Baby News

Well, the news is that there is now news! Avery Rose Kluth was born at 7:17 pm on Friday, Feb 23rd. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz (my smallest one) and measured 20 inches long.

I started having contractions on Wednesday. They kept up on Thursday and on Friday changed from a strong ache to a sharper pain. I called, drove myself in and was dialated to a 3. They decided not to send me home (because I probably wouldn't make it to Monday, nevermind that there was a blizzard!) so they did the c-section a few days early!

Avery is just a joy. She has a little dimple on her right cheek just like her Gramma Ginny. I'm healing up better than I have for any of the c-sections. The boys are doing fine. Evan is taking his role as biggest brother like a champ. Aidan as usual is rolling with it and Toby is a little melancholy but with me home now will probably perk up in a day or two.

Humm, she's sleeping now, nobody else is in the house. What am I doing on the computer??? ;) Night night!

Baby news

Well, the baby news is that there isn't any. I've been having lots of contractions, pretty strong ones compared to what I remember having with the boys. They aren't doing anything like getting themselves in a pattern, so the birthcenter doesn't want to see me yet. Boo. But, it was pointed out to my by our pediatrician (Toby's well child today) that with the huge winter storm we're expecting the barametric pressure could trigger labor. We'll see. If nothing else, Monday is the light at the end of the tunnel! I just keep reminding myself that Baby Sister is easier to take care of inside than out! :)

And Toby's well child today went fine. The doc gets such a kick out of my kids. They had a nice little chat before she even said hello to me!

Update at last

Well, I've been unable to get on blogger for a few days because it decided it didn't like me. Here's what we've beeen doing lately.

Jim has been working like crazy on a paperwork blizzard that rivals the snow storm we had a few weeks ago. This morning he participated in a staff variety show at school. He played a Roman soldier complete with one of the fuzzy "mohawk" helmets and a business suit. Naturally, part of his character was to correct a guard's Latin grammar! Notice his fuzzy "cuddle wrap" blanket. I got this for him for Christmas this year. After a lot of teasing himself he's come to love it! :)

I am still huge and still pregnant. I have managed to get a respiratory thing and am coughing. With someone sitting in your pelvis, coughing isn't nearly quite as comfortable as one might think. I also can't just take some nyquil and be done with it. The eviction notice is officially signed February 26, so that means I'm 11 days from a "vacation" in the hospital! :) When I had Toby they came in to tell me that if I wanted to go home early I could since it was Easter. I told the nurse no way, this was the only break I was going to get in a while and that she ought not tell my husband that she offered! :) I also recently finished 4 baby quilts (three are for friends) and am working on 9 burp rags since I cannot find the boxes of them that I have already! If it didn't take FOREVER to upload pictures on dial up internet I'd show them off.

Evan has been invited to participate in a chess tournament on Monday. He will be travelling to a neighboring town with a homeschool group from our church. Since he doesn't have school tomorrow he'll be able to attend the tournament practice session. Should be interesting! He's excited about it and at the same time realistic enough to realize that he probably won't win first place. "But maybe second or third."

A gem from Aidan this week. The lil'uns and I were listening to Focus on the Family in the van on Valentine's Day. They were, shall we say, discussing a topic that is appropriate for married people to discuss on Valentine's Day. One of the women mentioned how "spicy" it was to see a man clean something, extra so if he cleans the toilet. Well, I guess Aidan was listening a little more than I'd thought. He piped in from the back, "Mom, I think I'll clean the toilet for you. It's getting really gross!" I declined on that offer, but let him clear off and wipe down the sink in the bathroom instead.

Toby is being really clingy, but really cute these days. My friend Mel and her son Zane were coming over one day earlier in the week. Toby saw them on the deck, came running over to me saying, "My mommy, my mommy" and clinging like crazy to my leg! Which is dangerous because these days I'm mostly in elastic waisted workout pants which when tugged on by an almost two year old could have disasterous results. Fortunately I've always de-Toby-ed my leg before anything has happened! He's the only one with a really cute recent picture, so that's why he's the only one who got one in this post!

Well, that's about it from our end. Grandma and Grandpa continue to do well and go about their daily activities. We continue to try to survive life with three little boys (and one of us, as was so kindly noted by someone, 200 months pregnant...I DO feel like an elephant!!!) The nursery is ready and waiting for someone to move in. Wait a couple weeks, I'll be sure to post pictures!

Continuing on...

16 days. When we were expecting Aidan and Toby I made a paper chain with the number of days left before "Baby Brother" came. Every morning we'd take a link off, count the remaining number of links and sing, "X more days 'till baby brother comes, baby brother comes, baby brother comes. X more days 'till baby brother comes. X more days." No paper chain for this one. Not yet anyway. Jim's planning on going to Schaeffer to try to dig out of the paperwork blizzard he's under, so maybe today we'll make our paper chain countdown for Baby Sister.

Countdown

19 days left!

Success!

Well, I spent about $20 yesterday at Savers on clothes for the kids. I got some sweaters for Evan. One he'd been "dreaming of all his life" and one is "Caillou's new sweater, too babyish, I won't wear it and you can't make me!" Aidan got some new church shirts and a big fuzzy sweatshirt. Since he's the skinniest kid you've ever seen he loves to sit cuddled up in a big blanket in front of the space heater in his room. He turns it up full blast and just sits there forever! I think he was up there for a half hour this morning alone! If he's not in front of the space heater, he's curled up under the TV stand in front of the heat vent in the living room. What a turkey. Toby got the short end of the shopping trip stick. Oh well, he doesn't care and next winter he'll be wearing the stuff I bought Aidan anyway. Baby sister struck it big! I got her some little sleepers, onesies and a couple cute one piece outfits. I then went to Salvation Army last night after taking Evan shoe shopping. I spent $7 on her and walked out with a Walmart sized bag stuffed full to overflowing. Evan even picked out a couple little cardigan jackets and dresses. I think he's warming up to the idea of a girl.

20 days left. I think I'm nesting. There has already been about 4 inches of snow on the ground in the last 3ish hours or so. I've cleaned the kitchen, made muffins, played 3 different "moving large muscles so they'll take a nap later" games with Aidan and Toby and scrubbed down the stove. I think I'll go have another muffin!

Desperate times, very desperate!

Well, after my sickness on Thursday morning, I spent all of Friday and Saturday on the couch. Baby sapped all my energy and I was left with wet noodle limbs. Yesterday I did make it up to church and even out for Chinese for lunch! Today I'm a little pooped, but will overcome.

On Mondays Savers (a used stuff store) has a $.99 sale on a certain colored tag. The lil'uns and I are going this morning despite the fact that according to the news it is 19 degrees BELOW zero. After being sick and frozen in last week I have to get out of the house!!! And, I'm looking for little pink things!!

Happy Monday!

Contest link!

I'm supposed to link to a great contest for a beautiful piece of personalized jewelery in order to enter the contest. Check this out, it's beautiful! Click on the title "Contest link!" above to enter yourself!

Mamma gets a sick day

Well, long story short, I was awake at 5:00 am with not pleasant circumstances. I have such a good girlfriend. She came and got both kids and took them for the day. Ahh. Mammas don't usually get sick days. Thanks, Em!