Wow, a little time to myself!

Gabe is off target practicing (he is participating in a speed shooting competition in about 10 days), and all three kids are in bed! Isaac will probably wake up soon, but for the moment, I have a quiet house!

Everything is going very well-- The girls adore their baby brother, and don't hold back the affection at all :-) They are eager to help, sometimes too much so, but overall do very well respecting the boundaries we've set. No, they haven't held him yet.... He's a real worm, so I'm a tad hesistant.

I am healing well-- sometimes I think drugs are a little counter-productive because they make you think you can do more than you actually should. At least with me :-) But I do feel better than I expected, and have changed my thoughts on future children. (I was afraid of attempting more c-sections, but the nurses referred to me as an old pro... No, really- this surgery and recovery, other than the first day, went better than the previous two- so I am not so anxious about doing it again.) I just know now to ask please for more nausea drugs and less morphine... NOT fun.

It is great having Gabe home, especially now that I am up and about. He is getting some projects done, both his and ours, and we are working our way through all 10 of the Star Trek movies :-) On #5 now.... I know that sounds like a lot of TV, but when I'm sitting and nursing baby for a good 5+ hours a day, you get the picture...

And little Mr Isaac is working out the kinks with his parents. He can sure turn his screaming on and off, but seems to be easily consoled... that is, until last night... Is eternally hungry... Has trouble coming out of the "milk comas"... looks like Gabe and Kiera the most.... Has deep blue eyes... and yes, slightly reddish hair, depending on the light :-)... Has his days and nights quite mixed up...loves to be cuddled... And certainly just plain fits into the "newborn" catagory! He even has a Mr Evil laugh, only its a very very angry scream... but both Gabe and I cracked up when we heard it.

So there you have it, and just in time... I hear a little grunting coming from the bassinette :-) Hopefully we'll have some time to post pics later... Might have to ask Gabe to do it...;-)

Busy, but LOVING it...

It's funny, every time I sit down to write something, some little person needs something... from infant to 4 year old....

I promise, I'll try to get something else up here soon... but for now- we are all doing great and enjoying each other and our quiet time at home!

Well, "Thing #3" is here!

Isaac James was born at 7:50 this morning. He weighs 7lb, 13oz. and is 21 inches long and is very LOUD . He and mommy are doing well. Mommy will post more later when she is feeling up to it or when daddy is told what to type! :0)
Thanks for the well wishes and prayers.

T minus 10 +/- hours...

:-) hee hee, clever title huh? I don't actually know if it applies, but I liked it. :-)

Wow- I don't think today could have gone any better. What a blessing! This morning, Gabe and I were prayed for, which had me totally in tears but very much appreciating the support from my church family and sisters. Lunch from Peking at Grandpa's (yummy, cause I always miss out on peking! *sorry Kimi- still like it!- no tea though...*) Then run home to pack the girls' bag for Mom's... Drop off the bag, head to the movies... Thoroughly enjoyed Star Trek- very entertaining and enjoyable... Came home (still not hungry from chinese lunch...) Worked outside with Gabe and got a LOT done... folded laundry, did dishes, and now am sitting down for a bowl of coffee ice cream with chocolate syrup as my "last meal." After this, I'll pack most of my bag and head to bed, although I doubt I will sleep very good!

Thank you for all your encouragement- I do appreciate it very much, and it helps me to view things from different perspectives.

And like Gabe and I discussed, tomorrow, we will no longer be a family of four... but five! Crazy thought! I can't promise how soon pics will be up, but please check tomorrow- I'm sure we'll get at least one or two for everyone to see! And thank you in advance for your prayers-- It helps greatly to know that we are well-covered.

One More Day...

Whew. I am just beat tonight! Darcy and I made some serious progress on the weeding and de-rocking area, only to have Gabe rototill it up and fill it with rocks again tonight. At least I think we are in agreement that part of our future backyard is going to be made into a garden area, with fill dirt and everything. 75% of the "garden" now is rocks, even after taking tons out two years in row. But, at least we got some corn and tomatoes in the dirt, and I'll plant the pumpkin and watermelon tomorrow, maybe. I know where I want one to go anyway, so it shouldn't take but a minute.

I'm trying to focus more on the fact that we are having a baby Monday morning, not that I am having major abdominal surgery... Not doing too bad because I am terribly excited to meet him (!), but the hard part is knowing I can't pick up Kiera, I can't carry anything but baby, I can't drive, I can't "sit-up," I can't push myself as hard as I am used to. Especially when I know I will want to- I remember crying both times coming home previously because things needed to be done, like laundry and dishes and cleaning, and just not being able to do it all, besides care for an infant. I'm just not sure how to make myself cope with that. And I know people want to help, but it's SO hard letting someone else take care of my house! (Not that my standards are so high, but it is my job after all...)

Maybe since I am resigned to being willing to take more painkillers this time (tried to take on too much pain last time) I will be more relaxed about the whole thing. I hope so. I know it has way too much to do with my organizing, controlling, have-to-do-it-all-myself personality... Anybody else know how to turn that off?? :-)

Anyway, just a little brain-vomit for you to enjoy... Tomorrow we are planning on yummy French Toast breakfast, Sunday school and church, lunch at Gramps, and date time for Gabe and I! We are going to see Star Trek, which-if you haven't heard- is the movie to see this year! Woo Hoo! (And maybe plant a few more things... :-) I know, I just can't let it go, plus I have a few more that, if I don't plant them, they will most likely die while I'm at the hospital, so I must take care of them quickly!) Then, hopefully an early bedtime because we have to be at the hospital by 6:15 am. EARLY! But, it's not like I'll be sleeping well anyway, 'cause we're having a baby!!!!

Making Progress

My list is shrinking, especially the shopping list! Darcy's been a great help the last few days- we got 7 out of 8 of my shopping stops done Wednesday! I needed a hand because these included soil and cat food- heavier items :-) Yesterday we vacuumed (she) and I worked on the girls' room- organizing furniture and throwing junk out! I still haven't gotten to Kiera's clothes yet, but that's not a big pressure item- she will be dressed, even if her clothes come from "brother's room!" Last night I put a load of Newborn and 0-3 clothes in the washer... Today, headed to Target for a few last minute items... And to finish the cart cover!

And maybe, just maybe, we can get a space cleared out for some corn and my dying tomatos that are growing out of my Aerogarden...!

THREE more days! I am getting very excited, especially last night I took a bath and watched different limbs and bumps roll around in my tummy knowing that soon we will get to hold those little hands and feet.... Today I also go in for my "paperwork" appointment at the hospital- reminders for all the things I will have have forgotten from before. And I gotta get that bag packed!

Not bad...

One and a half out of three. I finished thank you cards, and made it most of the way through the cart cover. And took the evening off :-) and went to the church softball game to sit in the wind! I really enjoy playing, but the social time is fun as well- it's good to get in a year of sitting on the sidelines.

Thanks for your encouragement Rachael- I can't wait to hear when your little one arrives as well! 5 days before we win :-) It really takes the fun out when the date and time are set... Although it does help with motivation for procrastinators ;-) For what it's worth, I hope you win!!

Work and My To-Do List

Last night was my last night at work- for the next 11 weeks anyway :-) It felt so good to walk out and drive away... not that we won't be there again this week, but shopping is different.

I'm having a little trouble contemplating that in less than a week, we'll have our little man in our arms, Lord-willing. It just seems like it's been such a long pregnancy, that it can't be over! In the mean time, I've got a to-do list a mile long! No, it's not that bad, but when I'm depending on myself to feel good, it seems longer than it is. And this morning is not a good morning- feeling wise. Lots of contractions, can't move very well... So today is quiet, indoor work day. Mainly, sorting Kiera's clothes and making a cart cover for another prego gal at church- which is very important, seeing as her shower is this Saturday!

So, motivate me ;-) I will get Kiera's clothes sorted and moved, and hopefully finish the cover... and finish thank you cards... Those are my goals for today, along with taking it easy, so I can tackle some harder items tomorrow!

Another One for the Books...

Last night I was, again, on my nightly phone call to Gabe in bed, facing away from my bedroom door. No idea what we were talking about, but all of the sudden....

I scream bloody murder into the phone. And leap halfway, from a sideways prone position, across the bed. (look again at my prego pics and imagine how bad this hurt...)

"What? What is it? What is wrong?"

Melia had come into my room, silently, and ran her hand up my spine. Scared the living daylights out of me- she's lucky I didn't wet the bed! It really took me several seconds to gather my thoughts and tell Gabe what happened and comfort her at the same time.

What did she want?
A back scratch. (Thanks, Darc..!)

And yes.
They were both laughing at me.

Family Update

Since I've asked for prayer and such, I thought I should probably let everyone know how things are going :-)

First off, Gabe is doing much better. He came home after working 1/2 a shift Friday night, and basically sacked out for nearly two days. But- it worked. He still has a cough and gunk issues, but feeling much better and back to work, at home and at the jail. Bummer about missing one of the most fun weekends of the year to work, but apparently nearly everyone ended up taking some sick time over the weekend- so he wasn't the only one. Oh, and he says if he had swine flu, he's quite disappointed. :-)

Second, me: I am feeling pretty good, and certainly more contented the last few weeks than I was earlier. I think I've finally gotten used to being really big, although Kiera still has a tendency to clothesline herself on my belly. We have 11 days to go, so I'm feeling some pressure to get things somewhat caught up outside (seeds and plants transplanted, and weeding) before I'm on light-duty for a few weeks :-)
As for work, I cannot get any more time off. So I will be headed back at the end of July, and not mid-September like I had been planning. I also will probably be working Fri-Sat instead of Sun-Mon, but with Gabe's encouragement, I feel like this will work out better than my negative thinking was considering. Especially since I will enjoy having Sundays off SOOO much more. (I love our church- have I shared that? I hate running out of there as fast as I can and not getting any fellowship time after service, so this will make a big difference. Plus, family stuff almost always happens on Sundays.) I don't know yet about working shorter shifts, but I had mentioned it before, so hopefully my manager won't be shocked when I propose it again. We'll see. And pray.

The girls are great- Kiera turned 3, and is just as onery as ever. Melia graduates from preschool next week, just in time for baby brother. They can't wait!

Continued Prayer Requests: That Gabe will continue to get better, that the rest of us will stay healthy, a healthy and safe birth, and on a personal note- that we will get a private room. It's important to me that Gabe be able to stay with us, but we have to have our own room for him to do so. When he had to leave last time it was terribly traumatic- I am praying for a peaceful stay in the hospital since we have to be there so long. (3 days) Thank you!!!

Miss Isabel

These pictures would be around when Isabel was about 18-20 hours old, on Saturday morning.

Both girls were quite taken with their new little cousin, but this face was just priceless, so I had to include it :-)
Me, holding little Missy on my belly :-) She got a few bumps from her cousin too- not the last I am sure!

"She's soooo tiny!"

Snuggling with her Great-Grandmother on her father's side, if I'm not mistaken.

Welcome to the World, Miss Isabel!

Yea! A Productive Morning!

Two loads of laundry, one of dishes, and the all-important CAR SEAT is ordered! Finally! :-) Whew!

Prayer Request

Can you all pray for Gabe? He got a nasty head cold, cough, fever, sinus yuck... and in the midst of trying not to be a tad paranoid... seriously, he needs to get better. We have 16 days or less until baby arrives, and I would really really be thankful if everyone in our house was healthy, especially me, when I start getting less sleep :-) He's my wingman, or I'm his, and I am going to be near worthless for a while after surgery.... This is just a big deal in my mind right now and I would appreciate prayer for a quick recovery for him, and for the girls and I to stay healthy.

Thank you!

Welcome Baby Isabel!

We are so excited to welcome our little niece into the world!

Isabel Andrea was born 5/1/09 (afternoon sometimeish :-), 8 lbs 6 oz, 20.5 inches.

Pictures to come later- I unfortunately was at work! But we are going to see her this morning.