Alex's newborn photos

Today Alex had a busy afternoon.  We had his newborn photos taken.  You can visit the photographer's blog to get a sneak peak at a few of the photos from today's session.  Too cute! http://wilesphoto.com/blog/?p=1811

He's HERE!

Alex Joseph that is, our third little boy arrived Monday morning May 2nd by scheduled C-section at 8:50 am.  He weighed 7# 6 oz. and 19 inches. 

I was a bit concerned about the spinal because they had such a hard time getting the spinal in with Carson's birth and then I ended up with a bad spinal headache and had to have a blood patch.  But this time it went really well.  The CRNA said that the spaces in my back are really tight and he could see why they had such trouble but this time it went relatively well.

While I was taken to recovery, Chad went with Alex up to the nursery.  There they assessed him and gave him his first bath.  To me it seemed like they were gone forever.  I had only had glimpses of Alex when we were in the OR.  Here I am holding Alex for the first time in the recovery room.

My first day in the hospital seems like a bit of a blur.  The CRNA gave me some duramorph through my spinal that was supposed to give me some longer lasting pain relief after the C-section, which I'm sure it did but it also gave me horrible waves of nausea and vomiting.  And then my nurse gave me some Compazine which totally snowed me.  I was trying so hard to keep my eyes open that evening but it just wasn't working!

My parents were with Andrew & Carson and brought them down to the hospital that afternoon.  They were so sweet and so excited to see their new little brother.  Several times during our hospital stay when Andrew was there visiting, he would say "Is this a dream?"

 

My Dad & Mom holding Alex for the first time.

My parents took Andrew & Carson out for supper and to Target where they were able to pick out a little toy for Alex and they also sent up a flower arrangement for us. 

 

Chad's parents meeting Alex for the first time.

 While in the hospital this little guy was really very content.  He hardly cried.  Just slept and ate.  Chad stayed with my Monday night and during the day on Tuesday.  My parents brought the boys back to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and then Chad took the boys home.  Chad and the boys did come back Wed. morning for a visit.  Though I missed them, it was really sort of nice being in the hospital...I was feeling pretty good by then and just enjoyed my time with only Alex.

 Me and my three sons in one hospital bed. 

Our family of five. 

 Getting ready to head home.

More to come on this sweet little one and his big brothers.

T-Ball

Saturday April 30th was the first T-ball game of Andrew's that I really was able to see.  These little 5 & 6 year olds look so cute in their little uniforms.  All decked out with ball gloves, bat, baseball hat, helmet & bag to carry it all in.  (a bit much really if you ask me!)  Here are some pics from that day.

Andrew hitting off the T.

Andrew talking to his coach on first base.

Andrew, #6, running to second base.

Andrew coming in to homeplate.

They don't really play by the rules, if a runner is thrown out, (which I don't think happens very often) they usually get to stay on their base.  Each player bats each inning.  The last batter up, all runners on bases run to home and the team in the outfield gets the ball to home and tries to tag the players "out".  Score is not kept, it's a tie each game.  But at least they start to learn the basics, where to run from base to base, where the play is at - which base, and to have fun!  I enjoy hearing Chad tell Andrew that it doesn't matter if you win or lose but it's that you did your best and you had fun....because I know he is super competitve and doesn't usually feel this way himself.

Here's one photo from his game this past weekend, May 7th.

Preparations

I had been meaning to post about the preparations we have been making for babio #3, but just didn't get around to it.

Here is a picture Andrew took of me at 37 1/2 weeks pregnant.

Below is the Pack-n-play set up in our room and my hospital bag (not packed yet)  We decided that the baby would sleep in our room until I am a bit more recovered from the C-section.

The crib in the nursery/guest room; linens all washed and the Brutus the Buckeye mobile installed on the crib.  Chad got that when we were expecting Andrew.

Also the baby car seat

Preparing for baby I got the baby clothes tote out of the basement and washed all the infant clothing.  I forgot how all those snaps & zippers sound in the dryer!  We have lots of baby clothes from when Andrew & Carson were infants, plus when Carson was a baby a friend of a friend gave us her baby's clothing.  Most of our 0-3 month clothing is winter clothing, so we have had friends and family let us borrow some summer clothing.  We are set.

On this old pie safe we have baskets of socks, baby care items, diapers, onsies, burp cloths and hats all washed and ready.

Baby equipment brought out of storage, fabrics washed and plastics cleaned.

Chad cleaned the interior of the van, moved the boys booster seats to the back row, removed one of the captain chairs from the middle row for easy entry for the boys to the back row and installed the infant car seat.

In lieu of a baby shower for us, we had a girls night out with my friends here.  We went to see Water for Elephants - really good- and afterwards went to a restaurant for appetizers, desserts and girl time chatting.  My friends have arranged for us to have meals delivered every other day for the next several weeks.  I'm sure this will be greatly appreciated!  So nice to have such a great group of friends, we feel blessed.  My friend Kim made this bouquet out of baby wash cloth. So creative.

My friend Liz made us this diaper cake.

Here I am at 38 1/2 weeks pregnant.  Only 5 days to go!

The week prior to my scheduled C-section I had an appointment for a haircut one afternoon and another afternoon I scheduled a pedicure.  I had a gift certificate for a pedicure given to me from my sister-in-law Kristy for Christmas.  What a special treat to have done when 38 1/2 weeks pregnant!

We are ready!!