The fun is starting to begin

I've only been a mommy for 4 years, 4 months, and 25 days but what an amazing journey it's been. The lessons I've learned are amazing and the transformations in my girls is truly unbelievable.

Watching Gabi go/grow from totally dependant and needy to a miniature teenager these last few months has been entertaining and scary at the same time. She has always had an amazing vocabulary, but her personality and mannerisms shock, stun, and surprise everyone. She talks on the phone and chews gum and it's like watching a 15 year old. GiGi has been the baby of the family and of course she is feeling the change of not being the baby. Gracen is not yet home from the hospital yet but she still trying to jockey for position and importance. She is still a 3 year old and acts it. I know that Gracie will be home soon, and boy... life is about to really get interesting.

The baby is here, sort of

Okay, so I haven't written since June 8th. So much has gone on. I got to the hospital- late of course because we couldn't find a parking spot. It didn't matter anyway. My doctor was still at his out of town clinic, they had no rooms available so I couldn't check in, and 4 women came in to the unit in labor so they of course got attention over me and my scheduled c-section. Which, I was okay with cuz I don't do pain and I wanted them to get relief. So, at about noon, I was finally taken back and put into a room- Great! Just in time for Divorce Court. I wanted to do something relaxing before going to the OR.

I get to the OR at 1, I'm cold- freezing actually and the anesthesiologist must have been a part time mortician because that man had the coldest hands in AMERICA!!! The epidural was horrible. They had to keep pumping medicine into me. It just went on and on, but finally, Gracen Aya was born at 1:39 p.m. and when Honey passed her to me, I remember saying, "Oh, she is so pretty." and passing straight out. When I woke up, I was in a totally different room and my mom was there giving her a bath. So anyway, we were discharged to go home on June 15th, but something just wasn't right. We took Gracie to the ER the next morning at 4:30 and she has been in the hospital since. My incision has been giving me the blues, and I've had home health twice a day so I haven't been getting around doing what I needed to do to see about the kids or the baby. She got out of ICU yesterday and is now in a ward, because I can't stay with her and I can't care for the girls because of my wound care. Imagine my sadness and stress. I can't wait for her to get home. This emotional roller coaster is wearing me out, especially since I can't get around to see her and hold her like I want to!

In the homestretch

Well, in 4 more days the baby bump will be no more. We will finally get to meet the last and final G: Ms. Gracen Aya. I am very excited to meet this stubborn sweet little baby. Who will she look like? Who will she act like? Which sister will she aggravate more? How big will she be?

Well, I'm off for a lunch date with hubby; probably the last for a long time to come.

36 weeks...

Okay, so here we are: 36 weeks, my stomach feels like it will pop at any moment. The child now weighs 7 pounds. Monday the doctor measure her ever present foot during the ultra sound. 2 3/4 inches long! I haven't been to sleep since yesterday. I usually sleep on the couch. Honey was complaining about sleeping alone. Heck, I was in the bed and he still slept alone-he was the only one sleeping.

I remember looking at the clock at 4:20 thinking I really want to go to Denny's. Then my mind was convinced that I should have a vodka sunrise and it would be okay. Don't know where these thoughts came from. Of course, I never moved from my uncomfortable perch in the bed. But that's what I was thinking.

Why is the child being so stubborn? Everyone else came without warning or prompting.

Still Going Strong

So, I am now in the middle of the 35th week and nothing has happened. I went to the ER Monday morning in a lot of pain. Of course, that stopped once they strapped the monitors on my tummy. Only 4 contractions. Then had my regular appt on Tuesday, still not dialating. Sigh.

The girls are very ready for their new baby to come home. I'm ready for Gracie to vacate my body. In the meantime, the girls want to play outside all the time and blow bubbles. I'm doing ALL I can do to just be. Thankfully, June 12th is not too far away.

It's Almost Time to Meet the 3rd G

Okay, so I have really been MIA for the last month. I am now 35 weeks pregnant! I've never gotten that far. Gabi was born at 34 weeks but she was in such great distress. This time, Gracen is doing perfectly wonderful! The last ultrasound was Monday and she is over 6 pounds (wow) breathing on her own, and I am so very ready. Of course this is a big deal to us because Gabi weighed 4 pounds and 3 ounces, GiGi weighed 4 lbs 2 oz.

I'm a nervous wreck because I am at great risk for uterine rupture and I dont need that at all. I have 2 other kids and a husband to live for. Therefore, the doctor and I will be having a definite conversation on Tuesday at my next appointment. The girls are very excited and so is everyone else. Ready for the baby to get here. Looks like this time, we're bringing one home with us!

Things are getting quite interesting around here. GiGi is excited to an extent. She wants to see the baby, but she knows that she is going to lose a lot of attention and that makes her very angry. She is and always has been aggressive. Gabi is older but much smaller and she doesn't realize her own strength, so imagine my fears for putting an infant in the backseat between the two of them.

So Much To Do, So Little Time

I've been away for quite sometime. Gabi has been complaining of neck and shoulder pain. We finally got in to see her neurosurgeon who just wasn't convinced it was anything serious. Whatever! You just don't go from Happy Happy Joy Joy to ow I hurt everyday and nothing is wrong. In addition to Tylenol, I am trying non medication remedies like heating pads and therapeutic bath soaks. They seem to be giving her relief. In the meantime, I am waiting for an MRI to be scheduled.

I had an appointment with my OB. I was originally scheduled for June 19th for Gracie's arrival but now it seems like we will be altering our plans to bring her a bit earlier. She and I are going to have a long talk, because I make the plans. The girls have big doctor's appointments on June 10 and I like to be present at all of them.

I had me 3rd vendor booth this past weekend. This weekend was the annual Blues on the River and since I am still trying to market my business and get my name out, I sat outside on the banks of the Arkansas river AGAIN selling my wares. This time I had candles, body scrubs, and gift baskets. We were next to people with purses, clothes, and jewelry. Business was slow for everyone most of the evening, but around 9 p.m. a man from the store next to my daughter's daycare came up and started shopping. I am on my way to sign him up as a recruit. He wants to retail the candles in his shop!!! Whoo Hoo for me!