Playing catch up

Oh goodness! It has been a very long time since I posted. It has been pretty busy here in Cleveland for us. I don't know where to begin. This is going to be a long post!

We finally got moved into the house! Yipppeee! Thank you Mom and Dad for coming down the day of the move and helping. Also thanks to Kappa Alpha for helping us get all the big stuff moved in! I was useless because I was nine months pregnant and 3 cm dilated and not allowed to pick anything up. I also have to thank G-mom for helping get the house in order. She is amazing!!!! I went to work with boxes everywhere and when I came home I had a well organized house! I was in shock...she worked so hard to help us get the house to a home.

We had an amazing Thanksgiving! We all thought that Jackson would make his appearance before Thanksgiving or during it, but he had other plans. Mom, Dad, Diane, and Dr. B all came over to the house and we had Thanksgiving dinner in our house! It was wonderful to have our family all over for Thanksgiving. We have lots to be thankful for.

Mom stayed with us until November 20-27 because we (except for day) thought Jackson would make is debut around then. I had already been put in the hospital twice for blood pressure and we all just thought that it could happen soon. Mom was constantly asking if I felt anything. We were all anxious and not too good at playing the waiting game. Anyway, she went home on Friday the 27. And I called her the 28th to come back.

Jackson's arrival.

I woke up around 4 A.M. November 28th to go to the bathroom. All you pregnant people know how that is. As I was walking to that bathroom a I felt something run down my leg. I really thought that might have waited to late to go to the bathroom. This had never happened before, but thought it might just come with pregnancy. So after I get over the shock of something running down my leg, I realize I still have to go to the bathroom. That is when the idea came into my head that my water just broke. All kinds of emotions are running through me...I was excited, scared, nervous..everything!

I still wasn't sure if it was my water because I wasn't contracting or didn't feel anything. It was also not a lot of "water". So I get the What to Expect book and start looking to see how much water there is when your water breaks. I did this for about twenty minutes. All this time Brian is in the bed and I haven't told him yet. I didn't want to get him up if it was nothing and I had just peed my pants.

Around 4:20, I wake Brian up and tell him that I think my water broke. He is still half asleep and sat there for a few seconds. He then ask "What do you want to do". At this point I was getting nervous and told him to get up. I explain what happened and he starts looking in the book.

We didn't know what to do. We didn't want to call my mom because it was 4 in the morning and didn't want her to drive 2 hours for a false alarm. We didn't want to call his mom because of the same reasons (minus the 2 hour drive). So we came up with the solutions to call the hospital and ask someone in Labor/Delivery. By this time I was having contractions, but they weren't exactly the same lengths.

The hospital told us to head to the hospital. Brian asked if I wanted to get in the shower and I told him that I didn't think I could dry my hair...I was starting to hurt!! Brian gets in the shower...this whole time he is thinking that it could be a false alarm, BUT when he gets out of the shower and sees me leaned over the bath tub he knew it was for real.

We get to the hospital around 5 and have to wait in the emergency room for about 10 minutes, felt like hours to me. Contracts getting really bad. They take me up stairs and see that I am 4 cm. They also did a test to see if my water really broke and it was inconclusive. They put me on the monitors and start to get other junk done that I really don't recall.

My contracts were really bad now and Mrs. Diane had told me earlier that week to hold out for the epidural as long as possible, because I didn't it to wear off during labor. The nurse started a fluid IV, took my blood for platelets count, and other things. I literally had my eyes closed the whole time!!

She couldn't get the IV in and told me that I was going to blow a vein if I didn't relax. I'm thinking.....how do you relax and not tense up when you have contractions? Anyway contracts keep building and I start to also have back labor. So after a contractions went away, I still had massive pain in my back, so there was never a point of relief.

Around this time (I think) Mrs. Diane and Dr. B come in the room. I really don't recall much of this, but remember them being so sweet sounding.

Around 6:30, I told Brian I thought I had to go to the bathroom. I really did, but also wanted to make sure that my bladder was empty when I started to push so I wouldn't tt. The nurse came in and helped unhook me. I thought it took like 5 minutes to get me up and to the bathroom, but Brian said it took about 20. When I got back they were in the room with some relief....Staydol (not sure how to spell it). I can't tolerate Demerol so they were going to give me that. I told the nurse that I felt like Jackson was so low...actually I felt like he was going to fall out. So she decides to check me and finds that I am 10 cm!! They start rushing around the room and finally give me some Staydol. This whole time my mom has still not arrived!!

She then tells me that we are going to have a practice push...I'm thinking..yeah right either we are starting or we aren't...I don't need any practice. This is around 7 AM

I open my eyes for the first time in awhile and look at the nurse and ask about the epidural. She then tells me it is too late. WHAT!! I look at Brian and tell him I can't do this. I didn't want to do it without meds! I really wanted Jackson to come but goodness I really wanted some meds.

Mom comes in about this time! It is around 6:50...I think.I start pushing and apparently I'm a good pusher! During a contractions, the nurse wanted to get 3 ten second pushes in. By the third set, she tells me to STOP! What did she just say?!?!

The next contraction we start pushing again, but again she tells me to STOP! She this whole time has been pushing him back in when she says stop, so that we can wait on the doctor. After about 3 times of this I ask where the doctor is, because I know that is what she is waiting for. She tells me that he is on the way...and I reply....GET A NEW ONE! I later told Brian that they could have gotten any random Joe off the street and put a white coat on him and called him DR. at that point I didn't care. Brian told me later that one time the nurse said stop and I said NO! hahaha

The doctor arrives in his Ole Miss sweatshirt! Thank goodness he is here. One cut, two pushes, and Jackson is here!! He was born at 7:24 AM. That's right I was only in labor for about 3 1/2 hours. I told the doctor next time I'm going to have to move in his house. I have also decided anytime I go to the hospital for anything (visit someone or anything) I'm getting the labs started so that I can have an epidural!

I know this is such a long post and I will update about the days that followed his arrival in a later post. Stay tuned.

Single Digits!!

Oh wow! Has it really been a month since I posted?

We are now 8 weeks and 4 days away from the due date. Everyone thinks he will come earlier thought...the doctor has not said anything about this thought.

Jackson now has a place to lay his head! For my birthday, mom and day (g-mom and gaggy) bought me his crib and changing table. Mrs. Diane and Dr. B (Nana and Pop Pop) gave me the rocker for his room. All we need now is to move into the house!!

We were thinking we were going to be able to move in this weekend, but it looks like it will be the next weekend. Of course I would like to be in this weekend, but I have to remember that I want things done right not rushed. Just as long as we are in before Jackson makes his debut!

Jackson is not kicking as hard, but he is rolling around. I will never ever ever forget this feeling-it is the best thing in the world to feel him move. I feel like I say that every time I post, but it is really amazing!!

Here is a picture of Jessica and me(the twins mom) at her birthday party. I know it is not a side picture of the belly, but you get an idea of the baby bump. I'm not sure if you would call mine a bump. Maybe a baby mountain would be a better name for it. WE are getting very anxious around the house about Jackson's arrival. We are ready to see our little man, but we pray that he is healthy! Every night we lay in bed talking about what we think he will look like, his personality, sleeping habits, etc. It seems that everything already revolves around him and we don't mind a bit.

Sometimes it doesn't seem real. I feel that my pregnancy has flown by (I'm not complaining) and that it was all a dream, but then he rolls or kicks and I am amazed all over again. God is good!

Please keep us in your prayers!

Anyone that has a blog-how do you change the background and make it all cute?

Sweet little boy!

The three hour glucose test went great! I passed!! I guess it was just a fluke the first time, but I'm glad that the second one went great. I guess Jackson is just too sweet that he made my sugar level go up.

Here is a picture of a present that Kaley Little had made for Jackson. It was his first monogrammed outfit! It is so cute and tiny! Thank you Kaley!!!!!


I am also posting some pictures of some of Jackson's other clothes I go monogrammed.

Did you know that boys monograms are not like girls? Well I didn't, until I went up to get some things done for him. At first I wasn't sure of the JAB, but I am really really starting to like it! His daddy is BAB (Brian Adam Blansett) and I really wanted to use a family name, but we could not get away from Jackson, so his middle name will be the same as his daddy's.

Here is a picture of Jackson's bedding. It is so so so cute! It is being made, so this is just a picture of a picture. I couldn't find anything that I liked, so his bedding is being made. I'm really excited to see it in person. I will have to post more pictures of it when it comes in and when we get moved in the new house.

This is an old picture of the house, but wanted to update on it since I haven't in a long time. All the brick is up so this is not an accurate picture. The cabinets are being made and I'm hoping they will be installed within two weeks. That means that the granite can be delivered from Madison and put in within the month. It has been said that we will be in within 6 weeks.

Sorry I cut off the sides. I zoomed in too close.

Overall, Jackson and I are doing really great! I'm too excited to see him, but I'm loving being pregnant and feeling him. On the other hand, I'm not a big fan of the swelling and the huge huge huge body changes. I am starting to swell at night, but I think that it is because I am on my feet majority of the day at school.

I feel like a bag of popcorn that is popping. POP..your pregnant...POP POP your starting to show...POP POP POP other things are growing...POP swelling....POP POP POP POP you are really really showing and POP ... he is here and it is time to enjoy. Strange symbolism, but for some odd reason it came to me one night that pregnancy is like a bag of popcorn popping (must have been wanting some popcorn)hahaha

The conference went great and I really enjoyed it! Mom and I had a great time in the hotel!!! I know it is weird, but we really do love staying in hotels for a few days. Thank you Mom for coming to stay with me. I love you and your the greatest!

Please make sure that you are washing your hands and using germ-x often! Also, if you feel sick please please please stay home! There was a lady at my meeting that was coughing and I heard her friend say something about taking care of that fever. I began to get really nervous and it got me thinking. I really have never thought about it before, but it is respectful to stay away from others if you are feeling sick.

Hope everyone had a great week and enjoys the weekend.

Hello!!! I know we are all loving the wonderful weather! It is amazing.

I went last week to get my sugar checked and............I didn't pass! What?!?!? I never fail test! So now I have the 3 hour glucose test tomorrow. Wish me luck! I think my sugar is up because I have such a sweet little boy inside growing big and strong.

While I was waiting, they took me in the back to check my blood pressure and Jackson's heartbeat. I have been so tickled about this and dying to blog about it. The nurse was starting to check his heartbeat and he decided that he was not having it. He turned and she made a comment about him hiding. Then she moved the monitor around on my stomach and he KICKED it! HAHAHA. I love it! Every time I think about him I smile, but this makes me laugh out loud!

I really need to take some pictures of his cute clothes for yall to see! His Aunt Melanie bought him some really really really cute onesies. Thank you Aunt Melanie. I'm also excited to see the cute little socks that Aunt Jilly Bean bought him! He is going to be one stylish dude thanks to his sweet and precious Aunts.

I will be in Jackson this week for a conference Tuesday and Wednesday. I will be leaving Monday afternoon after the glucose test. Please pray for a safe trip there and back. Mom will be staying with me. Mom and I love staying in hotels!!! So I hope the sub can make it 3 days with all my students. 3 days is a long time to be away from home and out of the classroom.

Congrats Uncle Coach!!! My brother, Tripp, is a football coach at MRA and they had their first home game of the year. I wasn't able to go, but they did a great job. I'm so so proud of my brother!! The Clarion Ledger wrote an article about the MRA game and said a few things about Tripper. Here is what they said:

"MRA coach Mack Norwood took a risk in the summer, promoting junior high coach Tripp McCarty to varsity offensive coordinator. And with him McCarty brought the spread - a far cry from Norwood's "three yards and a cloud of dust" system - and his former junior high QB Stewart Summers. "I know like ... everything," Summers said of the offense. But Norwood's main reason for the switch lay in what he thinks is his best group: the receivers. The Patriots proved to have three or four wideouts who can catch the ball and run afterward. "Our personnel fits this," he said. "But there's a lot of football left." And of McCarty and his successful - well, at least for one game - system? "He's one of the best young coaches out there."

I hope everyone has a blessed week!

School has officially started and my classroom is packed! I have 27 students. Just imagine... 54 hands, feet, and eyes...all day..all by your self. I'm really excited about this class, but a little over whelmed with the big class.

They have just about finished painting the house! Yippeee! We will most likely be in by the end of September!! I'm so so so so so excited!

Congrats to all the pregnant women out there! It is awesome!

Thank you Kaley for Jackson's first monogrammed outfit! It is so so so cute! I will have to post pictures for yall to see! Also thank you to Mrs. Memorie Naron who made Jackson a beautiful blanket!

Jackson is moving like crazy and I am loving it!!!! I put my cell phone on my phone on my stomach the other night and Jackson was trying to text message someone. He has started to kick hard enough that Brian can see it through my shirt. Brian and I love watching him. It is amazing!

Football season is here and I'm so excited! I love watching DSU play and cooking out on Sunday. Football season also means cooler weather!!!!

I got my results in last week about my Comps and I am officially done with my masters! Glad that is over!

I go to the doctor this week for the sugar test. Wish me luck! Please pray that everything continues to go well and Jackson is healthy!

Summer is over and it's back to school!

I can't believe that I have to go to work tomorrow. This summer flew by!!!
I went home and finally found some bedding!!! YEAH!!!! That is such a relief. I don't know why but I have really been stressing over bedding. It is being custom made and will be in about 6 weeks. I'm so excited! When it comes in I will take pictures and post them.

Also that was really my first weekend to do some Jackson shopping and ohhhhhhhhhhh boy was it fun! He got some Polo's that are sooo cute and other outfits that are daddy approved. G-mom and I really had a great time shopping!! Thank you G-mom for buying Jackson so much!!!!

Jackson's Aunt Jill also bought him a surprise! Thanks Aunt Jill!!!! We miss you and ready to see yall again!

We had a doctor's appointment last week and we were able to have a sonogram. I was really hoping for a confirmation that it is a boy, but he had a mind of his own. This was our second sonogram at the doctors office, the first one was a very very long time ago. The lady said that she could not tell if it was a boy because the umbilical cord was in the way and she didn't want to say. Needless to say I became very nervous! I had just spent the last two day picking out bedding, clothes, and other items for Jackson! I thought we might have a little Jackie instead, but I have been saying all along that it was going to be a boy. Sooooo....Brian took the old sonogram pictures that we did earlier from a different place up to the doctor's office and let the sonogram lady look at them. She said if this is a picture of your child....then go buy BLUE!

This weekend was the 6 man golf tournament and it really gets crazy around this time! On Friday, we went to eat with several friends and then I came on home while they went out to the bar (don't think it is such a great idea for me to be hanging out at a bar). Saturday, Brian had to run many errands before he had to be there at 11, but he did bring me breakfast in between running errands (how sweet). They were supposed to tee off at 1, but because of rain they didn't get to until about 2:30.

It has become a tradition to ride with the boys. We had 3 carts for girlfriends and wives along with the 3 carts for the boys. We didn't get done playing until 8 o'clock that night and still had dinner and the Calcutta (bidding session), so I was very tired. The next morning Brian was up at 6:30 getting ready for Sunday tee off. He got home around 2. He is now sacked out on the couch (I'm sure he is worn out).

In summary, BUSY weekend of golf!


I had a breakdown this weekend also! I'm not a big crier, but if I do it is usually because I'm really really mad, hurt, or sick. Now we can add pregnancy makes me cry. I couldn't find anything to put on to wear to the golf course that was cute, casual,comfy, and cool. I couldn't find anything and then Brian called to tell me they were teeing off a little early...I really hate being late even though I always am. I just broke down once I got off the phone with him. I have not cried like that in awhile. Cooper was in the kitchen, he must have heard me sobbing and came running back to the back of the house to check on me =)!

I have another sweet story! Aunt Melanie (Brian's sister) gave Jackson his first piggy bank. Actually it is an elephant bank that says college fund on it. It is so so cute! Anna Woods (which is Melanie's first child) (she is 3 1/2) put some of her money in it for him!! How sweet is that!!!!!!!

Here is an old picture of Anna Woods


The house is coming along. All the brick and sheet rock is up. They are now putting up crown molding and should begin painting soon.

I think I have caught everyone up on our lives. I would like to thank everyone for everything you have done for us! Thanks for the wishes and prayers!! We are very grateful for our family and friends, and we feel so blessed! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went for a sonogram on the 7th and we were able to find out the sex of the baby. IT'S A BOY!!! This will be the first grandchild for my parents and the first grandson for Brian's parents. We are all very very excited. No more he or she, or Baby B. We are debating on names, but we really like the name Jackson.

Here is his picture. Sorry it is a little blurry.


Now that we know we are having a boy I have been trying to find the perfect bedding, but not having much luck. I am just going to have to go to the stores and see it with my own eyes. Do you know they have bedding out there for 2000 dollars!!! This does not include the crib! That is just the 4 piece set! WOW!



I'm starting to feel a little bit of movement, but it is so light that I sometimes wonder if it is him.




The nurse said that he was very very active! I loved seeing him on the sonogram. He was moving all around, opening his mouth, and he loves to have his left arm by his head.


This picture shows him laying on his back. It is a side view. To the left is his head and his arm raised up. Then you see his tummy and only part of his legs, like his thigh.
I love this picture. It reminds me of a GQ model posing on the beach.

Jackson is already getting spoiled! Thank you Jessica for all of the clothes for him!!! My friend Jessica who has the the twins Reid and Rylee, gave me a huge Rubbermaid of baby clothes. I made Brian go through them with me the second I got them home. He is so funny about the boys clothing. I told him the other day that if he had it his was the baby would be dressed in Fubu with bling bling around his neck and a grill in his mouth. hahaha!
My sister in law Melanie and Nana bought him some cute clothes. Nana is Brian's mom. Melanie also bought him some really cute shoes!!! I love them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
G-mom (my mom) calls me everyday with an update of things she has bought or for me to go check out on the computer for him. Brian called today and said he bought him something, so I am nervously waiting to see what it is. I think I am the only one that has not had time to go shopping for him =(.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!! He is already so special and loved that it brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart smile.

Busy is a word that could describe what I have been lately! I have been meaning to post for some time now, but just had other things that HAD to get done!

I have been studying for COMPS. I really have been working everyday dealing with something about the dreadful test. Kaky and I literally put in 14 hours of studying in 2 days. That's a lot of studying. Anyway that is done and over with now I just have to wait 2 weeks for the results to come back. Along with studying for COMPS I am also having to get course work done for my last 2 classes! I'm ready for July to be over with.

We have also been staining our floors at the new house!! At first I wasn't so sure about the color. I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite. Then we went over it with a brown color lightly and it looks AWESOME!! We have been waiting on our windows to come in, but found out yesterday that they had been in just at a different shop. WHAT!!! This means they could have had my windows in and my brick up and moving on to the inside work. Oh well.

I promise I am going to get better at posting since things should be starting to slow down...I hope!!!