Today was the day!

Gracyn Kay 8 lbs. 9oz. 19 inches long!

We welcome with love....Gracyn Kay! She has made her entrance into our world! This morning at 5:30 am I started contractions, but nothing real bad. We hung out in bed until about 8:00 this morning with both girls and I got up around 8:00 and put in our cinnamon rolls and hopped in the shower. In the back of my head I was thinking that this was it, and yet my contractions weren't unbearable yet. We had breakfast after I got ready and about 9:00 I decided I would call the labor line. I did hesitate b/c I knew two weeks ago when I had false labor - it was the same Dr. on call. I was afraid he would think I was looney again with false pains. He told me to come in if I think it was it. So I told Kyle I think we should go and of course he ran around the house wanting to put laundry in, collect trash, etc... Crazy guy. Finally I told him for real - we had to get going. My cousin Lindsay slept over night since we went out last night so she stayed and called my mom once she got out of church. Anyway - we got to our room by 10:15 am and Gracyn made her appearance by 11:01am. So you can probably guess since it went that fast - I got NO drugs. No epidural, not even stadol. I was feeling the need to push by 10:50. The Dr. checked me at about 10:35 and I was a 7. Obviously it progressed really quickly. Anyway - much was a blur, and yet I remember it all too - crazy. I remember saying I couldn't do it without an epidural, and yet I was pushing without even trying - just couldn't stop it! So I feel great and Gracyn is doing wonderfully. She is in warming up after her bath, which I got to go watch b/c I am not numb! That is one plus! So our home is the hospital for a while - it will be a nice break. Braelyn and Selah came already to meet their sister and Braelyn was very happy and excited, Selah just poked her a bit and moved on - LOL! Gall bladder pain is gone - I am praying for good! Thanks for all your prayers - it is truly a miracle to have a healthy beautiful baby girl!

I will post more pics when we get more good ones! My sister in law Nina will come and snap away with her rockin 40D!!!

No News...means no baby.

No baby. What was I thinking anyway - I am still a week out from my due date. Problem is...the back pain persists. Not only does it persist, it is getting worse. Thursday at work was HORRIBLE - I could not get comfortable. On the way home from work that night I called the salon where I used to work and made a maternity massage appointment with my favorite masseuse! Wed. night I did not sleep at all - I think I watched the time just keep ticking....slowly. Thur. night after Tylenol PM I FINALLY fell asleep, but the time up until that was excrutiating. I was near tears. So the massage was DYNAMIC today, however the pain is back. That is what leads me to agree with the doctor that it is my gall bladder - not just muscle/growth issues. My fear is that the gall bladder issue does not go away after baby - I pray it does. I am just saying that the epidural sounds pretty darn good right now - I am thinking when I do go into hospital, the first words out of my mouth will be "is the anesthesiologist ready?"

Tonight is computer time for me - although I will admit I am heading for the tylenol PM once I finish my post so we'll see how long I stay awake. Kyle is out with the guys tonight for a drink. He deserves it - he has been so busy lately. And I have had quite a few little "night outs". One of his friends is in from NY so it'll be nice for Kyle to see him. Tomorrow morning I think the girls and I will travel up to Kyle's job site just to be with him. It is a big hour drive one way so we'll maybe stop for breakfast and then hang out while he does a few things there. Girls will get good naps in afternoon and then my cousin is coming to watch the girls while we go out to dinner with 3 other couples. Olive Garden - YUMMM!!! Bring on the salad and breadsticks. Sunday - the normal sunday school, church, and lunch at moms.

Monday is another Dr. appt. - I am not holding out hope for anything though as far as a further idea of when or what. I am sure I will check back in then.

Sorry my posts have been all baby related lately - it probably won't get any better once I have the baby either - LOL. Hope you don't mind. If you do - I guess just stop reading - LOL!

Night all! Have a GREAT weekend!

Dr. update and a LO

Sharing a LO that I started last week, and now finally finished. I have no energy or time to really scrap lately so one LO a week is all I might manage. I do have lots of photos to scrap though. This should be the last one for the new babies book though before she arrives. She actually has quite a decent album already.

Credits here

So my Dr. appt. yesterday went good. Baby seems to be doing well - he said she is in a good environment. She seems happy. He did determine after talking to me and me pointing to where my pain is, that my gall bladder is probably acting up, causing the pain. She said the only cure is to have the baby unfortunately. Everything is just squished in there. So I will continue with my Tylenol PM for that. I have not dialated any further, but he did say he has good contact with the babies head, so she is down there. Unfortunately he said unless my water breaks he expects to see me next Monday at the office. The things that go thru my head are just amazing. All the anticipation. I know that she is probably easier inside of me than she will be when she comes out, but I still want her out - LOL. So that is my update - really not much new news unfortunately.

So just a slow week around here - not a whole lot going on. Still plan on working to the end. Braelyn is trucking along in school - she seems to LOVE it! They are doing such neat things in class and she seems to be learning how to be responsible which is a great thing. Selah - well she is just Selah. She is my stinker. A touch of a handful, but totally funny. While I was at BSF last night Kyle video taped the girls a bit and Selah busted out a new cute dance move for him! Cute to watch.

Off to clean a bit before heading back out to pick up Braelyn - have a great Tue. everyone!

Such a good weekend

We had such a good weekend! Thursday night, our dinner banquet for Winning at Home was AWESOME! Ok, ok, so I didn't LOVE the food, but I normally don't at those types of things b/c I am so picky - it was too fancy for me, but the entertainment and information we got was GREAT! One of the great things they are doing is called Married for Life, an awesome copncept in a world that is so divorce ridden! Kyle and I are signed up and there are great emails with good information. They want to have one million people sign up for this - so far they are just over 5,000 only - so sign up and make the commitment. You already have made the commitment on your wedding day to your spouse - now make the statement to the world that marriage is still an institution that is meant to last. The other thing I am looking forward to that Winning at Home is starting is a parenting event. Dan Seaborn is partnering with Mark Harris (singer/songwriter) and they are going to host an event on parenting - both speaking and singing! Should be good! So that was a great evening.

Fri. night was small group at our home - went well. Watched a video by Rob Bell -his Nooma series. The one we watched was entitled "Today" and it was about embracing today - not holding on to yesterday. How many of us say "oh back in highschool - those were the days" or "oh before having kids - wow that was a good time". Too often we spend so much time living in the past that we forget to embrace today and enjoy NOW. Good stuff. Good food and fellowship!

Sat. I got my hair done - FINALLY!!! Good morning out. Then by 5:00 we were headed out to the Professional Bull Riders event at a local arena. That is quite an amazing show. Even if you are not into bull riding (or think you would not be) I assure you they put on an amazing show. We had a good dinner before hand too at Friday's! We didn't get home until about 12:00am - late night for me - LOL!

Yesterday (Sunday) we did Sunday school and church and then to Kyle's mom for a good Sunday lunch. Girls did naps (as did myself) and then we went out to the beach with a pizza. It was a GORGEOUS night! I can't believe this weather here in Michigan lately. Today is supposed to be 88 degrees. Maybe a record high for this time of year here. We have had great sun to lately. So nice - although - 88 is a little too warm for this pregnant woman! Work today inside anyway so it will be fine. Tonight I have BSF and it is fellowship night too so I think I will try to go early and get to know my group a little better. Not sure yet if I will sit thru the lecture part though b/c I am in such pain/uncomfort lately with my back and ribs so it is a long time to be sitting for me.

No baby of course yet. I see MY doctor today at 4:00 so hopefully he will say i have dialated more and things are progressing. It is so funny b/c I know of 2 other gals that are due the same time and all of us are on our 3rd to 4th child - and no babies. Maybe we'll all be at hospital together! I have been having the pain I mentioned - like starts under my right chest area (rib pain) and then wraps around to the back muscle of upper back. Severe pain - sometimes takes my breath away. I called the nurses line finally on Fri. thinking they could give me something stronger than Tylenol to take. The nurse called me back after checking with Dr. and she told me to get liquid antacid b/c he thought my stomach may be irritated. WHAT??? I don't think they understand what I mean. So I did try it just to appease them, but no such luck. While I was at the pharmacy though I also picked up Tylenol PM to at least help me sleep. It has helped a bit, but I am still extremely tired from lack of sleep. Just preparing me I guess! Other than that, the contractions have slowed and aside from the normal pressure I feel down there things are just sitting tight. Could still go to my due date - we'll see! The anticipation kills me. Braelyn is so excited too! I think she will just LOVE having a little baby around - although she is at the age now that she will want to hold her all the time. Selah won't really care much I don't think.

Well, I hope you all had a great weekend too! See ya on the flip side!

MercyMe - Bring The Rain

Let the fun begin

First and foremost - THANK YOU ALL for the kind words of encouragement. I have gotten over the whole issue from yesterday. I did cry for a good 2 hours almost, but thanks to Kyle, Beth, and all your comments I made it thru the afternoon. Kyle had a talk with Selah before dinner and made her apologize and told her that is uncalled for. She apologized so sweetly to me. He then offered that I stay home while he went with the girls to his grandma's house b/c it was her 87th birthday! I took him up on that since I was going to head to Mindy's house around 8:00 for scrapping. The time in the house by myself for an hour was divine. I did a little quick clean and then hopped in the shower for a nice peaceful shower. Did a little face mask, put on my PJ's and headed to Mindy's. We had a good night of chatting and scrapping with some apple crisp and chips and dip! So, I have overcome once again and it is all looking up from here on out!

Tonight after work Kyle and I will go directly to a dinner banquet with my sister and her husband and a neighbor couple! Should be a nice adult night with a comedian - who can't use a good laugh - right? Tomorrow is school for Braelyn and then cleaning up the house for our small group to come at 6:30. Good food, good fun! Sat. morning I finally get my hair done - man oh man does it need it - I have about 2 inches of dark roots. I think I will have her put lowlights in along with the highlights to hide the growth a little longer! But at least I should have new fresh hair for the baby coming and all the pictures! 20 months ago I had short dark dark hair - so crazy that 20 months ago I was in the hopital having Selah and Braelyn was then 20 months old! Sat. night the PBR event in G.R. - again - adults. So I will get my fair share of adult time this weekend - which will be good b/c it may be a while before we get that again with a new nursing baby!

So - again thanks for the encouragement - I really appreciate you gals and I know I am not alone. Sorry I post those types of posts even, but hey - this is my everyday life blog right! We don't all have perfect days and that is okay - I do believe that God makes us stronger thru them - just not sure how yet. I must admit I don't have Him anywhere close to figured out! I just know He is amazing and He works in amazing ways. Ironically Selena was emailing me to see how I am doing right around the time my poop incident was happening - I truly believe God put me on her heart and that is why she emailed me - and she is sitting there with no hubby and two kids for a whole week - what is she thinking thinking of me - LOL! I have a song that keeps popping into my head that is by a christian artist and it is about taking the rain if it makes me praise God more, etc.. - I have been looking for it on google and when I find it I will post it b/c it is sooo good. If any of you know which one I am talking about please do tell!
ETA - It is the song "Bring the Rain" by Mercy Me - Thanks Amy! I am trying to have the YouTube Video play on the blog.

So I will probably not check back in here this weekend - until maybe Sunday. Big shout out to Janet Phillips and her ventures of SOY (Scrapbooker of the Year) out in Las Vegas this weekend - GOOD LUCK!

Shitty Day (excuse the language - this post might be full of it)

I am about to BLOW. I just got done cleaning up a crib, floor, and kid FULL of POOP. She has now heard EVERY swear word on the face of this earth. If you are the perfect mother that has NEVER done this then read no further and just ignore the whole post - as if you never even checked it once. I am tearing as I write this. Not because I am sorry for how I acted, but because I am so MAD. I cannot handle one more thing this week. I am mean to my kids and I can't handle the way they are acting. Who freaking never warned me that I would have to SCRUB shit off of a nearly two year old who has eaten it and smeared it all over EVERYTHING. This is not what I signed up for folks. Yesterday I was in tears and today again in tears. I recover so quickly which I guess is good, but I am just plain sick of it. It's not like I don't get breaks - I do. My husband is good about helping too - GREAT in fact. He wants more kids - I really just think God is saying I need to be done. I am just not cut out for this. Braelyn is now up and looking at me and wondering why I am crying. She is turning on the TV - which she can't go for more than an hour without. ARGH. What's a mother to do. Anyway - I shouldn't even post this b/c I know it will be fine in an hour and I will take everything back. And of course I will get some ridicule from mothers who have NEVER had a child poop all over in their crib and say "You should have handled it differently", but oh well. OK - rant done.

On a lighter note - here is one more LO to share that is being added to the new babies book.