Well 11 Months Late

It has been 11 months since I updated the blog. I feel bad. I haven't documented the story like I want, but here it goes.....

My last post was of my little belly and we were at 26 weeks pregnant. I was having a great pregnancy and was so excited to meet Taron Christine at the end of February. But I woke up on December 3 and had blurry vision in my eye. I didn't feel really great so I call the OB and told them I was being a hypochondriac but still felt I should call. So at 10:40 I went in to see the on call doctor and to my surprise, I was a VERY sick woman. My blood pressure was 212/119. I was on the verge of a stroke or a seizure. I was taken across the street to the hospital and admitted. I of course called Brandon who was 2 hours away and told him to come home and my mom. But, as fate may have had it, my brother Bryan and his wife Monica were blessed with a bundle of joy on December 2, 2010....Miss Sophia and as I walked out of the elevator to the Labor and Delivery floor I see my brother on the phone with my Mom giving him an update. And I must say, I would have never gotten through it without him. He was my rock, my best friend and the best brother in the world. God's hand was working in great ways that day. So I was admitted, put on horrible drugs, seen my a Perinatologist, the Neonatologist came in and so did my OB. Blood work was started and the first thought was to keep me in the hospital until I was 37 weeks...um 10 weeks in the hospital, okay, but everything changed when my blood work came back. I had HELLP syndrome. My liver enzymes were a mess and my blood platelet count was VERY low. The baby had to be delivered and it had to be ASAP. Brandon, Mom and Pastor had all made it to the hospital by this point, the decision was made that Taron would be delivered by emergency c-section as soon as they could to save us both and I was wheeled away after an amazing blessing and prayer by Pastor and a stern comment from me to him the if he needed to Baptise Taron, he was to do it. I never though we would lose her, but I wanted him to be prepared if need be! So at 3:30 pm on December 3, 2010 a beautiful baby girl weighing 2 pounds 2 ounce was brought into this world by Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Nielsen and was taken by Dr. Castro to the NICU. The C-section was not fun. I was very sick and very drugged for the entire thing but just remember telling Brandon to go be with Taron. He was with Taron in the NICU and took the first picture of her. She was SO tiny, but strong. He came back to recovery and was with me there for some time and would jump back and forth between the two of us. I finally got back to my room about 5:30 Friday night and didn't sleep well. Saturday arrived, I was still on horrible meds but got to eat. Food was awesome, even hospital food. I still had not been able to meet Taron, but Brandon was giving me updates and Dr. Castro came to up date me as well. She did great and breathed on her own for 15 hours before then had to intibate her to give her meds for her longs to develop. Finally late Saturday afternoon I was wheeled upstairs to see our miracle. I still can't believe all of this happened, but God has a plan and MANY good things have come from  all of this tragedy. So that is the first two days of her life. She started out as a fighter and won the battle. Next post, the first 7 weeks of her life.....at the SVMH NICU.

Beloved Taron Christine

There is little miss Taron Christine at 26 weeks in my tummy.



I am still really small for 26 weeks, but baby is great per the Doctor last week. The appointment was great until I agreed to a batch of vaccines. Ya, not a great idea. First was the flu shot and then the Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Diphtheria shot. Oh joy. I have felt horrible since I got them Wednesday mid-day.



I don't mean to complain, but I just still feel horrible and then yesterday I had to have my 1 hour Glucose test. Man once again, why does all this stuff make me feel so horrible. I still feel icky and I am wondering if it is still a combo of shots and glucose/fasting I had to do.



Okay, enough complaining. I think I need a nap or is it time to go back to Babies R Us and register for more fun stuff for my little Miss T.....

A Special Thank You

Today I am a blessed woman to be able to say thank you to our Veteran’s, to have the freedom to say thank you and also am blessed to say thank you to an amazing husband who served our country for 4 active years and the 4 more inactive years.

I was hit this morning with many realities about what our service men and woman do for us. Sometimes it is the simple things that make us have the simplest moments of gratitude. I walked into the garage to feed the puppies this morning and saw my husband’s duffle bag. Most days this would mean, he is home and I need to start his laundry, but today the US Army logo and stitching made me say a little prayer of thanksgiving for him and all the service men and woman who have and do serve so we can have our freedoms. It also made me think of what he has seen and where that bag has taken him. It hit hard me hard this morning!

I am so thankful for the man my husband is and I am thankful that the Army helped him become that man. I also took a step back today and realized that Brandon being gone during the work week the last 5 weeks really is nothing of a hardship compared to the families that are without a loved one for months at a time and never really knowing if they will come home.

So on behalf of the Boyles Family I say thank you to the Veterans of the USA. You are forever in my prayer!

Thankfulness and a new do!

As I start today, I must remind myself that I am a blessed woman beyond belief and that my husband being gone for the 5th week in a row is so that our little family can continue to grow and thrive! I am blessed. But, I will not lie.......it is really hard when he is gone and I had the melt down about 10 days ago! The poor hubby was on the bad end of the meltdown.

I am also thankful for the fact I had the ability to VOTE today. So many people do not understand what a privilege a vote is. I thank my husband for fighting for our country so that we have this amazing ability to to cast a ballot as well as all of those past and present that fight for our freedoms, THANK YOU!

So back to my meltdown.....I needed to do something for myself so I cut my hair! Bad picture, sorry, but taking a picture of myself in a mirror with my cell phone, doesn't equal quality! So i decided that I needed to do a little something for me this week as well to keep sane and not melt on my beloved husband, so I have an appointment with the dear Amy and I will be getting a facial today. I am so excited. I think sometimes I need to just take a few hours for myself and relax, especially with Taron keeping my insides hopping lately.

To a blessed week, a new haircut, a great facial and a husband who will be home at the end of the week again, remember to be THANKFUL for all we have.

Feeling like a mom...

Yesterday I finally made the trip to Costco to get all the things that were on the coupons! I had been trying to get there for at least 10 days and I finally made it. It seems like a tornado had made it's way through the store before I got there, but all things on the list were finally found and purchased. The last thing on the list and the last thing in the basket made me feel like a mom............1000 wipes. Hey, they were on sale and really, if I start purchasing now it will help the budget later on!

So here is to my first mom purchase, 1000 wipes sitting in the garage and me feeling Taron beating me inside!

Happy Tuesday and off to get a new hairdo!

Oh Baby..........

I haven't been the best in blogging, but I hope to change that as I am trying to take more time to sit and rest since I am 22 weeks pregnant! We found out yesterday that we are having a baby girl and I still cry just thinking about it! She will be named Taron Christine Boyles after my mother, Judith Christine and her parents, my beloved Grammy and Bappe that have gone to there reward, Willard and Christine Taron. I feel so amazingly blessed right know that I have a hard time putting it into words! I hope that I can be half the mother that my mom and her mom have been and still are. God is truly good and we are truly blessed to be given this perfect little gift of life!

I hope to scan pictures of our little girl and get them posted soon!

It has been,

Well forever. So much going on always, but yet just a lot of every day life.

I was blessed to be able to spend some much over due time with Adrienne, Adam, Cael and BABY GIRL WOOTEN back in April. Oh how I miss them! This little boy will always have my heart no matter how far away we may live now!!

I also was able to spend two days at the Salinas Valley Fair in King City watching some of my favorite kids show their pigs and chickens!

The rest of my time is spent being a wife, daughter, friend and well keeping so busy down at the church!

All in all.....life is AWESOME!

Stress

Stress is major bummer to me lately! The stress level I am living under is just not healthy. I think that I need to give up a few things in my life so the a few new things can be added.........makes no sense, yep I know!

I have decided to give up some of my volunteer work later this year. I have made my commitments for 2010, but letters of resignation are written in my head and I can't wait for say SEPTEMBER so that I can respectfully submit them and be done with a little of the stress.......all of this because I have made a decision...............

A decision that I want to be a mom, God willing. No plans on trying until May or June due to insurance stuff, but I want to me be a mom with a son or daughter to stress me out, not a mom with a son or daughter to stress me out and 4 volunteer Boards to sit on.....thanks for ready about my stress! I am sure that everyone else is living in the stress out world, but I have decided that I need a stress of a different kind.............

New Year

New post coming soon..........I promise!

Pictures and everything!

Christmas

I wish December could be quiet. I really look forward to time to reflect on the true meaning if CHRISTmas. But, I don't think I will have a moment to sit, reflect and just be still; but I can hope for it!

May your Advent season be filled with time to reflect and remember the true reason for this CHRISTmas Season.

On the road again, I just wait to get on the road again!

I am so happy! The husband should be home at about 9 pm this evening.

He is so in demand at work that I think sometime she wishes he could cut himself in half to get more done, but today he is on the road again....Can't wait to see you honey!

Tomorrow his Veteran's Day dinner I promised him!

Thank you.

Thank you will never be enough, but those are the only words that I can udder today.

Thank you to our Veteran's, thank you to those who are serving and than k you to the families that wait for their loved ones to come home from war so that we may have our freedom.

And well thank you to my husband who served our country proudly! He is ARMY STRONG!

GOD'S BLESSING TO ALL ON THIS VETERAN'S DAY

Quiet Night

So it is another quiet night on the home front tonight. Brandon is back in Yuma and not for the last time. I have realized how far I have come in the last two years. And may I gloat and say I am proud of myself!

About two years ago I was still a newlywed and was well, still living at home with my parents. My husband was of course in Yuma and I didn't feel safe staying at our home by myself. So tonight, I sit alone with my two dogs and no husband at home and I have to say I like the break. Don't get me wrong, I miss him like crazy and can't wait for him to come home, but I like not having to cook big meals, do his laundry and remake the entire bed do to his nightly fight with the sheets. I do miss out meals together, our chats, our watching TV and chatting more then watching and well watching him play with the puppies!! I miss having a husband at home.

But, absence can make the heart grow stronger and I it does. AS much as I enjoy the little "break" and the fact I have really grow as a person and as a woman in the past two years, I am proud I can now enjoy a quiet night in my home with my puppies and looking forward to the big meal I will cook for him when he gets home, the laundry I will do and the bed I will gladly make because I was lucky enough to safely sleep next to my best friend!

Ice Cream Maker

I mentioned in my last post that I am going to make Brandon some ice cream.....meet my best friend when it comes to small home appliances! My mom and dad gave us our little friend for our anniversary, and it has paid for itself!

Thanks mom and dad............mom how do you always know a great thing when you see it for the kitchen! Maybe I can put a little weight on that husband of mine!

Rain and Wind....comes to town!

Well, hunkered down for the day, I didn't even want to have to go into the garage to do laundry, but I needed clean clothes! The rain is coming down in buckets, the wind is moving EVERYTHING out of it's place. Winter is going to come in with a bang. ( borrowed the picture, I am not that talented!)

I just can't wait for the husband to get home late this evening!

I think I have been up since about 4 when someones garbage can started rolling down the street, leading Ralf and Annie to have to bark at it, then major rain and wind continued with me snoozing on and off and then more barking at the wind at 6 am and well snoozing until 8 and getting up and out of bed then. I sometimes just have to give up, I guess this is practice for when we have babies! Sleep is not much to be had.

I baked for Bran this morning. Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies, Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting and I will make him some ice cream later this afternoon...thanks to Miss Amanda picking up Heavy Cream on her way home from school for me :-)! I figured he needed something homemade when he returns home!

Thanks for looking at my pointless babel!! And Adrienne, thanks for listening this morning as I continue to think about the next chapter of our little lives!!

Lovely Weekends

Brandon and I ran away for the weekend! The beauty of the mountains is amazing.

It was great to see some family and relax where cell phones don't work and all we did was eat! Didn't take the camera, but oh I love running away for the long weekend we made of it!

Oh and the lightning and thunder made it awesome too!

Thanks for the great weekend Debbie and Bob!

Getting it all done!

It seems like the list doesn't end! I have a retirement party on Sunday for 100 people that I am co-chairing and then I am co-chairing another really big event for the church on October 17 for about 220...........and this on top of all the normal things in life, work, fair and home!

So what do I do when I am stresses, I cook/bake. So yesterday at about 8 am I made homemade ice cream and a cake, then headed to work, came home made dinner and a huge pot of homemade applesauce. I ate way to much after all of that!

So here is to getting it all done. I don't want to sound like I am complaining; I am beyond blessed and I love to do all of this, I just seem a little overwhelmed in the last few days....thanks for listening.

2 yrs ago today.....

I became Mrs. Brandon Boyles!

I am still so proud and happy to his wife.

Honey, here is to many, many more years of bliss!

September...really

So I can't believe that September is here. Turning the page on the calendar.....really September.

August was beyond busy with some major changes taking place at my church and I seemed to spearhead them and then of course THE MONTEREY COUNTY FAIR!! We had a great run and it looks to have been a very successful year with some major changes coming to the fair over the next few months, but all for the better!!

September might have snuck up on me, but I love September because well....the 15th marks our 2 year wedding anniversary! What a blessing the last two years have been!! Love you honey and I love being Mrs. Courtney Boyles!!

Quite around here

Well it is quiet on the home front...

Not that there isn't tons to be done, but the poor poor husband is working from midnight to 10 am for the next week or so.......and that leaves me having to be really quite during the day! I am here guarding his cell phone and being his personal secretary while he sleeps! Brandon does NOT do well with little sleep.

I have been up for a long time........... made breakfast, cleaned up what I could of the house, then did a little work, then made lunch and I just keep trying to be quite. Next I think I shall walk the dogs and do a little Pilate's!

I am looking forward to being able to spend tomorrow afternoon with some lovely old friends playing in Monterey. There I will not have to be QUIET at all!!!