Byington Family

RI Vacation

2008-09-20T15:09:00.003-04:00

We had a great time. look to the right of this post and you'll see a slide show of all our pics.

It was a great 2 day vaca

you have to see this

2008-09-17T11:11:00.002-04:00

We have been freecycling for almost a year and we've been totally blessed. Our tv has been on the blink and it's old and only about 19 inches (size of a computer screen)

so anyway it stopped receiving signals from any remote (i have no idea why) so i posted on freecycle that we needed a tv didn't matter what size just something that would work with a remote.

some one responded we picked it up and this is what we got

IT's an HDtv and only 3 years old. the former owners bought a newer smaller one for their new house and just wanted to get rid of this one.

never in a million years would i ever have bought something like this for myself

The princessq

2008-09-14T20:06:00.001-04:00

Calla Laughing

2008-09-12T16:40:00.001-04:00

sitting in the sink

2008-09-09T14:33:00.003-04:00

so video on this digital camera is not great but you gotta hear the dialogue

and here is the pic

more pics

2008-09-03T14:55:00.003-04:00

ok so here are some more

Rowan and his friend playing in the mud

just pics

2008-08-28T23:12:00.001-04:00

Crafts

2008-08-08T20:38:00.002-04:00

So Rowan and I have been doing crafts during the day. I find that if he's occupied he'll behave. First we made a noodle necklace which he painted. I couldn't find it to take a pic, but he did so well threading the noodles in the string.

then we made a caterpillar and a felt barn scape

This is Abbie, the little girl we talked to you about who has cancer. She's just starting to grow her hair back and is looking so much better (filling out in her cheeks again) she's precious

Our Garden

2008-07-18T23:20:00.003-04:00

So I wanted to post pics of the first fruits of our garden take a look at these

And by the way our garden plot is only 2ft by 5 ft and we have 3 tomato plants, 3 zucchini plants, 5 cucumber plants, 6 basil plants and 2 green bean plants. we had garlic but it died I don't think we have enough room for all this but beginners mistakes. Next year will be better

Potty training

2008-07-14T21:54:00.001-04:00

Rowan Pooped on the potty today. I will spare the details but it was great. he did it all by himself without me around and without me telling him to. That's how things are with hi,. You have to suggest it to him then leave it alone until he's ready and he will eventually do it all by himself.

Lyme Disease

2008-07-11T10:52:00.003-04:00

So I'm on antibiotics and feeling so much better. The headache alone was enough to put anyone in an insane asylum. I can truly say the pain I felt last week was worse than Childbirth. I'd actually like to go through childbirth a hundred times than go through that again.

There is so much info out there about Lyme and they all contradict each other. Apparently i have acute Lyme disease and there is Chronic Lyme which comes from not treating Acute Lyme disease. So we are hoping that this round of antibiotics will cure it.

I had a scare when someone told me that Lyme can be passed through breastmilk. But my Pediatrician talked to an Infectious Disease Specialist and they agree that if by chance she was exposed to the disease through my breastmilk then we should keep nursing so she gets the antibiotics I'm on.

Even in whether or not it's passed through breastmilk is controversial. There is still so much research to be done but most of the research done has not been done soundly (according to my Pedi) some of the studies have been funded by pharmaceutical companies.

But I've given up trying to learn about this multi layered disease and I'm just trusting God that this will be over when the antibiotics are over.

IU'm feeling much better though and starting to get energy back. I was even able to go to church yesterday and felt pretty good. then kevin took rowan for a bike ride in the afternoon so I got to sleep.

I will keep you all updated, but so far things are looking good

Growing so fast

2008-06-11T07:10:00.003-04:00

It's so hard being away from family and not having the gas money to travel. I know with Rowan we traveled more but this year it's been really tough. Even a plane ticket is out of the question.

Rowan is growing like his garden (so he says) he is getting taller but also wider, his shirts are now between 3T and 4T 2 T seem to be middrift shirts, and his pants are between a 2T and 3T. 2t are just right in length but squeeze his belly, and 3T will be too long but perfect in the belly. I'm sure if I'd bought a sewing machine like I wanted to years agao I'd be able to fix this problem.

Calla is such a happy baby. she usually self soothes, can fall asleep on her own, and last night sleep almost 5 hrs before wanting to nurse then nursed for 10 min and fell back asleep and has been sleeping for 2 hrs since then.

She's actually laughing now. She loves Rowan and when she hears his voice will immediately turn to see him and smile. He was crying the other day when I was nursing her and he came to sit in my lap and she stopped nursing to laugh at him. it was hilarious.

I am working out like crazy. Seems harder to lose weight this time than it was with Rowan and I had gained 30 lbs more with rowan. But we have digital cable that has exercise TV and I can pick the workouts I want and it's incredible. this morning I did a Jillian Michaels workout (she was a trainer on the Biggest Loser) and boy is she tough.

I feel thinner than I am and Kevin said this is a good thing. But I have a 20 day challenge. I want to workout for 20 days then re-evaluate. My hope is that by 20 days I'll see results and have the stamina to keep going for an other 20 day challenge. I'm on day 10. I've been doing it for 2 weeks, but with kids and etc I've not been able to work out every day.

Kevin is doing Krav Magaw (have no idea if I spelled that right) But he's really enjoying it. I want to buy him a punching bag, He says he needs it to practice.

OUr 4 yr anniversary is Sunday which is also Fathers day. So we are all going duckpin bowling. (funfun) hopefully sometime next week my girlfriend can take them and we can actually get a date!!!

and lastly here are some pics

Professional Pics

2008-05-22T07:06:00.004-04:00

Our friend took these of Calla. Enjoy

Smiling already

2008-05-11T09:29:00.005-04:00

Babies usually smile between 2-3 months. Calla is six weeks (just over a month old) and this is not a gas smile.

She's been smiling responsively for a while now. She is just so darn cute.

Happy Mothers Day!

Just some pics

2008-04-22T10:38:00.006-04:00

She's Here!!!

2008-03-31T22:34:00.006-04:00

Soon I'll post the birth story for those interested, but the short version is At 3 am I went into hard labor, at 7am we arrived at the birth center at 9:19am Calla Joy Byington was born in the water!!!

I have a few pics for you and I will post an album of the rest of them soon.

We are doing great, we came home from the hospital at 9pm that same day and it was wonderful to be in our own home with our new family. I feel great, except a little tired. We are all trying to adjust and Rowan is doing great with little bursts of attention getting behavior. But for the most part he's loving having a sister.

For those who live nearby we are open to visitors, but please call first, we don't want everyone arriving the same day =)

We can't wait to show off our little bundle!!!

going in again

2008-03-27T05:52:00.001-04:00

And this time the contractions are so strong I can't move or talk through them. the midwife wanted us to wait because they are sporadic, some every 2 some every 4 but when she heard me go into a contraction on the phone she wanted us to come in right away.

so we'll let you know

Home Again

2008-03-26T13:56:00.001-04:00

Ok so I was wrong, I'm not as dilated as I thought,. I'm only 1 cm !!!!

So they sent us back home, she said it could be a few hrs or even all day before we're ready to come back in. she wants me to call the hospital again when the contractions are 3 min apart and so strong that I can't talk through them.

we'll keep you posted. going to do a lot of walking today

Going in

2008-03-26T10:48:00.001-04:00

I've been timing contractions since 7 am they are now about 3-4 min apart and 40-50 sec long (good thing) they want me to come in and get checked out, I may or may not be admitted, we'll see. I'm not getting my hopes up till they check me.

We'll let you know

Still waiting

2008-03-25T08:22:00.002-04:00

Well last night I though surely this morning I'd be posting that we were on our way to the hospital. Since my Apt last thursday I've had minimal contractions. Last night while putting Rowan to bed I had 4 contractions in 40 min (pretty strong and uncomfortable but not severe) Had more while I showered, had more while playing a game with kevin, had a little more while trying to get to sleep, then this morning, nothing but pressure on my bladder.

So hopefully things will kick in soon. It's getting harder and harder to wait. I really want ot see her, and hold her, and really be done with this pregnancy.

I know Rowan wants me done too. Yesterday we had to go in from playing because he wants to run around and I can't chase him. poor kid. once she comes we can go back to going to the library once a week, and going out to play and such.

He's getting to be such a big boy. He can count to 11, say most of his alphabet without help, he can also recite several poems, Wee Willie Winkle, Rock a by baby, Twinkle Twinkle, and... there was one more and I can't remember.

He's trying to potty train and actually told us he had to potty while out shopping the other day so we went to the bathroom and he went!!! But bring him home and put him in underwear and he'll pee in them immediately.

Well that's all for now. I'll keep you updated.

Started contractions again

2008-03-17T20:43:00.002-04:00

So tonight I started the cramping again. The contractions are in the right place but not the right intensity. not consistent either.

They are however becoming more uncomfortable. Rowan told me that the baby will be born on wednesday so he might be right is the contractions continue like this.

I"ll keep you posted

Still hanging

2008-03-17T08:32:00.003-04:00

Ok so yesterday I had NO contractions not even a real Braxton Hick (practice contractions) But Rowan told the babysitter Sat that Calla was coming next week. Then when I asked him when she was coming he said wednesday. Then another time I was changing his diaper and I said "Rowan when are you going to do poopy on the potty?" he said "Wednesday when Calla is born"

So we'll see if his prediction is true.

Today I have energy. Sat and Sun I slept all the time I was so tired. Then I woke up after going to sleep at 9:30 at 10:30 and was up till 1:30 then up at 4:30 asleep at 5 then up for the day at 6:30. I should not have energy.

I will keep this updated

Getting there

2008-03-15T00:44:00.002-04:00

Ok... so for about a week I've been feeling practice contractions (these soften, ripen and help dilate the uterus) nothing intense, just uncomfortable. I know my body is working hard.

Today they got a little uncomfortable. but still nothing progressing to what will/should be strong progressing contractions.

I think I'm about 1-2 cm dilated (maybe more because i checked myself and I'm not an expert) I have a drs apt on thursday and I'll ask if they can check.

We are all set to go and I'm trying desperately to fill my days so I am not driving myself crazy.

the hard part is Rowan wants me to play and wants to go out and wants to go to stores, and I can't chase him so we stay home all the time. I know he'll be happy to have mommy back in shape

I gave phone numbers to my friend who will be watching Rowan when i go into labor, so she will call main people and then you will be asked to call others. (this way she's not on the phone all night) so you will know when I go into labor.

Ok so everyone start praying that this baby starts making her way into this world. And quickly !!!!

Counting down

2008-03-08T17:18:00.002-05:00

So I've only got about 3 wks left, and I'm really hoping that she comes really really soon. I know it's ok if she doesn't but I really want to see her.

We are all set. We have almost everything. I just want to order more of my fav cloth diapers but I can wait on those since we'll have a diaper service for two months.

I dropped that's for sure, and last week I lost 5 lbs because of a stomach flu, but I've already gained it back. (almost) Right now I'm making CD's of music to listen to during labor.

I just wish that I could be certain of some things, like: how long labor will be, when it will start, and that there will be no complications.

I did have an idea a while ago that she might come between the 14th and the 21st. so we'll see. I'm trying to fill my calendar so I'm not sitting home anticipating her arrival. It's hard to do though because I can't chase Rowan around anymore, so the library and even going outside is usually out.

I will keep everyone updated if anything changes.

Oh and Rowan has stopped nursing =( it was bittersweet. I knew he needed to because of the baby coming, but it was such a special thing. I'm glad we were able to for at least 2 yrs. (recommended by the World Health Organization) NOw I get to start all over again with another one =)

Ok that's all for now

Stomach bugs

2008-03-02T17:57:00.002-05:00

We all got them this week. First rowan then me, (I got it the worst) then kevin (who only got a little bit of it.)
'
I think it's harder having the stomach bug when you're pregnant, the kid seems to roll over every inflamed intestine and sleep on your stomach just when you think you're getting relief.

the pain was so bad, I was wondering how i ever made it through labor.

But we are all healed now. (or getting there) so now I'm back to eagerly awaiting Callas arrival. It's getting much harder to wait, but I think I'm succeeding in telling myself that I have 4 more weeks to wait instead of two. ( just because Rowan was early doesn't mean she will be)