Loss

It has taken me a few days to write this. I have wanted to since about Thursday when everything happened. I went to bed on Wednesday night at around 9:30pm because I had class on Thursday and had to be up at 6am. Chad came to bed around midnight or so because he had to be up with Peyton at 6am with me. (usually he stays up all night due to working 3rd shift). His phone started ringing at about 3am and I rolled over and hit him and told him to get it. He answered and I didn't hear anything. Chad asked the person if they were still there and that's when I heard him. It was Chad's best friend A (I won't put his whole name on here) and he was bawling his eyes out and said that his baby had just died. Chad and I shot up in bed. Chad asked him what happened and I remember hearing every word SO clearly even though I was not on the phone. He said that they were sleeping together and he rolled over on him. We both started crying immediatly because we know what a wonderful father this guy is and we had NO IDEA what to say to that. Chad asked him where he was and if he wanted him to come to him. A said he was in South Bend at the hospital. So Chad couldn't really go. (of course if he said come now, he would have). So A got off the phone with Chad and we just sat there, crying in silence, frozen. It was really hard to go back to sleep after that. And when I finally did fall asleep, I had HORRIBLE dreams. We woke up at 6am and went through the motions of the day. Of course the day was HORRIBLE for me. I left for school and forgot to leave the carseat for Chad in case A needed him. I left my wallet at home, and didn't take Chad's debit card in case I needed anything. I got to school and realized that my gas tank was almost on E and I had NO money with me. (a friend brought me $20 though thank god!!) Then I went into my APHY class and failed the quiz. (I actually dropped this class because I just can NOT do an 8 week class in that class!) By the time I got home I was exhausted, mentally, and physically. Chad was still a wreck when I got home so that was another thing. Then he got another call from A. Apparently when he had called in the morning,, the dr's told them that if they took the breathing tube out, the baby would die. A lost it and called Chad. But when they took it out, he was still breathing on his own. But they had done tests and they showed that he was brain dead. They were still running tests when Chad got that 2nd call so we had hope that maybe things would be ok. But A sent a text to Chad a few hours later and he had passed then. Chad loves this guy like a brother and feels like he should be doing something for him but I mean, what can you do in a situation like this?!? We're not sure on arrangements still. I've been looking for an obituary but they have not posted one yet. I texted E (As fiance) to let her know I was here for her and stuff like that but I have not heard from her yet. I can't even imagine what they're going through. I have NO idea how I would react to something like that! I don't know what I can say to either of them. I mean you can't say it'll be ok, because they lost one of their children. I would just die if something like that would happen to one of my girls! I know this has rambled on, and on, but I just needed to get it out. So in closing, I will say R.I.P baby Elijah (he was only 6-8 weeks old btw). You were loved SO much by SO MANY people and we will miss you forever!!

Bri

help!

Does anyone know why I would be able to see everyone elses blog but ONE of my friends?! I'm so confused here! Help!!

Bri

School!!!

Well tomorrow is the start of a new semester. The classes I'm going to be taking are: Anatomy & Physiology, Math043, Introduction to interpersonal communication, and English111. Now, my APHY class is going to be the hardest class I take-ever. So why did I (stupidly) sign up for an 8 week class instead of a 16 week one?!?! Because I'm stupid and don't pay attention to what I'm doing, that's why lol. So my first 8 weeks are going to be HORRIBLE! And I have to get all As in my classes because in order to make it into the nursing program, you have to have a 4.0 GPA and get as many points as you possibly can on the TEAS test as well. I got all As last semester (YAY GO ME!) so now, on to this one!!

I have to say though, I'm really enjoying school!! It feels good to be actually out doing something instead of being home 24/7 with the kids. I mean don't get me wrong, I LOVE being with my girls, but mommy needs a break sometimes too!! And going to class is a justified break:-) So I'm not sure how many posts you'll see in the next 8 weeks or so. Hopefully this semester is as easy as last (HA!) semester was! I didn't even have to study much at all! Ok well I'm sure it won't be QUITE that easy haha but hopefully it won't occupy my whole entire life! I'm going to keep this short for today! Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Bri

Let it snow, let it snow....ok it can stop now!

Today's log is inspired by the snow. Now, here in Plymouth, we've barly gotten ANY at ALL! However, just a mere 33 miles from us, where we used to live, they've gotten over 30" of snow in the last 24 hours! It's right up there with the blizzard of '78 they had here as well. But in that blizzard, there were snow drifts of over 10 FT!! That's what made that one so memorable.

So, we went to South Bend today to drop off our youngest daughter (our oldest was dropped off last night at my moms) at Chad's mom's house for a sleepover and a much needed break for mommy!! As we were driving up there, in Lakeville, and Lapaz,  it got to the point where we couldn't even see 5 ft in front of us! And Chad's windshield wipers were HORRIBLE so we stopped and got new ones in South Bend (which we REALLY don't have the money for but hey, safty first right?) and they guy who checked him out, OFFERED to put them on for him! Now, Chad's not your "normal" guy. He doesn't know jack about cars lol, so if he had to put them on, we would have been there like 1/2 hr lol. But the guy had them on in less than 3 mins! Awesome customer service!!

We made it there, and had to park in the middle of the street because they weren't plowed yet (of course!) so we ran her in and went on our merry way! We went to Hacienda (because I LOVE HACIENDA!! Jealous Ash?!?!) and when we tried to get in, we got stuck on the hill. Whoops! So we were going to leave, but we saw a plowed way in another parking lot and it ended up connecting in the back! YES! Score for me! Other than that, we didn't get stuck once! We did however, see an amboulance stuck and 2 firetrucks helping them out. That's just horrible! And mulitple other cars being stupid (which I'm sure you'll hear a LOT about stupid drivers in South Bend from me!) and getting stuck as well. We saw a TON of people walking, and even a man on a bike! OH! And like 10 cars stuck trying to get on the bypass! (if you saw ONE car stuck, WHY, WHY, WHY woud YOU try to get on too?! Idiots!) needless to say, we're home and I just woke up from a few hour nap! Chad's still snoozin of course! There's a state of emergancy in South Bend now, and anyone going out, will be ticketed! I hope they lift it by the time we have to go get the girls, otherwise, they will have to stay another night and I'll get another nights break! YAY! LOL! (I haven't had a break in a LONG time!)

And with that all being said, I'm going to leave you some pics of the Winter Bilzzard of '11! (I only took the first picture! I did NOT take the rest!)

What we woke up to in Plymouth.

 And this is what South Bend woke up to!

 My daughter Annabelle and my nephew Jordan

playing in the snow at my moms!

 My mom's cat can hardly see over the snow outside!

 My step-dad, Ward, plowing their driveway!

 I believe Annabelle refuses to help him up HAHA!

Jordan stuck LOL!

 Bri

The hubby

This is my little family. It was taken over a year ago but I LOVE this pic of them!! I'm feeling the need to brag about my husband Chad for a while here! He is absolutely wonderful! Yes, we have had BAD BAD times but I mean really? What couple hasn't?? And he has most defiantly made up for it in this last year! He's the type of guy who opens doors when we're out for dinner, leaves little notes here and there sometimes, texts the sweetest things, and even puts lotion on and rubs my feet! He's a really hard worker too. We decided that daycare is WAY to expensive for 2 full time kids so I'm staying at home until I get my degree in nursing. After I do that, I don't be working to just pay for daycare. We will be able to afford daycare and more on a nurses salary LOL!

Chad works a 3rd shift job, from 5pm-5am. His schedule is one that's like he works 2 days, is off 2 days, works 3, off 2....and so on. It's a set schedule but it's an every other week the same kind of thing. He LOVES his job, even though it's REALLY hard work. I am super proud of him because he's already moved up into the 2nd position in just 4 months! And once a lead position opens up, it's his! That's a promotion and a $3 raise! He's awesome!

He's a wonderful husband too!! He loves me even when I can't shower for a day, when I'm cranky from being couped up in the house, when I'm snapping for no reason, and just all the time! I haven't been able to lose my "baby weight" from the girls. Now, I haven't really been trying but it's because I need to go to the stupid doctor first to get my asthma meds. But Chad said, even though we don't have the money to go to the doc for me, that we'll find it so I can work out again. (isn't he great?) He also said he doesn't think I need to lose weight, that I look beautiful no matter what. But he understands if I want to for me. He said he doesn't care what I look like, that I'll always be beautiful. AWW! He was being a butt 2 days ago when he woke up for work. We got into a fight and I wasn't going to talk to him for the rest of the night when he called. He apologized and told me to make a list for the store. So I did. And when I woke up at 630am, he had made eggs, pancakes, sausage, and Cinnamon rolls!! I asked him why? He said because he had been an ass the day before and he wanted to be nice that morning haha! Man, I sure found a keeper huh?

And if that wasn't enough for you to make you believe so, he is the most amazing father I could ever ask for my children!!! Ok, a little back story. Annabelle (my oldest) is not Chads daughter. Her father is a POS. He was abusive towards me when we were together, does not pay his support, and never takes Annabelle. He has not seen her in 2 1/2 years. And before those whole 3 times he saw her, it had been 2 years since he saw her. So all in all, he hasn't seen her in  about 4 1/2 years. And before that, it was sporadically. For instance, he has never even been to a birthday of hers, never bought her a birthday present, never called on her birthday, only bought her a Christmas present once and after I told her what size shoes she wore, he bought them too small anyways, and so on and so on! So, after Chad and I got together, she asked me if she could call him dad. (Chad and I had been together about 4 years before that but it hadn't worked out). I told her it was ok with me, but she had to ask him first. She did and he said it was fine with him! And ever since then, he's been her dad! We're planning on having him adopt her when we ever get the money. I'd love to do it now but financially, it's just not an option! She keeps asking me when she can have our last name...aww! I can't wait for her to be an Applegate too! Ok, so he's a wonderful dad! To both my girls! He's great with Annabelle and SO great with Peyton. When he's home, she's defiantly a "daddy's girl." He plays with her and loves her SO much!! She has him wrapped around her tiny finger for sure!!

Ok, so I think this is long enough haha!! I think I'll leave you with some pictures of my babies! Have a wonderful day!

My Angel

So beautiful!

This is her face when she doesn't get what

she wants. She gives us this look and says

"awwww"

One of my FAVE pics of Peyton!

Annabelle on Christmas Eve

Look at how grown up she is!!

Bri

Lets try this again!

So, I had started a blog a few (like 6) months ago and I just didn't like it (or keep up with it at all!) So I'm starting over! Hello! My name is Brianna (27). I'm a mother of 2 beautiful girls, Annabelle (7) and Peyton (almost 2). I have a husband, Chad (23).  If anyone has any tips about how to do this thing, they would be greatly appreciated! My friend Ashley (A Lovely Little Adventure) is the one who got me started on this. She has given me some tips, which I have to go back and look at lol, but any more tips would help too!!

Lets see here. About me. Well I'm a happy, outgoing person (most of the time), I LOVE my little family to death!! They are my WHOLE LIFE! (literally-I hardly do anything else haha). But I love it! I am a stay at home mommy (for now) but I do go to school! I just started back last semester. I'm going after my nursing degree! I did pretty well last semester (all As and a 4.0 GPA YAY!) but am nervous about this one coming up!! I have to take APHY101! YIKES! But being a stay at home mommy, I'm sure I'll be ok!

About my hubby. He's awesome and I love him SO much! Yes, we fight (horribly sometimes) and we actually were separated last year (more on that later), but he's the one I wanna spend the rest of my entire boring life with!! He takes care of "his girls" (that's what he calls us!) SO well! If I'm having a bad day, he'll do whatever he can to make it better. He just recently (about 5 months ago?) started a new job. He was working at a bank and now he works 3rd shift at a company that makes the fruit base for yogurt. It's a German company and this is the only factory in America. He LOVES it though! He's already moved up to the 2nd position on his shift. Once a lead position opens up, he's got it in the bag! I feel bad because he works 12 hour days (nights) but he says he'd rather be doing this than working at the bank! His real passion, what he really, really wants to do, is be a fireman. He took the tests here, passed all 3 rounds but ended up #133 or something like that. Which isn't bad at all! He passed all 3 rounds on his first try!! That's awesome! It just wasn't enough for him to get hired in this time! He's on the list for 2 years though and they went through 60-some applicants before they got their 10 guys this time (they have to pass a big physical and psych test), so maybe sometime in the next 2 years he'll be picked!!

About Annabelle. Oh Annabelle lol. She's a 7 year old who (at this point in time) feels it's ok to tell us no and back talk and not do what we say lol. I'm sure she'll grow out of it, but right now....MAN! LOL! She's a beautiful, smart girl! She LOVES music and says she wants to be a singer when she grows up. She does well in school. She was on the honor roll last quarter! (I'm a proud mommy!) But she likes to pretend she has no idea what she's doing too. But her teacher and I have caught onto that and now, I just make her to what she has to do lol. It works!

About Peyton. She's a FULL OF ENERGY, almost 2 year old, girl! There are some days, she wears me out to the point of exhaustion!! She LOVES Dora and Diego. We have gone through all 3 seasons of BOTH of them multiple times lol. But she's now getting into answering the questions they ask and doing the things they say to do and it's SO cute!!! While it gets on my nerves to watch (listen) to it all the time, I know she's learning. She goes to an awesome daycare when I'm in school and learns TONS from them too! She hasn't been there in almost 3 weeks though because I'm on break. I'll be glad to get back to school and a "normal" routine!

I have read 3 blogs of other people now-A Lovely Little Adventure, A Little Pink in a World of Camo, and Days Filled With Love. I have No idea how to tag these people in my blog, but I'm sure I will learn soon enough! Well, I WILL be back soon to write more!! Until then, have a wonderful day!!!

Bri