Pumpkin Patch

We took our annual trip to Camichael's Pumpkin Patch.  We have gone every year since Alex was born.  It's a great place for the kids to run and see all the different pumpkins and gourds.  There are also all sorts of animals for people to look at, pet, and feed.  This year we got to pet 6 day old piglets.  They were squeaky little things!  Plus, the pumpkin patch makes for some great pictures.  We took too many but here is one sweet one of all the kids.

Christmas in October

Alex was on Fall Break today and Abby's school was in session.  Brad and I decided to spend some one on one time with him while Abby was in school.  Mom was also on Fall Break so she kept Aubrey while Brad and I took Alex to the movies.  We saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.  It was cute! Then we picked up Abby from school and went to get Aubrey from Mom's.  When we got there she had her first Christmas tree up!  Brad could see my wheels turning and looked at me and said, "Nope, not happening."  ha!  He already knew I was going to ask him to start getting our Christmas stuff down from the attic.

This is a new tree that she didn't have last year.  It's a tree full of only her vacation ornaments.  I think it looks great and is a fun way to showcase all her special vacations!

Twinkle Toes

Abby had her fall ballet program at dance today.  It was just adorable!  They danced to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  I was so proud of Abby!  I really think ballet has boosted her self confidence.  Just 5 months ago she was burying her head in her arm during her preschool program and now she dances like no one is watching!

Abby and her BFF Lillian!  

And just in case the pictures weren't enough, here is a sweet little video! 

Special Gift

When Alex was born, Joe gave him a silver plate that has his name and all his birth stats on it.  It became a gift Joe and Mom give all the grand kids when they are born.  Aubrey's plate came in and they came over to present her with it.  It is such a neat and thoughtful gift and I am so happy that all the kids have one in their rooms.

The Wedding

Rachel, who is Brad's half sister, got married.  She asked the kids to be in her wedding as ring bearer and flower girl.  They were so cute!  Alex looked so handsome in his tuxedo and Abby looked just precious in her flower girl dress.  The wedding was 9 days after Aubrey was born and she was great at the event and just slept!  Brad's brother from West Virginia brought his family so my kids got to hang out with their WV cousins for a few days too.  The wedding was very personal and was held at a beautiful, rustic location.  I was surprised that Abby did her job perfectly.  During the rehearsal, there were no petals to toss, but when she walked the aisle during the ceremony, she threw those flower petals down just as she was supposed to.  It was so cute!

Happy Birthday!

Today was my dad's birthday.  It was also Brad's first day back to work after Aubrey was born.  I asked Dad to come over to help me with the kids in the evening and join us for a birthday dinner and cake.  The kids love Pop and even our new Little Bit got to help blow out candles, which, by the way, aren't the correct candles for his age, but who doesn't like to fudge on their birthday?!

Aubrey Grace Joins our Family

Thursday, October 3, 2013 my mom came over at 4:30 a.m. to stay with Alex and Abby while Brad and I went to the hospital to prepare to meet Aubrey.  Mom took pictures of us before we left for the hospital.  37.0 weeks.  Don't you love Brad's shirt?  He really is Super Dad!

We arrived at the hospital a little before 5 and checked in.  They took me to a room and I got changed into my gown.  I was having a few contractions, but figured I would since I had to stop taking the anti-contracting medicine at midnight.  You can see a few small ones on the monitor.  

The nurses, yep 2, had a hard time getting my IV started.  They had to call in a 3rd nurse after blowing my veins 4 times to get it started.  I just had to laugh, even though it hurt!   Once they got my IV going, I waited about 30-40 minutes and my doctor showed up.  She talked with me for a few minutes and then I told Brad goodbye.  They wheeled me out of the room and back to the operating room.  My anxiety got the best of me as they were wheeling me out.  I kind of panicked and started crying.  I had a really hard time stopping.  I was so scared because I didn't know what to expect, even though I had been told what would happen.  Plus, I was by myself and once I was in the sterile, scary looking operating room, all I could see was a ton of people in gowns and masks and hats.  All I could see was a bunch of eyes.  My doctor saw me crying and came over and just hugged me and calmed me down.  I apologized over and over for crying and she made me feel like it was OK.  

Once I was calm, they transferred me from the hospital bed to the operating table.  The anesthesiologist talked to me about what he was going to do and then gave me a spinal block.  It immediately made my butt and feet warm and numb.  They quickly had me lie down and then got me situated on the table.  They put the drape up in front of my face so I couldn't see anything and my arms went out to the side.  The anesthesiologist told me everything I would feel before I felt it, so that was comforting knowing what was going to happen.  Part of me wonders if he had to have a spinal block when he was training so that he'd know what patients were going to experience.  He knew exactly what and when I was going to feel something.  For example, he said I would start to have some nausea and a taste in my mouth.  No more than 10 seconds later, I did and he gave me something to stop it.  Also, he told me I would start to get a really bad headache and not more than 10 seconds later, there was my terrible headache.  It was pretty amazing that he could tell me all of this immediately before it was happening. 

They started washing my belly and I think that is when Brad was allowed to come sit with me.  Of course I started crying when he came in, too.  He stayed close to my face and just talked to me.  I'm thankful he did that because it kept me from trying to listen to what the doctors were doing.  Brad was in for maybe 3 minutes and then I heard my doctor say, "Here she comes!  She's here!"  Aubrey immediately started screaming.  She had a very healthy pair of lungs!  Guess what?  More tears from me!  I was an emotional mess that morning!  I had expectations of the nurse bringing her to see me as soon as she was born, but she didn't.  Instead she walked her past me and all I could see was Aubrey's arms, hands, and feet sticking straight out.  So I cried again because I didn't get to see her face.  Brad kissed me and followed the nurse.  A few minutes later he brought her to see me.  She was wrapped in a blanket and had a hat on.  Here is the first picture we have of Aubrey. 

I got to touch her and kiss her.  This time tears of joy fell because she was finally here and she was super healthy.  She was a great color and her Agar's were 8 and 9.  Thank you God!!!  Brad took her back to where ever they go, and she got cleaned up a little.  During this time, they sewed me up and got me back to my room.  I was only in there a few minutes before Brad brought her in so I could really see her and hold her.  

A calming feeling came over me when I got to hold her.  It was such a great reward to get to hold and kiss her after such a difficult pregnancy.  All felt right now that she was here and healthy.  

She was born at 7:29 a.m.  She weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and was 20 inches long.  She weighed the least of my 3 kids, but was the longest.  She seemed so tiny!  I tried to nurse her but she wasn't real interested at first, so after spending about an hour with me, Brad took her to have a bath and really get cleaned up.  My dad had already been up to see us, and my mom, Abby, and Summer were there.  They all went to watch the bath.

I got real nauseous from the anesthesia about this time.  I think it was the morphine??  I told the nurse I was about to throw up and she gave me some medicine (the name is escaping me) and said it should work for about 6 hours.  Well, it worked for about 30 minutes!  I felt very sick with the next wave of nausea.  Brad kept telling me not to throw up because it would hurt my stomach too badly after having the surgery.  Somehow I kept from vomiting and this time, since the other medicine didn't work, they gave me some Benedryl.  Immediately I felt like those people on the addiction shows look after they get a fix.  I felt my eyes kind of roll and my body stopped with the nauseous feeling.  Although the Benedryl worked to take away the nausea, it also made me feel really doped up.  I hated it!  I had a hard time keeping my eyes open and had to force myself to sit up.  Very weird.

Alex came up with mom after school and got to meet Aubrey.  He had a different reaction than Abby.  Abby laughed and kind of was poking Aubrey.  But Alex was in awe.  He was so sweet and gentle and couldn't wait to love on her.  Here are the kids meeting her for the first time.

It's hard to believe, but we are finally a family of 5.  Stanhope, party of 5.  Oh my!  The kids left and called later that night to say good night.  I finally tried to eat some soup around 7 or 8 and was happy that I didn't feel sick anymore.  Brad and I tried to watch Grey's Anatomy and Parenthood, but I'm pretty sure we both fell asleep.

Look for more posts on our new family of 5!