3 months!!

I swear the older I get, the faster time goes by! Our sweet baby boy is 3 months old! How can that be? It seems just yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital, yet it feels as if he has always been a part of our family. He is the perfect ending to our family story, the puzzle piece that makes us complete. Camden is by far the most easy going of the bunch, always smiling, laughing and "talking". He is starting to hold onto toys, suck his thumb, and sleep through the night (YES!)His blue eyes light up the room and he brings joy to us every day. The name "Camden" is Scottish for "the long and winding road". It was a long winding road to get him here; with tears, and doubts, and complications galore, but it was definately a trip worth taking.

A glimpse of spring!

Yesterday was gorgeous, 65 degrees and sunny. We need more days like that, winter is so depressing! Even though the kids are not feeling fantastic, we managed to get in a game of basketball in the driveway. I figured the fresh air would do us good! Check out that Carolina blue sky behind the house, haven't seen that in awhile. I'm so ready for every day to be so warm! P.S. Madi is not in the pics because she wasn't home yet, the middle school bus comes a bit later.

Too Big

These kids are getting too big! I can't believe Camden is 8 weeks old already!! Madison is 12 and is 5'3" tall, she doesn't even look like a kid anymore. Hannah is like a little Mom to Camden, she loves to hold and feed him. Evan just turned 8 on Sunday. He was my baby boy until not too long ago, so that hit me hard. I think I am just in denial that I am old enough to be their mom LOL. I'm trying really hard to slow down and enjoy each and every day because it truly does go by WAY too fast.

Camden's Birth Story

I'll try to make a short story even shorter and keep it clean for the men who read my blog LOL...

At 9:30 pm on Monday night November 9th, the last of the kids was off to bed and that is usually when Chris and I go to bed as well (yes we are like old folks LOL, but we both get up EARLY remember!) I was having some contractions that I thought were just Braxton Hicks (had been having them for weeks). They didn't hurt at that point, but I did notice they were coming 3-5 minutes apart. I debated whether to stay up and time them or try to get some sleep and opted to go to bed, figuring they would subside.

Once I was in bed, they just kept getting stronger and closer together. I laid there timing them, not believing that I could possibly be in labor. But by 11:30 they were 2 minutes apart, lasting about a minute, and I had to breathe through them as they were quite painful. So I called my parents to come stay with the sleeping kids so we could head to the hospital to get checked out.

Luckily the hospital is very close (10 minutes) as I was very uncomfortable on the ride there. We checked in through emergency (after hours) at exactly midnight. About 10 minutes later, someone form Labor & Delivery came to get me. I think she could tell by the way I was acting that I was going to be admitted but sent me through triage anyway. Meanwhile, I am begging for my epidural LOL. The triage nurse checked me and said "I may not be able to give you your epidural" so I'm thinking I am not far enough along. Well, I was 7 cm dilated already. On one hand, I was glad all that pain was productive, but on the other, I knew the epidural may not happen and I was MAD. Hannah was an unmedicated delivery and I swore I'd never do THAT again!

They quickly got me from triage into a L & D room, it was maybe 12:45 at this point. They told me they would order the epi, but Chris says they were just humoring me LOL. From there, things went FAST. Camden's heart rate dropped from the 130s into the 90s and so they had me try some different positions to keep his heart rate up. This happened with Madi as well and even though all the doctors and nurses were so calm, I knew it meant possible emergency C-Section if he did not come out of the decels. I was scared at this point and didn't care about the pain, just wanted him out and safe. Meanwhile, out of nowhere, I had a tremendous urge to push. Doctor checked me again and I was complete. About 15 minutes and maybe 10 pushes later, Camden was born at 1:34 am on Tuesday, November 10th. The pushing part took longer than I expected but I had a nice break in between each contraction. His shoulders got stuck and that was the worst part, I tore up pretty badly and felt it since I didn't have any pain meds.

The thing I remember most about the labor (besides the PAIN) is just saying (yelling?) over and over, "This is NOT how I wanted it to go. I wanted an epidural, I wanted a pain free birth". Oh well, as soon as it was over, it did not matter how he got here, just that he was healthy and safe. We waited a long time for our precious boy and cannot imagine not having him in our lives. He is such a blessing!

He's Here!

Camden Robert
Born November 10, 2009
1:34 am
8 lbs 6 oz
22" long

Labor was fast and furious, first contrax were at 9:30. Arrived at hospital at midnight. Born at 1:34 with no time for pain meds. Full birth story to follow :)

He's all boy

Evan has been needing some extra attention lately, I think due to the fact that in just a few days he will no longer be the baby in the house. So Chris has been trying to do some fun things with him, just the guys. They have gone hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and camping a few times. Here is a cute pic from a few weekends ago when they went camping at Cane Creek and Evan caught some decent sized fish. The pic was taken with Chris' Blackberry so it is not the best LOL.

Trick or Treat!

A few pics of the kids before they headed out tonight!

38 weeks

Here are a few 38 week belly pics. Please excuse the ratty sweatpants LOL. Not much fits anymore!

Praying for Stellan

Please pray for this sweet baby boy, if you are so inclined. It is his first birthday today and he is hospitalized yet again. May almighty God perform a miracle today and help him on the road to healing. He is a fighter but his little body has been through so much, it just breaks my heart :(

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

Pumpkin Carving

The kids couldn't wait any longer, although I told them it was too early to carve them. We'll see if they make it until Halloween without rotting. But they sure came out cute! Hannah made a cat face, Evan made a "scary face" and Madi made a heart (LOL she has her first crush and carved M + J into her pumpkin!) This was the first year they did it completely on their own, even Evan. The only thing I did was roast the seeds...YUM!

Hannah

Hannah is my sweet middle child (well I guess when there are 4 she will no longer be *the* middle child LOL). She loves to be outside, riding her bike or her Ripstick, which she is very good at. I don't know how she stays on that thing, none of us can even stand on it!

Thing 3

We got these really cool Thing 1, 2, 3, and 4 tee shirts for the kids (even baby-someday-to-be LOL) when we were at Universal Studios in Orlando last year. Evan is my Thing 3. How is it that one little boy can be so demanding, ornery, and strong willed, yet still manage to be sweet, innocent, and cute as can be??








Who says life is not about "things"?

Glimpses of fall

Tomorrow

I'm so excited! Tomorrow I am going to have a maternity photo shoot with a friend of mine, Kate, who is a super talented photographer. Even though I am way past the "cute" stage of pregnancy, I know she will be able to get some good shots of this big 'ol belly. Pics to follow :)

It's official....

fall is here in full force. We haven't had to run the air conditioning for a few weeks now and it has been wonderful. The windows have been open and it has been gorgeous, 70's weather. Typical for this time of year. Yesterday and today.....NOTSOMUCH. Like 50 degrees and windy, typical December weather, UGH! It is 63 degrees *inside* my house right now, looks like I'll have to break down and turn the heat on tonight.

Camden's Nursery

Camden's nursery is finally complete! The finishing touch was the green gingham Pottery Barn valances I just bought on ebay. Here are a few pics. Now all we need is the baby :)