Let’s Try This Again...

Just a quick post to encourage myself to start blogging again.

It’s a whole lotta foolishness in this Howard Household!

Time Flies!

Time flies when you're a working woman with a WHOLE husband and three EXCEPTIONAL children. I've been off the blog for a minute..... Three years but who is counting?

I thought my hands were full when I was teaching a 4 yr old, chasing a toddler and nursing a newborn BUT that was just the beginning! KeyLoRea give me a run for my sanity errrrday and I have the stories to prove it. Stay tuned for all our foolishness...

Family Time

It's been a long time since I blogged but my life has been super busy! Actually, busy is an understatement......

A couple of months ago as Reggie walked out of the door headed to work, he told me how he would love to just stay home and chill with us for a day. I suggested we both take MLK off since Keylon would be out of school. So we did!

Well, I took off Friday as well just to have a day to myself. (In case y'all didn't know I have a spoiled hubby, three demanding kids and a crazy work schedule.) The day alone didn't go as planned because Reggie's cold he had been fighting all week got the best of him and he stayed home. The kids still went to Granny's! I sat around looking crazy watching my recorded Discovery ID shows.

Saturday was WONDERFUL! We woke up early for our trip to the Fort Worth Zoo. 10am was the target time but in true Howard fashion, we were an hour late. LOOK, Key needed a haircut...

Hey Danielle

These two are inseparable

Lauryn didn't want to take a picture with us 

The baby elephants, Belle and Bowie

As you can see, they really enjoyed themselves. After three hours at the zoo, we went to our favorite pizza spot for lunch. PERROTTI'S!

My mom came over Sunday to babysit so Reg and I could hang out. We watched the game at BJ's and walked around Hulen Mall for a minute. I wanted to make sure he knew exactly what to get me for Valentine's Day. 

Silly Selfies in the car. Next time we are going to remove the car seats!

After a few hours to ourselves, we kicked back into parent mode for a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. Keylon and Lauryn didn't want pizza or cake. They just wanted to PLAY! Lauryn kept pointing to the games and saying, "Mama, that way!" I was shocked Reagan wasn't scared of the rat. She is fearless like her big sis. I wonder where they got that from??????

Lauryn Elise climbed in the helicopter by herself

Keylon loved this game

Reagan "playing" skeeball 

Transitioning from a stay at home mom to a working mom has been very hard for me. I'm a hands on mom. It's just the way I'm wired. I often feel like I'm neglecting my husband and kids trying to keep up with the hustle and bustle of life. To be honest, sometimes I feel I'm barely above water. This 4 day weekend was much needed family time for us. I had a blast with my heartbeats and I must say life has never been more satisfying!

Randomness

I take lots of pictures of the Howard Team! Too many to post so here's a few of our journey these past couple of months......

That's some good sleep.

Lo loves her Daddy and Rea!

My BABIES!

Love them!

Lo....

How do I turn this on?

We walk to the park at least three times a week.

Silly girls!

My friend Jessica was in town and met Rea for the first time. She's in love!

Lauryn....... No explanation needed!

I guess I wasn't putting the groceries up fast enough. Lauryn wanted cereal.

Outside!

"A flower for you, Mama!" I sneezed for the next hour!

Aunt Pat telling me, "NO!" when I said Rea was starting to act like her big sis.

That Thumb, tho....

Key and Lo have officially welcomed Rea into their play group.

My Daddy showed up at my house at 10am! This the pic he took.

Just the FIVE of us, We can make it if we try!

"Key" Moments

I bought  some organic bananas.

Key decided to break one off for breakfast.

"Mama, I don't want this small banana!"

I asked Key to get Lauryn a diaper.

He comes back with one.

Key: We are running out of size 4 diapers!

Reggie: We are? Well go buy some.

Key: Yep, we have to buy some from the Walmart!

The Little Red Caboose

On February 13th, I woke up knowing it was my last day of pregnancy. After months of anticipation, my little surprise baby would enter into the world no later than 6:30 p.m! Reggie started the morning cooking breakfast for me because I wouldn't be able to eat after 10 and for the last time he and I ate with our TWO kids.

4:00 p.m, We arrived at Baylor to check in for my scheduled c-section. I wasn't nervous at all. Actually, I didn't really feel like I was having a baby.

4:30 p.m. Here comes all the monitoring and my mother ..... I hate being strapped down with baby monitors, blood pressure cuffs and IV's. My mama arrived cheesing like she was the one having a baby!

5:30 p.m. My surgery was scheduled for 6 but the lady before me had trouble with her epidural. All of a sudden, I'm being rolled to the OR and now I'm nervous. My anxiety reached an all time high when the anesthesiologist couldn't get my spinal block in. At this point, I was afraid I would  be paralyzed  when it was all said and done with. FIVE sticks later, I was good to go! By this time, it's 6p.m.!

6:00 p.m Reggie came in and the Dr. Watson soon followed. Let the cutting begin!

6:19 p.m. Our daughter entered the world at 6lbs 7oz and was as red as she wanted to be! The red gene strikes again......

To say we are happy about our new edition is an understatement. We are overjoyed! She is the perfect little girl to complete this Howard train.

Welcome to our Little Red Caboose, Reagan Danielle Howard!

39 WEEKS

12 WEEKS

WAITING .......

OUR FIRST PIC .......

From Two to Four to "SAY WHAT NOW?!"

 As I stood in the aisle at Target looking at pregnancy test, I just knew I was wasting my money! So, I walked off without one and proceeded to fill my basket with diapers,wipes and a few groceries.  I eventually made my way back to the "Family Planning" and threw a test in my basket.

On the drive home, Britt called. We carried on with our normal convo until I blurted out, "yea, I'm about to go in this bathroom and take this pregnancy test. If it's positive, I'm not telling Reggie until after our birthday festivities!" (It was July 1st.....Our birthdays are the 8th and the 10th!) Of course, Britt started screaming. "What?" "Why?" "Oh Lord!"

As soon as got home,I ran to the bathroom to take the test. It turned POSITIVE immediately! 

WTH?! CAN'T BE?!

Let's break out the other one....YEP, I bought a double! It was positive too! By this time, Lauryn was outside the bathroom door crying. Forget August! I scooped her up, ran in the living room and hollered at Reggie.

"Um Reg, I don't know how to tell you this. Come here!"

We all headed to the bathroom. Lauryn on my hip and Keylon following Reggie. Reggie looks at both test and says, "You got to be f* kidding me....You are not pregnant!"

So, with the whole family gathered in the bathroom, we learned that we were again adding another one to our crazy household!

After throwing myself on the floor, calling my cousin, Kysha, crying, and threatening to throw myself off the highest bridge I could find, I came to senses and accepted the news. I had my first sonogram two days later and fell in love with the sound of galloping horses....the heartbeat!

Last Thursday, I had yet another sonogram which brought tears to my eyes. My little baby was moving and flipping and had a healthy heartbeat!

Here we go AGAIN!

We are thrilled to announce our little bundle of SURPRISE is scheduled to debut early February 2013!