13 Random Thoughts

I will take the plung and follow everyone....(Toby don't get the big head)

1 - Thank you Colton for the nap....that makes up for no sleep last night.
2 - I need to clean up the table from dinner
3 - I need to go run or something to get rid of those donut(S) that I just ate
4 - What's for dinner
5 - Can't wait until mom and dad get back
6 - I am ready for the weekend - family time
7 - I need to go to the gym and change out lights
8 - what are we going to do next weekend for labor day?
9 - I need to fold laundry
10 - I am really enjoying being a mother of 3
11 - I am ready to go shopping for new clothes....I have to lose all the weight by hopefully THANKSGIVING...
12 - I am dreading getting on the scale for the first time since baby Colton was born
13 - I enjoyed seeing everyone at the schools today....it is nice to see the friendly faces. I am just glad that it is not me...and that I am not having to send Kaitlyn this year. I need another year to prepare for that....

Hope everyone else's list is just as BORING...haha...

I left him......

I left Colton for the first time....HOLY COW....I was nervous the WHOLE HOUR I was gone..haha...I just didn't want him to cry the whole time. I knew he was in good hands but I just didn't like the idea of leaving him yet....

My mom was first supposed to be here so I wouldn't worry...but then mom and dad got a chance to go to Branson so they took it....(by the way....they went and stayed at the Big Cedar Lodge - the Bass Pro RESORT and they love it....) I can see our next family vacation already planned....
back to mom...so I was nervous .... who was going to keep the little one.... everyone is back in school or busy GETTING THEIR HAIR DONE.....haha....but it all worked out... The lady that helps me in the morning at the gym agreed to come to the house and keep all the kids....It worked out great;....THANK YOU ASHLEY....I can't tell you enough....

Postpartum depression is starting to set in...I am trying really hard to keep busy and not thinking about things. I started crying last night when I was looking at Colton and realized that he is growing up and I am not going to get to do this again..(be up at all hours of the night)...YES...I will miss it...it is so quiet and peaceful and it is just you and the baby....(I can always sleep when I am dead) I am really excited about next Thursday but nervous about leaving....I just like to have everyone near me...I know that I am wierd....I know that I am buggin' Toby since I am getting clingy...I am trying not to be....I am making a point to try not to get to emotional or goofy....But like everything else...this stage will soon pass...

A good note.....to close on....Colton slept 5 hours last night (in a row) from 11 pm - 4 am...It was amazing...It was nice to get to sleep...

MY FAV STRAWBERRY CAKE....

Our adoptive grandparents (neighbors across the street) brought us the most wonderful cake I have had. It is so moist and GOOOOOOOD....I begged for the recipe. I can't have it right now...since I am trying to loose my baby weight, but I thought I would share it with you....

Strawberry Cake - Ranae Wyatt

1 white cake mix
1 3oz box strawberry jello
1/2 c oil
1/2 c water
4 eggs
Mix and beat all ingredients together. Add 1/2 c thawed frozen sliced strawberries with juice. Bake at 350 degrees.
ICING -
(ingredients need to be at room temp)
1 stick butter
1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 c strawberries with juice
Mix and pour over cake

(best in a 13 x 9 pan)

You will absolutely love this. It is so moist and good...
thank you for sharing....

Colton's 2 week check up

We had Colton's 2 week check up today.
Luckily school is not in session, so I called our neighbor ALLIE to come over for an hour to watch the older kids. I didn't want them to get in trouble while trying to be good and wait at the clinic. So Colton and I were off....After about 45 minutes we got to see Dr G. Bless their hearts their were so busy....I am just glad that Allie could come and help out with the kids....That would have been bad....
We weighed Colton and let's just say that he is gaining good....He weighed 8 lbs and 5 oz when he was born and 2 weeks later he weight 9 lbs 10 oz. He is a good eater..haha....he is a true Ollinger...
Then we had to do the dreaded PKU test. I begged Toby to come with me...but he couldn't....so I was praying and giving myself and pep talk all day....JUST DON'T CRY...JUST DON'T CRY....and I didn't....Luckily the guy that did it is a gym goer and I told him I didn't know how I was going to do...and he tried to talk to me to keep my mind off my little boy SCREAMING his head off....BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT....

Tomorrow is probably going to be a harder day for me than today.....I am going to have to leave Colton with someone for about an hour so I can do something for the gym. I am going through the stage that I can't let the little leave my sight...but tomorrow I will have to make an exception.

Everything is going good here at the Tucker's. I am going to get to start doing some low impact working out. So I am excited. I just hope that I don't die....I will start SLOW...

First day back at work.....

I had mixed emotions about this day. I truly enjoy my gym (my job) but I do like the idea of being home strictly with my kids. I don't work very many hours a day...so it is hard for me to justify it as a J-O-B....

Colton and I had a long night last night. I truly believed that I was going to fall asleep and not hear him cry...but we made it through it. We all woke up at 8am (LATE) because I needed to be at the gym by atleast 9am with THREE dressed and fed kids. AND MYSELF half way decent. So I took a turn around shower, put on mascara, brushed my teeth, and put on chapstick. Got the kids clothes ironed, clothed, and out the door we went. Did I mention that I didn't have them fed....SO LUCKILY the bakery had donuts...and chocolate milk. I know not a healthy breakfast but I needed something fast. Made it to the gym, got my training session ready, fed Colton and then started my training session. It went great. Luckily Colton slept the entire time....and the kids played. I worked a little long on some paperwork and decided to call it a day. As I was pulling into the garage I remembered I forgot to do something....

HAVE BREAKFAST MYSELF....Figures....

So all in all the day (MORNING) was a success. The first real day of a working mom of THREE. I will get better.

After lunch I had a chat with Colton...and he promised me he would let me take a nap for atleast 30 minutes...and he did....I just forgot to ask the entire world for those 30 minutes. It never fails.....as soon as I get everyone down for the nap, and get relaxed....either my cell phone, home phone RINGS, or someone comes to the door. Today was no different. OH WELL...Atleast the house is kinda quite...

Tomorrow if Colton's 2 week check-up with Dr Green. I hope all is well. I am curious to see what the chunk weighs...also interested to see what mommy weighs...I have been scared to go to the gym and weigh...scared of getting depressed...but tomorrow I am going to take the plunge...and then beg Dr G if I can start working on getting these 50 lbs off.

In the life of STEPHANIE....have a great day....

TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL WORKERS...hope you enjoyed your first day back...BLESS YOUR HEARTS....GOOD LUCK

Colton's Baptism Weekend

The kids were so excited that Granna and Pa were coming in to see us they couldn't settle down to take a nap...COLTON didn't have trouble...
Pa sure loves those babies...
Granna and Kaitlyn reading the book that Granna bought her. She loves it. It is really cool. It is made of felt so that she can change the story.
Mommy was trying really hard to get a sweet picture of all the kids for the birth announcement. Can you say.....that is really hard...
I love these kids....

We had a great weekend. And what a weekend it was......

Saturday morning....it started out with Kaitlyn's cheerleading at the scrimmage.

You can hear her.. I wonder where she got that.

SHE DID GREAT.

Then we all traveled to Groom for Colton's Baptism.

Toby's sister Debbie, husband Mack "Skinner" and their daughter Allison

along with Granna and Pa all packed into the cars to head to the church.

The baptism went GREAT...

THANK GOODNESS FOR PACIFIERS...

Toby, Colton, me, and Cassie at the start of the baptism. Cassie, my cousin, was the godmother.

The godparents Cassie and Lance (my brother) along with Toby and I getting Colton's blessing.

Father Raj giving Colton's is baptismal blessing....and DUNK...

Below - Toby, Cassie, Father Raj, Lance, and me after the baptism.

THANKS TO CASSIE AND LANCE for being a big part of this day.

Above - The entire Ollinger clan that made it to the baptism. The rest met us at Gramz and Grandad's house to lots of food and fun. ALSO, sweet little GRANDMA came to be a part of the day.

BELOW - The whole TUCKER gang that made it to baptism.

Pa and Granna along with our entire family. Granna made Colton's baptism garment.

My brothers, mom and dad, Grandma along with my family.

THANKS TO MOM and DAD (Gramz and Grandad) for cooking, planning, and cleaning up for our big party after the baptism. We had about 50 people that came to eat and meet Colton for the first time. We love getting together. There is nothing better than family and good friends.

Lance is Colton's Godfather,

Chris is Kaitlyn's Godfather.

Again aren't those boys too cute...they are looking for a good woman...any takers?

Colton's UPCOMING big day....his baptism

This weekend is a very big for our family. (as Toby would say, I make it bigger than it has to be, but I think it is important). Colton is getting baptized.

Many of you might know, but we are Catholic. I was raised in a very strong Catholic based family and community. I have to say I am very lucky for having the strong base that I have been blessed with. I believe that is why our family is struggling with our "church" situation. We drive to Groom (1 1/2 hours away = 3 hours for total trip) every Sunday. It is not only that we go to church but we also get to see family and friends. We are struggling with the idea of our kids religion classes. I don't really want to have to drive to Groom on Wednesdays so I don't know how we are going to solve that dilemna. Just keep us in your prayers.

Now back to Colton's baptism....Toby and I both come from Catholic families...BLESSING...And some of you might know..that Catholics baptize their infants at a very young age. We believe that it takes away the "ORIGINAL SIN" that we are born with from the actions of Adam and Eve. My brother Lance and my cousin Cassie have been asked to be his Godparents. And along with that comes some improper training and classwork. Being from a small parish that consists of watching a movie and visiting with the priest. But with this whole process it made me look up EXACTLY why Catholics do some of the things we do. I have studied my religion more than most but I still don't know all the answers and always can use a freshening up course. If you are interested you can look at http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/infant_baptism.htm for more details...

This weekend Toby's parents are coming in, along with two of his sisters and their families. Some of my family will meet us in Groom for the festivities. We will get this young one baptized, go to church as a family, (while my parents do all the work), and then go out to my parents for a party. It is also a good chance for everyone to get together AND to see our blessing....COLTON...

PICTURES WILL FOLLOW...