Landon turned the big F-I-V-E

August 24th my little man turned 5. It has been an amazing five years. Landon has brought me so much joy that i cant even express it in words. Being his mom is truly a gift from God and every day I am reminded of how amazing being a parent is. All of my kids mean the world to me and I love them all the same but as each year passes for Landon I am reminded of where we started and how each day we didn't know if it would be our last together.

Most of my readers know the story but i figure while im on the topic i might as well share it again for those that don't. At eight weeks pregnant with Landon i was misdiagnosed from Arroyo Grande Hospital and after hours of my mother screaming, threatening, and fighting i was finally properly diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. That clot was a pain i had never felt in my life, a pain i hope to never feel again. After two days at french hospital i was released on three times a day blood thinner injections. I made it another 20 weeks before i went into preterm labor. The next 5 weeks were hit and miss as my body started to shut down and my blood pressure shot through the roof. August 23rd I was admitted to Sierra Vista, diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, and induced. Landon was born the next day weighing 3lbs 12oz. The next week is a blur. I spent a week in a private room separated from the other mothers while Landon was up in the nicu fighting for his life. Being born at only 33 weeks he wasn't able to breath or eat on his own. He was tube fed until two days before he came home actually. I was sent home after 5 days in the hospital and reality hit that i was leaving without a baby. Because i'm a badass i held all my tears, fears, depression, anxiety, all inside. Those were the hardest three weeks of my life. I remember walking through Vons with Peter and as we rounded a corner a young couple was walking towards us with their small baby. I tried my best to keep it together but couldn't, i had a complete meltdown in the middle of the grocery store. As i stood there sobbing tears while Peter held me up i just kept thinking why us? why me? why do all bad things happen to me? Now of course i realize that we are a family are stronger than i ever knew, and that God doesn't give us more than we can handle.  I didn't visit him daily like my husband did because i just couldn't face it. Probably the same reason i didn't visit my grandma while she died of lung cancer or my pop when he fell from the ladder. That is just how i deal with thing. Three weeks went by, lots of heart stopping moments and joyous moments we were finally able to bring our 4lb 8oz baby home.



We were so lucky that he had no issues other than being small and so blessed that today he is just an average every day five year old boy.

We rang in Landon turning 5 with an awesome party at our new house. He was surrounded by all our family members and friends. This year he wanted to have a pool party with tacos and cupcakes so i made sure he had everything he wanted. Thankfully Danielle came up the night before and helped me cook and clean before everyone came over and Peter took care of setting up and maintaining our new pool as well we setting up a smaller pool for the little ones. We had a spectacular day with guests arriving from noon-five. The food was perfect, the company was perfect, the weather was great....couldn't have asked for a better day.

Here's a few shots from the party. Oh, and if you are wondering...yes that is my pop....my pop that was part of a water fight that included water balloons, a gator water shooter, and a small pool LOL

Yup, that's my pop...soaked in water...this was right after her took Misty down in the pool!