It's been 1 whole week...

...Since I've been w/out my wonderful MacBook Pro. I have first and foremost to not have a mug of water (w/a lid) around my computer unless I'm right next to it.
While I was feeding Edyn, Strummer found my water mug, lifted the tab to take a drink and my computer took in the water instead of my wonderful - had no idea what he was doing - 17 month old toddler. Before I could do anything it was to late!

I took it into Heartland Technologies after I talked to my insurance company. I wasn't sure if it would be covered, even though we did have it listed on our homeowners policy. Thankfully they called back saying my computer would be covered! Woo-Hoo!

After I heard back from Heartland Tech, I again called my insurance company. They then caLled the tech guy to figure out what to do. Since it was either a minor repair or it could possibly be a major mess to fix. So I'm waiting to see of it's a repair or replace. I am still waiting on the decision. All though on Friday, my dad did say he saw they were working on my claim.

Being one who is on my computer daily, it's been quite strange. Sure I could go on Brad's desktop, but then I would have to go to the basement and could really only do that when both kids are sleeping. Thankfully I have my BlackBerry to help 'keep in contact' w/everybody. I just might go nuts if I wouldn't be able to check my email or FB (I know, totally sad)

My main concern if it is a replace ordeal, they can retrieve aLl my photos and design files! I have also realized I really need to invest in an external hard drive so I can back everything up!

That's all for now! It sure was interesting typing everything on my BB! So if there are mistakes throughout the post...SORRY! :D
Have a fabulouso day!

I Can Do It All By Myself

Mr. Strummer has become Mr. Independent! Even more so after his sister arrived. So - here is a list of things he does himself (and gets upset if you help him and he doesn't want help!)

*Going Up The Stairs ~ Using a banister or someone's hand

*Going Down the Stairs ~ Using a banister or someone's hand

*Walking behind or ahead of us on his own - or using his monkey backpack

*Walking to the door from the Y parking lot

*Walking to and from the car ~ at home and non-busy parking lots (like the Y)

*Turning on (and off) the CD player, DVD player and TV

*Getting sister's pacifier, blanket and other things she may need

*Throwing sister's diaper in the diaper champ

*Brushing his teeth and hair

*Putting his toys away

*Getting up and down on chairs, couches, strollers and the piano bench to sit

*Sliding down the slides

*Opening doors he can reach

*Closing all doors, cupboards and anything else that needs to be closed

*Getting his potty seat and step stool to 'go potty' - and no, he's not potty-trained, but he at least knows what to do when he gets into the bathroom!

***I'm sure there's more, I just can't think of them right now***

***Pictures to follow in another post - I haven't uploaded all the pics yet***

1 Month Old!

Tomorrow Edyn will be 5 weeks old! How is this possible?? Yesterday (April 14) I went to go get her weighed and measured, just to be sure she is growing like she should be. Since she was 2-1/2 weeks early and only 7 lb - 1 oz, I needed the reassurance that she is getting bigger. Indeed she is! I must be producing super-milk b/c she is now 2 lbs heavier! I guess feeding her on-demand is working swell! Here are her stats!

Height ~ 20.75 inches (52 percentile)

Weight ~ 9 lb 2 oz (46 percentile)

I'll be posting some pics from her 'photo shoot' that I did once they are uploaded!

However here's a pic w/the panda from 1 week to 1 month

On a side note: this is the panda i received on my 9th or 10th birthday. I thought it would be fun to have Edyn take monthly shots to measure how big she's getting!

2-week update!

Edyn's 2-week appointment went well on Thursday. Her appointment landed on her actual due date (March 25) which I found pretty funny. She was 16 days old at her 2-week apt!

Edyn is now 20-1/2 inches long and weighs 7 lbs - 7 oz. That means since we left the hospital she has grown 1 inch and gained 13 oz!

I was worried she wasn't eating enough, since I have been having to (ALL DAY) wake her and keep her awake while eating! Now I'm not worrying about waking her up during the night, I let her wake up to eat!

Here are some pics from her appointment!

Waiting to be called for our appointment

(Isn't it funny, w/the angle of her face in the car seat, it looks like she has a double-chin)

S-T-R-E-T-C-H!

She looks so long when she's all stretched out!

Chillin' on the bed waiting for Dr. Parsons

Still Waiting - the poor girl was getting hungry, so the pacifier helped a bit

Waiting to get dressed

Edyn Vernette Grout

Our daughter has arrived!!! As we expected, she did come early. She came 2-1/2 weeks early!

Edyn was born on March 9, 2010 at 2:31 AM. She was 7 lbs - 1 oz and 19-1/2 inches long. She has been a completely delight to our family! I'll write up her birth story at a later date. :o)

It's Cold!

Brad and I right after Edyn was born

Grandma and Grandpa Berg were there when she arrived

Uncle Brad and Aunt Erika drove down the next day

Ready to leave the hospital!

Our new family! Strummer ~ 16 months Edyn ~ 3 days

Little Miss Impatient :o)

As they say, all pregnancies are different and it holds truth to the differences between my pregnancy w/Strummer and this pregnancy w/Edyn. The small differences at the beginning was not being able to stand the smell of just about anything, then not swelling up w/2 months to go (of course, w/Strummer I was 7 months prego in the middle of August!) So maybe that's a time-of-the year thing. Oh - and not measuring 3 weeks ahead at each appointment!

However the most significant difference is how our little girl has been showing signs she just wants to come early! With Strummer I was told I would go early, b/c I was always measuring 3-4 weeks ahead at each appointment. So due to him being SO LARGE I had multiple ultrasounds and I had to a stress-test to make sure he was doing okie-dokie. During these stress-tests at the end of the pregnancy, I apparently was having small contractions, but never felt them. Plus, they didn't do anything to help the process of getting my body ready to deliver. So to our surprise, he wasn't early, he was late! And mostly likely would have been more than 4 days late if I wasn't induced. So, w/him, I never had significant contractions and he never dropped. So I really never felt any type of extra pain. This time around has been a lot different!

Lets just say the 3rd trimester has been....interesting. Starting at week 28 I had my first visit to the hospital. I started to have a small bit of spotting and cramping and so I was told by my doctor to come to the hospital to get things checked out. Thankfully the spotting didn't last very long and after I was hooked up to the monitors, I found out I was having contractions! So after being there for awhile, I was able to go home when the contractions went from coming every 5 min to every 15-20 min. They had me take a prescription to help keep things calmed down, 'cause clearly, a baby coming that early would not be a good thing! Fast-forward another month or so and things were just fine! Then I come down w/the flu! PS - having the flu when you're 33 weeks is not a good thing. So since my first visit I have been back a few more times. I can say I've been acclimated w/the Boone Hospital, the nurse staff and the Birth Center!

I ended having another ultrasound last week after my appointment just b/c Dr. Parsons wanted to check the fluid and such to make sure everything is still on track. The u/s tech said everything looked pretty normal! Hurray! She also said all her measurements were running a little bit ahead. So, that's a plus. She also said Edyn has a nice round head and she's ready to go. As in, she's already head down, she was laying on her stomach, tucked in a ball and in the position to exit! She was also at an estimated weight of 5 lb-9 oz at 34 1/2 weeks. Of course, sometimes they aren't completely accurate w/the weight. But at least I know she's probably over 5-1/2 lbs. So may even be more. W/Strummer on the day I went in and was induced, they said he was a little over 8 lbs, and was 8-14! The tech thought if I went to 40 weeks Edyn would be a nice 7-1/2 lbs!

I'm thankful I haven't had to have extended hospital stays or have to be on bed rest! (I was just on bed rest for one day during my week 28 visit)

However, since the contractions started back up at 34 weeks, I'm off the medication and I've already started dilating, she may be making her entrance b/f March 25th. As Dr. Parsons said at my appointment, 'as long as she stays put for another 10 days' so, as long I make it til week 36 then we are good to go! I'm glad to know she's over 5 lbs and now everything is all developed, she is now just 'packing on the pounds'. So I'm hoping to make it to week 37 and if I go til my due date, I think everyone would be surprised, but it's not in my hands! It's in God's hands! :o)

15 Month Update!

At his 15-month appointment waiting for Dr. Parsons

Once again, a little late in the game, but wanted to get some updating done b/f D-Day! (AKA - the arrival of Edyn)

Strummer is ever changing and growing every day! He is now 31-1/4 inches and 23 lbs - 9 oz.

He has started throwing small tantrums. If he doesn't like something or wants something and we won't give it to him, he'll start crying or stomp off and pout. Pretty funny how early they start that!

Now onto the 'good' things:

He seems to learn new things all the time. He is signing 'please', 'more', 'milk' and 'all done'. He is also saying more words like 'no', 'thank you', 'uh-oh', 'whoa', 'shoes', 'light' and some other phrases. He is also a great chatter-box. If he isn't saying words you understand, he's saying something! We just don't know what! He now knows where his head, nose, eyes, ears and mouth are if you ask him. He also seems to sing at times and will dance around even w/out music! He can be such a riot to just watch! :D

He LOVES climbing...on everything! We have a little step that he uses to help him get onto things that he will move around depending on where he wants to go. He also loves playing piano! He will have the step by the bench, climb onto the bench, sit down and play the piano. He of course, also loves playing the guitar!

Another love is PUPPIES! He loves Bosco. When asked what Bosco says, Strummer will 'growl'...it's pretty funny. He also points out any dog that he sees in a book, on TV or in person and gets very excited. And often will make the 'growling' sound when he sees them in a book.

He also enjoys running - everywhere. He LOVES when we are at the Y. Once I get his coat off, he will run to the basket of balls in the office area and play w/them until I take him into Child Watch. Then when I'm done working I will get him from CW and he will go and (literally) run out b/c he's so excited to go visit everyone. He'll go into the social room and look out at the pool, go in the cardio room and hop onto a treadmill (when it's not to busy) he's very fascinated when he sees someone on one and it looks like he is trying to figure out how they are moving. He will then run over to the gym and he points at the big basket full of basketballs, so I will get one and he runs around and throws the b-ball around the gym....entertaining the people who are walking around the gym. Then he runs around some more and then we go home. It's an excellent way for him to get some energy out!

We are so blessed that he's a mellow, happy and overall very good kid! Just like how he has been acting since he arrived in our lives nearly 16 months ago!!! :o)

He is at 38% for weight

He is at 55% for height