Our First Date

Troy and I went on our first date since having three kids on my birthday last month.  Our friend and neighbor, Mendy, was nice enough to watch all three kids!  We went out at Jackson and Madelyn's nap time and saw Midnight in Paris and did a little mall shopping.  It was so nice to get out and actually be able to hold my husband's hand!  All in all, it was a great date and a great birthday.

Curly Madelyn Sue

 Madelyn's hair has grown quite a bit in the last couple of months.  I haven't received a "Oh!  What a cute boy!" comment about her in a while, so that is a sign that Madelyn's little curly locks make her look more like a girl.  :)  To me, she has always looked like a girl, even when bald!  When her hair is wet, it almost reaches her mid-back and when her hair is dry, her curls touch the top of her shoulders.  I love her sweet curls!

And the "Trilogy" is comlete!

The most common questions that Troy and I get as parents of three are, "How are Madelyn and Jackson doing with a baby?" and "How's it with three?"  To answer those questions, I would have to say Madelyn and Jackson are doing wonderfully with their little brother.  Both of the ask to hold him, which is really sweet!  Madelyn with get up on the couch, put a pillow in her lap as if she is preparing to sit with the baby, and says, "Baby!" while patting the pillow.  That is her precious way of asking to hold her brother.  Jackson asks to hold him and look at him all the time.  He often asks if he is awake and why he sleeps so much.  I know Jackson looks forward to the day when he can play Hot Wheels with his brother!

 As for parenting three very little ones, we are doing just fine.  Of course we are in somewhat of a haze due to lack of sleep, but that is to be expected.  When we tell people the ages of our children, we often get the comment, "Oh!  You two are busy!"  Of course we are! We knew we would be and really wouldn't have it any other way now!

Bath Time! (Owen's First Water Bath)

When Owen got his first bath in the infant tub last month (don't worry...he has had plenty since then!), I knew he enjoyed himself.  This wasn't because he let out coos of delight or smiled at me as I put him in the water because he didn't.  He fell asleep.  That's right!  As soon as his little body was surrounded by the warm water, he closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.  I'm pretty sure this is just a sign of the laid-back personality that he seems to have.  What a joy is has been to get to know this little one!

Our First Outing

For our first attempt to get out of the house after Owen was born we headed to the Dos Lagos shopping center.  (This was back in June!) It could be the 20 minute drive or the hills surrounding the location, or perhaps the two lakes that reflect the sunset that makes us feel like we are on vacation while at this shopping center.  We ate frozen yogurt at Pink Berry and took a very short walk to the waterfall in between the lakes.  The sun was setting and the air was cool...the perfect atmosphere for a walk!  We also took our first family photo (besides the hospital photo) as a family of five.  At the end of this trip, Jackson said, "Mommy, I'm glad you can come out with us again!"  After nearly 8 weeks of staying home on bedrest, then recovery, so am I!

Owen's Birth Story

  For those of you who are interested in how Owen made it into this world, here is the scoop!  During the first few days of April, I started feeling contractions.  I was almost 32 weeks, and suspected that this wasn't normal.  So, with that in mind, I headed to the Labor and Delivery floor at the hospital.  They hooked me up to the monitors which revealed that I was getting regular contractions (every few minutes).  After 6 hours, a shot, and a couple pills, the contractions halted enough for the doctor to send me home.  Due to the fact that I was getting contractions so early, I was put on a pill to stop the contractions every time they started and complete bedrest with "only trips to the bathroom."  I must admit that I had a moment when I sort of "freaked out" about the amount of help I would need with childcare, cleaning, and cooking.  Even though I have seen time and time again how God miraculously provides, I doubted Him for a moment (or two...).  He soon showed me how well He provides!  We were provided with nearly 6 weeks of meals, all the childcare we needed, and enough help with housework to keep my house in order for the 6 weeks I was on bedrest.  Troy and I are so very thankful for the tangible way Christ's love was shown to us through His people!

At 37 weeks pregnant, a day or two before Owen was born.

  Six weeks after being put on bedrest, I had a checkup with my doctor.  I had been uncontrollably itching for the last 5-6 weeks and complained about it for the third time.  I told him Benadryl did not work.  Scratching the itches, mainly on my legs, ankles, feet, arms, and back didn't help either.  In fact, I was itching my skin raw!  The doctor FINALLY decided to look at my file only to discover that the Liver Panel blood test I did six weeks before was "Slightly elevated."  I asked how high the numbers were and the doctor repeated that they were "slighted elevated."  I then asked what the exact numbers were.  I had the same problem with the previous pregnancy and I knew where my liver enzymes were supposed to be.  The doctor reluctantly showed me the numbers.  Perhaps this was because he made the mistake of not telling me before that they were high!  Liver Enzymes are supposed to be 30-40 at the most.  At the time of the blood test, my enzymes were up to 115!  He then decided that I had something called "Cholestasis" and brushed it off as the body just not getting rid of bile as fast due to pregnancy.  I already knew of this condition and knew that it was certainly more serious than that!  He opted for another Liver Panel blood test. 

The doctor called me a couple days later (on Friday, May 13th) and told me he needed to deliver the baby because my liver enzymes had gone up to 146.  I was not suprised.  He was going to schedule a C-section for that evening or the next day.  I decided the day before to stop taking the pill that was preventing me from going into labor.  Even with taking the pill, my contractions were becoming stronger and more regular.  So, by 1pm on Friday, May 13th, I was going into labor.  Of course, feeling contractions off and on for six weeks, I second-guessed myself and didn't think I needed go in yet.  By 4:30, we were packing up the car to head to the hospital.  By the time I got hooked up to the monitors at the hospital, I was dilated to 6 and my contractions were coming ever 2-3 minutes.  It happened VERY fast.  As I lay there in the hospital bed, the medical staff hurried to prep me for the c-section.  I very much regretted waiting that long to go into Labor and Delivery.  I was in pain, but I breathed through the contractions knowing that I would soon see my baby boy!  On Friday, May 13th at 8:30 on the dot, Owen was born.  He was unresponsive at first.  The medical staff in the operating room didn't tell Troy and I this, but we knew because we didn't hear him cry and I could hear the respiratory therapist slapping Owen's back vigorously to try and get the fluid out.  The said they got 10 (I'm assuming "CCs") of fluid out of his lungs, and finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we heard his cry!  Owen was born at a healthy 7lbs and 19 inches long.  I got to hold him a few hours later after being in the recovery room.  Even the third time around, there is nothing like finally getting to hold the child God grew inside your womb!  What a precious gift!

 

 

Madelyn @ 18-19 months

 Madelyn has become quite the independent little girl.  She loves doing things on her own, even when she really does need help, and she entertains herself very well.  She has developed such a sweet personality.  She loves ALL animals and expresses so much joy when she sees them.  She gives all her stuffed animals and baby dolls kisses all the time and takes care of them while pushing them in her strollers.  We didn't teach her that.  It certainly came naturally to her!

 Madelyn's hair has grown as well.  When wet, it is a few inches past the bottom of her neck.  It has a mind of its own (like on this recent trip to Disneyland), but most of the time, it naturally curls up in ringlets.  So stinking adorable, if I must so say myself!

 This little girl has always been a good eater, but, like her brother, she has a great love for Chipotle!

 Madelyn says a great deal of words now.  She is also starting to combine more words.  She, or course, can say, "Kitty-Kitty", doggy, monkey, ducky, bath, teeth ("eeth"), Mama, Dada, Jackson ("aack-on"),  cracker ("cra-ka"), broccoli, cookie, and she says the cutest little phrase if she wants up on something..."Upp, peas!"  :) She also is starting to call our cats by name, Abby, Olive, and Cassie.  One of her favorite characters is Lightning McQueen from Cars and every time she sees him, she exclaims, "CAR!"   Obviously, a big influence from her older brother!

 Madelyn converted from two naps to one this month.  At first, the transition was a tough, but a much needed one.  She started to give up her afternoon naps and then was super grumpy by dinner, so I knew it was time!  Now, she takes one nap in the afternoon, the same time as Jackson.  In theory, this is good because I can take a little nap.

 When I was sick with pneumonia in January, Madelyn and Troy really bonded.  She really loves her Daddy!  If she doesn't see him in the morning because she didn't wake up before he headed off to work, she asks for him throughout the day.  She also waits by the living room window, keeping on the lookout for her Daddy when it is time for him to come home.  The look she gives him is priceless!

Madelyn's other favorite person is her brother.  This picture illustrates her love for him.  She loves sharing with him (most of the time!), and wants to do everything he does.  Of course, this proves to be a little much for Jackson at times, but he embraces most of it.  She loves to copy him in the way he moves and talks.  Jackson loves telling knock-knock jokes and whenever he does, she chimes in, "knock-knock!"  They are starting to play together well, with a little scream or cry every few minutes.  Mostly, they just giggle together!  I love to see their relationship grow.  It's one of the sweetest perks of parenting!