Almost School Time!

It's hard to believe that summer will be over in the next few weeks. This has been the best summer of our lives! Ellie is the reason for that! I have enjoyed being a stay at home Mommy these last few months. We go for walks, visit grandmas, visit our cousins, aunts and uncles!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our first summer together....








It's hard to believe that Ellie will be 6 MONTHS OLD this August! I can't believe how fast it goes. She is trying her darndest (if that's a word) to crawl! I bet she'll be crawling by the time she is six months old!

She still gets up once in the night. She usually wakes up at 3:30 and wants a "quick" bottle before falling back to sleep. She has started to do this new thing when she sleeps. I lay her down in her crib, and she rolls right to her stomach. She sleeps that way then the rest of the night!! The first night I think Chad and I got up about 20 times to check on her... and that is no lie!!

I've been doing a workout class in the mornings three days a week. I have enjoyed this alot! It has been nice seeing my old body come back! The other weekend we went shopping and Chad walked me into the Buckle. Now, when I was in high school... this was nothing new for me. I LIVED at that store! Now that I pay for my own clothes... haven't stepped foot in there!! Thanks Mom and Dad for the nice clothes growing up! Anyways, Chad told me that I deserved a really nice pair of jeans because I had worked so hard getting back into shape!! About made me cry... (especially when I saw the price tag!!) It was nice to know that he is proud of me for all the hard work I've been putting in.

Here is a few more pictures from the summer...







Well, I will TRY and be better about updating. It's going to be hard right now because I am doing 40 home visits for school, Chad's got football practice every night starting soon, starting a new teaching job, Chad's getting the houses ready to sell, and we are trying to squeeze in a few family moments too! So, Sarah, I PROMISE to try and update more often!! hahaha

--Sarah

Our Exciting Summer So Far!

Wow! Where has the time gone? Our baby is now almost five months old! YIKES!! It seems like she was just a baby a few days ago! I remember this...



... like it was just yesterday!

No this is what we see everyday when we wake up...



... our sweet little girl!

Ellie now has two bottom toofers! It is soo stinkin' adorable. My mom said that I didn't teeth until I was older. Chad's mom said that he did teeth around four months. It was funny how we discovered she was teething. I was in the kitchen and Chad was playing with Ellie. He said, "Sarah, I think L (Ellie) has a tooth in her mouth!" I go running in the living room to discover not one but TWO teeth. She never even fussed with her teeth! We are very lucky!!

Ellie also has been rolling since about 2 and a half months! She likes to roll over but gets frustrated when she isn't by her toys anymore. It's pretty cute.

We had family pictures scheduled during her three month pictures. We ended up having to go two times because someone was not in a smiley mood! Here are a few of my favorites!!





I'm going to keep it short. I have stopped pumping milk for my beautiful baby. It's been very emotional for me. I feel bad because I won't have that "good" milk for her. I do have a pretty good supply built up. Should make it till she's about 7 months old. I also am VERY sore! And I mean BAD!! Pray for the pain to stop here soon. It's been almost two days and I am still in HORRIBLE pain. If you know any realivers... please let me know!

Thanks for checking in with us!
Sarah

Ellie Ann

Sorry Sorry Sorry! I haven't been blogging very well. I guess I didn't understand all the things I would be doing while being a Mommy! I thought I was going to have all this free time, man was I wrong!

We will start from the beginning. I was admitted to the hospital on Thursday, February 24th to have Baby Sudol. We left the house with this weird feeling. Chad kept saying, "Pugsly the next time you see us we will be parents!" It was crazy.

We got to the hospital around seven and got hooked up to the machines for a non-stress test. Doctor came in and said that he was going to put some medicine on my cervix to start the process going. The nurse checked me again around nine and I was dilated to around 1 or 2. The nurse called the doctor and he wanted me to stay till at least lunch and see what happened then! Lunch rolled around... still at 1 or 2.

I think the doctor felt bad for me and he came over on his lunch break and broke my water. It was funny because Chad had just left to get himself something for lunch and he came back and they were just starting to break my water. The doctor broke my water and he said, "You won't leave this hospital without a baby!" That was so weird to think!

So, the walking began. Chad and I walked probably two or three miles in that place! The nurses kept saying, "Your wearing the carpet down!" The walking really helped because the next time they checked me I was around 3. At that point I was completely uncomfortable. I tried many different things to help ease the pain. Nothing helped. So, at 9:00 I was given an epidural and within no time at all I was dilated to 10. That was at about 11:00.

So, they called the doctor and everything from here goes fast. I started pushing and within an hour and a half, Ellie Ann Sudol was born. Weighing in at 7 lbs. 6 ounces. and 20 inches long. It was funny because I don't feel like I pushed that long. I seriously thought I had been pushing for 20 minutes. It was so neat to hear Chad tell me that it was a girl.

We did have one little scare because her cord was wrapped around her neck. We ended up finding out later that Chad's great grandmother had a child that had the cord around the neck. She had carried the child the full nine months and then when she had the baby the cord was around the neck and they couldn't get it off, and the baby died! How horribled would that be! We are so lucky!

I tell people that watching Chad with Ellie makes me fall in love with him again. I knew he was going to be a good daddy but it's amazing to watch him with her. He just loves her to death! Chad has been such a good help, he gets up with us in the middle of the night. Even though he sometimes can't help... just because he wants to!

Okay enough talking.... Here are some pictures of our Baby Girl!






I just did a few. I will upload more soon! Promise!

36.5 Weeks Pregnant!

It's getting scary for me to think that we could have a baby any day. I know the chances of me having the baby early are slim... but you never know! I had Chadder take a picture last night of my growing tummy. I think my skin is to the max on stretching. My poor stomach is so itchy that I put lotion on at least two times a day. I know that I will probably never be able to wear a two piece swim suit again because of the nice and beautiful stretch marks that now accompany me! When we go for our checkups the nurses always say, "Oh, Sarah, you look so good!" They think that the stretch marks are beautiful... I don't know if they fully understand the meaning of beautiful. Maybe I should take in a dictionary this week for them to read the definition!




I don't know about other pregnant women but I am having a hard time finding shirts that cover the bottom of my stomach! Notice in the picture that my stomach is "creeping" out of my shirt!

Chad tells me he is COMPLETELY ready for the baby. (I'm glad he's ready...I might not be but he is!) Yesterday we had a snow day and he said before he left. Why don't we make this a great snow day and have the baby. I then look at him with a puzzled face thinking to myself, Oh yea. Because I am totally ready at school to have this baby! He must have noticed my face because he said, go up and down the steps 100 times this morning and then do it again this afternoon. I laughed at him and he didn't think I was too funny! He is just ready. Ready to be a Dad. Ready for everything he gets to do!!

We were watching a movie the other night and it was about a pregnant couple. They were having the baby and it showed the umbilical cord. He turned his head away from the tv because he said he was about to throw up. Pretty sure that I laughed out loud. He said, "It's not nice to laugh. I really don't know if I'm going to be able to be in the room when you have the baby. I might just have to wait outside the door!" I stoped laughing, look him in the eye and say, "You WILL be in that room. I don't care if you are passed out on the chair next to me. BUT you WILL be in that room!" He is such a freakin' hoot!

Here are some pictures of the baby room. These pictures are not updated, because we have nothing on the walls.







The crib was given to us by Chad's Mom and Dad. The rocker is from my Mom and Dad. We have put pictures up on the walls and also the quilt that my sister-in-law Missy made for us:)

And now on to sad news. I got a text this morning from my teaching partner that one of her students is not doing well. This student had a brain tumor when he was only three. Doctors around here gave him no hope. So his parents heard about St. Jude's and off they went. St. Jude's saved this students live. The student can't move the left side of their body very well but the student loved life. The student told me jokes to tell Chad all the time. The latest joke from the student... why did the skeleton cross the road?? To go to the body shop! The student said, "Mrs. Sudol I know Chad will like that joke because he works at a body shop!!" This student knew the real meaning of life. It isn't about things at all. This student didn't care about those little things in life. It's about enjoying everyday you have on this Earth.

So, every four months the student has to get checkups at St. Jude's. The student has been cure free for over a year and a half. So, this time just the student and Mom went. They ended up finding another mass on his brain yesterday. So, the student will be staying at St. Jude's and tomorrow they will find more out about what they are going to do. Dad is on his way down to St. Jude's to be with them.

I completely believe in God. I know God. He is my friend. But I asked him today, why? Why this young child? Why will this young child have to go through something like this? Why will the child's family have to go through this? I know there must be a reason, but right now it is hard to see... why!

So, please pray for this student. I'm sorry I can't tell you the name because I know it would be easier to pray. I just can't say things like that... So, pray for a student in the first grade at Tripoli Elementary. God will know who you are talking about. God is with them right now, holding them in his arms.

I know this morning when I got that message I just rubbed my tummy and was thankful for my baby. Thankful for my husband and my family. Please be thankful for what you have. I know sometimes it's hard to be thankful for your husband when he doesn't do something right, but be THANKFUL! I know it's hard to be thankful for your children, when they do something wrong... but please.... be thankful. Hug your children today, kiss your children today, tell them you love them, because you never know!

So, I leave you with a sad and heavy heart this morning. Please pray for the student and pray for your own children. Pray that they can continue to be healthy and this student can beat it... no matter what it is!

-Sarah

35 Weeks and 6 Days

Can you believe that we are almost ready to see our baby? I can and I can't. It seems like a long time ago when we found out we were pregnant...



Notice my SWEET hair! Literally just found out 5 minutes before this picture that we were pregnant!! Looking at this picture makes me think of how short my hair was... and how thin my face looks! I KNOW it does not look like that right now!!

It wont be long and this baby will be changing our lives for the better. I didn't think my life could get any better. I have a husband who loves me to death, a great job, and a loving family! And now I am going to be able to love a baby more than anything in the world.

Since my last update my feet have started to swell. And when I say swell, I mean SWELL! I can take my socks off and still have the indents from them for like an hour... Today I wore a skirt with tights and my UGG boots. When I got home tonight I took off my boots and had an imprint from where they where! No lie! Everyone keeps telling me, "Get your feet up during the day!" Okay I'll do that while I'm trying to teach... impossible. Especially when you teach lower elementary.

The baby room is officially ready to go. All I have to do is get Natalie, Lucas, and Maverick to paint some pictures and get them framed. Other then that we are ready. My bag is packed and the baby's bag is packed. My husband is SUPER organized so he has been helping me get the bags packed so we can get more in them. Including the outfit for Baby Sudol to come home in. He ordered an outfit for a boy and a girl the other night online through Children's Place. He seriously spent more than I do on an outfit for me! He doesn't care because it's for the baby!

I do have conferences for school on February 8th and 10th so I can't go before then! I will be ready to go anytime after that though!! On the 8th we take the students to a play down in Cedar Falls... I'm hoping the bus isn't too bumpy!!

Anywho's I will update again before the baby comes... that is my goal. Then I can show a picture of the baby room and maybe one picture of my growing tummy!

Have a great Friday!! We get to wear jeans... it seriously makes my day!!

-Sarah

30 Weeks!

I am officially 30 weeks! I don't exactly know where those thirty weeks went! Chad said this morning, this is going to be the longest ten weeks of my life! I said, why because I am so crabby? He laughed!!

I have been feeling really good physically. Emotionally... not so well! I have had the biggest issue with my weight. I see the weight that I am, and I could throw up. When I think of someone who weighs what I do, I think they are heavy! My face has been the worst part for me. It's because I have to look at it everyday in the mirror as I get ready for work. I would say at least two times a week I cry in the morning because of the way I look. Everyone (well except one person) says that I look great, but I don't feel it. I really don't feel like I was prepared enough for how emotionally hard it would be to gain the weight! I try to hide it by making little "cracks" about myself and my weight... but I have hated the weight part! Loved every other thing about being pregnant, except the weight!

Earlier I said everyone except one person tells me I look good. Listen to this your mouth will probably drop open because mine did! We were out one night with my family and a some other family members that we hadn't seen in a month or so. I heard one of them telling my Mom, "Wow, poor Sarah has put a lot of weight on in her face..." I thought okay I give her that, because I have put on weight in my face. THEN THEN later this family member says to me, "Oh Hun, you really are retaining water in your face aren't you?" I just smiled and nodded my head! I could have cried right there but I couldn't because we were in public! On the way home, I was crying and telling Chad about what had happened. He was SOOOOOO upset. It made me feel good to have him get upset about it too! Seriously... who says that to someone when they are pregnant? Seriously?

So, needless to say I am no longer posting pictures of my face. So, here is earlier todays picture of Momma and Baby Sudol!!




I hope that you have a great weekend, and a Merry Christmas! I am just saying Merry Christmas now because I know myself and how busy we are!! I hope that you all remember the reason for the season! Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

The Countdown is On!!!

Wow, can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner? I still have some shopping to do... I hopefully will get that finished this weekend while Chad's out hunting!

Our life has been super busy like normal. Sunday night my cousin had a Madrid musical thing. It was interesting to say the least. The students were dressed up as if they were back in Medieval times. They sang, we ate, and they sang more! It was really neat but it got really late! It was almost 10:15 when it was over and we still had an hour and a half drive! I have a few pictures from that night!




Sorry the pictures are so blurry and dark! My cousin was very happy that we came, so it made the short night worth it!

Then on Tuesday night my Mom graduated from Nursing school!! Yeah for my Mom! It was VERY stressful for her (and the rest of us)! She graduated with all of us there except my brother Zach, who had to work. He recently got promoted to a supervisor at Nestle, so he really couldn't take any time off! We all were proud of my Mom for reaching her goal! Missy, Kacie, and I have all said we are ready to have our Mom back! She just was so busy with school she couldn't talk or hangout as often as normal.

Last night we had play practice for the church play. I thought since I was pregnant I would maybe be Mary... nope a VERY pregnant angel! I swear the costume makes me look over four hundred pounds! I told Chad I might have to make it more up to date! It's just a piece of cloth that is way to big! I might put a belt around the top of my tummy so you can tell I'm pregnant and not just super sized!

I have some pictures of getting the crib put together for the baby and also Chad putting the car seat and stroller together! We had both Grandpa's over to help with the crib!








We went down and registered for the baby shower the other night! That was really fun... for me! Chad kept saying, "This is new to me, what is this? what is this? we really need something like that?" When we left he was very overwhelmed. I think mostly over what we still need to get ready to have the baby! It was funny because the next night we ordered the car seat and stroller. He then said, what are the other MAJOR things we need before the baby comes. It's all setting in for the both of us. We are on the countdown now... on Saturday I will be thirty weeks! That means only ten more weeks to prepare!

In early December we had our Holiday Concert (Christmas Concert, but we can't say Christmas anymore!!!!) The kids were really excited all week long. Chad came over with me and the kids went freakin' nuts! They couldn't believe that he came to watch them. They are still talking about "meeting" Chad! I had Chad take a few pictures after the concert of me with the kids. This is the best one... they were all being pretty goofy if you can't tell!



Okay, I have probably jabbered on about nothing so I will end my post. Looks like we are having a late start this morning. I just hope that it doesn't turn into a no school day!

-Sarah