Fall 2013

As I sit down to write this post, I'm a little sad about how fast life is moving. I don't know why but Aaron and I are always looking at each other and wondering aloud when is it gonna slow down? I don't think it will. Nothing ever stays the same and our children will never be the same age they are today. Maci has proved that to us by growing so fast over the past 5 1/2 months. Sad face. She started rolling over shortly before Thanksgiving and can now meander her way around any room: rolling, scooting and getting up on her knees. I have a theory she is going to do everything early because she watches Liv. She is such a good baby. The easiest yet. So sweet. Makes my heart melt a little every time I look into her brown eyes. Her thick dark hair thinned and lightened and it's any one's guess as to what color of hair she will end up with. She loves her big sisters. To watch Olivia and Maci interact with each other is so precious. Liv just wants to hold and kiss her little sister all day. Maci looks at Liv with the biggest grin on her face. Although Olivia has started to say things like: "Maci touched me" or "Maci pulled my hair"...ok Liv, Maci is a baby and she loves you and wants to touch you.
Olivia is doing great on Potty training. If we remind her and make her stop playing she can go all night and day without having an accident. She almost always tells us she has to go to the bathroom but sometimes she tells us about 5 seconds too late.  Every box of pull ups I buy from Costco makes me wonder how much longer we have. She's about on the same time frame as Cecelia was at her age. Olivia is so accustomed to hearing us say "good job" after she uses the restroom that she has began to tell Aaron and I "good job Mommy/Daddy" after we finish using the restroom. I love toddlers at this age! Olivia is still very attached to her baby doll. Doesn't HAVE to go with us everywhere like it did just a few months ago but it HAS to be in her bed at night, along with her pink RODY, her purse, her 2 pieces of fake plastic mail and sometimes her big pink hat. She MUST be read at least 1 story before every nap and bedtime. She asks in the sweetest voice: "Do you want to read me a story Mommy"? How could I say no to that face and voice. Of course I want to read her a story! Liv is still taking classes at the Y. We haven't been taking the kids to the daycare there anymore than we have to with it being cold and flu season.
Cecelia has had 2 competitions so far this season in gymnastics. Both have been in house to get the girls prepared for judging. She started to compete with the Gold level girls but being the youngest and joining a group with 12 year olds made her feel a little left out so she has opted to compete with her friends at a silver level (keeping her more advanced gold routine however) until at least 1 of her friends moves up to the Gold level. Her coach Courtney suggested this because she wants Cecelia to have fun and enjoy gymnastics. I agree! We saw our first sports injury a few weeks ago at her in house meet. Her feet hit the bars when she went to dismount off the high bar. My heart sank. Gymnastics is so scary! We talked with the owner of the gym who was a gymnast her whole life about possibly getting Cece into a cheer class to prepare her for wanting to be a cheerleader in junior High. Liz told us not to waste our money and that the cheerleaders actually come to practice at metro Stars and that everything she would need to have to cheer she already has (other than the actual vocal cheering). Cecelia loves her 4th grade teacher. They get along very good. We promised Cece that if she got all pluses on her report card (Papillion Lavista doesn't use a letter or number grade scale in elementary) that we would give her $100. She got one minus because sometimes she blurts out answers. Next report card comes home in about a week. I hope I can reward her with her money.
Aaron grew his facial hair for No shave November and I'm afraid to say that I think its staying permanently. I kind of like it. Definitely makes him look more his age. Were hoping his days off are going to be changing here very soon to Sunday and Mondays off. Which would be perfect for our family and my work schedule. We have it so good being able to be home with the kids as much as were able to.
My new job is good. Much better benefits and work load than my previous job. My sister Nikki who is also a nurse just got hired on as well. So excited to work with my sister again.
School is annoying. Not hard but masters level classes require a lot of time to write papers and after 2 classes I'm already burnt out. Planning on taking a little break. I'm not in any hurry to finish because I won't use the degree until the last baby is in school full time, And since I don't really know what I want to be when I grow up it's probably a good thing I take a semester off and enjoy my family and my fast growing babies! Liv is going to be in preschool next fall:( I'm still loving my moms group through church. We had a womens wknd retreat back in October at the Lied lodge in Nebraska City, and Aaron took off and kept the kids. It was amazing and such a good bonding experience with my moms group friends! Loving Southridge Church! Thank god they were put in my life. Even though I work every weekend, since I make my own schedule I usually can still make it to Sunday service.
There is so much more to write but the kids need almost every minute of my time these days and that is priority. Although, I write this blog for them to be able to look back and read when they are older. I hope I can update this sooner. Time is flying by.

Maci Brielle

Maci has arrived!!! Her birth story is one for the records as well! Maci was born at 4:58 AM on Friday July 12th. We arrived at the hospital and checked in at 4:36 if that says enough. We originally were planning on delivering at Bergan and I specifically did not want to go to Midlands hospital because they did not have anesthesia, residents or a NICU if needed. Turns out we couldn't make it to Bergan after all. I started having contractions about 11:30 at night just as everyone else was falling asleep. I did not fall asleep. Instead I got up and cleaned the house, did my makeup (in anticipation of eventually going to the hospital), and watching a movie (what happens in Vegas to be exact). Contractions were anywhere from 5-7 minutes apart and I didn't want to call someone over to stay with the girls if I was in false labor. I had gone to the hospital in false labor at 37 weeks and my contractions were 3-5 mins apart for hrs and they sent me home after giving me some IV fluids so I thought that surely having contractions 5-7 minutes apart would get me laughed out the door. Well, then my water broke around 3:30. But I wasn't sure it really broke or I was just peeing myself because fluid would come out when I was having a contraction but then stop when the contraction was done. Well, those contractions quickly got very, very painful and soon I was on all fours during the contractions because it was the only thing the somewhat helped the pain. So I woke up Aaron (who had conveniently taken Benadryl for his allergies and was passed out) and let him know it was time to go. We called his mom, his sister, his other sister, my mom all multiple times with no answer (don't these people know to not be sleeping at that time of night). Finally, I called my sister Charity and she woke up right away and said she was on her way. We woke up Kiley and told her we had to go. Poor kid saw me panting through a few contractions on the floor, because by this time they were coming every 2 mins. We let Kiley know she would be in charge for about 15 minutes until Aunt Charity got there. So we called Charity and told her that we had to go quick and that Kiley was there and just to hurry. We sped down HWY 370 probably going 80 mph and when we got to the intersection at 84th street Aaron needed to know which way to go. Right to midlands (RIGHT THERE) or left to go to Bergan Mercy. Yeah I chose Midlands because I seriously thought I was dying! When we got there we went to the emergency room because I in all honesty didn't know where to go at that hospital because it wasn't my birth plan. The receptionist at the front desk asked for our insurance and driver's license. I think I may have spewed some fire at her at that point and she called back to what I presume was an ER nurse and stated that there was a woman out front that SAID she was in labor. I'm panting through contractions in a wheelchair with my legs wide open. I'm pretty sure I'm not just SAYING I'm in labor lady:) So I got wheeled up to L&D. I stripped my clothes off right there with the door open and flung myself on the bed. Dramatic I know but the pain was unbearable. I was checked and sure enough it was declared that I was dilated to 9. At that point I began crying rambling about how I couldn't do this without an epidural and that I knew this was gonna happen because I was walking around dilated to 3-4 for weeks now. I begged for IV stadol, anything for pain. They said they couldn't give me ANYTHING because it would effect the babies breathing at that point. Yay me. So the doctor. Dr. Jones got there super fast. She was so very kind to me. My doctor had chosen the weekend before I was due to take a vacation. Honestly though, if I had to choose any other Doctor it would have been Dr. Jones.  I think I cussed a little, did some crying, writhing in pain like I was possessed and when the Doctor was gowned up and everything was set up I got a local block. Which means they stick a very long needle into parts that should never have a needle and that kills more than the contractions. About 30 seconds after that was done. I pushed 1 time (a really long push I'd say) and out came Maci Brielle.
So yeah, it's a story she will hear many times over in her lifetime:)
Pretty dark brown hair like her mommy. She weighed in at 7 lbs, 2 ounces. Our biggest baby yet.
The kids all started to have a cough at this point and they visited me in the hospital just once because we were afraid they would get the baby sick or worse, someone else's baby. Midlands was a great hospital despite their lack of anesthesia or residents available to my catering 24/7. LOL. At one point it was just me and Maci on the floor so we got very individualized care and attention. I had a ton of cramping after she was born (called involution). Apparently the more children you have the worse it is so I needed quite a bit of pain medication pretty often. We had so, so many visitors, gifts and flowers. They even sent us home with a dessert tray filled with cookies and brownies. The Monday after we got home they announced they were closing the L&D floor at Midlands due to lack of patient census.
Since Maci has been born it's non stop go go go. 3 kids sure rocked my world. We got family pictures done the week after she was born. Excuse the extra weight:)
Kiley went home to Texas to see her new house for the first time since her mom and step dad moved down there while Kiley was with us. We bought Kiley the new Samsung Galaxy 4 so we can stay in constant contact. Kiley started Middle School and is in the 6th grade.
Cece started 4th grade and has Ms. Mott. She loves it. She has made a few new friends as these were girls that she hasn't had in her class before as there are 3 fourth grade classes this year. Cece also recently got moved up to Advanced Gold level for competition. So excited for her! She is an amazing gymnast. Can't wait for this competition season. Cece's best friend Ainsley is also competing and goes to class the same nights/times Cece does so her mom and I have worked out a great car-pool schedule.
Liv is getting so big! She is talking up a storm and can communicate pretty much anything she needs at this point. She is working on potty training. Lets us know as soon as she has gone and strips all of her clothes off but isn't quite able to always tell us before she has to go. I'm hoping by Christmas we will have it down. Maci started an Art class at the YMCA every week for an hour and she also is going to the daycare 3 times a week for an hr or 2 while Aaron and I workout. This is great for her to get to socialize with other kids her age. She will start pre-school next fall. We still have to decide where at though.
Maci is an awesome baby. Loves to co sleep (but so do I because it means I actually get to sleep). Not fussy whatsoever for us. She gets fussy for other people she doesn't know very well though...which is pretty much everyone at this age. She is 10 weeks old now and wearing 3 month clothing. I love my little chunkie monkey.
I started working out, got a personal trainer and am loving it. Breast feeding is gong great besides the hot flashes that go along with low hormone levels. I'm starting a new job on Monday with much better benefits and more pay. Sad to leave the girls I have become friends with at HNWH but there are about 5 of us going to the new company from HNWH so it won't be that bad at all. I started school at Bellevue University for Masters in HealthCare Administration. My sister is also doing the program with me. We are doing 1 class a semester (which is considered 1/2 time) and we will be done in 2016. At which point Liv will be in kindergarten and Maci will be in preschool so I can go back to work during the week full time most likely. I'd love a flexible schedule though. We shall see. Life is busy but good these days.
Aaron is doing good. We started working on finishing the basement so that has been a project. The framing is just about finished and then we can do electrical. My brother in law and Aaron have done the framing. Aaron has 2 friends that are electricians so one of them will be doing the electrical and then from there Aaron and his dad will do the plumbing, bathroom, dry wall and trim. I can paint and we will have my brother in law install the carpet as we already have super nice carpet remnants that we bought in the spring. We can't wait to have the basement finished as we already feel like we are outgrowing this house. I can't believe Aaron would like to try 1 more time for a boy. I feel super content with the 4 girls we have right now. We haven't made any permanent decisions as I've decided that god willing, if we try again it won't be until Maci is atleast 2 years old. A two year old and a newborn are HARD work. Gotta go. Liv is shoving a purse of hers in my face repeatedly telling me the strap broke:) I will edit later. Here's just 1 family pic of us

Family pics soon:)

So I thought I should get in a quick post before Maci Brielle arrives (yeah we picked a name, Aaron mainly picked the first name and I picked the middle...how is that even fair?). I am not just about to be 37 weeks in 2 days and I am already dilated to 4. I am 70% effaced and the baby is at -2 station, head down and engaged. Which basically means I feel like I am walking around with a bowling ball between my legs: fun times! TMI, but it's my blog so I'm gonna say it. I lost my mucous plug over the weekend. Very gross but just another sign labor is coming at any moment. I'm also at 191 lbs. Yikes. Hopefully breastfeeding sucks the fat back out like it did last time. I can't wait to start working out and get skinny again.
We took the kids to walk around Heartland of America Park last night. The older girls are enjoying probably their last sleepover before Maci is born. We took them to get ice cream and went for a long walk to see the ducks, fish and turtles. We had fun and got chased by ducks for our bread:) Contractions occurred while walking but then stopped by the time we got home. Just my luck, all I got from that long walk was a more sore pelvis and 2+ pitting edema in my lower extremities. The girls know that I can't do anymore sleepovers at our house after Maci is born. Sleepovers are exhausting to parents and disruptive to the little one's sleep schedule. But the older girls are obsessed with them...it's not enough to play with their friends for 15 hours during the day, they have to stay up until 3 AM watching movies with them too.
Quick update on the fam:

It's a GIRL!

We had our 20 week ultrasound today. And it turns out that we are having another healthy girl! So it's Aaron's lot in life to be surrounded by beautiful women:) Another sweet baby girl. Aaron joked that the girls are actually growing on him. LOL. I hope so! This is our last baby, although I couldn't tell today if Aaron was joking when he said we should have 1 more. Yeah, that's not happening! This will be my last pregnancy. I feel like my body if falling apart on me. Mainly my hips, sciatica and pelvic bone pain. My ob says it's because the 2 babies are so close together, and the body has a hard time with that. We will have another ultrasound at 28 weeks because I have such small babies. This little girl is only in the 15th percentile for size so since Cece was so small and they think she had IUGR we monitored Liv and we will monitor this baby more closely. On a bright side, we are going to save a ton of money on baby gear since we have practically everything for a girl:) So blessed!!!

Is it seriously 2013 already?

4 months without a post? Yikes!
At 18 months Liv keeps me pretty busy these days. Cecelia was always the most independent toddler and child and Liv seems to be just the opposite. I think it has something to do with the fact that she is home with me all week long and I'm her only playmate. Here's an update on Everyone:

Me:) We are expecting again! Baby #3 is due July 19th. My friend Rachel joked that I must only ovulate once a year because my kids birthdays will all be within the same month of each other. But I really do enjoy being pregnant in the summer. I love to hang out by the pool, get my tan on, and wear comfy maxi dresses all summer. I hate being pregnant in the winter and trying to find clothes that fit is no fun at all. Sadly, I left my position in the ICU at Methodist in November. As much as I loved my job, I disliked working overnights. As anyone can imagine it is a very high stress floor and the patient's are critically ill. I personally did not enjoy being in a high stress environment nor did I enjoy constantly watching patients die. I have worked very, very part time at a home health care agency and they agreed to match my salary from Methodist along with other benefits so I now work there 3 days a week. I love it. I love making my own schedule, meeting new people and being able to do a large portion of my work from home. This allows me to be home with Olivia and soon the new baby and avoid having to place them in daycare. Although Olivia is getting to the age where she needs a little more interaction with kids her age. I've been going to a mom's group through my church every Tuesday night since the fall and I absolutely love it! I'm so happy I found this wonderful group of ladies that I have become so close with. I've been lucky and haven't had any morning sickness with this pregnancy. A little nausea here and there which has completely subsided in the last few weeks. And of course I'm tired (it takes a lot of energy to make another human being and raise 2 other children's) but other than that I'm feeling great. The belly is starting to grow and I swear I feel the little peanut move already. We will find out the gender in about 4 weeks! Aaron wants a boy of course. And understandably, but I would honestly be content with another girl.

Aaron is still enjoying his work at DCYC. His weekend hours will be changing here soon which we are all so excited about. It will be nice to be able to do things as a family on the weekends after dinner. He is still taking guitar lessons and is getting quite good. I'm amazed, as I am not musically inclined at all.

Cecelia is doing great in school. She took a standardized test called the TerraNova back in November and scored in the high mastery level in all areas. She is so bright. She is still attending gymnastics tow times a week for 2 hours each time. She is competing a few times this season and seems to love it! Cecelia can't wait for the warm weather again. Summer can't come soon enough. We will again retain our membership at the Papillion pool where the kids had so much fun this summer. We plan on everyone (hopefully Olivia too) taking swimming lessons.

Olivia is a typical 18 month old. Getting into everything she can! I swear I clean one area only to move on to the next to clean and she is busy getting into whatever she can in the area I just cleaned. She is such a sweetie though and loves to snuggle up all the time! Which is great since this mommy needs as much rest as she can get these days. Liv, Cece and I are all getting over colds right now so Liv has been a little fussy these days and I can't wait for her to feel better again.