Meeting Maryanne

My parents flew into Memphis the night of the 13th and the next morning we went to Memphis Botanical Gardens and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day walking around looking at flowers and letting the kids play.  We got home and put the kids down for their naps and I started having contractions about 4:30 pm.  I was a little skeptical though because I had had two sessions of contractions that stopped just as I was about to head to the hospital.   But these were strong and consistent and my mom was rushing around helping me pack and I was ready to go just as Joey walked in the door home from work.  So, timing could not have been better.  My parents had just gotten there and Joey was just getting home.  My mom snapped a picture of us heading off to the hospital with me in pain - I'm sure it's super cute.

I got to the hospital around 6:30 and got hooked up to the monitors by about 7:00 and the nurses tried to act casual but I could tell something was wrong.  They rushed to get an iv in asap and put an oxygen mask on me.  They said the baby's heart rate wasn't what it should be.  I was turning on my side to try to get in a position the baby liked.  The doctor came in and said he thought we should do a c-section.  I told him I really didn't want to and could we try anything else.  So, he was nice and let us keep going - monitoring the baby and my progression.  When he came in the 5th or 6th time and the baby's heart rate was still dropping with each contraction and not responsive at all during resting - he said the baby is tired out.  He checked me and after all those contractions - I was still at a 3.  He said there was very little chance the baby would weather a long labor and birth.  And so we consented to do a c-section.

They wheeled me into the operating room and gave me the spinal block.  It was scary but as soon as I felt the warm tingling sensation spread through my body - I could finally relax and the pain was gone.  I was in heaven.  They put up the blue sheet so I wouldn't see the violence they were going to inflict on me and Joey was invited in.   They told Joey he could announce the sex of the baby.  He was sitting with me holding my hand and they said "Dad, you don't want to miss this."  And he stood up to look over the sheet and the baby was already out.  (It seriously took like 30 seconds).   I looked up at him and his face just lit up.  He said, "Oh my gosh!  ....  It's a girl!"   I felt a rush of emotion and tears streamed down into my ears as I lay on the operating table.  I was so surprised!  The whole time I was in labor we all referred to her as a him.  "His heart rate dropped again"  "He's acting up again"  "He doesn't like that position"  -  I was sure it was going to be a boy but it was such a fun surprise to have it be a girl.  And I guess it was just emotional because I was meeting another child.  My own child.  Born at 9:01 pm, 6 lbs 15 oz, 20 3/4 inches.  She has been so wonderful and sweet.  I love this stage where the baby is so sleepy and cuddly and I am almost glad to have a recovering, hobbling old lady body because it forces me to slow down and just focus on her.  And I don't feel too guilty for just sitting, rocking and staring at my baby all day. (thanks to mom & dad for taking care of everything else)  Oh, and turns out the reason her heart rate was having trouble was because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her legs.  

Recovery has been interesting.  That first day when I stepped out of my hospital bed - my incision felt like it was on fire.  I couldn't believe how much pain I felt and even with pain medication.  As I hobbled, doubled over in pain I thought - this is going to be the longest 6 weeks of my life.  But I can't believe how in just a week my body has healed so much.  I still feel pain but am not taking anything for the pain now and can walk around and get up and down much easier.  I feel really good for the most part.

One Week Old

Day 2 - I look like my brother Luke

(Luke - day 2)

Day 3 -- my mom is keeping me up all night

Day 4 -- hmmm, i wonder what my life will be like...

 One Week Photo Shoot:

 

IT'S A GIRL!!!

And we all love her so much!  

Maryanne Hale

born March 14th at 9:01 pm

6 lbs 15 oz

20 3/4 inches long

And cute as a button

 

I like these guys

Oh man, I am sure ready to have a baby.  But my sister gave me good advice (always so logical) to enjoy my 2 kids and getting stuff done without a newborn and so that is what I'm trying to do.  I have spent a few lovely slow paced days with Luke and Lucy and am really enjoying them.  One morning they spent a couple hours taking care of a mosquito hawk they found on the carpet.  Giving him candy corn bits for nourishment, a nice tissue to keep him cozy and a few doses of medicine (water) from a syringe.  Needless to say, the little guy didn't make it, but I would like to thank him for keeping them so occupied.  They are really getting good at playing together -- just in time too.

Luke has been showing off his smarts and poor kid has to have lots of patience with his mom who just can't answer all his questions.  The other day on the way home from the museum he asked me so many questions - it was exhausting.   Why do we have a uvula?  Does it tell us when we are thirsty? Where do all these telephone lines go?  Where does wind come from?  Does our tongue have bones or just muscles?  He's very interested in the baby coming and likes to hear about the umbilical cord and what it does and how it gets cut.  One day he asked me how we talk.  I didn't answer right away and he decided to tell me.  "We have a box right here and then strings that air come through to make our voices have noise and that is how we talk."  Wo!  I couldn't have explained it that well.  (Turns out he got that explanation from his smart dad)
He is starting to be quite the affectionate boy.  Something we did not expect from him from his first 2 years of life.  But he is constantly telling both Joey and me how much he loves us.  And giving us hugs and kisses all day.  To the point that I have to limit them or we would do nothing else.  This morning after Joey left, he sighed and said "I just love Daddy.  He is my hero."   He is a very doting older brother and many times throughout the day says "I love you Lucy!  You are so cute!"  A few days ago Lucy was wearing a sparkly pink getup when Luke saw her he said, "Oh! Lucy looks like a princess!  I am going to marry her!"   And the very few times I've had to reprimand Lucy (she doesn't need much), it effected Luke more than Lucy.  He said, "Mom, please never ever get Lucy in trouble again."  He still loves Star Wars and refers to himself as Luke Skywalker most days.  And Lucy is his princess Leia.

Lucy is a little charmer.  She really seems to pick up on humor and loves to be "funny".  With her facial expressions, her dancing, her comedic timing - anything to make us laugh.  She is the most social of our family and loves visitors and to go, go, go.  Luke usually tries to get us to stay home but Lucy wants to go - anywhere.  She is quick to say "sayee" (sorry) - even if it's for other people.  If I get after Luke, she tells him sorry.  And if Luke does something wrong, she apologizes for him.  Seems like she's after the role of peacemaker.  Her favorite movie is Cinderella - which I have to say I really enjoy too.  No scary bad guys and a nice short movie.  My favorite thing she has been doing is saying "I yuv you sooo much".  She really emphasizes the "so much" and it's the cutest thing.

a lucy trick

The other day Luke and I were laying down and I said, "Lucy, will you sing us a lullaby?"  She went and found her microphone and came back and actually sang the lullaby tune (which I didn't know she knew) in her little scratchy Lucy voice.  "Lullaby, Lullaby, Lullaby Luke and mommy."   She is a very clean girl and is so good at helping me pick up things from the floor (since I can't really bend over right now).  I ask both Luke and Lucy to help and it's amazing how well she does following directions.  She's eager to please and loves to do exactly what I say and then runs back and says "I did it!  I did it mommy!"  Luke takes more prodding and I usually have to give the directions 3 times before he responds.  He sure likes to be independent and think for himself.  Lucy even corrects me if I put something away in the wrong place.

So, these are my kids.  In a week or so we should have a new addition.  They all come with such different personalities and strengths - it will be fun to see who this little spirit is.  I'm really excited to meet him or her.  The anticipation is killing me but I need to just settle down and let things happen when they happen.

 

because every huge belly deserves a picture

Joey's birthday / Auntie Ems

 Joey's birthday present. A disc golf putting basket.  Just trying to support his addiction. 

Joey and Emily had fun throwing the frisbee from every angle they could think of.

 Joey showing Ems some sweet disc golf moves.

Our attempt at a birthday celebration for Joes. (Sad to say that Ems and I were in the organizing zone and I failed miserably at making Joey's birthday cool.  We went disc golfing with him but were late and didn't leave us enough sunlight.  Then we went on a hunt for apple fritters (his one request) and couldn't find any.  So, this is Joey's sorry excuse for a birthday cake.  You just wait Joey - your 35th birthday is going to totally rock!!  ---- but at least he loves his birthday present)

 

Partiers 

Lovin Auntie Ems

Lucy adding a little sticker pazazz to Emily's jeans

The order she leaves in her wake

ems and i at "into the woods" play

My sister Emily is an organizational wizard.  So, when she asked me if she could come on a trip to Tennessee to organize my house - I said.... "hmmm, let me think about that.... um YES!"   She was here for just 8 days and she accomplished everything we wanted to do and WAY more.  She is the kind of person who will just go and go until something is done.  And even though it's kind of embarrassing to post all these "before" pictures - I just want to express how badly I needed this.  And the pictures do NOT do her work justice.  She didn't just clean up and make things look better - she went deep and made us get rid of a ton of stuff and made things FUNCTIONAL.  I seriously think she should do this as a career.   We are sad we didn't get pictures of the van loads of stuff we took to recycling and to Goodwill.  It felt SOOOOO good to get this done.

PROJECT: Desk

BEFORE

 AFTER

FILES -BEFORE  

(we had a couple of these fileboxes and then some loose files under my desk)

AFTER

(found a good deal on an oak filing cabinet on craigslist)

CORDS & ELECTRONICS - BEFORE (all over house)

AFTER
(we recycled a huge pile of cords and phones at best buy and the rest are labeled. ahhhh....)

 DESK CUPBOARD- BEFORE

AFTER

PROJECT: Bonus Room Closet

BEFORE

 AFTER

(Joey built shelves and hooks)

PROJECT: Attic storage

BEFORE

 AFTER

(i am so happy about having totally organized baby clothes! just in time)

 BEFORE

 AFTER

(Joey extended flooring)

PROJECT: Garage 

She wasn't planning on doing this at all but took a whole Saturday sweeping, cleaning and organizing it

 BEFORE

 

AFTER

(i am loving this clean walkway from my van)

and a few bonuses...

She picked out the throw pillow for my bed that I love, we organized some kids' learning stuff in the hutch that was all over and we cleaned out a junk drawer in the kitchen.

 hall closet 

(I wish so bad I had a before picture!  It was awful)

 Can you believe she did all of this in 8 days?!!!  So, my favorite thing is that she took junk drawers and stuff that was all over the house and put all like things together and labeled them.   It's such a cool feeling to know exactly what you have and where it is!   And Rebekah told us about free label templates at bhg.com/freelabels.  Emily just left today and I wanted to hurry and document all this before I mess it up.  It was so nice to be together as sisters and I am very impressed by her work ethic.  I know this gene is very prevalent in my family but it somehow skipped me.  And I think she got my portion.  Thank you EMZEEZ!  We already miss you!