Crazy House Of Boys!!

I am sooooo a Mom of Boys! I still can't believe God entrusted me with this sweet little, rough housing, crazy, creative, funloving.... the list goes on... boys!!  Here is a little August 2012 fun (Drew 4.5, Evan 2, Zach 8mos)...

 

Where did that Boy Come From?

I have been so terrible about updating my blog, which I am sure will come back to bite me as I look back to check info while scrapbooking, eek!  Let's see how much I can go back and remember from the last year.  I am going to start with this fun post!  For the longest time David and I wondered whose features Evan has because he looks so different from the other 2.  Then my Mom saved the day, when we were back for Christmas this past year (2012) she pulled some family pictures out and low and behold, there was his twin... who was it you ask... my Cousin Danny who is one of my Mom's Nephew's the son of my Aunt Jean. Just wait until you see this, it is crazy!

My Weight Loss Journey

I am working really hard to catch up on things and praying about some other possible ventures.  Right now I am working on "Downsizing" my weight and just starting the process of "Downsizing" our clutter.  Anyhow, as I go through this process I will be posting on here and praying about the possibility of creating another blog to share my life ventures.  In the meantime, I wanted to share some info, to hopefully hold myself accountable during this journey.

Starting Weight:  223 (after having Zach)
Starting WW Weight (End of March 2012): 208

Weight as of Today (7/17/2012): 179

These pictures are from Apr 1-May 31st 2012.  I will post the next series of pictures once this month is over.

I have found success in doing Weight Watchers.  It allows me to still have control over what I eat, but teaches me how to manage it better!  I have around 30lbs to go, next goal complete a 5K!!

Our First Family BREAK!

Well, I am finally getting back to some normalcy around here, well that is the hope.  I felt like I was getting back to somewhat of a schedule a handful of weeks ago, then....drum roll... Evan broke his right femur bone on May 8th!  We are often asked, "how did this happen?"  To which we reply, we have NO IDEA!  Evan and Drew were playing out back as they often do while I am preparing dinner and I heard him crying.  Now let me tell you, even hearing that I didn't jump to go outside because they seem to take turns crying out back for various reasons.  I just happened to look up and saw Evan laying on the ground not getting up.  NOW, that was not normal.  I ran out and scooped him up and he was continuously crying.  Being a Mom that doesn't jump to any conclusions and of course knowing nothing about broken bones, we tried to put him down and even bribe him with candy to get him to try and walk just in case he had just twisted it wrong.  I just wanted to make sure before we rushed him somewhere.  He couldn't put any weight on it and at one point even fell over.  So, we put a call in to our Pediatricians emergency line for advice.  After an hour we finally go the call to take him to urgent care.

I was in the middle of prepping for our MOPS garage sale with some ladies and I had just put Zach down for the night, so I sent David with Evan.  After not long, I got the dreaded text from David saying he in fact broke his leg and not just any bone, but the hardest one to break, THE FEMUR.  We had asked Drew what happened several times, especially since he was circling him like a hawk.  He gave us 4 different stories, so we still don't know today what happened.

Once I got the text, my MOPS gals were so gracious and told me to go and they would hold down the fort. Drew and Zach were sleeping upstairs, so I was a bit reluctant, but these are some great ladies.  I gave our friend Alyson a call and she came right over.  Once I got to urgent care, they had Evan's leg in a splint and we were about ready to head to Children's Hospital in Dallas.  The ladies were so nice and even helped us get him all strapped in to the van.

Once up in Dallas we had to go to the emergency room and WAIT, even though our info was already called in.  I felt bad as David held him the whole time, good workout I guess.  Once we got back to a room, we again WAITED for quite awhile.  Let's just say the accident happened around 6:30pm, David headed to urgent care about 9:00ish (pm), and we got up to Dallas around 11pm.  We got back to our first room around midnight.  We were in that room for what seemed like forever.  Several people came in and out and we had to answer the question over and over again as to how this happened.  It is definitely a moment when you feel like an awful parent because you don't know a definite answer. Anyhow, we were told he wouldn't need surgery, but that he would be getting a "Spica" cast, which means from the waist all the way down the right leg and half down the left with just a small opening to shove a diaper into...eek!  He got his IV and we were told they would give him a sedative that would be like an out of body experience for him.  Although that sounds weird, we like the idea that they wouldn't have to use a tube down his throat, he would just be in a deep sleep.

We waited for a long while, then finally they moved us to the room that he would get his cast, which was about 3am.  In there we were just waiting for all the parties to coordinate their schedules, so finally around 3:30am the casting began.  We got to stay with him until the actual casting.  It was so weird when he got the sleeping meds, he fought it as long as he could, then fell asleep with his eyes open...freaky!  I might add, he had been awake the WHOLE time and for the most part in good spirits.  He was such a trooper!!

The casting took about 30minutes, then we got to go back in.  He looked so peaceful sleeping, poor guy.  They were trying to wake him up just long enough to get a response and he wasn't having it.  So, I felt so bad they brought in a bag of ice and put it on his belly, feet, neck...anything to wake him up.  He finally woke up long enough to tell the nurse "STOP IT."  We again waited for our room, love the waiting!  We got to our room around 4:30am, and had a briefing with nurses and I was WAY over due to pump.  The hospital provided me with an awesome pump and all the fixins'.  I think we must have zonked around 6am and we were dead to the world until about 8.  From there the morning was very fast, getting training on his harness, learning what to expect, how to work with the cast, etc...  I think we must have headed out around lunchtime.  So, we had a room for a whole 8 hours, maybe!

We had his first check-up a week later and discovered that his knee was in the wrong position and causing the bone to pop out of place.  So, they had to cut his cast and put wedges him to get everything back in place, he did not enjoy that at all.  Then we had another follow-up the week after that and everything looked great and healing was already starting to happen!  All that to say in two more weeks (total of 5) he should be able to get the cast off.   He has done surprisingly well, and for the most part is happy!  Love that little guy, he is definitely a bright light in our family!!

1st Follow-Up Appt.

He got a cool new Orange cast, well on half of it at least!  Everyone at Children's have been so wonderful.  This is our casting dude Galen!  Evan lights up when he sees him.  Through this whole ordeal he has had everyone laughing and won the hearts of everyone in the emergency room.   He is one tough cookie!

WELCOME Zachary Warren Hagerhjelm

Well, you noticed I have been absent from the blog, I guess giving birth to a sweet little boy is a good excuse. I am excited to say we welcomed Zachary "Zach" Warren Hagerhjelm into our family on Thursday January 19th at 1:11pm. He weighed in at 8lbs 15oz and was 20.5" long. It was a longer day than it should have been, and here is why:

On Wednesday, one day past my due date, which was on Tuesday the 17th I went to my doctor's appointment where I had a stress test, ultrasound, and then met with my doctor. All was good, although I was a dilated to almost 5 and 80% effaced, not to mention baby was LOW! So many people were surprised I was still up and walking around, but what I told them is I still have a family to take care of and life to live. At my appointment my doctor asked what I wanted to do, so I quickly said, EVICT!!! Since my fluid was actually normal this time, as a matter of fact they said I had PLENTY, she said she would see if they could get me in on Thursday, but she knew they were pretty full. So, she called over to the hospital and they had ONE opening at 5AM, yuck, but I wasn't saying no!

My wonderful Doctor, Dr. Halderman

We got there at 5am on Thursday morning, but the pitocin didn't start until 6:15am, but that really means nothing to me because without my water being broken, nuttin is going to happen, which I continued to tell them. The nurse kept coming in and asking how it was going and I would tell her not much happening. So that went on for FOUR hours. Finally, my water was broke at 10:15am and the party began (just like I said). I quick progressed in the first hour from 5-7 almost 8. The next hour I progressed quickly again, however my cervix would not move over the baby's head, so they had to give me a little more pitocin (which they cut off earlier at 8). Let me tell you, I have a high tolerance to pain, but I was not ready for that at the last stages of labor. But, they had to do it to get that lip to move. After 3-4 VERY painful contraction I was ready to go. My doc told me on the first push she could see his head, so I quickly asked them to count and with two more pushes Zach arrived, WHEW!!

I think the funniest part of labor this time around was around an 8-9cm I felt my bottom was twitching really bad and I remember saying something like my bottom felt like it was shaking like J-Lo, oh I don't know about me sometimes, but hey I got lots of laughs...right?!

Anyhow, I am proud I stuck to my guns and delivered my third little boy ALL NATURAL, no drugs. There is nothing like it to me, I bounced back really quick. The hospital was great and I was blessed with lots of great nurses. One of our favorite parts was the "Celebration Dinner" they served us on a nice table with a white table cloth and our choice of steak or lobster, dessert, salad, a carafe of tea, etc... It was really nice, we knew this was going to happen so we bought the movie "Courageous" the night before and Zach slept through the whole thing, whoo hoo.

The Polar Express Surprise!!

This year we decided to do things a little different for the boys and the Christmas Money Grandma & Grandpa's sent. So, as we got to talking we thought and "experience" would be a much better use than buying a whole bunch of stuff. So, we got a couple little things for them to open and invested the rest in a trip to Palestine, TX, for a trip on the Polar Express. Drew LOVES trains and is soooo into the Polar Express this year. It is actually all he asked for, was a remote control train (those cost WAY to much), so we settled on the next best thing... the REAL thing.

I (Santa) created clues and little gifts all week leading up to the BIG surprise (post those later), I think I had more fun with it. Anyhow, we set off on our Trip Friday 12/29 and return Saturday (today). Short trip, but sooo worth it. Drew was in Train Heaven!

Drew has his Ticket!! Meeting the Conductor! Wouldn't be the Polar Express without Cocoa & Cookies! Evan Dancing with the Server!
Drew meeting Santa for the first time!

Santa signed his book & gave each kiddo a Bell (first gift of Christmas)Meeting the Engineer, a highlight for Drew!
Drew's first Train Sighting before the Ride

Evan Dancing with Server!

This was truly a magical experience! If you have ever seen the movie you would be in awe of how much they put into making this train ride special for the kiddos. From the music, to some of the phrases from the movie, dancing servers, going to the North Pole, Santa giving the first gift of Christmas (a bell to all kids), Cocoa (perfect temp), conductor punching their tickets, etc... I would highly recommend this experience for EVERYONE!! Doing something like this just might become an every year thing!!

Evan's BIG Boy Bed!

I am sooo behind on blogging, which I thought would NEVER happen. Here is your first catch up post.

As we prepare for our new little man, we needed to start the transition of Evan going to a big boy bed. So, today we put the Toddler bed up in Evan's current room to give him a few days to get use to it, THEN we will move it to Drew's room, so the two can get use to being in the same room. David is working hard to complete Drew's BIG BIG Boy bed (loft bed), so when that is all done and the room is decorated, I will post more pictures!!

RECIPE: My Mamas Frosted Pumpkin Bars!!

I have been meaning to add more recipes to this blog FOREVER, so I am going to make a commitment to share some of my favorite recipes over the next several weeks. First up, is Frosted Pumpkin Bars! My Mama has made these as long as I can remember and they are my absolute favorite! Many of you know I am not a baker, but this is one recipe I do make from scratch!! If you want Pumpkin Bars that melt in your mouth, then try these:

Ingredients:
4 Eggs (Beaten)
1 C Oil
1 Cup Pumpkin (I use entire small can)
2 C Sugar
2 Cup Flour
1/2 teas Salt
2 T Cinnamon
2 teas baking soda
(1 C raisins or nuts optional - I don't use)

Directions:
Mix together until smooth

Bake 350 for 20-25 min. (I use large cookie sheet-grease & flour). Once you take out of the over, FROST while warm.

FROSTING Ingredients/Instructions
3 oz Cream Cheese - softened
1 teas Vanilla
1 T Margarine
2-3 C Powdered Sugar
little Milk

Mix all ingredients until smooth. I wish I could say these measurements are exact, but just mix the frosting until you get the desired texture (not to thick, not to runny).

GOOD LUCK!! I will add a picture when I make the next batch!! I PROMISE you will love them!!

A Fun Day at The Pumpkin Patch!

We had a fun time at the pumpkin patch last week with our MOPS group! The boys ran like crazy, and really enjoyed playing with the other kiddos. They got to pick a pumpkin, feed the goats, go through a maze, climb, and take a hay rack ride. All in a days work, right?! It made for some GREAT naps!! Enjoy pics from the day!!