All I want for Christams is a new house!

Well we're moved into our new house. We love it and feel so blessed. It's been a crazy month of looking at over 20 houses and putting offer after offer but God knew just what we needed. We love the neighborhood too. There are lots of kids and tons of fun stuff to do. I can't wait till summer and use the water park that's part of our neighborhood. We've already met some of our neighbors and everyone is so nice. I just feel so overwhelmed by how God's placed us in such a safe and perfect home for us. It's amazing what he will do when you hand over control. The kids have also been so great with everything. Abby adjusted faster than I thought she would. She has been so wonderful lately but having a two year old is definitely a patience tester. Some days I wonder where did my sweet little girl go. But she does make me laugh and she is so good with Charlie. The other day I found her reading the Bible to him and then she kissed him gently on the head. It made me tear up. I've always prayed that my kids would have a heart for Jesus and I see that in Abby. I'm so proud of her. Charlie is also such a good baby and the smiliest baby I've ever seen. I've always gotten comments from people that Abby was the smiliest baby but I do think Charlie has her beat. He will just giggle at anything. It's so cute! He is growing up too fast already. I love this age and I wish I didn't know how fast it goes. I'm trying to soak up every once of it before he is running around into everything. I did have to give up one of my furry babies this week. I gave Fletch, the minicher pincher, to my mom. They've been wanting him for awhile and I finally gave in. I just couldn't take care of two kids and two dogs anymore. It's been like having 4 kids in the house. I am sad though. We've had Fletch for 4 years and he was my first baby. He even slept with us. I hope he misses us as much as I miss him. At least I'll get to see him when I go to my mom's. We still have Buck. I think he misses his little buddie too. I'm just waiting for Abby to ask where Fletch is. I've only cried about it a couple of times. I'm such a baby! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and have a blessed New Year. I can't wait to see what 2008 holds for us.

Abby's 2nd Birthday

My little girl is turning 2 on Thurs. the 13th. We had her Elmo party with Chaz's family this weekend. She loves Elmo and was so excited to see all the Elmo stuff. The cake was adorable. I can't believe she is that old already. She is so unbelievably amazing. I love looking into those big brown eyes and watching her discover new things everyday. Don't get me wrong, she can be very challenging but I just love spending my days with her. She makes me laugh more and more the older she gets. I'm just so blessed to be her mom. Happy Birthday, my sweet angel. May God bless your life as you have blessed mine. I love you!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We had a great thanksgiving. The kids, my sister and I went to my mom's and had a lot of fun together. My other sister, Cayce and my half sister, Kelli with all their kids met us there too. It was a house full. It was also the first time we've had all the kids together. There were a total of 5 under the age of 2. Abby being the oldest, then Kennedi(16 months) and all the boys who are 2.5 months old. We were crazy and decided to take them all for shopping the day after Thanksgiving. All was well until we left all the kids at home with Gran to do some more shopping and all 5 kids were crying at the same time. All in all it was a great thanksgiving. On another note, we made an offer on a house. We are very excited and hoping that this is it. We have to be out of this house by the 21st of December so I better get packing. I will tell more about the house after we know that we got it. Please pray that this is it!

Updates!

Well life at the Railsback's house is very busy. Over the past 2 weeks I've started keeping my neighbor's little girl who is only 4 weeks older than Charlie. Having two infants in the house with a toddler running around is the craziest thing I've ever done. Some days it's all I can do not to pull all my hair out. I will say that it's getting easier every week. On top of that we decided to sell our house. I know, I know I've completely lost my mind! I don't think I could squeeze one more thing into my life. We haven't started looking at houses yet but plan on staying in the area. We've had our house on the market for one week and already have one offer. I can't believe it's happened so fast. With how bad the market is right now, I had prepared myself to be here another 6 months or so. But it looks like we may be moving very soon. I'm excited about getting into a bigger place and having space for all the toys that have taken over my house. I also can't wait to decorate a new place. I love decorating! I hate moving! I don't know how I'm going to do it. Knowing that Chesley did it with 3 little ones gives me some hope but I know I don't have all the energy she has. Trying to keep my house looking perfect to show has been another challenge. I'm not that messy but I'm not one to make my bed everyday either so this has been a challenge. I'm hoping at the very least it will help me to be a neater person. Well, I have one little one waking up and I'm sure the other 2 are soon to follow. There's never a dull moment.

A Bag of M&M's

Happy Halloween!!

Charlie at 6 weeks

Well things are going good. We've nearly through the rough first 6 weeks of little Charlie being here and finally things seem to be getting easier. His reflux comes and goes but at least we know how to handle it this time around. I don't have a lot to report other than my days are filled with feedings and trying to keep Abby out of everything. Charlie was 10.5 pounds at 4 weeks and the doctor couldn't believe he had gained that much weight but I wasn't surprised. Both my kids, like their mother, enjoy eating. Here are some recent pictures of the Railsback kids.

Just Talking Out Loud

Well since I now spend all my days with two little ones and little adult conversation, I thought I would just let out some things that have been on my mind. For starters, I've really been thinking a lot about my brother, Michael. I miss him so very much and so sad that he won't know my kids. He would of been such a great uncle. He's always loved kids and really dreamed of having a family. I'm so sad that he never got to experience the joy of holding his own little one. He's been showing up a lot in my dreams and sometimes my mom and I have the same dream about him. I feel like God is letting him say hi to us. I pray that I never stop having those dreams even though I wake up in the morning really missing him and a little sad that it was only a dream. Michael was the type to make sure everyone was ok. It doesn't surprise me that he is trying to tell me that he is in a good place. Anyway on to other things. I hate to complain because I know that there are so many other people out there far worse than me but this week was really stressful. I got a breast infection on one side then two days later got it on the other. It's so hard to be patient and loving to both kids when you're exhausted but even worse when you feel like you have the worse flu of your life. To top it off, Charlie does have reflux. We weren't sure for a couple of weeks because he doesn't spit up much but after this week I finally talked to the doctor about it and he confirmed that it was indeed reflux. Instead of spitting up, acid just sits in the back of his throat so he screams every time I try to feed him. The last couple of days I've been feeding him in a different position which is helping but very uncomfortable and I don't know how I will feed him this way anywhere else but home. And the little fart won't take a bottle so I'm stuck at home. On the other hand, Abby's been a real trooper. Poor thing she watches TV from the time she gets up till she goes to bed. I guess I'm lucky that she will do that. We did go get her birthday present early and went ahead and gave it to her. It's a kitchen and she loves it. We have more fun playing with it with her. She's also such a little mommy. She really tries to comfort Charlie when he's crying. Anyway, I'll stop complaining. I'm hoping to feel better over the weekend so I can get out of this house. I do need to take more pics of the little ones and will post some soon. And I saved the best for last, my sister, Cayce, had her baby boy yesterday and baby and mom are doing great. He is beautiful, of course and I can't wait to meet my new nephew. I'm glad that him and Charlie will be close in age.

Abby and Charlie

Well the first meeting of Abby and Charlie went fairly well. The look on Abby's face was priceless when she saw him. She won't touch or hardly look at him at first but by the next day she won't leave him alone. It's been that way ever since. Every time she's sees him, she has to announce it by pointing and saying, "baby" over and over. It was only cute the first couple of days. I've really had to watch her because she already thinks she's helping when she throws a blanket over his face to cover him up. She's constantly running over to the bassinet and shaking it. I've also found her pulling on the blanket he's wrapped up in to try to bring him closer to her. Thank goodness she is so short and can't climb in with him. She is very sweet though. She's always kissing him and giving him little pats on the head. He's going to have to toughen up in a hurry. Other than that, things are going pretty good. Charlie has had his days and nights mixed up but we're working on that. He's been great with feedings and sometimes even goes 4 hours in between. At first we thought that he might have some reflux, like Abby, but that seems to be getting better. We know enough tricks to fix that. I'd forgotten how hard it is to get up and down all night long. It really gives your body a beating after awhile. I do think it's easier this time around because I know it won't last forever. Chaz goes back to work next week and I think I may cry that whole day. He's been such a great help and encourages me all day. Abby and him have spent so much time together lately and I know that she's really going to miss that during the day. I hope things go well. Chaz has left me a couple of times to go do things and everything seemed to fall apart while he was gone. But I'm feeling better about things. I just have to make it till he gets home. Thank goodness for Seame Street to keep Abby happy for one hour! It's the other 8 hours that worry me.

Charles Kilmer Railsback

Well, Charlie is finally here! The story goes, Monday Chaz and I went to the hospital to be induced. We got there and I fully expected to be at least a 3 cm of dilation and that the labor won't be very long. But when the doctor went to check me we discovered that Charlie was now breech and I was completely closed. I don't know what was harder to hear because on Friday he had checked me and I was at a 2.5 and Charlie was head down. Now we were talking about either turning him or doing a c-section. We decided to try turning him and was successful at doing that, which was more painful than I thought it would be. After the doctor broke my water, I started having good strong contractions. At first my labor was very slow and I stayed at a 4 forever, but once I got to a 5 things started happening almost to fast. I went from a 5 to an 8 in 30 min. and then started pushing soon after that. I had 3-4 contractions and Charlie came in 9 mins. The doctor barley had time to set up. Charlie weighed 7.7 pounds and was 20.5 inches long. He is so long a skinny, not like his sister who was short and fat. It was amazing to finally get to see our little man. He is so wonderful and everything I thought he would be. He's a fantastic eater and last night slept great. Chaz and I are both so overcome with gratitude to God for giving us another wonderful blessing. Abby has been at my mom's and we can't wait to introduce them tomorrow. I was sad that my mom and Abby couldn't be here this week but it's turned out to be such a blessing to have this quiet time alone with Charlie before Abby is here to try to steal the show. I'll keep everyone posted on how the first intro. goes. It should be interesting when she discovers that Charlie isn't going anywhere.

100 things about me. I thought I'd join in with everyone else.

1. I love so so very much any kind of chocolate especially choc. cake with choc. icing. I think vanilla is a waste of time.

2. I don't pray as often as I should and then wonder to often why he doesn't answer my prayers when I think they should be answered.

3. I'm very hard headed.

4. I also have a pretty bad temper.

5. I pray a lot for #4.

6. I like to think my temper has gotten a little better.

7. I wish I never had started coloring my hair. It used to be a reddish, brown color. Now who knows what color it is.

8. I love watching cooking shows.

9. I'm not a great cook but I do my best.

10. I grew up eating hamburger helper and love it still today.

11. Chaz hates and won't let me cook it.

12. I was the oldest of 5 and my house was always crazy.

13. I wish I knew my youngest brother better. There's a 16 year difference and we've never lived close together.

14. I admire my sister Courtni's drive to get her doctrine.

15. I wish I had done better in college. I never really gave it my all until nursing school.

16. I love taking naps. I almost have to take one everyday whether I'm pregnant or not.

17. Some people may call me lazy.

18. I love looking into Abby's eyes. I see a lot of myself in her eyes.

19. I hope Charlie has Abby's big brown eyes. Chaz wants them to be blue like his. I'll take whatever God gives me.

20. I love sports! Playing them and watching them. I especially love football and the Cowboys. I used to play tennis and really miss it.

21. I've never dated anyone my age. All my boyfriends have been at least 2 years older.

22. Chaz is 2 years older.

23. We met at ACU in Biology class. Chaz sat next to me and one day asked if we could share the biology book because he had forgot his. We starting talking and have been together ever since. He proposed to me in that classroom, in the same chairs we were in when we met. He also told me that night that he had his book with him the whole time. He just wanted a reason to talk to me. What a romantic!

24. I truly feel so very blessed to have married such a good man. No one else could put up with me.

25. I have two kids and really want one more. Chaz may need some convincing.

26. I really don't like being pregnant.

27. The thought of giving birth excites me. I really don't have many worries about it.

28. I do worry about raising 2 kids. It all goes back to the patience and temper thing.

29. I don't like to cuddle.

30. I tried out for the cheer leading team my freshman year. I did a cart wheel, fell and couldn't stop laughing. I didn't make the team but became best friends with the cheerleaders anyway. 3 of them are still my best friends.

31. Those 3 girls and I get together at least once a year for a girl's trip and those are some of my favorite times.

32. I loved going to New York. I wish I was one of those people that had what it takes to live there but I'm to lazy for that place.

33. I hate going to the grocery store.

34. I can't iron at all. I really try and it's really sad.

35. When my mom comes to visit she irons our clothes. She even irons our pillow cases. She says it relaxes her. She's crazy!

36. I don't eat healthy at all. I may go days without eating a vegetable.

37. I also hate milk.

38. Now that I think about it, it's amazing I'm not sick all the time because of my diet.

39. I really struggle with my weight.

40. I was a size 12 when Chaz and I got married. I can't believe I was that big.

41. After our one year anniversary, I lost 40 pounds.

42. Now I love to work out, especially running. I never thought I'd say that.

43. I can't wait for Abby to get old enough for me to ask her if she thinks what I'm wearing looks stupid. I'm always questioning that. It will be nice to have a woman's
opinion. I guess I got to used to having my mom and two sisters to ask.

44. Chaz is a little colored blind so asking him is pointless.

45. I don't like the idea of getting older.

46. My grandmother is 94 years old. I really don't want to live that long.

47. I have very crazy dreams. I usually always remember them too. I can't watch scary movies because I will have very scary dreams afterwards.

48. Chaz loves scary movies and loves when my sister Courtni comes to visit because they stay up late watching them. I'm usually in the bedroom watching a non-scary girly movie by myself.

49. I've always wanted to have blue eyes. I tried to use those colored lenses but my eyes are so dark that you couldn't even tell that I had them in.

50. As I've gotten older, I've grown to really like my brown eyes.

51. I really want to get a boob job after I have all my kids. I want to have them lifted and put back where they should be.

52. The doctors can do whatever they think else I need done while they are working on my girls.

53. I'm having contractions while I'm writing this. I wish I would go into labor tonight but only after I finish the cake I've got in the oven.

54. I might show up at the hospital with the cake.

55. I may or may not share that cake.

56. I'm a terrible speller.

57. I used to love math in school but now I can't seem to remember how to do a lot of math. I guess it's true, if you don't use it you loss it.

58. I love being a nurse. I really think God lead me to it.

59. Things that gross most people out, I find fascinating, like open wounds and surgery.

60. I'm very completely challenged. I don't even know how to text message.

61. I get tired of emailing people. Sometimes I just want to talk on the phone.

62. I still laugh at Seame Street. Abby loves that show and we laugh at it together.

63. Chaz keeps me laughing all the time.

64. When we first met I thought he told me his name was Jazz. I went on our first date thinking that.

65. I'm terrible with remembering names.

66. I always wanted my nickname to be Charlie. So I love that I'm at least going to have a Charlie.

67. I hated having the name Calista growing up. I have gone my whole life having to spell out my name to people.

68. Now I have to spell out my last name too.

69. I still can't believe I'm going to be a mother of two. I don't feel old enough to have 2 kids.

70. Like Ches, I love All My Children. I don't watch it every day but at least 3 times a week.

71. I used to love Days of Our Lives but it gets a little too crazy.

72. I'm watching the Cowboy game right now and their playing terrible. Very disappointing.

73. My first boyfriend in High School was the football star of our school. The coach told me that I had to be nice to Jim during football season or he would fail me. I really didn't like that coach.

74. I can play the piano and clarinet. I can't read sheet music. I had to convert everything to numbers to learn the music and I used to be able to play a song after only hearing it a couple of times.

75. I was in the marching band in High School. We were #1 in our district.

76. At our school it was really cool to be in the band.

77. I played basketball my junior year and was terrible.

78. I was also in the school play and was equally terrible.

79. I finally learned to stick with what I was good at which was tennis.

80. I love to decorate my house. Most of the furniture in our house I've either made or redone.

81. I can't wait to move so I can start over.

82. Maybe that's why I want more kids. So I can decorate another room.

83. I think I ate fries at lunch and at dinner. Man, that can't be good.

84. When I was born I had the cord around my neck three times. The doctor thought I was dead and gave me a shot in my leg. When they did that I kicked and I still have a scar where they gave me that shot.

85. I hate to clean!

86. I don't clean my house as often as I should.

87. Abby likes to take wipes and wipe down the furniture. Even a 20 month knows that if she doesn't do it, it may not get done.

88. I can't believe my little sister, Cayce, is going to be a mom. She's going to be great at it. She's has way more patience than I do and I admire her for that.

89. I can't believe that I turned 28 this month. Not that I think that's very old I just never really could see myself older past 21.

90. I'm not a all up to date on music. I never what band, song or artist is singing.

91. I would be the worst contestant ever on that show The Singing Bee.

92. Chaz would be great! He knows so much useless information. He's also be great at any trivia game. I hate playing with him.

93. I think I've eaten some kind of desert everyday for the last month, sometimes a couple of times a day. Man, I've got to get better at saying no.

94. That reminds me, my cake is done.

95. My toe nails are always painted. They may not look that great but they always have some color on them.

96. I hate going to the dentist. I haven't been in years.

97. I had a lot of work done on my teeth as a kid and that's probably I don't go now.

98. I got my first car when I was 15 and got my first ticket the day before my 16th birthday.

99. My car door fell off and I had to drive while holding it so I wouldn't be late to basketball practice.

100. Another car I had, the whole engine fell out while I was driving. It's amazing I lived through high school.

So that's it. It was easier than I thought. OK now I'm going to try not to go eat that cake. Just say no!!

36 weeks pregnant and little Charlie's room is finally finished!

Well I finally finished Charlie's room today with lots of help from little Abby. I think it turned out pretty cute. Just what I pictured. Of course I couldn't of done it without lots of help. It just occurred to me that it's not Abby's nursery anymore. I've been so busy with getting things ready for him that I didn't stop to think about how much work I did to make that room Abby's. I loved it all decorated in pink and green. Now it couldn't be any different. It's amazing that we go through so much trouble and the kids don't even remember what their nursery looked like. I guess it's one to the few times we moms get to pick everything out for them before they start having their own opinions. Well I'm so glad it's done and now I can move on to others things, like cleaning this dirty house. Just 10 days till he's here!! I also included at picture of me at 36 weeks and a picture of Abby playing mommy.

Anniversary and Induction date!

Well it's official I'm being inducted on August 28th. I'm so excited and so ready. I'm also glad that knowing the date allows me to plan better. Chaz's parents are going out of town, more like the country, on the 30th so now they can be here for the birth. I was hoping not to have anything else in August since it's our really busy month but I'm ready to hold this little guy. We also just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. I can't believe we've been together for that long. I really feel that we have such a strong and healthy marriage. I'm so very blessed to have such a wonderful man that comes home to me everyday. Chaz has blessed my life more that I could ever express and has been so patient with me through both pregnancies. I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with so he is my calmness and keeps me from completely losing it sometimes. Over the last 6 years we've had a lot happen and he as been so wonderful through it all. I don't think he knew what he was marrying into but has handled it so well. I hope he knows how wonderful I think he is and how great of a husband, friend, and father that I know he is. Honey, I love you and can't wait to spend another 6 years together. Thank you for blessing my life and for being such a wonderful father to Abby and now to Charlie. Happy Anniversary!

The kids' rooms

Well, Charlie's room is almost done. I still need to get the mattress and the curtain is almost complete. I'm also still looking for western stuff to put on the walls but it's coming along. My mother-in-law did an awesome job on the bedding. I just love it!! Also the bed turned out cute. My mom and I worked so hard to paint it and put it together. It's Chaz's old crib, which makes it 30 years old. I hope it stays together. Abby is now in her big girl room. She's still in her crib but we have the full size bed in there too for her to move to later. I think it turned out super girly, which is what I wanted. Anyway, I'm still feeling pretty good. I go to the doctor next week and we'll know more about what we plan on doing. I don't think Charlie's turned yet, so I'm planning on the doctor still trying to flip him. In the mean while we'll still have to pray that he does flip and stays that way. I'll post more after I go next week.

Showered with Blessings!

Last night my sweet friends had the best shower for me and little Charlie. The food was wonderful and the company was even better. I feel so very blessed to have such sweet and thoughtful friends to help me celebrate this time with me. After a rough couple of weeks, this shower was something that I really needed. I'm so glad that I have Abby and Charlie to motivate me to keep going and to move on. This shower was perfect timing to help do that too. I was so excited my mom was able to be here and we've had the best week getting things ready for Charlie to be here. I did go to the doctor yesterday and unfortanly he didn't have very good news for me. Charlie is still breech and is looking like he is going to be a big baby like Abby was which means he doesn't have a lot of room to flip. My doctor is going to try to move him in a couple of weeks and we'll wait to see if Charlie stays that way. If he doesn't then we will schedule a c-section. If he does stay head down then we are still going to schedule an induction so it looks like the end of August or very first of Sept. I'm nervous to hear the word c-section. I haven't even thought about that since Abby's delivery went so smoothly and the word c-section wasn't even said. Anyway, at least I have time to prepair for that if it does have to happen. I know I'm in good hands. I'll keep everyone posted as I get closer. Thank you to all my wonderful friends for a very special shower and I can't wait to introduce my little man to all of you.