Monday, February 22, 2010

After Midnight Ramblings

I know I've said this a million times in the past couple of months, but I'm awake again. Amelia's tossing and turning woke me up around 3am. It's now 4:30 am I'm still staring at the clock. I have so much to think about right now that I can't shut down my brain when my eyes pop open. As I'm sitting here, a thunderstorm has started. My first thought was that one of my girls will be awake in a few minutes. Then I hear little feet running across the hall. Samantha just crawled into our bed and snuggled up to me. She doesn't like thunderstorms. They look so peaceful together (Peyton, Samantha) as they sleep. I have no doubt that we will make room for Amelia in this family and that everyone will love her. She'll have three big sisters and a big brother to look after her. Peyton and I will figure out the logistics of the situation soon enough. I'm a logistics manager for goodness sake. It's my job to make it all come together at the right place and the right time...so why am I so concerned about this birth? Maybe it really is just not being able to plan that's keeping me up at night. I know she is coming when she's good and ready. I even have a deadline. She's been given her first ultimatum in life. If she isn't here by February 28th, we are going to help her arrive on March 1st. Poor kid...who has to start out life in the face of a threat? You come...or we're coming for you! It makes me laugh out loud to think of it that way. Her room is ready and both of our bags are packed. I bought more clothes this weekend, which I don't even think she will need, but they had an additional 40% off clearance and at roughly $4.00 an outfit, I couldn't resist them. 7 in total, and five onesies, and baby wash clothes for under $35.00. Glad I stopped in to pick up stuff for the older three girls. I need to look at the calendar to see when Easter is coming this year. I wonder if I'll be up to hosting our annual Easter party. We had almost decided to skip it, but I don't know. I hate to miss something that has become our family tradition just because our family has grown. We'll see when she comes and plan from there. I think both sides of our family are pretty flexible at the moment. I think I'm going to go scramble some eggs. Maybe I'm only awake because I'm hungry!

Girls: If you are all grown up and you are reading these ramblings, please pay attention!! Pregnancy is not easy! It's hard and if you are bringing a baby into this world, you must be ready for all that comes along with it. Like sleepless nights and scared little munchkins crawling into your bed late at night. I know you are all going to be wonderful mothers someday...just make sure you are ready for it all before you take this leap. Love, Mom

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

38 Week Appointment


Peyton went with me to the 38 week appointment. I am hoping he will make it to all appointments with me until the end. We've gotten too close for him to miss it if they decide to send us over to the hospital. He snapped a couple of pictures of the NST (non stress test). I've had one of these every Monday morning for the past ten weeks and I've had an ultrasound every Friday for the past ten weeks. It's been crazy the extra attention you get when you have gestational diabetes. I have seen every stage of Amelia's development through ultrasound. Just like the twins. Extra attention then because they were multiples.

Family of Six

Our family of six is ending. We will soon be a family of seven. I am excited to meet our new daughter and a little hesitant and worried about all of the changes that will come out of her arrival. Strangely enough I feel a little weird about us being an odd number. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment. I'm working for two more days and then I'm off for the next seven to nine weeks. I really need a break from work. It's becoming more than I want it to be at the moment. I don't feel like I'm in a position to effect positive change and I don't accept that easily. Briana is in the hospital tonight. She has had a baby by now. They were going to give her another couple of hours to labor before doing a c section if the baby had not yet arrived. I know her labor started at 10 last night and she was still not fully dialated at 3 this afternoon. It reminded me that this delivery thing isn't always simple and I might be in for a wild ride. We know for sure that Amelia will be here by March 1, 2010. We are scheduled to induce at 0830 on the 1st unless she arrives before then. Because I like to plan, I almost hope that she waits until the 1st to arrive. On the other hand, because I am so uncomfortable now, I want her to come now. I'm finding it so difficult to sleep at night. I can't turn over without it hurting and getting up and down is becoming much more difficult. I am ready to see her daddy's face when he first lays eyes on his little girl. There is something very powerful about being able to hand your husband this gift that you both created, but that you grew and nourished for ten months. Sunday was Valentine's Day and Peyton did a belly cast for me! I ran out of time to make one with the girls so I am really excited to have this one. He did a great job. We let the girls help. It was a big project. The twins were less than interested after five minutes, but Destiny worked on the whole project until the end. She cut all of the strips and even helped to apply a few. This was the perfect Valentine's Day gift and I will cherish it forever.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Snow Day

Callaway With Snow!!!








I was a little worried that Amelia might decide to make her first appearance on Thursday or Friday. Murphy's Law would suggest that with Peyton out of town for work and a snow storm hitting ATL, it was the right moment. Luckily enough, she decided not to come early. The girls were excited from the first snow flakes that started around 1pm on Friday, Feb 12, 2010. I had the day off of work which was a really lucky thing. Otherwise, Mema Shirley would have been snowed in at our house. Dr Yeagley called me in early for a doctor's appt and ultrasound. My blood pressure was up so we had a brief discussion about whether or not it was high enough for the hospital and decided it wasn't quite there yet. Bedrest for the weekend. No housework, no nesting. On Friday afternoon the girls played outside in the snow for a little bit. It wasn't much fun since I couldn't go out with them and Daddy wasn't home yet. But, Peyton bought real snow gloves on his way in and they all got up early this morning to go play before the snow melted. It was a good thing they got an early start because once the sun came up the snow started to melt quickly. We had just over 4 inches in our yard. I was impressed by how much there really was this time. Earlier today I asked Samantha where her Daddy was. She said, "He's outside building an igloo." I thouht that was pretty funny, until I saw the igloo. How cool!!!





Sunday, February 7, 2010

Amelia's Baby Shower

Amelia's baby shower was on Saturday, Feb 6, 2010 at Milstead Baptist Church. It was freezing cold outside. It looks like we have everything we need for the baby now. One more trip for diapers, wipes, Desitin, bottles and Mylicon. I think that will be everything we need. Rustie bought way too much and we ended up with the matching car seat, stroller, swing, bouncer, pack and play and diaper bag. Mom and Dad gave us a video monitor that is way too cool. The kids and the big kid (Daddy) has been playing with it this evening. We got so many cute outfits, shoes, socks and onesies. I can't wait to dress her up! I found an outfit that I saved from when the girls were born. They never wore it, but I couldn't bring myself to give it away. It was too pretty. I also found two pairs of shoes...still in the boxes that they never wore. A changing station that Peyton used to carry around with the girls and his Eddie Bauer backpack diaper bag. It's amazing what you can locate when you clean out the top of the closet. We also have a gift from Jennifer and Neil that we never took out of the box. They gave us a bathtub for the girls and we had already opened one. We put the other one away and figured we might actually use it upstairs at the old house....well...we never did and it is still new and in the box and ready for Amelia. I'm really not a pack rat. I gave away almost everything from when the girls were babies, but I did keep a few of the things I knew I would want someday. The co sleeper was the one thing I knew I needed to keep. Scarlett had it for a while and then Jess sent it back to us. Jessica, Jenny and Bethany got her the highchair I fell in love with. I can't wait to see this little angel.