Wesley's Birth Story

Saturday morning August 13, 2011 around 2:30 am I was woken up by a strong contraction, but it didn't last long, so I tried to get comfortable and went back to sleep. 20-30 minutes later I had another one, so I got up to pee and went to try and sleep again. This had been happening the past several nights, braxton hicks around the 2:30-3:30 am hours. The next one came faster, less than 10 minutes apart and there was no way I could lay down for it, as it lasted a minute. I thought, "what can it hurt to get up, sit on my exercise ball, and time these for an hour?". So I did, and I was totally disappointed. There was zero consistency! At times the contractions would be 8 minutes apart and other times 30 minutes apart, but they were lasting at least a minute. And I couldn't go back to sleep because laying down during a contraction was unbearable.

I called the midwives around 7:00 am to ask what I should do, as this was my third baby and even though there was no consistency, I felt like something was happening. The midwife I spoke with said to keep timing, take a walk, shower, do your regular stuff today and once they are 5 minutes apart, give us a call. I woke Kevin up and asked him to go sleep with the boys, so they wouldn't bother me as they got up. I told him I thought we might have a baby today, but I wasn't convinced just yet. We should work out child care arrangements for the boys for today nonetheless, though.

So we all ate breakfast, I labored on the exercise ball off and on, took Micah for a walk, chatted it up with some neighbors, then we all went to the YMCA for Kyle's 10:30 swim lesson. I was walking slower, still having contractions here and there, but nothing that was consistently 5 minutes apart. We hung out for Kyle's swim lesson, then headed towards the car around 11:15. I told Kevin I was going to call the midwives and see if we could at least come in and get checked. I had not been checked at all this pregnancy because the boys were usually with me.

Around that time, I got a text from a friend asking how things were going. I gave her a call and said it was like the labor that wouldn't start or stop! I was truly frustrated, but said I would let her know when we went to the hospital, as she had offered to help with the boys.

We got home around 11:30 am, Kevin arranged for the boys to head over to a neighbor's house and started packing up a picnic lunch and the diaper bag for them. I called the midwife on call, told her what was going on, had a contraction while on the phone (all while Kyle felt the need to yell in to the receiver "I think she is almost done now"), and she asked if I wanted to come in, get checked and I said "Yes, PLEASE!". I'm really surprised she offered this, because I now know there were zero labor/delivery rooms available and zero postpartum rooms available at the time.

We arrived at Vanderbilt a little after 12 noon and I had zero contractions on the 20 minute ride in. I was starting to doubt my decision to come in now, just like I had with Micah after we'd arrived at the birth center the morning he was born. Kevin dropped me at the front entrance with my purse. We decided he would go park, but not bring anything up until they had decided whether or not to admit me. I made it up the elevators to the 4th floor and found my way to OB triage where I had to wait in the waiting room for a room to open up. Kevin showed up and I had a couple contractions in the waiting room. Kevin headed down to the deli to grab us a sandwich to share, since I was hungry, and a powerade, since we hadn't packed any snacks or drinks for ourselves.

A triage room opened up around 12:40, so I headed in and Kevin got back with food a few minutes later. They wanted to monitor me continuously for 20 minutes. I had one or two contractions during this time. The midwife arrived, chatted with us, and checked me. Loose 6, 80% effaced, posterior cervix. Mostly good news, but third baby labors can be funny, so she asked me to walk the halls until 2:30, coming back to have the baby monitored every 30 minutes, then she would check me again.

The first walk I had contractions about 8 minutes apart consistently. Then we went to get monitored and NOTHING, no contractions. I asked the triage nurse if I could get in the shower and she said yes, but that relaxing would probably stall labor, not keep it going. So, we headed back out to walk some more. We took the long loop through the OB triage and postpartum unit twice. I was walking slower, but we only had two contractions the entire 45+ minutes we walked that time! They were intense, but I was so frustrated that the contractions had slowed down once again.

Back in the triage room for monitoring and we told the nurse what had happened. I could tell she thought we had stalled out too, but she was encouraging, saying that sometimes contractions stall out, but become more intense as you approach transition. The midwife returned to check me and as she was chatting with us, talked about how she may send us home with some meds so I could rest through contractions for a couple hours, then come back. And then she checked me: "What did I say you were before? Well, you are at least an 8 now! Admit her. You are having a baby tonight!". Woohoo! Can you imagine my elation after all those non consistent contractions and the impression that we would be packing up to go home in a few minutes and contract some more?!? It's about 2:30 at this point.

The triage nurse gives me great news "A room has opened up, and it's the tub room!". Yahoo! I'll get to transition in the water, praise God! That was all I really wanted, to labor in water. The triage nurse asks if I would like a wheel chair to head over to labor and delivery or would I like to walk? I choose walking. A normal one minute walk takes me about 10 minutes as I have a couple contractions on the way over and am walking even slower.

We arrive and there were three nurses already in the room. One was asking me questions and having me sign a few things, while the other two were readying the infant area. I remember briefly thinking, at the tour they had told us the nurses to the side in the infant area only arrive when they think the baby will be there soon. Then that thought flew out of my head as Kevin asked if he should go get our stuff. Sure, why not. I'm not going to have this baby in the next 10 minutes!

So Kevin heads down to the car while I continue to answer questions between contractions. I can see the tub is almost ready and I am so ready to labor in the water when:

BAM! I'm on my knees on the floor pushing through a contraction. The nurses are saying, Mindy, can you get off the floor? You don't want to have your baby on the floor. I get one knee on the bed and BAM! another contraction that I have to push through. There is no way on this earth I could stop from pushing. Kevin has returned at some point during these contractions. I get my other leg up on the bed and bury my head in a pillow before another contraction blows through me. The midwife is here and asking me if I can turn over because I'm going to have a baby very soon. I get myself turned over and she says she is going to break my water. I don't want her to because that is when things got bad with Kyle's labor and delivery. But I nod my head yes and as she goes to break my water, my water breaks on it's own! It is 3:01 p.m..

And then a break between contractions, whew. The midwife is talking, saying his head is right there and I ask if I can feel it yet, but as I reach down to feel his head she lets me know I'll have to push through the next contraction before I'll be able to touch his head. A contraction comes and I push through it. Progress! Then a break. Another contraction comes and I push through that one too. More progress! The midwife tells me I'm having a baby with the next contraction. A brief break, and one last contraction! I push his head out, then one last push for his body. It's 3:09 p.m. and I am holding one perfect little baby boy on my chest.

The midwife is joking how she's glad I decided to come in and get checked and that I was her easiest delivery that day! Kevin cuts the cord after about two minutes, and Wesley immediately starts looking to nurse. He latches on and nurses for about 45 minutes while all the after birth duties are going on.

Talk about a fast labor and delivery! I'm so glad I listened to my body and that Kevin was supportive of me and how I was feeling the entire time. I never made it in to the tub! My first labor and delivery at a hospital and it was nothing like I expected, but everything I could have asked for!

Wesley Ryan Harkins, born August 13, 2011 at 3:09 pm, 8 lbs 1 1/2 oz, 21 1/4 inches long.

He is almost the exact same size as Kyle was when he was born (8 lbs 2 oz, 21 1/2 inches long). We are convinced that they would have had the exact same stats if Wesley had arrived just one day early, like Kyle did. As opposed to the three days early he decided to arrive!

Pop on over

to Kevin's photo blog to meet our Wesley!

Sneak peak

I can't wait to share Wesley's birth story with you! But it will have to wait until I am home.

A sneak peak: Kevin was heading to the car to get our bags after I was admitted and I joked with him that I wasn't going to have this baby in 10 minutes. What we didn't know was that if he had taken 20 minutes, he would have missed the birth of our third son!

Thanks for all the love, prayers and congratulations. The big brothers are on their way to see us. I have missed my boys so much!

Another update I guess

Kevin graciously worked at home this morning so he could take Kyle to a make up swim lesson at 10:30. Turns out we were the only family that could make the make up lesson, so Kyle got a private lesson! Tomorrow he will swim again, then every Sat. up to his birthday party day! He is so much more confident in the water since we started lessons this summer. I am excited that Micah will be able to start lessons next summer since he will be 3 in June! My August babies always have to wait for the following summer. That's the earliest you can start without it being a parent/tot lesson.

I am starting to get a taste of what's to come in the next week or so (God willing)! The occasional painful practice contractions are a brief, yet familiar, reminder of why it's referred to as "labor". Every person I know who also had an August due date has now given birth, every one of them before their due date. Jealous? Maybe a little. Would I like to throw myself a pity party? Yea, basically. Would I like to be holding our newest son and posting pictures of him all over the place? Absolutely! I dreamed I was in labor all night long last night, which was not cool. Then I had more labor dreams during nap time today.

One person I haven't dreamed about is Wes; which is strange because I had dreams with both of the other boys. Very real, life like, turned out to be true dreams about their physical looks and personalities! I am incredibly curious about our little guy.

Micah and I were playing catch with his Curious George stuffed animal today and he started throwing George "to Wesley". LOL. Yea, straight at my stomach. It was hilarious. He also decided to stand up and surf in the bassinet of our playpen after throwing some toys in there. I can tell that being a big brother at 2 is going to be waaay different than being a big brother at 4 was.

That's about it. I'm bored to tears, exhausted, and ready to have this baby!

First day of school

Well, it's official: I am the mom of a bona fide kindergartner! The first day was only 2 1/2 hours long, but everything went smoothly. I cried once in the shower while we were all getting ready to drop him off and teared up several times the rest of the morning, but we all survived. Kevin stayed home a bit this morning to accompany us to drop off and take a few pictures. I know Kyle will do great this year; his teacher has got it together and the school seems to have a really great staff atmosphere (although who really knows unless you work there)! Kyle was a little nervous when we arrived, but walked right in and warmed up to the classroom with no issues. There was one poor little girl crying and Kyle said another little boy ended up crying at some point during the morning too. The pick up line took over 20 minutes, so we will be walkers ASAP. And today that pick up line was only the kinder parents; not even the rest of the schoolkids parents waiting to pick them up too! I am so thankful that even though we aren't in the best district in the state, we are in one of the best neighborhoods/elementary schools. You could tell that the families for the children that are zoned for Kyle's school are all about being supportive and involved!

In other news, Micah and I spent a leisurely two hours watching sesame street, reading books, and coloring! Additionally, he played with any toys he wanted to his heart's content. I have a feeling, even with Wesley around, Micah is going to enjoy some of this extra time at home with mommy. Whereas Kyle always wants to be on the go, Micah is more than happy to hang out and play at home. After Kyle came home and we ate lunch, Kyle took the time to do a couple puzzles with Micah and was teaching him how to match up the pictures again! It was awesome. He has been so understanding with his little brother the past couple days and I so appreciate it.

The reason I appreciate it is because I'm pretty much out of commission. I can stand up and walk slowly to do something, but there is not a whole lot of mommy play time going on around here lately. We had another afternoon appt. today, right over quiet/nap time. I left an hour early so we could buy treats at Trader Joe's in case they were running late! Kyle picked 100 calorie milk chocolate bars, I picked salt water taffy, and we picked yogurt covered pretzels for Micah, since I was carrying him through the store fast asleep. Oh yea, no big deal, I'm due in 5 days and carrying my dead limp asleep 25 lb toddler around TJ's. So they actually got us in and out in 30 minutes this time, YEA! Wes is still really low, and I was told there is a LOT of baby in there. Awesome. Everything looked good, once again, so thankful for that! I will be even more thankful when he arrives :)

Goodnight! I've been woken up at 3 am every morning lately and unable to go back to sleep, so I'm exhausted.

39 weeks

Yep, and last night I was up for 45 minutes thinking I was timing contractions, but it was just a false alarm *sigh*. I didn't even get to play with my fun new contraction timer app on my phone (the contractions were that erratic, although still keeping me awake)!

In other news, we got a call from Kyle's teacher last night and I get to attend the "parents only" meeting for kindergarten tonight, Kyle gets to meet his teacher and see his classroom on Wednesday night, and then he starts school Thursday morning! Things I should do before Thursday: wash his uniforms and have a good cry about my first born baby going off to school! Kevin awesomely manipulated our seating arrangement in the van so Kyle can get in and out as easily as possible (Micah and Wes sit in the middle row captain's chairs, while Kyle sits in the back row and walks through the aisle to get in and out). Have I told you I love our new van? I love our new van, LOVE it!

Kyle was so awesome with Micah this morning. I brought down the game "Memory" and sat myself in a chair with my feet up on the ottoman. Kyle started explaining to Micah how to find matches, JUST LIKE A TEACHER. It was crazy the way he was breaking down the game step by step for Micah (they were doing it picture side up) and Micah loved it, totally caught on. Kyle was so encouraging with him. I am sure one of the grandparents taught Kyle how to play "Memory" this way and he remembered (or maybe in preschool)? Kyle has been getting really frustrated with Micah lately, as in "We taught him how to share/take turns yesterday, why isn't he doing it today?" kind of things. I ask him what he does when he gets frustrated with other kids in school and he tells me that the big kids are better about it than Micah (which I'm sure is certainly true).

Anyways, time to go grab a big cup of water and put my feet up again. Kevin is posting pictures over at his new photo blog if you have a chance to check it out: http://canvasinmotion.wordpress.com/

I would love to blog right now

but there are about four hundred things to do while the boys watch sesame street. So, in brief:

I attended a surprise baby shower brunch for Wesley this weekend! It was lovely and completely unexpected. We are so blessed!

I've been having lots and lots of random contractions, especially while walking. As soon as I sit or lay down, they go away. I know I am in true labor when I am unable to sit or lay down because I'm having contractions (at least that was true with Kyle and Micah).

We had a fun, whirlwind weekend with the boys: The Frist Center, church, community group, and Kevin got the entire to do list done of "things before Wes arrives"!

More later...

Hey ho

high blood pressure and swelling here we go! As if, I thought I would get away with no high blood pressure this time. Kyle did the same thing to me; these August babies just push my body to the breaking point! I am not complaining. In fact, as anxious as I am to meet our little Wes, I am not anxious to push him out. Um yea, it was only two years ago that I pushed Micah out, AND I STILL REMEMBER THOSE LAST 45 MINUTES. Not that they were completely awful, horrible, unbearable or that I won't be able to do it again, and yes, I know, every labor and delivery is different. However, there were 4 long years between delivering Kyle and delivering Micah, so my memory was a little fuzzy that summer of 2009. My memory is not fuzzy. Kevin will attest to the fact that I am doing nothing to encourage Wesley to be born: no walking, jumping, bouncing, strange exercises, herbs, medicines, or various things the midwives would be willing to assist with. I am taking it as easy as possible, putting my feet up, and trying to relax while entertaining our other sons and keeping the house as clean as possible for the people who will be taking care of said other sons while we are in labor.

The reason I know about the high blood pressure and swelling today is because we had an appointment this afternoon, and by "we", I mean me and the boys right over nap/quiet time! Midwife seems to think I will come anytime, I keep telling them "after 39 weeks" because that is when our boys come. I was told today that they will let me go up to 2 weeks past my due date (huzzah, which means I could be pregnant until August 30th)! And, she seemed in agreement with me that Wes will be in the 8 1/2 lb range, just like his brothers. This is the first time I haven't been told "probably a 6, maybe 7 lb baby". I now pack the hospital bag in the car every time I go to an appointment, something I've never done before, but for some reason feel the need to do it this pregnancy (Maybe because I know I won't be released after 6 hours of monitoring?).

Here's to a good night's sleep!

Our new van

Pardon the awful phone pic, but there she is!

38 weeks and

still very much pregnant, with no even little inklings or indications that Wesley might join us soon. Our doctor appt. isn't until Thursday this week; I guess once you get to weekly appts. they just have to squeeze you in wherever they can because M, T, and W of this week were all filled up! I am everything a very pregnant woman can be: tired, uncomfortable, emotional, physically unable to do just about everything!

Kevin and I celebrated our 8th anniversary yesterday by, you know, buying a minivan (what else would you do on your anniversary?). It's new to us, a 2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L, fully loaded. It even has the plus one seat, which just makes me giddy because that means we can seat 8 people! Who knows when that will actually happen, but it's still really, really cool. And lastly, when we picked it up last night, I had not even realized it had a sun roof! The only thing I've ever wanted in a vehicle is a sun roof. We rode home from anniversary ice cream with the boys with that roof wide open and of course, both boys had to stick their hands up through it before we went in the house. This morning after breakfast Kyle asks "So when are we going for a ride in our new van?", LOL! I am so thankful and blessed, not just to have a new van, but oh my goodness, to be a two car family again. It has been a long 8 months of making it work with one car, many schedules, and a new pregnancy.

Yesterday, I made the short drive over to Kyle's elementary school with the boys in tow in order to register our little kindergartner. Talk about paperwork! Good gracious. However, we had everything in order and should hear from his teacher soon, then a parent meeting on Tuesday, a meet and greet Wed. morning, and first day of school on Thursday August 11th! Gah, I can't believe our first born is starting school next week!

That's about all the news I have for now. Taking the boys to the bounce house today; maybe I can encourage Wesley to come a little sooner too ;)!

So, the way church usually goes...

...for me these days is I sit with Kevin during praise and worship, then Wesley wakes up and I get uncomfortable, so I head to the nursing mommy's room to sit in a rocker and rock (Wesley always falls asleep or calms down when I rock in a rocker). Yesterday, there was a mama in there with a 2 year old boy and a 5 week old boy, and she was a first time visitor! We chatted and talked, as the baby was actually her third child and I asked about transitioning, etc... Then, she had to step out with her 2 year old and handed me her little 5 week old baby boy! I about lost it, he was so tiny and I realized I hadn't held a baby in a really long time, as in probably since Micah was that itty bitty. We have babies come in to the church nursery where I work during the school year, but they are usually 6 months and up (the little ones stay with their mamas in Bible study). It made it all feel strangely real to hold a tiny baby again, as in, this will be us in about 8 weeks!

Kevin and I are starting to plan Kyle's 6th birthday party and I am torn on what to do for him, how much party do we give or allow. It's hard to have parties at our house, or that would definitely be the plan (just too small, even for 5 or 6 kids and their families). He's had a really hard time lately too, which I think is because of all the upcoming changes in the next couple weeks (starting school, new brother, turning 6, etc...). It's usually too hot for an outside party.

Micah is saying "no" and "mine" a lot. I guess that is to be expected around the age of 2! He's still talking a lot, doing everything he can do (our footstool is his ticket to freedom), and is very, very active. Kevin and I have realized that being parents of all boys is a little unique...especially when you get together with families that have boys and girls! Our boys were found to be jumping on beds and racing in to walls last night at community group...we are now focusing on what's allowed at home, as opposed to what is allowed at other people's homes (even if their kids are doing it)! Yes, our boys do jump on our furniture, race around the house, tackle, wrestle, and play ball games inside the house. That's just the way it is right now, and I hope I can remember that when my kids are older and we have active little ones visiting! They love their books, movies, and creative play with various super heroes and action figures, but everything becomes "active". Right now they are taking turns racing a remote controlled motorcycle off of various beds and tables to see if it will land right side up. The boy who isn't racing it, "catches it".

I'm exhausted and it looks like another over the top, unusually hot week here in middle TN. We are 37 weeks tomorrow and have an appointment around lunch time. I keep having braxton hicks every night, but nothing to call the midwives about. Kevin seems more anxious than me for Wes to arrive! I did finally pack a hospital bag, something I had been putting off, in denial that we will actually be driving to the hospital to have our baby and I will have to stay there for at least some length of time.

We are looking forward to taking the boys to a baseball game tonight, for as long as mommy can last! It's fun to do a few last things with them that we otherwise might not be up for here in the coming weeks.

36 weeks and change

What can I say? It's hot, but that's to be expected this time of year. Kyle is at his last week of VBS for the summer this week. Micah is more than thrilled to play and read books in their bedroom without big brother interfering in the mornings. Kevin is working as much as possible to finish up a few things before Wes arrives. I am sitting on the exercise ball drinking lots of water, eating ice, and staring at the crib that needs to be emptied and the hospital bag that needs to be packed. Everything I do takes about 3x as long as usual because I have to sit down for about 10 minutes for every 5 minutes of activity. Taking a shower and getting dressed is almost an hour long activity now; it's crazy. I have to ask Micah to hop on to a bed or couch to get him dressed and change diapers because sitting on the floor is not an option; as I am unlikely to be able to get up again! Last week I went a little overboard at Costco, but we now have some convenience dinners in the fridge/freezer/pantry so we've been able to eat at home most nights with minimal prep. There are no more ants in my kitchen: they have now migrated to my upstairs bathtub. Kevin and I have been showering in the boys bathroom while we wait for the poison to take effect. Kevin wakes up at some awful early hour, shuttles Micah in to bed with me, showers, then eats breakfast with Kyle (if he wakes up before he leaves), and takes off for the bus around 6:30 a.m.. I am more and more anxious for a second vehicle, so our schedules don't have to be so flipped around all the time and we don't all have to go everywhere, every time there are pick up/drop off conflicts.

That's about it, everything that is kind of happening around here and/or on my mind lately.

Defeated

Micah has struggled with going down for his afternoon naps the past couple days, even though he stills need one (he's out for 2 hours when he does go down easily). Also, going to bed at night has become this huge, dramatic ordeal. I let him cry for 44 minutes the other night, while Kevin was away scanning. He fell asleep on a pillow on the floor in his room. There is no place to put him; he crawls out of cribs and playpens. We don't have a play room, so if I gate him in his room for sleep time, he just plays or read books or cries. He was sleeping great in our room, but now just rolls around and talks or sings or asks to go potty. I finally told him to go play with Kyle this afternoon and he jumped up, shouted "OK!" and ran off to his bedroom.

We swam all morning long, then had lunch and played with friends. He fell asleep late last night and was up earlier than usual. I'm exhausted, physically and mentally. I'm sure it will work itself out. That's one thing about having kids, whatever is a trial one week, is a non challenge the next. Just pray for strength and rest for me if you think about this week/weekend. Kevin is going away on a work conference and I'm not sure what I'll do without afternoon quiet times.

35 weeks

Good gracious, can that be right? I remember having Kevin bring me the pregnancy test he swore was negative and staring at it, and thinking, "August will never be here. I can't even imagine being so pregnant in the summer, AGAIN!". Yea. You know, the woman who swore she would never have another late summer baby. And here we are...dog days of summer practically upon us and here I am all "blessed with child". I chuckled with Kevin how everyone at church is waiting for us to walk in with the baby bucket every weekend; because seriously, I am that large with child! I get ALL the comments lately, from strangers and acquaintances alike; friends have been much more forgiving.

A co worker of Kevin's had her baby today, TODAY. She was due next week, so yea, that sounds right. I'm waiting for an old friend in Tucson to give birth because we were also pregnant together with Micah and her son J, and I had Micah two weeks after she gave birth to J. She's also having another boy this summer. So ready, but not really. I am anxious to hold Wes, but it's still too early and I know that and I want my babies to stay in as long as they need to. We have the best labors/deliveries/births that I wouldn't give any of that up to hold him a couple weeks earlier. So it goes, I continue to eat (and gain loads of copious weight), work out, and love on my family that needs me here and now because it won't be long that Wesley will be demanding as much of my attention as possible outside of the womb. This is actually the easy part, being pregnant. It gets much more complicated once your child arrives, in a good way of course, but still more complicated!

Kevin attempted some pictures of me and the boys this weekend; with little luck, but a couple should turn out. We are taking the boys for their check ups/shots tomorrow morning and I am loathing it. I know Kyle is nervous. It has been a long time since he had any pokes.

To bed, hopefully. I have had two very restless nights in a row.

Another day

Father's Day

Playing at Dragon Park

Preschool graduation

We had a lot of fun in June, with my mom visiting for three weeks and old friends from Tucson swinging by on their way home from a road trip vacation! With about 5 weeks until Wesley arrives, our weekends are packed with to do lists. We have a lot of friends and neighbors who have offered to help us out, and Kevin is working on coordinating all of that! In addition, our church just started small groups this summer and of course, how could we not volunteer to lead one? We had our first get together this evening and it was awesome. There are four families with ten children between us under the age of 6, eleven children when Wes arrives! Also, and I couldn't be more excited about this, Kevin has recently been asked to play with the worship band at our church. It is so wonderful to hear him play again!

The boys are doing great; we try to get out of the house and do something fun every morning, although I am slowing waaaay down. Our daily outings might consist of the zoo, park, children's museum, storytime, swimming, bounce house, or even McDonalds if I am having a really rough morning. I look back on my past pregnancies and know that I wouldn't have even attempted leaving the house this much, especially with just five weeks to go. It's funny how things change, how you do what you need to do because it has to be done. I'm often nauseous in the mornings, since Micah weaned himself a couple weeks before his 2nd birthday in June, but I don't throw up! The boys have a doctor's appt. on Tuesday, Micah for his 2 year old check up and Kyle to get his shots for kindergarten. I am in such denial that he will be going to school in just a few short weeks (August 11th)!

This week I was so blessed to have Kevin and Kyle install a new CD radio in our car! Our car came bare bones, with a cassette player, that went kaput with the tape adapter stuck inside it several years ago. The boys are so enjoying having children's music in the car again, and it makes our drives that much better for me to hear them sing and see them dancing in their car seats! To top that off, our rocking chair arrived Friday afternoon, thanks to Nana! I know I have said this many times, but we've never had a rocking chair for any of the boys. This one is awesome, made by the same company that makes the industrial gliders for churches and daycares! I looove it, as do the boys. Micah couldn't help himself but to crawl up in to our laps during family movie night on Friday and be rocked while we watched Toy Story. And lastly, can you believe something else amazing and wonderful happened on Friday too? I won a professional photo shoot with the amazing Lillian Boeskool, who happens to be a friend too, but we haven't had any photos done since moving to TN. I am leaning towards a newborn shoot with Wesley because I so dearly enjoy our newborn photos of Micah.

What else, what else...Micah has been crawling in to bed with us sometime between 4 and 6 am and sacking out again. It doesn't bother me, he's a really quiet sleeper (unlike his big brother!). We had ants this week, ugh, which makes me so thankful we have quarterly pest control! The ants like to show up about once a year, when it gets really hot and they are searching for water. We spread some borax/sugar mixture down and that starts killing them, but the pest control guy does a great job of finding them outside and really taking care of the source of the problem!

And now I should go to bed, because I'm on my own in the morning as Kevin heads off to worship practice bright and early!

Just a quick update

Micah turned 2 last week! My mom is here with us through the beginning of July! I've been slowing down a lot since my last appt., 3 weeks ago. This morning we had our 32 week appt. and I'm measuring two weeks ahead! This has never happened with the previous boys in our third trimester, they always measured right on schedule. Wes is head down and they already gave me birth plan documents...is he really going to be here that soon? Right! And we named him: Wesley Ryan Harkins. All I have time for now, I have pictures! On my computer! Look for a heavy picture post next :).

Randomness

Well, scheduled a tour of Vanderbilt L&D; something we have never, ever had to do before, as in tour a hospital where we will be giving birth. Scheduled the boys doctor appts (Micah 2 year old check up and Kyle kindergarten shots). And there is something else I'm supposed to call on and schedule BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER. This is the story of my life lately, loss of memory. I haven't worked out in a week and boy am I feeling it; sluggish and tired, but can't sleep and oh the leg cramps at night. However, it is just my own procrastination since I know how to alleviate all of those symptoms: do my pregnancy workout.

Crazy day today:

Micah woke up at 5:30 am and never went back to sleep

I forgot to eat breakfast before VBS drop off

Storytime at the bookstore is awful, we will not be going back

Costco trip found me chasing Micah down the hall out of the women's bathroom. Have you seen a 30 week pregnant woman run? Neither have I, but I bet it was pretty funny.

Fed Kyle lunch, but forgot to eat again.

Fell asleep with Micah, told Kyle I was really tired from being up so early.

Kyle wakes me up less than 30 minutes after I lay down with Micah. Baby wakes up and I can't fall back to sleep.

Eat a late lunch, bite my tongue, start crying, Micah wakes up

Kyle flips out thinking his baby brother is coming too early since mommy is crying and asks if I'm having contractions

Exhausted, we skip the pool and I sit on my exercise ball while the boys play nearby

Thank goodness it's family movie night: Toy Story and a take n bake pizza!

30 weeks

Praise God, we are 30 weeks in to this pregnancy! There is a lot to do, or a lot I want/wish would be done before the baby arrives, but I know it won't happen. I'm going to complain here for one second: I'm still totally bummed that I've never decorated a nursery for any of our boys, and probably never will. We may actually buy a rocking chair for this child, something we've never, ever owned with the other two (we had an old recliner I'd nurse Kyle in, but nothing for Micah, not even furniture for the first 4 months of his life: he slept on an air mattress from a kidco peapod bed, LOL).

In other news, we've narrowed the name down to our top 2 and one will be his first name and the other will be his middle name. This is such a relief for me! Kyle is starting kindergarten in less than 10 weeks. The first day of school is August 11th. No, we haven't registered him yet. He still needs a few shots and a physical. I had dreams of sending him to half day kinder at a private school or homeschooling him, and it's really, really hard to let those go. I know he'll do great and be fine and going to kindergarten in the public school system will not ruin him for life. I know I can supplement at home (while nursing a baby and entertaining a toddler...riiiiggghhht). It's all just kind of defeating, but also a great reminder that any and all of Kyle's educational future is in God's hands, not mine, so I can let go anytime and it will be okay.

Micah is really, really going to miss him. Today was day 2 of VBS for Kyle. Micah and I hung out for the worship songs and offering at the beginning, then we waited in the lobby for Kyle's class to file out. Kyle ended up being "line leader" today and got to hold the class sign up for everyone to follow. Poor Mikey, wanted to go with him sooo badly, and when I scooped him up and out to the parking lot there were big tears and he kept saying, "My Kyle, I need my Kyle!". This happened all morning long, on our way home from groceries, attempting to eat lunch, and finally it was time to go get Kyle. Micah crawled in to the back seat and all the way over to Kyle's side to unlock the car door for Kyle so he could climb right in when we arrived at pick up. Whenever we talk about Kyle going to school this year, Micah chimes in that he is going to school too, "with Kyle". I'm hopeful he can go to school one or two days a week, but it will be at Kyle's old preschool.

And then there is this car seat/vehicle conundrum that just makes me want to cry whenever I think about all the vehicle and car seat drama we've dealt with since we moved to TN.

And that's it, that's what 30 weeks pregnant looks like to me right now. A little weepy/emotional, but still so blessed by how the Lord continues to work in our family and show his faithfulness to us in everything that comes our way!

A lot going on around here

And I'm not sure where to start, so let's just hit a few key highlights:

- I survived and passed my gestational diabetes test!

- Baby boy still does not have a name, but our list is getting shorter.

- I have appointments every 3 weeks now

- Kyle is so grown up. That's the only way I can put it.

- Micah is so growing up. Our "baby" will turn 2 on June 14th. It is good to have children of several different ages and stages in your home, because it reminds you of the awe and wonder of childhood.

- We have experienced our first month of minor changes due to Kevin's new funding at work. All the transitions went smoothly.

- We had company in the form of an old high school/college friend needing a couch to sleep on for a night this week, as he is in town for a wedding. It is always good to see familiar faces!

- Speaking of which, we are expecting a visit from nana and some friends who were pregnant with us with Kyle! Such an exciting month for visitors!

- The cicadas are almost gone.

- We are still debating a solution for our current vehicle/car seat dilemma.

- We belong to the Y, and have been swimming everyday since.

That's about it, time for bed, and thank goodness the boys fell asleep in their own room tonight. It's been all crazy around here at bedtime for some reason and I've just given up and let the boys fall asleep with me the last two nights.

Been feeling strange

all day today. Maybe it's the cicadas or the weather or our late night/early morning today. I don't know, but I think I'll go to bed now and leave Kevin up as our official tornado watcher.