Easter dresses

Anna

Anna was so brave this week as she faced the pediatrician for her pre-kindergarten check-up. She knew ahead a time that she needed 4 shots to go to kindergarten. She cried a little but had mentally prepared herself somewhat so she didn't jump and we didn't have to hold her down. I am so proud of her. As far as I am concerned the nurses have the hardest jobs because they have to administer the shots. Anna decided as her reward for doing such a good job she wanted a pair of rain boots. We have begun our quest for the perfect ones. I was surprised at what she would and would not let the doctor do during the exam. I consider shots to be the worst by far but she wouldn't open her mouth for the doctor and she wouldn't do the eye exam.

Anna's legs were a little sore that afternoon. The following morning they were really sore and Anna needed help hopping around on one leg. She had shots in both legs but the leg she had the booster shot in really was painful. She still wanted to go to school and I had a hard time convincing her that her teacher wouldn't be able to help her hop around all day. I know she was in pain but I had to hide my smile sometimes when she hopped around or scooted on her bottom to the bathroom (I was feeding Jacob at the time). Her Daddy came in handy in the evening as her personal taxi service. Luckily, today she is almost 100% and feeling like a survivor!

Jacob

Jacob is starting to smile but it is too fleeting to catch on film. He is awake a lot more during the day and a little less at night. Hard to believe he is almost two months already.

Faces I Love to See

Tomato drill

Anna had a tornado drill at school so we decided to continue with the severe weather theme for F.H.E. We practiced what we would do if a tornado was coming and we were at home. Eventually we would all end up in the bathroom downstairs but we tried out a couple different scenarios. One of them was as if we were all sleeping. Gordon made the siren sound and the girls jumped out of bed. Megan runs down the hall shouting, "Mommy, Mommy, a tomato is coming, a tomato is coming!" I was laughing so hard we had to do it a couple times just so I could hear Megan say it again. Kids are great for a little comic relief!

Big sister

Anna loves to hold Jacob any chance she can get.

Labor and Delivery

Okay, for the sake of posterity and those who are interested...Jacob's arrival. Jacob's original due date was March 14th. On the morning of Friday, February 27th, I was having some cramping and some early signs of labor. I took the girls to a playdate about 10am and when we came home, the contractions were more noticeable but nothing consistent. I wasn't ready to admit I was in labor yet. Then the harder contractions, the ones that stopped me where I was and I couldn't talk, started about 2:00. But they were still inconsistent, sometimes 10 minutes apart or farther. Gordon left work at 4pm, we took the girls to my friend's house, and then checked in to the hospital about 5 pm. I was dilated to a 6 by now and they wisely chose to admit me. The nurses tried, unsuccessfully and painfully, three times to start an IV. Finally, the anesthesiologist came in to do my epidural and put in an IV line. He was much better and things could get under way. The unsuccessful needle sticks hurt more than my epidural. After the epidural was in, the OB came in to break my water. Soon after that, I realized I could still feel my right leg but not my left. This was not good considering the contractions were coming harder and faster. I asked the nurse to call him back and he readjusted the epidural in my back. Finally some relief and then the contractions were only felt by a little pressure down low. After about 15-20 minutes the nurse checked me one last time. I was dilated to a 10 and 100% effaced. Showtime!! Everyone got set up quickly and a few good pushes later, Jacob made his debut at 8:16pm.