I'm a Mommy x 2!

Avery made her appearance June 13 at 2:02pm after only 5 1/2 hours of labor. She weighed in at 6lbs 10oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. I had to be induced b/c my blood pressure was up and some other factors that made the doctor not want to put it off. I was only 1 day before my due date too. Wow, labor was completely different this time then when I had Asa. I went au-natural with him, no drugs, nothing. We had some complications and it ended up being a pretty traumatic experience...more than what I thought initially. Avery's birth was so calm and light-hearted. I actually enjoyed myself and visited with family while in labor. The hospital staff were in great spirits and the anticipation of meeting Avery was building throughout the morning. I had some problems with my epidural but it ended up being an awesome delivery. I never thought I would say those words. I was so terrified of giving birth again but feel I could do this again....just a little scared of the epidural. Avery was so wide-eyed and alert after she was born and hardly looked like a newborn. We enjoyed about 20 minutes with her before she had to go to the nursery. She was admitted to the NICU b/c of her heart condition. She had an EKG and it came back that all was normal and she would be staying in my room instead of NICU. Praise God! That is what I prayed for. So we were reunited 3 hours later and had a 2day stay at the hospital.
She is completely heart-healthy and will have another EKG in 3 months just to check her anatomy again. Dr. Bremer still saw some narrowing of her artery but believes it to be transitional or just part of her normal anatomy. She told us she will not require surgery.

Avery is so beautiful and we are so in love with her. Big brother is adjusting okay. It has been a challenging week but he is doing much better..a lot of emotions. Daddy goes back to work this week and I'm definitely nervous about having complete care for 2 kids all day and night. Asa still wakes up some nights and I'm afraid I won't be able to tend to him and Avery at the same time. I know all the kinks will get worked out but it's just nerve-wracking to think about. My MIL is close by and has been a great help! (Thanks, Sharon!) I do know that I am a lot calmer this time around then when I was a first-time mom. It has been nice to just enjoy Avery instead of worrying every 5 seconds. She has a weight check-up this week and we are anxious to see how much she has gained. She has been such an easy baby and only wakes up for one middle of the night feeding. I hope this is a sign of things to come. lol

Counting down...

I tried to blog a few weeks ago but something on our computer was blocking me from using blogger...so here I am, back like I promised!

Our little girl is due in 6 days and I am ready for her to make her appearance. I thought she might show up yesterday after 40 minutes of consistent contractions but no-show. This of course, took place at 2 in the morning and Pete was working. He came home and his mother came over just in time for everything to come to a standstill. Why do these things seem to happen in the wee hours of the night? If they hadn't been 5 minutes apart and painful, I may have waited longer to call but I guess you just never know. So here we are, no contractions today but plenty of heat! It was supposed to be 97 out but I'm not sure what it actually made it to. Needless to say, if it's 75 or higher and you're 10 months pregnant, it feels like an oven. Our thermostat at home runs all the time now and Pete and Asa are always bundled up at bedtime while I am throwing the sheets off of me. We know Asa will be a great big brother! We got a new stroller yesterday and he thinks it's for him. I can already picture him wanting to push Avery around. He also likes to cuddle with her. He gets a blanket and cuddles up to my belly and says he is snuggling with Avery.

I guess that's all to report. I've been enjoying daily naps, semi-quiet evenings, and lots of heartburn. I won't miss the latter. We will soon be a family of 4 and it's going to be so awesome!

Another story of survival

Ok, so not that dramatic but I am done with school....and I survived..yet again! Finals ended yesterday and I am so relieved to be home and not trying to schedule study time.

Our little girl is due in 6 weeks and I still feel totally unprepared. I am hoping to get her room in order this next week. I've already washed a few loads of baby stuff but I am at a standstill. We need to paint her room before I can do anything else. Ok, I just got really tired.....so I'll be back, I promise. It has been hard to keep up with the blog with how busy I've been.

Has it been that long?!

I can't believe my last post was in December. Life just gets in the way I guess. The new baby will be here in 3 months and I don't feel one bit prepared. :(

I do want to post some of what Asa has been up to. His new "funny" thing to do is wipe your kisses off his mouth/face and hand them back to you. What a stinker.

This morning he needed to go potty and still needs help getting up on the toilet. He asked if he could "pee pee" in his pants. I said, "No! We don't pee pee in our pants!" He asked, "Why?" I asked it back to him, "Why don't we pee pee in our pants?" His response, "To forgive our sins." I just busted out laughing. That's a new one.

A few weeks ago my feet were hurting from standing too much. I sat down and verbally announced my feet were hurting. Asa came over to me with a concerned expression and then wants to know why my toes hurt. He was patting them and then I showed him how to rub them. He started to give me a foot rub (and it felt great). I let him know that he was doing a good job. He immediately stops and then says, "It'll get better Mommy" while tapping my foot. Ah man, I was just getting into it.

Can't think of what else at the moment, but there are more. Asa is very excited about his baby sister, as long as she is coming later....not right now. :)

I survived...and passed!!!

Since school has been out I have been busy doing things to prepare for Christmas. I thought I should update on my first semester though. I took my finals last week and was so relieved when I finished that I immediately went shopping at Target afterwards, guilt-free!! (I had a gift card too, that helped)

My Chem final was extremely hard! I couldn't believe the questions that were on it, I only needed a 40 to pass but wasn't so sure I could even pull that off. Apparently, I did something right because I received my grades today and I earned a "C"!! I am thrilled beyond thrilled! I received "A's" in my other 3 classes and it just spurs me on for the next semester. I'm only taking 2 classes in the spring b/c of being pregnant and will be in my 3rd trimester towards the end. I'll be taking my next Chemistry class (#2 of 4) and Life Span Nutrition. I am really looking forward to my nutrition class, after all, that's the field I want to work in. I heard the professor who teaches it played a part in the Get Moving America initiative.

Anyway, I am enjoying my break and being home with Asa everyday. This past Sunday it was really cold and yucky outside. Asa and I spent the afternoon baking cookies and cuddled on the couch watching old Christmas shows. It was a great day. Pete rented the Nativity Story the other night which was really good and we still have to have our annual viewing of "White Christmas". We are praying for a white Christmas. Snow is in the forecast for the 23rd, I hope it stalls a little so we can have some on the big day.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful and memorable Christmas and a 2008 filled with favor!

Break out the leg warmers...

and high-top LA Gears! Spandex pants are back in, or are they? I walked into my Communications class today and stopped dead in my tracks. Bright neon blue spandex pants!!!! And they were SHINY! I couldn't stop staring, it was like a train wreck. Here's the best part. The girl that was wearing them was also sporting a small man's white Hanes tshirt and cowgirl boots. Yup. You read correctly.

I think I can....I think I can....

END OF THE SEMESTER!!!! WOOHOO!!!

About two weeks ago, I didn't think I would make it. Everything was coming down at once, and still is, but I am managing it. I realized that I always get things done, especially under pressure, and that I just need to relax and take a deep breath. I have one more paper to write, 2 presentations, and a chem quiz. Then it's finals. I had my last Chem lab last night, so glad to be done with that....well, at least until January. Then I get to start my next Chem lab, but this time it will be Tuesday night instead of Friday night...that was brutal.

Well, we are getting geared up for the big T-day. I bought my groceries today and then we're driving to my sister's on Wednesday. My brother and his wife are coming up from Fl too so it will be fun to all be together. Asa can't wait to see my sis's dog, Rosco. :) Speaking of Asa, he is something else. He amazes me everyday with what he says. The funniest thing he did lately was this: I was gone at school to work on homework and Asa was at Meemaw's house. When I got there I gave him a big hug and said, "Mmm, Mmmm, Mmmm"...he replied with "...Poss-i-bili-ties" in a sing-song way. I just cracked up. He was singing the Campbell's soup jingle. What a stinker.


Happy Thanksgiving All!!!!