Elizabeth Joy

After what seemed like the longest pregnancy ever, Elizabeth finally arrived on Friday, October 21. She made a quick entrance in to this world, only 5 hours after being induced. While driving home from working a full day and being completely relieved that I'd made it through two big meetings that week, I realized I hadn't really felt the baby move all day. I decided to call my doctor's office and let them know. They obviously needed something to do there so I was told to come down to be monitored, so Eric and I dropped the kids off with my parents and headed over. After a rough start, Elizabeth's heart rate finally started acting like it was supposed to but I agreed to an ultrasound just to be sure. Mostly because we didn't realize my amniotic fluid was so low with Josh at 38 weeks until we did an ultrasound. Turned out my fluid was on the low side again (not as low as with Josh) and with the decreased fetal movement, the doctor in the office recommended induction. He consulted with my doctor and soon we were headed to Mercy Gilbert for the dreaded induction.

I was bound and determined to make this a better experience than I had with Josh and was happy I had learned a few things last time. First, don't eat anything before receiving the medication. Second, be very adamant that I didn't want to be offered an epidural (it's very easy to be talked in to one when you're in a ton of pain). Third and once again, don't eat anything!

I am happy to say that this experience was much better and I no longer fear being induced like I did before. I was given the medication at 6 pm and by 10 pm I was starting to have some stronger contractions. My doctor checked me at 10 pm and I was only dilated half a centimeter more than I was at 6 pm. He did reassure me that the medicine did what it was supposed to do and that I was ready for contractions to start. He decided to hold off on breaking my water or giving me pitocin, which I didn't quite understand but whatever, I'm not the doctor. He obviously knows me pretty well after having delivered my other 2 kids because by 10:30 I was asking Eric to call the nurse because I'd either peed all over myself or my water had broken. Thankfully it was my water, I was a little mortified that I had peed myself. :o) After that, it was all down hill. The contractions were relentless for the next 30 minutes and never let up. By 11:01, it was all over and Elizabeth was here. She was amazing and I was so glad that all those weeks of pregnancy had come to an end with another beautiful baby girl!

Still waiting

Still waiting for the baby to make her grand entrance in to this world. I am 3 days away from 40 weeks and definitely ready for her to come. I'm trying not to complain too much and just be grateful that I was able to carry another child full term but as the days go by, my restraint on my whiny self lessens.

I think the hardest part right now, is working. Today I couldn't even make it a full day. I hate coming home and wasting my sick time when she isn't here yet, it just means less time together once she does come. But, I know that pushing myself to stay at work and feeling yucky all day isn't good for me, the baby, or my students. Say a prayer that this munckin comes soon or her momma might go postal.

I'm not the only one anticipating the baby's arrival. Emma is very anxious to meet her little sister and prays every night that she would come very soon so that mommy can sleep again. So sweet, little does she know, my sleepless nights won't end even when I get my body back! Josh is excited for the baby in his own way too. He likes to say hi and bye to my belly and in the last week, gave up the crib for his baby sister. Last night was the first night he was a terror but I'm praying it was just a random event and not related to being in the bed instead of the crib.

Eric is also ready for the baby to come. I think what he really wants is more than a tiny corner of the bed back. Poor guy, I toss and turn so much anymore that I doubt he's sleeping that great either. Today was the day that he picked for her arrival and he's very ready to have some time off of work to spend with the kids and I.

So here we are, waiting. Hopefully, it's not too much longer and our adventures as a family of 5 (good grief, 5) can begin!

Say cheese

A few weeks ago, Eric took some pictures of me and the kids. I had some great ideas in mind but didn't realize what unwilling subjects a 5 year old and a 2 and a half year old could be. Here are a few of our favorites.

The Big 5

Soon we will be celebrating Emma's 5th birthday! Where in the world have the past five years gone? I still cannot believe the first baby we brought home from the hospital who terrified me so much (at the time, not much anymore) is almost 5! In order to properly celebrate Emma's big 5, we promised her a party with all of her friends. We decided after her 2nd birthday party that in our house, birthdays were going to be a family event except at big milestones. In my mind, 5 is a big deal and Emma is all geared up for her big day.

I have been thinking and planning for about a week now, I have so many ideas in my head but then I snap back to reality and remember my due date is 2 weeks after Emma's birthday. Not wanting Emma to be shoved aside because of the baby, I have included her in the decision making. She loves to be in charge (just like her mom) and so far we know we are having a pirate themed party with a bounce house. Now, I just need to iron out the rest of the details and hope bambino numero 3 decides to cooperate and we should be good to go!

Triage

On Tuesday afternoon I started having some contractions at work. I asked a coworker who has 3 of her own if she ever had Braxton Hicks because I never did with Emma or Josh. I assumed that's what was happening but by dinner time I was having a contraction every five minutes or so. By 7pm, I had tried laying down, drinking plenty of water, and elevating my feet. At 8pm I decided to call my doc and get his take on things. He prompted me to head to the hospital, assuring me that it was probably no big deal but rather be safe then sorry.

Eric and I arrived at the hospital around 9, got checked in and taken up to triage in a wheelchair (completely unnecessary but I guess it's hospital policy). They monitored the baby for 2 hours and ran a few tests to make sure I wasn't in early labor. All the tests came back great and the nurse said the baby looked great too. Thank goodness!

The trip was not a bust in the end though because Eric and I got some really great laughs listening to the other couples around us. Being on number 3, we are professionals at labor and delivery (obviously in our minds) and it was amusing to hear the reactions of first time parents while in triage. Hopefully karma will not come back to bite us in the butt and I can only hope someone 5 years ago found us comical when we were having Emma. :o)

House of Mouse

During our California trip, we'd planned to take the kids to Knott's Berry Farm but at the last minute switched our plans and decided to go to Disneyland. My grandparents live about 10 minutes from the park so we packed up some food and snacks and headed to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The park was relatively uncrowded for a summer day and the kids were really excited by all there was to see. Eric and I decided to fore-go the pictures at the Mickey Mouse designed out of flowers so that we could head straight to rides. Our first stop was Buzz Lightyear, our favorite ride. We also knew the kids would love it since they are on such a Toy Story kick right now. After that, we stayed in Tomorrowland for a bit and then wandered to Fantasyland. In Fantasy Land, I began to feel pretty warm and dizzy and needed to sit down for awhile. The temperature was only 85 degrees but the humidity was high and I swear air really does not move through that park.

We sat down for lunch at the Village Haus Restaurant and after some food and air conditioning, I felt much better. Frontierland was next on our journey and while Eric and Emma went on Big Thunder Railroad, Josh and I went looking for some Mickey shaped lollipops. Lollipops acquired, we rode Pirates of the Caribbean which both kids were absolutely scared of while on but claimed it was their favorite ride once we were off. Fantasyland and Kind Arthur's Carousel were calling the kids names and after riding again for the fourth time, Eric and I decided it was time to head out. Both kids were exhausted and I was getting really dizzy again. Emma was upset to go but we promised her if she took a good nap, we would put Josh to bed early and come back to the park with her. She agreed quickly and took over a 2 hour nap so we put Josh down for bed at 6 (poor boy was so tired, only taking an hour nap in the stroller at the park and put up no fight going to bed so early).
The weather was gorgeous once we got back to the park and it was still relatively uncrowded. We had a great time spending the evening with Emma, she was so excited to see the fireworks and we ended the night getting ice cream at Gibson Girl. Back in the car, Emma immediatley passed out but not before asking us when we could go again. I told Eric that I would be ready in another 5 years, I love Disneyland am glad the kids had such a great day but I've gotten my fix and 5 years sounds good to me.

Easy come, easy go

About a month ago we transitioned Josh in to Emma's old toddler bed since the new bunk bed had arrived. He did fantastic the first few nights and then everything went downhill from there. First the 5:30 wake up calls started, then the up multiple times a night happened. I figured he was just adjusting and that in time, he would get himself situated. Not so much! Things got so bad I had to block his door with a gate (which I did with Emma but she got the idea after 3 days). Once his three hour naps went down to an hour and I had an actual crying meltdown from lack of sleep, we decided Josh (and the rest of the family) is not ready for the big boy bed yet.

So at this moment, I have no idea what we are doing when the baby comes. Most people say it's no big deal because the baby will sleep in our room for the first few months anyway. Again, not so much. Emma lasted in our room 5 days and went packing, Josh was 2 days. We are not even attempting this one, I just can't sleep with a baby in the same room! Honestly, I am debating on pulling a bed in our room for Emma. Good grief, I should have listened to Eric 5 years ago when we bought this house and made sure we had 4 bedrooms. So much for my they can share rooms mentality, guess we'll see what happens.