Pictures from the Hospital

So, we had another wonderful stay at the lovely South Shore Hospital. Apparently I am not able to have a child the "natural way" ... I had to be induced for Alison Joy too. I guess i worried for nothing, i was so worried about where my water would break, who would be there, how would I get to the hospital, could I bear the pain of the awful contractions, would I get there too late to have the epidural? Well, problem solved - check into South Shore Hospital and take medicine to ripen your cervix and start the petocin (didn't make it that far this time). Bring on the contractions!

Trying to be patient. I was very anxious to meet my new little friend.
First photo with Alison Joy.

First photo with Daddy.

First kiss.

So alert ... She was alert the second she was born. Could it be because she was 8 days late?

Meeting Dahma Daw.

Meeting Mommy ... from what I can remember, Alison was placed on my chest right after she was born, so I think I was the first person she met.

Lil Sis meets her Big Brother. He was proud.

Once Sam got his hands on her, he didn't want to share her.

Ali meets her Pap.

Mommy's Big Boy

My dad took care of Sam the 3 days we were in the hospital. Those boys share a bond now that no one will ever be able to break. I am so happy they got that special time together, just the 2 of them. My dad is one Proud Pap.

She is such a baby doll. She seems so much smaller than Sam was, but she weighed more than a pound more than him.

Bonding with Daddy.

Pap and Dahma enjoy their new little grandbaby girl. Can't get enough of her.

Getting ready to go home. Dahma and Pap bought her an outfit to go home in.

Dahma just can't get enough of Alison Joy.

Lil miss bright eyes.

Dahma through a little photo shoot in the hospital ... Ali shows a little leg.

Too much - can't wait to dress her up.

Just hangin out with the girls.

On our way home!

Happy Birthday Alison Joy

What a sweet girl - just minutes old.

Lil miss Alison Joy joined us this morning at 3:08 AM. She weighed in at 8lbs 4oz and is 20.5 in. Healthy and Happy. STAYED TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS ... mommy needs to get some rest.

So, here we are ... still

Well, it is bedtime on a Sunday again and still we are a family of 3. Every night I have put Sam to bed for the last week or so, I feel like it could be the last time I read to my baby, before the new baby joins us and Sam is the big brother. I get all sappy and emotional every time. This evening as Dan and I sat in Sam's big boy bed with him and read to him, Dan reminded me this isn't going to be the last time we sit as a threesome and read. TRUE! It's still so hard to believe that pretty soon we will be a family of 4 and we won't remember what our life was like without our Baby Light #2. This evening we celebrated Sam's 3rd birthday with Pap and Dahma Daw. Sam and Dahma made the birthday cake and we had Rocky Road ice cream (Sam and Dahma's favorite). Sam got a Leap Frog first computer and the Handy Manny Construction Set, he was equally as excited to get new water shoes and sunglasses. Being a week OVERDUE has really taken a toll on me. I have tried to be patient and understand that these things happen when they are supposed to. But, it has gotten the best of me the last day or so ... my emotions are out of control. I don't feel like I have been myself. I am trying to stop and be thankful for what I have - the wonderful support from my family. Dan has been amazing and having my parents here has been a tremendous help, the fact that Sam can't get enough of them has really been so AWESOME to witness. All I can say is thank you. It means the world to me. Well, we will be sitting by the phone tomorrow morning waiting for South Shore Hospital to call and tell us its "time"to come in. Apparently we have to be to the hospital an hour after the call to start the induction. I really do hope that tomorrow evening we will have met Baby Light #2. At this rate I don't think anybody is holding their breathe. We all want to know if you (Baby Light #2) are a BOY or a GIRL. What a wonderful surprise! STAY TUNED!

OVERDUE with Food Poisoning!

SERIOUSLY!!! This baby has already started to make a name for him/her self. But, no joke Baby Light #2 you have a lot a people who are excited to meet you. Dan and I were up all night with food poisoning. Yes you read that right we were both up all night SICK. I started around 1:30AM and called the doctor because we were afraid of dehydration. Dr. said it was the beginning of labor and try to get some sleep and call if contractions started. Dan informed me about an hour later that I was not experiencing pre labor ... because he was in the same shape I was. I was hoping it was just "sympathy labor pains". Not the case. We were up all night. The culprit = Beef Polish Sausage (we think). We had another Dr. appointment this afternoon. Ultrasound showed us a very HAPPY baby moving all around, breathing and sucking ... and best of all plenty of fluid. Stress test showed very little contractions. And I am still 2.5cm and 75% effaced. Therefore we are scheduled for an INDUCTION on Monday, April 11th (Rae Rae's Birthday) :). We are all hoping the baby will come on their own before then though. We are walking, bouncing on ball, drinking raspberry tea, and eating Chinese food ... basically if it can cause labor we are doing it.

2 days late - comfy baby

My parents got here last Wednesday ... we are playing the waiting game at this point. I did get an "Induction Massage" on Saturday. So I should have this baby no later than 96 hours after the massage - which brings us to today. Doesn't look like that is going to happen. In the meantime Dahma and Pap have been doing a great time entertaining Sam and spending lots of time with him, which they all LOVE. I haven't taken many pictures lately, but I got these from my mom.

At the petting area of Penniman Farm. Feeding the goats.

and the donkeys.

Sam likes the little ones.

They have spent some time at the arcade at the mall too.

due date - and still no baby

So here we are! April 4, 2011 and NO BABY! My parents got here safely and Sam is the happiest kid in town, he is really enjoying his time with them and so are they. I got an induction massage on Saturday, and started to get more consistent contractions. My mom and I went to the grocery store and I had a few really tough ones, but then they went away ... I thought for sure we'd be going to the hospital on Saturday night. Sunday we spent the day in the yard raking up the winter mess. Dan started feel sick Sunday afternoon and took a nap while my mom and I walked ... I think we walked for a total of 3 hours yesterday. During the walk I had some mild contractions ... but still NOTHING. I had my 40 week belley check this afternoon, I am still 2cm and now 75% effaced. I am scheduled for an induction on Monday, 4/11 if the baby doesn't come by then. We may get in early for the induction if there are other cancelations. But for now we we WAIT!

7 days and counting

With one week left I am spending as much time as possible with Sam and Dan. Who knows what life will be like in a week? We will all have some adjusting to do, but we can't wait. The boys and I went to the arcade today and got blizzards at Dairy Queen, we all got mediums ... which means I ate mine and the 2nd half of Sammy's. We had a fun day together.

Sam was so good at this game, he had to point the fire hose to the small holes that looked liked fire ... he did great!

Horses - one of Sam's favorites, he is starting to out grow them.

Sam won like 50 tickets, he spent them on 1 silly band that he gave to me and a mini box of Nerds (first time eating them). He is sharing them with his Daddy.

Nerds are YUMMY!

Licking them out of the palm of Daddy's hand.

Playing Doctor with Mommy ... checking out the baby.

39 weeks

Giving the baby shots.

39 weeks today - 2cm and 65% effaced. Moving right along. Feeling better this week. I will working from home this last week of work, which makes it easier. I feel like I am getting more energy, we are excited that my parents will be here Wednesday - hope the baby will wait too. Sam is getting very anxious to meet "his baby" I hope he continues to be happy about this little person.. If this baby isn't born by Saturday I will be getting an induction massage, Leigh, the massage therapist I have been seeing for most of the pregnancy says that after the induction massage the baby will come anywhere from 1-4 days. We'll see. Everyone is getting excited to meet Baby Light #2.