Pictures!

Vaccinations, Check!

After researching, soul searching and months of praying for health (which thank God we are blessed with) my whole family ( with exception of Mel who's to young) has now been H1N1 vaccinated. I researched this upside down, left right and sideways and came to the conclusion this was the best choice for my family. Everyone has to do what is best for themselves and their family.

Mmmmmmm, Yummy

Woke up yesterday morning and the first thought in my mind was mmmmmmmmmm, not mmmmmm coffee , but mmmmmm, yummy. Yummy baby breath in my face, warm yummy toddler arm around my neck. I love those first thing in the morning snuggles with messy hair and sleepy eyes. I love when Mellies eyes crinkle so much because there is her mommy and when Sissy says "morning mommy" with her croaky morning voice and gives me a sleepy smooch.

Sometimes bedtime is hectic, sometimes alone time for Mike and I is impossible.....but time goes so fast and before I know it this time will be gone too and I will miss it, a lot..

It's crazy, it's crowded but it's just so yummy!!

Megs Senior Pics etc.

These are a few of my favorite of Meggies Sr. Pics. They're beautiful pictures of her because she's beautiful. In a vain sort of way I'm very proud of her outward beauty. I want people that don't know her to know what those of us who do know her know ( did that make sense?) Anyway, she is a beautiful person I mean a beautiful person on the inside. She's smart, she's considerate, she loves her family and her friends. She's honest and stands firm in her convictions. At times she is unbelieveably bull headed but she doesn't back down and I admire that about her. Yes, sometimes it makes me want to pull my hair out but I admire her. I enjoy watching her grow from a little girl into a young woman and I'm proud of who she is. Yes, she's definately pretty to look at, but she is also pretty amazing.

I'm working on a couple posts for later, one is about our little Mellie turning 4 months and another about the end of "drinka nummies" with Sis and several new interesting conversations with her.

Sr. Pics by my Sister Lish

Brought little Mel's birthday story over from my pregnancy blog.








Melanies birthday was a rainy gloomy day outside but such beautiful one for all of us there. I got out of bed at 4:30 to get ready to go. Of course being the girl I am I had to have decent hair and make up so Mellie wouldn't be terrified by her first glance at Mama. We kissed all the girls goodbye and took off for Quincy.




I'll admit that even 6 kids later I was very nervous, and of course excited. We got to the hospital and they rushed us right through admissions and straight upstairs to maternity. We were taken straight back to our room where we got to just hang out for awhile. Actually, we were in our room by about 6:45 and didn't have a nurse in our room until around 8 or so. Our first nurse was Amanda, she came in to start my iv to get me hydrated for the epidural. My fantastic Dr. D had already told me I could have my epidural right away, YAY!! It was pretty busy that morning and Amanda had to come and go a few times. About 9:00 she came in and hung my first bag of pitocin and then about 9:20 Dr. D came in and broke my water. The anesthesiologist came in and did my epidural between 9:30 and 10:00. Yay, no pain!



Of course once I got the epidural there was no more up and down for me, so Mike and I just kind of hung out and talked. He dozed off and on and I spent a lot of time texting friends etc. Labor and delivery has always made Mike very nervous so I think he was very happy when Lish got there and he was able to step out for awhile (go get something to eat). Lish got there about noon and ironically I got my new nurse about the same time. Now, this is one of the great parts of the story, my new nurse Fran was also with us when Michael was born. So, for me in my mushy sort of way it tied everything up for me having Frannie with us for our first baby, 20 years ago and then now for our last baby. I was also thrilled to have Lish there with me again.



If I could do it all over again I would have had Lish there for all of my births. As it is having her with me for these two babies made both experiences that much more special. I wish I could have that kind of quiet time with her on a more regular basis........Anyway. We continued to just talk and enjoy our time. Mike came back briefly but was still extremely nervous so I sent him to help with the kids in the waiting room.



I was getting a little discouraged at one point when I found out I was just dilated to 4 but then went very quickly on up to 6, I think in only about 15-20 minutes. After that it went very quickly. Fran came in and rolled me over on my side, Mellies hb was going down during contractions and we wanted to make her happier. Sometime between 1:30 and 2 I thought it felt like she was coming down so we called Fran back in, I was right! She let me push once to see how I would do and then told me to stop until Dr. D got there.


At this point it was time for Mike and Missy to come in, I can't remember if Lish went to get them or texted Meg to send them in. Either way they came in a few minutes before Dr. D. After that it was easy, a few little pushes and I was holding my baby,the little girl that really really is my baby, and she is soooo beautiful.


The shining moment for me was after they had me "presentable" when all the rest of the kids came in including B & B, Michael and Megs s/o. I can't describe the beauty of seeing my adult age children on down to Sis filing in to see their baby sister. I will say that it was a moment that absolutely made my heart swell, and still does everytime I think of it, probably forever.


We all visited for awhile so everyone could soak up these first moments with their baby sister and then our little Mel made it clear she was hungry. From the very first try she nursed like a champ. After awhile Mike and the kids came in to say goodbye, they were heading off to supper and home, Sis was extremely tired and a little emotional.


I had to spend a little extra time in recovery because of a little extra bleeding so Lish stayed with us and we just stayed together in awe of our new little girl, she really is an awesome Aunt.


The days in the hospital are a bit of a blur as always, especially since I'm now finishing this nearly four months later. From day one Melanie has been the sweetest little blessing, so mellow and happy and just sweet. Not to mention of course that she is as beautiful as her sisters.


Another little bit of trivia, besides having Fran there for our beginning and end as new parents, as well of course as Dr. D who has seen us all the way through. Anyway, Michael was born on January 22nd, my month, Mikes day and Miss Mellie was born on June 10th, Mikes month, my day, cool huh?


It's very bittersweet knowing that my days of pregnancy, childbirth and newborns are over, I have thoroughly enjoyed that part of my life. I will say however that I'm so looking forward to watching all of my children, the big ones, small ones and in between ones continue to grow into toddlers, teenagers and adults, and soon, parents themselves.


I try to thank God everyday for my life.