A Special Night

After a long week, Carson and I decided we wanted to do something special for JJ. So, what better than to give him a "Special Night". Real creative, right? We made a fabulous candlelight dinner and dressed up like this:

Carson picked out my dress and suggested I wear an apron as to not dirty my "fancy dress":

JJ walked in the door and Carson screamed "Its your birthday party night!". Oops, I think he meant to tell him that it was his "special night". Carson had daddy put on his slippers and walked him over to his place at the table.

He got to eat off of this:

Carson served JJ all night and made sure he didn't run out of anything on his plate! A great night, a great memory!

JJ, you are special. We love you!

Family Pictures

My dad took a few shots of the fam this morning at Palmer Park. It was freezing! Preslie was less than thrilled with the experience. Here are just a few of the pics...

Maternity Leave

It has been an incredible blessing to be able to be home with the kids. Carson loves being at home(most of the time). I worked 40 hours a week at the surgery center up until the week prior to having Preslie, so being home so much has been a huge change. A 12 week maternity leave is definitely the way to go! It has been fabulous! While maternity leave has been wonderful, I am excited about working again. I will only go back 2 days a week. And I am incredibly blessed that Preslie will get to be with Grammy while I am at work and Carson is at preschool. Thanks Mom!

Carson wanted to take some pictures this morning and he did pretty good....

I love being a mom to these kids!

At Home with Preslie...

We have been home with Preslie now for 6 weeks. She is perfect. Really, it has been such an easy transition.

She eats great and sleep even better! She weighed in at 10 pounds 2 oz at her 4 week appointment. She is a chunker!

Carson loves her dearly, but thinks for now that she is pretty boring. Not very surprisingly he is disgusted by any amount of spit up or dirty diapers.

Preslie held onto her umbilical cord for 4 weeks! Dr. Gilroy pulled it off at her 4 week appointment and she didn't even flinch. I was SO excited to get home and give her a real bath. She LOVED it!

All clean and ready for a nap!

3+1=4

Friday October 29th went something like this:

0900 appointment with Dr. Hammond...she was running late, didn't see her until about 9:45.

"Jessica! I was waiting all week for you to go into labor."

"Trust me Dr Hammond, I was waiting all week too."

"Well, it is Halloween this weekend, so let's have this baby next week. Want to induce next week?"

"Umm, yes!"

"By the way what was your blood pressure today?"

"High, I think"

"Oh wow, yes 146/96. I'm sending you to the hospital with high blood pressure. Let's have a baby today!"

"Sounds good!"

1015 leave the office. It hits me, mom and dad are in Texas! They are supposed to be here. Now what?!

I call my mom in tears "Mom, she is sending me to the hospital".

1017 I call JJ, no answer. I call again, no answer. Once more, no answer.

1025 I get home, the boys are still in their pajamas watching a movie. Great.

"Well boys, go get dressed it's baby time". They both look at me. "Im not joking, we are going to the hospital".

The next hour consisted of showering, packing, and a quick clean up of the house. Then we were off to take Carson to Brad and Amy's.

But first we needed a picture. The last picture as a family of 3. Yes, I cried and yes, I am HUGE.

12:01 admitted to Labor and Delivery. Good thing we got there when we did, I took the last room!

1315 Started Pitocin of 2 with Penicillin(for GBS) -at a standstill until PCN is complete

1400 JJ wrote a list of names in no special order on the dry erase board in our room. We figured we had better start narrowing them down:

Chloe, Aspen, Kate, Kinzie, Sophie, Macie, Morgan, Raina, Preslie....

1545 Pitocin increased to 4

Nurses voted on names..."Preslie is cute!"

1615 PCN complete. Pitocin increased to 6, Dr. Hammond breaks water.

"Baby is face up. Let's get a birthing ball."

Contractions get strong very quickly.

1625 Pitocin increased to 8

Birthing ball is put between my legs as I lay on my left side.

JJ is feeding me ice chips through each contraction, a good distraction!

1655 Pitocin increased to 10

Still on my left side with birthing ball, JJ still feeding me ice chips.

Nurse says its time to move to my right side.

I say I have to pee first!

1700 up to the bathroom. Contractions have intensified significantly.

1710 back in bed, on hands and knees in bed trying to figure out just how to get comfortable.

1720 incredible pressure, "I need to push!" Pushing call light asking for help, telling JJ to go in the hallway to get some help! JJ is in disbelief..."already?!"

1721 Dr Hammond and staff rush into room, unable to set up. She asks me to breath through the next contraction. I barely can.

1722 Pushing

1729 Little girl delivered!

One proud daddy!

And one VERY proud big brother!

Carson was able to come to the hospital right after she was born. He was ready to hold her right away! He didn't get to stay too long, but just enough to love on her for a bit.

Then it was bath time! Mommy and Daddy got to give Preslie her first bath...

At midnight, after her bath, we were moved to the postpartum floor and turned in for the night...