Trick or Treat: Halloween 2011

While we were whiling away the time between school and trick or treating, we decorated our pumpkins.  We had the pumpkins for weeks set up on our countertops and therefore were a bit squeamish about carving them.  A rotten jack o lantern was the last thing I wanted on my doorstep.  So creative genius set in and I brought out the markers and paint.  Well, markers don't stay on pumpkins although they do show up.  It is quite convenient to be able to wash your creation off of a pumpkin with just a little bit of water! 
We found that the paint markers looked best and Allison decided that instead of drawing a typical jack o' lantern, she and Jack would draw the pumpkins to match our likeness. 

Mimi helping to decorate!

"Emma" Pumpkin

We ended up with our pumpkin family.  Jason and I share the largest pumpkin and then they go in size order representing the oldest to youngest in the family. I was so impressed by how creative and detail oriented both Allison and Jack were in putting our physical traits on a pumpkin!

Before the sun went down, Thomas and Pinkalicious were ready to go door to door to get some yummy candy!

They came back with full bags and the experience of a fun night.  Impressively they have not eaten or requested obscene amounts of Halloween candy.  However their hormonal mother is a different story.  I am not sure how many more Halloweens I have before they have a mental checklist of their candy and notice that the only 2 Milky Way candy bars have disappeared...

Book Character Parade

Allison's class and the rest of kindergarten and first grade had a book character parade on Halloween.  Allison originally wanted to be Angelina Ballerina but the book was missing in action leading up to her event.  Major props to Daddy persuasion and a promise of ice cream got her to change her mind to Pinkalicious.  We had easy access to the book and she had a complete costume from her birthday party a few months back.  We got her all dolled up in complete pink and dropped her off at school.

Unfortunately the morning was cold, dreary and rainy so we huddled under the sidewalk cover on benches waiting for the parade to begin.  There were a lot of creative costumes and the kids looked so proud as they carried their books.  The teachers were dressed up as well.  Allison loves to put on a show and had a huge grin on her face as she proudly paraded by us.  They were walking fast so I was only able to snap one picture, but I think it captured the essence of her excitement!

Pinkalicious on Parade!

Trunk or Treat

Jack's preschool has a Trunk or Treat event every year for Halloween.  This year I was one day out from hospital discharge after having Emma.  I was not deterred and wanted to be there to see him participate.  Before delivery I had stocked up for Halloween and gotten prepared for this event.  I did not get points for creativity, but a plastic tablecloth and a pumpkin banner seemed to be enough trunk decoration for a bunch of preschoolers as long as I delivered on the candy.  I can't take credit for our candy selection because Jack was adamant on the type of candy he wanted to give his friends. 

Jack decided that this year he would wear his Thomas the Train costume.  I think he is the cutest little conductor I have ever seen!

Checking out his loot

My trunk looks quite shameful compared to the other trunks on display at the event.  I couldn't get the tape to stick so I draped the tablecloth over the back seat and looped the banner on the door latches.  Hey, at 3 days postpartum I think that it rocks!  Jason was my chauffeur and the photographer since he could follow the kiddos around easily.  I was so happy that he got to participate in a school event since he usually is at work during preschool hours.  I think he got a big kick out of seeing the trunk or treaters as well and he made it possible for me to go!

Emma's First Day

I was able to keep Emma with me for hours after her birth.  She latched readily and it was so nice to keep her next to me.  When the time came for me to transfer rooms, Emma went to the nursery for her head to toe check and Jason accompanied her. 

First bath, got to wash all that hair!

I must say I am a little jealous that Daddy gets to witness all these firsts, but I also see the pictures he comes back with on the camera and on his phone.  It is in these first few hours when Daddy is her sole protector that their bond is established.  Emma holds his finger and he whispers and comforts her while she is experiencing all these new sensations.  She knows that this man is her Daddy and he is to be trusted. 

A baby burrito

 

 

I wish that I could swaddle like the nurses at the hospital do.  We had a couple lessons, but it never held the way theirs did.  Oh well, now we swaddle with her arms out, and she seems to prefer it.  She doesn't have to grunt and push in order to break out of our cocoon of blanket we have wrapped her in.

Our first photo as a family of five!

Later in the afternoon, my mom brought Allison and Jack to meet Emma for the first time. Jason and I were so excited to see their reactions.  Allison has been waiting for a long time for a sister and was completely smitten at first sight.  Jack thought that Emma was hilarious and giggled the entire time he was looking at her.

Allison climbed into the bed with me to be able to snuggle with me and Emma some more.  She is already such a little momma.  She wants to hold Emma all the time and learn how to change diapers and give bottles. 

Mommy and her three babies!

I was so sad to see the two little munchkins leave that day, but I knew that my time in the hospital was short.  We planned for a morning discharge and would hopefully be home before lunch the next day.  That morning we got up and packed all of our things.  I got settled in the wheelchair and off we went.  The couple below is ready to face with world with three children to raise...there is no turning back now!

Ready to leave with our newest addition!

All snuggled in for the car ride

The Welcome Wagon

Jack and Emma

Allison and Emma

Emma's Birth Story

The morning of October 25, 2011 I woke up with a plan.  I was 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant and I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for 9:15 am.  My mom was on her way from Tuscaloosa and the kids got dropped off for their daily routines. The bags were loaded in the car and Jason and I set off for the hospital intent on having a baby that day.  I had made sure that my appointment was with Dr. McIntyre who was the on call doctor for that day, and during my previous appointment the week before the doctor had noted that an induction would be okay by him if this baby didn't come on her own.  I figured all my ducks were in a row and was trying to keep my nerves settled.
Once in the doctor's office I was checked and noted to be a little over 4 cm dilated.  Not big news to me since this is where I had been hanging out waiting for labor to start for the last two weeks.  Thankfully the labor and delivery floor had a light load that day and so they sent me down to be admitted.  Unfortunately I had tested positive for Group B Strep and needed to have IV antibiotics during labor, so once I was changed and settled I had to sit for two hours with an IV in my arm before getting my water broken. 

IV in place, getting excited that today is the day!

The doctor came in at 12:30 to rupture my membranes and hopefully kick labor into gear.  I had complete confidence my body would take over and I wouldn't need any medication for contractions to start and I was right.  About 45 minutes later and a few chapters into my book, they started.

in the midst of a contraction

An unfair portrayal of what contractions really look like, but this was the beginning...those that came later are not necessary for public witness.  Around 3:30 we decided that we would go the epidural route.  I was still well in control, but things were progressing very quickly and I didn't want to be the screaming banshee woman that  I was during my last delivery.  The anesthesiologist placed the epidural which was the worst part of the entire process! Two hours later it was time to push and just a few pushes (Thank you Lord!) Emma was born at 5:50 pm!

 My first glimpse of Emma!

Now my pregnancy was quite complicated so I am thankful and blessed that this birth was so quick and downright easy for me.  When Emma was placed on my chest she was quiet and scrunched faced.  I must say I was concerned that she wasn't making more noise.  I prefer my newborns red faced and screaming.  The doctor and nurse were cooing over how perfect she was, but I needed a good cry from her toes.

Fresh from heaven!

I got my wish when the nurse took her over to be weighed, measured, scored and ultimately poked.  I have never been more thankful for that Vitamin K shot.  Emma let out a powerful healthy cry and momma was relieved and happy. 

Emma weighed in at 7 pounds 11 ounces and 20 inches long.  She is my skinniest baby with the longest gestation.  Tell my how that works, but I will take it.  She is 20 inches of perfection!

The Fabulous Dr. Catherine McIntyre!

Kelly, our labor nurse. She was wonderful!

Love at first sight, Daddy and Emma