she's here!

Im trying to sneak a moment while all 3 babies are napping ;)
Miss Audrey Susan Lowder was born a week ago today 10.01.09 at 8:50 am. We are thrilled, in love, tired, not entirely overwhelmed, and just having a great time with our new family.
Last Wednesday night was pretty normal, and we were resigned to the fact that I was not going to go into labor, and we would have our scheduled c-section on Monday the 5th. I went to bed before Ron, and woke up at about 1. He was in bed at that point watching Back to the Future. I woke thinking I had to pee...BUT..ah hem..it wouldn't stop, and every movement I made, more came out. I was a bit in shock, and turned to Ron. He said "are you okay"? I said "I think we have to go" he said "go where"? hahaha, because there are other places we could go at 1 am with the boys asleep, and we are in bed.
So, I called the on call..who of course told me to go to L&D..but cleared me to take a shower before hand. Ron called Grandma and told her to come on over to watch the boys..I finished throwing stuff in my hospital bag, even put on a little make-up (because I have always been jealous of how awesome some ladies look in their labor/first pics with baby pictures) and we were on our way. Poor Ron was EXHAUSTED already, i had slept for 2 hours..but he had yet to go to sleep. We got there, and were sent straight to triage in L&D..it took forever for someone to come in, and even though I wasn't yet in real pain...the contractions were starting, and I was still leaking..which was just so uncomfortable. Finally, I got hooked up...everything looked great with the baby, and soon enough a resident came in to check everything out. It was funny..she said "okay, we're gonna do a test to rule out rupture", Ron and I looked at each other and when she left the room we both said "what? rule out rupture? WE KNOW I ruptured, haha..I'm pretty sure I have never peed that much in my life, and unless I have lost all bladder control..it was my water.
She started the exam and said "oh yeah, you've ruptured, I don't even need to test this" Yeah, no kidding.
She then did a digital internal exam (digital as in fingers)..and she said I was 6cm and 80 % effaced..HOLY COW, really??!!
She then went to talk to the chief resident, and came back to talk to me..really suggesting me to change my mind and go back to attempting a VBAC, because I was so far along. I waffled about it, but decided I would let the chief resident check me to see if she thought physically I could attempt a VBAC (there was some question about my bone structure, that is why we scheduled the c-section).
The chief resident came to check me, and I was so thrilled to see it was the same doc who did my c-section with the boys :) She was very sweet and caring..I knew she would take care of me. SOOOO, she checks me and low and behold..I am actually only 1-2 cm and 70%, hahaha and she said she would definitely recommend the section based on my pelvic bone structure.
She seemed so annoyed with the other resident, I didn't really care, I just needed someone to help me with that decision..so I was glad to have the confirmation.
I guess with all of the checking me, and stirring things up, my body started kicking into gear..the contractions started picking up, and when I say picking up, I mean became excruciating. I knew it was gonna be a while, because there were 2 sections ahead of me. So, they gave me some IV pain meds, which helped for about 30 minutes. All the while Ron was sleeping in his chair with his head on the foot of my bed. Soon enough the meds wore off, and it was even worse than when i requested the drugs. Now here is where I offer great praise and adoration for any woman who has done a natural childbirth..all I could think about in that time was making that pain stop. I was literally screaming, crying, and begging to anyone, and no one to help me.
Ron slept through most of it, hahaha...he did wake up every once in a while to rub my legs (which somehow helped) and to tell me I was doing great. The nurses were great..they took me very seriously, and knew I was in great pain..so then came the decision as to whether give me an epidural or wait until I was in surgery and just do the spinal. The anesthesiologist came in any pretty quickly decided to just do the epidural to help me ASAP. THANK GOD FOR HER :) She was actually the same anesthesiologist who took 3 tries to get my spinal last time..she was still training then, and a year has done her great..she did perfect!
After that...whew! it was a breeze, I started calling people, texting, and soon enough they came in to get us ready.

We got into the operating room, and I was shaking so much from the epidural that I could not hold anything still..I still don't know how they cut me, because I could see my lower body shaking too! Ron came in and we were on the way. Just like last time, it went so fast, but this time I remember everything much better :) and just like last time, they didn't tell me a thing, which I loved. I always see on baby shows where they say exactly what they are doing, and ya know what? I don't want to hear that you are cutting the skin, cutting the uterus, etc. I don't want to hear that "you will feel some pressure" because I think that makes you brace more for it, and probably feel worse. I didn't feel a thing either time. Soon they said "baby is almost out" and as they said that we could hear her crying..before she was even out, haha. She sounded just like a cat..a cat being tortured, but a cat nonetheless, haha.
They lifted her for Ron to see, and took her over to the warmer. I could hear everyone just raving about her, and the anesthesiologist kept giving me a running commentary of everything..and she told Ron to go over and take pictures





He showed me the pics, and I could not believe how beautiful she was :)
I heard the Docs talking and saying that her APGAR scores were 9 and 9, and that they had considered giving her a 10. The anesthesiologist told me that she had never heard them come close to giving a baby a 10 :) awesome!
Then the doc brought her over to Ron to hold.




Soon enough they were all done, and wheeling me into recovery. My beautiful girl was there waiting for me, long enough for me to give her a kiss, then she was off to the nursery to go under the warmer for a bit longer. Ron went to watch her get her first bath and get weighed, while I just relaxed in recovery, with my pain meds ;)
When he came back and told me she was 7 lbs 10 oz..I was shocked. I knew she was measuring a bit big, but I really wasn't expecting that, after 3 lb babies..it was a nice change.
Ron went off to go home, get a shower, a nap, and be with the boys..and I was taken to my room, where they brought my little lady to me. Right away we decided to try breastfeeding, and my little champ was amazing right away..latched on no problem, again...after preemies who I wasn't even able to attempt to feed until 2 weeks old..that was such a great moment for me.
All I could think about was wanting to see my little guys though...so, that afternoon, Ron came back with my best buddies..


Grandma and Grandpa each got some time with Miss Audrey



Aunt Kimmie was there too..she spent most of her time helping to wrangle my crazy monkeys who were trying to pull out my IV, call the nurses, emptying the boxes of sterile gloves, and adjusting my bed for me ;)
The rest of my stay was uneventful. I spent all of my time trying to walk (since I knew that was key to a quick recovery), and feeding and bonding with my girl. I was thrilled to have Uncle Dave come and hang out with me for Friday night and a while on Saturday..and he went and helped Ron finish getting the nursery ready. WE LOVE YOU UNCLE DAVE!! (and thank you for saving me from hospital food twice!!)

Sunday seemed to take forever to get there. I just wanted to get home to my 3 guys, and get my lady home and start a new routine. Finally though, Sunday came, and Ron and the boys came (with help from Grandma) to take Audrey and I home.



and my welcoming committee..


Audrey got settled in pretty quickly


Ronnie has a new best friend :) He really loves her, and gets excited every time he sees her saying "baybee baybee" over and over



Aunt Kimmie got some Audrey time


Audrey and Daddy getting some bonding time..


A gassy smile is still beautiful


I am a bit on the exhausted side..but truly I can't complain about a thing..she sleeps pretty well at night, waking only every 3-4 hours to eat. The boys have been awesome, although it is killing me that I can't lift them at all :( Exhaustion, not getting cleaning done, not being able to do things physically that I want to do..none of that matters..I have the most amazing family, I am blessed beyond words. I am so thankful for my miracles..

anticipation/preparation

So, as the days are going by I am getting more and more excited about our new arrival. I can't even mention though how excited I am without addressing the little bit (ha ) of nervousness I am feeling too.
There is still so much to be done around here..we are still in the process of cleaning out the second nursery (which used to be our office/guest room). Then, we are painting this week..the furniture has been ordered, and is in..we just have to pick it up.

this is the crib we are getting along with the small dresser/changing table combo :) i LOVE it!


I also have been trying to clean as much as possible. I felt so rushed last time...well, wonder why? haha. Didn't really expect the boys to be 10 weeks early and even though they were in the hospital for 3 weeks, and we had time to get ready then..I lived at the hospital with them the first 2 weeks, and then when I went home..I traveled back and forth twice a day..usually spending from about 8am-10pm with them. It was such a shock when they told us Joey could go home, we spent one insane day buying everything we needed, and cleaning the house (on our second anniversary :) I was thinking about that last night. That day began my true sleep depravation..and I still have yet to catch up ;)

I want this time to be different (on many levels)..It's going to be overwhelming for sure, but I want to at least have my surroundings prepared :)

Here is the bedding we (I, haha) have chosen..what do ya think?


as for the walls..i am thinking of a nice pink..not as bright as the room in the pic, for sure
i've been mixing and matching colors on the olympic paint website..and this is an idea of what i am thinking..pink with green accent :) let me know what you think!


The boys are not gonna be left out by any means :) I am trying to think of fun ways to make them happy and occupy them, where i can watch them, and be involved, but can have a baby strapped to me while i play with them :)
these are two things i would love to get them when she gets here:



if anybody else has more ideas on great fun toys for toddlers, let me know!!

Well, the boys are napping, and all of this thinking makes me want to get to work..so..off to clean the nursery :) Please give me any input you can on my ideas!

summer '09 in review

So, I won't spend too much time saying how I'm sorry I never post, and that I will try to do better this time, haha. We all know how that works out. Instead I will show you all of the fun things we have been doing this summer instead of spending time on the computer ;) The past couple of months especially, I have really wanted to concentrate on spending time with the boys, and giving them my undivided attention..because in a few weeks they will have to share my attention. The only reason I am able to do this right now is because they begged to get in their jumperoos..which I was ready to pack up, because they had no interest in them, and it's a bit silly putting these big boys in them now! haha For whatever reason though, in the past couple of weeks they beg to get in them about every other day, and jump like mad to the music we listen to in the morning.

Sooo, before we get to the pictures..let me think about what is new since last time..

The boys are everywhere! running, climbing on everything..Joey pulled a table on to himself and sent us to our first emergency doctor trip! It's only the beginning, I know..

They are learning so much it's crazy...they are really good at pointing out pictures in picture books, and have learned some new words, and even animal sounds.
Word wise:
Joey can say dada, mama (which was nana first, and every once in a while still is), done (duh), baba (bottle), num (nummies-food),cup, baby (buhbee) which sounds a lot like his bye bye, which is his favorite thing to say right now..along with his cute wave, which is sometimes towards himself, haha

Ronnie says dada, mama, done, down, no (usually sounds like doe), dog (all 4 of those can kind of sound alike at times), cup, baby (baybeee), gubgub (yo gabba gabba) and he will meow at pictures of cats, and bark at dogs :) he doesn't usually SAY bye bye..he will just wave..BUT the other night when Ron and I were going out on a rare date he said his first phrase "bye dada", it was so cute!!!

Health news..they both weigh about 23-24 lbs (although i swear for some reason they both gained about 5 lbs in the last week, haha..i think it might just be me)
We took Ronnie to the allergist, because of a few reactions and discovered he is allergic to eggs (not a HUGE surprise, because I am too), milk (which we had assumed when they were smaller, but he is growing out of it), and DOGS! uh oh! The doc said it was fine, he just can't sleep in the room with them.
She said to assume Joey is allergic to the same stuff, and we will retest in a year.
We were actually able to make the switch to whole milk with him with no problem..I guess thats a big sign that the milk allergy is fading. Joey on the other hand had a TERRIBLE time with the switch, so he is staying on formula at least until 18-19 months.

Ron and Nora news..Ron's Academy of Rock is doing amazingly well, which is wonderful..BUT we didn't see much of him this summer :( He is on his break between semesters now and we are LOVING having him home :)

I am now 35 weeks, which is a huge deal :) Miss Audrey now weighs (probably) about as much as both boys together when they were born, and at our last ultrasound at 32 weeks, she weighed more than the boys did when they came home! I am being pretty closely monitored for any of the issues I had last time. I have had twice weekly non-stress tests since 28 weeks, and have been seeing the doctor weekly. So, I'm hoping we have at least 3 more weeks of cooking to do :) With NO SICKNESS this time PLEASE!!

Alrighty..here comes the good stuff..pictures!

We went back to Nags Head for a weekend and visited the boys favorite place..the aquarium. It is SUCH a different experience with walkers!!




We also went back to Busch Gardens..which was also a TON more fun with walking boys :) Had a great time visiting with our great friends, the Grubbs family from Hawaii






just random cuteness


Fun with a great group of people :)



we have spent a lot of time on the patio this summer, just to be outside :)





and we LOVED our water park







First Haircuts followed by a visit to see daddy at work and a chance to rock out!








more random cute trouble


mama and the boys


since daddy has been on break, we are trying to squeeze as much into the end of the summer as we can..
visiting every park we can





roughhousing with daddy is our very favorite activity



back to Busch Gardens!! (thank goodness for Aunt Kimmie, who has been so helpful and awesome this summer :)








and this is my latest pic..everybody thinks i look about to drop. :)


Sooo, it has been an eventful summer..and I have been enjoying every second with my boys..it just keeps getting better and better :)