Mitochondrial Disease

September 18th through 24th is Mitochondrial Awareness Week. SO many people don't know what it is and until about a year ago, I didn't either. At our shop, we have a family that comes in and we didn't even know that Anna was sick until her mom told us about it. She was diagnosed with Mito when she was little and since then has developed Epilepsy from the Mito. This causes her to be VERY tired all the time, and the older she gets and the more she grows, the harder it is on her body. Mitochondrial is the energy in your cells. If there is no energy, then you have a very hard time developing physically and mentally. There is soo much more to this disease and on top of it, of all things, EPILEPSY. Seriously, could this little girl have anything worse?? Most children that are diagnosed with Mito, won't live past their teen years. One of my missions, is to help her do everything that she wants to do in her life. Like a bucket list. If she has something she wants to do, I want and will help her do it, no matter how crazy it may be. 
 October 3rd, the day after my birthday, Anna has to go to Children's Hospital for a few days to put lead in her head and have work done to prep her for another brain surgery that she will have before the end of this year. This will be her third one. The last one she had, she ended up having to re-learn EVERYTHING over again-including how to hold her head up and walking- and that wasn't even supposed to happen. That time, she had a 50/50 chance of making it through the surgery, and this time her odds are more 70/30. So we are expecting her to do well. After the surgery, Anna will have nurses come to her house for a while and after that, hospice will come in.
She is an amazing little girl and obviously a fighter, and she has taught me so much in the little while that I have known her. Last year, our shop raised money with every haircut that we did and also did a raffle basket which helped with finding a cure for Mito. This coming April, St. Louis will be holding their annual Energy For Life walk, and even though I have never done one before, I will be doing this one for Anna. I want to raise as much money as possible, and doing that will help inform people of it even more. If anyone has any ideas on how I can raise money, let me know!!

Anna-Halloween last year-when she grows up she wants to be a hairstylist :)

Alicia, Anna, and I at Anna's school. We put purple hair extensions in everyone's hair for an Epilepsy Assembly they had for Anna.

Check out this link. This is a video of Anna when she had her last brain surgery. Her mom, Dawn, made it. Don't watch if you think you will cry!!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=c2d156d9e31e1ec2b3cab0&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Also, if you want to learn more about Mito, visit www.umdf.org.

Thank you for reading this, I know to some it may be boring, but it is something that REALLY means a lot to me.

Jack's Birth Story Continued...

We got all settled in our room at around 12am and that is when the fun began. My contractions were starting to hurt and I was dilated to a 3. Nothing really exciting happened for a while. Derak was constantly in and out of the room going to smoke or to go visit my dad, step-mom, and all my siblings that INSISTED on sitting in the waiting room the whole time. The doctor thought that my labor was going to go pretty fast and routine and said if everything went well we should have a baby before his shift ended at 7. My contractions were starting to get worse and they were making me throw up. That was not fun AT ALL. I never really thought about the possibility of that happening so it SUCKED. Derak was bothered and kept saying..I don't know what I can do to help you but your making me gag. LOL Poor guy. I was about at a 7 and decided to get the epidural. I knew that I would get it but I wanted to wait and see how much I could handle but throwing up really bothered me especially since I didn't have any food in me to begin with, I was just having the dry heaves and that is the WORST.

I wasn't worried at all about the epidural. I didn't really care if it hurt and it didn't. I felt a tingly feeling but other than that it didn't bother me. I was just so excited to feel better! Once it kicked in I tried to get some rest but I was uncomfortable. I HATE the feeling of being numb so much that I panic and I have passed out at dentist and doctors offices because of it LOL. The nurse made the comment to me that she was surprised how much the anestieologist gave me because they go by height, and I am tall but I didn't weigh as much as a normal person does. LOL thanks nurse lady. Once I was feeling really good, my family came in and kept me company.

The epidural caused my contractions to slow. I wasn't progressing any more so they asked if I wanted to take the pitocin. I didn't want to put any drugs in me if I didn't have to so I told them I wanted to wait and see what would happen. I was really trying to get some rest and I asked the nurse if it was ok if I layed on my side so she helped me since my bottom half was useless lol. Well about 5 minutes later all these machines started going crazy. The nurses rushed in and checked me and looked at the machine that was monitoring Jack's heart rate and they quickly called the doctor. He came in and checked me and they switched me to my back again. Slowly the machine stopped and everything was going back to normal. All of this happened in just a few minutes but it seemed like forever. They put a tube in me and actually put more water back in me because I had leaked so much fluid that Jack was starting to lay on his umbilical cord and it was causing him to lose oxygen. I never knew that could happen! Derak asked the doctor how he stayed so calm when something like that happens and he said that he knew he could have whisked me away for a c section and had the baby out in minutes. THANK GOD that didn't happen! Once that was over, I tried to get some rest.

 It was about 6ish and the doctor came in and told me that he was getting ready to end his shift and was surprised I wasn't ready to have Jack. He said he was going to check with his wife and see if she had plans for them and if he didn't he would come back and deliver for me. I LOVED my doctor and wanted him to be the one but I told him that if he didn't come back I understood. It was Saturday after all and it was a GORGEOUS day! A while after he left they ended up giving me the pitocin and in the next hour I was ready to push. Talk about quick!!!

The nurse came in and talked me through how to push. We pushed for about 10 minutes with her and she got me ready to go. While I was doing that they had called the doctor and told me that he was coming! I was SOO happy! The nurse's name was Casey and I will never forget how nice she was. She asked Derak and I if we had ever taken the birthing classes and we admitted that we wanted to but ran out of time. I kept asking her if I was doing everything right and she said that she was so surprised how well Derak and I were both doing together. She said we made a good team :). Once she thought I was ready, she grabbed the doctor and we started the process. I was getting SO excited to see Jack. Derak was getting so nervous. He was so good to me, helping me in every way possible. I pushed for maybe another 10 minutes and the doctor was telling me that Jack was RIGHT there but he was going to have to give me an episiotomy. I didn't care what he had to do to get Jack to me. Once we did that I pushed a couple more times and then I got to see my precious baby boy for the first time.

They layed Jack on my belly while Derak cut the cord and they took the cord blood. Jack never cried. He just looked at Derak and I and stared. I will admit that I cried, but it was more because Derak was crying because that gets me every time. ( Derak will be really mad that I told people that). I will NEVER forget the first time we got to see the little miracle we made together.

They took him away to clean him up and do all the fun stuff like sew me back together. LOL I could have cared less about any of that because I couldn't take my eyes off of Jack.

Jackson Daniel Schubert
Born at 12:18pm
6 pounds 8 ounces
18 inches of PERFECTION

I remember the nurses asking me if I wanted to hold Jack or let them take him to the nursery. Casey, my favorite nurse, looked at me while I smiled really big and said "I'll take him". Casey then told me that she KNEW I would want to take him. She told us that I was so easy to take care of and that I always had a smile on my face even through contractions. LOL I was just so excited the whole time!
Then everyone started coming in to meet our handsome little guy.



Derak and my dad celebrating :)

 Once everyone left, I got to take a quick shower and start breast feeding. Let me just tell you, I NEVER thought I would EVER breastfeed. When I was pregnant, the topic came up a few times and I was grossed out. I wouldn't even read the chapters about it in the pregnancy books. Derak and I were talking about it once and he said it was totally up to me but I should keep an open mind and at least try it when we will have the help from the nurses and if I still didn't like it I can just quit. After thinking about that, I decided to give it a try. AND I AM SO HAPPY I DID. One of the saddest days of my life was the day that I had to stop nursing! I miss it so much! It was such a bonding thing and so easy! Anyways, Jack and I both did ok with the nursing thing and we were then moved to our nice little room that we would be holed up in for two days.
SOOO many people came and visited us. I was so excited for everyone to meet him!! One person in particular was Alicia. She was sooo bummed because I OF COURSE went into labor the night before Freeburg AND New Athens Prom, so they were SLAMMED at the shop and she couldn't leave! She had to have been freaked out the whole day sitting on top of her phone! :)


Finally got to meet!! Love at first sight! lol



My handsome man

The days quickly passed and we finally got to go home. I was soo happy to get to go home that we ended up having a party. LOL really, we did. Ronnie and Robin White came over and cooked us an amazing dinner and then the people started showing up. It was nice to actually have more than 4 people in the room with us at the same time. LOL

The first day home...SO LITTLE!!!

Our family is now complete. :)
Oh! And how could I forget this little story...A few days after we got home, Derak went outside to grill some steaks for us and guess what he found....OUR DINNER THAT HE COOKED FOR US THE NIGHT WE ENDED UP GOING TO THE HOSPITAL! LOL He never took them off the grill so they were little shriveled up steaks by then..lol...just when you think that you have life all figured out...SURPRISE! Sometimes life doesn't always go the way you plan..but that's our life for ya! :)

Jack's Birth Story!

The day I ended up going into labor just happened to be the longest day of my life. It was April 9th, 2010 and I went to work from 10 until 8. I was having a lot of hip pains and inner thigh pains the last few days but I just figured it was just ANOTHER ache and pain from being pregnant. Our shop closes at 7, but that day I did a color and it took longer than I thought it would. I didn't even care because her color turned out AMAZING. She left and I stayed about 30 more minutes closing the shop up and doing paperwork. THANK THE GOOD LORD that my water didn't decide to break then!! I would have definately panicked! So, I got in my car and called Derak to tell him I was on my way home.
Derak told me that he had steaks on the grill and mac and cheese and mashed potatoes waiting for me and I couldn't get there fast enough. LOL I told him I would be there in about 20 minutes and we hung up. Well, the second I hung up the phone with him my car started making a really terrible sound. I called Derak and he told me to pull over as soon as I could and to get out and see what it could be. Ok. Sounded easy enough. NOPE! I get out of my car, IT'S DARK, and I AM NINE MONTHS PREGNANT. I was freaked out! Of course I didn't have a light source so I had to use my phone. Well, of course I didn't see anything unsual...like a large animal staring at me, so Derak told me to drive very slowly with my flashers on and go to his grandparents house in New Athens which was only a couple miles away and he would meet me there.
About 20 minutes later Derak was there and they figured out that my tire had blew a belt. HUH?? Ok, didn't know that tires had belts but whatever! lol Derak had me drive his truck and he drove my car. I followed him to Red Bud and about half-way through I saw pieces of black rubber flying through the air; the belt was really a goner. ha.
I had bought after market rims and tires for my car so I had my original tires stored at Total Eclipse in Red Bud because a friend of ours owns the shop. So we met him there to change my tires. Well at this point it's about 11pm and I am past the hungry stage and onto the exhausted stage. We finished up and Derak told me to go to Subway since our steaks were out of the question and that he would meet me at home. I get to Subway and instantly the smell made me want to vomit so I got him a sandwhich and hit the road. I got home and gave Derak his dinner and told him I was going to bed. He said he would finish eating, take a quick shower, and would be in bed soon.
I was JUST about to be in a REALLY good sleep and Derak came in. He layed down and we both were just about sleeping and about 5 minutes later I heard AND felt a popping sound and instantly I was soaked. UH OH. I whipped the covers back and Derak jumped up and said, "WHAT?!" and flipped the light on. In a really calm voice I replyed, "My water just broke."  "OH YES IT DID", was all Derak said back while he just stared at me. "GET ME A TOWEL OR SOMETHING PLEASE!"  ( I was starting to freak out just a little at this point). He threw me a towel and he was gone. I just layed there in denial for a minute and I could hear him running down the stairs. Then back up the stairs. Then down. Then up. Then he was standing in our room looking at me with his clothes on, shoes on, hat on, and his cell phone clipped to his side and he goes, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LET'S GO! GET UP!"
I just started laughing. I explained to him that I had plenty of time and he needed to calm down. I wanted to get ready first. He told me to get him when I was ready to go; he was going outside to smoke a cigarette and make some phone calls.
I got in the shower and took a minute to think. I AM GOING TO COME HOME WITH A BABY. WOW. I got out of the shower and realized that my toenails HAD to be painted before we go. I got a cute outfit on, put some makeup on, and started painting my toes. Derak came in and panicked. "What are you doing?! WE HAVE TO GO. I can't do anything for you if you start hurting and we have a 30 minute drive!" I told him to quit being a pain in my butt (Insert another word there) and that he could make himself useful and get my hospital bag and the diaper bag and put it in the car. He listened. FOR ONCE. I guess he was kind of scared of me at that point.
No one ever told me that if your water breaks it doesn't actually just gush out and stop. I just kept leaking and leaking. I had on a super cute outfit and I was not a happy pregnant lady. I looked like I kept peeing on myself. REAL CUTE. I went and changed my clothes and thought that maybe I shouldn't have on jeans and a cute top when it's 12 at night and I'm going to the hospital so I changed again. After the 4th change Derak was getting REALLY mad. I gave up and followed Derak to the car.
We were just outside of Red Bud when Derak asked me if I brought my glasses. Uh oh. I forgot they didn't want me to wear my contacts. Derak thought it would be ok if I just threw my contacts away and not have my glasses. Um, no. I am having a baby. I want to SEE the baby. So, we whipped it around and back to Red Bud we go. Our friend Chris is a cop in Red Bud and was on duty that night. Derak had called him to tell him we were going to the hospital and when we had passed him going BACK to Red Bud Chris called Derak and asked him if we changed our mind. Very funny. Anyways, I ran in, grabbed my glasses, and we went to Moto-Mart. I needed a drink. 
FINALLY, we head towards Memorial. I called Alicia and my mom, both which made me mad because they were crying and being all emotional and sappy. (I think I was still in denial at this point). I guess we were by Smithton and my contractions started. They were small and nothing unbearable so I wasn't too worried.
We got to the hospital and I put my purse behind me and kind of waddled in with my knees together because I was pretty embarrassed about this whole leaking thing.
We finally got to our room and got settled in.

TO BE CONTINUED! :)

The Begininng....

Derak and I started dating when I turned 16. We met on my 16th birthday. That day was the worst birthday I had ever had. We had to bury one of my good friends, Jamie, who had died in a car accident. I didn't want to celebrate my birthday on such a bad day, but my friends insisted on at least taking me for ice cream. So, I decided to go with them and that's when I met the most handsome boy that I had always dreamed about. :) He was the manager of Dairy Queen and was working when we decided to go in. We hit it off right away (he definitely knew the way to my heart...he made the best blizzard I had ever had! LOL) and we talked for a while until I had to go.

The next weekend I was going to the movies with friends and we ended up running into Derak right before we were going to go. Alicia, my best friend, told him he had to go with me because I didn't have a date and everyone else did. So, even though I don't think it took much convincing, he ended up driving me to the movies. I will never forget the movie we saw, YES we WATCHED the movie :). Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. LOL

On the way home he asked me to homecoming that was a few weeks away and I guess the rest is history. I never imagined that one day I would end up marrying him, buying a house and business with him, and having a baby with him. We just never had a reason to break up. I love him with all my heart and I can't imagine life without him. :)


OLDIE!



My First Blog!

Ok, so this whole blogging thing has had me interested for a while. I have no idea HOW I will have time to keep up with it, but I guess I'll give it a shot. I'm sure it will take me a while to figure it all out since I am not too computer-savy. I feel like I won't have any ideas on what to write about but I really don't think anyone but me will read it anyways. LOL At least I will be able to get things off my mind this way!