An Update

Well I can say that we survived kindergarten, by the skin of our teeth.


Charli, she's loving it. The schedule is similar so there weren't really any huge adjustments for her.  Me, not so much. I miss her. I barely see her. The stress of it all, gave me the shingles, seriously. The shingles! I advise anyone to never have to deal with these. They are horrific.


Her sister and I were so sad her first day waiting for the time to go pick her up. She kept saying "I can go get Charli now, right mom?" Seriously the saddest thing ever.


Now we are all in routine and used to it and she is thriving. That is afterall the most important. Reading, writing, doing math like a champ. Really though I am most proud that she is described as a very hard worker and the kindest friend. She is nice to everyone, includes everyone and makes everyone feel like a friend. My heart swells with pride for my mini me.


The middle little, the one I get comments like "She's spirited" or "You won't have to worry about her" made me think she wasn't thriving in her new daycare routine. I am not sure why. I am happy to report she is thriving as well. Reading and writing, recognizing shapes, colors, numbers and the alphabet. But the biggest accomplishment to me, that she is also a kind friend, but in a very different way than her older sister. You see, my middle little, she is loud and fierce but she sticks up for those that won't stick up for themselves. She protects the shy, stands up to the bully and helps them find their own feet. This amazes me and makes me oh so very happy! Her teachers are so very proud of her too. They also find joy in her way of working the system, volunteering to help (so she can seat in her seat of choice or behaving perfectly so she gets chosen first). These are the things I want to remember about her preschool days.


The littlest, well he is finding his voice and his feet. His daycare routine is similar to his sisters. He is learning to push in chairs, put on his coat, follow directions, play nicely with his friends. He has also learned to dance! and boy does he get down. He is learning to sing and count and be a happy toddler. at school he is an angel, in the evening he is melting. Hopefully this soon passes but if not I will enjoy the extra snuggles and savor in these last little bits of baby as he turns two in April!


I wish I could freeze time.

2018

a blank page, a new beginning.


But is it really a new beginning? just as any rise of the sun is a new day, it's also the day after yesterday and the day before tomorrow. I don't want to erase 2017 but I certainly am looking forward to the new seasons before us. 2017 was trying, amazing, with many adventures, hurdles, and blessings.


I cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store for our family. With two daughters and a son, one handsome husband, two senior dogs and a kitten, we certainly are in for some adventures!


My only goal is to live more simply. To have less things and more adventures. To give my children my love for travel, for experience and most of all to make amazing memories together. To teach compassion and giving back to those that have less, and most of all to be kind, to each other and our world.


Because the most important after all is family.

Here is to an awesome 2018 full of family and fun!

On My Mind

I have a few things on my mind this second day of August. The year 2017. This is the year my oldest starts elementary school.


I am dreading it. She is counting down the days. She is beyond ready. Me, not so much. I wish I could wrap her up and tuck her in my pocket. I am not ready to share her with the world or not have her by my side morning noon and night.


I know that this is a step in life we all must take however I never anticipated it being so hard on me. I have been working full-time since she was 10 weeks old. But I dropped her at daycare, nursed her at lunch until she was 2.5 years old and then picked her up. Come September I will drop her off and not see her for 11 hours! AGH! My husband will pick her up from school. He will get those first excited hugs and kisses, the entire day summed up in a two minute run on sentence. All the new and exciting things she did that day, the new friends she made, what the teacher told her and who had a sad or happy face. I will miss that. I know it will be so good for my husband and her relationship but I am going to miss it more than I ever anticipated.


I am hoping I can wrap my head around the fact that I will have a kindergartner in just 4 short weeks. Right now - I think I am in denial.


Edited to add: 8 days before her last day of preschool and I am NOT ready. Probably even dreading it a little bit more since I have seen all the back to school signs from friends and family that have already gone back. Luckily we have until the day after Labor Day. 


Please tell me this is normal. I am running through all the ways I can quite working and homeschool. So far I haven't come up with any really plausible answers unless winning the lottery happens tonight. It is $700 million or something.


My daughter is so excited so I am trying to encourage that enthusiasm and not show her that her momma's heart is cracking.


She has her backpack hung by the door, her menu ready, and her thermos lined up on the counter. 9 more days she exclaims.


If you think about it pray for peace for this mommy's heart and a joyful first day of kindergarten on Tuesday the 5th of September.

My Sweetie Pie

It might take me months but I will be certain to jot down ten things about each of my children. So onto baby #3 and my sweetie pie.


Our son, Baby H. We adore you. If you ask who's baby it is the girls immediately pipe in MINE in unison. To say he is adored is an understatement. He is beyond loved, mauled and never left alone, ever.


These are the ten things I currently love most about our littlest little love bug.


1. He is happy. Always.


2. He loves his momma. Always. Ha, while he is content to see everyone, he lights up when he sees me and there is nothing more special than seeing the love your children have for you!


3. He loves his pets. "Dog-dog" was word number 3 I think. He giggles in glee when our mastiff sits close enough for him to pet, yank, ride or kiss. (Yes we have very tolerant dogs who adore their babies too).


4. His squishy thighs. Our girls were tiny petite little things (still are at 25 and 27 pounds at 3 and 5 years old). But baby man he has some rolls and some squish and I have all of the heart eyes for it.


5. He knows what he wants and will tell  you. He picked up sign language and talking really early and fast. He is so happy to tell you more milk, eat, all done, no, yes, bye-bye. There is no guessing with him. He will tell you.


6. He loves all things trucks, trains and tractors. We didn't have a ton of baby boy toys and are just now starting to acquire it however he has always gravitated to the trucks, trains and automobiles. He even makes the little noises and I have no idea where he learned them. My girls are girly girls so this is super foreign and fun.


7. He is a great sleeper (and now I probably jinxed it) but he naps well and goes right to bed.


8. He is a great eater. Happy to try anything once, again such a foreign concept with my allergy baby (#1) and my reflux baby who refused all food until she was two! He is still happily nursing which I am content with, I am in no rush to wean him.


9. He is cuddly. He gives the best kisses and hugs. I love that he holds on to my shoulders so tight with his little fists. He also leans into his kiss and makes the muah sound. Melt my heart.


10.  That he is ours. Man I love all of my babies and I am just such a lucky mommy.

Sassafras

Too continue on with my what I most love about my children right now, I'm on to my middle little. My loving, sassy best sleeping middle. Man I just love and adore her little self.


Haddie-hoo, our sour patch kid.


This one keeps me on my toes in the best way. Okay so for ten things.


1. I adore her sleeping. She is a 12-13 hour straight through the night and one nap a day gal, still at 3 years old. Thank you, thank you, thank you! After the first never sleeping and dropping all naps at 2 - its so nice.




Haddie on her birthday :)

2. I love the way that she chose her self soothing methods early on in life. Pointer and middle finger on her right hand along with a swaddle blanket she affectionately calls "bop".

3. Her lashes. She has the most amazing natural eye lashes. Dark thick and super long. Her eyes really are just amazing.

4. Her spunk. Man I just love her spunk. Perhaps its bc we are both the middle man, but she is fiercely independent and spunky. Her teachers always tell me she is spririted and I wont have to worry about her in school. She keeps everyone on their toes in the best way possible.

5. Her fierce determination. She is determined with anything she sets her mind too. Riding her bike, crossing the monkey bars, keeping up with big sis. I cannot believe the things she can do and accomplish at the tender age of 3.

6. Her complete opposite of her sister personality. I love how different she is, Charli says yes, she says no. She is the red rose to Charli's white rose. Darker skin complexion, hazel eyes, brunette hair. Stockier build. Everything.

7. Ability to make friends immediately. She is so outgoing and friendly until she is not and then watch out. She can make friends in an instant.

8.  Fast walk. Man can she walk fast. You would think her short stature of a mear 34" would make it hard for her to keep up with me and my 34" inseam but nope, she easily keeps up if not passes me.

9. She is not boxable, as in, she isn't a girly girl or a tomboy. She is a happy mix of both worlds. SHe loves dolls and dress-up. But also loves mud and trucks, the sandbox and paw patrol. She can throw a ball better than some of her 4 year old boy friends and feed a baby at the same time.

10. Most of all I just love how much she adores her siblings. She is a mamas girl and her sister and brother are her best friends. I hope it stays like that forever!

Haddie, Charli and Hayes

My Joy

So I saw another blogger  Shannon do this and I thought what a great way to preserve the here and now.


So I will start off with my eldest .. The one who made me mommy, my miracle!


Charlize, affectionately known as Charli.  4 years 11 months and 9 days, on the downslide to one whole hand.


1. I love her enthusiasm. When she loves something, she truly loves it. She gets  so excited about coloring a rainbow, playing with bubbles, twinning with me or her sister. The little things. I hope that never leaves her.


2. Her selflessness. She always thinks of her brother, sister and loved ones. If we are at the store, a birthday party or she is accompanying me to work - she will be sure to make a memento, buy a treat or take a picture to show her siblings and parents what she is up too. She makes cards and pictures for her friends and anyone she thinks may need a pick me up.


3. Her hair, she has long gorgeous blonde hair. It is super straight just like mom's but its glowing and very very long. She isn't afraid to cut it though, bc she enjoys a good spa day and she knows its only hair.


4. Her love of babies. Her love rivals my own and let me tell you my baby love is strong. Give me all the babies but I'd have to fight over them with Charli. She is such a great big sister. Like really great. There is very little fighting in our house. I never have to worry about sharing or someone not being included. She is the best big sister in the land! And I know she'll be a wonderful babysitter. She is begging for just ONE MORE BABY.


5. Crafts. She loves crafts. Drawing painting sewing creating. She adores it and is good too.


6. Her love of learning. Math, writing, reading and science. She loves to learn. She is in a kindergarten class and learning above and beyond her 4 year old age. You cannot give her enough of it. Her little sponge mind takes it all in and her memory is amazing. Song lyrics (gets that from her dad, numbers, books she hears it once it's ingrained.


7.  Her love of the outdoors and animals. While she is my girly-girl through and through she is not afraid of snakes, bugs or spiders. She makes friends with everything. She rides ponies, walks the dogs, plays with goats, pigs and chickens. She wants to be a veterinarian like mom when she grows up and it certainly makes me proud!


8. Her shyness. I know that sounds odd but I enjoy having those hugs and cuddles when she is nervous. She is not the first to run and greet you (that would be her sister) she makes you work for it. Those that do are thoroughly rewarded. She is warm and kind when she warms up.


9. Her sense of humor.  This girl loves to make jokes and if she can get you laughing she'll never stop.


10. Her love. She is the loviest,

most warm hearted kid I know. Hugs, kisses, books, and pictures galore. She loves to love. There is no doubt in my mind I am her world and I hope she knows that she is mine too!

The Birth Story - 3rd Edition

We made it. To the date the doctors had set to break my water. I was in shock and elated that I no longer had to worry about the side of the road incident.


We checked into our room at the hospital (after a very tearful good bye to the girls) around 5:30PM on Sunday April 10th. The nurses came in and checked me. The look on their faces when they realized how far along I was without any signs of labor (well I was having consistent contraction, but to me they seemed normal as I had them from about 20 weeks). The nurse called the doctor to let her know I had arrived and was in "active" labor. After a brief chat the doctor explained the situation and told them to hold off on doing anything. She had two other women coming in labor and needed to assess the situation. They asked me if I wanted to go home and come back in the morning. No I did not want to leave my children again. I wanted to have my baby. So we planned on staying over in the hospital. The husband and I chatted, watched some TV, he got yummy takeout, I was told no food :( I had consistent contractions all night.


I woke up took a shower and was allowed food at 7:30AM. So I showered ate 1/2 an omelet and drank some water. All of the sudden the contractions picked up and I had to walk through them. The dr came in and told me her plan " she had a scheduled surgery in the next building at 8AM, it would take about an hour. Get an IV going in the event I needed Pitocin and she'd come break my water at 9AM". Okay. The nurses came in a 8:45 to start putting in my IV. At 9AM I asked them to stop so I could use the bathroom. At 9:02 I needed help off the toilet as I felt the head, I asked my husband to call the nurse back in, 9:08 the nurse came in and then called the dr to come now. 9:12 I was getting ready to push, my water was still in tact, 9:15 the dr arrived and broke my water and there was lots of blood (my placenta always starts coming away from the uterine wall at the time the baby comes out hence the blood). 9:18 after a scary minute of no heart rate and the dr telling me if I didn't push the baby out right then I was going in for ER surgery. I pushed with all of my mite and 9:19 our son made his appearance.


Less than 20 minutes of active birth. Thank the heavens above we were already at the hospital.


We had a boy. A beautiful, angry little boy who was very mad about being forced out into this world. (He screamed non stop for about 40 minutes, he's been an angel since).


Apparently his head was wedged in my pelvis at a funny angle and he was face up that prevented him from coming out sooner (another blessing) it also caused some damage to mommy and bruised baby's head and face from the fast and furious delivery.

Christmas Fun

After reading Jessica's post today it made me reminisce on my childhood traditions and what we continue and what we have implemented.


Holiday traditions are my favorite and I am so lucky I get to continue or start new traditions with my children.


My favorites from my childhood that we continue are picking out our Christmas tree and cutting it down, cookie baking and handing out to the neighbors, that one present the kids get to open on Christmas Eve (which is always pajamas), opening stockings first on Christmas morning and instilling gratitude in our girls during this season and always of giving to those in need.

Some new traditions we have started since becoming parents are Elf on the Shelf makes her appearance (today), Christmas tree lighting ceremony, gingerbread house building, and candlelight service before midnight! We are hoping to make it to a light show this year and hopefully we will be blessed with a tiny bit of snow so we can do a few sledding runs. This Northeast girl thinks it doesn't feel like Christmas without a bit of fluffy white snow.

Share your favorite holiday traditions!

Life Lately...

We are in the throes of the little years. 4, 2 and 7 months (this weekend). Man is it busy but so much fun. Recently we had friends over for a playdate and I realized our blessed we are with the children God chose for us.

Our fall has been busy as we move from one house to another - knowing we will be moving again in 1-2 years.  Keeping up at work, hanging out with friends, and enjoying all that fall in the Mid-Atlantic has to offer this time of year. We are hoping to venture north to visit Mima and Papa, Auntie Erin and her brood of four boys soon too!


Our Wizard of Oz troop had a blast on Halloween especially Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch, Toto was obliviously but was happy to smile and coo and then sleep through the end of it.

Our eldest is rocking her last year of preschool (wahhhh) and so excited about going to kindergarten. We have applied to three private and toured our public school. We hope to make a decision by January.

The middle, ohhh the middle. She is feisty and funny and keeping us on our toes. We just adore her spunky attitude. She rocked potty training a few months ago and now is trying to keep up with big sister and love on baby brother.


Baby boy is now 7 months, he rocks sitting up, hates food, loves nursing and is working on cutting one bottom tooth. He had a horrible virus that caused lots of upset bellies for 2 weeks. He is now finally on the mend and his cheerful self. We just adore him.

We are finalizing holiday plans and looking forward to all of the experiences of this season.

Sorry for the delay...

HE IS HERE!


Another fast and furious birth but we welcomed a gorgeous baby boy on April 11th.


The entire family is enamored. We have all been soaking in the newborn bliss. However we are back to real life this week, school work and daycare!


I will post pictures and the birth story soon. You don't want to miss it!

New Addition(s)

No - no baby (yet). Frustrating to be on bed rest and stop labor meds only to still be pregnant two weeks before the due date! Life is funny! But a healthy baby and a short hospital stay are much appreciated.


Saturday the husband surprised our oldest with baby chicks and ducks - so far she has named one Eliza, Lucky and Penelope (still working on naming the rest).

I cannot believe how great she is with them at a mere three (almost four) years old. The two year old however, a terror. She loves them a little too much and the poor ducklings are likely to get their necks wrung because of her loving and how easy it is to get her little hand around them.

Now let's hope baby follows suit and decides to come soon so I can squeeze them. Big sister asks daily when baby is going to come out of mommy's belly. I'm not the only one excited to meet this new little person.

 

Almost Time ... I think!

This pregnancy has been anything but ordinary and here I am sitting at 36 weeks awaiting the arrival of our third baby. Any day I am told. I have been told this for the last month. You see, I am almost 6cm dilated and almost completely effaced. Yup - I am still pregnant. The waiting is killing me. I am grateful. Grateful to have made it this far, grateful everyday for a healthier baby. But I have severe anxiety of having the baby on the side of the road with my almost four and two year olds present and no one else. Of not making it to the hospital. Of knowing, is it time? Are these labor contractions? We now have a date they will break my water if baby hasn't arrived by, but it is longer than I have ever been pregnant. My first was born at 36 weeks, my second almost 38, I have to believe this baby will come sometime soon or in the words of my doctors - any day.

Disregard the messy bathroom selfie - I was at work!

In other news, I have a two year old and a three year old. Our sweet lucky charm turned TWO on St. Patrick's Day. We had a small celebration (since I never know when I am going to actually go into labor) and she had the best day ever!

Our oldest is so excited to become a big sister again and cannot wait to meet this baby. She has deemed it her baby - We cannot wait to see her thrive again as a big sister. She is the sweetest most caring girl and we are truly blessed she made us parents.

Both girls were there however the littlest wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with the Easter Bunny and the oldest, well I bribed her to stand beside him.

Now I am off the play Easter bunny and prepare the house for a new sweet baby! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a blessed Easter!

 

This is happening

A little back story on baby #3.

This past summer was ah-mazing. Our girls were at such fun ages (15-18 months and 3.5 years). We had lots of trips to the beach, parks, pools, vacations to Vermont and fun with family. Adding another baby was not on our agenda. We were having too much fun. Low and behold other plans were made and we found out at the end of summer we would be welcoming a third baby to our clan come spring. 

Shock! We were both in shock! 

We waited to make our announcements to friends and family until we had cleared the first trimester but then I was having some other complications so we held off until our anatomy scan. When we were given the all clear – we announced. Everyone was thrilled and shocked but mostly thrilled. Our eldest is ecstatic! She has been begging for a baby for several months. She is such a little mommy and I know will be a big help. Our littlest – well she isn’t sure what is coming her way but I know she’ll be a wonderful big sister!

So there you have it. I am 26 weeks and praying for a nice full-term baby that I have in a hospital and not on route to said hospital. Just a refresher my last labor and delivery lasted a whopping 40 minutes and it takes 40 minutes to get to the hospital from our house.

Currently we are decluttering, reorganizing and soaking in all of the extra moments with just us four because come spring we will be a #partyoffive!

2016

Two Thousand and Sixteen.

My husband and I celebrated our 14th New Year together at home with friends. It is hard to believe another year is behind us and a new year is before us. All the possibilities!

2015 has been a year. One of great fun, lots of adventures and wonderful memories with our families. It has also been one of struggle, turmoil and hardships. While I am not happy to see it go, I am excited about the New Year. 2016 is going to be epic. 

There are so many new adventures on the horizon. Our girls are so much fun right now. We will be welcoming our 3rd baby in just a few short months, more on that to come. We have high hopes to take as many adventures as we can squeeze in with our girls before baby arrives and after as well. 

We learned so much about each other and being parents this past year that I have high hopes that a 3rd baby will blend into without too much adjustment. We have also learned to go and do, do not wait. So the beach, the mountains and everywhere in between is calling our name.

I have few goals set for this year. Survival will be my biggest for the first few months and then to enjoy. Enjoy my time off on maternity leave, enjoy my husband, and enjoy my babies (all three of them). Travel, enjoy the experiences of it. Even the sleepless nights and car seat meltdowns. They will be eighteen before we know it and spreading their own wings. I want them to love traveling, love people, and love coming home. Is that an oxymoron? To love to leave and love to return. I certainly remember the thrill of that first overseas flight and the excitement of sharing my journey with those I love upon return. Again, stories for another day.

I want to simplify. I am not sure exactly what this will entail, definitely getting rid of the “stuff”. Pairing down on what we think we “need”. It may include downsizing our home and moving or not. Those decisions have yet to be made but I do know the hustle and bustle of just getting by is not fun any longer. I would rather spend all of my time planning adventures and activities with our family and friends than having to work extra for the new car, or the bigger house. Again, no real decisions have been made other than we want to enjoy our year. 

So maybe goals are not exactly what is being made but more a word of the year to live by and that word is ENJOY!

We hope everyone is off to a healthy and happy New Year!

MIA

Enjoying some bouncing in the beautiful weather!

I'm still here. Reading and commenting some. I cannot figure out how to post pictures easily to my blog through my phone. Once I get this figured out I will be back with some exciting announcements as well as some life updates. So stay tuned!

I am still here. I am reading and commenting but not writing so much. That bums me out because that's why I started this blog. To document life. I hope to get to that again soon. In other news my littlest gal turned O.N.E! Wasn't she just born. Her birth is still so vivid in my mind and one of my greatest memories. We are preparing for the biggest to turn three. It's so crazy how fast time is flying. Here's a little throw back until I get all of my pictures uploaded. Can't believe she's going to be three in less than two months! That's my nephie who is just a couple months younger.

A Day I Never Want to Relive

The first couple of weeks of baby deux's life were seamless. She slept all of the time, her big sister adored her. I was getting great sleep and the house was put together. And then. Well she woke up. She cried. And cried. And cried some more. If you asked big sister what baby sister does, she would answer "Baby only cries." It was heart breaking to me, (nerve wracking to the husband).

Just shy of baby deux's first month she was sleeping in the rock-n-play in the living room upstairs. Big sister and I had been eating breakfast and watching Mickey Mouse in the same room. I looked over at her and she was blue, and not just tinged but like full on dark blue turning gray. Her eyes were bugged out of her head and not a sound to be made by her. Her head was cranked back at some unhuman angle and I thought "oh my gosh she is siezing."

I scooped her up flipped her belly down and proceeded to do the hymlic (thank goodness for infant CPR certifications).  I then flipped her back over and suctioned her mouth and throat out. I got blood and lots of frothy mucus. After what seemed like an eternity - cries. Feeble at first turing to loud angry hurt cries. I immediately felt relief, thank goodness she is breathing, followed closely by terror.

I immediately called the doctor who instructed us to go to the closest ER. Racing around as I was throwing stuff in a bag I called the husband, grabbed both children and started buckling them into the car. My husband gets home in record speed and jumps in the drivers seat and we are off. I am in the back with my eyes glued to the baby. I chant please do not seize or choke or stop breathing, over and over until we arrive at the hospital.

Once we arrived we rush in, to stand in line. Yup there is a line in the ER full of germs. YUCK. My doctor had called in our emergency and a  PICU nurse was waiting for us. Thank goodness. We are escorted upstairs and the pediatrician on call comes right in. After assessing her, asking lots of questions it is determined that she choked on spit up. She has reflux. Badly. Her throat was already swollen and raw from it (at a mere few weeks old). She was prescribed meds, instructed to stay up right for up to an hour after feedings and sleep in an inclined positions.

We were discharged. The baby was held ALL day. The thought of just not catching it in time scared the bejesus out of me. Two years of parenting and the first ER trip, though with the dare devil of an older sister I am sure not the last!

I think six months later I am now just beginning to sleep without seeing that sight.

An update on the reflux. This poor child has it badly. Constant spit up. She eats and moves - it comes right back up. She gets sick, lots of spit up. Lots of choking. Lots of medicine. I am happy to report now though at 6 months we are starting to show some improvement. Less crying, more sleeping - still the same amount of spit up. Oh well we have gotten used to that part!

The Birth Story: Part Two

I finally come to the conclusion that I am definitely having this baby tonight. 

This is where the urgency starts kicking in.

I yell at my husband to get out of the shower. We need to leave now. I grab our bags, run in and kiss our daughter one last time and get in the car. I got back out of the car because I wanted some jelly beans. I got back in the passenger seat. At first I had wanted to drive but after getting the jelly beans I realize that is probably not realistic.  Sitting down is now uncomfortable.  The contractions are intense, lasting about 2 minutes and back to back. Maybe 30 seconds in between. I am also bleeding pretty heavily at this point.

Our hospital is about 45 minutes away. It is 10:47PM when we leave our house.  We make it a few miles before the sitting down starts to get unbearable. I am gripping the handle bar and console to lift myself off my tailbone. The seat belt felt very restricting but my husband is adamant I kept it on. The roads are still snow covered and icy. I tell him he needs to hurry.

He wonders out loud where he should go (there is a closer hospital to our house but my doctors do not attend there). I remember telling him I only wanted my doctors so he turns to head that way. We gott behind a slow red car, I tell him probably ten times to just pass it. Typically he would have been passing with me telling at him to slow down. Of all nights he wants to drive cautiously.  During the drive I can feel the baby moving down. We finally make it to the town where the hospital is and hit a red light, I tell him to run through it. AFter sitting at it for far too long (in reality probably only a minute) he does. He tells me to stay aware of where we are because he isn’t 100% sure on the directions to the hospital (he was sleep deprived in his defense). When we are about 5 miles from the hospital everything gets a little blurry. I want to push but am able to talk myself through the contractions without pushing. We finally make it to the hospital (in reality my husband got us there in less than 20 minutes but it felt like forever). It is 11:05PM. He drives around the parking lot a million times looking for a good parking spot, I finally yell just park the damn car. He of course parks at the bottom of the parking lot. I make him grab our bags as I am scrambling to get out of the car. I start running towards the entrance, over snow banks through the parking lot clutching my crotch as I swear the baby is going to fall out. I got to the door and ring the bell as I turn to see where my husband is I see him talking on the phone. WTH "Get off the phone." He had called his mother. I think because he was panicked he wasn't sure exactly what to do. The nurse asks who we are and why we are here. I tell them I am in labor (eerily calm at this point). They let us in and tell us to wait at triage. I cannot sit; I pace and clutch my husband’s shoulders wondering how long it is going to take them to get there. I hear laughing and chatting as the nurses walk slowly down the hall, I want to urge them to hurry, I however remain quiet.

As they round the corner and see me they stop laughing and starting asking questions, probably assuming I am being dramatic (I mean I would have). When they realize my first labor was 4 hours from start to finish (the doctor barely made that one) and that I was 5 cm dilated late last week they start taking me seriously. The one nurse wants to do a quick check (I am still clothed) and standing up. She checks before I can move and stands up wide-eyed.

The baby is close to crowning, water bags bulging. Both nurses jump into action. One starts paging the doctor on call because they are sure mine won’t make it in time and the other helps me on the gurney and starts pushing me down the hall. The first nurse joins her and starts pulling my clothes off (I was not happy about this part though I knew I couldn’t have a baby with pants on). We get into a room. The contractions are really intense. I sigh/huff loudly though them. I think I may have yelled OWWW at one point.  I keep saying I needed to pee. The nurses do not want me to go. I finally convinced them I will not push and they allowed me to walk to the bathroom.  As soon as I sit down my water breaks. They both yelled at me to get back on the bed. The head is crowning. Walking with a crowning head is not recommended. It is extremely uncomfortable. I layed down and automatically started pushing. I tell one of the nurses I am sorry. I yell OW again. My doctor walks through the door.  At this point I think the contractions make me nervous and I started panicking. The first nurse was amazing. She rubbed my leg made me look at her and talked me through them. She was a life saver. The doctor yanks off her coat puts on a gown and gloves then stated the baby is coming. I pushed two times total. The first time her head came out, the second time her body. My husband announced it’s a girl! I knew it! She was born at 11:14PM, nine minutes after arriving at the hospital.  All natural. My active labor was about 40 minutes long. I was told if we decide to have more (as the doctor is stitching me up), I need to move to the hospital or have a home birth. The nurses on call that night were amazing. I cannot imagine going through that without them.

After still nameless baby girl was born I was allowed to spend lots of skin to skin time with her. Something I didn’t get to do with my first since she was a preemie.  It was amazing. I cherish those few miuntes breathing in my second miracle. After they cleaned her up and brought her back over our breastfeeding journey started. She was as sweet as pie and nursed like a champ again so different than my first who was too small to latch on.  My husband and I oohed and awed over her for like an hour.  He called our family and announced the news that baby w had arrived.

I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, well maybe not being in a car while I was transitioning. Or running through the parking lot thinking a baby was coming out.  I am glad we made it to the hospital in time.

And after typing up this birth story I am ready for baby #3! #givemeallthebabies

The Birth Story: Part One

I wanted to write this down since it’s a great story and I already love to reminisce about the birth of our second miracle daughter.

A little synopsis of this second pregnancy:

I had preterm labor issues. My second pregnancy was no different than the first. The second time I was put on drugs (to relax my uterus) and bed rest much sooner, around week 12.  I tried very hard to follow doctors’ orders; I stayed off my feet and did not exercise at all. I did nurse my eldest though (with permission from my OB/GYN). Thr doctors were skeptical that I would make it to the date my first daughter was born 36 weeks 3 days.

Week 36: I was supposed to stop taking all medications; however a snow storm was in the forecast so with the okay from my doctor I continued until week 37. Contractions were hard and close together anytime I stood up. I had weaned my daughter to only nursing right before nap and bed times.

Week 37: Doctor Appointment shows the baby flipped (head up), I freaked out. I did not want a C-section (though obviously I would do whatever was in the best interest of my baby). The next evening while in the refridgerator I felt TONS of pain and ripping. It brought me to my knees (even birth didn’t do that). Sure enough baby decided head down was a much better position. I thanked God a million times. I prayed hard that this baby would decide to go head down and the my prayers were answered.

Week 38: Another snow storm is in the works (worst winter ever for worrying about going into labor) for the night before St. Patrick’s Day. Doctors are all amazed I am still pregnant. I am 90% effaced and 4.5-5cm dilated (I had been dilated since about week 12-13, well not that much though).

And so the story begins:

My last day of work was Friday March 14. After talking with my doctor about my concern (and hers) about having the baby at home or on the way to the hospital we decided to head in Monday to have my water broken and get this baby out (38 weeks). Of course Sunday night it started storming and we got several inches (perhaps even a foot) of snow, the hospital called me Sunday night/Monday morning really early and told me to head in Tuesday morning bright and early due to the storm and staffing issues. No biggie. I stayed off my feet (except when I took the dogs out to feed the animals since my husband was plowing snow). I had hard contractions, nothing new.  

My husband got home around lunch time. We cleaned the house. Prepared for the new baby. I was also preparing to leave my daughter for the first time ever. Hello pregnancy hormones. I was a mess. I tried to spend as much time with her doing the things she loved all day. Coloring, reading, painting and dancing. My mother-in-law came up later that night to stay so we didn’t have to wait for her to get there since we had to leave at 5:30AM. I still felt totally fine.

Around 8PM or so I started getting nervous, I thought it was due to me having to leave my first baby. I didn’t really want to sit down. After eating Chinese food for dinner around 9PM (a few bites really). I decided to take a shower with my daughter. We took a 20 minute shower. It felt wonderful.  I had several contractions in a row, hard but again nothing new. I finished getting her ready for bed and spent extra time brushing her long blonde hair and singing silly songs as we brushed her teeth.  As I laid down with her, she nurses for less than 3 minutes and passes out snuggled against my neck. At this point I am starting to realize I have been having hard consist contractions. My stomach was really hurting during them and the pain lingers when they are over.  I still think nothing of it. I headed downstairs to visit with my husband and mother-in-law. Really to go over the routine’s, point out where everything is and try to assure myself that my baby would be okay (the first one that is).  I urged my husband to shower and get to bed. He hadn’t slept since Saturday night. It is now 10:30PM on Monday night. Before he goes up I start having to walk through the contractions. I finally realize they are about 1 minute long in duration and 2 minutes apart. Hmm. I debated on calling the doctor so I call my mom instead. She yells at me. Tells me I am going to have this baby at home if I don’t head to the doctor right this minute. I brush her off but decided to just call the doctor and see what she says. The new to the practice doctor is on call and I have yet to meet her in person. She tells me to head in and she would come in and check me. Regardless if I am in active labor they will keep me and break my water.  This was a huge worry for me. I am not sure why but I did not want to go and be sent home because I wasn’t in active labor. The contractions feel the same to me as they always have. I head to the bathroom after a contraction since all of the sudden I had to pee right then (not normal for me pregnant or not).  As I headed to the bathroom I felt a gush. I thought it was my water breaking, it was not but I had started bleeding.  My husband just got in the shower.  

 

To be continued ... (I hate doing this but it is just TOO long).

Updates Smupdates

Well with no computer and very little down time, this space has been neglected (AGAIN). I love being a mommy and my girls hold my attention when I am not at work. I hope to be better about making a few minutes each night to jot down notes and update posts so I can remember this time in our lives when our children are too busy to want to play with mommy and daddy in the evenings.

That birth story is coming...it's amazing and hysterical, really!

My littlest is 4.5 months already. Where does the time go? 4 monthly posts coming as well:)

My oldest amazes me on the daily. She really is the smartest toddler ever (said all children's parents)!

We currently have only one in daipers, my girl potty trained, easily in about 2 days. No diapers for her AT ALL. Not at nap time or bedtime. She really does amaze me. I just love her so.

Be on the look out for these posts. I promise they are coming. At this moment though I am off to pick up my kidlets and go swimming. Isn't that what summer is all about?

Me and my babies getting on the Ferris Wheel. We all LOVED it!