Mayzie One Month

Miss Emerson (Emi) you are one month old today sweet girl. I think the 3rd baby makes time go three times as fast! We have loved having another baby around and your big sisters are smitten with you!!! They love to hold you and do big sister favors for mommy. Let's find out what you've been up to.

~weight 10lbs

~you are wearing newborn/size 1 diapers and newborn clothes. Although it won't be long until you are in the next size up. 

~you sleep ALL THE TIME. Which is nice except when it's time to eat. You usually sleepy from 10/11pm-4 am. It's glorious. 

~you eat very 3 hours during the day, sometimes I have to make you eat. 

~you've smiled at mommy a few times but nothing consistent yet. 

~ you are a noisy baby grunting and making little baby noises all the time which makes church interesting. 

~ you don't love your paci, yet, but mommy is still working on that one. 

~ you love to be swaddled and to cuddle with mommy which I different from your older sisters who hated being swaddled.  

~ I think you already have a preference on people and that's mommy. 

~ you celebrated your first Easter and slept through most of it. 

~ mom and dad dedicated ourselves to raising you to know God. 

This pink afghan in the picture below was the last blanket my Grandma Audrey (who Emerson is named after) was working on before her Alzheimer's got so bad that she couldn't remember how. 

Miss Em you are as sweet as can be and I can't wait to see your personality coming out, however you can stay tiny a little while longer! 

Mayzie Audrey Struska

Mayzie Audrey was born March 16, 2015 at 2:15am after about 10 hours of labor. We headed to the hospital on Sunday March 15 in th afternoon to get checked out because we though my water was leaking. Unfortunately for moa it wasn't and they planned to strip my membranes and send me home since they thought I was only 1cm. The doctor went to strip my membranes and realized I was actually 5cm and after stripping my membranes my contractions picked up so they kept me. Emerson was still up high and not engaged so they let me labor awhile and then started pitocin to try and get her to come down before they broke my water. They were afraid to break my water with her still high for fear of a prolapsed cord. After several hours and increasing the pitocin a ton, she still hadn't come down and I had only increased to 6cm. So I opted for an epidural before breaking my water. Literally seconds after the epidural was in the doctor broke my water and out came tons and tons of amniotic fluid. The nurse, doctor, and anesthesiologist all commented on how they had NEVER seen that much fluid. Well 30 very painful minutes later I had gone from 6cm-10cm and my epidural was only working on the right side. I didn't feel any pressure to push so we waited another 30 minutes to let the epidural wear off a little so I could maybe feel to push. It's amazing how much pain you can feel without feeling the pressure to push. 30 minutes was too long to try and wait it out so I opted to try pushing. I didn't even get to start pushing before her head was already starting to come out. Two contractions and two pushes later and "little" miss Emerson was here with a head full of super dark hair weighing 9# 4.5oz and 20.5in long. She's perfect and healthy. 

Hadley and Brinkley came to meet Emerson later in the afternoon and were completely smitten!!! 

One year with Plexus!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated about Plexus and my progress. Plexus has changed my life completely!!! I love it and willl do it for the rest of my life! I've lost around 35# and gained so much freedom. I have more energy, I sleep better, and feel healthier. I've overcome an addiction to Coke a Cola and have learned to make healthier choices. I've also supplemented my income. I started Plexus while working full time. (Three 12 hour shifts a week) I first cut down to part time, then PRN 2, and now PRN 1. That means I only have to work 3 shifts a month!!!! Do you have any idea how awesome that is??? I LOVE staying home with my girls while still making enough money to live life! This product, company, comp plan, and other ambassadors is more fantastic then I could ever explain on writing! I looke forward to taking this opportunity to the next level. Right now I'm making enough money with just Plexus to pay our rent and utilities each month. 

Brinkley is One!!!

I am so late on writing this post but better late than never! Brinkley turned one March 4,2014! What a year it has been with so many changes. Brinkley has been such a wonderful addition to our family! A little bit of a surprise but totally worth it!

~Weight- 18.5#

~ height : can't remember the exact measurement, but you are in the 6% for height. (Short little girl) 

~ she's finally walking!!!! I thought she would walk so early but she waited until the month of her birthday to really take off! 

~ she's starting to play with her sister more and it's been fun to watch! 

~ she sleeps around 12 hours a night! 

~ she is still very shy and very attached to mom but has starters going to a few other close people. 

~ still love eating most everything but are starting to get a little pickier. 

~ we are done with formula and drinking whole milk. You still LOVE your bottle and paci! 

~ you celebrated your first birthday and did pretty good despite being a little stuck up and not really liking most people. :) 

How to fly with 2 babies.

It's simple really. I'm sitting on the plane drinking a coke, writing a blog post while my 2 year old and 1 year old snooze. How did I do it?? Well it takes some preparation and a lot of organization.

 First off plan your flight for around 1pm, if possible of course. Then, beginning two days before your flight make sure your 2 year old wakes up at least 10 times throughout the night coughing for 2 nights in a row and make sure she misses her nap both days as well. This might cause a little crankiness, but it's worth it. Don't have your 1 year old skip her naps though...  That would result in chaos. However, make sure the 2 little ones sleep close enough that the crying 2 year old wakes up the 1 year old a few times through the night. (Oh and make sure your brother comes home and makes enough noise to wake up the 1 year old for an hour or so... This is key.)

On the day of your flight go about your day as normal except make sure the 1 year old does not get her morning nap. (That would completely ruin the plan) Get to the airport plenty early so you have enough time to eat lunch and take everyone potty and change diapers (if you can get them to poop now that is preferable) and get back to hear them call your name. (Oh ya, make sure you are flying standby... It adds much needed stress) And don't forget after all that is done and you are sitting down that the 2 year old will again tell you she has to poop. Which means packing back up the stroller, bags, and babies and heading back into the bathroom. Then walk back out just in time to hear your name called. Hallelujah!!! 

You get your seat assignment which has your 2 year old sitting by some stranger and when pointed out to the gate agent he tells you to ask to switch once you get on the plane... (Lovely) The lady agreed after pointing out that she does not like the window seat but would still trade. Thank you? 

Next get settled in, tell the 2 year old at least 16 times that she has to sit down and keep her buckle on... Kind of like your carseat except that you are capable of escaping. Fiddle with both kids while trying desperately to keep them quiet and from instantly annoying every person on the plane. Cave in and give the 1 year old her bottle while taxiing so it's gone before the flight ever takes off. Listen to the 1 year old cry as she poops.... Again!!! Debate whether the poop stinks worse or the guy in front of you that showered in his cologne this morning. Set the 2 year old up with her pillow and blanket and watch her fade into oblivion as the 1 year old squirms and whines because she's tired but is being kept awake by a certain stench. Wait in a line to use the one lavatory which does NOT have a changing table. Squeeze into the tiny potty sit on the toilet and attempt to change the poopy diaper without getting any on yourself. SUCCESS! Go back to your seat snuggle up the 1 year old and enjoy the rest of the flight. Even get a coke if you have a free hand. 

Follow these steps to a tee and you will have a successful flight with a 1 and 2! year old. Good Luck! 

Brinkley is 11 months old!

Just like just like every month I can't believe how fast ti, e keeps moving. I cannot believe that next month you will be 1 years old. We love you more and more each day. You've gone from a fussy baby to a fun little girl who loves to dance, play, laugh, and follow your sister around. A few knew facts about you.

~ Weight 18.25#
~ Height 27"
~ You are STILL crawling.  I really thought you'd be walking by 9 months, but you are very cautious!!! You love
pushing all the walking and non walking toys around but you are scared to ever let go,
~ You are an excellent sleeper! You sleep 12 hours most every night and you still take 2 naps during the day.  Plus you never fuss about going to sleep.

~ You still love to eat anything and everything. Also you are now just taking formula. I thoughg we would have enough frozen breastmilk to get us to one year but we flew through my supply and are short about a month.
~ You love to laugh, especially when someone else is laughing. 

~ You are finally saying a few words, mamma, dadda, night night, and you sign "all done", and "please" and wave hi and
bye.
~You started sharing a room with your sister and both of you have done surprisingly well.

~ You got to watch your football team go to the Superbowl unfortunately the outcome was not fantastic.
~ You took your first trip down the stairs... Oops

~ You moved into your third home.
~ Layla our dog moved back in with us and you like her as long as she's laying down being calm but if she's up and moving around she scares you.

~ You decided 2 teeth weren't enough so you popped 6 more through to make a total of 8 teeth,

You are such a delight and I absolutely love being your mom! Guess I better go start planning that big 1year old bash!!!

She was not too excited about her picture being taken! :( 

Brinkster is 10 months old!

As is the same each month I'm shocked at how quickly it goes by and the new things you choose to do! It's so much fun watching you grow and learn new things and especially fun to see you interact with your sister. You love your sister but my oh my are the two of you different. A few new things. 

-you celebrated your first Christmas, which you enjoyed despite having no idea what was going on. 

- you are getting closer to walking. You walk around anything you can and have been caught standing alone for long periods. 

- you are finally getting a few more teeth. 

- you LOVE LOVE LOVE to eat, anything and everything

- you cry when it's time to be done eating, so hard sometimes you turn blue and pass out. You are quite the drama queen. 

- you also cry during baths... You hate them. (Which could be because you were standing holding the cold handle when you slipped and turned the cold water into your face as you went completely under)

- you love to follow your sister and get into her toys

- you can out eat your sister as well. 

- you are no longer the youngest cousin since Baby Ashton came along

- you finally stayed in the church nursery for more than 10 min. 

- you still love to cuddle and love your paci. 

- you still like mom the most but are finally opening up to a few other people