starting in 20 minutes...

Stephanie will start pushing in 20 minutes!

Contractions / Discomfort

Stephanie just got the "Pitocin" drip, which makes the contractions harder and more frequent. I got the impression we are going to be on that for about an hour before they check to see if Stephanie can start pushing. Stephanie is "uncomfortable but not in pain" due to the epidural drip.

Stephanie allows herself to be photographed

For the first time, and after totally covering herself from head to toe with her sheets, Stephanie agreed to be photographed!

Doctor just came in and is going to "kick it up a notch" and give Stephanie some drugs to speed up the contractions. Stephanie is going to love it. -Andrew

"The waiting is the hardest part"

Just talked to the nurse... We are waiting for Stephanie to feel pressure, then we start pushing. Sorry for the boring update, but Stephanie is sleeping and the lights are off (no pictures). I am bored too. -Andrew

Names...

You would think with 10 months time to discuss names, we would have a boy and girl name picked out already, however you would be incorrect. We have the girl name picked out, but still can't agree on a boy name. I am going to wait until Stephanie is drugged up to sign the birth certificate! -Andrew

Water broken... now we wait more

The doctor has broken Stephanie's water and now we wait some more. He thought it would be within 3 hours, however 3rd time mothers tend to go fast.

11AM?

The doctor just left the room. Drugs are on the way! Stephanie is doing well and the doctor thinks K3 could be here by 11AM.

Doctor in the room, talking...

Talking with the doctor now...

Waiting...

We are in our room at the hospital, and Stephanie is now resting. We got here around 2:15AM. We were told not to expect the baby to arrive until around noon later today. The doctor would likely be in around 8AM. I'll keep you posted via this space. -Andrew

At the hospital!

Here we are again, this time for baby #3.

Making Room

Baby #3 has been making room lately, however there really isn't any room to be had. Don't believe me? Watch this...

Click on the video twice to open it to see the whole thing (our blog cuts off the edge of the video)

Stephanie's progress

Stephanie's doctor visit today showed progress toward delivery. The doctor said she would be surprised if Stephanie made it to her Monday induction, and she thought the baby would come by tonight!

NOTE- I was specifically given permission to post these pictures!

Monday

I have been scheduled for an induction on Monday morning. I will go in Sunday night. We'll be a family of 5 by the end of Monday (hopefully!)

-Mommy

Baby's First Blessing

On Sunday, I was walking into Mass when the Deacon approached me from the side. He said Holy Cow! How much longer? I told him it would probably be an Easter baby. He said, well I hope so for your sake! He then proceeded to bless the baby with the sign of the cross and then told the baby to be good to his Momma! I hope he listened!

Nothing.

Nothing has changed. The doctor is willing to induce. I am not.... I think it's only fair to give him until his due date. (and no, I don't know that it's a boy). So, I go back Friday. If no Easter weekend baby, then we'll most likely induce early next week.

As Promised...

Here's another update on "K3" (Kid 3). We went for an ultrasound this morning. He/She looks very healthy, head down, doesn't have much hair, and weighs about 8 lbs 8 oz! However, the tech said that ultrasounds can be off by 10%--that's a lot when you're talking about 8 1/2 lbs. So, we'll see how much this little stinker actually weighs.

After seeing the doctor, we decided not to induce because my body is not ready yet. She said to see what happens over the weekend and come in early in the week to see if anything has changed. We go back on Tuesday morning.

Until then.....

Before I Forget...

I like to blog about some of the things the children say and do mainly so I don't forget them! I've been meaning to post a couple, so here goes.

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After visiting the zoo the other day, I asked Reilly what his favorite animal was. Without hesitation, he said "the ring-a-tings". That would be the Orangutans! It does sound like a pretty good name for a band though!

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A couple weeks ago, we were leaving a store. I always stress the importance of holding hands in parking lots. Reilly let go of my hand halfway across the street to dart over into the median. I (in my oh-so-pregnant waddle) try to chase after him to catch him because I see a car pulling out just beyond the median. I grabbed his shirt and yanked him to the ground. He looked at me a little puzzled. I emphasized that he never should let go of my hand in the parking lot to run to the car. Hannah chimes in and says, "Yeah, Reilly, you'll turn into a pancake.". Reilly after grunting and whining in disappointment says "Uh, I wanna be a waffle."

I'm pretty sure my point was lost that day!

Baby #3 Update

I am currently 38 weeks and 1 day... and feeling every bit of it. I go to the doctor weekly now. Last Friday, they scheduled me for an ultrasound for this Friday. They want to check the size of the baby to determine if I should be induced or not. Because Reilly was such a big baby (9lbs 8 oz), they don't want me to have another one quite that big! I personally do not want to be induced. I would much rather the baby come on its own, but if it's best for the baby, then obviously I'll be induced. We'll update the blog on Friday with whatever the doc says!

My hospital bags are packed. Ready whenever you are, little one! Can't wait to meet you!

Little Backyard Photo Shoot

Reilly the rock star

Reilly is really stepping out when Hannah takes the soccer field. Here is was seen with his "froggy boots" accented with his $8 kid sunglasses. Someone of camera called out for a rock star, Reilly naturally jumped up to answer the call.

the happy siblings... for now.

Look how happy they are tonight. What age exactly do kids figure out sharing a room is not really fun?

The new room... let the debauchery begin

Hannah and Reilly got their new bunk bed tonight. Here is a panorama picture of the room (Daddy learned a new trick!). They are currently in their beds... talking and not sleeping. Just as we expected. -Momma and Daddy

Birthday Party

This past weekend, we went to a birthday party. Andrew was the photographer. Here are 2 pics of our kids from the party!

New Yard

Mommy is so excited to have a newly landscaped backyard. We used to have tons of trees that backed up to our house, but they have been cut down. With our new full sun backyard, we can finally plant grass! We do miss our trees, but are excited to have grass for the kids to run in.

Reilly Sleeping

Reilly does not seem to want to take naps in his bed. I often find him under the bed when I go in to get him! I (unlike Daddy) don't really care where he naps, as long as he naps!

Soccer Time

Once again, Hannah is playing soccer. While Hannah is not the most aggressive or athletic kid on the field, she does have fun. That's what it's all about-- at this age anyway!

Mommy's Little Bakers

A couple weeks ago (I know.. shame on me for not posting sooner), we made some cupcakes. Here are a couple pictures of them "helping".

New photo equipment...

They might not look much different, but these pictures are special because we took them with new studio lighting! Hannah was a great volunteer for Daddy's new light tests, even sitting though many configurations of the lights. In the end, Daddy was able to get a couple good pictures, and Hannah can't see as well out of one eye due to the flash going off so many times. She is fine now.

Can't wait for the new baby to arrive so we can get some pictures with a kid that sleeps all the time and doesn't look away from the camera all the time.

-Daddy

Brother and Sister

Hannah and Reilly are getting close to the end of their comfortable cozy lives together as brother and sister, the only kids in the house. Soon "K3" (Kid #3- Name yet to be disclosed) will join the party. When K3 arrives, Hannah and Reilly will be bunking together in a room. These could be the last pictures of the them together and happy.

They are great kids! -Daddy

Another Big 'Un?

Today was my 32 week checkup. As the doctor said, a boring checkup, but needed nonetheless. The heartbeat sounded good. I didn't get the heart rate (bad mommy). I had gained 1 pound (I'll take it). And was measuring 34 weeks. That's right, 2 weeks bigger than I should be at this point. And.I.Feel.It!

8 weeks and counting (or will it be 6??)

When Pigs Fly

So today we went to a new Mexican restaurant in town. On the wall were several really neat tin pigs that had wings on them. We asked Hannah why she thought the pigs had wings. Without hesitation she said "Because they're Mexican."

God is Dead

We carpool with another family in the neighborhood...which is very convenient! Jack (age 5) and Hannah are a lot like brother and sister-- their nickname is "The Bickersons". They bicker for the sake of bickering. It can get old, but sometimes it can be funny.

So yesterday on the way to school, Jack notices that my stomach has gotten quite large. He asks me if the baby is in there right now. Yes, I answer. So, does the baby move in there? Yes, I say. He/She kicks me and I feel the baby move. So Hannah chimes in and says that God made the baby and that God made her too. Well, Jack says, God made me too (in a nanny nanny boo boo tone). Then Hannah tells Jack that God is a man, but he is dead now. Na-uh says Jack.

I had to chime in and tell them that God is not dead. He's everywhere and in everything. Thanks goodness we were saved by the carpool line and then it was time for them to get out of the car. Shew!

Note to self: Do a better job explaining who/where God is!

Update on Baby #3

My last appointment was January 14th. I took the blood glucose test and passed! They did tell me that I'm low on iron and to start eating more iron rich foods. The baby measured about 25 weeks and the heart rate was in the 140s. Still not finding out if it's a boy or a girl! Now I'm 27 weeks and look like I'm about 35 weeks. I guess with the 3rd everything expands a little more quickly!

The baby is really active and I think Hannah actually felt a kick the other day. I think we can pass the hearing test in the hospital because I'm about 99% sure this baby can hear! Every time music comes on or there is a loud noise, he/she jumps! It's still so amazing to me to feel and watch the baby move in my stomach. We are so very blessed!

I go to the doctor again February 11th. Until then, I guess I'll keep growing!

It's Official

Reilly is potty trained! We're super excited to be "Diaper Free" for about 3 months until the new baby comes! (Well, he still uses them at night, but we'll take what we can get!)

BCS Championship Game

Mommy & Daddy were lucky enough to go to the BCS National Championship game this past weekend in Glendale, Arizona! Auburn played Oregon for the title and WON!!! We are on top of the world right now! We owe a BIG HUGE GIGANTIC THANK YOU to G & Pop who watched the kids while we were gone. Not only did they keep the kids for 5 days straight-- 3 of those days they were iced in --- as in COULD NOT go anywhere. School was cancelled all week due to the icy roads and still today were not that great to drive on. I'm not quite sure how they managed to not go stir crazy!!

War Eagle!!

Christmas Card Outtakes

This year we didn't have to take near as many Christmas Card photos as we have in the past. I may have figured out the magic trick of hanging huge colorful lollipops over the photographers head to bribe them to smile big for the camera!

Whoa, Daddy, that's a HUGE lollipop over your head!

Daddy said we have to smile big and do whatever he says. Reilly's not sure he's going to be able to handle this.

Oh... he said touchdown Auburn. Natural reaction!

Can we have our lollipops yet?

This was so worth the wait! So glad we got that behind us!

Santa

This year, Reilly was REALLY into Santa. Here he is in awe of the big fella! We had an awesome Christmas this year. Our elf, Christopher Robin, kept us on our best behavior. Every morning the kids would wake up to see where Christopher Robin had 'landed'. At night, "CR" would go to the North Pole to give Santa a full report on how the kids had been that day. They must have been really good overall, because they racked up on Christmas morning!

Visit with Santa

Our annual visit with Santa!

The Love of a Child

"Daddy, I love you more than anything. Except Christmas." - Hannah, age 5