Going home

We got to come home from the hospital today.....a little bittersweet for me. I am glad to be home with my other babies.....but loved that one on one time with just me and Emmie Jayne. Here are a few pictures of her waiting for Joe to get there to pick us up. I think she is just perfect!


































The kids are all excited to have her home...and her life as she knows it is about to get a little louder, wilder, and probably a little more dangerous. :) Her discharge weight is 6 lbs. 7 oz. so she hasn't lost much, and my milk came in the same day she was born.....so I am guessing she will be on her way up now.

Meet Emmie Jayne!!!!!

She has arrived!!!!! She didn't make me wait until I was 42 weeks pregnant, like I was just sure she was going to do!! On the day I turned 38 weeks, she made her entry into the world. My doctor and I had both voiced that when I thought it was time I had best hurry to the hospital, because I probably wouldn't have much of a labor. I have had all my other kiddos quickly, and we figured she'd be no exception. Well, we had no clue just how right we were. Sunday night Joe and I were laying on the bed just talking and watching TV. A few minutes after midnight I felt a really weird jolt in my stomach and looked at him and said, "that was weird, i wonder if my water just broke???" My water has broken with 2 of my others and so I stood up expecting the major gush....but nothing. So I went into the bathroom thinking maybe I just had to pee.....nope......nothing. I felt like something just wasn't right and began walking and as I steped water....or pee.....rolled down my legs but would stop when I stopped. I was trying to debate what was going on when I had a contraction that I knew meant....."it's time." So I told Joe to call our friends who were going to stay with the kids, I called mom and dad and told them to head our way, and began getting dressed. By the time we were in the car headed to the hospital my contractions had picked up and since I have natural childbirth (no, no epidurals here) I am VERY aware of each step along my labors and what each feeling means. We stopped for gas.....of course were were on E! We got on the interstate when my hips began hurting.....which is a late sign for me, and I was a bit nervous. Joe did a great job of......well, speeding, and staying calm for me saying we were going to get there in plenty of time....although later he reavealed to me that yes, he was also nervous. :) We got to the hospital at 1 AM and went to labor hall. They got me in my room and began all the routine things. I was pretty uncomfortable and told her I would feel better if she'd check me first, that this was my 4th baby and I have them fast. She checked me and I was a 6-7, and 100% so she said she'd get me all hooked up and began my paperwork. I was thinking, "your not gonna have time for all that" in my head.....about 10 minutes later, Joe was rubbing my feet for me and I got the feeling. I told him get someone NOW and tell them I needed to push. He said, are you sure to which I replied...YES!!! NOW GO!!!!" He gets the nurse who doesn't seem as convinced as me that it was time, and she says she is going to check me, so she does and says, "oh my, your a 10 and there is her head....let me get the dr.!" From there on the next 10 minutes were a blur of them telling me not to push, me saying there was no way I could not and people running every which way. I am pretty sure those 10 minutes were not my finest.....but Joe says I did great. :) And at 1:32 AM, Mrs. Emmie Jayne arrived into the world.....after a pit stop of getting the cord off, which was wrapped around her neck twice very tight.

















It was by far the quickest, most intense labor I have had....but it was as quick as I was hoping. I had her and they hadn't even gotten my chart together yet, and when Joe text Mom and Dad that she was born, they had just left their house. I have great "birthing genes", as my mom had me 20 minutes after getting to the hospital, and my grandma, Gaw, told my mom childbirth was about like getting a tooth pulled. :)

I spent the rest of the entire night holding and nursing Emmie Jayne. I knew I should sleep a little, but could not put her down. She is so perfect, and I just sat took in every bit of her. I can't believe how much love you have the second you see them, no matter how many babies you have.

Mom and Dad got to my house around 6 am, and Joe had gone home about 5 or so to sleep a little. They all came up to the hospital once the kids were all up so they could meet their new baby sister.








































They all were so excited to see her, Maggie wanted to hold her right away and Josie was interested in looking at her too.






















Maggie is already such a great big sister and will pick right up with Emmie too. She did not want to give her up to anyone. She wanted to know when I was going to "milk" Emmie. :) Mom and I thought this was very funny.




























Josie said, "I want to hold it"....She did for about a minute and then hopped up saying, "I'm done." Thankfully I was right with her. :) She would occassionally come back to look at her and smile but was just as interested in looking around the room.
















































Owen was very sweet with her, he kept saying, "ohhhh, love her little heart." (I say this to him alot) He also wanted to hold her alot and he and Maggie were back and forth as to who she wanted.



















































Here are all 4 of my babies.....I feel like the luckiest mommy in the world.



































Joe and I with our 4 beautiful babies. We have been so blessed and I am so thankful that I am getting to live my dream of being a mommy.....and thankful to my husband for giving me my dream as well, and living the craziness of 4 kids under 6 with me, it will be fun!

















MiMi and JaJa with their 4 grandbabies.















Emmie Jayne's big sisters


























JaJa is a sucker for newborns too....he finally got to squeeze in some Emmie Jayne time for a few minutes before Maggie stole her back.























Aunt Amanda is quite busy these days but made a quick day trip to meet her newest niece. She will be popular with Emmie Jayne before long....Aunt Amanda is always alot of fun!
















We are headed home tommorow, which is a little sad for me. I love this time in the hospital with just me and the baby. It is such a sweet time that is over so fast. Life will pick up once we get home, but thankfully Mom is here to help me out for a bit until I get totally back on my feet. I will try to update regularly so you can see Emmie growing, and how everyone is adjusting!

Perfection.....

Everyone has their own opinions......but I do believe this is about as close to perfect as you can get! How cute are they.

We went to the mall today and a lady came up to them and said, "oh, you guys must have just had your picture taken?" They all said, "No." She looked at Joe and said, "so why are they all dressed alike?" He pointed at me and said, "it's their mom's hobby." Yes, I must say it makes me happy when they all match.

From where I stand....

I am 38 weeks tommorow, and to say I am miserble would be a bit of an understatment. I had Owen in the middle of July, but am thinking it wasn't 100 degrees that summer, which made it much more bearable. Despite the heat and my size, achiness, exhaustion.....we are having a very fun summer.
I thought I would give you a view of how I look from where I stand.......and also so I could always remember what I saw when looking down.....JUST IN CASE this is my last baby. No, I am not willing to shut that door yet. :)





Maggie asked me the other days why I hadn't repainted my toes, I am assuming she meant since the polish had begun to grow out from my pedicure a few weeks ago. I showed her this pictures and said, "honey....I can't even see my toes!" She thought that was quite funny.










Okay, so in all reality this is actually what I see 90% of the time when I look down.....and wouldn't have it any other way. :)

















And from where you stand.....this is how I look....

(that is for you Patti K!)

"The littles"

Maggie and I often refer to Owen and Josie as "the littles" when we are talking about them. My Maggie loves her alone time in her room playing for hours by herself....but my 2 littles you can always find 2 steps behind their mommy.....if not right on her lap. :) I was getting my camera into my bag that is packed for the hospital the other day while sitting in the front room with them and decided to take some pictures of them, which both were more than willing to do.

Maggie eats the camera up, but these two only perform for the camera on their terms and both were fighting for the lens. They are both so comical in their own ways....it makes me sad that in a few short weeks they will be a little further away from being "the littles." I was carrying Josie the other day at the pool and a friend said, "why are you carrying her, put her down....she is big enough to walk and your going to put yourself in labor!" My response was, "she only has a few weeks left to be carried whenever she wants and I will carry her the whole time if she wants me to.....she doesn't have much longer to be the baby so I am going to baby her up to the last minute." And obviously I am still not in labor. :) I think the new baby may be as hard on Owen, if not harder, than on Josie.

Here they are hamming it up for the camera......I must say the only thing as cute as these 2 little faces is their older sister. :)




































I love his smile.......his dimples are to die for!














































And my little JoJo......this is her mean face. Some see this face more often than others, we think it is about as cute as her happy face.




























This would be the happy face.























Josie has a personality all her own. Josie is all about interacting with people....on her own terms. If it is her idea to play, hug, talk....than she is 100% for it. But if she isn't feeling it you may as well just walk away. Latley the more someone wants to get her to talk to them the less she wants to (I can relate to her on this one). So before we go around a lot of people I say, Josie, be nice to everyone and put on a happy face! She always says......"but mommmmmmyyyyyyy." And sometimes she is and sometimes, well not so much. Joe says she reminds him of what he imagines I was like as a little girl and many a times I am thinking he is probably right on. :)

Summertime!

We are in full summertime mode already. Since school has been out we have spent everyday at the pool, sometimes twice in a day. The kids all love the pool, which is wonderful for me. I am still supposed to be on "partial bed rest", which hasn't really happened at all....but spending the day at the pool is much more relaxing than staying home and being referee, servent, maid. Maggie and Owen are self sufficient at the pool and spend most of their time running with their friends on the slide. They can both do the slide by themselves this year, although when it gets really busy I make Owen put on his floaties for my piece of mind. The lifeguards don't have the most watchful eye at our pool. Josie has been great about staying in the wading area and just playing, which means I can sit in the water and relax.

We typically go up around 10 and go have "free lunch" at the park, then go back to the pool until around 2 or so. Then it is home for naps and rest time which right nwo is as much for me as anyone! It has been so hot that when Joe gets home we have been heading back to the pool for the evening until they close. The kids love having him there, especially Josie who gets to go down the slide with him and loves it. Everytime she says, "again daddy, again!"

I only have taken the camera one evening and keep meaning to take it to get some more pictures of them and their friends through out the day. Here are the pics from the other evening...
























































































Maggie and I were upstairs coloring the other day and came down to find Josie watching TV like this....








she is so funny.


I am now 36 weeks along and have already dialted to a 2 and am about 75% effaced so I am hoping it isn't too much longer before our new baby girl is here. I am thinking it could be soon.....but then remember that with Josie I walked around at a 4 and 100% for several weeks only to be induced at 40 weeks. So we will see....surely the heat and running all the time should get things going. Maggie and Owen have tennis lessons all next week and Maggie is in a golf clinic in the evenings so between that and the pool we should all be exhausted when next week is done.

Kindergarten party and field day!

Maggie's last day of school was her field day so I loaded up the 2 little ones and we went to watch and have lunch with her before heading home to begin our summer! Josie stuck right with Maggie and would have joined in the games had I let her. Owen had fun, he made quick friends with Elijah in Maggie's class and never left his side for the day. Maggie had fun at her field day and is at this point pretty athletic it seems. She is good at sports and enjoys competion so she was pleased that her team won most of the sports.































Her class had a Kindergarten party the Saturday after graduation. One family brought their horses and let the kids have pony rides, a tractor pull, games, and food. The kids all had fun, but it was in the high 90's that day and super hot. I thought I may die! Maggie and Owen rode the horses, but Josie wanted no part in it.











































Owen loved the train ride pulled by the tractor and he and Elijah rode it over and over and even got their own personal ride at the end of the day.






























The kids had a 3 legged race, which Owen and Noah (who is Maggie's friend Zoe's brother) actually won. They also had a balloon toss which was quite comical with a bunch of 6 year olds. I don't think the balloons lasted very long.



This picture of Josie cracked me up.....she was not so thrilled with the 3rd person in their seat for the ride.















































Maggie and her best buddy, Zoe.