Charlies birth story + Our NICU experience.

Charlie's birth was COMPLETELY different than my other two. I went in with a mindset of how it would play out (induced per usual & everything planned out) but Charlie seemed to have a plan of her own. Also if you know me at all I'm not good with getting out of my plans lol I like to have everything planned out to a T.

 Tuesday, June 24 I woke up and went to the doctor like I do every week...after checkup she said if I am not in active labor by noon call her...ughhhh what?! I still had like a month until her due date. So I went home and took the kids on a walk and within 30 min my contractions were 2-5 minutes apart.

To say I was nervous was an understatement...SO I called Benny right away and told him it was time and to get to the hospital asap...I have a history of having my babies in under 30 minutes or so after hitting active labor... Than my mom came and grabbed me and we headed in.

After a few minutes of getting admitted they moved me over and we started my epidural. Shortly after at 1:05 PM Charlie made her entrance into the world!! I was so overwhelmed with excitement when they sat her on my chest but knew pretty quick that something wasn't right...She didn't cry and was just making a grunting noise...They took her back and over to the other side of the room to try to get her breathing right. As much as my mom and Benny were trying to keep me calm and say everything was fine I could tell by their faces that it wasn't. My nurses called the NICU doctor in and they took her pretty quickly. As hard as I was trying to keep it all together I just started sobbing. This wasn't the plan. We didn't get to hold her, love on her or breastfeed her.

After what felt like forever (really like an hour) they let me go to the NICU to see her...Her lungs didn't expand as they were supposed to and her heart was beating 100-130 times per minute (typical newborn is 40-60). I cannot even begin to explain how hard it is to see your new baby with IV's, tubes, oxygen & intubated. Not being able to hold her was miserable. All you want is to take away your child's pain and I couldn't do a single thing. The nurses were amazing at letting me sit there with her all hours of the night...like seriously y'all they didn't kick me out until 4am to go sleep...

In the following days she had so many up's and downs. Finally one afternoon I got a call that changed everything...they were able to exubate her and just have her on oxygen...This was a huge step in the right direction for us and after one extremely long week we FINALLY got to bring out girl home. It was the best feeling and the kids couldn't wait to meet their sister after having to be so patient for so long.

Now that we are about 2 weeks out I am starting to feel like myself again and I am so grateful for that. I'm so thankful that our girl got to come home when she did and we now have a healthy tiny babe! We love you so Mrs. Charlie Lynn!

Summer Bucket List

Hello friends! Now that summer is in full swing we are loving filling our days with adventures while we wait for baby C to make her appearance. I asked the kids what were their must's for this summer and was not a single bit surprised by their answers!

1. Campfire dinners - the kids LOVE cooking over the fire pit and playing outside all evening.
2. Splash pad & pool - We seriously spend every single minute possible in the water at this point. Haha plus it feels so good on mama's back!
3. Nature trail walks - We love to spend our mornings exploring the trails and seeing how many snakes and birds we can come across.
4. Go to the lake - Yet again my kids would LIVE in the water if they could.
5. Read more books - it's the best way to spend a hot afternoon
6. Ice Cream for dinner - We have the cutest ice cream shop, Andy's, down the street and the kids love to go eat on the patio and run around.

What are your summer plans? We would love to hear all about them.

Creating Your Happiness

At the beginning of this year I chose a word that I wanted to use as motivation for the year of 2018. That word was GROWTH. I wanted to pour completely into myself daily and grow as a wife, mother and friend. I wanted to be confident, a great leader but most importantly I wanted to be HAPPY. Not just happy in a moment but 100% happy within myself. So I have made a list of things I do daily to grow myself and create my happiness and I wanted to share that list with you.

1. Take care of YOU. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Find things that fuel your fire and make them a priority. For me it's running. I LOVE to run and its my time to myself. Maybe it's something as simple as taking a bath with your favorite bath bomb each night, reading your favorite book 10 minutes a day or sitting in the car eating an ice cream cone alone (I mean I KNOW I'm not the only mom who does this!) Whatever it is, make it and YOU a priority so you can be your best self.

2. Get inspired daily! Read a daily devotional first thing each morning, listen to podcasts, read a personal development book.  Make a list of your favorite feel good songs and blast them while you get ready or a pinterest board full of inspiring quotes to read. Get re inspired daily.

3. Treat your body right. Take your vitamins, eat your veggies, drink a protein shake and work out daily! You only have one body and when your fueling it with the best you feel the best.

4. Get rid of negativity. Unfollow social media accounts who don't inspire you. Stop responding to people who don't believe in you or are constantly full of drama. I know this is easier said than done. But surround yourself with people who believe in you and your dreams. Who build you up and help you be the best YOU!

5. BE GRATEFUL!!! This for me has been a huge one. I always heard people say this and would roll my eyes. But every single day I have been making a list of 5-10 things I am grateful for and it really helps enhance my mood daily,

6. Be kind. Go out of your way and do something nice for someone else. Not only are you making somebody else's day but you feel better.

What do you do daily to create your happiness? Do you like seeing this kind of stuff on the blog or should I stick to mom stuff? I hope y'all have a great week!

Sibling Snapshot

I thought it would be fun to share a little update of the kids! Plus these will always be so great to go back and read on as they continue to grow (way to fast). I'm also dreading how HUGE Langston will look whenever baby Charlie gets here. We received some newborn outfits for her from my mom yesterday and I had forgotten how tiny they were. Seriously y'all. The days are slow but the years go fast.

Kennedy (5-almost 6)- She wants to own her own dance studio when she grows up so she doesn't have a boss and can dance all day. She also is making "YouTube" videos daily...AKA recording herself doing her hair and makeup daily on my phone...It's seriously the cutest thing I've ever seen!! She is such an AMAZING big sister. Like seriously y'all...Langston needs/wants anything she offers to get it..She also talks about how she wants to set a good example so he can help her do the same for Charlie. It's the sweetest thing ever. She is loving at looking at baby clothes and asks me daily when her sister will be here. She also misses all her friends from school and cannot wait for kindergarten again this upcoming year!

Langston (1)- He still isn't talking much but is starting to try. He is a pro at saying snack tho 😉 He knows all his body parts and is working on colors. He LOVES anything with an engine; plane, car, train you name it! He takes them and makes vrooming noises all over the house and it's the cutest. He would LIVE outside if we would let him. Any chance he gets to help daddy with tools too is a must! He is a pro at climbing (and I mean anything in like 2.5 seconds). We also just moved him into a big boy bed (due to the climbing lol) and he is doing so well.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer breaks just as much as we are!! Until next time friends!

Summer Schedule

Soooo I know I am totally guilty of not staying up to date on here near as often as I should...Which I hope to change soon lol but I have gotten a ton of questions on Instagram asking us about our summer schedule! So I thought I would share.

I usually get up around 6am that way I can squeeze in an hour of work before the kids wake. This gives me time to feel like I am being productive and a great attitude and mindset for the day.Around 7 or so the kids start to wake up, we take vitamins, make and eat breakfast...usually pancakes, eggs, yogurt or fruit and cereal. Next the kids do their chores while I do my room for the day. I like to do a room a day and than a quick pickup/sweep mop. It helps each room stay organized and the house not looking like a complete disaster 😂

Around 830-9 we head to the local park and splash pad and play until about 10-1030. This is seriously the best thing ever because it wears the kids out!! Once home we change/start laundry and do lunch. We are sandwich and fruit lovers for lunch or hot dogs for Langston! He's slightly obsessed lol. Than we lay Langston down for his nap and Kennedy and I watch a movie while I get some work stuff done.

Than whenever Langston decides to wake up we usually will go in the back yard and play/work in the garden until daddy get's home from work and do dinner and than either go on a walk or to the pool until bedtime!

It can get crazy & chaotic but I seriously love (just about) every minute having them home all day with me & will dread whenever Kennedy has to go back to school! What are some of your tips & tricks to get through the long, hot days with your littles?!

New Years 2018

Happy New Year! Can you believe it's already 2018?! Like seriously! I feel like time is going by quicker and quicker, especially as the kids are getting older....I mean how do I already have one halfway through full day Kindergarten and another one that is ONE...where has time gone? 2017 has been a year full of battles and struggles but also new beginnings that have been better than I ever expected.

I am feeling very optimistic about the things we can and will accomplish this year...individually and as a family... Like maybe Langston deciding to sleep through the night (; I mean a mom can dream right?! Continuing to build the wonderful community on this blog and finding our footing as I reenter the salon world. Kennedy getting this whole reading thing down and saying yes to more family adventures.... I'm also excited about the things we will not accomplish...you see raising kids is the MOST IMPORTANT task...I feel like sometime's that's forgotten in the hustle and bustle of life. This year I want to slow down...take the time to play one more round of candy land...push them on the swing one more time...and read one more bedtime story. I want life to be more simple this year and I'm positive that it can be done.

On a much smaller scale, I have a few personal resolutions...Like cooking more often, waking up before the kids and getting organized, finding a home for these 500+ toys (; 

What are your resolutions?! 

Holiday Family Pictures

For awhile now our parents have been hinting that they would love pictures of all of us kids and grandkids for awhile. So we decided to surprise them this Christmas!! I am so excited to share a few of the pictures with y’all. Also a huge thank you to my sweet friend, Bobbi Lane , for capturing our pictures in less than 20 minutes, even with the little ones not completely cooperating. 😉