Christmas 2011

We had a fabulous Christmas weekend! We celebrated Christmas Eve with some friends and my brother's family. We did a progressive dinner...starting at our home for appetizers and then walked to our friends' home for dinner and dessert. We did the Nativity together and sang carols. Even Haley and Morgan sang for us! It was a wonderful evening!

Christmas morning the girls slept in until 7, which was a Christmas miracle in itself!

Piper with her candy necklace. Boy, was she thrilled to find that in her stocking! I think she had it finished by lunch!
I think the big hit was the dollhouse! The girls ended the morning with a scavenger hunt to find it finally in the basement.

The house is huge...Morgan needs a stool to reach the attic space.

Piper playing with her bowling set from Grandma.

Rory relaxing.

And speaking of relaxing...that is pretty much what we all did Christmas day. After a hardy breakfast we enjoyed a lot of down time. The girls loved their new bean bag chairs. Remember when I started those things a couple of months ago? Yeah, I finally finished them for Christmas. They have already gotten tons of use!

The girls watching a movie on their new bean bags.

Morgan relaxing by the fire. I love this picture, she's so content.

And this is pretty much where I spent the day. In my jammies, by the fire, with my little babe next to me. Bliss.

We had a lovely evening at my brother's house where they whipped up a turkey dinner and we exchanged more presents. A pretty perfect Christmas if I do say so myself!

Monday was cleaning and packing to get ready for our trip to California on Tuesday. Unfortunately, Monday night I got hit hard with the stomach flu. It was bad...bad, bad, bad. That's all I'll say about that. So needless to say Tuesday road trip wasn't happening. I was pretty much comatose all day yesterday. And even today I'm still not completely myself. So now, our plan is to leave Thursday...that is assuming everyone is healthy. I hope, I hope!

Goings on for the week.

Wow...it's almost Christmas! How this month has flown by! Thank goodness for online shopping, it has been my saving grace this year. If it wasn't for the Internet, Christmas would never happen in this house!

Let's see...here's what's been happening around here.

* Rory is sleeping a little better at night, and when I say "little" I mean little! It seems she just doesn't want to settle down until around 12 or 1 in the morning, and then she'll give me a few hours of uninterrupted sleep before we start again. Oh, and let me just say how I despise Kirkland Signature diapers from Costco! EVERY single night I change Rory's jammies and have to switch out her blankets at least twice because she is wet from head to toe in pee and or poop. Thank you for nothing Kirkland, your diapers suck.

* The girls had their Christmas programs at school...which, the logistics getting to both with other children was quite interesting. Haley's was in the morning, so getting four children dressed and fed (and nurse Rory) and out the door in time was a major challenge. But I did it...it was a miracle!! And then Morgan's program was in the afternoon, so it was back in the car to do it all over again. But let me just say how much I loved watching my girls up there singing! My eyes immediately swelled up with tears...goodness, I'm such a sap.

* Last night Ryan's brother and family came for a visit. They're in town for a little skiing, so it was a treat to spend some time with them. The girls were so excited to see their cousins! It was such a nice evening, all the kids played so well together. Megan was completely in love with Piper and spoiled her rotten with attention. Haley watched Liam play the Wii and I heard her yell out every now and then, "Liam!! You are awesome on that!!" Our family is a little clueless with anything electronic and we're still trying to figure that Wii out. So it was nice to see someone know what they're doing on it!

* Christmas break has officially started today for the girls. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love the fact that we don't have to rush around in the mornings, but having all four kids home at the same time ALL DAY is a major challenge for me! It's 11:00 and we are all still in jammies (except for Rory, I had to change her entire outfit as soon as she woke up...we'll thank Kirkland diapers for that one!) and I'm surrounded by messes, dishes in the sink, breakfast stuff still out, toys scattered everywhere, I've already had to play referee between Haley and Morgan multiple times, and Piper decided to unwind an entire roll of toilet paper. Give me strength!!

So on to the final countdown to Christmas! I'm super excited about it, we have some fun things planned for the weekend!

Now, if it will just snow!!! I would like to have a white Christmas if possible.

Who's who?

Babies sleeping on their bellies are the cutest things ever! Their little bottoms in the air and feet curled under...oh, how I love it!

Can you tell which is Piper and which is Rory?

One day at a time.

A lot of things are going through my mind lately, and although I know it helps me to write it down and get it out, the truth is I've been avoiding my blog. I don't want to admit that I'm struggling to the world. Yes, Ryan is aware of my woes...sheesh, I complain enough to him that's for sure. But to let people know it's not all roses right after a baby is hard for me. Mainly because so many people helped me get through this pregnancy, I feel I don't have the right to complain. Plus, how can I complain when I have these four precious, healthy children?! And, this is my fourth! I should be a pro at this, right? Well, I'm realizing I'm not. Plus, when I complain I feel people will judge me, like I don't love my children or something. Certainly, that's not the case! But I will say, this has been a very difficult transition for me.

I know that some women go through a bit of depression after having a baby. I don't think I'm depressed, but I sure do have low moments. I get angry easily (most likely because I'm getting very little sleep). I'm sad...I feel that I'm not being the mom I want to be. My kids see me frustrated more than happy...at least that's what it feels like. I'm overwhelmed with all the household chores: homework, cooking, cleaning, errands, laundry (oh my, the laundry...how it adds up!) And the messes, oh the messes...toys permanently scatter the family room.

Over the weekend I folded a ton of laundry onto the dining room table...it's still sitting there in neat little piles. Yes, every time we need something I go to the dining room. "Oh, you need underwear? It's on the dinning room table". Poor Ryan has had to come down stairs in a towel after a shower to find his clothes. And, I still have two baskets waiting to be folded in the laundry room! I'll get to it...maybe.

My recovery has been on the slow side. Apparently I had a pretty good tear when I delivered Rory (what can I say, I'm good pusher). And when the doctor was getting out the placenta, the cord broke so he had to "manually" remove it...it pretty much bruised me up pretty good. I know, too much info, but it's the facts. I need to remember that I'm not going to bounce back immediately. Because, lets face it...looking in the mirror right now is just not a pleasant sight. That in itself is depressing.

I'm missing my parents too, which adds to my sadness. Yes, I know I'll be seeing them in a couple of weeks, but it just feels right when they're here.

I need to find my groove again. I need to get out of this funk.

I think now I'm going to throw my chores to the wind and make some cookies with Morgan. It's okay that my house is messy. It's okay that I have laundry on my dining room table. It's okay that I haven't brushed my teeth yet today. It's okay that I'm wearing the same the same sweats for the last week now. It's okay that I'm relying on cup after cup of coffee to get through the day. It's okay to have the TV playing movies constantly for the kids.

Bottom line...my kids are fed, dressed, safe, warm in a nice home (albeit messy one at the moment), and most importantly, they are loved...and those are the things that are important!

I'll get through this!

House of Crazy

My little Rory...how sweet you are.

I really can't imagine life without this new bundle...she fits perfectly...like she's always meant to be here. She doesn't mind: the loud volume of Morgan's voice, poking from Piper, the fighting between the girls, mommy getting frustrated and raising her voice at the kids, sloppy kisses from her sisters, lots of rubs on the head, and so on and so on. Hopefully she's not thinking, "Get me out of here!!"

If it wasn't crazy before...life just got crazier!

A few more pictures.

I got a few more pictures from my dad's camera and so I thought I'd share.

It's been a week since Rory was born and we are still adjusting to life with a newborn. Half the time I'm a walking zombie as the nights are pretty brutal. We have Rory and Piper in one room and the first night Piper woke up every time Rory fussed. So I was calming two babies all night. I thought perhaps we would need to re figure the sleeping arrangements...but, thank goodness, Piper decided to give it up and accept the fact that she's sharing a room because she hasn't made a peep since that night. Yep, she sleeps right through all of Rory's screaming! Go Piper!

Welcome to the World

Rory Grace

7 lb. 7 oz. 19 inches

Born December 1 at 6:17 pm.

Ryan and I headed over to the hospital around 1:30 for me to be induced. Thank you to my wonderful neighbor and friend who watched all three of my girls for the entire evening! I know my kids are NOT easy at times...so I'm grateful!

Unfortunately, the doctor wasn't there yet, so we had to wait for him before we could really hit the pitocin hard (we had to have him there before we started since I'm still considered a VBAC). So, we had a couple of hours of very minor contractions and lots of waiting.

Do I look nervous...because I am.

Waiting.

Note the board in the background, under Goals for the next 12 hours.
It says "Make Baby" if you can't read it...very funny Ryan.

Luckily the doctor did show up, broke my water and I was complete within the hour.

Pushed a few times and out she came.

Healthy and perfect baby girl!

Proud Daddy!

My parents were with there as well for the delivery...I'm so glad! My dad has more pictures that I'll have to post sometime. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of them with my camera. Darn.

Haley and Morgan came the next day to see their new baby sister. They are both just thrilled! The first thing Haley said to me when she came in, "Oh, Mommy, I'm so proud of you!!" and gave me a hug. What a sweetheart!

Of course one of their favorite things to do when they visit me in the hospital...watching TV and eating all the snacks the nurses bring in for them.

Okay, I know I have extreme puffy face in this next picture but here we are just about to go home!

So, I've been home for a few days now and I'll be honest and say the weekend was a bit rough. I'm feeling quite overwhelmed, sore and achy. Plus, my folks are leaving to go back to Long Beach on Wednesday, which makes me sad. I've been so used to them living right down the street I really don't want to see them go, especially right before Christmas.

Ryan and I need to find our new groove...it's seems a bit chaotic right now, but I guess that's to be expected.

There's a lot to do this month so I've got to pull myself together.

But my little Rory, oh what a sweetie. I can't believe I made it to the end...finally. What a nine months we had! I'm so grateful for a healthy baby...all those fearful days of losing her in the beginning of the pregnancy and all those scary ultrasounds. And then to look over at her now, laying beside me...a perfect little bundle. I am one lucky mom.

Getting closer.

Unless I go into labor on my own, tomorrow is the big day...tomorrow at 2:00. I don't like being induced. I've said it before and I'll say it again...when I'm induced there is so much build up and my anxiety goes through the roof. Or like Ryan says, it's like shopping for a baby. This time and date on the calendar staring back at us. "Okay, it's Thursday, 2:00, time to get our baby." It's just weird.

But, with that said...I'm so super excited to meet this little one!! She has already completely rocked our world! What will it be like when she's born?!

I'm at a loss as to what to do today. I have tons of chores to catch up on: laundry, cleaning bathrooms, mopping...I should probably plan meals for the next couple of days. Or then I think I should get out a bit...hit the town...do something fun. But then who am I kidding...the only thing that sounds appealing right now is taking a nap. Which I'll probably end up doing. I've been feeling terribly uncomfortable, fat and ugly lately. Ever since my appointment on Monday I've been a bit down. I was weighed...I should not have looked. This is the heaviest I've ever been during a pregnancy...I've put on 40 lbs...40 lbs!!! I'm usually around the 30 lb. mark...but 40?!! Ugh. The only thing that fits me anymore is a pair of sweat pants...and I pretty much where them everyday. I am not feeling glamorous...at...all!

Okay, enough complaining. I know, woe is me.

So anyway, I'm nervous about tomorrow. Hospitals, IV's, more needles, catheters, stitches, having an "accident" during pushing (yes, that's always in the back of my head), pain, lots of pain...it's amazing how I never get used to it. I wonder if that Dugger lady with 19 kids get nervous before she has a baby...probably not. She's like a robot or something.

BUT, I can't wait to meet my new baby! After everything that has happened with this pregnancy, I just can't wait to hold her!!

So, all the yucky puck is worth it...I would do it all over again.

Inductions and Mice

First off, (just in case you're wondering), baby has decided to take a back seat on the whole labor and delivery thing...apparently she's quite comfortable in there. I'll be getting induced Thursday afternoon. However, I'm still hoping that I'll go on my own...and I'm doing everything in my power to make that happen! Minus, the caster oil. I'm even considering going over to my friends house and jump on her tramp...although, that kinda scares me.

In other news (I'm very apprehensive to share this, but since Ryan has shared quite a bit on his blog, I might as well), we have a mouse problem. There, I said it. It started out with some evidence (poop) of mice in the pantry. We found where they are coming in, set up traps, cleaned out the pantry and secured all the food, cleaned out the garage, removed the dog food and straw and anything else that may have been attracting them in. We even trapped a couple mice...progress.

But then, the other evening (while my parents were over) Ryan spotted one scurrying around upstairs. That was it...I went totally ballistic! We were all chasing around this one little mouse all over the house with a broom. There was a lot of screaming, and several tears shed (by me mostly) as we tried to get that stupid thing. It was a total circus! The mouse finally met it's demise by running into an empty cardboard box where he got stuck...and then Ryan finished the job by whacking him to his death.

Since then we have discovered the mouse probably came in through a little attic door. We have now loaded up with traps, sticky tape, and poison. This is a battle I WILL win!!!

Thanksgiving Day Pictures

I finally uploaded the pictures from Thanksgiving. What a beautiful day it was!

We started off the afternoon with a little Frisbee out front. Oh, and check out that sweet blue Suburban parked in the street...yeah, that's our new ride. We bought it from my grandparents and we could not be more excited about it.
I even joined in on the Frisbee action. Now, I hate this next picture of me and my large neck...but I can't help but laugh at Ryan in the background. He's actually making fun of me (everyone was getting a good laugh at me throwing and catching a Frisbee). Apparently that's what I look like when I'm getting ready to catch it.

Jeff's girlfriend, Jen, was in town. The girls absolutely adore her...they completely swarmed her as soon as they saw her. Jen spoils them a bit too by putting makeup on them or giving them perfume...of course Haley and Morgan love it.

Piper trying to figure it all out.

Me, very pregnant, with my three girls.

The table looked so pretty! All the kids got an ornament on their plate...this was a tradition I had growing up on Thanksgiving.

It was great to have my grandparents in town!

Piper with cousin Jett.

So the baby cooperated and stayed put so I could enjoy my Thanksgiving meal...thank you baby.

Tomorrow morning I have my ob appointment. The doctor may go ahead and induce me tomorrow or Tuesday...or later I guess, we'll see.

Oh, and if anyone wanted to know...my sweet potatoes came out pretty darn good.