Teach me Joy Give-away

These curriculums look great! I hope I can win one in the give-away. Check it out for yourself...there is something for preschoolers, young elementary, and a handwriting program.

Teach Me Joy Give-away

Baby #4, the delivery.

Well, baby # 4 is here. I haven't gotten around to blogging about it quite yet. Because of the personal information on our baby announcement that I created, I am not going to post it here, but if I know you and you want to see it, I can email you one. Just let me know what email address to send it to. If you are my friend on Facebook, you can see it there too.

The short of the story is that our dear little one decided to show up quite late, making it into the year 2011 and missing her Christmas due date. But that's ok. God had a different timing for her.

I feel like the whole week after Christmas I was in early stage labor, but just wasn't having the real consistent, painful contractions that would send me to the hospital. But at about 1 am, on January 3rd, a deep contraction woke me up in the night and I knew it was a "real" one. I let a couple more happen (at about 7 min apart) before I decided to get up and go ahead and shower and get some things ready to go. Being the 4th child, I knew that things could move quickly, so I didn't want to dawdle too much at home. By the time I was done with the shower, I was convinced I needed to go the hospital pretty soon. I woke Jim and told him, "This is it!" and had him call my sister to come stay with our other sleeping beauties.

Contractions were not ALL that close together (between 5-10 minutes), but they were to the point where I had to sit and breathe through them. We got to the hospital at about 3:45 am and staff immediately began getting me all checked in and all their computer/paperwork stuff done to get me an IV and what not. When the nurse checked me at about 4:30, I was 4 cm and 90% effaced. The contractions were pretty painful by this point and I told her that I would most likely be getting an epidural around 6 cm. The anesthesiologist just happened to be next door and she said that we should go ahead and grab him because I could dilate quicker than I think. Boy was she right! After the epidural I went to 7 cm in about 1 hour. The nurses were hoping that I would slow a little bit so that my doctor could get there. So they were not going to break my water or do anything to speed the process up. Jim, who was feeling the lack of sleep at this point, asked if he could go get some coffee. I thought that would be fine because Starbucks was not far away and what could happen in 20 minutes, right? Well, apparently a lot. After he had been gone about 15 minutes, I felt my water break and felt tons of pressure and the need to push. The nurse rushed in to check me, announcing that I was 10 cm and 100% effaced and the head was right there! YIKES! I immediately called Jim to see where he was. He said he was like 4 minutes away. "Hurry up!" I said.

A fury of excitement then ensued as the staff started getting the room ready for delivery and all kinds of apparatus and instruments began flooding in (at St. Lukes labor, deliver, and recovery are all in the same room--it's pretty cool!). Jim showed up in the midst of this, throwing off his coat and getting the cameras ready. My doctor was still not there, so I was slow breathing to make sure I didn't start pushing inadvertently.

A couple minutes later, the doc finally showed up and was kind of chit chatting, seemingly waiting for the nurses to finish set up. Then one nurse was like, "Uh, we are ready here! She wants to push." The doc was kind of like, "Oh! Really?!! Wow, get me in my scrubs!" The first contraction after that I started pushing and after one and half pushes, the head was out. Doc told me to stop pushing for a sec while they suctioned and slowed the baby's entry. Then on the next push, the rest of our girl entered the world with loud crying, at 5:55 am. She weighed 10 pounds, 6 ounces and looked wonderful with her mop of hair on her head.

The doc and nurses always laugh at how big our babies are and how easy the delivery is for me. When Jim and I were engaged, a woman came up to me and told me I had good birthing hips...little did she know how right she was. I didn't have any tearing or episiotomy either! That has been so nice because I have needed to bounce back physically a lot sooner this time around with all the responsibility I have in life.

So that's the story. Fairly uneventful until a few hours after birth when I had a bleeding/clotting episode and almost passed out. Apparently when you have huge babies and your uterus is as stretched out as mine got, you are more prone to bleeds and clots and need to have the uterus regular massaged back down for hours after birth to prevent issues. My recovery nurse was not as experienced in these matters and didn't do it enough so it was a slight scary moment. But all was well by that evening and I'm fine. I just have to take extra iron supplements to build my blood stores for a few weeks.

Now the baby and I are getting to know each other and I'm running on very little sleep. Pray for us to get adjusted quickly! Again, if you want a birth announcement, let me know. There are several pictures on there.

-J

Week 38

So cold!!!

Week 36

Week 34

I almost forgot to put this one up this week.

Pictures taken by K on my Iphone because I had sent the camera with Jim over the weekend since he was deer hunting. He got two deer by the way...a buck on Saturday and a doe on Sunday. Woo hoo!

Week 33

Week 32

Week 24

click photo to be able to read text.

Walk to 40 Weeks

I know it has been FOREVER since I have blogged. I suppose the burning passion to write has dimmed quite a bit and with how full life is, sometimes I just can't justify spending any time blogging. I kind of have to choose between that and other hobbies or relaxation time.

Speaking of hobbies, you all know I digital scrapbook, and when I came across this idea off a friend's blog of a way to document a pregnancy, I thought I would really like it. It's called the Walk to 40 Weeks, with the main focus to take a front and side picture of the growing belly and to write the little nugget a note every week. I have added a few "scrapbooking elements" to my final compositions. I didn't start until after week 20 because prior to that, there's not really much belly to document. :)

Here are the first three weeks of pics I took. I wish I had a nice camera or a talented photographer, or both perhaps, that could capture us every week, but alas, the little Cybershot point-and-shoot will have to suffice. Thank God for photoshop.

What's that? You're expecting?

As I sit here finishing my late night taco bell, I just had to post about our big news. I figured since Jim announced it this weekend at church, most people know now, but even if you didn't, you'd probably know soon by looking at me because the weight gain has begun. Thanks in part, I'm sure, to more than a few late night Taco Bell runs....and Hostess Cherry Pies....and cheesy rotel dip....and donuts....

So anyway, baby # 4 is on the way, expected to make their arrival on none other than Christmas Day. Can you believe that? My kids are something with these due dates, I tell you! M was born on her due date (June 25th), and J was due and born on 9/11. E, of course, had to make her own special entrance into the world 12 days late, but now this 4th one is seriously Dec. 25. I hope they don't hate us too much for forever ruining their birthday (I hear from December birthday people that it's the worst). Oh well, they will be loved and cared for and that's all that matters. We always find ways to make our kiddos feel special.

So yeah, that's our news. I'm officially 9 weeks, 1 day, along today (I think). I really didn't even feel any symptoms for the first 6 weeks, and then have had some nausea since then (but usually only from 3-9 pm). I've also been taking regular afternoon naps to keep up my energy. It truly is amazing how the woman's body starts to change pretty much immediately after conception. You haven't even gained a pound yet, but somehow your shape changes and you feel fat. I still had about 10 pounds that I wanted to lose after having J that I will have to contend with after this pregnancy. Hopefully, I will keep the promise I made to myself to really get in shape after this one...I will need to be in peak performance to keep up with this brood of mine!

In other news, I can not WAIT for the kids' school to be done with and to have some fun family time this summer. I'm ready for blueberries, and summer nights, fireworks, late night ice cream, dips in the pool, etc. We have some weekend events planned with the kids, and a stay-cation, and Jim and I will get away for almost a week in July (before I get too enormous) and have a summer respite together. Bring on the lemonade!

Now all I need is a white painted porch and a lazy-day swing!

Free Giveaway

My sis-in-law is doing an Arbonne give-away on her blog. If you leave a comment on her blog, tweet or facebook about it, or write about it your blog you get entered into the drawing. So stop by and check it out! It's an awesome collection of stuff! We need a minimum of 20 comments for the give-away to happen. GO NOW!

http://lauradstern.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-arbonne-giveaway-ever.html

2 days and counting...

On Friday my family leaves for our annual Florida trip with Jim's side of the fam. We'll be down there for a week. And then, about 30 hours after I get back from Florida, I turn around and leave for my Haiti trip. Things have been NUTS this week, but I just wanted to update real quick before I leave. I'll be posting pics for sure when I get back from these destinations, and possibly while I'm gone if I find wi-fi.

Check out this sweet little gadget that I ordered the other day. I can' wait to try to out...it seems so much more user friendly than a bulky video camera. It will be great for Haiti too.

Also, if you haven't donated towards relief aid in Haiti, there is still one week left to give via my church so I can personally deliver the money to orphanages. Give HERE, and put "Haiti trip" in the description. Thanks!!

Why the hours just melt away in a mom's day...

6:45 am - Awaken to light from bathroom window in my eyes because the door was not shut. Hear hubby readying to leave the house. Roll over to try and catch a few more zzzz's before the babe is up.

7:00 am - Finally fall back asleep

7:05 am - Phone buzzes with a text from someone asking about my Haiti trip. Think to self: Remember to answer that later. Continue trying to sleep knowing that I'm probably going to be late this morning.

7:14 am - Bladder and baby crying at the same time. Which call to answer first? Bladder wins.

7:18 am - Answer text because I know I'll forget later. Answer another one that came in the night before but that I didn't receive because the previous night I forgot to charge my phone and it was dead all day yesterday.

7:19 am - Retrieve baby girl from crib. Morning cuddles are THE BEST! And I love to see that face in the morning...even with a nasty yellow-green bruise and knot still in the middle of her forehead from a mid-week, mommy-heart-stopping accident. Thank Jesus that she's okay and continue hugging. Realize diaper stinks. Lay her down for a change. Try to shush her crying so as to let big sisters sleep a little more after previous late night meeting at our house.

7:24 am - Bring baby downstairs for breakfast. Strap her into chair and give a half banana and some cereal to tide her over until I can scrounge up some clothes for big sister #2 out of the clean clothes that are still sitting in the basket since doing laundry last week.

7:30 am - Grab a bottle of water for myself from garage. Grab child #2's backpack out of the car to empty it before today's school day.

7:32 am - Glance at the clock to notice I have 30 minutes to get everyone ready and out of the house for school. Set down water bottle. Run upstairs to dress child #2. Quietly get eye-rubbing, yawning child #2 out of bed whilst trying not to wake child #1. Try to ignore pangs of guilt reminding me that it was stupid to have them up so late the night before. Get child #2 half undressed when she has to go potty. Gently try waking child #1 in the meantime and realize that Ms. Grumpy has paid a visit. Commence operation Keep Daughter Smiling and Positive.

7:45 am - Both older children are dressed and heading downstairs. I take quick minute to throw jeans, sweater, and HAT on, vowing to shower later.

7:48 am - Arrive back downstairs to find the girls having donettes donuts. At this point, I don't care. I take 2 and give them to the baby. Realizing none of them have anything to drink, I get cups out and fill with water.

7:50 am - Tell child #1 to practice piano one last time before her after-school lesson. While she practices, I brush her hair.

7:55 am - Strongly encourage baby to stay out of trash.

8:00 am - Go on the hunt for matching socks for all three girls. This laundry thing is getting out of control.

8:05 am - Child #1 begins to pack backpack. I realize child #2 did not color a picture of her and the class stuffed animal pet Rufus as directed in the take-home folder from Friday that I'm just now emptying. Break out the paper and crayons!

8:15 am - Why is putting shoes on always such an ordeal?

8:25 am - Pack up child #1's lunch. Get snack together for child #2. Do child #2's hair.

8:30 am - Yeah. We're not making the 8:30 Pre-K start time.

8:33 am - Begin telling kids to hurry and get coats on. Start trying to find car keys.

8:37 am - Scoot baby out of the bathroom....not a good place to play.

8:40 am - Scoot kids out to the car. Let's go! Clap, clap, clap. Return to get baby only to see she doesn't have sock, shoes, or coat on. Remedy the problem.

8:45 am - Locate keys, strap baby in the car.

8:46 am - Realize my driver's license is in the pocket of my coat that I didn't put on. Back inside to find it. Grab water bottle that has yet to be opened.

8:50 am - Realize my driver's license is in the car where I left it the day before. LOL!

8:51 am - Pulling out of garage, come to terms with the fact that child #1 is not making her 9 am start time. Oh well, there are worse things in life.

8:53 am - Notice that autopilot brain has directed the vehicle towards Grandmas house, not Pre-K school. 2 minute detour.

9:00 am - Drop off Pre-K child.

9:04 am - Back on the road to child #1's school 20 minutes away.

9:25 am - Drop off child # 1. Get registration forms for next school year from the front desk and begin filling out. At regular intervals, stop to corral baby from entering classrooms or destroying copy machine.

9:35 am - Receive important phone call on cell phone during which constipated baby shows signs of needing to go and begins screaming. Hang up phone and rush to bathroom to avoid making a scene.

9:40 am - It was a no-go. Maybe later.

9:50 am - Turn in forms and payment and leave school.

10:05 am - Pop into Smoothie King to get some breakfast. Baby loves them too!

10:15 am -Back in the car, headed to Sam's Club to pick up a few grocery items and diapers.

10:25 am - Clean up smoothie spill in baby's carseat. Gotta love strawberry, pineapple, and papaya in every nook and cranny of the buckle. Visit to Sam's goes fairly well.

10:59 am - Head into Walmart to return something. Need to grab a few things for my Haiti trip. Stock up on travel size hand sanitizer, amongst other things.

11:10 am - Remember that I need max strength bug spray for the trip and attempt to make my way to the OPPOSITE side of Super Walmart where the camping gear is. Pick up off the floor the mini hand sanitizers that baby is dropping along the way. At least I'm getting a workout in today.

11:15 am - After perusing the camping aisle and now imagining all sorts of scenarios in Haiti in which I will most certainly need one of everything in that aisle, Baby's face turns red and eyes start watering. The scream is coming. Dropping the multi-purpose all-in-one knife/water purifier/whistle/poncho (wouldn't that be cool?!!), we head straight to the bathroom again for attempt #2 at #2. And where is the bathroom? You guessed it--on the other side of the store.

11: 30 am - One measly excrement later, I decide to head to the checkout. Child #2 needs to be picked up at Noon.

11:32 am - WAIT! I forgot, I need rubber boots for my trip. It will be rainy season. Why are all the rubber boots here so hard to get on?

11:45 am - Ok, I really need to check out now. Head for the shortest line.

11:55 am - Should have known the shortest line wouldn't necessarily be the fastest. I love you, dear older woman with lots of coupons who needs a price check and who's form of payment is check.

12:00 am - Finally swiping my card. I should only be like 7 minutes late to pick up child #2

12:08 am - Pick up is done. Now home to make lunch. Is it nap time yet??????


I LOVE MONDAYS!

One of the reasons I disappeared in December...

I thought I would post a slideshow of a digital wedding scrapbook album that I created for my bro & sis-in-law, WIll & Laura, as a Christmas present this past year (their wedding was in Nov of 08, just two months after J was born, and our whole fam was in it). This book took up a lot of my spare time (which was already at a premium) in December. They hadn't even printed any photos from the wedding, much less put together an album archiving the story, so this gift was very special. I had them all printed and slid them into a nice linen-covered album. You can click on the slideshow to go to my Photobucket and see the individual pics a little bigger if you want. I am trying to add a song to my blog so that music plays while you watch it, so be sure to have your volume up in case I figure that out. :)



The pages are 12x12, so if the text looks too small to read on here, it's not in person when you see it. I kept things in their color scheme...brown, green, gold, and of course, black and white. Their photos were taken by the infamous Tom Warwick (color), assisted by Dave Boesch (B&W). So good!

If you are a scrapper and want the credits for the scrapbook materials I used, message me and I can get them to you. Since this album is over 45 pages long, that was too much info to put in this post.