Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Paige's Baptism

June is a very busy month. Every weekend has a party, 3 of which we're hosting.  The first weekend was Paige's baptism.


I insisted on a nice family photo.  Would have been perfect had Megan decided she didn't want her picture taken and was pouting because I made her. 


 Nate and I watching as the pastor introduced Paige to the congregation.  We had to laugh because he got her middle name wrong.  He kept saying Paige Elizabeth.  Not sure where that came from.  The baptismal certificate has her correct name so we just laughed it off.


 Paige getting baptised


 A photo with most of the grandparents.  The step-grandparents are missing, but my mom and dad are there.


 Cousins celebrating in the pool in the back yard.  Love this shot!


Quinn drying off


Quinn,  big cousin Shane with Nathan's sister Jill.  Quinn looks a lot like Shane.  So much so that I've caught myself looking at pictures thinking I don't remember Quinn having that outfit.  Only to find out it's a picture of Shane.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Paige's birth story

Paige was determined to do things her own way.  Not only was the pregnancy different form the other 2's, but her delivery had to be different too. 

I'm a bit of a hippy dippy girl when it comes to labor and delivery.  I do things naturally.  I'm OK with delivering in a hospital, but that's it. No IV, no epidural, no pitocin - all natural.  It worked out well with Megan and Quinn.  I went into labor on my own, delivered without any intervention and breastfed each kid for a year.  Hippy Dippy.  That's me.

I went to the OB on Friday, 1 day after my due date, where I had an ultrasound and a stress test scheduled.  The doctor scheduled an ultrasound because I consistently measured big and she wanted to see what to expect and the stress test to make sure the baby was OK in there.  Nathan surprised me by showing up at the appointment and it was a good thing he did because the doctor took one look at the ultrasound pictures and told me she wanted me at the hospital within an hour.  I had very low amniotic fluid.  Anything under a 10 is worrisome, & anything under 5 is dangerous.  My level was 4.2.  So Nathan went to get the kids from daycare and I ran home to gather our stuff.  Fortunately, my mom was already here so Nate dropped off the kids, picked me up and off we went.

I got to the hospital at 5:30 p.m. where I was hooked up to an IV and a fetal monitor.  Dr. Lowe agreed to let me try and get into labor on my own as long as I was monitored and got some fluids to try and give the baby a little more cushion first.  While hooked up to the IV, I got a hospital grade breast pump and pumped every hour because it is supposed to help put you into labor.  3 hours later I was unhooked from everything and Nathan and I walked the halls stopping every hour so I could pump.  This went on until noon the next day when I asked to be checked.  After 19 hours I had only dilated 3 cm and since I was already 1 1/2 cm before going to the hospital I was obviously not going into labor on my own.  So after a mini break down, I agreed to Pitocin.  Pit was started at 12:30 pm and even then labor was slow to start.  Dr. Lowe said she'd be the one to deliver me even though she wasn't on call because last time I scared the doctor on call.  I asked to be checked around 7:25 and I was 5 cm dilated.  At 7:40, Dr Lowe called in and asked the nurses to check  me again and I was 6 cm.  Finally, I was moving.  We all knew that once I started I'd go quick since both of my other labors were very fast.  Dr.  Lowe came rushing in.  She made it there a little after 8 and I was already in bed, on my hands and knees pushing.  At one point the nurses were asking where she was because things were going so quickly.  Thankfully, she was in the hospital changing into scrubs. 


Paige was born at 8:38 pm.  Nathan was the one who told me she was a girl and cut the cord.  I flipped over to my back and Paige was laid on my stomach where she immediately went for the boob.  It was 2 hours before she could be weighed and measured because she wouldn't stop nursing!  The girl knew what she wanted from her very first moment!  




Dr. Lowe tried to deliver the placenta and the umbilical cord only to have the cord come out, but not the placenta.  Eventually everything was delivered thanks to some intervention from the doctor, but there were some problems with the placenta.  It was in 2 pieces that were connected by a little bridge and the umbilical cord was loosely attached across the bridge.  Basically it was definitely time for Miss. Paige to come out.  It could have turned into a very dangerous situation.  Thankfully, she was just fine and should have no ill effects.  Paige also had a foot that was turned at an odd angle.  Her right foot was turned  so the ankle bone was touching the side of her foot.  The hospital pediatrician looked at it the next day and said it was just due to her position in the womb and she'd be fine.  He was right.  It very quickly returned to the proper position.





Grammy brought Megan and Quinn to visit the next day.  It was love at first sight.  They adore Paige and were so very excited to finally meet her!



Quinn literally squealed with delight. 



In the end everything worked out.  I had more medical interventions than I wanted, but in the end I delivered naturally.  And most importantly, Paige was healthy.


Our first picture as a family of 5!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

1 month old

Paige was 1 month old yesterday and remarkably I remembered to use the month stickers the Easter Bunny brought her.  Wonder how long I'll remember.


Paige's one month apt. is on Friday so we'll see what her new stats are. I weighed her last week and she was over 9 lbs. and based on the fact that her newborn outfits are becoming capris I'm guessing she's grown at least an inch. We'll see!


Monday, April 16, 2012

Easter

Easter was a little calmer than it usually is due to Paige's arrival 3 weeks prior.  We usually have a weekend full of house guests, cousins to play with, egg hunts, crafts and activities to do, and me in the kitchen cooking up a storm.  Instead the grandparents came down we ordered dinner from Boston Market.  But the Easter Bunny did come and was a little more generous than usual.

 Paige's firsts Easter basket.  She was very excited can't you tell?

 The kids already love their t-ball set.  Megan insisted on putting on her Easter dress as soon as she woke up. 

 Gotta love a boy in a suit.  How cute is he???

That Easter Bunny sneakily hid the eggs while we were at church. Tricky bunny.

4 and already exasperated with Daddy. 

Meeting Grandpa Tom for the first time. 

Silly glasses from Grammy. 

 Not to be left out of course. 

My kiddos.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

It's a....

Girl!!!  Paige Nancy was born on St. Patrick's Day, which makes her 1 week old.  She was 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 20.5 inches long.  Our smallest baby believe it or not.  There were a few complications, but everyone is happy and healthy.
 Here's Paige and Grammy.  Guess where the Nancy comes from?  Yup that's Grammy's first name.

 Quinn loves to hold Paige, but only for a minute.

 Megan ADORES her little sister.  She is so excited to have a real baby in the house.  Paige is one lucky girl to be loved so much by her big sis.

Paige and Daddy watching the Buckeyes.  She's rivoted can't you tell?

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Look what Quinn can do!


Megan got this puzzle for Christmas and the kids LOVE it and put it together several times a day.  While Megan was at soccer Quinn decided to do try it by himself.  As you can see he did it!  I didn't  have to help at all!  He was so cute grabbing puzzles pieces and turning them around to make them fit. 

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Merry Christmas!


Christmas was a lot of fun this year.  Megan was really into it, and Quinn was excited because Megan was excited.  Nancy, our Elf on the Shelf, disappeared and reappeared daily.  Thus making a contest to see who could find her first.  Quinn would run up and point to her every single time he walked into the same room as Nancy.  It was so funny to hear him yell, "Anc" -which is Quinn speak for Nancy.
 Meg got her face painted at breakfast with Santa.  She was very excited about Santa, until he came near her.  Then she dived under the table and hid.  Luckily she was willing to sit on his lap and take a picture with him.  Unlike last year, Quinn was willing to go near Santa but refused to sit on his lap.  Quinn loved seeing Santa.  He pointed Santa out where ever we were yelling, "HO!"

Megan and Quinn after Christmas Eve service at church.  It's a rare picture where they're both looking at the screen and smiling. It's a Christmas miracle!

 Our family picture with Santa.  The kids wouldn't go unless we were there too. 

And here's a random belly shot of me a couple of weeks ago.  I get big fast, but goodness this third baby has totally popped out way earlier!