Merry Christmas!

This Christmas season has brought on a lot of mixed emotions for not only us, but our entire family. We celebrate the life of a Savior who came and both lived and died for us. We celebrate family. Friends. Blessings. The list goes on.

For us, we also celebrate the ability to be together for Christmas. One year ago, we never knew what was in store for us for the next 365 days. We didn't know we would be welcoming a chubby, bubbly, brunette haired baby girl into our lives. We had NO intentions of having the medical journey that God had laid out for us with Brad. Christmas comes with a bitter sweet taste this year. Aubrie has added so much more joy and happiness to our lives while Brads handicap has added a lot of stress, emotions, and hardship.

This year was full of wonderful times with friends and family but a lot of struggle and pain has been mixed into the batter as well. A lot of people have commended me for how amazing I've done this year, holding down the fort. I can't believe how many people have made comments about my strength and capabilities of keeping our lives on track.... yet I don't feel that accomplishment. Our lives have been hectic. They've been a mess. It's been stressful, emotional, tiring, and had just down right sucked. The last few months have been pure struggle. Every day. Between work, kids, everyday duties, and life in general, I'm just drained. I'm ready for a new year and some new beginnings.

So with that. I want to wish everyone a Meery Christmas! I hope everyone stayed safe today in the height winds and THUNDERSTORM we experienced today!

Graduation!

For the past 9 weeks I have been attending puppy training classes with Bre, our one year old blue healer puppy. I decided that it was time we did something with her training wise, so I decided to start with the basics.

In September I had heard about a puppy training course put on by an employee at the local vet office in Le Mars. I contacted them and signed Bre up for the class. We attended 8 classes, every Tuesday and Thursday for 4 weeks. Bre did great! She was the oldest in her class, she out performed basically everyone in her class, and she did great from start to finish.

We learned everything from sit, down, sit-stay, down-stay, wait, heal, come, leave it, etc. It was all basic commands but it was good for Bre for beginning commands. Our next adventure is getting her un-scared of cattle. Then onto the basics with training her to run cattle. We will see how far we get. I know that as time goes on, she will mature and a lot of the time they just naturally pick up on a lot of stuff, but we just have to wait and see on that part. If anyone knows anybody in the NW Iowa area that trains cattle dogs, let me know!!

Bre finally graduated with flying colors and we are onto bigger and better things!

Catch Up

I cannot believe that it has been nearly a year and a half since I was last on here! My life has been a hectic roller coaster for the past 17 months. So many things have happened I don't even know where to start. Our family has changed DRASTICALLY.


In September 2015 we welcomed Sampson into our lives. He's a black and white long haired cat. He is claimed as "Melanie's Cat" even though he has an obsession with Brad.
Shepp died October of 2015. We welcomed Bre, another blue heeler into the family in November.
In January 2016 we found out that we were pregnant with Baby #3. We found out it was a girl in April.
At the end of April we also found out that Brad had a rare type of cancer in the form of a tumor in his hip. He went through chemo and radiation over the course of the summer and in August underwent an 8 hour surgery to remove the tumor. Brad had a rough recovery after the surgery, but he's managing to recover slowly.
In September, only 3 weeks after Brads surgery, Aubrie Jo was born into our family. She arrived via c section at 8:10 am on September 9, 2016. She weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and was 20" long. She's proven to be the total opposite of her big sister so far. So we are in for a joy ride with her!!
I've returned back to work now, and Brad is be-bopping around until he can return to his job.

In short, that's our lives for the past 1.5 years! Lots has been going on, hence the fact that I haven't been updating much! I'm hoping to get back into the groove of things because I'm in need of a place to vent my frustrations like I used to!  😊

Pure Joy

Today I had the privilege to watch my 18 month old toddler run around the streets of town, picking up candy, watching decorated floats and cars drive by, and celebrate Ice Cream Days. I've experienced parades before, plenty of them at the Tulip Festival, but the parade today was so welcoming and friendly. 

I was pleased with how well people in the parade hand out stuff. Equally. Few candy here, few stickers here, etc. Mel had a blast, and we learned that she loves tootsie rolls! I was sceptic about moving 45 minutes from home last fall, and I wouldn't change it for the world now. Today I got to see the true community. Thousands of people came to support the local businesses that were represented in the parade. They came to shop the stores down town, eat food at the family owned restaurants along Main Street. The local businesses participated in the parade to thank their customers and to advertise their community based business. It was awesome seeing this "new community" of ours today. 

I'm so excited to see what's in our future. Brad and I both have jobs we love, we live in a great community, and we have a gorgeous daughter to raise! Melanie is our reason for being here. We do everything FOR Melanie. We don't do it for us, we do it for her, but we love it now that we are where we want to be for the time being. I have a great partner by my side, and I'm excited to experience the future. 

Mothers Day

It's really crazy for me to think that today is my 3rd Mother's Day. 3 years of being a mother. My heart is so happy, and sad today, as I remember my first Mother's Day, childless. 

My heart goes out to all those mamas out there today who know the pain of celebrating a day that celebrates you, but feeling as if you don't deserve it. So many mamas out there are being celebrated for the children they have given birth to. Many of those mamas though, don't have any "little" bodies to hug today. 

I just want all those mamas to know, you aren't alone. Happy Mothers Day. You deserve this day. Reminisce on your little one(s) who aren't here to celebrate you, remember your journey you had with them while they were here. Today is special, and take pride in what you did for them. 

Much love, 

One Angel Baby mama to all those other mamas out there. 

Butterflies...

It's been 15 months since Mel was born. My heart has burst with love and joy and has floated away from butterflies countless times since she entered this world. My 7 lb baby is now a toddler. The other day we went for supper at Subway. Brad, Mel, and myself. I forgot a sippy and all they had were cups with lids and a straw.... We taught Mel how to drink from a straw. It was... A moment for me. I almost cried. She drank half the cup of water!! From a straw!! Where did my baby go?? 

Another thing that has been giving me complete butterflies and the jitters, is every single kiss and hug she gives me. I love them. She loves them too, and it melts my heart. 

Mommy hood is so much different than I ever imagined. I never thought that Mel would grow up in the blink of an eye. I never thought she would be the other part of my heart that I never knew I missed before she was here. I never knew this type of love existed. I also never knew that someone could pull my hair, push my buttons, make such a MESS, scream at me, hit me, throw tantrums, and annoy me so much, but yet I still lover her to the end of the earth. 

Melanie Rose. You can give me a million 

kisses and I would never tire of them.  It's been a total pleasure to watch you grow these past 15 months, and I look forward to watching your grow to be a fine young lady! 

Dads first time being Solo

Although Mel is over 14 months old now, she's never been left home alone, with dad, for more than a few hours. This week is my first time being away from mel for more than over night... My first business trip out of state.... Where my baby girl isn't just up the road 25-30 miles at grandparents houses. Brad was left to fend for himself yesterday afternoon until I return tomorrow night, late. 

It just so happens, since mom is 7 hours away, Mel ended up in urgent care from not being able to keep food down, puking, running a fever, stuffy nose... She screamed most of the afternoon apparently.... And mama feels helpess. I'm stuck here in Madison, WI.... 7 hours from home. There's nothing I can do. 

Mel tested negative for RSV, but she does have a viral infection. The doctor sent her home with no meds, accept Tylenol and Motrin for children. 

Being mamas baby girl, I'm sure she just wants mama. I miss her even more knowing she is home sick. I wish with all my heart to be there to comfort her, but I know she is in good hands with daddy too! 

In the mean time, I'm going to get through my meetings and tours tomorrow and buzz home as fast as I can get there so I can snuggle my baby girl. It's been stressful this afternoon/ evening not knowing what was happening with her while I was in meetings. I was quite side tracked I didn't get much out of the speakers presentations.