. He didn't do any of his wheelies. Goldburg is now Maximum Distruction and there are crazy trucks like the Monster Mutt. Yes, it has a tail, ears and a tonge.

We had a great time and the kids are good to go for another year at least. If they come to you, it's worth it! I swear, I have never seen as many rednecks in one building!

Vacation's Over!!

Today was the first day back for me and the kids. Back to work and back to school. None of us were really excited this morning when we left the house. Apparently Skylar had a good day, as soon as she got in the car she handed me a note about how much talking she was doing durning the day. Chase had nothing to say which told me he had a good day, you know men.

So, the holiday's were good to this side of the Rakestraw family. I got everything on my list (wasn't as big of a list as the kids), Travis got all kinds of airplane stuff and the kids got more than they needed!! We all enjoyed ourselves. On Nana's birthday the kids and I drove up to see her and Papa. It was a long trip, as it usually is, but we made the drive in 7 hours and 14 minutes. I even got to stop at Jack in the Box for lunch, yummmmmm. Mom loved her movie I made her of her and dad's life together, they both cried (and laughed). The weekend was a short one, we headed home on the 31st bright and early (didn't want to be on the road after dark with all the drunks). Made the drive coming home in 6 hours and 45 minutes, we only stopped to pee and went throught the drive through at Arby's. I tell the kids it's faster going home because we're going down hill, hehe.

The new year has been good so far. Made a couple resolutions that I have really been doing pretty good at keeping so far but hey, it's only the 8th!

As some of you know, Travis is taking flying lessons and according to the instructor is doing very well. It's because all he does is play his flight simulator on his computer and flies his RC planes. So, keep us in your prayers that he continues to do well!! This isn't really the kind of thing I had planned for us when we got married but who am I to stop the man from doing what he really loves doing?