Keep Your Eye On The Prize

Now that I'm rolling in to the last leg of my pregnancy, it's time to start thinking about something that's very important to me.. Bikinis. Ok, maybe not bikinis exactly.. but pregnancy weight loss, rather. As many of you know I've had quite an extreme weight loss journey. After Easton was born, I lost 95 pounds in just over 9 months to hit goal for the first time (140 pound loss total, from my starting weight) and become a Weight Watcher's leader. Fortunately, I won't have to do THAT all over again. So far to date I've gained just a little over 10 pounds. I haven't thought too much about it or worried too much about it and then..... the new Victoria's Secret bikini catalog came. After 4 months of killing myself in the gym last year (to the point of throwing up from ab workouts--yes, they sucked THAT much!) I wore a bikini for the first time in my life. And I can't wait to do it all over again this year. It's hard to believe that exactly 6 years ago today I was a size 28W and here I am today, 6 months pregnant wearing 29 waist jeans with the help of a Bella band. No surgery. No pills, shakes, bars, or drops. Just straight up learning how to eat and hard work. Proof that anything is possible. Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's time to pick out the bikini I plan to wear, cut it out of the catalog, and tape it to my mirror to help me get through Christmas without going crazy on indulging. I WILL do this--one last time! Until next time.. <3


Before and after (minus 140 pounds)

The old me

The 5 months pregnant me

It's All Coming So Fast!

I saw Jan again on Tuesday. We will be doing the glucose test and another ultrasound in 3 weeks, then down to weeklies up until delivery after that. Where does the time go?! Second pregnancies go so much faster anyway, what with chasing the first one around all the time and all..not to mention I will automatically be losing 3 weeks with delivering at 37. Ready or not, we're going to do this--sooner than later!

In the mean time, we've been painting and getting everything done that needs to be done before we head off to the cities. After all the planning that goes with a new house, painting was the last thing I wanted to worry about when we first moved in. But I also didn't want to paint it ahead of time because it's hard to pick colors for a house until it's finished. I'm really glad we waited because the original colors I had imagined doing (before the house was done and before we moved in) are nowhere near what we ended up going with! Here is a little sneak peak of the house..

Our very own little piece of heaven..

Dining room--LOVE the color I picked here!

Little helper in the master bathroom

Our fire place--we've had this Christmas village stored away for years and never had anywhere to put it but it fits perfectly here!

Oh Baby! Our Story..

As many of you already know, we are expecting our second baby in March. With that have came many obstacles and new challenges for our family to face. I am not a good blogger, but have decided that until the time comes for me to start our Caring Bridge page, this may be the best possible way to get the info to all of our family and friends.

When we went to our 20 week ultrasound, we found out BBK2 has what is called gastroschisis. This is a hole that is located next to the umbilical cord in the baby's adomen and the baby's intestines are growing outside through the hole. Scary, right? Just a little. Jan started explaining, and my head was spinning. Somehow the only words I managed to digest were "hole", "intestines", "Minneapolis", and "fixable". Having been through a terrible month already (several deaths, one of which was a friend's 4 year old son), the one word that stuck in my brain fortunately was "fixable".

Last weekend we headed to Minneapolis to find out just what we had ahead of us. Though the news is still scary, we got more and more reassurance and good news with each doctor we saw. I will be delivering in Minneapolis at 37 weeks, which will be the very beginning of March. I told Lee it's a good thing I'm not shy--there will be somewhere between 15-20 doctors delivering this baby. From my doctor and his team, the baby's doctor and her team, my own nurses, respiratory specialists, you name it.. I feel like we are in great hands. The baby will then be taken immediately through the underground tunnel to the Children's Hospital where the pediatric surgeon will likely be peforming surgery to fix the hole within the same day. This isn't common, but our situation is looking so good that he assured us surgery will be able to happen almost immediately.

After surgery we will begin the long road to recovery. These babies have to "be taught" to eat, since it is sometimes weeks before they get actual milk/formula. Typically something like this will require anywhere from a 6 week minimum in the NICU on up to 12 weeks or more. It's quite a process to get the baby eating and digesting food properly. If our stay ends up being a very long one, they are able to eventually fly the baby back to Bismarck to finish NICU recovery there.

Once the baby is born we will have a Caring Bridge page where I can keep everybody updated on his/her progress and what is happening. Until then I will try and update on here, as we will have LOTS of doctor appointments and LOTS of ultrasounds, which is SO COOL (I thought having a 4D ultrasound was amazing but it didn't even compare to how incredible a level 2 u/s is, which is the highest u/s technology in the world at this point)! Until next time.. <3

BBK2 in 4D--look at those cute little butt cheeks!


BBK2's profile at almost 25 weeks, taken in Minneapolis 12/2.

Baby Has Some Sweet Moves..

Our Newest Adventure..

We are getting a new home and we couldn't be more excited! Here is a sneak peak at what the kitchen will look like.. (Mom is VERY excited about that part!) We can't wait for it to be finished being built so we can move in!! Uncle Zac even gets to move in to the house we live in now and I think that's pretty cool! Hopefully ours will be ready by the end of next month so we can move in July. The only problem?? Mom says its going to take a little getting used to knowing her son is going to be a Washburn Cardinal!!

We are off to California in 2 weeks with Auntie Lindsay, Uncle Lucas, Auntie Holli, and cousin Kyler so hopefully we will have lots of exciting new things to update when we get back!

A Typical Morning In The Kugler House..

Thank you, Easton, for throwing everything down the stairs......


..including your pants.

Why I Am Terrible At Blogging

As most of you know, I've become a terrible blogger. Here is a little insight as to why. The first pictures were taken as far back as October (hence the pacifier, since we kicked that habit months ago). For all the times my mom said "I can't wait until you have kids of your own someday.." Well, I'm pretty sure she is enjoying every last second of this! Mr. Easton is one BUSY BOY, but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)