PROUD big sister and brother

Can you see the anticipation of getting to hold this baby we have talked about for so long?  I have to brag on my kids.  They have AMAZED me with the birth of their brother.  Well, Luke has amazed me----I expected nothing less from Sophie as she is so sweet and nurturing already.  They have been so great!  You really can't see what is on their shirts in these pictures, but I ordered shirts that say Big Brother Luke and Big Sister Sophie---so adorable!  They were so proud to wear them.   We let Sophie miss school because it just wouldn't be fair for Luke to get to meet the baby before Sophie.  We planned to let Sophie and Luke tell everyone the name, but because of the unexpected nature of the birth day, it didn't work out that way.  I don't think they minded though!

Here is my girl holding her SECOND brother.  I had people make comments about poor Sophie having two brothers.  I think people assumed she would want a sister, but she actually wanted another brother!  Her explanation was that she wanted to be the only girl and didn't want to "share" me with a sister---so sweet!  Let me tell you, these boys are SUPER SUPER lucky to have this girl as a big sister.  She has one of the sweetest spirits EVER and gives everything she has to her friends and siblings!  The things she has let Luke get away with over the years just never ceases to amaze me.  He can take something away from her and instead of getting upset and fighting with him she will let him have what he wants.  She knows exactly what to say to him when he is about to have a meltdown and distracts him from it most of the time.  I love this "big sister"!!!!

Luke's turn!!!

This little mister has made me so proud lately.  He has seriously grown up so much in the past couple of months.  I love going out and doing things with him---he is sweet and considerate and SO MUCH FUN to be around! 

I have to tell this story:  When we first told the kids about expecting a baby, Luke's reaction was uh....not all that nice.  He made it very clear to everyone that asked him he did NOT want a baby.  He told me he was going to hide under the bed when the baby comes and stay there until the baby is gone.  Any time anyone asked him about getting a baby brother, he growled at them (right, Fort family?!)   He slowly started to come around and not get so crazy when asked about his baby brother.  The shirt he had been rejecting for so long that said greatest big brother, was not so appalling to him anymore.  In fact, a few weeks before the birth, he WORE it by his own choice!  I can't wait to see how Luke and Oliver will get along when they are older.  I love watching brothers and the relationship that they have.  I love our family!

                                    

Here is Sophie: "Are we done with this yet?"  ha ha

Congratulations Sophie and Luke on your new baby brother.  You two have made me one proud mama and Oliver is so stinkin' lucky to get you guys as older siblings to "show him the ropes"  Congratulations Oliver on getting the best big brother and big sister EVER and you are in for one wild ride, little man!

Oliver King Mooney 9-01-10

He is here!  It took a birth to for me to update this thing-ha!   I would say I will get better, but let's not get crazy here...   Anyway here is how it all went "down." 

We had a c-section scheduled for Monday, September 13th.   I would have been 39 weeks and 3 days---please note, all three of my other c-sections were at 38 weeks, so to say I was just a little bit disappointed that we wouldn't be doing the section at 38 weeks was an understatement.  I had it in my head that he was going to come the week of September 6th and I had everything all planned out.  To all of you who have had vaginal deliveries and were never able to plan the day your baby was coming, I do understand how ridiculous my statement was, but it is all I know, so show me some grace please!  

I had my weekly doctor appointment on Wednesday, September 1 and the thought that I might not be coming back to my house without my baby surely did not cross my mind!  I mean, I would have laid out clothes for Sophie to wear to school each day and Luke also.  I would have bought and washed and dried everything we needed but didn't get yet for the baby!  Did I mention my drier broke the NIGHT BEFORE THE BABY CAME? 

At my appointment I mentioned to Dr. R ( LOVE HER) that I had been having contractions.  She could feel a contraction when she went to measure me, and again when she was checking my cervix.  Also, my blood pressure was high, but that alone I don't think would have been cause to send me to the hospital because it usually goes down while I am in the office.   There was also a trace amount of protein in my urine (sorry if it grosses you out that I said "urine").  Dr. R sent me straight to the hospital and told me do not eat anything just in case and that they would monitor me over there and check my cervix for change.   So, off I went, still not thinking it would amount to anything and more annoyed that I had to go to the hospital and mess up the "schedule" for the day. 

I got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the fetal monitors to check baby's heart rate and contractions.  By this time I had been getting more and more of them.  They were beginning to be a little painful, but I refused to admit that because I felt like since I had never been in labor before, anything that I have that seems painful is NOTHING compared to someone who has been through actual labor and a vaginal delivery.  The nurse looked at me funny and asked what my pain level was---I said 2 and she was surprised.  She said I was contracting every 2-8 minutes and some of them were pretty strong.  Dr. R ordered IV fluids because she thought I might just be dehydrated, so they started those and I ate a few ice chips.  I called Zac and told him to go on to class (he is in law school and missing class when you don't have to is really bad)  I just assumed the contractions would stop and I would be sent home because I do not go into labor! 

The nurse came in again and checked the strip and said she didn't like what she saw.  My contractions were not going away or even easing up.  She went to call the doctor and came back and said, "I am sorry my dear, but we are having the baby tonight"  Why she thought she needed to apologize to me for that information is beyond me!  I was miserable and tired of being pregnant, and at 37 weeks and 5 days (full term)  I was totally ready to meet this sweet baby!  I was a little freaked out because it wasn't planned but certainly was not upset that I was going to have the baby that night!   THEN I remembered that I told Zac to go to class and he was probably already there! 

I called Zac and he was pulling into the parking garage.  I told him he needed to turn around and get to the hospital, now!   He was stumbling around for his words and very surprised but also excited.  He turned around and was on his way.  I was really hoping there wasn't an accident on the freeway or something to keep him from getting there on time for the c-section---that would have been awful! 

I started making some phone calls, trying to send text messages to let people know we were having the baby and making arrangements for the kids.  My mom took the kids to gymnastics and she told me they were very wound up.  I can imagine trying to get them ready with them knowing their baby brother they have been waiting for so long for was coming that night! 

I signed consent forms and got prepped for surgery and things started becoming a little more real.  They moved me to labor and delivery (from the antepartum floor) and put me in the room I would be in until I was wheeled into surgery.   Dr. Rivero came and explained again why we had to do a c-section immediately.  With it being my 4th there was too much of a risk with me having any kind of regular contractions and she wasn't about to mess with that (another reason I love her, she is the most awesome doctor ever and I trust her with my life and my baby's life...can't say that enough!)  She checked me again just because she was curious, and in just a couple of hours, I went from 0-almost 3cm dilated and 100% effaced.  This is HUGE for me as I have never done either and always right up until the c-section remained "CLOSED AND THICK"   This just confirmed Dr. R's decision and we were ready to go.  The doctor helped wheel me into the OR and Zac appeared right before they wheeled me in---just in time to get on his scrubs! 

Once in the operating room, they did the spinal and strapped me down and did all that other great stuff they do when you have surgery.  I started freaking out a little bit.  I couldn't get images of the last time we were in that operating room at that hospital out of my head.  My heart rate skyrocketed and my blood pressure went crazy.  The anesthesiologist couldn't figure out what was going on, but I knew.  They had to keep giving me all kinds of drugs because one would work for a while and then I would feel panicky again and my heart rate would go way up and they would have to try something else.  I remember afterwards the anesthesiologist making a comment about how much they gave me and I am not asleep, but wide awake!  If she only knew!  Anyway, I got that familiar pressure tugging feeling that was really strong and told me they were taking the baby out.  I heard him cry (BEAUTIFUL SOUND) and that was the end of me!  Zac went to take pictures while they were weighing him. Here he is, fresh from the womb!

Here he is being weighed!

They got him all cleaned up and I was wheeled into recovery.  I kept shaking due to the affects of the anesthesia.  I really would have preferred the sleeping to the shaking.  That teeth chattering shaking feeling is not so fun, but is so worth it!   Here is a picture of Oliver right after the birth when he was cleaned up

I bet you are wondering, where is the picture of Mommy and baby?  HAHAHAHA.  Sorry to disappoint, but there will be none.  Zac took one when I was about to be wheeled in for surgery, but I took one look at it and was so disgusted, I immediately deleted it.  I was so swollen and puffy and had about 4 chins and even though it was the birth of my child, I just couldn't stand to have that picture or any other pictures haunt me for the rest of my life.  I wish I had such confidence that it didn't matter, but I am just not made that way!  Besides, he looks a whole lot better than me and that is who you REALLY want to see, right?

That about wraps it up for the birthday story.  I do need to mention how we picked his name, although if you are one of the 5 people reading this blog that has been so long neglected, you already know why we chose the name.  I feel like I need to put it on here for documentation purposes.  We chose the name Oliver to honor our sweet baby girl, Olivia, born in May, 2004 and died 14 hours after birth.  Olivia and Oliver are the same name, just male and female.  They both mean.....are you ready for this.... ELF ARMY!  Yay!  The biblical meaning of the name Oliver/Olivia is a little bit more what we had in mind.  It is based on the olive tree in the bible, and means peace.  He definitely has brought us peace. He is also named for my great grandmother, Ollie.  I hear she was a pretty cool gal.   The middle name, King, comes from "hatdaddy" King aka, Carl King.  One of my favorite people, ever.  So there you have it!

Wow, this was LONG!  I wonder how long it will take me to document the rest of the hospital stay?!  Ha!

p.s. I realize I have no blog design or background on this page.  that was a long and frustrating deal trying to fix and and nothing lined up right.  I finally gave up and don't want to deal with it right now.  Sorry for the plane Jane look!

First day of school

Sophie is now a big second grader!  Wow.  I don't think I will EVER get over this girl growing up.   I think it is going to be a GREAT year!  She has the sweetest teacher ever (this teacher had Hannah and Harrison and already *knows* Sophie)  This year, Sophie wouldn't let me take any pictures of her actually inside the school.  I was disappointed, but didn't fuss over her (too much).  Here she is the morning of:

Luke wasn't too happy that she was going to school and he wasn't, but he quickly got over it.  This brings me to Luke's first day of school. 

The next day was Luke's first day.  Actually, it is the LAST first day of preschool.  This makes me so sad!  I don't even want to know how I am going to react when I drop him off for kindergarten next year.  I know he is ready and loves school, but it is just so hard to leave my babies all day.  Anyway, this year is quite different from last year.  Last year, it was all about coloring and playing and making art crafts.  This year, they do worksheet after worksheet after worksheet.  I am not happy about this, and had I known it was going to be this way, I would have made a different choice about preschool.  I didn't know though, so here we are.  Luke actually LOVES sitting and doing worksheets (who would have thought!)  So I will  leave him be and try to chill about it.  He is already writing his name so well and his numbers too, so he is learning something.  I just don't want him to have to grow up faster than absolutely necessary.  Four year olds should play.  Off my soapbox now...  Here he is on his first day:

 And here he is with Kate and Landan.  Aren't they cute?  We made them smile while facing the sun...oops!

 Luke and Kate.  These kids have been in everything together.  Mother's Day Out, church, bible study, even gymnastics!  This year, Kate is taking dance...I am happy to say that Luke will NOT be joining her in that adventure ;)  These guys are so cute together and I am having so much fun watching them grow together.  What a blessing it is to have my best friend's children grow up with mine and actually like each other.  Hopefully this will last forever....though not sure how they will feel about the arranged marriages we have planned!  heh heh heh

Happy school year little ones!  I know it is going to be a great one!

Pica?

I don't have any cute pictures to post of my beautiful children.  I am getting closer to doing that though...finally uploaded all my pictures to shutterfly and now just need to edit them. 

However, I wanted to document the weirdest pregnancy craving I have ever had in my 5 pregnancies.  Are you ready for it?  

I have been craving toothpaste and soap!

If you are reading this and totally disgusted, you are normal.  I have no idea what brought this about, but for a few weeks now I have really wanted to eat my toothpaste.  Then I find myself thinking about it and when I brush my teeth, I really want to swallow the toothpaste (but of course, I don't...you know...because my self control is awesome....or maybe because I don't know what a tube of toothpaste would do to my poor innocent baby who has no control over what he is getting from his crazy mama)   I need to add that I have NEVER craved anything that isn't edible, which is the definition of the disorder, pica, pronounced PIE-KUH. 

And soap...ohhhh soap.   I find myself washing my hands a lot more and just smelling the soap and how clean it is.  I sometimes go into the bathroom at work and squirt soap out to see and smell all the bubbles.  I want to eat the soap.   Again, I haven't and nor will I actually do this, but the fact that I want to is a bit disturbing.   I was at my OB's office and there was a big thing of this green soap and it looked so clean and smelled so clean that I seriously wondered if anyone would know if I stuck the bottle in my purse.  They surely have tons more soap, right?  I am too much of a chicken and was afraid they would figure out it was me and wonder why I swiped the soap.   But it looked so good....   My favorite soap to look at and think of eating is the soap that I see doctors "scrub in" with.  I have been watching a lot of doctor/medical shows and more lately because I want to see them scrub in and look at the soap.

There is no need to alert the mental health authorities!  I assure you this is a pregnancy related thing and will go away and I promise to never eat your toothpaste or soap when I go to your house.

But....if it is missing....and I was there....

I wonder if this means this poor sweet baby I am carrying is going to have some OCD tendencies? 

I promise to udpate soon.  This week is my last at work and then I have 4 more weeks until the baby comes.  I am sure with my new lap top and all the sitting around I am doing because I don't want to leave the house because it is too hot and I don't like being sweaty, there will be time for blogging the missing time period of the new year to now!

Until then.....

We have a name!

I can't wait to tell everyone what it is when he is born!

I haven't blogged because...

Can you see it?  This is the sweet little profile of unnamed baby BOY Mooney!!!   He will be here in early September if everything goes well! 

I *knew* I was pregnant before I even took the test.  I think, when you have been pregnant 5 times like I have, it becomes easier to read your body.  I got a positive pregnancy test the day before our 9th anniversary and thought it would be a fun thing to give Zac as a present.  So....January 6th, I stuck the test that said "pregnant" in the bottom of his gift bag.   He wasn't as excited as I wanted him to be.  He never is----I want him to jump up and down and do cartwheels.  It has taken me so long to realize that it is quite a bit different for him, as he can't feel it and doesn't really let it sink in until the day we have the baby and he is holding him/her in his arms.   Anyway, so we are pregnant!

I haven't blogged since then because I was so afraid that the minute I did, something bad would happen.  If you know a little bit about our history, you know we have had one full term loss, one loss at 20 weeks, and an early miscarriage.   I wanted to make sure it was okay before I started blogging about it, and since it pretty much consumed my thoughts, it was hard to get on the computer and blog about anything else!

Our first "big" ultrasound was at 16 weeks.  This is when the kidneys start to take over and make the fluid around the baby.  Everything looked great!  I felt relieved, but we wouldn't be totally relieved until the 20 week ultrasound.  The 20 week ultrasound looked perfect too!  We are so excited!  It is going to be so busy around here.  Zac is starting LAW SCHOOL in the fall and we will have two kiddos and a newborn! 

I have so much to blog about----so much has happened since New Year's!  Here is to hoping I can get caught up soon and stay that way!

New Years Eve Mooney style...

We are such party animals around here.  We almost made it until midnight, but sleep is just too precious around here!  We had a family game night and this was interesting with Luke, as he still doesn't get the whole taking turns and someone wins and someone doesn't thing.   I just don't know where that child CAME FROM?!!!  Could it be ZAC???? 

Anyway, nothing says New Years like a game of twister!

And here is a funny video to start off the year:  Luke and Sophie were in a REALLY silly mood, so I caught the silly from them and just had them do random silly things.  It was hard to get them to bed that night!