I Never Made it to Dress Rehearsal

Hi Girls,

On Friday morning at 5:00AM I started having back labor. I paced the floor. I called the hospital and told them I was a scheduled c-section for Wednesday. They told me to come on in and they would monitor me.

We called a neighbor, my BFF Stephanie to sit with Mary-Kate because she was still asleep. My Mom came over later to stay with her.

Thara and I headed to the hospital. The nurse hooked me to all of the machines. I was having contractions, but they weren't regular. My doctor came in and asked me what I was doing there. I said that my back was killing me. He checked me and I wasn't dilated. He told the nurse to continue to monitor me because I am not a complainer and something must be happening. Two hours later, I was dilated to a 3 and the decision was made to go ahead and do a c-section when an OR was available. Well that happened to be at 3:30PM. I labored all day. No telling how far I got on my own. Thara brought MK to see me before her dress rehearsal. She was so excited. I told her after her dress rehearsal she would come back and there would be a baby waiting for her.

At 4 PM, Madelyn Elizabeth was born. She weight 7 pounds, 11 oz. She was 20 inches long. We just got released from the hospital today. I missed the recital. My mom ordered the DVD. Thara secretly videoed MK so that I could watch it. MK was a scream. She did so well. I laughed so hard I cried at the video taped performance. Those 4 years old are cute now.

Now I am just trying to figure out our new normal with 2 little girls.

Mother Daughter Day

On Tuesday afternoon, I left work early to have a Mother Daughter Day with MK. She was so surprised to see me. (I saved her from having to take a nap at school. She HATES naps. Hope Madelyn loves naps.) We had lunch at Stoby's. Came home and had a Popsicle. Then we went to the beauty shop. She needed a haircut and I wanted her hair fixed for dance recital pictures that afternoon. Then we headed over to get her picture made with her dancing group. They were too cute. Can you believe I didn't get one picture? I promise to do better this weekend.

Today was pre-K graduation. She will be in the big kid class at her school next year. (Her friends really graduated because they head off to Kindergarten.) They started out by saying the Pledge. Then they sang the cutest songs. (ex. R-E-D red, Peanut Butter and Jelly) Then the teachers passed out the portfolios. They called out the students names and introduced them like pro ball players. They said Mary Kathryn. She came running up in front of everyone. Her teacher said, "Mary-Kate loves the color red. She loves spaghetti. Her best friend is Emily. When she grows up she wants to make pancakes just like Daddy, but doesn't want to eat them." It was a scream. She was given her portfolio and certificate. The rest of her class was called. Then the older kids actually graduated. I cried at this part because she will be next.

Next Up: Friday, Dress Rehearsal

Waiting...

1st pony tail

We have been working hard to grow her hair out

Swimming with Honey

Showing me how to hold a baby in case I don't know

MK with some of her best buds from school. I love this picture!

We are still waiting on our baby. Actually I am feeling great and nesting, so I am sure it isn't much longer now.

We have spent the weekend trying to beat the heat. MK went swimming at my parents' house on Saturday. My parents' just had their above ground pool put in a few weeks ago. They are so excited about it.

MK had a birthday party today! She had the best time.

Only one week of work left for me!

Southern Living, Decoration, and Graduation

Hey Girls,

I am still here! I have had a couple of false alarms last week and this week. I have had high blood pressure and headaches. Please pray that this will settle down.

My BFF Stephanie had a Southern Living party at her house Saturday morning. Mary-Kate and I attended. It was fun seeing new things and get decorating ideas. Since I am in the baby mode, I wasn't interested in getting breakables. I did manage to find some trivets, so I got those. You know how it is, you feel like you have to buy something.

Decoration was at the same time as the Southern Living Party, but MK, Thara, and I made it to that. Even in the rain we put our flowers out. I cried. I miss my brother something horrible right now. He would have been 42 on July 21st. His tomb stone is the most beautiful one in the entire cemetery. I know that he isn't there and that he is with God. That gives me peace, yet I am selfish and want him here. Always say, "I love you." Always tell your loved ones how you feel and give lots of hugs. You just never know what could happen.

Graduation for Collin was great! His youth group at church had a cook out. It got rained out, but we ended up having it at his church instead of the park. It was great. I taught a lot of these kids when they were in 1st grade and again when they were 4th graders. I have a special place in my heart for them. I was Collin's first grade reading teacher. (I don't think my brother liked me to much then because I was a hard teacher. Hey they all graduated and can read well! Ha!)

Later that night was graduation. We were all there beaming with pride!

I can't believe I made it to all of the weekend's festivities.

OUR GRADUATE

MY BROTHER JIM AND MY DAD

MY NIECE MALLORY AND SISTER-IN-LAW RHONDA (SORRY GIRLS THAT IS THE ONLY PIC I GOT OF YOU)

JIM AND MARY-KATE

GRADUATION

COLLIN'S CLASS

SIBLING CLASS

Tonight was MK's sibling class at the hospital. There were several other families there taking the same class. Most of the couples were having boys. MK was one of the only ones being a big sister to a little girl. The nurses showed the kids how to hold the baby. Where not to touch the babies. (On the softspot of their heads.) She explained what not to feed the baby. (M &M's, Skittles, etc. Only milk.) MK seems to think it is okay to give them bananas though. Ha! Then we took a tour of the hospital. MK got to see where her sister would be born and where my room might be. She got to see a set of twin girls. Her favorite part of the evening was riding the elevator. (We have got to get this girl out more. ha!) I only have about 3 weeks left. Everything is going well. I am still feeling pretty good. I have my moments though. At the end of the class MK thanked the teacher. The nurse asked if anyone had any questions. MK said, "I love my Mommy so much." Proud Mama moment for me. They gave the kids a snack. They also gave them a Big Sister Certificate and a stuffed Monkey. They even gave them a lunch box that had important color sheets of things they could make for the baby.

Precious night for me.

"Sprinkle" (lots of pictures)

Today was the "Sprinkle." I wasn't supposed to be showered with gifts, just "sprinkled" a little. Girls, I was showered a lot. My friends Sheri, Stephanie, and Rebecca hosted the shower for me. The cake, punch, treats, and decorations were so cute. Their hostess gift was a Baby Bumbo. I didn't have one with MK so I was excited about this. Madelyn got cute outfits, a diaper bag, a painting painted by one of our art teachers, a sign for her room, socks, booties, homemade blankets, diapers, wash clothes, hooded towels, bath accessories, photo albums, gift cards, sister picture frames, a poem, pillows, lovey's, and much more. I couldn't get over it. The people I work with are so awesome. The cool thing about the cake was that the lady that made my wedding cake, made the baby shower cake too. The girls didn't know that when they ordered it for me. It was delicious!

Here is the sprinkle in pictures:

This Week

Tuesday I have a doctor's appointment.

Wednesday is the "Sprinkle."

Saturday is my niece's graduation from OBU.

Then on May 10th, MK has a sibling class at the hospital.

Madelyn will be here in 4 weeks!( or less.)

I hope my doctor lets me go see Mallory graduate from college. Her brother graduates from high school the next weekend. In that same weekend, we have decoration. Whew! I am getting tired just thinking about it. I need to go and pick out something pretty for Blake. The thought of decorating his grave still crushes me.

I found out on Friday that Mary-Kate is graduating from her class at preschool. I knew they had a ceremony when she graduated from pre-K to Kindergarten. I had no idea about this other graduation. I got pretty emotional about it. It is on May 26th. I sure hope I can make it there. I am so proud of her. She has worked so hard. All of those goals that I posted earlier, she has met. She is getting so independent. She will be such a big help to me when Madelyn comes.

Her first dance recital is on May 29th. There are so many fun things going on in May. (I was hoping it would slow down a little.)

I will have a lot of pictures and stories to tell in the coming days!

fever virus, hormones, and a rash

I can't tell you how wild this week has been. After church last Sunday, Mary-Kate got a high fever. It came out of no where. There wasn't anything else associated with it, just fever. I gave her fever reducer, and the fever would go down. When the meds wore off, the fever was back. (Harder and Higher.) Me being 34 weeks pregnant, I was at war with this fever. It was going to go away. By Monday, it was gone. She was just so weak. She wouldn't play. She wanted me to hold her. I don't have much of a lap anymore.

On Thursday, her school called me. They wanted me to come get her because she had a rash all over. When I got there I couldn't believe my eyes. She was swollen up with a rash all over just like they said. It was like she had an allergic reaction. I took her to see my school nurse. She definitely said it was an allergic reaction. Once we got home and she took an antihistamine. The rash was gone by morning.

I am at a time during the pregnancy that I don't feel good. I have to go to the bathroom every hour. Then to have my sweet baby sick, made me sick and worn out.

This weekend, we have just taken it easy.

Things that I forgot about during pregnancy:

Leg cramps

Constantly hot

Constantly going to the bathroom

Back pain

Braxton hicks

Swelling

Feet hurting

No patience

Tire easily

Heartburn

Indigestion

Long waits in the doctor office

And you know what, I don't even care. I get a precious angel girl out of the deal.