Four Five Updates

I will give as brief of a catch up as I can to what we are up to. My update will not include photos, but everyone else will. I am doing fine, very busy (more about that later) and trying to master the art of nursing. You'd think after two other children it would be easy...it isn't. I remember giving the advice to other new moms..."give it 3-4 weeks". Now I am repeating that to myself many times a day! Other than that I feel pretty good and have lost almost all of my pregnancy weight. Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing...nursing mom experts, please help me out in this area!!!

Rosebud is now two weeks old. She weighed in yesterday at 6 lbs 13 oz. What a chunk, huh?

She enjoys tons of attention from both brothers. They dote on her and love her quite a bit. She has been spitting up frequently, which is new for me with a newborn. Perhaps some of it is all the "love" she gets from her older siblings.

She got to meet her Pop Pop for the first time. He of course loved her.

Look closely at the top of her head. This is her hair when wet...and she has curls! I won't get my hopes up that they stay, but I am enjoying them for the time being.

She has also started looking directly at me and smiles when I talk. I can't get a picture of it, because it is so fast, but it has happened several times!

Little Monkey Man loves loves loves loves loves Rosebud. Loves her to death. At least that is what we are trying to avoid. She is his current #1 object of affection. Kisses and hugs galore. Lots of pointing and grunting and smiles directed her way. I know, I know with the hair. Currently LMM and I are picking our battles. Sock wearing and pony tail flaunting are not ones I am going to fight. Food throwing, hitting, and screaming are worth fighting. Basically if we've had a little girl here (and with visitors, there have been several)

Excuse the laundry pile in the background, I am lucky to be blogging. Things just are kinda overwhelming right now. Laundry, meals (thanks to my Bible study, dinner comes every other night and is a HUGE blessing), diapers, and nursing take up 99.9% of my time. Here is a picture of LMM pointing out things he loves about his new sister. I was taking a picture of him kissing her, but he is almost always too quick to photograph. I didn't know he was going to get a hand on her face quite so quickly!

I really like this picture. You can totally see how happy he is with her. When he comes around, her eyes get very wide...and worried. On Tuesday he had a GI appointment and the results of his genetic testing were in. He does NOT have Celiac disease, and as far as I can tell never will because he doesn't have the gene. Praise God! He has gained back all of the weight he lost with the diarrhea, and has a diagnosis of "Wheat-Gluten Intolerant". His diet change has seemed to fix the problems we have been having, and he is in the 50 percentile for his weight. I think he is quite heavy enough, so heaven help the 50 % above him in weight :o) I can hardly lift the boy!

Snug enjoys being out in nature, and while daddy had LMM out and about today, and while Rosebud was sleeping, he and I shared some time in the backyard.

This was today's project. He had to examine all of this caterpillar's features, describe to me every book about caterpillars he has ever read, and find leaves for it to eat.

He had a great time!

Other current hobbies are watering the flowers he and Grandmommy planted, helping me weed the flowerbeds, and watching his sister nurse. He likes to be right there and tell me about a billion times just how cute she is. I'm glad he (probably) won't ever remember her nursing, because I'd be a little self conscious. On the other hand, he remembers Little Monkey Man nursing, with detail. So maybe he will. Oh well, it happens way too many times a day to go lock myself in her room.

This picture turned out blurry, but swinging and sitting in the sandbox take approximately 3-4 hours of his day. I can't wait till he learns to "pump" and push himself!!!

What has #1 been up to? Well, besides helping with another man hunt (elderly dementia patient escaped from nursing home) in the city we used to live in, he has been very busy doing things around the house and yard, working, and campaigning for the upcoming levy. He and Little Monkey Man were out for a couple of hours today asking people to vote. His department will lose everyone under him in seniority, and even possibly he could lose his job if the levy fails. Always exciting.

But being that it is his day off and we have beautiful weather today...he is currently doing this :o)

And so is Snug.

Which kinda takes the relaxation out of it for daddy...but still some time in the sun is always fun!

So that is what we have been up to. Rosebud is sleeping, the boys are busy with daddy, and the laundry is (almost) done. Now I will go try and catch up with what all of YOU have been up to! I miss reading your stories!

Happy (Belated) Earth Day

The boys have these t-shirts in many sizes...they went on sale for $.99 each at Kmart a couple of years ago...so I stocked up. This may be Snug's last one, not sure.

Little Monkey thinks it is his personal job to make sure Rosebud has enough hugs and kisses each day. I think her hair needs to be washed again because he is a bit...juicy...with his kisses. I'm ok with it though because truthfully I was a little scared that he might not like her too much...he usually doesn't like it when I have anything to do with other people's babies.

It was a warm day and I tried to do some outdoor pictures...but no one was feeling it. Maybe because Rosebud had her newborn pictures taken at a photographer that morning and everyone had to be very good. They were done by this point.

I love feet pictures and really want to get at least one good one while she is so tiny. Any suggestions?

This one turned out ok...I think it was a little bright out for her. She really doesn't spend too much time outside yet.

I just love baby feet!

**I mentioned a couple of days ago about the missing mom. Turns out she ran away with some guy and they found her in Florida. Nice. I am just glad she is alive and it wasn't foul play. Good job to #1's department for solving the case!

**I know nothing new on my friend's adoption...today is the deadline for the other mom to change her mind. I will keep you posted if I find out more.

One Week Old

Rosebud turned one week old today at 3:41 am. Guess who was awake to take a picture? She slept really well last night (not expecting it to happen again, but it was nice!) and after eating at 11 pm only nursed from 3-4am and then slept till 9am! I can't say that taking one handed pictures in the dark is my forte.

I tried without flash...not much better. But still taken at EXACTLY 3:41am!

So instead I decided to take some nicer pictures of her today. The blanket was knit (?) crocheted (?) by our next door neighbor. I thought that was so sweet seems how we barely know anyone.

This is the quilt that Grandmommy made for her. Actually it was made before we knew if Little Monkey Man was a boy or a girl. When we found out we were having another boy, my mom held on to it, just in case. I'm so glad that she did!

I am trying so hard to get pictures that will remind me someday just how tiny little Miss Rosebud was. My husband has some big hands, but still, look at how tiny she is!

I don't have any new news on either of the situations I posted about yesterday, but when I do, I'll let you know. Have a great night. We're hoping to get some sleep!

Sad News and Baby Updates

I have not been online except to post pictures in about a week. I haven't been reading other people's blogs, and I am missing you all! However, I can hardly sit in our computer chair because I am sore, and I am very tired to boot. Nights and days are mixed up around here.

I did want to write and ask you to pray about two sad things. First is my friend from college who was supposed to be/is supposed to be adopting a little girl from Taiwan here in the next couple of weeks. Her birth mother just decided she wants her back. This is heartbreaking. Her story is here.

If you could take a moment to pray for them and then leave a comment of encouragement, it would be great.

Secondly, there is a news story here about a young mom who disappeared this past weekend while shopping. She graduated a couple of years ahead of me in college (at the same college) and when I actually looked at the picture (sorry Jenilee, I had just heard about it when we texted) I recognized her. She attends a local church with her husband and daughter, and even volunteers at the same Women's Center that I have in the past. Her vehicle has been found, but not her. Just very scary and sad.

Baby Updates
This is what the boys have been up to. Lots of playing outside. That is good for a very tired mama and safer for a very tiny baby!

They also have been doing a little of this with daddy. What a brave guy! Our dogs do not have the fenced in yard they are used to, and get a little stir crazy. A walk makes them very happy.

Rosebud had her first official doctor's appointment on Monday. She got all dressed up for the occasion.

Here she is at the doctor with her sticker for being good. She weighed 6 lbs 8 oz, almost back to birth weight! Doctor says she looks great.

She looked so small on the exam table!

Wearing a little headband. They look good with her dark hair, and she doesn't seem to mind them.

Her hands are so tiny but her fingers are very long.

This is her "before" picture because she got her first at home "bath" today. See how dirty?

I use the term "bath" lightly because she is still at the sponge bath stage. She didn't like it at all. Got it all on video!

Getting dried off afterwards wasn't her favorite either. Getting to nurse just a few minutes later? Yep, that made her very happy! Usually does. Not feeling so great on my end.

The bath and big lunch knocked her out. And she is still sleeping. Which means she won't be tonight. Anyone want to come visit at 2am? We'll be up!

*We are cloth diapering...I was nervous about it with a newborn, but not a big deal! You can read about it here if you care.

So I've Taken Some Pictures...

If you don't want to see quite a few more pictures of "Rosebud" (that is her blog name!) then you better just find another blog to read...because every few minutes we find another picture to take!
She is SO little in her car seat. Here she is arriving home yesterday from the hospital.

The boys really love her. Little Monkey just laughs and laughs and wants to hold her.

Our boys were each photographed in daddy's first baseman's glove. Now it was her turn!

She fits perfectly in my medium market basket from Longaberger!

The boys were each photographed in their crib with my childhood doll, Baby Hannah. Yep, her namesake :o)

We go between sleeping and not eating as we should to long periods of alertness. The minute I try to feed her when she is awake she konks out again.

First tummy time.

Thanks for looking at all our pictures, I'm sure there will be more to come...we are all very tired, but very happy.

This is what tired and happy looks like!

Welcome to The World!

I would like to introduce you to the newest Dray! She arrived at 3:41 am this morning. She weighed 6 lbs, 11 oz and is 19.5 inches long. Her APGAR scores were 8 and 9.
It all started on Tuesday morning when I woke up at 1:30am with consistent contractions, 3-5 min. apart. Although they were not terribly strong, they were very consistent and getting stronger. We arrived at the hospital at 4am. By 8am contractions were 2 min apart and I was dilated to 4cm.

This picture was taken about 5 minutes after she was born.

About noon (back to the story) I was dilated 5cm and 85% effaced. And then the contractions stopped. And then...nothing. NOTHING. I had been walking almost the entire day to keep labor going and make it faster....I was totally exhausted and then I was defeated. I finally decided to go home...because I could sit and look at a wall at home as well as in the hospital. I have to admit I was angry at myself and really sad to go home. I felt stupid.

Look how small next to daddy's hand!

I went home and rested, spent time with the boys, and went to bed at 10. At exactly 1:30am I woke up and couldn't breathe, I was contracting so hard. I tried to get up and walk it off and drink some water. I tried watching a movie to relax and get my mind off of it because I (in my own head) was not going back to the hospital till my water broke...I was going to be SURE she was on her way.

During her first bath :o)

Well, that plan didn't work. I was in so much pain I had to wake #1 up (I think he would have heard me yelling in the bathroom during contractions anyway, I was SO in pain). He called the doctor and we left for the hospital. The last time I looked at the clock in the car, right by the parking lot it was 2:40 am.

I love that #1 took this picture. It is so sweet! She has really long feet and fingers.

When we got back to the hospital, there were no more rooms in the section I was supposed to deliver in, so I went to regular labor and delivery. I was 7 cm and fully effaced. I already felt like I needed to push.

Daddy got his little girl!

When we got to the room, there was a nurse to be with me from Family Beginnings (where I was supposed to deliver) and I had actually had her the morning before when we were admitted. She was wonderful and kept talking me through contractions. Although it wasn't the big tub like the they had in their section, she had the nurses fill the regular tub and got me right in. Up to this point I was really questioning my decision to "deliver natural".

All cleaned up and "suntanning" in the warmer bed.

As soon as I got in the tub, I felt more in control and more relaxed. Within about 5 minutes I was 10 cm. When my doctor arrived I had to get out of the tub because he doesn't do water births. That was a LONG walk to the bed, let me tell you! He had to break my water because her head was right there, but the sac wouldn't let her deliver. As soon as my water broke, she was on her way out. It was a little tough because her arm/hand was up by her face. She was born within an hour of us getting to the hospital campus!

All of her vitals, and other things like her bath were done bedside, it was so nice! I may have been in "traditional" labor and delivery, but they did their best to make it like it would have been. I was up and around within a half hour, felt great.

Big brothers came to visit...Snug was SO proud.

This picture is my favorite of the three of them. Little Monkey Man was pretty good with her. I don't trust him EVER alone with her, but he really did a nice job.

We have to work on not petting her or touching her face. She has lots of dark wavy hair and Snug kept petting it like an animal :o)

My two babies!

Kisses for sister...

...cuddles for Grandmommy.

She is a good nurser and eats every hour to two hours. She's had several dirty and a couple of wet diapers.

I think there will be lots of kisses and cuddles and time spent together. He has been excited to meet her for a long time. He of course knew she was a "gay-url brother" from the beginning. :o)

There are lots of new things to climb at the hospital. Lots of new things to learn about a baby sister.

Well, I guess that is all from the Drays, today!