Happy Birthday, Steve!

Bill's brother Steve recently celebrated his 40th birthday. His wife Keri threw him a small suprise party at the Downstream Casino near where they live. Bill and I were excited to actually get a grown up night out! The bonus was getting to spend time with Steve and Keri, too!!

Happy Birthday, Hayley!!!

Happy Birthday, Bill!

We celebrated Bill's birthday with his mom, Joel and Aunt Net. He picked Buca di Beppo as the restaurant of choice. We had so much yummy food....and yummy leftovers. We also had a great time visiting and soaking up the atmosphere. We even got to sample the free birthday cake. Good stuff!

Em's Belated Birthday Party

Emyley finally got to have her very own birthday party now that she is in school. She chose to have it at the Studio Art House. We went in and she chose a picture for her and her friends to paint. She chose "Jungle with Lion" inspired by Henri Russeau. The ladies read to the kids about the artist and then showed them how to paint the painting. It was very interesting to see the different perspectives of 5 & 6 year olds as well as Hayley and Sydney's takes on the painting.

Happy Birthday, Emyley!

On Emyley's birthday we got up very early and drove to Grandma and Grandpa's in Oklahoma. They were going to watch the girls for us that second week of Christmas break since both Bill and I had to work. After a little persuasion, I managed to talk Em into having her birthday at MY favorite restaurant, Ken's Pizza instead of McDonald's...I am so mean. It actually turned out great. My brother Larry brought his wife Tonja and daughter Ashley. My Aunt Nancy and Uncle Larry brought our cousin Claire. The girls all had a great time together. My dad took a lot of video, but I haven't had a chance to put it all together in a cute movie, yet...but I will, Dad!! But here are some pics to give you a good idea of the fun we had with our now 6 year old!!

Happy Birthday, Sydney!

I don't see how it is possible that Bill and I have a 12 year old daughter, but it is true! I hope this year goes by slowly as I am not too ready for a teenager, yet! ;o)

I am the next American Idol!!!!

Well, according to my new birthday present, anyway! LOL! My birthday was Monday, but Bill was so excited about MY presents, that he wanted to celebrate it on Sunday....who was I to argue?!?! I ended up with tons of singing stuff for the PS2, two games are the American Idol games. That's how I know I am the next American Idol! ;o) We did go out to dinner on Monday to Cristina's, my friend Kathleen's favorite Mexican restaurant. I got lots of birthday wishes this year....thanks everyone! It was a great day!

Happy Birthday, Hayley!!!

Hayley turned 7 years old today!!! And since it was also Easter, we decided to celebrate her party yesterday. She wanted an "OU" cake....don't ask me why! So, I managed to put one together using 24 cupcakes. I think it turned out pretty good....Uncle Steve, what do you think? She had a great party and got lots of the things that were on her list including a "science thing" and a "panda webkinz". Enjoy the video.....and after the video, for those interested, I have included Hayley's birth story. It is so hard to believe that 7 years have gone by so quickly!!!

Seven years ago today......
Okay….got to the hospital at 6:30am, and they set me up in my room. The doc came in to check on me at 8:00, and they were just getting my iv started. I was almost a 3 by then, and the doc broke my water…didn’t feel too good, cause my cervix was still pretty tender. They finally got my iv in, and the Pitocin started by 8:15. As soon as the drip started, I had a pretty good contraction (just from the water breaking). Five minutes later the nurse came in and turned off the Pitocin cause she had to go to the OR and wouldn’t be able to monitor me very closely.

Well, I thought she just turned it down, cause my contractions were pretty hard. They still hadn’t become too regular, though. By 9:00 I was ready for drugs, but it was still too early for the epidural. So, I got some Nubain . AAAHHHH heaven…lol! Immediately my whole body relaxed, but I was still able to feel the contractions and was having to breathe through them. At 11, I was miserable again. I mean MISERABLE!! There was no comfy position to be in, and I wanted my epi!! So, the nurse checked me and I was only a 4! But since my cervix had thinned significantly, the doc agreed I could get my epi!! I just kept thinking, “yay in about 15 min I will be feeling soooo much better”!

Well, it took a little longer than that, but finally I got it! By the time he got it in, I was in so much pain and the contractions were right on top of each other…not fun! The epi didn’t numb me completely. My right leg still had pain…really weird. With each contraction, my leg would hurt…the doc offered to redo, but I said…”uh, no”! So, the nurse checked me again at 11:45, and I was 7-8 and 85% effaced.

I thought that I still had a couple hours to go to get to 10 and then push for another hour…well, Hayley had different plans! Just as I was getting really good and relaxed and breathing through my “leg contractions”, the nurse checked me and I was complete. This happened at 12:45! So, by 1:00 they wanted me to try to push. I pushed for like a second, then they made me stop cause Hayley’s head was almost out!

I laughed (yes, laughed) at them and told them they were nuts, cause I hadn’t even pushed yet! So, we had to wait for the doc to get her gear on, and I had to be still for fear my contractions would just push her on out. So, after 3 more small pushes, she was completely out!! 30 min later my epi was out and all was well again…until the epi wore off…lol! So, from iv time to delivery time was 5 hours!!! Unbelievable!!


Hayley was born at 1:08 pm on 03/23 and weighed 7lbs 13oz and was 19½” long!

Happy Birthday to Me!!! (well, yeah, a little early)

While we were out and about this weekend, we stopped off at Best Buy to just look around. Anyone who really knows us, knows that we don't "just look around" very well! We eventually ended up in the camera section. I have been wanting a new camera, but I wanted a fancy one....SLR, I think they are called. However, that was not in our budget and probably won't be for a few years. The camera that we have now doesn't hold its charge very long and takes horrible pictures inside the school gymnasium (where all the programs take place). Anyway, I found a camera I liked (not an SLR) while we were at Best Buy, but I didn't buy it! Yay me! LOL! I did write down all the info about it, so I could look it up online and make an informed decision. Of course, the first thing I did when we got home was look up the camera! LOL! It had excellent reviews, so off Bill trots to our new Circuit City, which had it on a really good special. An hour later I am holding my new camera and was told that it was my birthday, valentine's, anniversary, christmas presents! LOL! I really am in love with it. We had a moment of panic when Chloe decided to chew threw our vacuum cleaner cord, and I thought my camera would have to go back so we could get a new vacuum. But Bill fixed the cord....YAY! Anyway, told ya we aren't very good at "just looking around"! Here are some pics from my new camera!! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Nana!!

We went to Sherman this past Saturday to take Bill's mom and her husband, Joel out to lunch to celebrate her birthday. Since a new Cracker Barrel opened up there recently, we decided to eat there. I just love the atmosphere...wonder why? ;o) We all had a great time and was happy that we got to spend some time with Nana and Joel!

Happy 5th Birthday, Emyley!

As with Sydney, I thought I would fill everyone in on Emyley's birth story. However, since it happened more recently, and since I documented it in my wonderful BADP Mom's club, it is a little more complete and story-ish. It may not be for the faint of heart, so feel free to skip down to the pictures if you are a little squeamish!


Five Years Ago Today.....
I arrived at the hospital at 6:30 on Friday, 12/27. We were pretty bored waiting for everything to get started. I was pretty determined in my plan for a pain-free delivery...pitocin, epi then water break. My wonderful doc, Dr. Scott, was on board with this, too.

At 8:10 am the IV finally got started. Pitocin started at 8:15. When I got to the hospital, I was already having cxs, but nothing regular or painful. The pitocin didn't seem to make them hurt at all...just regulated them. My doc came in at 8:18, but didn't check me since I wasn't in any pain. Also, it didn't really matter how far along I was since we had my plan all mapped out.

At about 10:15, the cxs started to get more painful (about a 5 on the pain scale). Since there was a c-section scheduled to start soon, they wanted to go ahead and get my epi going so I wouldn't have to wait. By 10:30 the epi was in...it sure did hurt...something I didn't remember the other 2 times. Of course, the other 2 times I was in pretty bad labor...this time, I was still pretty comfy!

My doc came in a few minutes later and broke my water...I was only a 3 and 50% effaced and -3 station. I knew I was in for the long haul after that. I also got a catheter a few minutes later.

At 10:45 they upped the pitocin and I decided to take a nap. I was checked again at 12:40 (yes, a whole 2 hours later) and was a whopping 4cm and 70% effaced and only a -2 station! I was getting pretty discouraged at this point. I sent all the family (did I mention my whole family had come down from Okla to be with us?) to lunch.

At 2:35 (yes, another 2 hours later) I was a 5! woohoo (sarcasm)! I was getting pretty upset at this point. Although I was comfy and in no pain, I had hoped things would progress a little faster. It was pretty hard emotionally on me. I decided to lie down (I had been sitting up most of the day) and take a nap.

I kept having headaches and at 3:45, I called the nurse to come in to see if I could have any Tylenol. She had forgotten to ask my doc, but decided to adjust Emyley's heart monitor because it wasn't picking her up very well. She played with it and at 3:55 decided to put an internal monitor in. I wasn't happy about it, but I knew it was important.

So, she went to check me (something she wasn't going to do until 4:30) and put the monitor in...well, she stopped and said it was time to call the doc. I was like, uh, why? She said “cause you are ready to deliver”! What?!?!?!? Then Bill went walking past the bed to tell my mom it was time to push when he said "Whoa!" The nurse, who was on the phone desperately trying to get the doc, turned around and saw Emyley's head poking out! I thought they were all full of it cause I felt nothing! The nurse hung up and called the nurses station for help and to tell them to call the doc when at 3:57 (yes, 2 minutes later), Emyley popped right out with no pushing on my part!

The doc arrived a couple minutes later and delivered my placenta and gave me 2 whole stitches. I can't believe after all our planning that she missed it! The whole thing still seems like a dream to me. And, the epi lasted until 9:15 that night!

Emyley Catherine was 8lbs 6oz and 21" long just like her biggest sister!

Happy Birthday, Emyley!!

We love you very much!!

Eleven Years Ago Today......

Eleven Years Ago Today.....

• I was checking into Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, Connecticut to be induced.



• I was fighting with the OB nurses who wanted to send me home since they were overbooked.



• My wonderful Doctor, whose name I cannot remember, stood his ground and I was admitted.



• I was checked into my birthing suite (which I never left again for 2 days!).



• I walked the hallways with Bill in determination to have a drug free labor and delivery.



• My water was broken for me.



• I stood in the shower while Bill directed the water onto my back where the labor pains were most intense - again still determined for drug free.



• I admitted my silliness and begged for some Stadol...as I was absolutely NOT going to have an epidural.



• I again admitted to silliness and begged for the epi.



• My mom was frantically calling my apartment where Bill and my dad had gone to let out the dogs since it was time to push - where was cell phones when we needed them, anyway?!?



• My epi was being turned OFF as ordered by a very mean doctor, who unfortunately I will never forget the name of! ugh!



• I pushed for about 5 hours with no luck and the doctor decided it was forceps time.



• At 11:51pm, Sydney Christine was welcomed into the world at 8lbs 6oz and 21" long!!

Happy Birthday, Sydney!
We love you!!

Happy Birthday, Hayley!

Ever since the beginning of this school year, Hayley has been counting the days until her 6th birthday so that she could have her first official birthday party. Well, we finally made it, and the party was a great success!! She invited all 11 of the girls in her class. We had a great turn out with a total of 7 girls. The girls enjoyed a great time of playing, bead crafts, dress-up, playing, games, cake, playing, presents, and oh, yeah, did I mention playing?! I think everyone had a great time!
The theme for the party was Tinkerbell, and we bought a Tinkerbell Ice Cream Cake from Baskin Robbins. Although it was delicious and beautiful, that will probably be our last Ice Cream Cake until I can learn to make it myself. It was very pricey, but it was Hayley's first party, and we wanted it to be a great one!
And, the girls dressed up like fairies (without wings) in skirts, haloes and lollipop magic wands. After dress-up, the fairies played pin the horn on the unicorn. We then had cake and presents then they were off to more playing! I think everyone had a great time. Bill printed out this picture of the girls for them to take home with their goody bag. After all was over, I went to bed and stayed there until Monday! I think it was a well-deserved break!! ;-)