Extra detail

Just thought I'd mention a little tid-bit: It's a BOY!!
We are so excited and I'm still a little shocked! I had just convinced myself it was a girl. My family does not have boys, so I had accepted it was a girl.
Jared of course is ecstatic and tells everyone he talks to! I am 20 weeks and this pregnancy is throwing me for a loop! Zinni gives her "baby broder" kisses all the time and is going to be a great big sister!

My Little Sunshine

This is how I got through the last few months: My little ball of sunshine. Every time she smiled at me I knew every pain and unpleasantry was worth it. I love her so very much! All of these pics are from my phone so they aren't great quality but I don't know where my camera is so they will have to do.

Hangin' out in her little "jungle gym."
Zinni all dressed up in Marmee's performing accessories.

This girl loves to color!

A day where Daddy half dressed our daughter and she loved it!

Smiley girl with stickers!

This little cutie is getting more hair, more attitude, and smarter as the days go by! Zinni is really starting to speak in short sentences, she has always been a chatter box but we're understanding more of what she says. She loves to say "no" and "mine" with attitude. She loves books and her baby (doll) and will entertain herself for hours throughout the day. She loves nap time and bed time. She likes to talk to Daddy and Marmee & Papi on the phone. She always ask where is Grandpa and Erika. She is FUNNY! And this girl gives lots of hugs and kisses all day!

We love her so very much and wouldn't want to imagine life without her!

More than morning sickness

I have gone back and forth several times about writing this post. Mostly I debated because I do not want to seem ungrateful, unhappy, or dramatic. I have decided, however, that it is more important to get the word out about a disease called Hyperemesis Gravidarum or HG. HG is what I have suffered with over the past 3 months and I know I am not the only woman out there with this problem, in fact I can think of a handful of women in my own life that I would classify as having HG.

My sad little story (an overview):
-Two trips to the ER (shout out to my friend Liz who kept me company, thank you!) and one to the instacare.
-Not keeping any food or fluids down for 24 hours on a regular basis (longer than 24 hours and that's when I'd head to the ER).
-Infusion clinic appointments of saline, vitamins, and Zofran.
-Natural remedies I've tried: Ginger (pills, tea, suckers, ginger-ale, fresh), red raspberry leaf tea, peppermint tea, pregnancy tea, vitamin B12, B6, B complex, saltines, sipping sprite, cola syrup, "many small meals a day", protein drinks (homemade and store bought).
- Things I've thrown up? All of the above.
-Drugs I've tried: Regular Zofran, dissolving Zofran, IV Zofran, Phenergan, Reglan, and one other I can't recall it's name.
- Things I've thrown up? All of the above.
- Lost a total of around 16 lbs (discovered that after a typical infusion I would gain 5 lbs!)
- Lost a lot of muscle and energy from not getting out of bed for days on end.

It basically feels like you have the stomach flu or food poisoning day in and day out for 12+ weeks. In fact, I was just starting to feel slightly better when I caught a stomach bug and it was very much the same. Practically my whole family caught this bug and said they felt new sympathy for me, they were all recovered however after 24 hours.

I feel like there is so much more to this condition than just the sickness itself. You worry everyday about the health and development of your growing baby. "Are they getting the nutrients they need to grow and develop properly? By not being able to keep down your prenatal vitamins, fluids, and basic food are you harming them? Are they hungry too? Is their little heart still pounding?" Then there is the heartache and stress of not being able to care for your own already born child. Basic needs like preparing food and changing a diaper are nearly impossible. Your husband has to work all day and then doesn't get to relax for a moment because there are just way to many needs to be met by your child, your incapable wife, and your own growling stomach from a hard days work, forget about getting any kind of affection from your wife because even getting too close to her will make her vomit.

I don't wish to be all doom and gloom but this is the reality of HG. It is a very hard thing to suffer through, so why try to sugar-coat it? There is a lot of depression and worry involved on top of the misery and sickness that is HG. There aren't many, if any, things that ease the nausea and vomiting. I hope there will be more break-throughs on anything that will help this condition. Is it worth it? Yes. Of course! But that doesn't make it any easier.

Lastly I want to thank all the people that have helped me through the sludge- My dear sweet sister-in-law, Erika, who was at my house nearly everyday, from morning til evening. She made dinner for our family (which included a ravenous husband, a ravenous Zinni, and a picky grandpa, herself, her own son, and husband). She took care of Zinni. Changed her diapers, fed her, put her down for naps, read to her, and nurtured many of her "boo-boos." Zinni was mostly entertained by being with her cousin and bestest friend, Stephen IV (Erika's son). Erika got food and drink for me and kept me company to which I am very grateful for.

My Mom who "babysat" Zinni and I for many days. She would come up to my house, pick up Zinni and I and whisk us down to my parent's house to give Erika and Jared a break, and to provide me with a change of scenery and Motherly love. I never felt like a burden there, Zinni was always having fun, had a captive audience, and of course, got to see "kitty-kitty." Both of my parents and brothers helped us and never made me feel like I couldn't ask for whatever I needed.

Jared, oh my kind, patient, understanding Jared. He has been my rock. Has NEVER complained about serving me and picking up the slack. He and Zinni have bonded and become so much closer than they have ever been before. Zinni is completely content to go to either of us for comfort, and Erika is a close second. Jared has ran to the store at odd hours for odd things, taken me to the ER, Dr's appts, infusions clinics, cleaned out my throw-up bowl on numerous occasions, and has done everything that could be done for a sicky wife in need. Just yesterday he told me how happy he was that I was feeling better, I thought it was because I can actually get my own food now and change Zin's diapers, but he told me that it was just so hard for him to hear me throw up, watch me lose weight, and there was nothing he could do about it. I love that man.

I'm sure I haven't conveyed all the aspects of this disease and the misery that is ever present with it but I'll quote another person when I say "you don't "get" HG unless you get HG." To put it frankly, it's Hell. If anyone reading this knows someone with HG, or you suspect they have it, help them. Call them. Drop by and say hello (be prepared to see a disastrous house, an unshowered woman, and probably a haggard husband). Bring the family dinner. Ask this sick pregnant women what you can do.

I am now 17 weeks and am finally only throwing up in the morning, eating a variety of foods (although still not that wide a variety) and can stand up straight! Although I do intend on having more children the idea is banned from my thoughts for now.

Four

This Zank party of three will soon be a party of four!
Baby #2 due to arrive mid-July!!
We are very happy, excited, and still sometimes can't quite believe it.

Halloween as a family

Halloween was fun this year! Jared and I hadn't planned on dressing up but things fell into place just a couple days before the holiday with Zinni and I as cattle (yes, I felt so attractive) and Jared, well, Jared was the butcher, blood stained apron and everything! Zinni picked out her own costume, and learned to say mooo! We visited a few friends and family instead of going door-to-door trick-or-treating. Zin picked up on the concept quickly and wanted to get into her candy bag all night!




My cute little moo cow!! Next year we'll probably do the typical door-to-door thing and possibly dress up as a family again!

She is one!!

Of course blogger is being lame and I can't figure out how to move these pics so please enjoy the pictures first and then a little stuff about Miss Zinni Anne.

I marvel at the little person that is Zinni. She is smart, beautiful, and hilarious! Sometimes I can't believe all the stuff she can do and understands. Sometimes Jared and I bust up laughing at the stuff she does or noises she makes. She is my pride, my joy, and one of the love's of my life! And she's got Daddy hooked!

Stuff about Zinnidee:

The girl LOVES books! She always escapes down stairs and when I look for her I know exactly where she'll be, on her bedroom floor looking and talking about her books.

She has the prettiest bright blue eyes! So many people comment about her eyes, that they are unusual, bright, smiley, prettiest blue, and just like her Dad's.

We always hear that she is the funniest baby people have ever seen. She just does silly things like impersonate people (and sometimes their sneezes), makes funny noises (growling, baa-ing, and fake coughs), and the funniest faces (she'll scrunch up her nose, squeeze her eyes closed and give you a goofy grin!

Zin is very self entertaining and I love that! I'll be working away in the Kitchen or on the computer and she'll play by herself for hours!! She freely goes up and down the stairs and will come find me when she needs me. Sometimes when I go find her she doesn't want to come with me, she's to busy "reading" her books or playing.

Zinni also communicates very well. She can sign, hungry/thirsty, more, all done, please, I love you, hi/bye, milk, story, night-night and she says "What?" (which was her first word) she'll point at everything and say "what?" she says block, red, one, Dada, yeah, wow, and a very enthusiastic mmm while she's eating food that she really likes (which is most food). She is a chatter box, especially in the car and will sing on occasion.

She understands a lot of what we say like sit down, get down, stop, no, hand it to me, good job (she'll start clapping at this one), breakfast, dinner, and many more I can't recall.

She loves to "help" with the dishes and gets very upset when we close the dishwasher. She'll clean up her toys if someone else starts the process.

She likes going to bed and doesn't make a peep (unless it's happy jibber-jabber) until she wakes up happy and talking.

Zinni is still very cuddly in the right mood and I hope that stays!

I can't believe a year ago today I gave birth to my little crazy, funny, gorgeous girl. We love you so much Zinnidee Anne!

We like to camp

Us Zank's love to camp. Period.

We like to camp in a tent. We like to camp in a trailer.

We like to camp under the stars and without rent.

We like to camp without a wailer (surprisingly this was not Zinni!).

(Forgive me for my failed Dr. Seuss attempt, I had to try).

Jared will camp no matter what the weather is like, I like to be without snow and/or rain. Other than that we'll pretty much go anytime anywhere and it's so nice to be able to go this summer. So 4th of July weekend we went with our friends, the Rindi's and the Gate's. We also went on our own the week before for a quick overnighter. It was FUN! I love just sitting outside, playing cards, going exploring, making smores, and chatting around the campfire! We had a blast and can't wait to go camping again in just another week!

And now for a whole lot of picutes!

Zin Playing in her own personal tent.

Watermelon chin!

The Rindi's

The Gate's

Mckenzie being just like her mama, burrito in one hand club soda in the other. Love it!

Anyone want a smore?

Felisha playing Patty Cake with the kiddos.

Jared eating his double-decker smore!

Jared saving the baby lamb that was lost. We still don't know where the neglectful mama sheep was.

And this is exactly how much Zinni loves to camp. No joke, she LOVES it! Guess she was born into the right family.