The Milky Way

Big boobs=happy baby.

For the past month, I've been taking some drugs.  OK, not really drugs, but it's a herb called Fenugreek.  Back in July, I had my gallbladder removed  and for 4 days, I could not eat or drink anything.  I was on IV's only and it was the first time I was without my little baby.  I had 2 procedures done, my gallbladder removed and stones removed from the duct.  It wasn't too bad and it was the cure to all that so called 'heartburn' I had been having for the past 4 years.  All those heartburn attacks were actually me passing gallstones.  SO, long story short, I was still nursing when I checked into the hospital.  Since I was drugged up on pain killers, (which was awesome by the way) I couldn't nurse.  Instead I had to pump so my body would produce the same milk supply.  Seriously, if someone would have drank that it would have been one awesome cocktail: milk + morphine = crazy college party.

SO, after I got out of the hospital, I realized that it really affected my milk supply.  Instead of pumping 4-5 ounces, I could only produce around 2.  Caden was on formula during the time I was in the hospital and did really well on it.  BUT, I still wanted to go back to nursing.

I did some research and started taking Fenugreek.  The first day I started with 6 pills and I could tell a difference right away.  I was very happy with the results.  They say you should take anywhere from 6-10/day so I have been consistently taking about 6-8/day.  They don't smell funny and are easy to swallow.  Now, a side effect can be that you smell like IHOP (or syrup) but I haven't experienced this yet.  So, all in all, I'd recommend it.  *Note-do not take if you are allergic to peanuts.

In turn, I have a happy, healthy, chubby, full baby...oh and awesome milk boobs that feel like knee caps when they get too full.  HOORAY!

Everyone please vote!!!

Vote Coach Adam Clark!

WNMU Creme Brulee

Last Friday started out as a regular travel day for Adam.  We kissed him good-bye and wished him good luck and watched his truck pull away.  I went on with my day like any other...until I got a casual little call about a fire.

Adam called and told me that everyone was OK and there was a bus fire.  He was really calm and acted like it was already taken care of; I told him I was glad everyone was OK, I loved him and we hung up.  Then I got this crazy picture...

Compliments of Silver City-Sun Times

I knew Adam was busy taking care of everything football wise, so I waited a while to call him.  The pictures were chilling.  The bus fire started with a flat tire that burnt the entire bus down.  Everything was lost, players gear, bags, wallets, video projectors, you name it.  It was as total loss.  Everyone was pretty shook up and Adam had a decision to make to play or not.  He met with the team and asked them all honestly how they felt.  There were mixed reviews.  Guys motivated to play even more, guys confused on what happened and guys who were mad about losing everything.  The team was divided.  Adam talked to them about the many different challenges in life and what it meant to cope with adversity and how to move forward in a positive manner.  Many were ready to throw the towel in but Adam asked, what if this happened to your home and you have a family to take care of?  Are you just going to shut down and hibernate?  No, you will pull through it and be a better person b/c of it.  Adam shared his speech with me and it brought tears to my eyes.  I could feel his energy as he retold the story and it made me want to gear up.

Another bus picked the players up about an hour later and they headed to a local high school (Bloomfield HS)  They players rested there with food and drinks provided by the H.S.  The coaches worked on the details on how to play a game without any gear.  After being on the phone for the next 6 hours, Adam and the coaches worked everything out and were able to play the next day.  It was amazing how everything came together.  Adam called me delirious at about 11:30 on his way to Wal-Mart to buy almost 1K of underwear, toothbrushes, deodorant etc.  Cleats were donated, gear was lent out and support flooded in from around the country.  I can't tell you how proud I was of Adam and how happy I was too see the support and love from all the WNMU fans.  

Angie, Caden and I with our signs

The Mustangs ended up winning the game 26-17 against Ft. Lewis College and the team had a huge home coming party waiting for them with a police escort lead by the Mayor into town.  Caden and I were there (4:30AM) and anxiously waiting for Daddy to get home.  We weaved through the crowd and finally found our hero.  Adam had a lot of people congratulating him so it was hard to get through.  When we did we had the best family hug ever.  Adam's warm strong arms wrapped around us made us feel that everything in the world had stopped and only our heartbeats and Caden's coo-ing were the only sounds in our ears.  It was heaven.

Caden-what's up dad, where were you, let's play, i'm sure you're not too busy

Adam and I got home around 6am, he went straight to bed to catch up on his missing sleep that he hadn't had for 2 days.  We all embraced each other and snoozed off and I thanked God that everyone was home safe and sound.

Everything this weekend reminded me of how important it is to embrace each other and tell your loved ones how much they mean to every day.  Never leave angry and never say anything you regret.  Love and you will be loved.  Each day is a miracle from God as my Grandma would have said.

Next week we play against the School of Mines, where Adam and I previously were at before we moved here.  No WNMU buses will be involved :)

On the road again...

Go Daddy!

Well, it's another away game.  Adam and his team headed to Durango, CO to play against Ft. Lewis College.  Last year we let this team beat us in the last quarter and it was a sad loss.  I think this year we should come up with a win, the team is much more cohesive and has a lot better talent.

This AM Adam got up and played with Caden a little before he took off.  Caden was smiling and laughing so hard at his daddy dancing around (which he as naked by the way).  I know, he had just gotten out of the shower and was trying to make Caden laugh and it made us both crack up.  I mean picture a 5'10, 210lb hairy man jumping around and doing crazy dance moves.  Just think of a stripper Big Foot on crack is what it most resembled.  Either way, it was a great way to start the morning.

I always hate to see Adam leave for football, but I never tell him.  He has a billion things on his mind and i know he would do anything to see Caden and I happy.  It's hard being alone during the season, but there are tons of people in worse situations and miss their loved ones even more. We just smile and wave and wish him good luck and pray for a safe return.

Tune in next this weekend for tips on how to keep your marriage afloat during football season!

My baby is 6 months old!

Happy Baby

Dumb Cat

In the right corner we have Caden Clark, weighing in at 15.15lbs and 26" long and born in Silver City, NM.  In the left corner, we have one annoying tabby cat named Java, weighing in at who cares lbs and who knows inches, from Lamoni, Iowa.

OK, this post was kind of just an excuse to vent on how annoying my cat is.  But, the bigger news is that CKC is 6 months old!  He turned 6 months old on 9/10 and celebrated it with a tailgating party hosted by his Grandma Jill and then went to his daddy's football game against USD.  Caden has been a great baby and is really lovin life.  He's almost crawling and he can stand for a few seconds by himself unassisted.  He's eating solid food and still nursing with I love.  Every day he's become more and more alert.  He knows when his dad pulls up in the driveway (b/c blitz barks) and he knows his bed time routine pretty well.  His favorite activity has to be being in his jumparoo that his auntie Kate got him.  He LOVES being in it and if you say, "jump, jump, jumparoooo" he practically flies out of the thing.  Next on our list is to start baby proofing the house...and of course keep trying to get rid of our horrible cat.

We survived the apocalypse!

us in the dark

Well, last night was very interesting!  Caden was safe and sound at Grandma's and the I had just arrived to my favorite sea food place South Beach in Ocean Beach.  Angie (another coach's girlfriend), Cory (Adam's cousin) and I had just gotten our food and all of a sudden noticed that the music stopped.  We started hearing everyone chat about the power going out.  We really paid no attention to it at first b/c we were too busy chowin down the bomb tacos.  But, then all of a sudden people started to talk about 9/11 and last call happened at the bar and everything closed down.

Luckily, there were reports of a massive power failure, un-related to any terrorist act.  It was a relief, but still my heart raced as I was about 30 minutes from my baby.  Angie and I tried to get on the freeway, but all the stop lights were out and the freeway was gridlocked.  We decided to head to Adam's cousins house were it was safe.  We hung out and watched the sunset down on Sunset Cliffs.  Even though Caden was in good hands with Grandma, I was still so worried about him.  It was a horrible feeling just knowing I couldn't get to him.  I was helpless and I just kept thinking the worst.  I felt like a little piece of me was missing and I was sad.  We hung out until about 8pm and got home safely-traffic was all cleared up.  It was very odd to drive around SD in pitch darkness and silence.  Reports came in that it was all caused by 1 guys mistake-oops.

I got home and we all hung out by candle light.  CK was resting peacefully in his crib and all was well.  Power came back on around 12:30pm and all was back to normal.  Caden spent the rest of the night in my arms sleeping my my side.

Season's kickin off great!

Well, we survived our first game!  It was about 92 degrees and of course sunny so Caden and I didn't last that long.  We came for a little bit of the tailgating and lasted for the first 5 minutes (game time).  It was just too hot for my little man even under our umbrella.  His poor little nose was sweating just like his mama's.  I can't imagine being a baby, just sitting there hot, in my little shirt that buttons on my crotch, and peeing my pants-bummer man.   We did use some helpful tips from some seasoned coaches' wives and we brought our frozen washcloth which was a hit.  (also can be used as a rally cloth, drool catcher and germ magnet)

Caden's media debut

The women behind the men (and their babies)

CK and I decided to head home and listen to the game online while I cooked some food for the Clarkbar after party.  It worked out great.  CK was able to hang at home with his toys and crawl around (well rocket his body across the room) and I was able to get most of the food done.  It cooled down a lot for the last quarter so CK and I headed back to the game.  It was great, nice and cloudy and some breeze.  We cheered loud for Daddy and his team and they had their first victory of the season!  35-28 was the ending score and it really did come down to the last few minutes.  It was intense but a great win!  Now, it's off to San Diego for the family for the USD vs WNMU game!  Go Mustangs!

A Baby Without a Name

So many times during pregnancy, I would pray for the health and safety of my baby growing inside me.  I am truly thankful to God for the precious gift he has provided Adam and I.  But, many times things don't turn out as they are planned and there many heart broken parents who experience a loss of a child.

My Mother in law, Jill Mitchell, was kind enough to share her story with me.  She wrote this when she was pregnant with Adam.  It has touched my heart and I hope it touches yours as well.  To all the Mom's who have lost a child, you are amazingly strong women.  Thank you Jill for sharing your story.   Please read her journey here.