Christmas

The kids were anxiously awaiting Christmas. They couldnt wait to get their hands on the gifts under the tree! Nana Carolyn made all their Christmas jammies this year- the kids all looked super cute!
We video taped their faces as they walked out of their bedroom. After 4 or 5 gifts they were done opening and just wanted to play. Their favorite gift was a dirt devil vacuumn. Who knew I had such little cleaners :)

We also had family photos taken the day prior by Susan Stevenson. The photos were taken just before naptime and was complete chaos. Suprisingly we still got a few nice shots. Here is a link to our photos- http://susanstevenson.com/Journal/2009/HarperChristmas2009/
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!!

Finally- my labor story.

Kennedy Marie was born 12/4 (41w1d) at 5:10am. She was 22" & 8#13oz -- all natural!

I had posted about my 41 week appointment, shortly after I came home and posted I began having contractions 10 minutes apart but thought nothing of it until I started having "show" around 7pm. None the less I still tried to go to bed around 9pm (thinking it was just from the doc checking me earlier that day) and was waking every 10 minutes on the dot. My husband was convinced we were going to have a baby that night-I didn't think so.
Finally around 12:30am I was pacing the house and contractions were every 6 minutes and becoming intense. We called our friend Melanie who came over and slept at the house (so she could take the twins home with her in the morning). We got to the hospital around 2am and I was already 7cm.

I got in the labor tub and stayed for 1.5 hours or so. I stood up to go pee and I started puking (transition!) by 4am it was time to push and I was exhausted. I was breathing through the contractions because I didn't want to push.

The pain was intense, and my doc/husband kept telling me its the only way the baby can come out! Finally I did it, I got her out! I was nervous, after her head come out I was afraid her shoulders were stuck. I kept telling my doctor to "get it out, get it out" and she kept telling me " you have to keep pushing".
When she finally arrived the doctor announced by saying "She's here!". We both still cant believe shes a girl. She looks nothing like us or our other 2. Thank-goodness we both witnessed it or we wouldn't think she was ours. She is beautiful with all her dark hair :)

We went home Friday afternoon (14 hours later!). I felt fine and the baby was well so no need to stay (plus I missed the twins)! Before we left they discovered Kennedy has a soft cleft palate (only)-- way back in the back of her mouth where her uvula should be, she has a small hole.

We saw the plastic surgeon here in town and he doesn't like to do the repair until she is one. We are going for a second opinion at Seattle Children's Hospital next month when we visit Curtis' parents. They usually do soft cleft repairs between 9-12 months of age. Of course I'm hoping for an earlier repair.

This has been very hard for me. As a LLL leader and a breastfeeding mom, I was really looking forward to the experience of nursing a singleton and right now we cant nurse at all! I'm pumping around the clock, bottle feeding, washing all the bottles/pump parts etc and then there's the twins- this isn't what I had envisioned and is super hard but we're trying to make the best of it. I thought we'd co-sleep/nurse, I could sling her and sit down with the toddlers etc. I didn't think Id be up for all hours of the night trying to pump/feed etc. I thought we would just get in the car and go- but unless I can get everyone ready, out of the house and back home again in less than 3 hours (so I can pump) we aren't going anywhere!

I'm having a hard time establishing a routine and transitioning to life with 3 and a pump. Hence the reason its taken me so long to update! I'm sure it will all be OK- I just need to adjust.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts, you all have been great!

Welcom Kennedy Marie Lima Harper!

Brand new to the world on 12/4/09 at 5:10am! Weighing in at 8#13oz & 22" long!

First picture with Dad!

Meeting Everett & Macey for the 1st time at Melanies House

Hanging out on the couch

She is a jolly little thing!

We're still working on a schedule of sorts and we are both sleep deprived already so more to come (such as the birth story & how things are going) when things settle down!

My 41 week appointment

Written on 03 December 2009 - 05:07 PM
For those of you keeping up on me, I had my 41 week appointment today.I am almost 5cm dilated and 80% effaced. The doctor said she is on call tonight so if I start having contractions (they don't even need to be 5 minutes apart) and I wanted to come in, I could and she would be happy to break my water and we will have a baby!We did an NST (non-stress test) and everything looks good. I scheduled an appointment for Monday but she doesn't think I will make it till then. If I do, we will do an ultrasound on Monday to check the amniotic fluid etc. She said if I made it to 42 weeks (which again is highly unlikely) at that point we would discuss an induction date. Im moving right along. Slow & Steady!

A Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day- my due date, has officially come & gone!

I had a doctors appointment last Wednesday the 25th to which I was "a good 3cm and 80% effaced". The doctor offered to sweep my membranes but I politely declined and scheduled my 41 week appointment. I had secretly hoped to not go that long, but am willing to go the distance (doc says up to 42 weeks) if that's what baby #3 wants....and given that I'm 40w5d today its quite possible I could make it!

Curt's family was here celebrating the holiday with us. They were busy cooking, cleaning and chasing toddlers. I haven't done much of anything. Ive definitely been spoiled and am sad to see them go. Not just because of the help but the company too :) Its fun to have a full house. Everett & Macey love love love their cousins, auntie & grandma/grandpa. I'm also sad that they wont get to be here to celebrate the birth of the new baby (whenever he or she decides to grace us with its presence).

We did a lot while they were here. Here's a random sampling of our photos!

Grandma & Grandpa Harper with Everett & Macey (notice his hair pretty LOL)

Everett, Kloe, Grandma, Macey & Kai hanging out at the island. The new "hot spot".

Macey laughing from the belly up! We were at the ice skating rink and she thought her auntie, dad & cousins were quite funny!

While they ice skated Mel & I walked a little over a mile with the 4 kiddos. We were hoping for a 5th to show up before it was over but nothing happened!

Curt & I at Bonkers Indoor Playground

Grandma & Macey at Bonkers

Dad & Everett in the ball pit

Story time with cousin Kloe.

(I don't think I read a book all week!)

Out at Murphy's dome

Sledding out in the backyard!

Other things we did, not shown:

Chena hot springs (the water was perfect, everyone loved swimming!)

The pipe line

Glow putt golf

The Santa clause house

McDonalds playland

More to come when the baby arrives or I have my 41 week appointment on Thursday....

39 weeks & 3 days --

Its been a week- a Loooooong week and Yes Im still pregnant.
I saw the midwife for my last appointment (Dr Ellie was still in Africa) and I was dilated 3cm and 70% effaced. The baby is completely dropped/engaged and I was measuring 41 weeks when I was just 39. You'd think the baby would want to come out, its got to be so cramped in there! But I guess not.

I see Dr. ellie for my 40 week appointment on Wednesday. I wish I had a gut feeling of when this baby is going to come but honestly I have no idea. The twins were pretty cozy till they got evicted maybe this baby will be the same way? I made up my mind in early pregnancy that I wanted this baby to come whenever it wanted too - Im just hoping it wants to come soon. Dr. Ellie said she doubted I would go over, but as long as baby & I are both doing well she will let us go till 42 weeks which is December 10th.

The in-laws fly in this evening, and my SIL and her kids get her late tomorrow night. We're going to have a full house and lots of entertainers for Everett & Macey. Amen! They must know something is up as we've been having lots of NO days. They are into everything and doing everything they absolutely shouldn't be and its exhausting.
They've even boycotted naps for the last 2 days but are fast asleep as I type this now and try to keep my mind busy.

More to come!

38 weeks and waiting

I'm 38 weeks now, 38weeks and 2 days to be exact and the waiting is killing me!

I've now been pregnant for 9 days longer than I ever have before. I'm constantly wondering :

1. what is this baby going to be, boy or girl?

2. how much will it weigh?

3. who will it look like?

4. when will I go into labor? how long will it last?

I realize things are probably much easier with the baby still safely tucked away in my tummy then it will be when it comes out BUT I'm super excited for Everett & Macey to meet their new baby brother or sister.

Of course people are calling & texting me everyday asking if I'm in labor yet. The answer is NOT YET :) But I will let you all know when the baby is here :) Don't worry, I'm going to need help!

Remember Im due "Thanksgiving day" so the baby still has some baking time if it wants it.

Had a doctors appointment with the midwife this past Wednesday as my OB is officially out of town. Not much has changed. The only indication I have that labor *might* be coming is I didn't gain any weight at the last appointment. I see her again this Thursday. Thursday/Friday are also supposed to be my last 2 days at work before I start my maternity leave.

I also found out the labor tub at the hospital is back in operation -- yay for me! oh and for those of you I may not have told my massage therapist is going to attend the birth :) She's thinking about becoming a doula so she is going to offer her services in exchange for seeing if its something she's truly interested in. Im psyched.

Here's the latest picture:

And a few others to show you how we are passing the time as we wait:

Blue Play-doh.

She played while I made dinner and daddy & Everett ran errands

Macey & Everett posing in their new "picture spot"

whenever I ask them to take a picture they run to the end of the counter

and stand side by side to pose

Kallyn & the kids reading