So happy together.

He learned to smile!

I love it, because now if you smile at him he breaks out into this big dimply grin. hee hee

Maybe she'll live in a commune someday.

Blue figured out how to get her pj's off during nap time and bedtime. Happily she plays naked until that cold wind hits her and she pees. Frustrated with the increase in laundry, D and I decided to start safety pinning her pajamas closed. HA! She laughed at that feeble attempt to keep her clothed. The next morning there she was naked again. We got her this time. Last night, we put the safety pin through the eyelet of the zipper so she literally couldn't move it. You ccould feel her mind working and the mischievous smile come out. This morning I went into her room and there she was, NAKED! She wriggled her body up and out of the neck hole, so the pajamas were still perfectly in tactand unzipped. Suggestions? =)

Financial questions

Today Blue runs into the room and says, "Hey Mommy! Hey Mommy! I got a question for you." She very seriously said, " How much is that doggie in the window?"

Baby J is one month old!

All right I admit I'm a day behind, but hey at least I'm getting better with each kid! He is changing so fast.

John and the moose

Nana and Papa gave baby John this awesome moose as a birth present. He loves it. The moose lives right beside his little bed. Thanks Nana and Papa!

hee hee

There is nothing like little baby feet. =)

Merry Christmas 2007

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Here are some pictures of ours.

This is me at two years old. My mother found the dress and Blue wore it for a photo with the same pose. Its interesting to see the differences where we are the exact same age. I was shorter with longer, lighter hair.


Blue at two.

This is Christmas Eve. John is only 11 days old and 1 day shy of his origional due date.

The tree!

The stockings hung with care.=)

Blue, received a baby that drinks and cries and coos. She loves it.

This is my sister's baby, Ryan. He is so cute, but the poor little guy had a rough cold. His personality is incredibly sweet though.

Joanne provided a matching outfit for John. heehee

This is Blue and Aunt Joanne playing in her new princess tent.

My sweet Cindy Lou Who ready for Christmas dinner.

Nana, myself and Blue

Uncle Marc, D., and Papa

And the Maver family photo. Merry Christmas everyone!

Announcing John Arnold Heard!

John Arnold Heard (named for the grandfathers) was born on December 12th, at 4:09 a.m. He was a whopping 8lbs 11oz., 21 3/4 inches long and a head circumference of 14 1/2 inches I am going to get a little detailed so if you are a sensitive stomach, just look at the pictures from now on. This is me. I am just about to be induced. They decided to just give me Pitocin since I was already three centimeters. I did not like the contractions, so I opted for the epidural like last time. My problem this pregnancy had been high blood pressure You body sort of adjusts after a while to that pressure. I went from 165/108 to 85/50 in about a minute after the epidural set in. All of a sudden my arms were heavy, my arms were fluttering closed and I was very nauseous. I was so tired that I was slurring my words. What happened that Both blood pressures are fine, but it was such a quick drop that my body reacted badly. The anesthesiologist gave me three shots of Effedrin to bring my pressure back up and I was was back to normal. Scary how quick things can happen.

This is D. He was waiting until I had the baby. He didn't want to be disoriented either by medication so he took nothing for the pain. What a trooper. He was hurting a lot though.

Here he is! I was laying in the bed. With how the epidural worked I was still feeling some pain and pressure with the contractions. They were unbelievable. You are supposed to feel like you have to go to the bathroom, but I never did. It didn't feel like that at all. The contractions were crazy. Lots of pressure. I said to the nurse that I wanted to be checked. I had to be getting close I thought. The doctor came in and then just started yelling orders. The head was already out! The doctor literally caught the baby at the perfect moment. Unbelievable. This is the most incredible story I think that has ever happened to D or .

Poor D. waited all that time only to miss it by a minute, Who could have know that the baby would just come out without me even pushing. I had called him to say he should probably get ready and that I would be getting checked soon. The next thing he knew he was tucked into a wheelchair and the nurses started yelling at his nurse to run him down to labor and delivery. It was a panicked race. Although the nurse ran and wheeled fast, it was too late. The did get to trim the cord though, so it was a very special moment for him.

OK, next surprise. Can't believe its a boy! I thought for sure it was a girl. I had the nurses re-check twice to make sure. He is definitely a boy. Now we have a boy and a girl and life is good. I am still getting used to saying my son and John (many in family have this name) I like it. Very different to change a diaper.

Baby John has been a little yellow since his birth. He wasn't too pleased with me after his circumcision so he stopped eating for the day. That made him really sleepy and more jaundiced than ever. Although we had been released Thursday, he had to be re-admitted I was readmitted with him) the next day because he was so yellow and had lost 11% of his body weight.

Lets take a happy break and look at more pictures just after he was born. Ladies volunteer to knit caps for babies at the hospital. I love the little Santa one he was given. Remember, his original due date was Christmas Day. =)

Blue has been such a good girl through this whole process. She loves to help me with the baby. I don't think he realizes that she gets to keep him. She has special baby bottles to feed her doll when I feed the baby and had been very excepting of different people putting her down for sleep everyday. She has little moments, but as a whole, she is amazing.

These are their first moments together. She said, "I need to pick him up! Can I hold him?" and points out every emotion . What was so funny was that she kept saying his name was John Jacob (she apparently has learned new songs lately) You can't help but say jingleheimer schmit after in your mind. She has it now.

Although it has been eventful and shocking, the important thing is that John, D and I are all healthy now and him from the hospital. John has brought an entirely new part out in my heart. I love his little cheeks with hidden dimples and his facial expressions. I LOVE being back home with Blue again. She is so sweet. I was teary today and she asked what was wrong. I told her was just tired and she said, "just take a deep breath Mommy." I love that kid. D. is so strong. I can't imagine his pain level. He is getting lots of bonding time and will be on his feet soon.

Seasons Greetings to all our loved ones. This comedy of errors seems to be winding down. It wouldn't be us it it didn't happen this way. Its just our way. For instance, today at John's check-up, I tearfully explained everything that was going on and how i was so tired, I really didn't think I could take more. I'm not kidding, at that moment the fire alarms went off in the hospital. Everyone had evacuate and you can't use the elevator in a fire. Pediatrics is on the fourth floor. I had to carry John, his stroller, diaper bag and so on by myself....down four flights of stairs.......I just gave birth 5 days ago........it turned out to be a fire drill....

I swear someday I will laugh hard about all of this. Just let me get some sleep first! =) I am so grateful that John is healthy, beautiful and sweet. We are very lucky when you think about it.

It will be funny someday.

Well, happy readers, I have a little story for you. Today I had a regular non stress test. The doctor decided that with my blood pressure, I had been in labor long enough. He changed my induction to tomorrow, which I guess is today at this point. Whew, it became very real. This is happening. Another baby. We haven't picked a name yet! I called D. and he started to tie up loose ends at work. All very exciting.

Cut to tonight.........

D. calls me at my parents house. He was going to pick me up there after I had a bath. With a very strained voice he told me that he had fallen in the shop at his work and that his knee had popped. Oh my gosh! Is he ok? What happens now? His technician drove him to the ER where my dad met him. Because I was being induced early in the morning. My mom dropped Blue off for the night to my in laws. I tearfully said goodbye to my "only " child for the last time. I had to think positive.

Cut to a few hours later........

They have now done the x-rays and D. has broken his knee-cap in two. He will need surgery. At this point I puke. The enormity of what I am hearing is starting to register. He is having surgery potentially at the same time that I am delivering our baby! At the very minimum he won't be able to stand or be my birth coach.

SO.......

Here it is 1:38 am. I am supposed to be up in 3 and a half hours. Here is the new plan. Blue is going to stay in the capable hands of my in--laws until there is a new baby and a new knee. My mom is my new birth coach. D is going to have surgery to repair his knee sometime during the day and best case scenario,they will wheel him in while I push the the baby out and then take him back to his room.

I'm not going to lie. I feel very scared and very stressed. This is a new one. Everyone think good thoughts. I am happy that D will be OK and that tomorrow there will be a new baby. Wish me luck.

Labor stupid labor

Well, I am in what you call early labor. This is my fourth day of it.. I am 3cm dilated and 70% effaced. Slowly changes are happening..My contractions are about 3 to 6 minutes apart so sleep is rough. I'm tired and sick to my stomach. The reason I am blogging this is to remind my child of what happened during this time. I would like a friendly nurse and a gambling stipend in my old age, so I need solid documentation of my hard work during this kid's birth. =) Think strong thoughts for me. I hope this is over soon.

She did it!!

Ok, so the last time I spoke about going poopy, I may have explained it poorly. You see, last time she asked to go to the bathroom, and although nothing came out, she was proud and I was incredibly happy that she was trying. Well, today she said that she had to go again. She actually went to the bathroom this time! I was so excited that I had to take a picture. Blue received a present early to celebrate. I never thought I would be so proud of poopy. =)

The due date is set!

December 14th I'm being induced! Scary, exciting, and soon all wrapped up into one!

The updates on due dates

OK, apparently when they say modified bed rest, they didn't mean keep working and tie up loose ends for a couple of weeks. I went to my appt yesterday and blood pressure was even higher. I got sent up to Labor and Delivery instead of my non stress test. Not without a good doctor lashing about still working though. I am no longer allowed to drive unnecessarily, go to the store, do any housework, go to work, run around after Blue ( I can still do basic care taking of her), and they are now inducing me 1-2 weeks early. All I can say is that I am so excited that I got all my Christmas shopping done already! So little things I can just send D out. So the baby is no longer a Christmas baby.

ps. Somebody, sat on the toilet and did her first poopy.

My Surprise Baby Shower!!!

Last weekend, I was surprised by getting a beautiful baby shower! I was tricked into thinking that my dad and I were spending the day together at the beach. When we arrived at my parents house to drop off something for my mom, I figured that I might as well take a bathroom break being that it was a long drive to the ocean. I walked in the back door and blew my own surprise. I surprised them! Oops... But in my defense, I was surprised by the shower anyway, right? Here are some pictures. It was completely touching. Thank you to all the ladies who were able to attend and those that offered good wishes even if they couldn't come. I am humbled by your generosity. To Gen and Shannon, thank you for putting in such hard work to make this day so great. And lastly, thank you Mom for doing what you are best at, being a mom. All of the little touches that you added had me in mind. The food and decorations were so beautiful that I wish I had longer to take it all in. You always know how to put on a great party. I love you and thank you. You teach me everyday what it means to be a mother. I hope to be just like you.