And Then There Were Four

This post is long over due, so here we go.  After 39 weeks and 2 days of pregnancy, Lucy Jane has graced us with her presence.  

Let's start from the beginning.  Daycare was closed last Friday so Lilly and I had made plans to make cookies, go to the park, and to the flower shop to see her cousin.  I had a few contractions over night, but nothing strong or regular.  We spent the morning playing and I only noticed a couple more contractions over several hours.  We got home for lunch and the contractions really kicked in.  I called John, who happened to be working an hour away, just to get him thinking about heading for home.  Contractions were 5 minutes apart at this point!  He got home around 2.  I finished up the packing, Grandma Karen came to get Lilly, and we headed for Topeka by 3.   

The car ride was not so great because the contractions really let up.   I got checked in by 3:45 and spent about an hour in Triage.  Contractions were still  8 minutes apart so we  decided to get up and walk to see if I could get things going again.   

There is nothing more glamorous than walking up and down the halls of a big hospital, in two gowns trying to keep yourself covered, having people stare at you, all while having contractions.  We kept walking past vending machines and I had eaten an early lunch.  I knew once I got admitted that it would be only ice chips for me.  I convinced John to get me some candy and sneak it to me while we walked!  I lasted a whole 30 minutes before I had had enough.  Back to bed to get checked again.  Finally I had made enough progress to get admitted and moved to labor and delivery.  It was 7:30 by the time they got the paperwork done, nurses changed, my IV started, and moved down the hall.  

At this point I was dilated to a five with contractions ever four minutes and painful! This pretty much shows how I felt the next half hour as I went from a 5 to an 8 and waited for my epidural.  

They broke my water around 8:00.  This was before my epidural and it was one of the nastiest things ever.  Bless the poor people who are out in public when this happens! I have a whole new respect fort them! We waited for the epidural guy until 9:00.  Apparently being dilated to an 8 and ready to kill someone was not a good enough reason for the guy to get in any big hurry! 

Mom and Hanna showed up, along with my dad and Grant who hung out in the waiting room.  I actually called my sister at one point to see where she was only to be informed that she was with mom and dad having BBQ. John's parents were also in the waiting room with Lilly. I had told Hanna all along she could be in the room, and since mom made it to town in time, she stayed too! I was so happy it worked out that Hanna was off that day and mom and dad were able get to Topeka in time!

By 10:00 I was ready to push and the nurse suggested a few practice pushes.  After one she said to stop and booked it out of the room to get the doctor.  One big push later and the baby, that we were all convinced was a boy, was here!  Lucy Jane was born at 10:24 weighing in a 7 lbs 9 oz and was 20.5 inches long.  I was shocked to see a little girl who could not look any more like her big sister!  

 Lilly came in after we were all cleaned up.   She was so proud and immediately asked if that was her baby!

 By 11:00 everyone headed out and I got moved over to a  postpartum room.  With all of the action and mommy and baby checks, it made for a short night.  

My parents brought Lilly back the next morning and she was still as excited as ever!  I am not sure if she was more excited for the baby or because she was going home with Nana Bobbi for the weekend.

 After two nights of peace and quiet at the hospital, we headed for home and have been doing well ever since!

Timing

I saw this and couldn't have found it more appropriate for me right now.  As of today I am 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant.  Lilly was born 10 days early, so I never reached this point with her.  I was up all night two nights ago with contractions and was sure the baby was on the way.  Only the contractions slowed, and eventually quit.  My OB told me the same day that I was still only dilated to a 1 and baby needed to drop more.  Not exactly what I wanted to hear.  I know the baby will come when it is ready, when my body is ready, but emotionally I am ready now!  So until then I am trying to practice patience and have faith. 

Showers for Everyone!

 The wonderful gals I work with hosted a baby shower for another teacher and me.  Lilly was able to come and join in on the fun.  She was definitely the entertainment for the afternoon!

 Neither of us have found out what we are having so they went with a nice gender neutral theme.

 Dawn and her girls, Avri and Jolie.  Yes, she is actually pregnant, just super little!  Must be nice.  I think she is due mid summer. 

 Lilly opened all of my gifts and told everyone thank you.

 Just relaxing in the "big girl school chair," as she called it.

 She even got her own gift, her very first Barbie Doll!

 All in all it was a great afternoon.  I am so thankful to have such great friends and co-workers who are not only generous towards me, but also my daughter!

Just a Little Gardening

Does it count as gardening if it is just a bunch of annuals in pots?  Anyway, Lilly and I potted a few things over the weekend and Lilly has taken it upon herself to water them daily!  Never to early for a little lesson in responsibility I suppose! 

She scooped the dirt into the pots. Note how cute she is with her little bitty gloves.

 Sticking out the tongue makes it so much easier!

 Add a little water.

 And cheese it up with the finished project.  

We ended up with three similar pots when we were finished.  They are nothing compared to the pots and flowers my mother has, but they are a start, and were created by a two year old!

Special Visitors

Since Hanna was in town for the weekend I thought it would be a good time to try out some new recipes.  I have been in a big slump lately when it comes to preparing actual meals, so this was a nice change, and John was busy most of the weekend so I had free range to make whatever I wanted (ie chicken or meat free dishes)! 

I had pinned several recipes I wanted to try, including this Four Cheese White Pizza.  I made a few small changes, like substituting Feta for Goat Cheese.  I love the white pizza at CocoBolos in Manhattan and was hoping for a similar flavor.  Mine turned out nothing like theirs, but it was delicious!  Next time I will be adding chicken for sure and maybe some black beans.  We will also be using the recipe for homemade pizza crust that goes with this recipe from now on.  It was so much better than store bought dough!

We also made this Oriental Chicken Salad (pretty good) and good old basic banana bread (Lilly's favorite).  I sure hope Hanna doesn't think I cook like this all of the time!

Hanna brought Jack with her and Lilly has been asking to play with him ever since they left.   This picture is pretty old, but it is one of my favorites!  This kid loves this dog!  

Don't tell my husband but I am thinking about getting one!

My Weak Attempt

 I am in no way, shape, or form an artistic person.  I am really not creative either.  However, as I get older I find myself becoming more domesticated and enjoying new crafty things.  The latest...hairbows.  Lilly already has quite the collection, and while none of them were expensive to buy, I thought I would give making them myself a try.  I hit up Hobby Lobby for ribbon, clips, and a hot glue gun.  It was apparently perfect timing because all were on sale.  

Lilly loves all things with ladybugs

Standard black

This one went with her Easter dress

These were a b-day gift for Lilly's friend Zoe

 All in all, pretty easy and not too time consuming.  The hot glue gun and I got off on the wrong foot but our relationship is gradually improving and my burns healing.  I think my next task with actually be bows instead of simple clippies.  First step....learn to tie a pretty bow!

Forgotten Easter

Somehow I missed a good half of the Easter pictures when I wrote the last post.  It was Lilly's first year decorating eggs so I figured they were worth sharing.  She did a great job of waiting patiently for the eggs to color and got super excited when three eggs came out with Lilly, Mommy, and Daddy written on the eggs!  Silly Easter Bunny!

 Easter morning was a bit of a chaotic scramble.  John has to do all of the feeding/choring before church, and Lilly and I go to 9:00 Sunday School classes. Between showers and breakfast and getting ourselves out the door, it gets kinda crazy.  We let her open her presents before church because I had one gift I knew we needed to take with us. 

 New East er basket, crayons, a big girl cup,

 a couple Clifford books, and a really cute fabric bag/book that opens up and becomes a doll house. 

It may have been her first year to decorate eggs, but my poor deprived child did not get to hunt them.  She was sick until Tuesday and somehow after that we just never got around to it.  The eggs are still in the fridge, so I guess there is still a chance!