2011 Fun Times Review!

I am not typically one to copy ideas from other blogs, but I have seen a bunch of people do their own version of "2011 in review" and I thought it sounded fun :) So here you go, 2011 according to the Leys!

January- Jonathan got really close to walking! He walked well behind toys or chairs, but was still a little wobbly on his own.


February- We celebrated my sweet little man's first birthday! I couldn't believe he was already a year old. We had a really fun monkey themed party with all our close friends and family!

March- Zack spent 3 (LONG) weeks in Vietnam for work and Little Man and I held down the fort here. We spent the week of spring break in Austin hanging out with Honey and Papa where Jonathan got his first golf lesson!


April- For Easter this year, we went to Austin and joined honey and Papa and my extended family for a wonderful celebration! Jonathan seemed to really enjoy hunting for Easter eggs!

May- I celebrated my 28th birthday and the very next day we found out that I was pregnant with Little Brother! This was a pretty big surprise for all of us. We decided to order a special shirt for Jonathan that said "big brother!" and had him wear it when we went to see Nana and Grandfather and then Honey and Papa. It took everybody a minute or two to figure out what it meant :)


June- We spent some time at the beach with my family to celebrate Honey's 60th birthday! Jonathan LOVED the sand and after a few days, decided he liked the waves as well....but it took some convincing. I also spent a lot of this month being reacquainted with my good friend, morning sickness....


July- Our whole family, plus Nana, Grandfather, and Becky flew up to Ohio to celebrate some special events and see the extended Ley clan. Jonathan did *pretty* well on the flight and we had a wonderful time!

August- School started back up and that meant Jonathan got to go back to school too! He really enjoys going, so it makes me feel a lot better about having to drop him off every morning. This picture is of Jonathan at school :) I missed the first day of school after being admitted to the hospital for dehydration, but luckily it didn't last long and I was back to work by day 2! At the end of this month we also found out that Baby Ley #2 would be another boy!

September- Zack had to have knee surgery and it turned out to be a much bigger deal than we expected. He spent 6 weeks on crutches, could not drive for about 5 weeks and is still not back to his normal activities, but he is getting there!

October- For Halloween Jonathan was the cutest lion! He hated his costume though and it didn't help that it was like 90 degrees outside. Poor kid was sweating like crazy!

November- This year our Thanksgiving consisted of me being in the hospital for pre-term labor. I was there for almost a week stopping the contractions with high powered medication. Luckily, it was successful and at the end of Thanksgiving break I was discharged to come home!

December- I spent, literally, the entire month on bedrest. The majority of this time was spent on strict bedrest, meaning I could get up to use the restroom and shower. That was it. On Christmas day, I graduated to modified bedrest and was allowed to celebrate with my family :) Jonathan really seemed to enjoy the holidays this year. He loved seeing the Christmas lights and the Christmas tree and of course loved opening presents on Christmas day!

Overall we had a wonderful, blessed year! Even though we had a few medical issues to deal with, we were incredibly lucky that they all turned out well in the end. We have been blessed with a beautiful, healthy toddler and a healthy baby on the way. We are both employed, have a beautiful, safe home and a large family who love and support us. I can only pray that 2012 is as wonderful as 2011!!

I'm back!

First of all, there is no baby yet. I have started receiving emails making sure that the reason for my lack of posting wasn't because I had the baby. Nope. My lack of posting stems from a busy Christmas week and a modem blow up! However, for a quick baby update....I am almost 37 weeks and still on bedrest and taking the medication. I am seriously tired of both. I hate the medicine and I am starting to hate my house. I am praying very, very hard that I graduate from both of these things when I turn 37 weeks on Sunday. Baby Boy will officially be full term! I am so thankful to have made it this far but in a weird twist of events, I just want him here now. If he wants to come at this point, I say go for it. I am seriously a huge whale (the ultrasound last week estimated that he was over 7 pounds at 35 weeks....and yes, I know, those can be off by up to a pound. But still, 6 pounds would be good) and I can't imagine getting any bigger. My second round of maternity clothes are already too small and I am WAY too cheap to buy anymore. And honestly, if I have to watch another episode of House Hunters.....things are going to get ugly. As for the important stuff though, my doctor said he looks wonderful and healthy on the ultrasound, so really we are just buying him time now :) Thank you for all the prayers over the past 6 weeks. They have worked! Nobody, especially the doctors, expected me to make it this far. Turns out I am pretty freaking awesome at bedrest.

Now on to more fun stuff! Christmas! We had a great Christmas here in Houston. My parents came and stayed with us for a while and Zack's sister, Katie, was here also! I broke out of the house Christmas Eve (don't tell my doctor who seems to think I should only be allowed to sit on my couch...) and we had a wonderful dinner at my in-laws and then everybody came to our house for Christmas Day. Jonathan LOVED all his toys (which consisted almost entirely of sports equipment....) and he also loved having all his favorite people in the same house for so long. He just played and played and played. He was so tired, he took 3 hour naps each day and slept nearly 13 hours Christmas night! I guess all the festivities wore him out. Seriously though, it was so nice to have a change of pace around here!! And now, pictures :)

Santa came! When Jonathan walked around the corner and saw his new toys, he just stood there wide-eyed and said "whoa!"

He loves his new bike! I am so glad the sun has finally come back so he can ride it OUTSIDE now...

Jonathan ate almost as much good food as I did. Almost....

He got a new set of golf clubs and ever since, he walks around with one in his hand. He always looks like he is about to hit something/somebody with it, but so far he has been good. He must take after his Papa....he just likes to have a club nearby in case there is a ball to hit :)

Let me just say....bedrest is stupid.

And by stupid, I mean that it is a totally necessary evil that is completely working and keeping this baby cooking much longer than he would have if I wasn't on bedrest. That being said, it is stupid. And boring. And annoying as crap. I am trying hard not to complain too much to anybody other than my Mom (who doesn't have a choice since she is the one with me all day, every day) but I just need to vent for a minute. Here are some things I wish I was doing right now....


-Playing with Jonathan. I desperately wish I could pick my son up and give him huge kisses and hugs and love on him. In a semi-funny note, the other day my Mom was picking him up at the babysitter and she asked "where is Mama?" and he said "on the couch!"......funny and yet depressing all at once.


-Christmas shopping. I don't even have any money to go shopping this year (thank you Memorial Hermann for taking all my money in the last few months) but I would give anything to go to Target and just walk around. I would just stand in the Christmas department and look at pretty Christmas trees listening to great Christmas music. Oh and I would stop at Starbucks on my way in and buy a peppermint hot chocolate to enjoy while I stood in the Christmas department. Oh man that sounds so good.


-Going to Christmas parties. So far I have missed 3. Each week I ask my doctor if I can go to one and each week she says no. I guess that is my fault for doing too much wishful thinking. Of course, never one to learn my lesson, I have lots of hope that she will say I can go to Bible study this week!! The good news is that I didn't have to spend a ton of money on a maternity cocktail dress for Zack's company party! But still.....


-Baking. I am craving cookies and cakes and candy and breakfast breads and muffins and all kinds of other awesome stuff. The kicker here is that I have to spend like 12 hours a day watching a TV that almost always ends up on the food network. And every single episode right now is Christmas related. Just this morning I watched Paula Deen host a cookie exchange. Can you say painful much??


So anyway, that is what I wish I was doing on this nice Saturday. Well, I guess it is nice. I don't even know what the temperature is.... But, I will say that at the end of each day, I am proud of myself for making it another 24 hours and keeping Baby Boy healthy and safe for a little longer. As much as I hate to admit this, I am now a firm believer in bedrest. So I will sit here and continue baking this precious little guy, but you guys get busy baking something awesome in your own kitchen. And bring it to me. Just kidding.........kind of :)

Bedrest survival kit

I know this doesn't apply to most of you, but that's okay :) Well actually, it totally applies to some of you because I am pretty sure you will get sick in the next year and think to yourself, "Man, I am so bored lying here on the couch. What should I do?! Oh, I know, I will consult Katy Ley's blog!" So here are a few of the things that have helped me keep my sanity over the last 2 weeks while I have been stuck in a bed/couch!


1. Crappy TV. Some of my favorites include: My First Place and Property Virgins, Top Chef, Real Housewives of anywhere (although I will say that RHO Atlanta is probably the best and most entertaining) and Teen Mom. Don't forget, I admitted it was crappy. And I know you all watch stupid stuff too, so don't be so quick to judge....


2. This laptop. I mean, how else will I know when my facebook friend that I have actually never met (and never will) has bought new toilet paper and wants to make sure I know that it is the most amazing toilet paper ever!? And what if I miss a post on my Babycenter.com birth board?! What if my babycenter friend who I have actually never met (and never will) has a back spasm and I am the last to post "T&P for you!!".....how would that look to the rest of group?!


3. Food. Obviously. Here are some favorites right now: Goldfish, Clementine oranges, apple juice (this one is totally random and makes me feel like a 5 year old) any kind of chips, peanut butter and jelly, and sugar. Lots and lots of sugar. For example, if anybody has this lying around their house and wants to bring it over....hint, hint. Oh, or monkey bread. Or fruit pizza. Or cookies.



4. A huge, bigger than your head mug for water. This seems ridiculous, but if you have half a days requirement of water just sitting next to you, it will save you a coveted trip to the kitchen (which you get like 2 of a day) This will allow you to go to the kitchen for more important things. See #3.


5. Your cell phone right next to you. I know this one is obvious, but nothing is more frustrating than having your phone ring and realizing it is in the other room. And you cant just jump up and go get it so you have to sit there and listen to it ring while all the possible scenarios for who it might be run through your head. Obviously the first scenario would be that your good friend is on her way over with cake and she is almost there but if you don't answer she will think you are gone, therefore bypassing your house and eating the cake herself. The other option would be that it is your doctor calling to say "I can sense you are actually in labor, even though you can't tell (because you have no idea anymore what is a real contraction and what is a "deal with it, you are fine" contraction) so get to the hospital immediately!" and of course if you don't answer the phone or get the message for a few hours (when somebody gets home who can go get your phone) you will have your baby on the bed/couch because you missed her call.


So there you go. Next time you are on bedrest or just stuck on the couch, make sure you have these 5 things readily available. Otherwise you might just starve to death and then have your baby on the couch.

A Letter From the Future....Part 2

Dear Newly Pregnant Katy,

As promised, here are the rest of your important rules and lessons. Now remember, if you chose not to listen to these, that is your own choice....but seeing as we are the same person and what you do pretty much affects me directly, I ask that you take them seriously. This is serious business....stop being selfish and just do what I say.

Love, 32 1/2 Weeks Pregnant Katy.


#14- Like I said, at 31 weeks you will be admitted to the hospital. When you get there (alone because Zack is at his own appointment and Jonathan is with Nana) you will be scared and uncomfortable. You will be thrilled with yourself thinking that you had pre-registered. Too bad logging onto Memorial Herman's website and merely looking at the form doesn't mean you pre-registered. You actually have to fill stuff out and submit it (I know...picky, picky...) please remember to do this around week 26 when the nurse at Dr. Storey's tells you to do it. It will save you lots of time when you are already freaking out.


#15- As soon as Dr. Storey mentions Magnesium Sulfate, you will start to freak out because of the thousands of hours you have spent on Babycenter. According to your "friends" on your birth board, this medicine is the devil and will make you want to die. Don't worry, it's not that bad. You will look like a huge, puffy, bright red tomato, but other than that, it's not too bad. Don't try to rip the IV out of your arm before the "poison" hits you....that will only embarrassing and awkward for everybody involved.


#16- Unfortunately, your little "staycation" happens to fall over the Thanksgiving holiday. Please do not expect the hospital cafeteria to make anything worthy of being a Thanksgiving dinner (doesn't everybody in the world know that sweet potatoes are supposed to be made with all kids of butter, brown sugar and marshmallows?! Duh..) You are lucky because your mother-in-law will make a great dinner (for those jerks not stuck in the hospital) and your sweet husband will bring you a plate of leftovers. This is super nice of them, but it isn't the same as getting it the first go around. Just don't get your hopes up.


#17- As far as dealing with nurses....believe me, you are tempted to be a jerk when they come in every hour ALL NIGHT LONG. You will want to nail your door shut, hide under the bed, figure out a way to fake the monitors into thinking you are hooked up when you really are asleep (hiding under the bed)....but try not to do that. I learned quickly that just being polite and respectful will get you a lot farther. They will bring you extra pillows, smuggle you in Sprites in the middle of the night, not give you the stink eye when you ask for the 18th time where the light switches are....just be nice. No matter what.


#18- This will be a hard one for you. I know you love Dr. Storey and trust her completely. But I promise that every other doctor in the world is not as stupid and incompetent as you think they are. Remember that it is the Thanksgiving holiday and Dr. Storey just won't be available the whole time. The other doctors you see are very nice and most likely didn't get their degree online from a community college in a third world country. The good news is that Dr. Storey is cool enough to come check on you almost every day you are there, including Thanksgiving when she stops by, all dressed up, on her way to her own family celebration.


#19- Once you get home, it will take you negative 10 seconds to realize (surprise!) bedrest stinks. The biggest lesson here is....do not fight it. Zack won't let you roll over without asking "What are you doing!? Why are you moving!?" Your Mom will drive to Houston literally the second you tell her she can and your in-laws will email and call every day asking if you are sitting still. It's just the way it is....there is nothing you can do about it. Turn on the TV, open the computer and get comfy. And stop complaining....turns out there are like millions of women out there who have been on bedrest. Nobody really cares that your back hurts or your feet are puffy or that you feel more stupid with every second that passes.


#20- And most importantly....bedrest works. You will keep that baby cooking for a lot longer being on bedrest and suffering through 80 episodes of "House Hunters" a day, than he would if you were still free and capable of walking around. As of right now, you have successfully stopped pre-term labor, gotten your contractions under control and slowed down dilation. All within a week. That's pretty impressive. Just keep going. I promise, you can do it :)

A letter from the future....

Dear Newly Pregnant Katy (May 2011)

As a service to you, I am writing to let you know some pretty important things about your pregnancy and where it is headed. You can thank me later. In about 32 weeks, you will ignore the important advice of your doctor (because you think you are smarter than her) and you land yourself on bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy. I know, stinks huh? So please read these rules and lessons carefully and follow my instructions perfectly. I don't think there is much hope for you this time around, but maybe by the 3rd baby (we can talk about that later) you will have learned your lesson.

Love, 32 Weeks Pregnant Katy (November 27, 2011)


1. Just because you are craving something, try not to give in every time. For example, you are going to walk into HEB one morning and the smell of donuts will be so overwhelming and delicious that you will eat 2 of them. I promise, this will NOT help your morning sickness.


2. Just because you can still button your pre-pregnancy pants when you are 12 weeks along, don't do it. I promise that the muffin top you create with this ensamble will not be pleasent for anybody.


3. Drink water. LOTS of it. This will help later down the road, I promise.


4. Just because you can "relate" to every woman on TLC and Discovery Health because you are both pregnant, doesn't mean you need to watch every single episode of a Baby Story or anything related to it. Believe me, watching other women give birth will not help you out.


5. You can buy Goldfish crackers in huge tubs. Try to buy only one tub at a time. They will give you wicked heartburn and you have no self control.


6. Around 20 weeks you will start feeling contractions. Warn Dr. Storey. Even though everybody and their brother will tell you "that's normal, those are just braxton hicks..." ignore them and talk to the doctor. Yours are not normal.


7. When you find out that baby #2 is a boy (oops...sorry for the spoiler) try not to respond with "no, really...is it a girl?" I feel like this could be giving him a complex pretty early on.


8. You are going to gain weight faster this time. Just deal with it. Zack doesn't care, your Mom doesn't feel sorry for you and all your friends will give you a look of death for complaining about it. Just get over it and enjoy a snack.


9. You will develop a new love affair with your crock pot. Make sure and have it washed and ready around month 6 when the cravings hit.


10. Jonathan is going to poke your belly. A LOT. At first this makes you self conscience (remember rule number 8) but the first time you see him pat Zack's belly and say "baby!" it will be worth it.


11. Now this one is important.....around 25 weeks, Dr. Storey will listen to you about your contractions, give you medicine and tell you to take it easy. DO IT. Don't go strolling around the mall or Target because you are bored. Don't try to work in the yard. Don't stand at hallway duty every period and breakfast duty twice a week. Ask for help and accept it when it is given.


12. You will start to waddle earlier. Just deal with it.


13. At 31 weeks, you will be surprised with a positive FFN test. This will set a new course for the rest of your pregnancy. Don't freak out, don't start crying to Zack that you are a failure and that your body is 100% "jacked up," don't leave the house that morning for the doctor's office with nothing but a water bottle. Instead, think ahead (which you will do thanks to this letter) and take a good shower, dry your hair, shave your legs, pack a bag with a toothbrush, face wash, some jammies and a brush. Take it with you and act like you are in control. Because you are.
Thanks to me.


Now, the rest of your important lessons will come soon. I have lots to say about what to do and how to behave in the hospital, so be on the lookout for that letter. It's an important one.

So this has been fun....

In case you haven't caught any of my facebook messages, things with Baby Ley have taken quite a turn in the past week. And just in case you were dying to know details, here you go :)

Like I have mentioned before, I have what is called an "irritable uterus." This basically means that anything can send me into contractions. I have been on medication to keep things relaxed and under control for about 6 weeks (I was on the same medication with Jonathan and it did the trick until I was taken off at 36 weeks.) Well this time around, I guess my body is too used to it and it isn't working anymore.

It all started last week when I had an FFN (fetal fibronectin test) done at the doctor's office. This test basically lets you know if there is a chance that you will go into labor in the next two weeks or not. I have had LOTS of these tests over my two pregnancies and they have always come back negative. Well Wendesday morning, I got a call from Dr. Storey letting me know that the test was positive this time which means there is a good chance I could go into labor within the next two weeks. She put me on bed rest and had me come into the office to get a steroid shot for the baby's lungs just in case. While I was there, she put me on the monitor to check for contractions. Well I ALWAYS have contractions, so I wasn't too worried about this. Turns out I was having LOTS of them. And pretty regularly (about every 3-4 minutes.) I was also dilated more than she would have liekd, so she sent me to the labor and delivery floor and told me to get comfortable.

While there, I was hooked up to a "mag pump" (magnisium sulfate) to stop the contractions for 48 hours. I was given another steroid shot for his lungs and told to stay still and in bed! The mag did the trick and the contactions eased up. Unfortunately, once I was taken off the mag pump, they came back and my regular Procardia didn't stop them like normal. Apparently my body has just built up a tolerance for it. So Dr. Storey put me on ANOTHER medication (trebutaline)to try and stop them and luckily this worked. I have dilated a little more, but nothing too serious, so this morning I was released with strict bed rest instructions and a prescription for this magic drug.

I am still having some contractions, but nothing regular. Zack and his family have been SO awesome keeping things in order around the house and taking care of sweet Jonathan who doesn't seem to care too much that Mommy has been gone (not sure how to take that....) My Mom is coming to town on Monday and I am looking forward to some good food, watching people put my Christmas tree up and lots and lots of reading and TV watching. Our goal right now is to make it to 34 weeks (I will be 32 weeks tomorrow.) I still can't believe I won't be going back to work until at least Spring Break! What a weird feeling...

This obviously wasn't the way I was planning on spending my Thanksgiving (let's just say Memorial Herman did their best with their Thanksgiving meal but in the end, it was seriously lacking...) but I am so thankful that I have bought this much extra time with Baby Ley and will do whatever necessary to keep him cooking for a little while longer!

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!