In which I'm grateful for my two year old Peach

I am grateful for this little Peach.  Today is her birthday and she is TWO. 

She loves to make her toys talk.  She lines them up and diapers them and puts them down for naps. 

Peach colors on the walls, cabinets, fridge, and even windows. 

She cuddles and giggles and has a sing-song voice.  She loves to watch Blues Clues. 

Peach smiles for everyone except the doctor. 

Danny got home from his deployment one week ago today.  When he walked in, Peach took one look at him and ran away screaming and crying.  He happened to be dressed in almost the same uniform as the doctor. 

I love you my Peach!  I hope you always stay sweet and happy. 

Peach is officially of age!

Peach is 18 months old today! 

That means tomorrow she gets to join Nursery at church.  It's a 2-hour class geared to children 18 months to 3 years that sing and talk about Jesus and play with toys and eat snacks while the parents go to their classes.

No longer will she be passed around the Primary room distracting teachers and little girls that want to play with her.

She is a happy, easy-going, busy little girl. 

(She's never been higher than the 8th percentile for height.)

Peach likes to do whatever the twins do.  She doesn't know how little she is.  Most of the time they are amused at their little tag-along.

Peach still sits in a rear-facing infant seat in the van.  But when her baby sister is born in August, she will graduate to forward facing.  probably.

Peach got her bloggy-nickname because she was born with just a little fuzzy red hair that made her look like a peach.  I know one day she'll get enough hair to put in pigtails or barrettes. 

Taking Danny to our secret park

Peach and her tongue (she's cutting molars)

Hammy and Gabbers love to swing! 

Bun and his new sling shot

Squdge in a tree

This is our favorite park.  My friend said once, "[This park] is the secret nugget of parks in [this town]." Except of course, she used the park name and the city name. :P

It's true. It has picnic tables, benches, a bathroom, shade, terrific climbing trees, playground equipment, and NO ONE is ever there. Why? I can't figure it out. But we're not telling. It's the perfect place to chat with my friend and let our kids play for hours.

Tater, Peach, and some preggo chunk

I did tell Danny though about it.  Danny came home for an unexpected visit between training and deployment.  We took him to this park last Saturday after running errands.  I intended to get pictures of him with the kids, but somehow he ended up holding the camera.

Pookie talking about how some of his army men are camouflaged by the wood chips

Peach checking out the camera up close

Twin buddies on a slide (Squdge on left, Tater on right)

Me, Peach, and Pookie

Chicken Soup fit for a Peach

After Peach finished her chicken soup in her high chair, she circled the table finishing the twins' second servings.

Sick Peach and the nostril clearing trick.

Peach is 17 months today.  Yesterday morning she woke up with a fever of 103.5.  After giving her Tylenol and waiting 1 1/2 hours I called the clinic to make an appointment because it only went down to 101.3.

The Pediatrician said she has a double ear infection.  I told him, "She has really bad breath.  Is that from being sick, or does she have food rotting in her nose?  She has been sticking whatever she can up her nose lately.  I think I get it out, but I'm not sure."

He looked in her nose and declared it clear of foreign objects.  Then he told me, "Next time she sticks something up her nose and you can't get it out, plug the other nostril and blow into her mouth.  It will come out.  Her bad breath is probably from being sick."

So after dinner tonight when she was still eating veggies on her tray, I caught Peach stuffing a piece of corn up her nose.  Excited to see if his method worked, I gave it a try.

HOLY MOLY!  I had no idea how much veggies a Peach could fit in one nostril!  I was sprayed with slimy mixed vegetables.  It works folks.

Peach Easter Basket

Oh how I love this little chicky!

Peach almost 17 months

When Peachie's age.

This little bug turned 1 on November 12. 

Her weight is in the 9th percentile but her height is only 4%. 

She's a tiny little chub with just a little bit of red hair and smiles readily for anyone. 

She loves to practice her acrobat skills while nursing.  She walked just before 11 months -- younger than any of her older 6 siblings.  She signs milk, please, and eat.  Peach tries to keep up with the twins by running after them. 

She got a soft bunny and little pink and brown polka-dotted blanket (woobie) for her birthday that are her FAVORITE.  If she has them to go to sleep with, she sleeps longer. 

Happy belated Birthday my sweet Peach!

Learn to Sit Baby Boot Camp

Gabbers is helping Peach balance on a cloth diaper (and protecting her from smacking her head backwards) during Learn to Sit Baby Boot Camp.

I don't know about the pot holder on the couch. 

Dear Auntie Leslie,

I love the sweater you made for me. 

Now that I'm six month's old it fits pretty good! 

I'm so glad I have such a talented Auntie.

Love,

Peach

Baby #7 birth story - and the winner.

The anesthesiologist calmed any fears I had.  He talked me through how the anesthesia would work and using the oxygen mask, keeping my eyes open so he could see how I was doing, etc.  He talked about how they would test to make sure I was numb before making any incisions. 

The on-call doctor was confident and reassuring (even encouraging me to squeeze his hands if I felt any pain) while they gave me the spinal block/epidural.  I felt barely a pinch. 

They started.  I was elated that I couldn't feel anything.  I asked Danny, "Have they cut me open yet?"  He said, "It's a good thing you're numb." 

It seemed to be just moments before I heard her first cry.

I said, "Is it a girl?  It's a girl right?"

Someone answered, "It's a girl!  That's a good thing right?  That's what you expected?"

"Yeah!  Finally!" 

They brought her over to me.  She looked just like a newborn girl Pookie to me.  I kissed her sweet little face.  The nurse told Danny he could follow along to the nursery while they check her stats and clean her up. 

In recovery the doctor explained to me that I don't have any muscle in my lower right abdomen.  Seriously.  He said, "It's gone.  There's just connective tissue there but no muscle."  That explains why I couldn't do sit-ups between the twins pregnancy and this one.  It must've gone AWOL some time ago.

The baby stats came back.

November 12, 2010, at 6:40 a.m.

19 1/4 inches long

7 lbs. 1 oz. 

She was on a little oxygen for a couple hours since inhaling some fluid when she was born.  The nurses said there was an enormous amount of amniotic fluid and it kind of washed over her when she took her first breath.

Later during an x-ray to check her lungs they discovered she had a fractured clavicle.  That's not very common for a c-section but would heal with no problem in just a few weeks.

Now, at one week post-partum, I am recovering quite well.  I am excited that I was able to room-in with her at the hospital, nurse her, cuddle and bond with her.  I love that I can dress her in pink.  :)

There was a three-way tie between Sara, Lisa, and Sarah M.  Random.org chose Lisa.  Lisa, please email me your mailing address.

Baby #7's birth story: Part 2 of probably 3

How's that for a post title?  By the way, I didn't mean to leave you hanging for so long.

I grabbed my Rubix cube and it's instructions/clues for solving.

Angela arrived to watch the sleeping kids.

I listed the reasons for bringing the Rubix cube with Danny emphasizing that he'd have something to keep him awake if we're just waiting a long time while they monitor my contractions.  I also may have threatened him with his life if he fiddled with it while I was in any sort of pain.  He declined bringing it.

I timed my contractions on the way to the hospital.  They seemed to be about 3-5 minutes apart from the start of one contraction to the start of the next.  Irregular.  Could it be Braxton-Hicks?  still??

I found myself unable to talk during the contractions.  But not so bad that I need to murderize anything.  yet.

In the wee hours of the morning, only the ER entrance of the hospital is open.  I was wheeled from the ER over to Labor & Delivery. 

I changed into my gown and was hooked up to the monitors.  My nurse checked my cervix.  I prayed for some validation that would convince the on-call doctor to deliver instead of trying to stop the contractions and send me home.  Please let it be at least be 2 centimeters.

It was barely 1 centimeter.  But my contractions were picking up on the monitors at 3 1/2 minutes apart.

When my nurse came back and told me they were indeed going to do the c-section that morning, I'm pretty sure I said, "I love you," to her.

But then I started to get a little nervous remembering the c-section from the twins' birth.  I was also bummed that my doctor wouldn't be the one delivering my baby girl.  He was on vacation for a couple days.

And now for an exciting cliffhanger. 

My laptop battery is going to die.  To be continued . . .

I hereby end the game started in the last post.

I awoke mid-dream with a contraction 3:30 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 2010.  I attempted to get out of bed and use the toilet.  I could hardly get to the foot of the bed.  I tried timing the contractions, but couldn't tell where one stopped and the next one started.  When I sat on the toilet for a few minutes deciding whether I should shower or just put on a bra, I realized, this is it.  My brain was this foggy when I went into labor with my first. 

Danny hopped in the shower and entertained scenarios of which phone to use when calling 911 this time should he need help being guided through delivery. 

I called Angela.  I was cold.  surprisingly.  I grabbed a princess receiving blanket with stripes on one side to keep myself warm.

The nurse is coming in soon and I have to shower.  To be continued . . .

A little game to pass the time since I'm just twiddling my thumbs.

The facts: 

I am 36 weeks today.

The previous 6 children arrived between 34 weeks 1 day and 37 weeks 5 days.

They weighed between 5 lbs. 9 oz. and 7 lbs. 1 oz.

They measured between 18 inches long and 21 inches.

This baby girl is due December 2.  C-section is scheduled for November 24th (38 weeks 6 days).

Yesterday I "dropped."

The questions:

When will she arrive?

How much will she weigh?

How long will she be?

The points:

Five points for each correct guess.  I will accept the first correct guess only on each of the three questions.  So pick fast.  Leave a comment on this post.

One entry per person.

The prize:

Charlie the Guinea Pig! 

Baby named after you!

Two pairs of beaded socks: 

1.  Princess Blend - Pink, Purple, Blue

2. Christmas Blend- Red, opaque White, Green

On your mark.  Get set.  GO!

Psst. I'm alive.

and still pregnant.  I know, I know.  I have 35 days to go until the scheduled c-section.  But I'm a little disenchanted at this point.  I waddle.  I snore.  I pee my pants when I sneeze or laugh.

I shaved my legs last night while showering and only got a tiny nick.  I consider that success.

Every night, I give thanks to my Heavenly Father that I am NOT carrying twins this time.  I can still sleep laying on my left side.  AND in my own bed. 

I feel very fortunate that for the most part, my heartburn has subsided.  I probably only experience it once or twice a week. 

Tomorrow is Gabbers 7th birthday.    I have cunningly convinced her that what she REALLY wants instead of a birthday cake is Cake Box Cookies.  hehehe.  too easy.  I'm even going to frost them.  I might even post pictures.  Wouldn't that be something?  Two posts after a three and a half week sabbatical?  Only for you.  ;)

Running out of time . . .

So friends I'm 26 weeks today.  It's getting close to the third-trimester line.  And have I filled the freezer?  Not really. 

I have the usual staples that can be found in there:  turkey, a few bread kits, popsicles, frozen veggies, prepared beans, rice, and loads of pepperoni that was on sale for 50 cents a pack.

bread kit

But the plan starting this week, as we also start school, is to add more bread kits, dinner rolls and dinner roll kits, Grandma Kahn's Perfect Pie crusts, pumpkin walnut muffins, peanut butter & jam sandwiches, banana nut bread, breakfast burritos, stuffed potato skins, chocolate chip cookies, Frozen Apple Coffee Cake and at least 30 dinner entrees including:

Bun's first cream cheese chicken

Cream Cheese Chicken
Cheesy Broccoli n' Bacon Soup
Lasagna

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Chicken Soup

Taco Soup

Bacon Cheeseburger Rice

Sausage Casserole

Oven Stew

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Grandma's Corn Chowder

Cowboy Sandwiches

Kid-friendly Chicken Bites

Super Easy Chicken Fajitas

Who got the camera and took Akhmad's picture??

So you might not see me for a while.  Or maybe you will if I get overwhelmed and need to procrastinate some more. 

If you feel a sneeze coming,

and you're 21 weeks pregnant with your seventh child, make sure you're not sitting cross-legged on the floor. If you forget to quickly hop up and take a defensive-stance, well, don't forget the next time. And if by chance, the next one sneaks up on you, well, be grateful you have a denim skirt that soaked up any incidental leakage.

My eyes have been itching since Saturday evening.  I woke up sneezing and sneezing.  I've been congested all week with these itchy eyes and constant sneezing. 

 

I love our new home.  But the trees here (a whole mile away from our moldy old home) are driving my allergies bonkers. 

The results are in . . .

The contractions stopped.

I napped in the most uncomfortable ER bed in existence for close to 2 hours.  The first hour I was there, the ER department and Labor and Delivery department argued about whose patient I was.  I felt oh-so-loved.

The OB doctor on call recommended I go home on bedrest for a couple of days and drink boatloads of water.  In a couple of days my pregnancy will be considered "viable."

On to more exciting pregnancy news, tomorrow is the big ultrasound!  I'm thinking pink. 

Renewing my season pass to the ER.

I'm headed to the ER in a few minutes here (after I shower, that is).  I'm having contractions 5 minutes apart.  Since I'm only 19 weeks and 5 days, they won't see me in Labor and Delivery yet.  Maybe I should've fibbed about my due date 2 days . . .

I hate going to the ER.  I have no fear of doctors or needles really.  I just don't like frittering away three hours of my life. 

Please pray for the baby that she *crossing fingers it's a girl* hangs in there and this all calms down.  Maybe it was the Thai food.   mmm.... garlic. 

Annoying Pregnancy Symtom #1048

Clinical my foot.

I don't know what it is about this pregnancy, but I have been sweating like a pig.

It started a week before I found out I was pregnant.  I woke up in the night just dripping with sweat.

I thought for sure I was going through menopause.  I hadn't had a period since before the twins pregnancy, and at that point I was having crazy night sweats every night.

It just stinks.  literally.