It's Confirmed

Addison, John and I ventured to go see Dr. Crowder today and it's official. I am pregnant. I went into the ultrasound room and the second I layed on the table Addison freaked out. The ultrasound tech (Julie) said that it is extreemly common for a child to freak out like Addison did because they feel threatened and they don't want their Mommy to get hurt. (AWE!!!) So we heard the heartbeat and then John and Addison went for a car ride.
During the ultrsound Julie made a sound and said OH. I let it slide and then we started talking about high HCG levels. Some of you know that I was a little concerned that I might be pregnant with twins because it took like two seconds for the little lines to be dark and I was only a week pregnant. Then she (Julie) proceeded to say that she thought she saw twins, but it was just where my ovarie had blasted the egg. It was still swolen I guess. It's amazing to me that they can tell which ovarie you ovulated from. So anyway....NO TWINS. HOORAY.
I talked to Dr. Crowder and everything is a go. He said that since we heard the heart beat we should be in the clear. I am currently 7 weeks 1 day along and the baby is measuring 6 weeks 1 day (totally normal). My due date is April 1st. Of course I would have a baby with a due date on April Fool's Day. (ha ha ha) I think with this pregnancy I am going to keep a video diary. Should be kinda cool.
I hope everyone is having a great summer. I can't wait to do more updates now. :)

I'M A GRAVIDA!!! WHAT???

So as most of you know, ok all of you know. I am a HUGE dork. John and I had been in Vegas for a convention. Two years ago we went and when we got back I called him on Monday, August 28 2006. I called to tell him "holy shit I'm pregnant." :) This year July 28, 2008 (ironically on a Monday) I called to tell him "holy shit I'm pregnant." :) So the dorky part in me decided to look up the scientific term for pregnancy. The scientific term for pregnancy is "gravid." The term for a pregnant female (I've never seen a pregnant male, but whatever) is gravida. So yes ladies and gentlemen I am a gravida. I am 4 weeks along and my due date is April 4th. Really freakin cool and really freakin scary. We want another girl really bad, but I have had dreams that it is a boy. I had dreams long before Addison was even conceived that I was having a girl and this time my dreams have been about a boy. So we will see. Babyman.net says we are having a boy and he was right last time. So here is one of my favorite quotes.
"I know God doesn't put more on my shoulders than I can handle. I just wish he wouldn't trust me so much." -- Mother Teresa

Suprise Suprise I have Updated

Addy and Reese decided to go to Galveston. They just took off and called us when they got there. Here are some pictures from their trip above and below. :)

Hi All,

No...hell has not frozen over...I just finally have the time to update my blog.

So UPDATES:
ADDISON:
She is now 15 months. I can't believe the time has gone so fast. Addy commonly now known as Addy Boo (Reese Picard's favorite nickname for her)is on the go more than ever before. Everyone remember that child who just sat at dinner like a little lady, or that little girl who was the most chilled out baby ever. WELL she no longer exists. :) K..that's a bit dramatic, but she really is on the go. She hates to sit still. She pretty much runs every where she goes and her new found love is to push the cart at Walmart. Which reminds me...she threw her first ever temper tantrum at Wally world a few weeks ago. It was great. I did learn very quickly the art of diversions. (If you haven't learned already...learn it now..cause your turn will come.)Things really are going well with Addison. Everyday she shows us how smart she really is. She knows so much more that I give her credit for.
She stays at Jessica's (our niece's house) for part of the week and Jessica only speaks Spanish to Addy. It's so cool cause Addy can show your her Panza(belly) or manos (hands) or foot (she only knows her foot and nose in English) we are working on the other body parts. She does her signs for milk, and more, and up, and please and you can ask her what a dog says and she uf uf uf. SOOOO CUUUTTTTEEE!!! I smile every day.

JOHN: It is John's birthday tomorrow. The Big 32. We are going to that new Brazilian steakhouse Guri de Sol. John is doing well. He has started working out on a regular basis and has lost 13 pounds. I really really proud of him. He has been working for me more at the store too so I can spend more time with Addy Boo. I am trying to think of something funny he has done lately and I can't really think of anything which is really weird to say about John Spychaj.

Meredith: As for me. I finally finally finally paid off my business. HOORAY. Ya'll have NO idea what a huge stress reliever that is. I have just been doing the daily grind. I am selling stuff on ebay again, so if you need some extra cash let me know and I will list it. I know that is so boring, but there really isn't anything exciting going on with me.

THE PARENTS: John's dad now goes to dialysis 3 times a week for 3 hours each time and he has been put on the list for a kidney transplant. He is doing great. He said he feels really week after dialysis, but the next day he feels great.
John's mom had her surgery to remove the breast cancer and thankfully the cancer was not in her lymph nodes. We did learn that 95% of breast cancers are not genetic, so we are waiting on the results to see if her cancer is of the non-genetic type. Keep your fingers crossed.
My Mom...is dealing with her rheumatoid arthritis and has weekly shots to keep her joints from flaring up. She is doing well. Keeping Addison I think really keeps her spirits up.
My Dad...his brain is broken. lol :) I say that cause he is limping for no reason. No pain he just limps. The doctors did an MRI and couldn't find anything. So they did another MRI and we are waiting for those results. What will they find you ask? I don't know but I will keep you posted.

Seems like daunting news but everyone really is doing well. We hope you and your families are doing well too.
Lots of love, Mer

Dearly Departed

Last weekend we had to put dear sweet fat Cooper (our dog) to sleep. The seizures were just getting too bad and even when he was on max meds he would still have a seizure. The vet said that having a seizure is the equivalent to running a marathon. I don't know anyone in their right mind who would want to run 3 marathons in a day. So we made the decision to put Cooper out of his misery.


ON A MUCH BRIGHTER NOTE :)

Addison turned ONE!!! I have reflected on the the past year several times and I just smile. Here are some pics from the party. We had such a wonderful time and really do value the friendships we have. Thank you to all of you who came. In one pic addy is giving Jack a kiss and it's really not fair because she hardly ever gives kisses away. (ok so I'm a little jealous)

Don't Grow Mint in Your Garden

This really is just going to be one big venting process for me. Soooo if you don't want to hear about my frustrations then don't read this.

Grower's tip: Don't grow Mint in your Garden
Seriously. I have a big garden in my back yard about 8 ft by 4 ft and I grew all sorts of stuff like sage, rosemary, garlic, basil, thyme and the dreaded MINT. Oh and climbing spinach. (don't grown that either) The climbing spinach was literally like that plant on Little Shop of Horrors.
Mint grows like a freakin weed. I dug it all out this year (or so I thought) and it keeps popping up everywhere. If you are gonna grow it do it in a pot. Seriously...I find the tiniest leaves poping up through the soil and its MINT with a root system about a foot long. AGH UGH WHATEVER. Ok not really that big of a deal, but I'm trying to grow some watermelon and i picked those leaves by accident. Kinda frustrating.

Cleaning tip number 1:
Ok I know....... WHAT?!?..... Meredith you don't clean. Well folks for those of you who are aware. Cooper our dumbass dog has seizures. (really not that big of a deal) except that his dumb medicine makes him have an unbelievably HUGE, ENORMOUS, MONSTROUS, GIGANTIC (he could eat 5 big as your face burritos from Chuy's) appetite. In the last week he has eaten one of my socks (freaking whole) he at an entire not partial but and ENTIRE loaf of bread, a whole bag of peanuts, a little roll of foil and other various items. Needless to say I came home today and he took a big ole' dump in my room. MY ROOM!!! for pete's sake. And yes ladies and gentlemen the peanuts were there. (Robinson: I know you are laughing your ass off right now at my expense) He left one pile in my closet and one on his dog bed on the floor. The one in the closet was worse. Not only were there peanuts but and this is a HUGE BUT.......there was a tube of Neosporin, a wine cork (still whole I might add) and something that resembled a baby wipe, but I'm not sure. So cleaning tip: when they pee on the the floor (and this really is good for anything ie: juice, wine, whatever liquid) spray that Woolite carpet cleaner on it and then sprinkle some cornstarch and just let it sit. You can sprinkle some baby powder too if you like. Then just vacuum it up. It really does work.

Oh and the REALLY BIG NEWS!!!! Addy took her first steps March 27th last week. We were so excited. I can't say it enough, but she really does make everything and I mean EVERYTHING better. Thanks for reading. I will try to put the video on later.

All Quiet on the Spychaj Front except Addy

Hi Folks- My my my...little Addy. What can I say. She's going to be 1 next month! I can't hardly believe it. I know everyone says and said that the time would go quickly, but my goodness I can't believe it went as quickly as it did. I try to go back and reflect on the last year or 11 months of my daughters life and it's hard to remember all the little things. I am so thankful for our camera because we truly have been able to capture all those moments that one never gets back. Who would have ever thought that just seeing someone else smile just because you made a funny noise would absolutely make you the happiest person on earth. I can't express and I am sure the majority out there agrees that having a child is one of the most joyous occasions in a person's lifetime. I hope you all have a nice weekend and God Bless!!!

Update

Thank you to all of you for keeping our faily in your prayers. John's dad is home. His kidneys are processing the fluids in his body slowly bu surely. Th ekidney doc wants him to lose 30lbs of fluid in 15 days. (Put me on that diet plan) If the kidneys do not process the fulid in an efficient manner they may have to consider dialysis. Just continue to kepp our family in you prayers. We can't have enough.

On a brighter note. Wasn't yesterday absolutely beautiful?!? John and I are doing great. Nothing out of the ordinary is going on with us. Oh...we have been asked to be on the youth ministry at our church. I think it's going to be a lot of fun.

Addy is getting so big. We went for her 9 month checkup on Thursday even though she is 10 months. She is in the 95th% for height and 50% for her weight and 97th% for her head. I personally think the nurse measured incorrectly. Her head looks perfectly proportioned to her body. She is crawling everywhere and she is pulling up every chance she gets. She is a total mommy's girl. She sees me now and say Mama. She says 4 words now and identifies those words appropriately with the object she is pointing to. She says cat when she sees Maxim and Dada when she wants John and mama when she wants me and nightnight (without the "t") when she wants to go to bed. It's pretty freakin cute. We are so proud.

K...that's it for now. Hope everyone enjoys the week.