Get better soon so we can play hide and seek again! We are praying for you everyday.
Love,
Grace and Lily
12.10.2009
Dear Grandpa
Dear Grandpa,
Get better soon so we can play hide and seek again! We are praying for you everyday.
Love,
Grace and Lily
Get better soon so we can play hide and seek again! We are praying for you everyday.
Love,
Grace and Lily
Time at Home
Looking over my recent photos, it seems as though we are at home a lots these days. It's either that or I forget to take my camera when we go places. I think it's a little of both. Here are some recent "around the house" pictures.
The name of this photo is "5-6pm" because if you were to come anytime during that hour, chances are you would find me and Claire like this. During this hour, she is tired, ready for bed and not really content unless she's being held. So Claire is in the Baby Bjorn helping me make dinner every night. She is so happy to just observe.
Here are Grace and Lily attempting to hide from me when I told them it was nap time. Umm, nice try but sheer curtains may not be the best choice.
It's actually been cold enough to warrant wearing a winter hat. How exciting!!
Here are Grace and Lily attempting to hide from me when I told them it was nap time. Umm, nice try but sheer curtains may not be the best choice.
11.30.2009
4 Months!
Claire is already four months and cute as can be.
Most attempts at a photo of all three girls comes out looking something like this:
Family Mug Shot
Most attempts at a photo of all three girls comes out looking something like this:
Claire was dedicated at our church last Sunday. I think this is the point where Pastor Joe asks Ty, "What's it like being the father of three girls?" Ty was caught off guard but he came up with a good answer, something about it being a "great blessing." :)
Family Mug Shot
Grace's Chalk Project
One recent afternoon, Grace was playing alone on the side of the house. She was out there for a long time and I could hear her talking and playing so I knew she was okay. When I checked on her this is what I found:
11.09.2009
Dancing Girls
Grace and Lily had their first dance class today. They joined a class that actually began back in September. They did well and the teacher commented on what outgoing girls they are. If they continue with the class, they'll be performing in a dance recital in June.
Claire Smiles!
This series of photos is either entitled "Claire Smiles" or "Janine must learn how to take a decent photo in which the camera is focused."
10.17.2009
Pre-School
Not a moment too soon, Grace and Lily started preschool. So far I am so happy with their preschool. It is such a caring and fun environment, perfect for their first experience at school.
On their first day of school looking a little unsure
At school looking much more confident
On their first day of school looking a little unsure
At school looking much more confident
Claire - Month Two
Poor third child. I've hardly taken any pictures of Claire. And we moved this month also only adding to the chaos. Here are a few photos from Claire's second month.
Claire - Month One
The picture below makes me laugh because it includes the whiteboard where you record every poop and pee those first few days. At one point I had to record my own urine output because my bladder was slow to recover from the c-section. There's a little TMI. And because Claire was almost premature and rather small, the lactation nurses devised this elaborate feeding plan. Thankfully, Claire showed just how capable she was and began exclusively breastfeeding by day three.
Claire - The Birth
So it's been awhile. We've been a little busy around here but I promise my readers (all five of you) that I will be better with updates.
The greatest news is that we had our baby girl Claire Anneliese on July 28, 2009, exactly three weeks early. She weighed 6lb 4oz and was 19 inches. Feel free to skip over my long novel below as most have already heard this story to some degree.
It started out like any other hot summer day. The girls and I had escaped the heat that morning and headed to my parents' house. My mom and dad took my car in that morning to have the brakes fixed. That afternoon my dad, the girls and I headed out in his car to the auto repair shop about twenty minutes away to pick up my car. My dad and the girls waited as I went inside to pay. It was then that I felt a small gush of something in my pants. Looking down my first thought was to check if I was bleeding, but then it occurred to me maybe my water just broke. Thankfully the cashier was a woman and I nervously blurted out, "I think my water just broke." She was calm and reassuring and as a mother of three herself she made it clear that I would not be able to drive in my somewhat panicked and shocked state.
I mean surely if I had carried twins to 38 1/2 weeks and only delivered them then because it was my scheduled c-section day, I wouldn't have an early singleton. :) I am a planner and all I could think was "my bags are not fully packed" and "I haven't really prepared the girls for this." So we left my car at the shop and back we drove in my dad's car as I called Ty and told him to meet me at my parents' house. Then I called my doctor's office and asked if I had time to go to my house and get my stuff. The nurse laughed at me and said, "No, the safest thing would be to go the hospital soon." And she also mentioned maybe it was just pee though I was fairly certain it wasn't. As it turns out, I would have had hours and more to go home but I guess they have to give the safest answer.
Shortly after arriving at the hospital, the nurses confirmed my water had broke and we discussed our options. It had always been my plan to attempt a v-bac (vaginal birth after cesarean). Ideally for that, you arrive at the hospital in some type of labor and are closely monitored because of the additional risks. Well I wasn't in labor at all. I was quite comfortable, experiencing no pain or contractions so the doctor called it a "premature membrane rupture." We waited three or four hours to see if anything progressed but it didn't. Nothing. I was still smiling and very comfortable and not dilated. To make a long story short, we opted for another c-section. The doctor on call was willing to give me many drugs to move things along but I knew my own doctor was not comfortable with using that many interventions in the case of a v-bac. Once we made our decision to have a c-section, Claire was born within the hour. And life hasn't been the same since. She's so sweet and unique and the perfect addition to our family of little girls.
The greatest news is that we had our baby girl Claire Anneliese on July 28, 2009, exactly three weeks early. She weighed 6lb 4oz and was 19 inches. Feel free to skip over my long novel below as most have already heard this story to some degree.
It started out like any other hot summer day. The girls and I had escaped the heat that morning and headed to my parents' house. My mom and dad took my car in that morning to have the brakes fixed. That afternoon my dad, the girls and I headed out in his car to the auto repair shop about twenty minutes away to pick up my car. My dad and the girls waited as I went inside to pay. It was then that I felt a small gush of something in my pants. Looking down my first thought was to check if I was bleeding, but then it occurred to me maybe my water just broke. Thankfully the cashier was a woman and I nervously blurted out, "I think my water just broke." She was calm and reassuring and as a mother of three herself she made it clear that I would not be able to drive in my somewhat panicked and shocked state.
I mean surely if I had carried twins to 38 1/2 weeks and only delivered them then because it was my scheduled c-section day, I wouldn't have an early singleton. :) I am a planner and all I could think was "my bags are not fully packed" and "I haven't really prepared the girls for this." So we left my car at the shop and back we drove in my dad's car as I called Ty and told him to meet me at my parents' house. Then I called my doctor's office and asked if I had time to go to my house and get my stuff. The nurse laughed at me and said, "No, the safest thing would be to go the hospital soon." And she also mentioned maybe it was just pee though I was fairly certain it wasn't. As it turns out, I would have had hours and more to go home but I guess they have to give the safest answer.
Shortly after arriving at the hospital, the nurses confirmed my water had broke and we discussed our options. It had always been my plan to attempt a v-bac (vaginal birth after cesarean). Ideally for that, you arrive at the hospital in some type of labor and are closely monitored because of the additional risks. Well I wasn't in labor at all. I was quite comfortable, experiencing no pain or contractions so the doctor called it a "premature membrane rupture." We waited three or four hours to see if anything progressed but it didn't. Nothing. I was still smiling and very comfortable and not dilated. To make a long story short, we opted for another c-section. The doctor on call was willing to give me many drugs to move things along but I knew my own doctor was not comfortable with using that many interventions in the case of a v-bac. Once we made our decision to have a c-section, Claire was born within the hour. And life hasn't been the same since. She's so sweet and unique and the perfect addition to our family of little girls.
7.25.2009
The Baby is Coming
Not yet, but she should be arriving sometime in the next three weeks. The girls keep asking if it's August yet because they know that means the baby's arrival is near.
People often ask me how this pregnancy differs from a twin pregnancy. I don't feel nearly as uncomfortable as I did at this point last time. And I can still be out in public without feeling freakishly large and eliciting many stares. Here's a 36 week belly shot, sadly one of only a few we've taken with our camera.
People often ask me how this pregnancy differs from a twin pregnancy. I don't feel nearly as uncomfortable as I did at this point last time. And I can still be out in public without feeling freakishly large and eliciting many stares. Here's a 36 week belly shot, sadly one of only a few we've taken with our camera.
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