And All I Hear Is...

...the washing machine! Wow...I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I gave birth to this amazing, laid back, loved baby girl. As I sit here amazed that my house is quiet and all the kids are sleeping I just thank God that he gave me such wonderful children to call mine.

I'm not going to lie, it's is down right chaotic in this house at times and especially when I have my hands tied feeding the baby and Kara is beating up Tyler because she wants the toy, she didn't even know we had until he picked it up, from her brother and then it starts, bottle removed, baby down, baby cries, mommy takes the toy from Tyler and Kara and they both cry, yup...3 crying all at once! What do I do? Laugh! Really, because that's all I can do, I can't cry anymore, this is life and I'm going to make the best of it.

I finally ventured out with all 3 little ones alone yesterday for the first time. I have to tell you that I am so proud of myself I couldn't hardly stand it. We all got up, got dressed and headed out to see Daddy at work in Alex Bay, of course we didn't eat breakfast before we left but I was so impressed with my kids we got "no no's" (donuts) on the way to see Tim. They did really good at Tim's work and really well on the way home, even though I bribed them both with french fries so they would stay awake...I went 1 for 2! Then when Brandon got home I ventured to the Mall with all 4 by myself (I needed a new cell, mine pooped the bed), only minor breakdowns there but I think I only yelled at kids 2 times yesterday...one a piece! I had patience and was calm all day...it was great!

Kara and Tyler smother Alexa with kisses everyday and they can't get enough of her. Tim's partner yesterday at work told Tyler and Kara that she was going to keep Lexi at the station while they went home to take a nap, that did not go over well at all...Kara told her "down" and pointed to the car seat and Tyler started to cry and tried to take Lexi from Christine. It was quite funny, we are so glad that they aren't sitting on her and putting blankets over her head! I've told her that she has to be tough because the two of them aren't going to let her be anything else!

I will be going back to work (YIPPEE) October 19th and we have found the most wonderful babysitter for the girls that I could ever tell you. This lady is a stay at home mother and wife and watches another baby whos mother works for JRC also but only has him in the evenings, we went to meet her and fell completely in love and we are so blessed to call her our sitter!

Meanwhile...Alexa has started to fuss and is hungry!! Ta-ta for now!

Pleased to Announce the Birth of...

ALEXA LOU THOMAS

SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2009

8LBS 10OZ

19 3/4 IN LONG

12:25A.M

Alexa came into the world and our lives haven't been the same since. I admit I wanted her out because I was sick and tired of being pregnant and felt like "crap" the last couple weeks, but now that she's out and we are finally adjusted I can admit, I wanted her back "in" for the first couple days. It has only been 19 months since we've did the "newborn" thing but it was extremely hard getting back into the swing. It didn't help matters that we now have a full house and had to adjust lives of children to the new baby as well.

Alexa is 10 days old today and shes a bundle of joy. All my fears of her older sister sitting on her and thinking she's a dolly are completely nothing what I expected. I sit here in tears and can tell you that Kara is the most amazing person with Alexa than I could ever imagine. She is beyond words amazing with her. If she is out of her sight she will run around the house looking for "lala" Lala has become her nickname as Lulu is Kara's so we have "lala and lulu" in our house. Kara smothers her with kisses at every chance she can get and says "nice" and rubs her head gently.

Alexa's birth was nothing what I expected being 28 hours long from start to finish. I had an ultrasound on Monday the 1st and they anticipated the baby being 8lbs give or take 10% so on Tuesday the 2nd I went into the doctor hoping to hear good news about a possible induction. I was 37 weeks along and was ready to have this baby. He examined me and asked why are you undressed I usually don't check patients until they are at least 38 weeks. I said "I feel funny, can you just do it" along with a pouty lip. He laughed and said I sure can. He checked me, sat up, and smiled and said "your a good 3cm dialated" Start walking and I'll see you next week if not before and he winked! I left there feeling good thinking I would soon have a baby in my arms!!! I came home Tuesday and cleaned like a mad woman and actually mowed the lawn, contracting all the way!! Wedesday came and I cleaned again, got last minute things done. I took Brandon school shopping and contracted like crazy into Kohl's came home, took a nap with the kids, and we went to Brandon's open house at school and went to Pizza Hut for dinner. While at dinner they got intensely worse, but I kept it to myself and didn't tell Tim. I had to return some things at Kohl's so I went in alone and exchanged some things while Tim sat with the kids. I came out and he took one look at me and said "you're in labor aren't you" I started crying and said I'm pretty sure I can't walk anymore at all. We rushed out to a friends house we were house sitting and fed their fish and quickly dropped kids off at 2 different places. Went to the hospital where they hooked me up to see the contractions and said I was 4-5. I started walking the halls when around 1030 my doctor came in and checked me again and said your a good 5cm, we are going to admit you, keep walking through the night and I will be up in the morning to see you. Well miscommunication led me to bed all night and no walking. I got up the next morning, showered and started walking. He came in around 8 to check me and I was at 6...he said I'll be in at lunch time to break your water until then keep walking or get your epidural. Well I walked and walked and walked and he never came in until 7p.m to break my water. I had gotten the epidural around 5ish because the contractions where coming right along. After he broke my water, and turned on pitocin my epidural completely wore off and there was no time for another one, I was pushing my med button like crazy but was feeling every ache and pain and piggy back contraction for 5 hours. At 1130 I was 9 and i started to panic I was scared and going nuts. Right before midnight the nurse came in and checked me again because I was going fast at that point and said "hunny, you're fully dialated but the screaming girl across the hall is fully as well and she starting to crown so keep breathing through your contractions until Dr. Dodard can get back over here to deliver you" I looked at her and I'm telling you right now that if looks could kill that poor woman would have been dead, my response to her was "tell that lady to hurry the hell up then" Right after midnight they came in and I started pushing. This was nothing like Kara's delivery at all. I remember him telling me push, push, push, ok her head is out here come the shoulders...yadda yadda, this birth was push, push, push, here's your baby. She came out so fast I didn't know what hit me. I couldn't believe that I had did it. We were very surpirsed of her weight and joked with the doctor and said "you told me she wasn't ready" If I had gone to 40 weeks I'm pretty sure my delivery story wouldn' t have been anything like this as I'm pretty sure she would have been over 10lbs.

Alexa is healthy and doing well along with everyone else in this household. I'm still debating going back to work because I can't find daycare and won't leave a newborn with just anyone. I want/need a mother/grandmother type person I can trust and they are extrememly hard to come by. Any suggestions please let me know!

God bless all xx00