Happy Birthday, Kaya Jeanne!

At 8:04 this morning, Kaya arrived with a few cries following a text-book C-section (I love spinal taps).  She was smaller than I ever imagined at 9lbs, 5oz, but long at 21 1/4".  She was named after each grandmother - Kaya for Tom's mom, and Jeanne for my mom. 

 Scheduled C-sections rock.  Turns out I was in so much pain with the other two births that I never even got a glimpse of the inside of the OR.  This time round was literally painless and my pain postpartum is better than it was with either boy. 

The best part of the day after Kaya's arrival was the arrival of the other Kaya with my boys!  Patrick and Tommy both held their new sister (Tommy even surprised us by wanting to hold her) and shared lots of kisses.  Baby Kaya's first visitor  of the day was my dad, and my mom, Mr. Richard,  sister, and nephews all arrived shortly after P and T departed.

 This photo was pre-bath, so her hair was a bit dirty (and sticky), but she appears to have my dark hair and Tom and his mother's blue eyes.  I think she is just perfect.

And my husband?  A trooper by my side who got stuck changing the first sticky poop again.  Having him here with me in the hospital makes this day perfect.   Meanwhile, the grandmother's are covering home base.  We are working on getting a photo of Kaya with her eyes open, and I will post more soon.

Thank you, God, for the safe delivery of this sweet girl.

3 Hours

I can hardly believe that in just 3 hours we will finally be holding this little girl.  It is 4:30 and we depart for the hospital in 30 minutes.  Last night was like the night before Christmas - I barely slept. 

Adorable blog posts in the very near future...

38 Week Check-up

This morning I had my last doctor's appointment.  I would be more excited had I not weighed in at 196!  My belly measured 41", blood pressure was great, and the first very smallest hint of swelling is noticeable in my legs/feet.  I am only 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced, but we all know that those numbers mean nothing- I could go into labor tonight.  I would love to go into labor tonight.  Tom rolled in about midnight last night and his travel should be complete until after baby's arrival. 

God graced us with a beautiful, 70 degree summer day, so we met a friend at the park for a playdate and the boys tired themselves out.  The spring-like weather did this pregnant lady wonders.  It was great. Now am heading off for a little nap. 

I am scheduled for C-section first thing Monday morning, so by Monday afternoon I will have Tom post information to my facebook account, as well as his. 

Nursery and 38 Weeks

Hello, 38 weeks! Just one week until baby arrives.  I was doing everything possible to convince her to make an earlier appearance, but Tom left today for more business travel across the country, so I'm back to being fine with waiting.  My sister, a nurse, is my OR stand-in should Tom not make it back for some reason, so I am covered. 

Meanwhile, the nursery is done!  The yellow rocker goes back to Patrick, but worked out so the whole room wasn't all pink.  The cushion for the built-in bookcase is at the seamstress, but she is about a month behind so I won't be seeing it for a while.  I have a coordinating pillow/sham for the rocker, but it has baby's monogram embroidered, so for now that is stowed away.  The changing table was a hand-me-down, and the crib we used for both boys.

The rug and butterflies on the wall are my only coordinating "theme" items - I didn't want to wind up with a whole room of butterfly items.

A cheap Target dresser ended up fitting perfectly in the closet and takes care of my storage issue. 

And these two dolls are my first gift for this baby girl. 

I have a lot of days where I don't feel all that great.  This baby is putting incredible pressure on me to the point of being painful. I never had that with P or T, and it makes outings hard.  We are mainly sticking close to home.  I do have my last hair appointment tomorrow, and my 38 week check-up Wednesday.  New batteries are in the bouncy seat.  Pacifiers are sterilized (new pink ones, of course).

 

Just waiting now.

Whoa, Baby!

Today was my 37 week check-up.  Besides my awesome blood pressure, the doctor is shocked by my lack of swelling considering how big we are speculating this little girl will be (My guess is 10lbs, 8oz).  I weighed in at 191.5.  Okay, it was probably closer to 192. 

After my appointment, I shuffled over to the grocery store to load up while my mother-in-law had the boys.  I parked, went in, filled an entire cart, and returned to my car.  There was a different car parked on the driver's side. 

I couldn't get in. 

I tried to squeeze my big belly every which way, but I just could not navigate the opening.  So I went in the passenger side and climbed over to the driver's side, very un-graceful like. 

I had to laugh. 

We are doing fairly well despite Tom's absence (miss you!) and the heat. 

Best part of my day though was hearing Tommy say prayers in his room while I was helping P in the next room.  "God Bless Mommy, Daddy, Patrick, Tommy and Baby Sister. Amen".  So cute in his little voice and even better that he did it unsolicited. 

Less than two weeks. Less than two weeks.  Less than two weeks...

Sunday

Two weeks until baby arrives, and I wouldn't be disappointed if it happened sooner (like today).  Looking forward to the 90 degree week ahead of me (insert sarcasm here).   The poison ivy is mostly gone thanks to a round of oral steroids, but I still have some itchy patches that like to flare up in the middle of the night.  My ankles are still surprisingly present which I am overly grateful to have, but I am tired all the time. 

Tom returned home from a trip to Detroit Friday evening, so Saturday was family day.  We headed to the pool with the boys and had lunch poolside.

Patrick has made huge improvements in the water, but still refuses to put his face anywhere near the water.  I am not pushing him too much since I was the same way as a child and eventually outgrew it. 

Tom will continue to travel until baby arrives, but I have lots of help to make it through. 

Bats in the Belfry

Oh, how I wish I were referring to boogers. 

Turns out, our house has been a bat hotel for many years, and they like what we have done with the place.  Luckily they are in the attic and have not made an appearance in the house, but I can hear them overhead heading out for the night as I type this. 

I actually don't have anything against the little guys- anyone that eats bugs is okay in my book-, but they are pooping in my attic, so they will have to go.  Lucky for us, this is the time they raise their young, and our pest guy cannot do anything until August 15th when they will politely be allowed to exit the attic, but then will not be able to gain re-entry.  This way they aren't being trapped or killed.  Just evicted.

4:15 AM

Up again, in tears because I can't sleep due to all the itching.  I applied the steroid ointment twice yesterday, and don't seem to see a real difference.  Back to the doctor today I hope to see about getting an oral dose.  I can't maintain this level of misery.  I will personally see every poison ivy plant in my yard destroyed next summer. 

Not Good

"Not good" is what Tommy says when he is doing something naughty or he sees something bad.  My poison ivy has surpassed the "Not good" stage.  At day 7, it continues to spread.  It is now on my back, my other leg, my hand, the palm of my hand, my belly, and worse in the areas it was already established.  I broke down and applied the first round of steroid cream I was prescribed.  I am extra cranky with the 24-7 itching.  At least I got two hours of relief in the pool yesterday. 

Tom is at the office on this Sunday afternoon and the boys are playing together in the next room.  Naps are approaching.  Hooray for a steady rain that seems to be making everyone a little drowsy. 

Tom and I had a stay-in date night yesterday.  We put the kids to bed them rented Oz, the Great and Powerful on Direct TV.  We watched it from bed on our new TV that Tom mounted yesterday afternoon in our bedroom.  I forgot what a luxury it is to have a TV in the bedroom.  It hadn't got great reviews, but we both enjoyed what we saw- we had to stop it with 30 minutes left because neither of us could keep our eyes open.  I think it was 10:30 :)

Week 36 doctor's appointment is Tuesday morning.  I will be weekly after that.  My hospital bag is mostly packed. 
I have borrowed a friend's cleaning service for the month of August since I won't be very mobile, and the nursery is done pending the bench seat cushion that still needs sewn (not by me!).  The kitchen floor was stained and sealed yesterday, so once I get the layers of dust of all the appliances and cabinets, the kitchen will be officially DONE. 

That's all- lots of last minute details that still need wrapped up, but all the major items are checked off at this point. 
Bring on the baby.

My Loveable Challenge

Tommy,

You are my daily challenge, but my forever love.  I am trying, trying, trying to yell less and ride out this phase, but I am also thinking smarter. 

Gates smarter.  No more chasing you to Daddy's office, or to the mudroom, or downstairs to the basement.  Wednesday we went to Target and came home with two, beautiful, white safety gates.  Why didn't I do this sooner?  Tom will install the gate at the bottom of the stairs so you can't run wild upstairs while we are downstairs.  Life is already getting easier. 

I know you will counter with your best, and I will try to be ready.  Meanwhile, thanks for making me laugh with all your little "Tommy" phrases.

In the car, at very random, but frequent, times-
Tommy: "What happened up there?"
Me: "Nothing happened up there."
Tommy: "Oh, for Pete's Sake". 

At bedtime, every single night:
Me: "Sweet Dreams"
Tommy: "Don't be a dumbbell."
Me: "I won't. Don't let the bedbugs bite."

You are obsessed with Caillou.  Everything is yours, and it is always your turn. You love being tickled- "Do it again!" you shout when I stop.  You don't need a reason for a tantrum.  You throw one when it is time to put on PJ's, when it is time to take them off, when I try to give you the milk you asked for, when you want to go somewhere but refuse to put your shoes on.  You are putting everything that isn't nailed down in your mouth, which has been a little stressful for me. 

You love the pool, especially swimming with me in the big pool.  We had the best time splashing around together yesterday while Patrick swam with Baba.  Much needed you-and-me positive time. 

Your favorite book is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, which you have daddy read every, single, night. 

I think you will surprise me when Baby arrives.  I know you will be a fantastic big brother.

Love,
Mom

Chandelier Before/After

Remember this neglected girl from a month back?

Well, it took me over a month and a bottle of Brasso, but she is finished and hanging in my living room as of Wednesday!

(The underside is the same golden brass, but it isn't showing in my pictures at all)
Once we recover from our kitchen reno, I want to finish the room with a mix of formal and casual pieces.

It Figures

I spent my Fourth of July morning cleaning - made almost blissful thanks to an empty house (Tom took the boys to get fireworks and shop for a TV for our bedroom!).  I vacuumed all the rugs and carpets downstairs, dusted all the molding, took everything off the bookcase for a good dusting, took the bottle of pledge to all the decorative crevices on my dining room set, and finished up by mopping all the floors downstairs.  I was tired, but I felt like I had accomplished a ton.  It was nesting at its finest.

So when my phone rang at 11 this morning and it was the completely-booked hardwood floor guys calling to see if they could come sand and stain the patched floor today, what could I say?  The aftermath is pretty bad.  Every surface in the kitchen and dining room is covered in that thin layer of hardwood sand.  The bookcase, and all on it, is dustier than before I got it to it yesterday.  All the cans of food in the pantry- covered.  Every kitchen cabinet is covered.  My appliances are a mess.

I managed not to cry.  After all, I had wanted this done before baby came.  They do look beautiful considering the hardwood guys kept telling me they weren't going to blend well and we should just put in a new floor.  But I went from feeling like I was making a huge dent in the neglected housework, to feeling completely overwhelmed in 5 minutes as I surveyed the damage. 

Goodbye nap, hello Pledge.  It figures. 

We did have a nice, quiet 4th.  I am too big and too covered in poison ivy (yes, again, and on my neck, chin, hand, arms, chest, hip, leg, and foot) to be out in the heat, so we laid low and Tom grilled an awesome meal for us.  My dad came over for dinner, then Tom's mom and brother stopped over to help us set off some 7:15pm fireworks for the boys.  Tom roasted marshmallows over the grill for Patrick and Tommy.  It was a great family day.

Not a big hit with Tommy who spit the whole messy gob into my hand a second later.

Patrick was into the fireworks as long as they weren't too noisy, but Tommy had zero interest.  He wanted to go back inside to his toys.

Patrick's signature "hands over ears" pose.

Enough blogging now, and more cleaning.