Hello, it's me......

Wow, where do I start? A lot has happened in a week!
I am overjoyed to report that Emily Katherine is home and happy and healthy. She is absolutely precious and resembles a small kitten or mouse. She is very sweet and doesn't fuss much, just when she is hungry or having her diaper changed.
My delivery was pretty uneventful... got to the hospital late of course and checked on in. Dr. K came by and checked me and said that the baby had moved up and he could not even feel my cervix to see if I was dilated any more or not. Started pitocin, started contracting, got my epidural. Checked and I was at a 5. Watched TV (E! of course) and napped a bit, felt some pressure. Called the nurse, I was at a 9. Got ready for delivery, Dr. K came back, pushed her out at 2:23 pm. This labor was a bit longer than my others because she was turned sideways. But it was pretty painless, which was most important.
And she was so big!!! Wow, 9 lbs. and 4.4 oz. I guess this is payback because I weighed 9lbs. 5 oz. at birth. She looks a lot like Caroline did as a newborn. I don't really see any William in her.
As soon as I was all stitched up, the medical staff cleared out and left us alone with her. And I immediately burst into tears of thankfulness that I have been blessed, yet again, with another beautiful and HEALTHY child. It was just all overwhelming. I will admit now that I was terrified during my entire pregnancy that something would happen and Emily would not make it into the world. I guess because I have heard some sad stories about moms losing babies at full term. This has happened to 2 people that I know in real life and it just really scared me.
When Dr. Traci came to examine Emily later that evening, she detected a heart murmur. She said not to panic because it was most likely something to do with some valve that often does not close until after the baby is born. I was not that worried because the same thing happened with my friend K's baby, but Jason was very worried. She said she was going to come back the next morning and listen to Emily's heart and see if the valve had closed. Well, when she came back it had not closed. Dr. Traci happens to be married to a pediatric cardiologist and she told him to come over and listen to Emily. Before he came, they did an EKG and said it looked normal but they had to let Dr. Traci's husband look at it. He came by later and said it was indeed normal and listened to her and said Dr. traci was right! It was just a valve that had not closed yet and all was well with Emily. Thank the Lord! Then he said although it was very nice to meet us all, he hoped he NEVER has to see us again. He is a really nice man. The next day, Dr. Patterson came by to discharge us and he listened and said he could not find the murmur at all and the valve was officially closed. What a relief!
Well, that is the birth story and pretty much sums up the hospital stay. I hear Emily snarfling around like she wants to eat so I will write more later.

One More Day

Today is the last day before our new family member arrives. I am very ready for her to come into the world. I can't even sleep anymore because I am so uncomfortable. I can't wait to check into the hospital, they treat you so good there!
I am happy to report that Kiki is on the mend. The children are going to spend the night at Uncle Neal and Ya Ya's house tonight. I do not have to drive myself to the hospital after all. Tonight we are going to go out for a family dinner and then drop C and W off. They are excited to sleep in sleeping bags. Uncle Neal took the day off work tomorrow and they are going to take W to his Easter program at school. Tomorrow is C's last day of school before Spring Break.
Speaking of school programs, last night was Caroline's school musical. It was pretty painful. We had to sit in the very last row and William was very tired and pretty much whined the whole time. He sobbed and said " I want my sister! Take me to my sister!" We had to get up and walk around for a while. My ankles were so swollen after that!
Well, I am spending the day doing last minute things around the house and getting it the way I want it when we get home. I also need to pack the kids bags. Have Happy Easter and I will post all about the big day as soon as I can!

Small Vent, Weekend Update

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope everyone is wearing green today. I am wearing a green shirt and so is William. Caroline had to wear her uniform to school but she wore a large green bow in her hair. I am not sure if Jason is wearing green because I was asleep when he left. I doubt it though.

Here is my small vent: I know it is not my mother's fault that she is sick but it sure as hell is crappy timing. I wish I had more helpful family members and 2 parents and in-laws like normal people do. Kiki was supposed to have the kids stay with her while I have the baby but she has been sick since Friday and today is Monday and she still sounds awful and is running fever. So now I have to drive myself to the hospital on Thursday morning. How depressing is that? I mean, I guess it is not that big of deal because it is not like I will be in active labor but still. I have to be there at 6:45 am. Jason is going to have to drop the kids off at my brother's house and then come meet me at the hospital. It will all be fine. Then I guess he will not be able to spend the night with me but since I am not having a c-section that shouldn't matter either. Poor Kiki is not going to get to meet her granddaughter for a while because I don't want her germs around my newborn. However, $100 says Kiki makes a recovery in time to go to the country club Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. That is my vent. I am a tough chick, I can handle it.
We had a very good weekend. I can't remember what we did on Friday night but Saturday we went and had breakfast and saw the Easter Bunny and then saw Horton Hears A Who. It was cute. I was a little sad to miss all the parade festivities but I could not handle a parade at 39 weeks pregnant. Saturday afternoon, Jason took the kids to play golf and eat dinner and I watched a lot of TV. Very nice and relaxing. On Sunday afternoon, Jason took William to see Sesame Street Live and Caroline and I went to the mall and bought some shoes. Then I fulfilled her lifelong dream and let her get a makeover from Club Libby Lu. She was ecstatic. We met up with the boys for an early dinner of Mexican food and then came home and hung out. Very nice.

He bugs me so much

I can't really express how much Michael McDonald bothers me. His voice, his beard, everything. I have such a strong dislike for him, it kind of concerns me.

She will be here on Thursday

I can't wait. I can't wait. I can't wait.

Mother and Son

Today Weebs and I have a full agenda. First, we are going to purchase some new shoes. For him, not me. My feet are too swollen for new shoes right now. It is really gross. Then we are going to purchase a carseat for our new baby. I guess I need to hurry up and do that if I plan on bringing Baby Emily home from the hospital with me. After we buy the carseat, we will go to W's class Easter party. Then we are going to come home and hang out for a while and it will be time to pick up Caroline from school. The kids both have dentist appts. this afternoon. They love going to the dentist. We will probably pick up something yummy for dinner because the dentist appt. is kind of late.
Tomorrow I have an appt. with Dr. K and we will probably discuss induction. Which will probably happen next week. And then Liz and I are going to try and eat gumbo for the last time until next year. I have a strong feeling I am going to end up seeing Horton Hears A Who this weekend.

Randomness

1. I am so ecstatic that 101 Dalmatians came out on DVD. I absolutely loved this movie as a child and am so glad I can share it with my kids. Caroline watched it last night and was telling me this morning how much she loved it and is planning on watching it again today after school.
2. My friend Ashley is having a baby today and I am so very happy for her. This is her fourth child, but her first biological child.
3. I love our new chair. Last night, I sat in it and read my new issue of Glamour that came in the mail and also watched the 3rd installment of one of my favorite reality shows: Ultimate Coyote Search. This season almost slipped under my nose and I would have been terribly sad if I had missed it.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz!

I always dislike it when the time changes. It takes me a while to adjust. The kids are tired too. I know Caroline has got to be exhausted after a full day at school and William walked in the door and took off to his room, saying "Bye, Mama. I am going to take a nap." as soon as he got home from school.
You know what I hate? When you buy a present for somebody and then you find something else that they would like better and it is too late. Today I bought a birthday present for Jason's nephew, Kevin, who is turning 8 on Thursday. I don't know a whole lot (really anything) about 8 year old boys so I just picked some random thing that looked kind of cool. And then after I already paid for it, I was walking around the store while the lady was gift wrapping it. I saw a track the weather kit that Kevin would probably really like (according to his dad, he is obsessed with the weather) but by then the other gift was already wrapped and it was too late! Oh well. We owe him a Christmas present so maybe I will just give it to him another time.
Um... um.... what else. I am stuck at 2 cm and probably going to have the baby next Wednesday or Thursday. And I am tired, tired, tired. Damn Time Change!

The Birds Are Building Nests

I think the image above is 80% disturbing and 20% cute.
I woke up this morning with an unusual spring in my step and cooked breakfast for the whole family. Part of the reason for this was due to the fact that I ate the last of the Life cereal last night for dinner and I knew Carolina would not have anything to eat this morning. So I got my buns out of bed and prepared eggs, bacon and biscuits for my fam. They all enjoyed it very much and I really need to do it more often.
Lately, Jason has been able to get up and have breakfast with the kids before heading off to work and he has also been coming home for lunch every day. Sometimes he brings me home a yummy treat and sometimes he does not. It is always nice to see him in the middle of the day, especially yesterday when I had a very important website to show him that could not possibly wait until after 5:30 pm. He will not be working in the main office forever, but I am really enjoying the time with him while it lasts. I like JDC a lot. He's good people.
This week has been kind of S ~L~O~W and there are, of course, no new babies yet. Tomorrow I go to my weekly appt. with Dr. K and we will probably set up my induction. I am actually very okay with not having the baby within the next two weeks because they are going to FLY by! There are Easter egg hunts and class parties and Junior League meetings and Children's Council meetings and school musicals and Easter pageants and dentist appointments and Gumbo lunches to attend. Lots and lots of things to keep me busy and it will just be easier if the baby can hold off a while. But we shall see what happens.
Tomorrow I am having lunch with E and K, my high school friends, and I am very excited about this. For now, I must go fold laundry and clean the kitchen. Adios!

Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down

I freaking hate Mondays. Grrr. They should be taken off the calendar.
Today I have to do one of my most hated things: clean the house. I HATE to clean the house. It is not even 9:30 am and I am, of course, already sweaty and surly. At least my throat infection is gone and I feel somewhat human again.
This week should be quite pleasant though. Not a whole lot to do, just getting my hair cut tomorrow and Friday I am supposed to eat lunch with E and K, my friends from high school. I also have a dr's appointment on Friday.
Speaking of the doctor, I went on Friday and I am now dilated 2 cm. Dr. K told me that if I have not birthed this child in the next 2 weeks, he will induce me at 39 weeks. So I am thinking maybe March 20? Aunt Liz devoutly hopes the baby will be born this Friday, which is her birthday. Jason seems to think the baby is going to come on Wednesday. He says he has a gut feeling. We will see if he is correct. In the meantime, I am trying to get organized in case she DOES come out of the blue. I did eat a lot of jalapenos at my nephew's christening party yesterday in hopes to induce labor. It did not work, obviously. I was a little scared that my water would break while up at the Baptismal font yesterday at church, but thankfully that did not happen either. Actually, next week is a very busy week for me so perhaps waiting until March 20th is a good idea after all.
We had a good weekend, overall, even though Jason slept a lot. He is still having a lot of sinus headache issues. On Friday night, we had a delightful dinner at the new Chimes and then came home. Caroline and I snuggled on the couch and watched Freaky Friday on TV, the remake with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. It really is pretty good although the original with Jodie Foster is my fave. Friday during the day was actually very fun because Liz and I ate Gumbo with Caroline at school. This made Caroline feel very important. I hope we are able to do it again before the Lenten season ends. I figure that between the 2 of us, Aunt Liz and I have 5 children so we will have many, many opportunities for Friday gumbo in years to come.
On Saturday, Caroline got her hair cut by a new and exciting stylist. You see, our old stylist Miss Rebecca, disappeared in to thin air (actually, Maryliz saw her at the nail salon recently and she is selling gym memberships now) so we had to try someone new. I am now going to Catharine D., who I must say is fan-freaking-tastic, but I needed someone new for C. We went to a new woman who lacked a personality but made up for it with her hairstyling skills because C's hair looks super cute! Then we went home and I had a mild breakdown because J was STILL ASLEEP. He got up and helped me get the kids ready to go eat our usual Saturday afternoon lunch with Kiki and Gigi and then later he took them (C and W, not Kiki and Gigi) to throw a frisbee, so he redeemed himself. Sunday was my nephew's Baptism and it was a lovely day. The children all hunted Easter eggs at the after party and this thrilled them to no end. Then we came home and did normal Sunday afternoon things, like laundry and math homework. Dazzling.
Well, I must stop procrastinating now and get to the housework. Yuck. Vomit.