School Days

The past 2 weeks have been an absolute whirlwind! 

We desperately tried to cram in the last few days of summer fun.  I reached my 37th week of pregnancy, and went into early labor that evening.  Our sweet boy arrived 2 days later, and we received some very unexpected news in the delivery room.  Once home, we were thrown into life with 4 kids.  There was no time to rest, because we had to get Dylan and Lexie ready for the school year.  We had daily visitors, one last summer party with our friends, and then it was time...

We sadly said goodbye to summer break, and got ready for the first day of school.  I am probably the only mom who didn't want her kids to go back.  I love having them home with me!

I was so worried about being in the hospital on Dylan and Lexie's first day of school.  I'm so thankful Liam cooperated, and came early!  I just had to be home for such a big day!

Surprisingly, the kids were up early on the first day.  I heard Lily and Lexie chatting in their room at 6 AM, even though we didn't get out of bed until 7.  Dylan and Lexie were cheerful and excited!

Lexie had to start out her day with some Liam snuggles.  She has become a little mommy to him!



Dylan was dressed and ready to go, complete with his new hoodie, within minutes.



Lily helped me prepare a special pancake breakfast while all this was going on!



The big kids crowded around the table to have their special first day of school breakfast.



The moment I had been dreading quickly arrived.  It was time to send off my big kids to first and third grade!







Each year, this day gets harder.  The kids are another year older and another year closer to being adults.  I know that's the point of raising kids, but it breaks my heart to let them go!  This year was even more difficult, thanks to the fact that Lexie was going to be gone all day and thanks to all the postpartum hormones coursing through my body!

 


The bus drove down the street toward us, and I just wanted to shoo the kids back inside.  Instead, I watched as they climbed those big steps and took their seats.  I clutched my newborn to my chest, held back a crying Lily who tried to get on the bus with her big brother and sister, and blinked back my tears as I waved goodbye to them. 

As the bus pulled away, I turned around and let the tears flow. 

Luckily, I had an adorable toddler to chase around and a precious baby to snuggle. 






By the end of the afternoon, my entire house was spotless and I was ready for my babies to come home!  My parents stopped by to greet them as they climbed off the bus.  I think they were more excited to see their baby brother!




We had a quick back-to-school photo shoot right after they got home.




Lily did not want to be left out of that one!  Not yet, baby girl!  Not yet!



The kids were happy to be home!  They were exhausted after their long day, but also very eager to fill us in on everything that happened.

I pray Dylan and Lexie have a great, happy, healthy, safe year!  My babies are growing up too fast!!!

Welcome to the world, sweet baby!!!

It's a BOY!!!

Liam Dayne
August 18, 2013
1:58 PM
7 lbs 11 oz
20 1/4 inches

We are so in love with this amazing little boy!!!



More to come...

FULL TERM! 37 Weeks with Baby #4

I've officially reached full term!  We are so excited to meet our sweet baby.  Consider this your eviction notice, little one!!!

How far along: 37 Weeks!

Due Date:  September 6, 2013

Total Weight Gained:  8 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight. 

How big is baby?  Our sweet pea weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. I still feel like the baby is bigger than that, even though I'm only measuring 35 weeks.

How baby is growing:  Baby #4 is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his/her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.  (from babycenter.) 

Labor Signs:  The baby's head is very low and he/she is in birthing position! Contractions are stronger, more frequent, and getting painful.  At my 36 week appointment on Tuesday, I was just over 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced.

Maternity Clothes: I'm still wearing my regular pants, but I now wear longer, non-maternity shirts.

Stretch Marks: I've never had any!

Sleep: I wake up every hour with a contraction and to pee, and I have pregnancy insomnia most nights.

Best Pregnancy Moment of the Week:  Hearing that I'm progressing more!  All these contractions are doing their job!

Movement: Baby #4 is slowing down.  He/She still moves throughout the day, but the movements are more like squirms and stretches now!

Food Cravings:  Watermelon and freezer pops. 

Food Aversions: Most foods/drinks.

Morning Sickness: Every single day. Obviously, I'm going to have it until the day I deliver, just as I did with my other three!

Gender: It's a surprise! We have never found out the gender of our babies!

Names: If it's a girl, she has a definite first name (it was actually our 2nd girl name for our 3 previous pregnancies), and I think we have a middle name.  It's the opposite for a boy.  The middle name will be Dayne, after Grant's dad's middle name (he passed away in October, before we got pregnant), but we don't have a first name.  We have a list, but we can't agree on the name, and nothing sounds perfect!

Symptoms:  ALL DAY morning sickness, strong and frequent braxton hicks contractions, back pain, pressure, cramping, anemia, peeing more frequently, insomnia, nesting,  and irritability.

Exercise:  Treadmill workouts 4 days this week and 1 walk outside. 

What I miss: Being nausea-free!

What I'm looking forward to: My appointment next week.  The OB said "IF you make it..."

37 Week Picture:

August...So Far

I can't believe that July is over, and that we're already 2 weeks into August!  Time is flying!  

I am sad that the big kids go back to school in less than 2 weeks.  I'm really going to miss them, and I'm super emotional about Lexie going to school all day, just like Dylan.  

But...we're also officially on baby watch!  It really could be any day now.  I will be 37 weeks on Friday, but they would deliver if I went into labor now.  I'm already 2 cm and 50% effaced!  My contractions are definitely getting stronger and more frequent. While this could occur for another 3 weeks, I am really hoping to have the baby in a week or two.  

We're getting excited!!!


WEEK 31

July 30th

Quiet morning at home.  I cleaned while the kids played with Aubrey. My dad watched the kids during my weekly OB appointment.  Stopped at Babies R Us to buy our infant car seat, Rock and Play, and coming home outfits! Once home, I got a few things done while Lily took a nap. The girls had a sleepover in Dylan's room again, so I could finish up the trim in their room after Grant went to bed. 





July 31st

Just a typical day.  We went to Jocie's house for a playdate.  The kids had a great time, and did not want to leave!

 
 
 

August 1st

The day started off rough, because I was having a difficult morning sickness/headache day, and we ended up missing a playdate.  That afternoon, I started to feel better, so we kept our evening plans.  I'm glad we did.  We went to Tracy's house for a picnic with friends.  The weather was gorgeous and we all had a great time!

 
 
 

August 2nd

I spent the day preparing for Lily's 2nd Birthday!  We visited my parents, then my mom and I did some shopping.  After dinner, we dropped Aubrey off at home, then dropped Lily and Dylan off at our house.  Lexie and I ran to Toys R Us to buy Lily her big birthday present-a playhouse! I tucked my sweet girl into bed, then spent the evening setting up for her birthday!







August 3rd

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lily!!!  We spent the day celebrating our baby girl, and went to my family reunion.  The big kids had sleepovers at different places, so Grant and I got to spend time with just Lily that evening.  Lily had a great day!






August 4th

My dad dropped Lexie off after her sleepover.  I ran out to the store, then picked Dylan up from his sleepover.  We spent the afternoon at our friend Lily's 3rd Birthday party.  Afterward, Grant's mom came over to visit and have dinner with us.


 


August 5th

We spent the day at home.  The kids had a great time playing outside!  That evening, I took my friend, Amber, out to dinner.  We had a great time, and afterward, we did some shopping at Old Navy.  It was a great night with my sweet, amazing friend.




WEEK 32

August 6th 

A typical Tuesday.  I watched Aubrey, had a weekly OB appointment, picked up some paint, nested like crazy, let the kids have a sleepover in Dylan's room, and painted 2 walls in the girls' room after everybody went to bed.


 
 

August 7th

Spent the day at home.  Jocie and her boys came over for a playdate that afternoon, so we still managed to have some fun! That evening, I finished up painting the girls' room!




 

August 8th

We had a playdate at a nearby park with a group of friends, then went shopping for Lily's birthday party food and supplies.  That evening, I ended up with regular contractions, but they stopped after a few hours. 

 
 



August 9th 

We spent the day visiting my parents, and had dinner with them.  My sister, Jen, stopped by with some of my nieces and nephews for a visit, and Dylan ended up going home with them for a sleepover.  Aubrey came home with us and had a sleepover at our house. 

 
 
 

August 10th 

Lily's birthday party day!!! Everything turned out great!!!




August 11th

After such a busy week and party day, we decided to spend the day at home!  It was a great idea!!!


 


August 12th 

We spent the morning/afternoon at home.  I didn't have to watch Aubrey, so it was pretty quiet.  I promised the kids we would try to do something fun and summery every day for the remainder of their summer vacation.  Hard to believe school starts in TWO weeks!  That evening, after an early dinner, I took the kids shopping.  They got to pick out backpacks, lunch boxes, some clothes, and school supplies.  We ended the night with a trip to Dairy Queen.  We sat on the patio, enjoying the ice cream and the gorgeous evening!