New Blog!

Hey everyone I took a little blogging break but I started a new blog.  Here is the link to my new one.  

http://web.me.com/ambernstewart

A moment to vent

Ever have one of those days where you just need time to vent? Well this is one of those times so I'm sorry for the rambling and complaining. I've been so emotional this past week as I have returned to work part time. As many of you know I work the pediatric intensive care unit at Sunrise hospital and of coarse my first day back I'm greeted with the 4th drowning victim of the summer. I have seen so many horrible tragedies these past five years but I'm always taken back by drownings. It's something to me that is so inexcusable and 100% preventable. As far as I'm concerned I don't even consider them accidents. An accident is something that couldn't of been prevented it just happens. Well drownings should never happen. They scream negligence and are outright heartbreaking to see. In this particular case a 7 month was found in the swimming pool by the nanny and the mother. Supposedly the mother fell asleep on the floor with the child and they have no idea how he ended up outside. It's possible that he went through the doggie door or a door was left open. The child was under for at least 30 min. After performing CPR for 1 1/2 hours a pulse was finally obtained. This sweet little spirit will now spend the rest of his life brain dead. You haven't seen nothing until you look in the beautiful eyes of a child that has suffered through this tragedy. A child that once was so vibrant and full of life is left expressionless and lifeless. They look as though their spirit and soul have vanished and they are left trapped in a body with a young and vibrant heart that may continue to beat for years to come. Anyways, that's completely beside the point. The main point is there was no gate or fence around the pool. I'm sorry to stand on a soap box but please please if you don't have gate around your pool get one. After several conversations with my mother this was my breaking point and they are finally getting one around their own pool. Every time my family watches my children I have panic attacks. I know that they are well taken care of but the bottom line is if there is no gate there is a risk for a drowning. I can't think of anything in this world more tragic than to see a beautiful child that has fell victim to negligence. I understand why we never had a gate growing up. We were all 10 and above when my parents built their pool so there was never a thought to get one. I caution anyone who doesn't have one to put one up right away. The death toll at sunrise is already 3 children and 1 that will remain in a vegetative state completely brain dead for who knows how long. This count is only the beginning as summer hasn't even officially started yet. The sad thing is I have seen children come in that have drown at friends, grandparents, and neighbors homes. The good news is this would never happen if children were of coarse watched but if fences or gates were up. I understand that many people think that as long as they watch their children closely this won't happen. I'm sad to report that it only takes a couple minutes to not be paying attention. These are horrible circumstances that happen to good loving parents. Anyways, I'm sorry for the depressing entry. I'm sitting at work right now and I just couldn't hold it in any longer. I will post a happy entry later with updates of my sweet little ones. Until then please please buy a gate or don't have a swimming pool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess who?

Gosh looking back at all of landon's pictures I can definetely see the resemblence between the two. Presley just looks a little more feminine and delicate. Most people tell me that Presley looks like the Stewart side and that landon favors the Thielke side. There were even a couple pictures after I was posting this that I thought were Presley but were actually Landon. I love love these two little bugs!!

Presley Bre

Okay, so I've decided I'm the worst blogger. Major events have taken place these last couple months and I haven't even made it a priority to write about it. What kind of mother am I? The first and foremost being the birth of our beautiful daughter Presley Bre Stewart.
She came a day before her due date on March 10 at 4:12 in the afternoon. I was scheduled for an inducement a week earlier but had begged my doctor to let me go another week to do it natural. I had been induced with Landon and decided that going from a 1 to a 10 in one day was just too long and painful. So a couple days before my next inducement I started having contractions in the middle night. I woke up around 5:30 a.m. a bit more uncomfortable and started timing them. They were random but were still coming with each one lasting a little longer. I woke Scott up and told him that I thought today might be the day. I got up and showered and had several strong ones a few minutes apart. After timing them for over an hour I decided to call my doctor. With it being so close to my due date they told me to go to the hospital. I still doubted that I was in labor and of coarse the entire car ride to the hospital I didn't have any. We arrived to the hospital around 11:00. When I arrived they put me in triage and hooked me up to a monitor for an hour to see my contractions and to watch the baby's heart rate. They were ranging from 3 minutes to five minutes with varying degrees of intensity. They then checked me and told me I was a 1 and about 60% effaced. With that they called my doctor and had me walk around for an hour. My amazing mother was there by my side along with my husband and we walked around Summerlin hospital. It was embarrassing when we walked around the outside and I would lean up against a wall during a strong contraction as people were walking by. Isn't it funny that at a time like that you're still caring about what you look like to others? Finally we came back and the nurse checked me and said I was still a 1. After a little stretching she said I was a 3 and I would be admitted. Was that too much info? Anyways, my contractions grew stronger and lasted longer and around 2:00 I was a 5 and I received the beloved epidural. By that time we had visitors and we thought things would slow down and it wouldn't be until that night. I told the nurse that with Landon I went from a 4 to a 10 in 30 minutes and that she should call my doctor. Well around 3:30 I was an 8 and by 3:45 the baby was in position and I was completely effaced and a 10 with no doctor in sight. The nurse said not to worry but that she was capable of delivering my baby if the doc didn't make it. Was that supposed to be comforting news? My doc had went home even though she knew I was far but didn't think I would go as fast. So basically to make a long story even longer she made it and Presley came out with only a few pushes. She is beautiful and is everything we expected and more. She has dark hair and what looks to be blue eyes. She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz. and her length was 19 inches. Her heart rate had decelerated a few times and the cord was around her neck but thankfully she came out and was fine. As for me not so much. I had a complication with my placenta where it wouldn't detach from my uterus. The doc spent a good 45 minutes scraping out chunks until finally I had to have a DNC. All in all everything went pretty good thanks to a priesthood blessing given to me by my husband and father-in-law. Thank goodness for those!
Anyways, sorry for the long version but I'd like to remember all the painful details so when my kids act out I can remind them everything I went through to bring them here. Here are a few pics.
Also Landon turned 2 back in February. My little guy deserves a huge shout out for being such a big helper and awesome big brother. He is my pride and joy. I can't believe how much our love has expanded!! We are so lucky!!

An update

Okay, so I've been totally pathetic lately and haven't posted since our nightmare back in November. Scott is recovering great and is back to his normal healthy self. I on the other hand am getting rather large and will hopefully be having this little gal this Thursday assuming I don't chicken out for the induction. Landon just had his second birthday this past week and is into everything. He is obsessed with the movie cars and his new favorite phrase is "No Way." So to make an honest effort into blogging again I decided to start with a tag. I've been tagged by so many of my friends including my little niece and I have never responded so here goes:

Some things you may not know about me or may not even care to know:

#1 One of things I hate most in this world is ironing. If you ask my husband I honestly have maybe ironed two things for him in the past five years of our marriage. I usually just try to lay my clothes really flat when they are wet so that they will dry without any wrinkles. Pathetic huh?

#2 Two singers I cannot even stand to listen to ,and I know I will offend some people, are Alicia Keys and Beyonce. They seriously bother me so much! That song "No one, no one can get in the way of what I'm feeling" makes me want to throw up with her huge hair in the video. Sorry to all their fans!

#3 I am obsessed with chewing gum and smacking it. I know this offends so many people but I honestly love to have bubble gum and smack it. My mother is exactly the same way and if we both get together I'm sure we're quite annoying to be around. I obviously don't do it in places where you are supposed to be quiet but everywhere else is game.

#4 I have a habit that I have done since I was a baby and that is that I rub my index finger over my mouth back and forth. I never sucked my thumb but I still catch myself doing this. It was really bad at college when I would study and I would say it has definitely gotten better but it will be something that will never go away. My brother does something similar and he's 28 so I don't see this as something I will grow out of.

#5 I have to say that I think of myself as a fairly easy going person and that there's not alot of things that really get to me. However, there are a couple huge exceptions that make it on my list of biggest pet peeves. One being that I cannot stand when people cut their fingernails in church. This bothers my husband and I so much that I would love to tell my brother-in-law, who is the bishop of our ward, to announce over the pulpit that it is not only extremely disrespectful but also very disgusting. I think the sound is just something I cannot ignore. The sad thing is I would say that at least once a Sunday I can hear people doing this notty habit. I'm sorry if I sound like a brat but that's how I feel. My number two pet peeve is teeth brushing. I brush mine a minimum of twice a day and always before I go out somewhere. This was just how I was raised and thought that this was the way everyone did it. I realized this isn't true for the majority of people including my own special husband. Luckily I've already been teaching Landon good hygiene skills so hopefully he'll take after his Mommy.

#6 When I reach about 7 1/2 months pregnant I begin snoring. Not just little stuffy nose cute snoring but loud obnoxious snoring that makes my husband want to sleep on the couch. I am normally a completely quiet sleeper but I noticed this habit develop with Landon and it has manifested itself again with this pregnancy. Oh well, only 4 more days of embarrassment and then back to peaceful sleeping right?

#7 I still occasionally watch the soap opera "The Young and the Restless." I started watching it when I was in the sixth grade and I have somewhat remained faithful even though I know it's ridiculous.

#8 I am a lover of all things chocolate and any food that is basically bad for you. I'm really not a picky eater at all. I wish I was.

Well that's about it. I can't think of any more boring facts about me. I'll try to do a couple more posts before this baby but we'll see how everything goes.

More Shocking News

So today as I've finally had a chance to recollect all the events over the past week that have taken place it finally hit me how incredibly grateful I am for my husband. The surgeon came in to speak to me and Scott today in preparation for his discharge and told us a few things, that have been a little hard to swallow. I think it has taken me this long to realize the seriousness of the situation and how close I really came to losing my husband and best friend. The surgeon told us that 90% of all people with untreated spleen injuries die within 1 week of their injury. Also that if he had been under the age of 2 or over the age of 50 he wouldn't of survived this much internal bleeding. This just got me thinking how incredibly grateful that Scott listened to the voice he heard that told him to get out of the way that prevented Landon from being kicked. He literally turned around just in time for the horse to kick his back side completely bypassing Landon all together. Finally, he told us that Scott's spleen was leaking blood like a hose and that if he hadn't received treatment that night he wouldn't of survived. At the time when all this happened it was a strange surreal experience. I knew it was serious but I never realized the depth of the situation. Here I am 6 months pregnant and to think I almost lost my spouse and the father of my soon to be two children. I am truly in a stupor of thought. Thank goodness for blessings and miracles.

The Worst Birthday present ever!!!!

So I'm sure most of you heard that 1 week ago today Scott was up in Alamo and was kicked in his back by a horse. I've realized all the little blessings that have taken place that we have to be thankful for. Luckily that day I was called off of work when I got a phone call from Brent that Scotty had been in an accident and the paramedics were on the way and they would bring him down to Vegas. He had taken Landon down to see the horses and was holding him in one arm and some grain to feed the horses with in the other. He heard his Dad yell to get out of the way, although his Dad swears he never said anything, because two of the horses were getting anxious with one another and their ears were turning back. At that moment Scotty turned around and the horse turned around and kicked him in the lower part of his back. His dad said it flung him a good 10 feet where he landed on his back still holding Landon. If he hadn't turned around when he did there would of been no way that Landon could of survived-clearly blessing number 1. Anyways, he spent the afternoon in a quick care all to find out that he fractured a couple ribs and had to have a few stitches on his elbow. Landon was a little skaken up and had a small black eye from Scott's shoulder when they fell. Well they sent him home that day and ever since he's been in a lot of pain. That night his two brothers came over and gave him a blessing. He took off work the following Monday but returned to the office Tuesday and Wednesday (what a trooper my huney is huh?). He had been in alot of pain but being the unsympathetic wife I am I didn't cater much to his needs. I had even asked him to pick up a couple things around the house and made him pick up dinner Tuesday night. I knew he was hurt but I figured since the Doctor said he'd be fine I figured all his symptoms were tied together. Landon couldn't even touch Scott or really even hug him without a large squeal of pain. Since the accident Scott had been sleeping on the couch or on the floor in our family room because his back hurt too much to be in our bed. On Wednesday I got home from taking my state board exam and Scott returned home from work. We made a quick little trip to Target where he hovered over the electronics section pointing out the PlayStation 3 he wanted for his birthday the following day. That night he was complaining of intense abdominal pain and had a small fever on and off for the last couple days. Again, we didn't think much of it because he did have a few fractured ribs that would certainly justify him to be in alot of pain. Also we thought it was all related and since we were told he would be fine he just dealt with it. Well that night around 11:30 for a reason that is completely apparent now but not at the time I stayed up and was watching TV. Normally I would have already gone to bed but I stayed up exhausted which clearly became another blessing. Anyways, he woke up suddenly complaining of deep stomach pains and then walked over to the counter and collapsed. I jumped up and was shaking him and attempted to roll him onto his back. He was completely unresponsive, pale, and profusely sweating. I checked for his pulse and breathing and thought I almost had to start CPR. He did have a pulse but his breathing was becoming very shallow and laboured. I quickly called both my sister-in-laws and 911. Within 2 minutes the fire department arrived. Scott by this time finally opened his eyes but he was still unresponsive and staring at the floor. I thought for a second that he had a mini stroke. They quickly started an iv and gave him oxygen. They said his heart rate was in the 170's and his blood pressure was 64/30. I heard the fireman say that he was on his way into supra ventricular tachycardia ,which having just taken ACLS, scared the crap out of me. Basically his body was going into shock from internal bleeding and he was really close to needing immediate cardioversion to convert his dangerous rhythm. Anyways, they took him to Summerlin hospital where he immediately had a CT-scan. When they arrived back from the procedure the tech and nurse had a funny look on their faces. Up until now I had pretty much kept it together until I saw that look in their eyes. I know that look since I work in an intensive care area and it's never a good sign. I asked how everything went and the tech said that they were on the phone with specialists right now and they would come talk to me. I seriously felt like I was going to collapse. The doctor came in and informed us that Scott had massive internal bleeding and both his spleen and liver were ruptured. Also that he had broken off a small piece of his L-1 vertebrae. He said that he would be instantly transferred to the trauma center at UMC where he would probably need immediate surgery. I began to cry and was instantly on the phone with his parents. They live in Alamo which is about 90 minutes away. My parents were in Utah and my brother-in-law, and bishop, was in California. So basically I was in a panic to call someone to come and give him another blessing. I was talking to Jen when I thought I should call his uncle Jon. Literally at that moment, another blessing, I received a beep and it was Jon asking where Scotty would be and that he would be right down. I couldn't believe it. Thank goodness for family. There always there when you need them. We left by ambulance over to UMC and he was taken instantly back and met by a team of doctors. They told us that there were a few options but that the first would be to perform an embolectomy. Basically they took a catheter up through his groin area and implanted 14 metal coils into his spleen that would help to embolize the area and form a clot. That procedure took a little over an hour and then we were allowed to see him around 6:00 a.m. He looked so pale but the doctor assured us that everything went well and that the bleeding had stopped. He would be transferred to the Trauma ICU for the next few days to make sure it didn't rupture. So from Thursday through Saturday we spent the time watching closely to his hemoglobin numbers and waiting. On Friday night his hemoglobin got down to a 6 and he had to have a blood transfusion. His number should be between 12 and 14 but the doctor later told us that Scott's spleen was bleeding like a hose so due to the amount of blood lost it would take a few weeks to get his numbers up where they should be. Saturday night he was transferred to the adult burn unit, which is an over flow for trauma, and we were there until Monday morning. How blessed we feel that this situation was resolved and Scott will be able to recover just fine. He did however, have the worst birthday ever but he did get to keep his spleen. So Happy Birthday honey!!